Standouts from Chris Thompson’s Elite Skills Camp, 4/9
Big shoutout to Coach Thompson, who currently serves as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lebanon Valley College, for inviting me to cover his Elite Skills Camp down in Reading last weekend. This well-run clinic gives young local talent an opportunity to develop and learn from one of the best coaches in the state, while also allowing for chances at some extra exposure via Prep Redzone. Before we dive into evaluations of Riffle and Marshalek, here are some other young QBs who stood out from this camp.
Aidan Curley | 5’7, 150 | Berks Catholic | 2026
Garrett Daniels | 5’10, 165 | Conestoga Valley | 2025
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Jack Riffle Jack Riffle 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Fleetwood | 2024 State PA | 6’1, 170 | QB | Fleetwood | 2024
Hearing early on that Riffle would be in attendance, I knew immediately that my time scouting the event would be worthwhile. This, being the second occurrence seeing Riffle live, was a clean and crisp session for the Fleetwood junior. Riffle was the most polished and experienced prospect in attendance, so no drill Coach Thompson threw his way caught him off guard, similar to how he operated at our StockUp camp earlier this year. The young man is so consistent in his delivery. His motion is quick and replicable each rep, making him an easy prospect to coach up. There was attention to detail in each drill which should be the case for each and every prospect in attendance. The camp was further proof to solidify what we think of Jack. Riffle is currently ranked as a top 100 player in his class and with the 2024 rankings expected to almost double in size, outings like this help his cause to stay in that upper echelon of PA talent. No matter where the young man ranks, Fleetwood has got a talented worker and leader under center.
I have written on Riffle’s game before after attending our camp earlier in the year. Here’s where you can find that evaluation where I write in-depth on Riffle’s game. Like I said before, future Riffle will be the best Riffle.
Gavin Marshalek | 5’11, 155 | QB | Mt. Carmel | 2026
Another draw for me to attend was to finally see Gavin Marshalek work up close and personal, a name that has been making its rounds throughout the state as the 2026 class begins to enter the stage. Here’s an incredibly gifted and far-along freshman quarterback who is already looking the part. It’s a shame that we aren’t currently allowing 2026 prospects at our Spring camp, if we were, this young man would most likely attend considering the way he and his family work to make sure he’s developing the right way. I really like Marshalek’s overall build for a prospect his age. I can imagine the kid has another growth spurt in him that could land him in the 6’2-‘3 range if he’s lucky. The weight room will be a must as it is for any up-and-coming talent. What’s more impressive is his ability to push the ball, he can deliver some fastballs thanks to some serious lower body torque. The young man has a lot to learn but he certainly looked the part this past weekend. I am excited to get the ball rolling for him on our site.
I took a dive into Marshalek’s early film for those who may or may not be in the know. Two things immediately stood out to me when turning on the tape. First, is his overall pocket presence, including his poise, his ability to step into a pocket, as well as his downfield vision from said pocket. The second is his accuracy at the goal line. Yes, this is JV tape, so all brakes must be pumped, yet there is much to learn from JV tape especially when scouting quarterbacks. Marshalek has the feel of playing QB down thanks to his incredible work ethic. I am sure that in a Varsity setting, this same feel and poise will reveal itself in time so long as his confidence continues to rise. He shows that he can locate his open man at all three levels as well as in the red zone. His mental processing is there, as Mt. Carmel threw some read-based sets at him early on. He is a mature 2026 Quarterback, mature being a word I am skeptical to use for any 2026 prospect. His build, mental make-up, work ethic, and attention to detail all lead me to believe he’s going to be a name to watch for years to come. The accuracy in the red zone is a huge plus as well. I can find many QBs who can sling the ball around the yard with crazy heat. What I struggle to find are young quarterbacks who can quickly identify what option is open and deliver the ball accurately for scores. Awesome value there. See for yourself.
2021 Season
@GOBIGRED19 @QBHitList @PlayBookAthlete @nexgenscouting @VAPORTRAIL2471 @PAPrepsRivals @quarterbackmag https://t.co/xoNMRCPZFN— Gavin Marshalek (@GavinMarshalek1) January 9, 2022