Sac-Joaquin Section’s Top 5 Returning Passing Leaders
The Sac-Joaquin Section section has seen quite a few impressive quarterback performances over the years. Most notably former Folsom Bulldog and Washington Husky Jake Browning, who holds national prep records for career and single-season touchdown passes. Last season, Downey High’s…
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Continue ReadingThe Sac-Joaquin Section section has seen quite a few impressive quarterback performances over the years. Most notably former Folsom Bulldog and Washington Husky Jake Browning, who holds national prep records for career and single-season touchdown passes. Last season, Downey High’s Bryce Gouker lead the way but a handful of underclassmen were right behind him, making for an exciting 2020 campaign.
Below is a look at the section’s top five returning passing leaders and a snapshot of what makes each of them successful.
Justin Lamson – Oak Ridge – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 66.3 completion percentage, 3,114 passing yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs, 113.9 QB Rating
Lamson is a true dual-threat QB who can improvise, make plays with his feet, and is very accurate when throwing on the run. Mentally, he’s solid at working through his progressions and attacking weaknesses against Zone coverage. He has good arm strength to zip the ball into tight windows and push it down the field with good accuracy on deep passes. As a runner, the Trojan has solid acceleration to break second level angles and good agility to make defenders miss in space. He could use a little more arc on his throws and needs to work on putting the ball on the outside of the receiver’s shoulder when throwing outside. Lamson currently holds several offers from FBS schools.
Anthony Grigsby Jr. – Cosumnes Oaks – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 59.0 completion percentage, 2,713 passing yards, 30 TDs, 12 INTs, 100.1 QB Rating
Another QB who’s just as lethal with his legs as he is with his arm. Grigsby has very little wasted movement on his throwing motion for a quick release, with good zip on his short to intermediate throws over the middle to squeeze the ball into tight windows and throws curl routes with good anticipation. On half side reads, he has good mental processing to find the open receiver and throws deep balls with good accuracy, placing it where only his receiver can get to it. As a runner, the Elk Grove native has good vision to find rushing lanes combined with good acceleration and agility to break second-level defender’s angles and make them miss. He does throw off his back foot even when not facing pressure, which causes him to float deep passes, and he struggles with his accuracy when he’s on the move and his feet aren’t set. Grigsby currently holds 2 FCS offers from the University of Idaho and Missouri State.
Nicholas Coronado – Kimball – Class of 2022
2019 Stats: 65.2 completion percentage, 2,625 passing yards, 25 TDs, 9 INTs, 107.3 QB Rating
Coronado is an incoming junior who is solid at making plays with his feet but is more of a pocket passer. Don’t let this kid’s size fool you – listed at 5’10” and 150 pounds last year – he can push the ball down the field and has good accuracy to put the ball right where it needs to be. Also, he has a good sense of when the pocket is breaking down, can keep the play alive with his feet, and has good accuracy when scrambling. As a runner, the Jaguar has solid agility and change of direction to make LBs miss in open space, but he lacks the speed to break 2nd and 3rd level defenders’ angles. Some time in the weight room will serve Kimball well as he could use some more zip on his intermediate passes to fit them into tight windows, but that’s as to be expected for a player who still has two more years of high school football left to play.
Caden Duke – Millennium – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 50.6 completion percentage, 2,350 passing yards, 24 TDs, 11 INTs, 93.0 QB rating
Duke is a pocket passer who’s mental processing might be his best trait. He’s good at working through his progressions, manipulating safeties with his eyes, reading coverages, and he’s solid at throwing with anticipation. When the ball leaves his hand, it has good speed to fit into tight windows, and he can push the ball the field. Also, the Tracy native has a good sense of when the pocket is breaking down and can still make throws 15-20 yards down the field when throwing on the run. Duke needs to tighten up his spiral as some of his deep passes get a little wobbly and on intermediate throws, he tends to miss high over the middle and to the inside on outside throws.
Aiden Meyer – Hughson – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 56.8 completion percentage, 2,204 passing yards, 21 TDs, 10 INTs, 100.3 QB Rating
Another quarterback who can make plays in the air and on the ground. Fife has good accuracy on all throws especially on out routes, and on deep balls, he puts the ball just where it needs to be and leads his receivers. Even when throwing on the run he’s on target. On passes over the middle, the Bulldog throws with good velocity to fit the ball in tight windows. As a runner, Fife has good decision making on option plays combined with good vision and refusal to go down on first contact. As far as room for improvement, he needs to get better at working through his progression and throwing with anticipation and does lack some speed and athletic ability to be an elusive runner.