(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

On a conference call Tuesday before May 8's first round of the NFL Draft, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said he's unsure of Pittsburgh's Tom Savage's rapid rise up draft boards is legitimate or agent hype.

"Savage is one of the great American mysteries right now," Gruden said. "Rutgers, he lost his job. He left and went to Arizona. Rich Rodriguez brought the spread offense to Tuscon, and he left Arizona and went to Pitt. He threw for just over 60 percent, he's a pocket passer. You can see he has a big arm."

Savage threw for more than 2,700 yards in 18 games at Rutgers from 2009-10 but watched as Chas Dodd took over after Savage dealt with several injuries as a sophomore.

He finished with nearly 3,000 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season at Pitt.

Savage was initially slated as a mid- to late-round pick, but he has accelerated up draft boards to possibly a second- or even late first-round selection, according to the MMQB's Peter King.

"He got hurt in the bowl game against Bowling Green, so it is a limited body of work," Gruden said. "He is a pocket passer with a strong arm. I'm sure some people have seen it and fell in love with him because of that. There are not a lot of quarterbacks in college football that drop back and throw it anymore. Savage is clearly one of them."