2026 Gunslingers Getting Primed in the Off-Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The off-season is catch-up time for elite quarterbacks. There is so much to work on to become an elite quarterback that if you don't commit to an aggressive, well-rounded plan in the off-season you will steadily lose ground to key competitors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For QB's the work goes far beyond physical fitness, strength, speed - all the usual suspects. In the off-season it is time to work on some of the things that have proven to be <em>easy to learn, but hard to master</em>, like the mental game, fine-tuning passing and pocket mechanics, harnessing those slippery intangibles, committing cheat codes and defensive recognition to pre-snap and post-snap muscle memory, getting more adept at throwing off platform or from impossible launch angles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You get the idea, it is not a finite list by any means...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report, we will take a look at <em>five quarterbacks</em> who I covered earlier in the year and are guys I have pegged for elite seasons this fall. These guys are all dual-threat performers who have been promising playmakers since taking over as the signal caller for their respective teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They all also recognize the urgency of off-season workouts and how critical it is to shoe-horn in elite QB training while still playing other sports, preparing for finals and keeping an eye on the prize this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, let's check out these rising-star gunslingers getting ready for this fall:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780353' first='Drake' last='Mellies']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-mellies/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 5'11, 175, ATH,&nbsp;<em>Jackson Heights</em>, '26. He is coming off a superb junior season as a hot-commodity quarterback who can beat you with his arm or his legs. Through the air, he completed 62 of 100 passes for 1,151 yards, 17 TD passes and only one pick all year, which helped his passer rating soar to 137. As a runner he is quick and elusive, picking up 1,103 yards on 103 carries for an electric 10.7 average and 14 TD's. Although he throws an accurate ball from the pocket, where he really strikes fear is on the move. He throws well going either way and is fluid extending plays. On defense he had 16 tackles and a sack and was a ballhawk when the ball was in the air, picking off five passes. He also averaged 36 yards a punt return. This guy is getting ready to open the floodgates this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229066' first='Manny' last='Meyers']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 5'11, 175, ATH,&nbsp;<em>Mulvane</em>, '26. He is another gifted dual-threat quarterback who established himself as one of the most dangerous playmakers in the state last fall. On the ground he is a dynamic runner, with great quickness and burst who ran for 1,371 yards, 19 touchdowns and a 10+ yard average. Through the air he completed 92 of 168 passing for 1,264 pass yds and 12 TDs to only three interceptions. The southpaw has good ball placement in the short game and can launch an accurate long ball, but really stars slinging it on the run going either way. He also had three interceptions on defense and ran a punt back for a touchdown on special teams. In the off-season he is a standout in both basketball and baseball. Get out and see one of the best in the state in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113456' first='Kris' last='Harding II']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kris-harding-ii/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kris-harding-ii/"></a> </strong>, 6'0, 185, QB, <em>Chanute</em>, '26, he is a talented gunslinger and already a two-year starter who I wrote about in January as he was getting ready to supercharge his off-season training. He is approaching his senior season as one of the the best in the southeast region and throughout the state, after leading his team deep into the playoffs and passing for 1,812 yards, 18 TD's and only five interceptions. His mechanics and throwing motion are polished in the pocket or when scrambling, which enables him to decimate defenses with his ball placement and anticipation. He can laser the ball in the short game or dial it up long as needed. He has all the tools and is working diligently on mental triggers, quick decision making and fine-tuning intangibles. This guy is ready for a huge senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578932' first='Kellen' last='Gibson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kellen-gibson-2/"></a>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kellen-gibson-2/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'1, 180, QB,&nbsp;<em>Winfield</em>, '26, he is another dual-threat destroyer in the making who is coming off a breakout season last fall. He is a versatile, athletic baller with an assertive arm and playmaker mobility. He is dangerous running the RPO, with the speed and quickness to get out on the corner in a hurry. He started to show his potential throwing the ball last fall, firing quick strikes in the flats and seams and directing high-velocity missiles on the deeper throws. Last fall he ran and passed for 1,400+ yards and 18 TD's, and impressively only threw a half-dozen picks. He has continued to work with QB Coach Brad Cagle with Midwest Passing Academy in the off-season and the gains have been significant. Get ready for this guy to put on a dominating performance for the <em>Vikings</em> this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113374' first='Kasen' last='Parsons']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kasen-parsons/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'0, 190, QB/ATH,&nbsp;<em>Osage City</em>, '26. Earlier in the year I referred to him as a dual-threat <em>supernova</em> after a junior season when he ran and passed for 3,000+ yards and piled up 41 TD's. He is an athletic runner who is elusive with great burst and effectively parlayed that into 1,000+ yards rushing and 19 TD's. And, as good as he was on the ground, he was arguably even better through the air, completing an elite-level 75% of his passes, going 138 of 183 for 1,821 yards and 21 TD's to only three picks for a blistering 138 passer rating. He has a strong, accurate arm with seasoned mechanics in the pocket, but can also extend plays and throw darts under duress. On defense he is an aggressive linebacker with great instincts who had 41 tackles. Get ready, this guy is going to be <em>en fuego</em> this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, keep these guys on your watchlist as they prep for this fall. It won't be long before we see them playing on Saturdays. And, as always, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.&nbsp;<em>Keep grindin'…</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->