The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) College of Engineering and Applied Science, with The Anschutz Foundation, architect OZ Architecture and general contractor GH Phipps, is celebrating the completion of the new Anschutz Engineering Center and the Design and Prototyping Center.
The ribbon-cutting will take place at 6 p.m. today, April 18, and will include brief remarks. A tour of the building will follow.
The 23,000-square-foot Anschutz Engineering Center is a dedicated lab building housing state-of-the-art lab space, classroom facilities, an executive conference room and faculty offices. Additionally, the project includes the nearby 3,000-square-foot shop building dedicated to fabrication, electric vehicle technology, and Senior Projects – the Design and Prototyping Center.
With the NFL draft coming up next week, fantasy football fans everywhere are getting ready to place their bets, pick their players and hopefully emerge victorious at the end of the season.
Jayden Daniels is likely to perform better in the National Football League (NFL) than any other quarterback in the 2024 draft, according to an algorithm developed by economists at UCCS and the Auckland University of Technology that predicts the NFL potential of college quarterbacks. This is at odds with rankings based on ESPN scout scores, which ranks Daniels the second-best quarterback behind Caleb Williams.
The algorithm uses data from college games and other sources to predict the performance of rookie quarterbacks in the NFL.
Quarterback performance is measured using ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR), a numerical measure of quarterback performance that ranges from zero to 100, with higher numbers indicating better performances. The algorithm determined that to succeed in the NFL, quarterbacks must be good passers, but rushing ability also matters.
The algorithm estimates each quarterbacks’ maximum season QBR in their first five years in the league, which is abbreviated to Max5-QBR. Max5-QBR values for the top-ranked quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft, according to the algorithm, are displayed in the table below.
Jayden Daniel’s expected Max5-QBR value (65.9) is significantly higher than that for second-ranked Drake Maye’s (58.1).
The algorithm’s ranking of quarterbacks differs from one based on ESPN scout grades, as noted above. According to scouts, Caleb Williams is the top quarterback, followed by Daniels and then Drake Maye. Additionally, scouts rate Bo Nix the fifth best quarterback, but the algorithm rates Nix fourth, just behind Williams.
The reason for the difference in rankings is that, according to the algorithm, scouts undervalue rushing ability when evaluating draftee quarterbacks. Among the top quarterback draft prospects, Daniels has the best college rushing statistics by a large margin, and Nix the second best. According to the algorithm, the rushing prowess of these quarterbacks will help their performances in the NFL.
A possible reason for the importance of rushing ability is that effective rushing at opportune times enables quarterbacks to gain the additional yards required to be awarded a new set of downs.
Interestingly, this year’s NFL Most Valuable Player, Lamar Jackson, was considered the top quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft by the algorithm, but he was ranked the fifth best draftee quarterback by scouts. Like Daniels in the 2024 draft, Jackson’s college rushing statistics were considerably better than other quarterbacks in draft contention.
Who will be the first quarterback drafted in 2024? Jayden Daniels is the algorithm’s top prospect, but scouts favor Caleb Williams.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Actor Josh Peck will be speaking at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 at the UCCS Gallogly Events Center.
The Significant Speaker series, an annual student-led event, offers both the university and the greater Colorado Springs community to hear from nationally recognized thought leaders in a variety of areas. The 2024 event marks the 12th Significant Speaker event the university has hosted.
Tickets are just $8 for the public and $5 for UCCS students, faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased online at speaker.uccs.edu.
This year’s student selection committee were focused on bringing in a presenter who could speak to mental health, person success and confidence. Peck, a well-known actor and social media star, promises to deliver candid and humorous insights into “making it” as a child star and beyond.
Peck has had an illustrious acting career, starring in several well-known television and film projects, most recently Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Peck also starred in Netflix’s indie comedy Take The 10 and the action feature Red Dawn, in addition to appearing on well-known television series including The Big Bang Theory and The Mindy Project.
Peck has also lent his voice to the Ice Age blockbuster franchise as the character of ‘Eddie,’ as well as in Aliens in the Attic, in which he plays the voice of the character Sparks. On television, he is best known for his role of ‘Josh’ on the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, for which he received a 2008 Kid’s Choice Award nomination.
He is also the author of “Happy People Are Annoying,” a humorous and candid memoir reflecting on the stumbles and silver linings of his life—including early struggles with food, drugs, self-esteem, and self-sabotage—and tracing a zigzagging path to redemption.
About UCCS
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers 55 bachelor’s, 24 master’s and eight doctoral degree programs and enrolls about 12,000 students annually. Located in the heart of Colorado Springs, UCCS has a strong student focus and access mission, with a goal of transforming lives for the better. Learn more about UCCS at uccs.edu.