Kentucky Quarterbacks I Would Offer Right Now

In the last section of my "Kentucky Football Players I Would Offer Right Now" series, I am excited to bring out the list of quarterback talent we have in the state of Kentucky. It is universally agreed upon by many football players and fans of the game that the quarterback position is one of the most impactful in the entire game. Every quarterback has to take the position of team captain of the offense, and be a leader both on offense and when on the bench cheering on their defense. Although many scouts look at the physical attributes that quarterbacks display on the field, we must understand that their gameplay attributes are only 50% of the equation to becoming an elite quarterback. Being mentally tough is the whole other half and determines the difference between an average quarterback and an elite quarterback. Today, I will be listing 5 players who effectively specialize in mental toughness and play some great football at the quarterback position.   [player_tooltip player_id='324210' first='Cooper' last='Stone'] | 6-2,190lbs. Class of 2023 | Bethlehem High School, KY | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Eqp4J" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Eqp4J">Tape:</a>   Cooper adds consistency and reliance when he is your quarterback. The 6-2 upcoming senior is a solid pocket passer that maintains accurate throws that gets the football down the field onto enemy territory. His footwork out of the pocket works to quickly adjust to a blitz and still make a quick and accurate throw to his receiver. Although he has shown great flashes of throwing the football on the run, his talent really lies when he is throwing from the pocket. I believe any school should look into Cooper when looking for a quarterback that can be reliable with throwing the football and getting the ball down the field. However, Cooper still has one year left of high school ball to further enhance his game so I would wait to see what he truly holds in the tank after this fall season.   Donnelly Tran | 6-0,175lbs. Class of 2023 | Fairdale High School, KY | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GS77m" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GS77m">Tape:</a>   Donnelly is a hidden gem playing quarterback in the Louisville area. I was absolutely shocked to find no reports of the young man being offered anything from schools. Donnelly has astonishing footwork that can be compared to any DI QB, and his ability to quickly get the ball out of his hands to the receiver is top-notch. What’s also remarkable about Donnelly is that he seems to not be bothered by incoming blitz pressure whenever he is throwing the ball. Even with little room to throw, Donnelly can still effectively get the football into the hands of the receiver while throwing on the run. I also find it interesting how he starts his play action on the opposite side of his throwing arm to throw the defense off-guard like he is going to run and then switches back to throw a 30 yd completion. He still has one year left to show off his skills but to me, he has already proven that he has the talent and the brains to play quarterback at the next level. Do not sleep on this man!   Andrew Hickey | 6-1,170lbs. Class of 2025 | Scott County High School, KY | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUn02" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUn02">Tape:</a>   Andrew is gifted with insanely quick reflexes that enable him to get his feet set in the pocket for quick throws when under pressure. With this in mind, Andrew is the perfect quarterback to have when looking for a reliable QB that can throw effectively under pressure. Most of the quarterbacks I see it takes on an average of 1-1.5 seconds to get their feet completely set in the pocket after the ball is snapped. For Andrew, his speed is 2x faster to get set in the pocket, and that does not allow the defense any time to get to him on a blitz. Not only can Andrew complete quick throws, but he can also makes quick decisions on where to throw when he has to switch up from the intended receiver. Even with a weak offensive line, Hickey can minimize the risk of a weak oline with his quick and effective play at quarterback. Especially since he is only going to be a sophomore, his skills can only grow from this point of time. Lots of potential in this kid to become elite and make it to the next level.   Russ Osborne | 6-0,170lbs. Class of 2024 | Shelby Valley High School, KY | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GHAvd" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GHAvd">Tape:</a>   Like Andrew above, Russ is exceptionally skilled at throwing to his receivers quickly and accurately. Russ’s bullet throws are incredible to watch, especially when he is throwing on the run. Russ’s game reminds me much of Russell Wilson when throwing on the run. Both quarterbacks display elite footwork that allows them to throw those accurate bullet passes to their receivers with little worry of defensive pressure. Also, Russ can run with the football when applied pressure by the defense. The upcoming junior is the perfect quarterback to have in your college arsenal when you are looking for someone that is a problem solver. In this case, Russ solves the issue of any blitz coverage with his talented play. I would definitely place my ticket on seeing Russ becoming a college quarterback in the near future.   [player_tooltip player_id='316809' first='Jackson' last='Hepner'] | 6-1,190lbs. Class of 2024 | Trinity High School, KY | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Fzyxk" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Fzyxk">Tape:</a>   Jackson is an extremely crafty QB that can still find a way to gain some positive yardage despite extreme defensive pressure. Jackson is one of the more accurate QBs in the Louisville area that is skilled at ball placement when throwing to his receivers. Along with that, the young man makes consistently solid pocket reads that enable him to find an open gap for either the receiver or for him to run to gain extra yardage. What is bizarre as well is the throws Jackson makes a lot and still places the ball in the perfect spot for the receiver. Like Patrick Mahomes, Jackson can be seen throwing sidearm away from his body and still completing a 25+ yard completion to his receiver which is spectacular to watch. Especially since Jackson has to play against the best of the best in the state of Kentucky (Louisville Male, St.Xavier, etc) every year, the way his talent still shows against the best of the best truly displays what his future has in store for him. I would make sure to place my offers for Jackson now before other recruiters begin to do so.

In the last section of my "Kentucky Football Players I Would Offer Right Now" series, I am excited to bring out the list of quarterback talent we have in the state of Kentucky. It is universally agreed upon by many football players and fans of the game that the quarterback position is one of the most impactful in the entire game. Every quarterback has to take the position of team captain of the offense, and be a leader both on offense and when on the bench cheering on their defense. Although many scouts look at the physical attributes that quarterbacks display on the field, we must understand that their gameplay attributes are only 50% of the equation to becoming an elite quarterback. Being mentally tough is the whole other half and determines the difference between an average quarterback and an elite quarterback. Today, I will be listing 5 players who effectively specialize in mental toughness and play some great football at the quarterback position.