Over-Performing Underclassmen Pt. 1: Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks are often the face of a team, and it's not just the upperclassmen getting all the attention this season. There's a group of underclassmen QBs who are quietly (others not-so-quietly) putting together some impressive performances. Whether it's strategically dissecting a defense, showing off their arm talent, or simply leading their teams with confidence, these young signal-callers are proving they belong.   In this article, we're highlighting eight standout underclassmen quarterbacks who are making waves. These young talents are impressing fans and coaches alike with their potential. They may not have years of experience under their belts yet, but they're showing real promise on the field. Let's take a closer look at the rising stars at the quarterback position.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sophomores</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='883279' first='Kael' last='Snyder'] was thrown into the starting lineup this year after a late summer transfer. Tasked with leading a Perry offense loaded with talent, he quickly found his stride and exceeded expectations right from the start — kicking off the season with an impressive five-touchdown performance. I broke down some of Snyder's film before he had been named the starter, and was incredibly impressed with what I saw:   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> With an extremely fluid arm motion, he has a smooth delivery and the ball comes out with decent zip. As a runner, he again uses that length with really long strides giving him nice speed... Snyder shows really nice touch and impressive accuracy throwing over the middle of the field, which is crucial in today's game. He [also] does a great job of using his eyes to move defenders and open up throwing lanes. </blockquote>   Watching what he's done so far this season, it's been exactly that, and more. Snyder's quick delivery has been on full display, getting the ball out from multiple arm angles without compromising accuracy. His legs consistently get him out of bad situations in the pocket and he quickly gets his eyes back upfield. What's been most impressive thus far is Snyder's understanding of how to attack the defense. He seems to know where the weaknesses are as well as how to quickly go through his progressions. His play as a sophomore has already earned him a D1 offer to Boise State Football.     Will Mencl may not have the other-worldly passing stats that some of the other players on this list are putting up, but that's in no way due to his play on the field. In a bit of a unique situation, Mencl has been splitting reps at the position through the first half of the season; essentially only playing half of each game. Averaging 130 yards and completing 70 percent of his passes through those halves of football, Mencl has shown some really impressive natural arm strength. He's not at all afraid to zip the ball into tight windows, but still rarely puts the ball in harm's way. He adds another dimension to his game with his legs, averaging 7.6 yards a carry and adding four scores. Mencl is a prospect that will garner lots of attention as he continues to develop and get more reps under his belt.     Even when he's wrapped up in the backfield with seemingly no escape, the play's never over until the whistle is blown when Kannin Hale has the ball. His legs can get him out of just about any situation and are often the catalyst for explosive plays for Combs' offense. Hale does a nice job of finding the open receiver and not getting too locked in on a single target As he continues to grow and develop, his arm will only get stronger which will only make him more dangerous for opposing defenses. With his dual-threat ability, Hale is a player that coaches should keep an eye on as he works through the rest of his sophomore year and beyond.     [player_tooltip player_id='1603398' first='Gavin' last='Wyler'] has some pristine mechanics in the pocket, and out. You can tell it's something he really focuses on with the consistency and refinement. His dropback is smooth, his hands and feet always seem to be moving in rythm, and he has a quick and compact delivery with nice wrist whip. Even down to the little details like ripping the ball to his back shoulder when rolling out of the pocket and immediately bringing the ball back to the load position to be ready to deliver a strike — Wyler is a textbook example of quarterback mechanics.     [player_tooltip player_id='1603426' first='Michael' last='Anguiano'] has a rocket for an arm and isn't afraid to use it. Not just launching the ball down the field, but firing it through tight windows as well, his receivers always have to be ready to handle the heat. Another player with nice upper body mechanics, he has a very smooth delivery. Not being the biggest player, standing a little taller in the pocket could help him see the defense when he faces some of the bigger defensive lines. Even with that, Anguiano has proven that he can stand in there and make difficult throws even with pressure barreling down on him. He regularly releases the ball just before taking a big hit and quickly pops back up, ready for the next one. That type of toughness is great to see from a quarterback and is something coaches will likely take note of.     I got to see [player_tooltip player_id='884431' first='Luke' last='Farrell'] throw at the PRZ Arizona Combine over the summer and was really impressed with his fluid motion and accuracy down the field. His first varsity action had him off to a hot start throwing for 217 yards and two touchdowns in a tough 52-44 loss to Casa Grande. He averaged 20 yards a completion on the day and really showcased the accuracy on his deep ball. Even though the offense went into a bit of a skid through the next three games — failing to score more than 14 points in any of them — Farrell still managed to impress as he continues to come into his own as both a passer and a leader. With good size and his long arms providing some natural arm strength, Farrell is a player I'm excited to follow closely as he works through the rest of his high school career.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Freshman</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1327948' first='Valentine' last='Antillon'] has his high school career off to a hot start through the first half of his freshman year. With ten touchdowns in Buckeye Union's first five games, he's done a really nice job of controlling drives and being safe when the offense gets into the redzone. In a head-to-head matchup with another quarterback on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='1603426' first='Michael' last='Anguiano'], the two had an epic duel of underclassmen and finished with 621 passing yards and seven total touchdowns between the two. Antillon completed 82% of his passes on the day, including four for touchdowns, as Buckeye Union came away with the 50-21 victory. With his maturity and clear passion for the game, Antillon could really blossom into a top quarterback as he continues to grow as a player.     Even though — barring injury — Zealand Danielson isn't Saguaro's starting quarterback due to transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='739443' first='Marcel' last='Jones'], becoming eligible, no list of over-performing underclassmen would be complete without Danielson on it. He averaged 215 yards on more than 20 completions per game through his time as the starter. I recently broke down some of his early performances and these were the key takeaways:   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> His mechanics are really refined and his quick delivery allows him to get the ball out before the pass rush can get home. I've been really impressed with Danielson's arm strength at such a young age. </blockquote>   Although I may be unsure what the future holds for Danielson, the one thing I am sure of is that the talent and poise he's shown in his short time as a starter will ensure he remains a name to watch in the years to come.

Quarterbacks are often the face of a team, and it's not just the upperclassmen getting all the attention this season. There's a group of underclassmen QBs who are quietly (others not-so-quietly) putting together some impressive performances. Whether it's strategically dissecting a defense, showing off their arm talent, or simply leading their teams with confidence, these young signal-callers are proving they belong.