New Names: 5 Of the Most Overlooked QBs In Georgia
Whenever the offseason rolls around, we make it our duty here at Prep Redzone to uncover as many prospects as possible. This means bringing new, never before mentioned names to the table and introducing them to the recruiting scene. Here…
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Continue ReadingWhenever the offseason rolls around, we make it our duty here at Prep Redzone to uncover as many prospects as possible. This means bringing new, never before mentioned names to the table and introducing them to the recruiting scene. Here are 5 overlooked QBs across Georgia who are newly on my radar.
Truell is a dynamic, broad shouldered QB prospect with a knack for making big plays. He comes in at 6’1 210 with good definition. This allows him to confidently stand upright in the pocket and absorb contact well when tucking the ball to run through traffic. He is a strong armed QB prospect with a shot oriented playstyle, rocketing the ball downfield confidently to boom it over cornerbacks and safeties. Truell has good improv skills when the play breaks down and can play detached from his lower body. He has the fluidity in his hips and in his arm to throw the ball across his body into tight windows.
While he will have to develop into more of a field reader at the next level, he has the traits to make every throw on the field and the legs to hold defenses accountable in the run game.
Highlights
Banks Booth
Banks Booth
Booth is a smaller QB in stature, but maximizes his physical traits with max effort and has the big play ability to compensate for size concerns. Booth has several “gun-slinger” QB traits, stemming from his unconventional techniques in the pocket and rifling the ball while drifting and off-balanced. This playstyle often warrants turnovers, but Booth protects the ball at a high level (26 TDs-3 INTs in 2023). He might be close to his peak in terms of arm strength, but he gets every ounce of power out of each throw and is not afraid to zip the ball into tight windows. Even when WRs don’t create separation, he does a good job of hitting his WRs when they are getting out of their breaks, allowing them to hit full stride with the ball. Booth is another “big play” centric QB eval, but he does show on tape the ability to go through progressions and find WRs at different depths of the field.
Kolt McMichael
Kolt McMichael
McMichael is a well-rounded QB prospect with good measurables, improved production each year, and a 12-1 HS record under his belt as a full-time starter. He comes in listed at 6’3 200. He is approaching the peak of his frame, but likely has the room to add a little more weight. McMichael plays with clean mechanics and footwork in the pocket. He appears comfortable operating in a spread scheme with some empty concepts and is not afraid to hang in the pocket while under duress. McMichael is a quick decision maker and can quickly snap from one read to another without looking puzzled or stressed. He has good arm strength, booming the ball with enough power to reach all levels of the field. He has a quick, tight release and stays on top of the football when he drives. This allows him to have more control over the football and get the nose of the ball down, leading to super tight spirals and good shape on the deep ball, ultimately providing WRs with catchable passes .
McMichael plays in an offense with several modern schemes. He should benefit playing in a system that allows him to play point guard, as he can accurately deliver catchable balls to all levels of the field and make the right decisions.
Another note: McMichael played 7 games last fall on a torn ACL, further exemplifying his toughness.
Luke Hooks
Luke Hooks
Hooks broke onto the varsity level this fall and showed plenty of future upside to be excited about. He is listed at 6’0 175 and is noticeably lanky with plenty of room to grow. Hooks has excellent arm strength, which likely comes from his long, fluid throwing motion. He cuts the football when he fires, putting enough zip on it to hit the deep ball and live between the hashes. He is a good athlete with excellent improvisational skills when under duress. He confidently extends plays and creates a new pocket for himself. Before he throws, he does a good job of quickly setting his feet and firing off a clean platform. When he has to throw on the move, his fluid hips and ability to change his arm angle allows him to bend the ball around defenders and to his receivers. With good athleticism, arm strength, and plenty of physical refinement left in the tank, Hooks is a high upside QB prospect who should pick up some D1 attention with another solid senior year.
Gavin Nuckolls
Gavin Nuckolls
Nuckolls is listed at 6’0 160 and isn’t the type of QB that’ll necessarily wow people with his arm talent. However, he plays with a solid understanding of the game and made some impressive plays just by making the correct reads and playing in good timing with WRs. On several reps, he does a good job of looking off safeties and second level defenders, creating pauses in the defense with his eyes and a pump fake. He then does a good job of layering the ball in the newly open spot of the field. His ability to add touch and drop the ball into soft areas of the defense while on the move and while in the pocket is his most impressive attribute. In many ways, his ball placement and timely release compensates for any lack of zip he may have on the ball. Nuckolls can be a chain mover with his legs. He is twitchy and does a good job of dodging rushers in the pocket. There are several small schools that should keep an eye on him over the next few years. By time he’s a senior, I expect his physical maturity and valuable experience as a starter to raise his level of play.