Top-5 Returning 4A/3A Quarterbacks

<strong>#5 Logan Williams - La Grande</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Pure velocity wise, one of the best in small school football; He puts his entire 5-10 frame into his throws and does not hold back. One of the better deep ball throwers in 4A, the accuracy of his passes 25+ yards down field is impeccable. Where a pass needs to be straight line and immediate, the ball barely has any arc from the point it leaves his hands to the point it comes into contact with the receiver. Where a pass needs to lead a receiver across the field or has to avoid the hands of a defender–hence needing considerable arc–Williams is able to consistently place the ball in the perfect position from long range. La Grande can use Williams in the run game with QB lead designs and can rely on his scrambling ability to elongate plays and get out of pressure, and is one of the best in the state off-schedule. On a La Grande team that is loaded coming into the fall, Williams has to be thought of as a first-team all-state candidate. If he were taller, Williams would be a very intriguing collegiate prospect. </span> <strong>#4 [player_tooltip player_id="376148" first="Cory" last="James"] - Estacada</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The criticism of him being a system quarterback falls apart very quickly when you actually watch the film. Yes, Estacada is an option based offense. No, that does not mean his arm is any weaker for it. James has an interesting throwing style, relying on most of his body to put velocity onto his throws rather than the quick snapping of his hips as is common with more traditional quarterbacks. No doubt a dual threat guy, James has the pull away speed of a running back to pair with his throwing abilities that makes him perfect for the Rangers’ offense. Within the structure of an option based offense, with a little Rainier-style ‘Diesel’ mixed in, the receivers are naturally going to have more space to operate with on any average pass play as defenses have to play with heavier and heavier box counts, but this isn’t a legitimate criticism of James’ talents. Put him in virtually any offense on any team in small school football and he would flourish. </span> <strong>#2b [player_tooltip player_id="272302" first="Keith" last="Reed"] - Cascade Christian</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Not the most athletic, does not have the most velocity in his throws, does not have the explosiveness that others have when working off schedule, but certainly the most consistent and sound decision maker 3A has to offer. Despite not having a generationally talented arm Reed has top-tier delivery and accuracy, rarely missing on gimmie throws and easy reads, and when pressured has the presence of mind to either step up in the pocket or avoid contact giving himself a couple more seconds of breathing room in order to make a throw; Not a natural scrambling quarterback, but mobile enough within the pocket to avoid the first wave of rushers. Given weapons to distribute the ball to, Reed can be one of the more efficient quarterbacks available in small school football, maximizing the talent around him. If Cascade Christian makes another Semifinal appearance it is easy to see Reed being considered for first-team all-state status. </span> <strong>#2a Jace Johnson - South Umpqua</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Leader in the clubhouse for 3A offensive player of the year, if not player of the year period. Quick delivery, good velocity, accurate on the move, a true dual threat. Probably the best quarterback at the 3A level on a roll out, potentially the best small school QB on a roll out in general. South Umpqua’s offense last fall was highly potent in large part because of the depth in the receiving core that the Lancers possess, but a receiver is often only as good as his quarterback. Johnson rarely is off target on the short ball, making South Umpqua’s heavy employment of screens all the more deadly. Though Johnson is not used in as many designed runs as his contemporaries, he has the tools to be an effective run threat, as shown by the heavy dosage of Roll Out passes, and has to be respected as such. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Honorable Mentions: Andrew Enders (Nyssa), Kaden Harris (Milwaukie), Colton Campbell (La Pine)</span> <strong>#1 [player_tooltip player_id="376147" first="Shaw" last="Stork"] - Henley</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Potential first-team all-state guy when the season is over. It isn’t just the arm that is unique for 4A this year, but the legs as well. Excellent mobility, excellent ball placement on the move, a guy you can call designed run plays for on any down and anticipate big yardage. Within the pocket Stork can make virtually every throw a coach could want a quarterback to make, even outside routes to the far side of the field. When a play breaks down Stork might be the best “get out of jail free card” in small school football, possessing the legs to keep a play alive, the accuracy on the move to place a ball into an adjusting receivers hands in an awkward position, and the poise to do it all while hearing footsteps chasing. All in all one of the best weapons available in small school will be lining up under center for Henley this fall, and in a 4A landscape that is very fluid, Stork could lead Henley on a deep run. There is a lot to like about Stork in terms of a college prospect moving forward.</span>