Oregon coach inquires about recruits’ favorite ice cream flavors, and it makes perfect sense

Evaluating Players: The Inexact Science

Assessing players can be tricky, to say the least. Take the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, for instance. In just a couple of weeks, 32 professional teams will inevitably make some mistakes, despite all their prep work and resources. There are various reasons why a player might not succeed, and often, those reasons are more about what’s happening in the player’s mind and emotions than anything that can be captured on film.

This brings us to a noteworthy moment involving Oregon quarterbacks coach Koa Kaai.

Recently, Kaai spoke to the media about how he evaluates prospective players. He explained that part of his process includes asking questions that aren’t strictly about football.

For example, he might ask a recruit whether they prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream.

Now, it’s not that Kaai cares about their choice—what he really wants to see is whether they can answer quickly and show some conviction.

Quarterbacks have a complex role within a team. They need to diagnose the defense’s actions during a play and make split-second decisions about what to do next with the football.

This decision-making happens under intense pressure, with incredibly large opponents on the other side of the line eager to tackle them.

As Kaai pointed out, it’s important for quarterbacks to have some level of belief in their decisions, whether they turn out to be right or wrong. Imagine if a quarterback was lost in thought over their ice cream flavor when the defense was closing in.

There are insights from Terry Shea, a coach who has worked with names like Trent Green, Matthew Stafford, and Sam Bradford. In his book, he highlights that mental and physical resilience are just as crucial as a quarterback’s confidence. Dealing with mental and emotional pressure is one of the most challenging aspects of the position. As the game goes on, a quarterback’s mental fortitude is tested. When exhaustion sets in, they must find the strength to release the ball with anticipation and bounce back after each tackle. This determination is what defines true mental toughness, enabling a quarterback to perform well when the stakes are high.

You can also look at what Bill Walsh wrote about quarterback performance in his own book. He emphasized that a quarterback must navigate the stress of a game and manage their emotions effectively. The ability to think clearly, assess options, and act rationally is essential, regardless of the circumstances. Ultimately, if a quarterback can’t manage their emotions, it becomes clear to coaching staff that further training may be fruitless.