Pops’ Illinois QB Film Room and Grades: 2/17/25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The amount of prospects that are now posting up film has become both a blessing and a curse. There are a lot of 2029-2031 prospects that post up quality film that is easy to digest and make some grades. However, there are plenty more that simply don't have quality film or any film at all. In the film room, I take a look at some prospects and do my best to grade based off what I have seen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624858"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b387bd2f898"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strengths</strong>: Size, athletic ability</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As of this write up on 2/17/25 he's listed at either 6'2" or 6'1" and 160-pounds, depending on where you look. Not the cleanest QB in the world in terms of fundamentals, but the raw athleticism and dual-threat ability is on display. Also plays Free Safety on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally participates in basketball and track and field. Combination of size and mobility make him an interesting football prospect and one that I think has the potential to develop into a QB that can play on the next level. Have not seen any defensive film, but I'd love to see him there too. There's a spot for athletically gifted kids like DeVore on every team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback Grade: B / Athlete Grade: B+</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1567137"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b387bd2f922"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strengths</strong>: Fundamentals, "IT" Factor</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simply put, he's one of the most impressive youth Quarterbacks I have seen in this 2030 class to date. With another year of pre-high school ball still left to come, Holcomb is a prospect that has the ability to become one of the most elite in his class when all is said and done. Everything from his size, mobility, arm talent, fundamentals and more all check the box in a big way. PRZ Next Scout Arlen Harris saw him in November at a Chicagoland Showcase and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/chicagoland-showcase-classes-2030-2031-qb-standouts-mvp/">raved about</a> what Holcomb could do. Not many people walking the planet today--or ever--can say they received a Michigan scholarship offer before their eighth grade season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback Grade: A</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624921"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1624952,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b387bd2f992"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strengths</strong>: Core strength, throwing on the move</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A multi-sport athlete who also participated in basketball, Richards helped lead the Tri-City Wolverines to a second place finish in Illinois' Pop Warner conference. While he doesn't have the size of the two QBs listed above, there is still plenty to like about him. His mobility and ability to create while on the run and the play is breaking down is very obvious. Richards body control is also a big plus. He plays with a ton of balance and core strength in order to run and then square his shoulders mid-stride to make a play. The one thing I did not see a ton of on his film are deep throws to the outside. There are plenty of intermediate routes, but I would like to see what he looks like opening up and firing it deep--that part of us his game is a bit unknown at this point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback Grade: B-</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1145639"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b387bd2f9ed"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strengths</strong>: Arm strength, work ethic.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Quarterback who I took a liking to on film after watching his 2024 work. As PRZ Next Scout Arlen Harris echoed in <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/chicagoland-showcase-class-2029-qb-standouts/">his evaluation</a> from this past November, Tablante can drive the ball just about anywhere he needs to on the field with accuracy. His accuracy spoke to me as well, while watching his film. I also did notice at times he does throw off his back foot which isn't necessarily ideal, but the ball gets there. Naturally, I start to think about those back-foot passes and what they'd look like if he fully stepped into them. In recent off-season film he looks to be training hard and replacing some of the bad habits with good ones. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback Grade: B-</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576986"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b387bd2fa48"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strengths</strong>: Acceleration, potential</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He's listed at 6-foot and 140-pounds as of this write up and looks very long and lanky in his 2024 film. He brings dual-threat ability to the position and honestly looks like he's a better runner than he is passer at this point. He does have a plus in terms of his frame and the amount of weight he could eventually put on over the next couple years. I've listed him as a Quarterback/Athlete for now because his film has a lot of designed QB keepers and it's the more impressive part of his film. His arm strength has room for improvement, as do fundamentals in general. Based off strictly his film, I don't think a position change is totally off the table because Blackmore can accelerate and get moving in open field when he gets a chance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback Grade: C/C+ / Athlete Grade: B-</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->