Twitter Film Study Pt. 3: Five C/O ’25 QBs Under the Microscope
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In the third rendition of ‘Twitter Film Study’ we’re sticking with players gearing up for their senior year. This time, taking a close look at five quarterbacks who are sure to light up scoreboards across the state in their final…
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Continue ReadingIn the third rendition of ‘Twitter Film Study’ we’re sticking with players gearing up for their senior year. This time, taking a close look at five quarterbacks who are sure to light up scoreboards across the state in their final season. These five players are all really highlighting that there are different ways to win football games in 2024 – with different schemes and play styles, they’re all still able to produce at a high level. There’s no doubt that Arizona is in good hands next fall.
Braylen Rooney Braylen Rooney 6’5″ | 200 lbs | QB Arcadia | 2025 State AZ can intimidate Arcadia’s opponents simply by walking out onto the field. Listed at 6’5” 200lbs., he never has an issue with seeing over the line of scrimmage. That massive frame is certainly a contributor to his top-tier arm strength, too. Rooney has the power to throw it over the top of any defense. What stands out to me more than the power, is the accuracy. Even when he’s on the run, he doesn’t loose that ability to consistently place the ball right where he wants it. It’s more than just hitting the receivers in the hands though, Rooney knows where the ball needs to be in order to keep it out of harm’s way. He finished the season with 21 touchdowns to just five interceptions, showcasing his good decision making. Along with accuracy, Rooney also has excellent touch on his throws. Time and time again he’s seen putting just the right amount of air on the ball to get it over the second level defenders, but come back down before defensive backs are able to make a play. Naturally, being his size, he’s incredibly hard to bring down. Even with free rushers heading straight for him, he’s able to keep his footing and power through the contact then use his surprisingly quick footing to get out of the pocket and keep the play alive. With these tools and this type of consistency, Rooney is certain to see his stock rise in his final high school season.
The first thing that stands out when watching Robert Knorr Robert Knorr 6’1″ | 175 lbs | QB Mountain Pointe | 2025 State AZ ‘s film is his ability to feel the rush without taking his eyes off the play as it develops. He does a great job manuevering around the pocket, gliding gracefully without frantically leaving it too early. Even though Korr may not’ve had much for rushing yards on the season, that shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of athleticism. In fact, if he started to look to run a bit more often I feel he’d excel at it and and add another dimension to his game. Even so, he isn’t running often because he’s always looking for the best throw. You can clearly see him taking the time to go through his progressions, even when he’s leaving the pocket. He consistelntly shows a really good balance between taking what the defense is giving him, and seizing opportunities to strike down the field. He can truly beat you by slowly and methodically moving the ball down the field, or by throwing it over the top and adding points in a hurry. Mechanically, Knorr is very sound. He doesn’t seem to have any issues with it right now, but a higher release point could help to prevent batted balls at the next level, where there’s a significant size jump, especially up front. His footwork is impressive for anyone at the high school level, and helped keep plays alive for his offense throughout the entire season. As he goes into his senior year, Knorr is a player coaches should be watching closely.
Every time I watch Charlie LeVinus Charlie LeVinus 6’2″ | 190 lbs | QB Paradise Valley | 2025 State AZ , I like his game even more; and he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite quarterbacks to watch in the state of Arizona. It’s the way he plays the position that’s truly captivating to me. Starting with just his form, his throwing motion looks very natural. His arm speed is so quick that it leads to him having incredible zip on his passes. His lower half form is just as impressive as his upper half – generating power with his hips and using his quick feet to dance around defenders. LeVinus uses that quickness in the running game too; where he doesn’t necessarily have the top-end speed to break away from defenders, but he’s been known to make a few miss before finally being brought to the ground. With a really impressive skillset, perhaps the most impressive part of it is how well he can put it all together. LeVinus has a high football IQ and it shows in the way he uses his eyes to move defenders around and throw people open to the space he just created, or using the threat of the run because he knows it will pull a defender from one of his receivers. He plays with such a calm, yet confident, feel to him. With another year of experience under his belt, there’s no telling what he’ll be able to do in his senior year.
Highlights
Jase Ashley Jase Ashley 6’0″ | 175 lbs | QB Horizon | 2025 State AZ is a natural athlete in the backfield for Horizon. He makes throwing on the run look easy. Generating plenty of torque with his lower half, he has impressive arm strength while he’s on the move. Horizon’s offensive scheme played into his strengths, often rolling him and the offensive linemen out to use that advantage. Ashley seems to have a knack for making big plays, and they almost always involve his legs – he finished this past season with over 600 yards on the ground and added 11 touchdowns. Whether that’s an explosive run play to get the offense rolling, or just using his legs to by himself and his receivers more time. Maybe the most impressive part of Ashley’s game is his accuracy throwing over the middle. Attacking the middle of the field is something that’s crucial at the next level, and Ashley will hit both his tight end, and receivers in that open area without hesitation. He also shows how much power he has in his arm, able to zip the ball into tight crossing windows before defenders can make a play on the ball. Ashley’s already a very technically sound quarterback, and he’s continuing to hone that in through the offseason. He’s sure to attract plenty of attention as he heads into his senior year.
Highlights
Colton Buckingham Colton Buckingham 6’3″ | 185 lbs | QB Coconino | 2025 State AZ has both a big frame and a big arm. It’s more than just arm strength, though; he plays with great touch and throws what seems to be a really catchable ball. He does a phenomenal job using his eyes to move defenders and create openings for his receivers. Sometimes it’s the must subtle of looks that get defenders to bite just a half a step, and that’s all he needs to fit the ball in behind them. Buckingham also rarely puts the ball in harm’s way when he goes down the sideline, which can be really difficult to do. Not only is he able to get it up ove the defenders, but having the touch to keep it in range and give his receivers a chance time and time again is incredibly impressive. I would like to see Buckingham go through more of his reads when he has the time to do so, he often goes right to that first option. That’s no fault of his own, though. In fact, it’s more of a testament to his receivers and the offensive scheme – the first option is open so often that they rarely have to look to the second. Still, it’s something that will be really important at the next level. At 6’3” with a very strong base and surprising quickness for someone his size, Buckingham has all the physical tools to excel at the next level. Pairing that with his touch and accuracy, he’s a quarterback coaches are going to want to get ahold of.