Stock Up Showcase Quarterback Accolades

<p>Our Prep Redzone Carolinas Stock Up Showcase was a huge success. Over the next few days we'll have scouting reports on every player in attendance. First, I wanted to break down some of the top performers in a different way.</p>   <p>The quarterback group in attendance on Sunday was special. I've been attending similar camps for a decade, and I've never seen a group of quarterbacks as accurate throughout the day as this one. So, to break them down, I'm giving several guys in attendance specific accolades to help differentiate their skill sets.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Stock Up Carolina Showcase Quarterbacks</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Biggest Arm: [player_tooltip player_id='525514' first='Cole' last='Hough'], South Meck</h3>   <p>Hough won the Biggest Arm Award by outthrowing the rest of the quarterbacks by a wide margin in the long toss with a 64-yard bomb. But that arm strength was far more practical throughout the day than a long throw. Hough's arm strength allowed him to fit balls over the middle with velocity. Whether it was on layered throws like posts and corners, balls over the middle like dig routes, or hitches and outs, his arm strength translated to all fields. He's only a sophomore, and the tools are there to be a high-level quarterback as he ages.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Most Accurate: </h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Captain Award: [player_tooltip player_id='1515057' first='Aiden' last='Fitzgerald'], Lugoff-Elgin</h3>   <p>I enjoyed watching Fitzgerald all morning, even when he wasn't throwing. I found myself drawn toward Fitzgerald, and as I make up the names of some of these accolades, the word "Captain" comes to mind. Not only was he in control of his reps, clearly communicating with his receivers and then often hitting them in stride, but when he had the chance, he talked to many other players, joking with them, complimenting their team or play, or just making conversation. As someone who rarely covers the Palmetto State anymore, he's a guy I immediately thought I'd want as my quarterback.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Awaiting an Opportunity: [player_tooltip player_id='1321021' first='Tyler' last='Druzbik'], Butler; [player_tooltip player_id='1344583' first='Brayden' last='Moore'], River Bluff</h3>   <p>There were several guys in attendance that have little varsity film. Two of those guys really stood out. </p>   <p>We've had Druzbik on the radar for a while but he isn't yet a full-time varsity starter. He's played well in limited action, not afraid to push the ball down the field. Sunday, he was accurate and took to the teaching well when prompted to change some things with his footwork and follow through.</p>   <p>Moore played in part of every game this season but only attempted 97 passes this year, starting a couple of games throughout. He looked like a veteran though with a lot of poise. I was impressed with his quick release and mature footwork, in addition to his accuracy.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Small School Standout: [player_tooltip player_id='1159651' first='John' last='Kirkpatrick'], Randleman; [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'], Heathwood Hall</h3>   <p>Kirkpatrick had some of the best numbers in North Carolina 2A ball this year. Sometimes though, a guy can come through and succeed at that level based off of either his own athleticism or the athleticism of his teammates. Kirkpatrick proved he can make all the throws and his success isn't because he occasionally throws to open receivers. He had two post routes dimes that wowed me and the coaches. </p>   <p>Likewise, Belk showed out as a private school quarterback in a sea of guys from bigger public schools. He had a strong arm and good mechanics. Those things should continue to help the dual-threat quarterback, who showed out in athletic testing as well.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Outplayed the Stats: [player_tooltip player_id='1278252' first='Lincoln' last='Carlberg'], Cox Mill</h3>   <p>Carlberg is a high-upside sophomore who struggled to find a rhythm during a season in which he wasn't the primary starter but looked calm and in control on Sunday. Carlberg looks like a guy who could have a tremendous season next year as he continues to develop. He made some strong throws, especially outside the numbers.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Newly On the Radar: [player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey'], Clover; [player_tooltip player_id='284135' first='Kamren' last='Long'], Carolina Forest </h3>   <p>While I don't cover South Carolina as often, and I don't have anything to do with those rankings, Shealey and Long are both unranked prospects that looked excellent.</p>   <p>Shealey has great size, but still maintained a compact, quick throwing motion. He doesn't need much windup to deliver with velocity and precision.</p>   <p>Long was solid all day. He tested well and then excelled in drills. He was accurate and with another inch or two in height, he could be a high-level prospect.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Most Surprising: [player_tooltip player_id='856683' first='Zachary' last='Evans'], Westover; [player_tooltip player_id='1574942' first='Landon' last='Stewart'], Cox Mill</h3>   <p>I go into every one of these camps with expectations. And there are always a few guys who exceed those expectations. I did not expect either Stewart and Evans to be among the better quarterbacks, given their modest seasons, and yet each looked excellent on Sunday. </p>   <p>Stewart was quick and decisive and delivered with accuracy. He threw a catchable ball, and the receivers liked working with him. His arm was much stronger than I'd expected, and it's gotten stronger since his early-season film</p>   <p>What can I say about Evans? I didn't watch him much during testing because I didn't expect to need to get eyes on the 2025 prospect with so many other players in attendance. As we got to drills and live throws, though, he kept popping. He was the most consistent quarterback in attendance and I had multiple coaches and parents tell me he was the best quarterback there. Let's find Evans a home because if that's what he looks like on a random Sunday morning, despite limited film, some Division II team can develop him into a multi-year starter.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Looked the Part: [player_tooltip player_id='870217' first='Tanner' last='Payne'], West Carteret; [player_tooltip player_id='1228977' first='Chance' last='Cato'], Olympic </h3>   <p>If you read my camp preview, you know these were the two guys I expected to be the benchmarks. These are the guys I know will be among the best, and if other guys challenge them, it says a lot about the challengers.</p>   <p>That also means I have high expectations for the pace-setters. Neither Payne nor Cato disappointed.</p>   <p>Cato was once again one of the best passers a week after being named one of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/cfi-winter-showcase-top-quarterbacks-2/">top quarterback performers</a> at the CFI Winter Showcase. He has the size, arm talent, and poise to be a Division I passer. Even when his high release causes the occasional pass to sail, he can quickly correct on the next rep.</p>   <p>Payne has all the tools to be a Division I starter. He's calm, accurate, and has a strong arm. His footwork has improved from some of his early-season film and he's getting more drive than he used to, without having to take an extra hitch in his step, like I've seen him have to do in the past.</p>

Our Prep Redzone Carolinas Stock Up Showcase was a huge success. Over the next few days we'll have scouting reports on every player in attendance. First, I wanted to break down some of the top performers in a different way.