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The Buffalo Bills were one of 10 teams present at the Washington State University pro day last week, and according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com they'll host senior quarterback Jeff Tuel on a two-day visit on April 8-9. The New England Patriots will work him out before then.
In 2009, Tuel became the first true freshman to start five games in a season at WASU since Drew Bledsoe did it in 1990. A knee injury derailed his first collegiate season, however, and after a promising sophomore season (59.8 percent completions, 2,780 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions), his junior season was cut short by a collarbone injury that first cost him four games, then the rest of the season when he re-injured it.
As a senior in 2012, Tuel split quarterbacking duties with redshirt sophomore Connor Halliday under new head coach Mike Leach. He still managed to average 33 throws per game in Leach's pass-happy system, completing 63.7 percent of his passes and tossing eight touchdowns (along with eight interceptions). For his career, Tuel threw for 5,936 yards, 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Tuel was impressive at the WASU pro day last week, per Brandt, measuring in at 6'3" and 218 pounds while putting up impressive athletic numbers, highlighted by a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. A talented prospect whose college career was derailed largely by injury and coaching turnover, Tuel has the feel of a long-term developmental project - and potentially a worthwhile one, given his talent level.
This is the second confirmed quarterback to schedule a visit to One Bills Drive this spring, following a report last week that Arizona senior Matt Scott would be doing the same.