#PRZTN Crystal Ball: Breakthrough Quarterbacks
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Each position will have the best guys at the top but there are always prospects who jump to the front of the recruiting scene after continued work throughout the off-season and we believe these QB’s below are legit ball players…
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Continue ReadingEach position will have the best guys at the top but there are always prospects who jump to the front of the recruiting scene after continued work throughout the off-season and we believe these QB’s below are legit ball players that will breakthrough over the coming months.
(QB) Tate Surber Tate Surber 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2025 TN – McKenzie
– Holding current offers from North Alabama and UT-Martin, Surber is on the brink of breaking out into one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the state for the #TN2025 class. Reasons for that is because of his size, mechanics and arm power along with his ability to potentially make all throws you see on the college level. While we are in the early stages of the 2025 cycle, I foresee Surber landing plenty of strong offers over the next few months, especially as he hits the camp scene and displays his abilities in person. This guy is a top five ranked QB by #PRZTN that will remain with that status throughout this recruiting year.
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(QB) Brady Hughes Brady Hughes 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB MUS | 2025 TN – MUS
– Hughes is a hidden gem in my books that has the mechanics, arm talent and mental makeup to excel on the collegiate gridiron. He is just waiting on those opportunities to come his way and I believe they will in time. What I like most about this Memphis area product is his mobility in and out of the pocket as well as his ability to keep his eyes down field and deliver the ball with accuracy. College coaches around the country are paying attention to Hughes and keeping tabs on his off-season progression, which seems to be going well. I think once the Owls quarterback gets into camps and displays his arm in person, coaches will finally get on board.
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(QB) Tyler Travers Tyler Travers 6'5" | 215 lbs | QB Mt. Juliet | 2025 State TN – Mt. Juliet
– A massive presence behind center, Travers sports some of the best physical traits of all quarterbacks in the #TN2025 class and I think if he continues to work on his game, the college coaches will get on board with bringing him into the fold. Arm power and zip are the two immediate things I like when you turn on his film. If Travers can work on his mechanics a little more while continuing to develop his mobility, Power Four programs could eventually get involved with an offer. This guy has as much upside from a pure pocket passing standpoint as anybody in the state, so it will be interesting to watch his progression over the next few months.
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(QB) Sam Evitts Sam Evitts 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Sequatchie County | 2025 TN – Sequatchie Co.
– Evitts has the size, arm talent and football smarts to become a hotly pursued recruit, however those offers have yet to arrive but I think they will in time. Everything about this Chattanooga passer says that he is in store for a breakthrough this off-season as he brings a lot of tools to the football field that collegiate coaches would enjoy developing. The offers have yet to come but Evitts is receiving interest from the likes of Columbia, Cornell, MTSU, New Hampshire, Tennessee St., Villanova and others. He needs more time to develop but the upside is certainly there and that’s why we see a breakout coming for this East Tennessee signal caller.
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(QB) Jayden Neal Jayden Neal 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Knox. Catholic | 2025 TN – Knox. Catholic
– Neal returns for the 2024 season as one of the more productive quarterbacks in the state as he put up some big numbers within a young Knox. Catholic offense last year. His junior film should warrant looks for multiple college programs across the country going into the Spring months as I feel Neal is on the threshold of breaking out into an offered prospect. The one thing that might hold some schools back is his size but I don’t think it matters as Neal can spin it and he has a good feel for reading defenses that translates well to the next level. His work over the coming months during camp season should prove his worth for offers and interest from some serious football programs across the nation.
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(QB) Grant Troutman Grant Troutman 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Collierville | 2025 TN – Collierville
– The biggest sleeper on this list when it comes to Power Program abilities is this Memphis area product that has low tread on his tires but sports the college size and arm to see his recruitment take off at some point down the road. His breakthrough may not come till the actual season itself when Troutman is able to put together enough film to prove his worth to college coaches. I think that will begin this Spring during practice and continue this summer into college camps where this 6 ‘3 power arm out Memphis will show off the upside I saw last Fall during the 6A playoffs.
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(QB) Joseph Derrick Joseph Derrick 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Father Ryan | 2025 TN – Father Ryan
– Much like the guy above, Derrick has yet to become the #1 guy under center but that looks to change this Fall where I think this Mid-Tennessee product will become a pursued college prospect. The Fighting Irish rising senior had to sit behind a future college guy in JoJo Crump JoJo Crump 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Father Ryan | 2024 State TN the past few years but this off-season, it’s his turn to shine and believe Derrick has the size and arm talent to reach the next level. It may take some time for his breakthrough to happen but I believe it will at some point as his film shows the potential for Derrick to become one of the better pocket passers not just in the Mid-Tennessee region but the entire state. We shall see how that turns out but this guy is certainly a “sleeper” to pay attention to down the road.
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(QB) Johnny Jackson Johnny Jackson 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Giles Co. | 2025 TN – Giles Co.
– Last year as a junior, Jackson led his Bobcats team to another region title but also established himself as one of the better dual threat quarterbacks from our #TN2025 class. This 6’2 lefty displays excellent athleticism and mobility on film along with a strong arm that can push the ball down field. Those traits will need to be developed much further this off-season but I believe Jackson can prove over the course of the Spring and Summer months that he is worthy of college looks. He sports the physical build to compete on the next level, so it’s all about increasing his passing abilities to obtain those wanted offers.