Best I Saw: Upperclassman QB at 612Qs Offensive Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year I snagged an invitation to the 612Q's Offensive Showcase at CSP. I had a great time and was able to identify a ton of talented QBs who had serious collegiate upside. This year, the roster expanded to nearly 50 QBs across the Midwest. I've identified 7 upperclassmen (25s/26s) that I think could have a breakout year in 2024. Enjoy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827114' first='Cael' last='Bruning'] 6'4" 180 lbs Spencer (IA) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bruning</strong> may have been a last-second addition to the camp roster, but he dominated the camp from start to finish. With a frame that puts him firmly in the top percentile among QBs, there's a lot to love about this Iowa prospect. <strong>Bruning</strong> can sling the rock all across the field and showed off in my opinion THE best deep-ball placement out of anyone today. His pass velocity was also in the upper echelons of those competing at the camp. I'm not on the PRZ Iowa team, but I would love to see more of <strong>Bruning</strong> in action during his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743246' first='Brayden' last='Shafer'] 6'3" 190 lbs Princeton 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've spoken about <strong>Shafer's</strong> talents repeatedly this offseason and he continues to impress me when I watch him play. When he settles down and hits a rhythm throwing, he's able to make big plays consistently. His footwork and mechanics continue to improve with every outing. He's comfortable sitting back in the pocket and launching bombs downfield and outside of the hashes, but <strong>Shafer</strong> is also willing to bounce around in the pocket or scramble outside if needed. I've seen a lot of good things from <strong>Shafer </strong>recently, and I think he could have a breakout senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489731' first='Kaden' last='Harney'] 6'3" 185 lbs Maple Grove 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Harney</strong> has been among the more hyped QB prospects the Metro has produced recently. With a solid frame and a great arm, he possesses one of the highest ceilings of anyone in his class. Heading into his junior year, he's proven himself to be incredibly well-rounded and shows the ability to hit every route consistently. His footwork and ball placement looked top-notch today. <strong>Harney</strong> put together a great body of work as a sophomore, and I expect his stock to rise immensely over the next couple of months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tanner Rothbauer 6' 165 lbs St. Francis 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest surprises of the camp was sophomore <strong>Tanner Rothbauer</strong>. Coaches across the camp were impressed with his touch, ball placement, and coachability, so much to the point that he was acknowledged for his proficiency by the coaches after the camp. <strong>Rothbauer</strong> started his sophomore season for the AAAAA Fighting Saints, and he looks to build on the hype he's started today with a successful rest of the offseason. If I had to pick a sleeper QB heading into next season, <strong>Rothbauer</strong> might be my guy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='924223' first='Dylan' last='Caspers'] 6' 175 lbs Hopkins 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another junior whose stock has been rising pretty significantly over the past couple of months, <strong>Caspers</strong> was slinging the rock today. The first few things I noticed about him were his release and his consistent ball placement. While others can struggle to repeatedly his receivers in the same window, <strong>Caspers</strong> has no issues delivering strikes that manage to consistently find his target numbers. The ball is typically released out of his hand rapidly as well. Regardless of record, it is always extremely impressive when you see a sophomore start in Minnesota's biggest class. Keep an eye out for <strong>Caspers</strong> in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120576' first='Savy' last='Vath'] 6'2" 165 lbs Rochester John Marshall 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The returning starter for Rochester John Marshall, I was eager to watch <strong>Vath</strong> in person finally, and I wasn't disappointed. When <strong>Vath</strong> wants to hit someone deep, he can easily put a ton of air under the ball and loft one downfield. If he needs to rip one in the pocket, he can do that too. <strong>Vath </strong>was incredibly efficient as a passer last season, amassing over 111 passer rating over 9 games. There may not have been any DBs today, but on his tape, <strong>Vath </strong>excels at hitting tight windows. He's another 2026 I'm very excited about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591982' first='Isaac' last='Belinske-Strauss'] 6' 165 lbs Centennial 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only athlete on this list not to start last season as his team's QB, <strong>Belinske-Strauss</strong> still did more than enough to impress me today. While known primarily for his talents as a DB, <strong>Belinske-Strauss</strong> has been proving himself as a football player, not just a corner. He hit several mid-depth passes consecutively today, each with better zip and touch than the last. That doesn't cover his bases as an athlete, however. <strong>Belinske-Strauss</strong> is a dynamic runner with the ball in his hands, which is excellent considering how Centennial's offense prioritizes pounding the rock. Look out for <strong>Belinske-Strauss</strong> next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->