Eye in the Sky: Checking In on the 2027 Watchlist QBs

The funny thing about watchlists — especially with a class like 2027 — is that a lot of times it's great talent being hidden down the depth chart. Plenty of them spend a year tucked away, waiting their turn, stacking reps behind the scenes while someone else takes the snaps on Friday nights. That's usually where things get interesting. With another season around the corner, I wanted to check back in on the 2027 watchlist QBs I could get some film on and see where they're at heading into what will be their final year of high school football.    [player_tooltip player_id='930188' first='Jake' last='Rogers'] got thrown into the fire after an injury and played like a kid who'd been running that offense all season — calm, clean, and totally under control. What jumped off the tape was the composure. He wasn't out there just trying to survive or play hero ball; he was working through his reads, taking what the defense gave him, and trusting the structure of the offense. You could actually see the throws tighten up and the decisions speed up as he stacked reps, which says a lot about how quickly he was processing things. That Open Division title run matters, too — those aren't easy snaps, and a lot of guys shrink when the pressure ramps up. He didn't. He feels like one of those quarterbacks you want to be early on, because with a full offseason as the guy and time to really own the offense, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see his game take another noticeable jump.     Escobedo's arm talent pops the second you watch him — he can make off-platform throws that most high school quarterbacks don't even think about, let alone complete. What really ties it together is how much better everything looks when his feet are calm. When he's balanced, the mechanics clean up, the ball comes out with real intent, and the offense stays on schedule instead of feeling rushed or forced. I also loved his feel against zone coverage — he's not just locking onto routes and hoping, he's actually seeing windows develop, understanding where the soft spots are, and trusting himself to let it rip before the closing speed shows up. There's a maturity to that part of his game that stands out, and it makes it feel like there's a lot to build on here.     Anguiano plays like he knows he's got a strong arm — and he's not shy about showing it, especially outside the numbers where he can really layer the ball with touch and confidence. The delivery is the fun part: it's lightning quick, and once he makes up his mind, the ball is already gone, which doesn't give defenders that extra half‑beat to get to him or close windows. He's got enough wiggle to extend plays, and at times that chaos turns into a big chunk play that makes you rewind the tape. At the same time, you can see how living in scramble mode can get a little messy if it becomes the default. When he's able to settle his feet and throw on time, his accuracy and ball placement jump noticeably, and everything looks calmer and more controlled. Another offseason spent tightening up the operation and trusting structure more consistently could really unlock the next level of his game.     Rush Kamakeeaina is the kind of dual-threat that's genuinely annoying to defend, not because of blazing track speed, but because of how sudden and slippery he is. That first step is real — he sees a crease, hits it instantly, and all of a sudden you're asking a safety to win a one-on-one in space, which usually doesn't end well for the defense. There's a lot of confidence in the way he runs, and you can tell he trusts his ability to make people miss. At times he's a little quick to take off for my taste, but when you're that hard to get a clean shot on, it's easy to understand why he leans into it. As a passer, he's actually pretty sharp in the quick game and comfortable getting the ball out on time. The next step in his evolution is turning that athleticism into a more complete quarterback profile — tightening up the longer delivery on deep throws, keeping his eyes downfield a beat longer, and using that slipperiness to extend plays first. If he can buy his receivers that extra second before taking off, his running ability becomes even more dangerous as a counter instead of the first answer.     [player_tooltip player_id='884907' first='Cash' last='White']'s a creator — he's comfortable extending plays, moving around, and still keeping his eyes up without everything falling apart when the pocket isn't perfect. You can tell he's confident throwing on the move, and I like that he's not afraid to push the ball downfield when he sees a chance. There's some real touch there when he's in rhythm, especially when things are flowing. For me, timing is the next big step. As defenders get faster and windows shrink, you can't afford to wait for receivers to look open — you've got to trust the route, throw them open, and put the ball where it's supposed to be. If he gets more in sync with his receivers and starts cutting it loose to a spot just a beat earlier, the whole playmaking profile starts to come together in a much bigger way.     Gonzales is a really interesting prospect right now — super athletic with surprising wheels, a strong arm, and the kind of physical profile that can turn into a weekly headache for defenses once the reps start stacking up. He moves better than you expect, and that athleticism shows up both when things break down and when he's asked to create something on his own. There isn't a ton of recent throwing tape to really define his ceiling as a passer yet, but the tools are obvious: he can move, he can extend, and he's got enough juice in his arm to challenge defenses vertically when he cuts it loose. This is one where you're watching closely for the next batch of film, because if he's able to put it all together, he could become a name to watch closely pretty fast.

The funny thing about watchlists — especially with a class like 2027 — is that a lot of times it's great talent being hidden down the depth chart. Plenty of them spend a year tucked away, waiting their turn, stacking reps behind the scenes while someone else takes the snaps on Friday nights. That's usually where things get interesting. With another season around the corner, I wanted to check back in on the 2027 watchlist QBs I could get some film on and see where they're at heading into what will be their final year of high school football.