Minnesota Unsigned Senior Prospects Series: Quarterbacks (2021)

The Class of 2021 drew a really bad hand. Especially in terms of high school recruiting, the current seniors had to stand by as the forces at will canceled and then renewed their final prep football season, college visits were axed, and the NCAA and college programs scrambled to adjust to this new climate as COVID-19 ravaged what was normal this past year. The kids handled things great in my opinion, but despite the mental fortitude on their parts there remains a larger than usual pool of uncommitted seniors, and a ton of college coaches who would be more than happy to retain some Minnesota talent. With those ideas in mind, I wanted to focus on the class of 2021 this week and really hammer down on bringing exposure to the unsigned seniors in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Over the next few days, I'll be working through every position group on the football field and listing some available MN prospects that are still looking for college homes. If you’re a college coach reading this please don’t hesitate to hit these young men up! Thanks for reading. Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id="18193" first="Cooper" last="Yaggie"] (Breckenridge) QB/DB/ATH. 5’11, 190 lbs. @CooperYaggie Currently holds offers from St. John's. Concordia-Moorhead, and a PWO from North Dakota State. Visited Concordia-Moorhead. This past football season was named District QB of the Year, All-District, All-Section after going 38-61 passing for 858 yards and 14 TDs to only one INT. Also had 43 carries for 505 yards and 4 TDs. Also, a standout basketball player, who this season scored his 1000th point and was named All-Conference after averaging 19.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG. Also plays baseball for the Cowboys. I'm pretty surprised an NSIC school didn't take a flyer out on Yaggie. as he's an obvious continuation of Northern Minnesota's tradition of producing tough and well-rounded athletes that find a ton of success at the next level. On film, you can see how dynamic he is right away, as he can blitz and burst through the LOS before blockers can even react with the speed of a DB. Playing mostly around the LOS on defense, he's very quick and a great tackler capable of getting hip to hip with ball carriers in a hurry. At the QB position, he's a hard-nosed runner with obvious strength in his lower body, and he's slippery in the pocket and very capable of extending plays and using his special athleticism to beat defenses with his arms or his legs. All in all, he's a terrific athlete with a ton of strength in his frame who could potentially play a few positions at the next level, but I think a SS/OLB role would be ideal. I'm incredibly excited to see where he ends up. Ryan Miles (Richfield) 6'4, 190 lbs. @rymiles No reported offers. Also a standout basketball player who scored his 1,000th career point this season. Standout gunslinger from the PrepRedzoneMN Showcase back in January who earned a First Team All-Metro nod this past football season from the StarTribune. I really like Miles' quick release, cannon of an arm, and mobility inside and outside of the pocket that helped him make some really impressive throws when on the run. As you can tell from his basketball prowess, he's also a great athlete who can hurt defenses with his legs and presents a tough ball-carrier for opponents to bring down in the open field. As he hasn't reported any offers or interest, I am very curious about where Miles is thinking for college. [player_tooltip player_id="18138" first="Nathan" last="Eberhart"] (Rochester Century) QB. All-Conference. GPA 4.0 ACT 31 Holds an offer from Hamline. Hasn't updated any senior game film, but in his junior season he went 120-222 for 1,980 yards and 23 TDs to 8 INTs. Showed good touch on deeper throws who gets the ball out in a hurry. David Warren-Mitchell (Eden Prairie) QB/ATH. 5'10, 185 lbs. @David_WM18 Had a proflic senior season at the helm of the Eagles offense who went 42-66 for 840 yards and 9 TDs passing plus 42 rushes for 257 yards and 5 TD on the ground and led EP to a 7-0 record in 2020. Hasn't reported any offers or interest, but received junior day invited from Princeton, MSUM, and Wayne State. Total playmaker who is fast enough to get to the edge of a defense with his legs and has the ability to make accurate passes when called upon with his arm. Named a team captain this past season and managed the efficient EP offense and showed some good touch on his deep throws. A lot of potential at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="18137" first="Landon" last="Jones"] (Annandale) QB. 6’6, 230 lbs. @Jones72302lsj A massive QB prospect who can put a ton of zip on the ball and has a really strong arm, Jones' arm strength helps him to get the ball into tight windows and does a good job of placing the ball only where his WR can get it. With such an awesome frame he has a lot of potential at QB or possibly TE or DE at the next level, and shows some intriguing arm talent that I'm assuming a college QB coach would love to get his hands on. He received junior day invites from most of the MVFC as well as South Dakota State, and I'm not sure where he stands with offers or opportunities, so stay tuned! [player_tooltip player_id="18173" first="Branden" last="Berwald"] (White Bear Lake) QB. 6’2, 195 lbs. All-Conference. ACT 30. @BrandenBerwald Another fantastic student-athlete at the QB position, Berwald received junior day invites from Bemidji State, Bethel, Concordia-Moorhead, UW-Eau Claire, UMD, MSU-Mankato, St. Olaf, and he visited UMD as well. In 2020 he threw for 1,202 yards and 12 TDs and also named Offensive Player of the Year, and on film I like Berwald's overall mobility, as he's got quick feet and can throw some dimes while on the run, and is willing and able to defenses with QB designed runs. Accuracy is always tough to gauge on film only, but from what I can see the WBL product can throw the ball into tight windows. [player_tooltip player_id="23741" first="Tra’vione" last="Stevenson"] (Fridley) 5’11, 160 lbs. @vione_tra No reported offers or interest. He's a dual-threat QB who is dangerous in a read-option offense and is at his best in an on-the-move role with some good speed and vision as a ball-carrier. Has the potential to play a bunch of different positions at the next level. Austin Berthiaume (Wayzata) 6’6, 175 lbs. @AustinBerthiau1 Was invited to SMSU's junior day. In a varsity start against Blaine last season the giant gun-slinger showed he can handle a starting role in an offense and can deliver an accurate football and get it out quickly. MIAC programs and other D3's should reach out, he's got the tools to do it at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="18213" first="Brandon" last="Lockhart"] (Tartan) 6', 170 lbs. @bmlockhart21 Holds offers from St. John's, Hamline, and Augsburg and visited the Auggies last summer. In his senior midseason film, Lockhart displays a strong arm that can make some longer and more difficult throws look easy, and he also drops the ball right in the bread-basket on streaking WRs on fades and other throws near the sideline. He made some really impressive throws on film, including an awesome corner route through double coverage and a beautiful rocket in the redzone where he threw the ball back across his body for a TD. The MIAC would be getting better if he joined the conference, and I think he would be a great QB at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="23733" first="Matthew" last="Paul"] (Chaska) 6'4, 180 lbs. @matthewpaul_25 Can generate some good velocity on the football and throws an accurate fade route to the endzone that helped the Hawks find points a ton last season. He also made some strong throws on the run and under duress in the pocket, and if a defense doesn't account for him he can absolutely hurt you with his legs. There's a lot to like from him. August Butler (MPLS Roosevelt) 6’2, 200 lbs. All-District HM. @Augustbutler_4 The Roosevelt Teddies signal-caller holds offers from Hamline, UW-River Falls, the College of St. Scholastica. Visit CSS and UW-River Falls. Receiving recruiting graphics from St. John's. In 2020 he totaled 893 passing yards and 7 TDs and added 171 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. I got to see him play live against MPLS South and was impressed with what I saw in-person, as he was poised in the pocket and lead the Teddies offense naturally and with energy. He's also got a great frame with more room to add weight, is athletic and can extend plays with things break down, and has a ton of experience behind center in his prep career. He throws a good deep ball and can put some zip between shorter throws like slants. He was a big reason why Roosevelt had their best season in a while and brings a ton of physical and mental attributes to the table that can help a college program. Coaches: don't be shy! Brett Tharaldson (Bemidji) QB. 6', 180 lbs. @BrettTharaldson No reported offers or interest. The Lumberjacks QB1 throws a strong deep ball and shows good footwork in the pocket and can dink and dunk an offense down the field on shorter, possession-type routes. He also puts good touch on balls over the middle and is capable of making accurate throws outside the pocket as well. Elijah Alexander (Andover) QB. 6'3, 190 lbs. @Elijah67462217 The Andover product is a great athlete who split time at QB and WR and made an impact offensively at both positions. Shows a good understanding of the coverages and does his best when improvising and making something happen while on the move. Also has some intriguing qualities as a wideout. Aidan James Lampe (Providence Academy) QB. 6’1, 190 lbs. ACT 35. GPA 4.0 Another impressive student-athlete who has been killin' it in the classroom, Lampe holds offers from Tabor College, Rose-Hulman, Puget Sound, and Macalester, and visited Augsburg. Tough and competitive QB prospect who laid his body out on the line more than once to make a play for PA who can complete a good array of throws to open and covered receivers. Shows good timing on his throws and a surprisingly strong arm for his size and the ability to hit receivers from the pocket or while on the run. He's got a lot of experience at the position and can make a college program and position group better from Day 1. McHale Korf (Pelican Rapids) 6', 185 lbs. @KorfMchale Senior season tape shows off a QB prospect with poise, who can stay calm in the pocket with a rusher bearing down on him, and throws a good deep ball. He also is a strong runner with the ball in his hands who ran over a couple of would-be tacklers last season in a violent fashion. Jonathan Berrey (Park of Cottage Grove) QB/ATH. 5’11, 155 lbs. GPA 2.7 @BerreyJonathan Holds an offer from the College of St. Scholastica and visited CSS as well. Doesn't have an updated senior film, unfortunately.