Under the Radar Series: 2023 Mississippi Quarterbacks

The goal of the Under the Radar (UTR) Series is to highlight hidden gems at certain positions in Mississippi football. The UTR Series will illuminate a path by introducing prospects whom have had little to no exposure, or who may have just simply, flown under the radar. Quarterbacks out of the magnolia state are often overlooked and undervalued. There are plenty of talented prospects in our state at the position, but there are not a lot of people talking about the local talent in order to make these guys relevant. After scouring the internet for QB’s in our state, it was apparent that there were a bevy of players at the position worth mentioning. So much so, I had a hard time narrowing down the QB’s on this list that I was actually able to mention. The prospects mentioned below are student-athletes who all share a few commonalities. All of these quarterbacks are smart athletes, who make quick and concise decisions on the football field. They all make monumental contributions to their team’s success without making a habit of turning the ball over. Here are some guys to be on the lookout for this fall.   Jacob Palazzo Ι QB Ι 5’11 180 Ι Gulfport HS Jacob Palazzo is a talented Junior QB out of Gulfport with tremendous upside. The kid has great mechanics, nice footwork, and a high IQ for the game of football. Out of all of the qualities that I will elaborate on, Jacob’s decision making ability is his greatest attribute. As a Junior quarterback, he had a 5:3 touchdown to interception ratio. Transitioning into his senior campaign, hell likely continue this trend. Jacob possesses amazing pocket awareness and the ability to create plays on the fly. Though he’s not a runner, he moves well and has the athleticism and capabilities of that of a dual threat QB. Palazzo often uses his skillset to escape the pocket and evade rushers to make decisive and accurate throws down the field. He excels at keeping his eyes down the field to throw, while making these plays. I love that Jacob sets his feet and gets back on the platform to make throws that require precision, touch, and arm strength. On timing throws/routes he delivers the ball on time and with plenty of accuracy, whether they are short, intermediate, or deep throws. Jacob has the speed to get out of the pocket and create, but he does not let his wheels cloud his judgement. He is very decisive in his reads and knows when to use his athleticism. There is also plenty off arm talent present within his game, and it is easy to spot from watching his tape. He trusts his arm and does not try to do to much. Mr. Palazzo will turn heads this fall at Gulfport for sure, don’t be late to the party.   [player_tooltip player_id="248595" first="Quez" last="Goss"] Ι QB Ι 5’11 220 Ι Scott Central HS Scott Central’s [player_tooltip player_id="248595" first="Quez" last="Goss"] was the 2A 2021 Offensive MVP, and he also lead the Rebels to an undefeated State Championship season. Mr. Goss accounted for 8 touchdowns in last year’s championship game, which honestly fits his M.O. [player_tooltip player_id="248595" first="Quez" last="Goss"] is a field-general like quarterback that gives you his best performances and play in the most high pressure moments. Whether it is pressure from the opposing team’s defensive front, or pressure from the immensity of the moments within a game, Mr. Goss delivers. He is a dual threat QB with decent speed and sneaky athleticism. He has a cannon for an arm, and excels in delivering passes on time and with accuracy on each level on the defense. His throwing motion and mechanics are quick and smooth. Quez is a smart football player who understands individual match-ups and how to exploit defenses based upon their weaknesses. His arm talent is exciting to watch on tape. He has the maturity to lead guys and throw them open on certain throws, most time for touchdowns. Quez has also shown the ability to sit the WR down on their routes by delivering darts to the bevvy of offensive weapons that he has at his disposal. Goss is likely never the quickest player on the field at any time, but he is shifty enough to be a problem for defenses as a runner. He scored 7 rushing touchdowns during his state championship season. His frame and sneaky athleticism allow him to break tackles from smaller defenders and outrun larger defenders. Mr. Goss and the Rebels will be looking to repeat their undefeated season and gain yet another championship title. I will be watching in anticipation to see if Goss delivers.   CJ Moore Ι QB/WR Ι 6’1 190 Ι St. Joseph HS CJ Moore is an athletic dual-threat quarterback and natural all around football player. This kids has an unorthodox style in terms footwork and mechanics, but it is extraordinarily deadly and affective. This difference is style does not suppress his productivity or explosiveness at the quarterback position. His throwing motion is a load up from the hip and fire type of wind up. He is an improvisational QB at heart, and that is where he makes his money. CJ is at his best with the ball in his hand, which allows him to being creative with the football. The arm talent is there, and he shows it making several eye-popping throws on a regular basis. He breaks the escape-ability meter, and makes decisions quickly on whether to take the read he sees or to use his legs. CJ has shown the ability to make a variety of throws on the move. He executes throws with a high level of difficulty often, and he completes them seamlessly making it look effortless. The 6’1 190 pound Junior is a smart football player who knows his body and knows exactly how to use it as a weapon. He possesses this 6th sense when it relates to his presence in the pocket. Moore is dangerous outside the pocket, and excels in looking downfield to find potential open receivers to hit with the football. In order to be effective at the next level he will need to cultivate the arm talent that he has this off-season and fine tune his throwing mechanics. CJ is extremely gifted athletically, and it is evident from almost every play on his tape from last year. He was the best football player on the field 90 percent of the time, and he does not mind showing you just that.   [player_tooltip player_id="294539" first="Grey" last="Hale"] Ι QB Ι 6’1 170 Ι Newton County HS [player_tooltip player_id="294539" first="Grey" last="Hale"] put together an extremely impressive Junior campaign. He completed 66 percent of his passes, and threw for almost 2,150 yards. This poised QB out of Decatur, MS has a tremendous amount of arm talent. He has touch on his mid-level and deep throws that were very impressive to watch. This proves true on his throw from either of the hashes, and his throws completed on either outside tick marks from sideline to sideline. His vision is impressive to watch, and his potential as a passer is evident on tape as well. Grey’s ball placement is next level, and he often throws his receivers’ open. This is due to his confidence in his arm, because there are not many throws he sees that he does not like. Hale is not necessarily a dual threat QB, but he has some wiggle in him. He is athletic enough to escape pressure and pick up needed yardage for first downs with his legs. This combination of skills shows that he makes the decisions necessary to get the job done as QB1 to attain wins. He threw 18 TDs last year and did not make a habit of turning the ball over in the process. His senior year will be big for him, and I believe that he will not disappoint. Keep an eye our for [player_tooltip player_id="294539" first="Grey" last="Hale"] this Fall.