Stock Watch: 2026 QB Prospects to Keep an Eye on
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Not only is the QB position the hardest position to play in all of football, but it is one of the most difficult positions to develop in, especially at a young age. Players tend to spend extra time working on…
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Continue ReadingNot only is the QB position the hardest position to play in all of football, but it is one of the most difficult positions to develop in, especially at a young age. Players tend to spend extra time working on their mechanics, footwork, and overall delivery of the ball to get to a more polished level of play. A lot of times, especially for some of the more talented and up and coming players, they will have a private coach, who takes time to work with them individually, and mold them into the player they aim to be. Below, we have listed some of the most talented prospects in the 2026 class, who we have noticed have already made a name for themselves, and are worth keeping track of moving forward.
Aiden Smalls– Cardinal Gibbons
Even though it is hard to evaluate a player at this position when they are so young, Smalls has already shown plenty of flashes of talent, and potential. While he may be a bit raw in his overall decision-making, he does a good job of playing with good pocket awareness, and being light on his feet. His dual-threat ability to escape with his legs, and buy time before throwing to open receivers, is what makes him a great player. When throwing a football Smalls plays with great accuracy and solid arm strength, but we would like to see him work on the overall release, and timing of his throws. All this may not be too much of a factor for him right now, but if he does not approve in this area soon, it could hinder him as he gets older. Regardless, he is very athletic, and his ability to play elusive football is what makes him fun to watch.
Camden Minter- Heritage
Not only is it very fun to watch Minter play, but you can already get a good feel for the kind of player that he will be moving forward. He is already fun to watch, and this is not only due to his developmental frame, but because of the way that he uses his frame, and athleticism to make plays. Do not let this fool you though, because although he is solid in the pocket, and has a good feel for the game, he is also able to make throws with great arm strength, and pinpoint accuracy all across the field. With this, his release is a bit slow, which needs to improve, but he still gets the ball out cleanly, and effectively at all levels. This includes on the run, as his footwork positions him well enough to play light on his feet. We also noticed that Minter plays with good decision-making, but we would like to see him improve in his overall delivery, and layering of the football when letting it loose.
Demetrius Slydell- Asheville Middle School
One of the things that stands out most about Slydell is his ability to play efficient football for his age. He holds plenty of tools that will make him successful as he enters into the high school level of play. This includes the fact that Slydell already has a developmental frame, and he appears to play well within the pocket. This helps him when he goes to make decisions at various levels of the field before throwing the football. While he can work on his overall progressions, we would also like to see him work on his footwork as well, as this also contributes to overall mechanics, timing, and decision making. Regardless, he does prove to be athletic enough make a difference for his high school at the next level, especially due to the way that he shakes defenders when needed. When it comes to pure arm talent he definitely has this, and he hits receivers well in stride, and is able to throw with good velocity at various points of the field. He also manages to do this on the run, and in awkward situations. Look for him to develop as an overall player next season, and to start to gain the attention of others with the more playing time that he may receive.
Gannon Jones- St Mary Magdalene Middle School
Even though Jones is already proving to be very talented for his age, he is still showing that he has plenty of work to do moving forward. Not only is he a bit small, but he plays a quick, and elusive style of football due to his size, and necessity to make plays outside of the pocket. This includes throws on the run, as well as quarterback sneaks, and escapes from the pocket. Nevertheless, he does throw with good accuracy, but we would like to see him work on the touch and anticipation of his throws. As he continues to get older, his overall arm strength will continue to develop, including in his intermediate throws, and trajectory. Jones’ footwork can be a bit raw at times, but we think that he can develop in this area moving forward. Going to next season, look for him to gain more playing time at the ninth grade and junior varsity level. This will help develop him for the future, and will help him to sharpen his skills.