The Film Room: #TN2026 Quarterbacks

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The off-season is here, which means it's time to dive back into the lab, into the film room and breakdown player highlights. Here we provide in-depth scouting on five quarterbacks to know about moving forward. </h2>   <p></p>   <p><strong>(QB) [player_tooltip player_id='402540' first='Femi' last='Babalola'] - Ravenwood</strong></p>   <p>- One of the better pure pocket passers coming out of our #TN2026 class is this Williamson County native that brings a lot of strong tools and traits to the playing field that translates well to the D1 level. The first thing you like about Babalola is his overall size and presence behind center. The Raptors rising senior has the look (6'3 205) of a college guy and the frame to continue getting bigger moving forward. His arm strength and mechanics are two other immediate traits that stand out when watching his junior film. Babalola has a smooth throwing motion while standing tall and strong in the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield for the open receiver. </p>   <p>This is a pass first quarterback with the arm power to make all the throws but Babalola is a good athlete too that maneuvers the pocket well. He can also tuck it and run if needed. Among all the physical tools that show tremendous college upside, it's his leadership, poise and willingness to learn that may allow Babalola to shine bright on the next level. He does share reps in a two-quarterback system for the Raptors, so there is plenty of tread on the tires for Babalola moving forward. I do like the upside here along with the human makeup. Babalola has the talent and mental capacity to one day find himself in the driver seat to be a starting quarterback in college and do so on the biggest stage possible. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700"></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/d1highlights/status/1852513834059128903 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1467540' first='Elliott' last='Drapeau'] - McCallie</strong></p>   <p>- Bringing this native Canadian into the fold last year proved to be a good move for McCallie as Drapeau brought a strong presence to the quarterback position that helped lead the Blue Tornado to a D2-Class AAA state title last year. Standing 6 '5 205 pounds, Drapeau immediately looks the part of a college guy. He sports the presence and size a lot of college coaches would like to have behind center. The Blue Tornado rising senior is a true pocket passer that stays poised with pressure coming his way then delivers the ball on time. Drapeau shows solid mechanics on film with above average arm strength as well as the potential to make all the throws you would ask a college or NFL guy to make. </p>   <p>A tall lefty that is hard to bring down and tackle, Drapeau is a deceptive athlete that won't run too much but he does handle the pocket well, showing nice footwork to elude the pass rush. He is also really tough to bring down due to his physicality and size. If there are two things to work on the most over the off-season it would be gaining a quicker release as well as enhancing his lower body quickness. From a leadership and passing stand point, Drapeau has what you need to to fit inside a college quarterback room as well as the potential to one day become your starting signal caller. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700"></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CSmithScout/status/1860147504106684888 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1577633' first='Lane' last='Clement'] - Science Hill </strong></p>   <p>- New to the state of Tennessee for the 2024 season, Clement is a tall and deceptively good athlete at quarterback that shows on film and showed at our Winter Showcase that he can spin it with the best from the #TN2026 class. The Hilltoppers quarterback has excellent size and arm talent that translates well to the college game. Clement is a precision passer that shows on film some of the best accuracy and timing I've seen from our rising senior class thus far. He is especially accurate with the deep ball where his arm strength is fully on display. The ability resides inside Clement's arm to make all the tough throws that are needed to compete on the big stage of college football. </p>   <p>The arm talent, mechanics and passing skills are there for Clement but he is also a solid athlete too that moves well in the pocket. He does a good job of feeling the pass rush then climbing the pocket while keeping his eyes down field, looking for the open receiver and sustaining the play to find success. Clement simply has a good feel for his position and the game of football itself. This is a big dude as well that does have room for growth with his body and frame. It will be interesting to see how his recruiting process plays out because I think the move to Tennessee will be beneficial for Clement as he looks like a potential Top 10 prospect from the quarterback position that could raise his stock with a strong off-season campaign. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LaneClement16/status/1875722785982705861 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1102989' first='Amari' last='Lethgo'] - Knox. Halls </strong></p>   <p>- Coming off a successful 2024 season where Lethgo took his game to another level, this Knoxville area quarterback heads into the off-season months set up to watch his recruitment expand with possible interest from the D1 level. The Red Devils rising senior sports excellent arm talent and mechanics that does fit on the college stage but work with his timing and defense recognition will push his stock further. A two sport athlete between football and baseball, Lethgo is a natural athlete behind center, who is a pass first guy that does a good job of feeling the pressure, evading it and finding his open receiver. Some of his best work is done outside the pocket or on the move. Lethgo has a knack for making plays on the run, whether that's by way of his arm or his legs. </p>   <p>Over the past two years, Lethgo has taken the right steps to improve and develop his skill set much further, placing him in the mix to obtain college interest. He's not the tallest (6 '1, maybe 6' 2) but he does have a physical, thick body and frame that can help him take on contact and continue creating plays. His anticipation and timing are two areas within his passing abilities that I feel does need continued work this off-season. If he can do that, Lethgo could move his way into the Top 10 at his position for the #TN2026 class. It will be fun to watch how this Knoxville area quarterback develops this off-season because the talent is there. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700"></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/drewross_fb/status/1829997115029778893 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1315648' first='Damarcus' last='Strickland'] - Dickson Co. </strong></p>   <p>- Going through our 2026 quarterback class, Strickland may be one of the more hidden gems we have in this state and someone that shows me the skill set and talents to make his way into the college game. One of the biggest factors that has this Mid-TN quarterback under the radar at the moment is his overall size. Strickland stands about 6'0, maybe 6'1 but this guy can spin it. He shows excellent arm strength, mechanics and some of the best zip I've seen on film so far through my scouting of the #TN2026 class. The Cougars signal caller spins the ball with confidence. He does a nice job of keeping his eyes downfield and letting it rip, usually placing the ball on time and on target. </p>   <p>Another thing I like about Strickland is his athleticism. While he may not be a blazer and someone that is a threat to beat you with his legs, Strickland moves well in the pocket and can tuck it and run to gain positive yards if needed. He also needs to continue learning defenses and recognizing schemes prior to snapping the ball, which I think will boost his stock further. His calling card moving into the college game will be his big arm and ability to throw the ball all over the yard. It may take some time before college coaches get on board with Strickland but I like the upside here and the ability to get better with college teaching.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700"></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dstrickland_7/status/1858184710209311175 </div></figure>