Quarterbacks back and looking for more – part two
For my final offensive returning stat stuffer stories before the 2023 season kicks off, outstate quarterbacks from the southern part of Minnesota dominate the list. This group is also dominated by guys who can do damage with their arms as…
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Continue ReadingFor my final offensive returning stat stuffer stories before the 2023 season kicks off, outstate quarterbacks from the southern part of Minnesota dominate the list. This group is also dominated by guys who can do damage with their arms as well as their legs.
Nick Slater
Nick Slater
Slater gets the ball out quickly with nearly 1800 yards passing as a junior. He gives his receivers a chance to pile up the RAC yards on short throws because of his accuracy and ability to hit his receivers in stride. He has nice touch on his deep throws when he can step up into the pocket. Slater moves effectively and the pocket – both to buy time to throw and to pick up yardage on the ground. He doesn’t need to have his feet set to throw an effective ball. When he has to let the ball fly, he can push the ball downfield with the best quarterbacks in the state.
Grady Guida
Grady Guida
Guida threw for nearly 1600 yards last season. A true dual-threat quarterback, he has excellent balance and athletic ability. With sneaky speed in the open field, he added almost 400 yards on the ground. He can make all the throws while in the pocket with a good combination of touch and arm strength. With his rushing yards, it should be no surprise that the soon-to-be senior throws an accurate ball on the run. Neither was it surprising to see Guida willing to take a hit – both to pick up extra yards on the ground or to buy an extra half second to make a throw as a pass rusher is bearing down on him.
Cooper Freitag
Cooper Freitag
Like all the quarterbacks on this and the previous list – Freitag has a big arm. He is great moving in the pocket and can put plenty of zip on the ball even when he is on the run or is unable to step into his throws. He threw for over 1500 yards with a 63 percent completion rate. The Cougars’ signal-caller is by far the most physical quarterback out of all the athletes on this list. With exactly 900 yards rushing in his junior year, he runs with aggression. He is not going to look to slide – he is going to look to run defenders over. He reads defenses well – whether looking for a receiver, deciding to give or pull the ball on the read option, or deciding to keep or pitch on more traditional option plays.
If you need a deep ball, Heilbrun is your guy. He throws one of the best deep balls out of this group. With just over 1500 yards passing, his highlights are littered with on-the-money deep balls – both to the outside and down the middle of the field. He doesn’t need to be in the pocket to rip the ball downfield. While I wouldn’t consider him a running quarterback, he throws very well on designed rollouts and can be creative in the pocket when his blocking breaks down. He has a strong enough arm to get away with throws most quarterbacks can’t pull off – throwing back against his body and squeezing balls into tight windows.
Highlights
Blake Christianson
Blake Christianson
Christianson is another dual-threat quarterback. Throwing the ball, he generated nearly 1500 yards through the air as a junior. He has plenty of arm strength to hit a deep out or a seam route. Christianson doesn’t need to have his feet set to make a strong throw – he can hit receivers even while being hit. He is becoming more and more of a unicorn in Minnesota – he is comfortable in the shotgun and under center. Running the ball, he is not looking to slide; he is just as likely to make a move in the open field or put his shoulder down to pick up extra yards.