Unsigned Prospects: Signal Callers Flying Under the Radar

Santino Bernal January 4, 2022 @ 11:40 AM

What better way to start the new year than looking forward to one of the biggest days for the Class of ’22? With National Signing Day quickly approaching at the beginning of February; we’re taking a look at prospects that are still available in the rankings. In this first edition of Unsigned Prospects, we’ll be highlighting four gun slingers that can contribute at the next level. One of these signal callers showed potential in their first year under center and the other three have many varsity snaps under their belts. [player_tooltip player_id="209232" first="Carter" last="Brian"] – Cair Paravel, 6’0”, 180 Players from the 8-Man ranks typically put up some absurd numbers. But what Brian did in 2021 was impressive. The senior’s numbers improved significantly from an efficiency standpoint. He went from having 12 turnovers his junior year to only one this past season, and he improved his completion percentage from 61% as a junior to 68% as a senior. He ended the ‘21 campaign with 2,515 yards passing and led the 8-Man level nationally with 51 touchdown passes. On top of this, he helped lead Cair Paravel to a perfect season. So far, Brian has only received an offer from Ottawa University. There should be more recruiters reaching out to this young man though. It shouldn’t be a problem for him to adjust to 11-Man rules. Brian’s proven he can be efficient and shows good traits. He can slide around in the pocket, improvise when plays breakdown, and he’s an accurate thrower. A redshirt year could help him get acclimated, but he’d still be a solid addition to any program. [player_tooltip player_id="91395" first="Daigan" last="Kruger"] – Silver Lake, 5’10”, 185 Next up is one of the top quarterback prospects coming out of Class 2A. Kruger put together a great career during his time as the starter for Silver Lake. The Eagles went 15-5 with Kruger under center, and they were just a win away from a state title appearance in 2021. He wrapped up his senior year with another 2A All-State Honorable Mention nod after throwing for over 1,900 yards with 23 touchdowns and rushed for over 500 yards with seven scores. There hasn’t been much recruiting buzz involving his name, although there should be. Kruger may not have the frame of a highly touted quarterback, but there have been 5’10” signal callers that have been successful at the collegiate level. He does a good job of staying on his toes in the pocket and he’s quick to find open receivers. Kruger isn’t afraid to put his shoulder down when his number is called either. [player_tooltip player_id="91394" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"] – Holcomb, 6’3”, 190 Before the start of the ’21 season we highlighted Johnson as an offensive sleeper from the senior class, and he put together a solid year. He helped lead the Longhorns to another 7-win season and earned his second straight 3A All-State Honorable Mention selection. Johnson has improved each year as a starter, and he set career-highs during his final season at Holcomb. He completed 66% of his passes while throwing for 1,881 yards with 24 touchdowns. Johnson is a quarterback tailor-made for an offense that likes to air it out. This past season he showed he could make throws on the run to either side of the field on sprint outs, and he displayed a nice touch on deeper throws. He also does a good job of looking off defenders. Although he didn’t run the ball much throughout his career, he’s still a capable runner with long strides. [player_tooltip player_id="128113" first="Mercer" last="Thatcher"] – Derby, 6’4”, 190 Thatcher may come from one of the top programs in the state, but his play under center this past season has been a little overlooked. The first year starter didn’t get to fully showcase his abilities due to limited throwing opportunities and score differential. Still yet, he played well and managed to help get Derby to another state title appearance. He finished the ’21 season throwing for over 800 yards with 12 touchdowns and only one interception, and rushed for 933 yards on 123 carriers with 17 scores. This earned him a 6A All-State Honorable Mention nod and a 2nd Team All-League selection. Recruiters aren’t going to find many 6’4” quarterbacks with his arm and athleticism still available. He’s a legit dual-threat and could be a gem for a program willing to take a chance on him. A redshirt season could benefit him, but this young man has a ton of potential.