Fellow scout Matthew Layton got to watch Hough on day 1, but thankfully, I got some eyes on him on day 2. As far as straight velocity is concerned, I think Hough was in a league of his own over the weekend. He is a stout, strong player with plenty of muscle packed onto his frame. He has an explosive, quick delivery and fires the ball with the speed that could take down a wall. That especially thrives in a 7v7 setting, but when you turn on the tape and watch what he does when the play breaks down, you only walk away more high on him. It was a pleasure to watch Hough throw the football, and there is a reason he is ranked so highly by our scouts in North Carolina.

Here is what Matthew Layton said on Cole Hough after his day 1 performance:

“Great zip on his throws, velocity over the middle and to the sidelines, dissected the defense, distributed to a host of receivers, mechanically sound.”

Having seen Hough throw on day 2, I can echo everything Layton said. He will be well-covered post-event-wise on our end.

I think Cole made a nice jump in his game last season, and I’ve got him in the Top 5 this year, when last year he wasn’t mentioned in this article. I like his composure in critical situations, and his play last season in the first round of the playoffs was a big reason the Pumas won that game and advanced to the second round. Cole throws a beautiful deep ball, and I expect Palisades to really showcase his talent this upcoming season on offense.

Cole Hough Cole Hough 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Palisades | 2027 State NC , junior quarterback for Palisades, put together a strong all-around season leading the offense. He threw for nearly 2,200 yards and 17 touchdowns, showing the ability to consistently push the ball downfield and operate efficiently within the system. Hough also added 261 rushing yards and 3 more scores, proving he can extend plays and pick up key yards when needed. He plays with confidence in the pocket and has a good feel for timing and rhythm in the passing game. With another offseason to sharpen his mechanics and decision-making, Hough is positioned to take another leap heading into his senior year.

Cole broke out in an impressive fashion this past season for the Pumas, helping lead them to the 2nd round of the state playoffs in his first full year as a starting quarterback. Cole made some impressive throws in some pressure-packed situations and showed the ability to improvise when things broke down around him. I like his confidence in his arm, and he’s got some ability to run and make things happen on both scrambles and in the designed quarterback run game. I’m excited to see what he has in store for his senior season.

We’ve had Hough in several camps, and every time, his arm strength is the first thing we notice. It’s hard not to start there, as he’s a guy who can bomb it deep or put zip on it over the middle. He improved his functional accuracy as a junior, and his completion percentage jumped as a result. He also flashed some rushing ability, and while he’s never going to be a guy who runs first, he was dangerous in 2025 as a scrambler.

The Palisades junior didn’t have a high number of yards throwing the football in this one, but Cole was able to make some key plays with his legs, showing some dual threat ability. Cole picked up a couple of critical first downs on the run to keep some important drives going. I liked how he made immediate decisions when deciding to pass vs. run, and the strength that Cole has when finishing runs is impressive – that was the difference in first down yardage a couple of times. His TD run in the first half looked to be a designed QB draw, showing the confidence the Pumas have in his running ability.

Cole Hough Cole Hough 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Palisades | 2027 State NC — QB, Palisades (Class of 2027)
Hough showed resilience under pressure, leading his team to victory despite facing multiple setbacks. He absorbed several sacks and even had a touchdown called back, yet maintained his composure and continued to drive the offense down the field. His poise and leadership stood out in a tough, competitive setting.