Class of 2028 VA QB Tracker: Who’s Separating After Three Weeks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia's 2028 quarterback class is already producing tape that doesn't look like September. Between [player_tooltip player_id='1693268' first='Keenan' last='Carter Jr'].'s efficient scoring bursts and [player_tooltip player_id='1229884' first='Alexander' last='Mahmood']'s 864-yard, nine-touchdown start, the early film is forcing evaluators to pay attention now instead of waiting until November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1693268"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa85fe51ac6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carter and his Bethel High School football teammates are off to a 3-0 start this season. In Bethel's first two games of the season, they have averaged 48 points. Against Patrick Henry (WK1), he completed 10-of-13 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns and carried the football five times for 61 yards and one touchdown in only one half of play. He has a slight hitch in his passing motion, but he's completing passes and getting dubs. That's what counts. Carter does excel in completing passes on short and interm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1229884"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa85fe51acd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'm confident I can say there aren't many other quarterbacks in Virginia who have gotten off to a faster start than Mahmood. In two games, he's completed 42-of-53 passes for 864 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Both were victories. There's a play in his Week 1 highlights where he looks off the safety by facing his X receiver, only to turn his attention back to the slot receiver streaking down the seam and completing the pass to him in stride for the touchdown. Mahmood plays in a spread offense and doesn't lock in on the first receiver. He's making passes all over the field. I'd like to see him lead the receivers a little bit more on his deep passes so they can catch those in stride and possibly score. Not a lot of running plays, but the one I did watch shows he can clearly make a defense pay with his legs if he gets the opportunity and chooses to. Impressed with his mechanics. He maintains a good throwing posture and gets proper depth in his drops. The passes completed/passes attempted ratio tells you all you need to know about his decision-making with the football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1992191"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa85fe51ad1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After watching his highlights from his first three games, I am genuinely surprised that he doesn't take off with the football more. Most of his throws are short-to-intermediate passes, where he gets the football out quickly. There are a couple of plays where he throws the ball downfield and shows touch on his passes, dropping it right into the receiver's hands in stride. Mobile, made a few throws while scrambling. Not a big enough sample size at this point to truly gauge his arm strength. He does have a quick trigger in the RPO game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1629155"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa874b351671"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In last week's loss to Westfield, Ayoub completed 14-of-23 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1680749' first='Carl' last='Frederick'], lead scout for Prep Redzone Virginia, awarded him the game ball in Week 2. I watched highlights from his first three games. Ayoub isn't looking to run, but he is very mobile in the pocket and can make passes on the move. Based on the throws I watched, Ayoub isn't afraid to push the ball downfield and give his wide receivers a chance to make a play on 50/50 balls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1734421"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa874b3516ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adams and his team broke a two-game losing streak by defeating Sidwell Friends 13-6 this past Friday for their first win of the season (currently 1-2). In three games, he's completed 32-of-56 passes for 390 yards, two touchdowns, and a few interceptions. To his defense, opposing teams put up 92 total points in the first two games. So I decided to watch last week's highlights against Sidwell Friends. There are a lot of timing patterns involved, and he's getting the ball out quickly. I would like to see Adams put a little more zip on the football, even though I do like the touch he puts on his passes. Right now, the strength of his game is the short-to-intermediate throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->