Film Analysis: Florence QB Levi Paxton (2023)
As the calendar turns to November, things are heating up on the high school football season. For all classifications expect for Class 3A, the postseason is here, and dreams of making it to CSU-Pueblo or Empower Field at Mile High…
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Continue ReadingAs the calendar turns to November, things are heating up on the high school football season. For all classifications expect for Class 3A, the postseason is here, and dreams of making it to CSU-Pueblo or Empower Field at Mile High for the state championship awaits. In addition to the postseason, many players are looking to elevate their profiles for the recruiting trail, especially with signing days around the corner.
One of those prospects looking to elevate his profile is Florence quarterback Levi Paxton Levi Paxton 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Florence | 2023 State CO . He is having a solid junior season, one that has resulted in his team finishing in second place in the Class 1A Tri-Peaks League and earning the No. 4 seed for the postseason.
With a film wanting to be reviewed, we take a look at the rising junior quarterback prospect from the lower-level school here today.
Quick stats review
Paxton has been a dual-threat for the Florence offense and came up one yard shy of 1,000 yards of total offense, according to his stats with Maxpreps.com. As a passer, he has completed 52 of his 107 pass attempts for a 48-percent completion percentage and has thrown for 766 yards. The big plays have been there, resulting in 17 touchdown passes, and he has done a good job limiting the mistakes with just three interceptions on the year.
His legs can be relied on for other productive plays. Carrying the ball 60 times this season, he has rushed for 233 yards and seven touchdowns, including a longest run of 40 yards. His steady play is a big part of why Florence is averaging 286.6 yards of offense and 47 points per game, making them one of the highest-scoring teams in Class 1A.
Film review
Paxton does possess good arm strength and the ability and willingness to take some shots down the field with it. What stood out the most was seeing that combination of arm strength and accuracy on the deep ball when he was rolling out of the pocket. Being able to move and throw the deep ball with accuracy allows the offense to use the play-action to its strengths. He also showed that arm strength and accuracy on rollouts to both his throwing side (right) and opposite side (left), so he is not one-dimensional in the play-action game. Some of these shots were seen going 40 yards or further down the field, and though many of times the receivers were wide open on coverage breakdowns, he was putting it in a spot where the receiver could catch-and-run without slowing down, so these passes were in the right spot if there was a defensive player on the tail of the receiver.
There is some good decision-making he shows in the pocket if it or a play breaks down. There were a number of plays he made where he would scramble to the side or just slide over in the pocket and kept his eyes downfield, and he delivered a strike to his open receiver. On another play where there was a bad snap, he immediately knew he had to pick it up and just run it to get yards. He does not panic with pressure in his face, and he’s shown some good ability to decide when to tuck it and run with his legs or when to allow his receivers to come open on the scramble drill and to find them. The lack of turnovers also show he will take calculated risks throwing on the move and not force the issue.
When it comes to footwork, he does a good job setting the feet before throwing when the pocket is clean and the play is on time. He shows he will step up in the pocket when he has time, and he will also slide back to buy extra time to fire a ball down the field. His release is quick, allowing him to get the ball out on time and into a tight window if needed, though many passes on film are showing to be to open targets most of the time. The quick release to go with his 6-foot-4 frame means there are not many passes that are batted down at the line of scrimmage.
When it comes to his running, Paxton is good at quick reads in the option game, choosing to pull when the defense collapses on the running back and then scurry behind them with room to run. He has the speed to get by a defender on the edge, and because he can throw while on the move, he does have the ability to freeze them thinking he will throw it and get an advantage to get to the edge. He does his best to avoid taking big hits and is a willing run in the option game, adding to his repertoire.
You can view Paxton’s film from Hudl right here.
Overall thoughts
There is plenty to like on Paxton’s film for review. The trait that really stands out was his mobility and throwing on the run, something that makes him very dangerous in the play-action game. While the completion percentage is a little lower than you would like, the tools are there with his arm strength, pocket presence, release and vision down the field to be a dangerous passer, whether it is in the pocket or rolling out. Add in the running ability and option reads he makes, and you have a player that will be hard to stop every time he touches the ball. With his work ethic in the offseason with Jenkins Elite and some standout performances from camps leading up to this year, the future is bright and his play should only elevate more.
So far, Paxton shares with me that he has invites with Arizona State and Dartmouth, and is currently in contact with three other FCS schools and one other FBS program on the recruiting trail. With his play this season, he is definitely a nice prospect to consider for the Class of 2023. He is already on our watchlist at Prep Redzone Colorado for quarterbacks and should see a ranking next to his name following the 2021 season.
Those looking to reach out to Paxton can find his contact on social media.
https://twitter.com/PaxtonLevi/status/1452813881110368260