Class of ’27: WNY QBs

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Best</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["501394"],"_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-67ed486f0a4b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">St. Francis just acquired one of the top QBs in NYS in Buttles. His extraordinary athletic ability will make him a threat as a runner and passer. He is also an accomplished defensive back. Looking at his tape, it really seems like he will shine as the Red Raiders QB. He has a strong arm and good accuracy with elite pocket awareness. Still yet to take a snap in WNY, he is already the top QB prospect in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513363"],"_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":1474836,"_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-67ed486f0a546"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kole made his varsity debut in 2024 and earned All State Honorable Mention honors. From is JV film in 2023, it seemed he was going to be varsity ready as a sophomore. While wins came at a premium in a competitive Class B, Szratter showed a lot of promise of what is to come for the next two season. He is a mobile QB who can make good reads and is exceptionally accurate, especially when throwing on the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1815334' first='Ryan' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bishop Timon-St. Jude","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ed486f0a5f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith entered 2024 with some varsity experience as an overall excellent athlete. But on the first drive of the first game, he was pushed into the starting QB role for Timon. He played exceptionally well throwing for over 1,200 yards and completing a 3 to 1 TD to INT ratio. Ryan has good pocket awareness and solid deep ball accuracy but his junior year, he may go back to his "athlete" role and where that leads him is yet to be seen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1364052"],"_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-67ed486f0a641"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In an offense that was predominantly run oriented with the top RB in NYS, Brusco's sophomore stats were very modest. But what he showed on film was a quick release and solid vision. He regularly found holes in the opposing defenses and was able to thread the needle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising the Ranks</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several players made their varsity debuts last season but did not get the coverage of some of their peers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1811559' first='Scott' last='Stowe'] from Lockport did not make his first start until the 4th game of the season. But from there, Stowe showed his mobility and ability to lead an offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1513356' first='CoTrell' last='Rhodes'] from McKinley played in a two QB system but was more of the pocket passer between the two. While their other QB ran for over 1,000 yards, Rhodes showed some solid passing skills and could compete for more snaps next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1513214' first='Luke' last='Nowak'] in entering his third varsity season but playing at St. Mary's has limited his exposure. He threw for 800 yards and 10 TDs as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1811553' first='Brayden' last='Manns'] will be playing for St. Joe's this season and is in a competition for the top signal caller in 2025. While at Frontier, he showed a lot of promise but should be a breakout player surrounded by a better roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch in 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of '25 QBs in WNY was well equipped, leaving the door open for many players to get first year exposure as juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='939439' first='Jayden' last='Hassett'] (Orchard Park) and [player_tooltip player_id='1734382' first='Brayden' last='Plath'] (Sweet Home) are projected as their team's starting QB and excelled at the JV level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1701908' first='Nathaniel' last='Lindstrom'] from St. Francis is a player I really like to be a solid varsity QB but the addition of Buttles may put him on the backburner. If he transfers or Trent focuses on DB, Lindstrom will be a breakout player that teams will have trouble game planning for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561156' first='DJ' last='Williams'] from Bennett is a name that is new to me but based on his JV film, he fits the Tigers scheme very well with his ability to stretch the field and will have a top notch supporting cast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam Watkins (Hamburg) and Kyle Kuhns (Starpoint) are two up and comers with solid decision making skills that are poised for breakout roles. Watkins is an agile player that can beat teams with his arm as well as his legs. Kuhns is a southpaw that has a quick release with sound accuracy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->