The Next Wave: Arizona’s Rising QB Talent You Need to Know

Going through this film was a little bit of everything — a couple kids who already look the part, a few who are still rough around the edges, and some that are straight-up wild cards. That's the fun part about looking at freshmen and sophomores. You're not expecting a finished product, you're looking for those flashes, the “yeah, that'll play” moments. Sometimes it's a perfect ball dropped in over the shoulder, sometimes it's a quick little sidestep to dodge a free rusher, and sometimes it's just the confidence to try something most kids their age wouldn't.   These guys aren't all ready to run the show on a Friday night just yet — and that's fine. What they all have in common is there's something in their game worth keeping tabs on. Could be the arm, could be the poise, could be the way they compete. Some of them will take big leaps this year, others might be a slow burn, but every one of them made me hit rewind at least once. And in this game, that's how the next wave starts.    [player_tooltip player_id='1584186' first='Dylan' last='Cooper']'s got the kind of arm that jumps out right away — there's real juice behind the ball, and it comes out quick. He's not just a pocket guy either; when he tucks it and runs, he does it with purpose, picking up tough yards and showing he's not afraid of contact. Every now and then, he'll fall off a throw when he's trying to crank up the power, but that's something you see with a lot of young QBs still learning how to stay balanced under pressure. What I like most is how natural he looks throwing on the move — whether he's rolling to his right or flipping his hips back the other way, he's got a knack for putting the ball exactly where it needs to be. He's already mixing that physical ability with a feel for the game that makes you think he's only going to get better from here.      [player_tooltip player_id='1325835' first='Grayson' last='Bull'] plays with the kind of poise you usually see in older quarterbacks. His footwork is sharp and efficient, giving him a clean base to throw from every time. With those long arms, the ball comes out smooth and easy, and while he's not going to wow you with a cannon, he doesn't need to — the timing, touch, and ball placement more than get the job done. He's calm when the rush is bearing down, sliding into space or climbing the pocket without losing his balance. That lower-half polish at his age is impressive, and it lets him throw with consistency even in tough spots. He's already shown he can put the ball where it needs to be, and the way he operates makes you think his ceiling is way higher than most guys at this stage.      [player_tooltip player_id='1325881' first='Myron' last='Lee']'s got a deep ball that just looks different — the kind where you barely see him load up before it's sailing downfield and hitting a receiver in stride. The arm talent is there in spades, and it's not just about distance; he can drive it outside the numbers on a rope, and it gets there fast. In the pocket, he's composed and deliberate, reading the rush then taking those quick, sharp steps to slide or escape without panicking. He's not one of those kids who bails at the first sign of pressure — he hangs in there, trusts his line, and only moves when it's the right time. Sure, there's still some polish to add around the edges, but the tools are there and they're legit. He's already playing with the confidence and physical ability of someone older, and if he keeps trending the way he is, it's not hard to picture him taking on real varsity reps sooner rather than later. This is the kind of QB you keep tabs on, because the combination of arm, poise, and movement is tough to find.      [player_tooltip player_id='1325786' first='Cayden' last='Schlueter'] does a great job of keeping his eyes downfield when he's on the move, never letting the chaos around him force him into tunnel vision. He's willing to test the middle of the field and take those throws a lot of young QBs shy away from, and that confidence opens up big plays. What stands out is how natural he is when things break down — he's not just bailing out to run, he's moving with a purpose, scanning for a target, and making the kind of adjustments that turn a busted play into a highlight. Whether he's sidestepping pressure, rolling out to buy an extra second, or flipping his shoulders at the last moment to deliver a strike, he just looks comfortable operating outside the structure of the play. That creativity and composure are a tough combo to find, and it makes him a dangerous guy to game plan for.     [player_tooltip player_id='1325766' first='Cason' last='Lanzarotto']'s got that long, over-the-top, whippy delivery that makes the ball jump out of his hand and lets him push it way downfield, even if he's got to work for it right now with a smaller frame. You can tell there's a lot of untapped potential in that arm — once he starts adding some weight and strength, the velocity and distance are only going to get better. He's already comfortable cutting it loose, and the release is clean, which is huge at this stage. Where I'd like to see him take the next step is with his foot speed on his drop, because once varsity pass rushers are flying at you, that clock has to speed up. He's shown flashes of solid pocket presence, but there's another gear he can hit as he learns to marry his feet with his release. For now, the throwing motion is smooth, the ball spins tight, and there's enough awareness in the pocket to give you confidence that he can grow into a steady hand under center.      [player_tooltip player_id='793852' first='Crew' last='Zellner']'s got one of those natural feels for the position that you can't really teach. He's the kind of quarterback who just looks comfortable no matter what's going on around him, and that's a big deal. As a playmaker, he checks every box — you can see the thought process in real time as he works through a situation, keeps the ball secured tight to his chest while moving, and stays ready to throw at a moment's notice. He's slippery pocket in — he's not sprinting out just to escape, he's subtly shifting, buying time, and finding lanes to either deliver a dart or take off if it's there. When he's outside the pocket, his mechanics are still there, which means the ball comes out clean even on the move. He's the type of player who frustrates defenses because they think they've got him bottled up, and then he finds a way to keep the play alive. With that kind of football IQ and playmaking ability, coaches are going to want to get in on this kid early.      AJay Matthews might not have the size yet, but that's not slowing him down one bit — and he's far from done growing. The athleticism jumps out right away; he's quick on his feet, able to slip out of the pocket and make defenders whiff, and he knows how to extend plays without getting reckless. There's a natural feel to how he moves and throws, like the game just makes sense to him. The ball comes out of his hand looking clean, tight spiral, easy to catch, and he's shown he can put it exactly where he wants it whether he's set or throwing on the run. Sure, as he works toward the varsity level, he'll want to speed up that delivery a touch, but the base mechanics are already there and they're solid. With some high school coaching in his corner, there's a good chance he takes a huge step forward. He's got the kind of upside that sneaks up on people, and if you're not paying attention now, you might be wondering where he came from in a year or two.

Going through this film was a little bit of everything — a couple kids who already look the part, a few who are still rough around the edges, and some that are straight-up wild cards. That's the fun part about looking at freshmen and sophomores. You're not expecting a finished product, you're looking for those flashes, the “yeah, that'll play” moments. Sometimes it's a perfect ball dropped in over the shoulder, sometimes it's a quick little sidestep to dodge a free rusher, and sometimes it's just the confidence to try something most kids their age wouldn't.