2023 Kickoff Series: QB Preview
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With the 2023 prep football season on the horizon in the state of Colorado, the excitement is palpable. As we approach kickoff, in this article we’ll take a look at some of the state’s top passers heading into the season;…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2023 prep football season on the horizon in the state of Colorado, the excitement is palpable. As we approach kickoff, in this article we’ll take a look at some of the state’s top passers heading into the season; with some being familiar names and others being quarterbacks that are just beginning to make their presence felt. With that being said, let’s take a look at four of the most prolific passers in the state heading into 2023.
Austyn Modrzewski Austyn Modrzewski 6'5" | 205 lbs | QB Mountain Vista | 2025 State CO , Mountain Vista Golden Eagles (QB)(Jr.)(13) – Starting off the list, we have arguably the state’s top returning passer and a name many are familiar with in Austyn Modrzewski Austyn Modrzewski 6'5" | 205 lbs | QB Mountain Vista | 2025 State CO . Entering 2023, the junior signal caller will look to lead a talented Golden Eagles team that expects to build off of a strong 2022 season, where Mountain Vista finished the year 7-3 (3-2 in conference) and earned a birth in the 5A state playoffs. Looking back at the numbers from Modrzewski’s sophomore season, it’s easy to see why he and Mountain Vista are expected to have a strong year as Modrzewski accounted for an impressive 3,327 yards passing and 34 passing touchdowns against just 12 interceptions while also posting a QBR of 113.8, with his passing yardage total being the second highest of any passer in the state last season while also tying for third in touchdown passes thrown. When you watch Modrzewski’s tape from the 2022 season, the first thing that jumps out is how accurate of a passer he is, as his passes are consistently hitting his receivers in stride or in between defenders who are sitting in zone coverage, showing pinpoint ball placement. Poised passer that displays good pocket presence and is not easily rattled by the opposing pass rush. Highly intelligent QB that can quickly work through his progressions. Displays good arm strength that allows him to make most throws at every level of the field. Modrzewski is currently ranked the top QB in the state and the number one player overall for the class of 2025, and judging by his production and his tape, it’s entirely a well-deserved ranking. If his sophomore season in 2022 was any indication, the blue-chip QB prospect and the Golden Eagles will have a strong year in 2023.
Blake Barnett Blake Barnett 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Erie | 2024 State CO , Erie Tigers (QB)(Sr.)(3) – Continuing with our list, we move onto another well-known passer in the state of Colorado and that’s Erie’s senior QB Blake Barnett Blake Barnett 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Erie | 2024 State CO . The Kansas State commit is entering his third year as the starting QB for the Erie offense with high expectations for him and the Tigers in 2023 after finishing the 2022 season one win short of a berth in the 4A state championship game. There’s good reason to believe that Barnett will be one of the state’s top QBs and players overall entering the season given how strong his junior campaign was as the dual-threat signal caller accounted for 2,420 yards passing and 26 passing touchdowns against just 5 interceptions as well as a QBR of 112.2, while also registering 1,077 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns on the ground. Looking at the blue-chip passer’s film from 2022, you can see that he’s a big, powerful, and extremely athletic QB that looks more like a RB with the ball in his hands than a QB. Highly explosive runner that can take it the distance if given the smallest amount of daylight. Well balanced, highly physical runner that can gain the tough yards in between the tackles while also being able to run through arm-tackles/smaller defenders at the point-of-contact. Very strong-armed passer that generates more than enough velocity to hit all the throws at every level of the field, routinely stretching the back end of the defense with his deep balls. Extremely quick release with a ball that seems to jump out of his hand. Exceptionally accurate passer at every level of the field, with consistent ball placement on short, intermediate, and deep passes. Displays incredible accuracy when off-platform, on-the-run, or when being forced to ad-lib. Smart passer that rarely makes bad decisions with the ball that lead to turnovers. Given Barnett’s combination of production, tape, and size (6’2, 215 lbs) it’s not hard to see why he’s such a prized recruit. After almost leading the Tigers to a 4A state title in 2022, Barnett will look to finish the job in 2023 before heading to Manhattan, Kansas in 2024.
Ryland Reetz, Estes Park Bobcats (QB)(Sr.)(4) – As we focused on well-known QBs in our previous two entries, we’ll now shift our attention to a QB who is not as well-known as Modrzewski or Barnett, but is never-the-less just as talented in Estes Park senior signal-caller Ryland Reetz. Reetz helped led the Bobcats to a 7-2 record last year, with the senior passer consistently looking like the best player on the field against almost every opponent Estes Park played. Despite playing at the 1A level, Reetz cemented his status as one of the state’s top QBs with the numbers he put up last year during his junior campaign as he registered 2,713 yards passing and 31 passing touchdowns against just 14 interceptions, while also posting a QBR of 115.5; making him one of the most prolific passers in the state (regardless of division) in 2022. Turning to the tape of Reetz’s 2022 season, you can immediately see that he is a tall, long-armed passer with enough mobility to move around in the pocket and extend time to find a receiver downfield. Smooth, over-the-top release that allows him to get the ball out quickly in the face of pressure without passes being batted down at the line. Strong armed passer that can get enough on his deep balls to stretch the defense and put pressure on deep defenders in single or two high coverage. Savvy, intelligent QB that understands the structure of a defense and how to attack it while not forcing throws into low-win situations. Good processing speed, as he displays the requisite ability to go through his progressions in a quick and timely manner. Despite his stellar junior season and high expectations for 2023, Reetz isn’t currently ranked on any recruiting boards with the lower level of competition that Estes Park plays at probably explaining why. However, it’s very obvious that Reetz is an incredibly talented player that has all the tools to play at the collegiate level and will look to lead the Bobcats to a strong season in 2023.
Derek Hester Derek Hester 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Palmer Ridge | 2024 State CO , Palmer Ridge Bears (QB)(Sr.)(4) – While I have written about Hester several times in the past, much like Reetz, I feel like Hester isn’t getting his fair dues in recruiting circles given how talented of a player he is. In 2022, Hester helped lead a very well-rounded Palmer Ridge team to the doorstep of a 4A state championship and an undefeated season, narrowly losing in the 4A state semifinals to the Loveland Red Wolves. During his junior season in 2022, Hester made his presence felt as a passer and a runner against almost every opponent that the Bears faced as he accounted for 1,777 yards passing with 14 passing touchdowns against just 4 interceptions and a QBR of 101.5 through the air, while also registering 871 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdowns on the ground as well. When you dive into the film from Hester’s junior year, you can see he displays outstanding accuracy at all levels of the field. Good pocket presence allows him to keep his eyes downfield while avoiding the rush. Shows an ability to throw accurately from different arm angles and while being off-platform. Displays poise and composure when forced to ad-lib outside of structure. Adequate arm strength allows him to threaten all three levels if thrown with anticipation. Displays outstanding ball placement on throws that require touch on the boundary or in the middle of the field. Shows good ability as a ball carrier, presenting a 2nd dimension to his game that makes it harder for defenses to defend against him. Deceptive but dangerous athleticism that allows him to create plays and gain chunks of yards when forced to scramble or on designed runs when he’s asked to carry the load. Given his production, frame (6’1, 175 lbs), and tape from 2022, it’s rather surprising to see that Hester is only ranked the number 12 QB and the number 111 player overall in the state for the class of 2024. If Hester can continue to eliminate turnovers, grow as a passer, and lead Palmer Ridge to an undefeated season and 4A state title, there’s no reason to believe he won’t generate more buzz on the recruiting trail before graduating in 2024.