Midseason 2025 Quarterback Check-In

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week I checked in on the juniors midway through the season. This week, I'm moving to the senior class. I'll start with the quarterbacks, as we tend to do. I'll check in on the top three quarterbacks in our rankings, evaluate a few more who have had strong starts to the season and then list a few more we hope to evaluate soon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Midseason Check-In: 2025 Quarterbacks</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["620296"],"_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-66f36e860cb09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baker has been phenomenal for East Forsyth through four games this season. The senior has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns this season on 79% passing. Baker has been excellent both inside and outside the pocket and his movement has been fantastic. His deep ball accuracy has really improved this season and he's been able to deliver both from clean pockets and under pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["858656"],"_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-66f36e860cb86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Honestly, Mahan doesn't <em>look</em> overly imposing, but it's clear from the first throw on his highlight tape that he can absolutely sling it. He's a true dual threat with over 400 yards on the ground through four games to go with over 1,000 passing yards. He's best throwing on the move and though he has homerun speed, he keeps his eyes down the field and looks to throw first. I wasn't very familiar with him, but I'm now a huge fan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["145389"],"_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-66f36e860cbe9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When we first got eyes on Oehlke years ago at a Prep Redzone camp, he was a wiry freshman with a live arm. He still has the live arm, but he's no longer a freshman and he's really filled out his frame. He's always impressed with his poise and arm strength, but his accuracy has really improved over the years. He's still at his best when he's creating off-platform, as evidenced by one of the mosst ridiculous throws you'll ever see about 20 seconds into his senior tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Quarterbacks Impressing Early</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Obviously, we're paying attention to what prospects outside of the top three are doing. Here are a few guys further down the rankings who are really impressing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["264956"],"_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-66f36e860cc4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It seems like Byrd has been at Cleveland forever, just calmly doing his thing and not getting the recognition he deserves. With a four-touchdown performance last Friday, Byrd broke both the Cleveland High School and Johnston County career touchdown records. While he's probably not catching Chris Leak's all-time state record, Byrd is likely to get into the top 10 and could possibly reach the top five with a strong finish to his senior year. He's done it with a mix of high-level accuracy and a willingness to run. He's more aggressive this season than I've ever seen him and he's playing better than ever before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["752104"],"_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-66f370f12baf2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hewitt was one of the higher-profile transfers in the offseason and he's off to a blistering start in 2024, but he's still underrecruited. The senior has excellent size and athleticism that allows him to deliver with accuracy from multiple arm slots. He's throwing for over 300 yards a game and is taking care of the ball as well. Against New Bern, when he was having trouble finding open receivers, he adapted by using his legs at a volume we're not used to seeing from him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1114054"],"_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-66f37255008eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A three-sport athlete, Greene has been performing at a high level for several years. A true athlete, Greene hardly ever comes off the field, from his play at quarterback to his abilities as a corner. He's run for over 100 yards three times this season and in his last two games, he's accounted for eight touchdowns both passing and rushing. He doesn't get a lot of recognition, but he's been doing this at a high level for four seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2025 Quarterbacks Who Have Impressed</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some more guys we've liked early. Maybe we'll break them down with full scouting reports later this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='286177' first='DeAndre' last='Nance'], Seventy First</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1408761' first='Braylon' last='Knapp'], Perquimans</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='371947' first='Braden' last='Atkinson'], Rolesville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='371459' first='Trey' last='Blakeney'], Hough</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1302067' first='Braydon' last='Rediger'], Marvin Ridge</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='828612' first='Justin' last='Little'], Independence</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='989278' first='Khalel' last='Wright'], Charlotte Country Day</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='527014' first='Brady' last='Stober'], Hickory</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1158998' first='Kolbe' last='Little'], Laney</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='351891' first='Jordan' last='Bryant'], Overhills</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1494074' first='Deiondre' last='Goldston'], Leesville Road</h3> <!-- /wp:heading -->