Perhaps a bit of a reach, but absolutely deserving of being in the conversation if Adams goes on a State Championship run as they did in 2021.

I know that Ryland’s got the stuff to lead this offense to success. They’re my #1 team in the OAA Red this year, and much of that is because of Watters and the proven offensive and defensive scheme.

Though if we look back to 2021, Adams had another elite QB, Parker Picot. I personally cannot find a source mentioning Picot as a Mr. Football candidate. Picot deserved a look in 2021, and if Adams makes a run to Ford Field, Watters will be deserving of a nomination.

Intangebles.

Can’t measure heart, grit, or work ethic. I’ll admit that a huge reason why I have Ryland ranked so high is because of his intangibles. When I watched him against West Bloomfield, Ryland was locked in, displayed excellent leadership, and ran the ball down WB’s throat to earn the victory.

Ryland then suffered an injury and remained out for the season. I then watched Adams’ game against Oxford. Instead of sitting on the sideline, or goofing off, Ryland was helping coach and lead the team.

Not to mention that Ryland is the best passer I’ve ever seen in a Veer offense. Most QBs from this system are good runners but frankly bad passers. While Ryland doesn’t have the in-game passing volume you’d like, he can still rip it better than anyone from this system. Absolute A+ from a character evaluation standpoint. This is a player who has shown tremendous improvement year after year, and I think he’ll be a steal to any college looking for a QB.

Coming into the offseason off of an injury, it would be understandable to take it easy and not jump right back into football activities right away-but that isn’t how Ryland Watters Ryland Watters 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB/LB Rochester Adams | 2026 State MI is built. Just a couple of months removed from a devastating injury that saw him miss the majority of the 2024 season, Watters showed up to the Prep Redzone Showcase in December and absolutely balled, winning QB MVP along the way.

His size, arm strength and pure athleticism makes him a true dual-threat. The lefty has a smooth stroke and spot-on accuracy. His ability to fire it from any arm slot and with any amount of pressure bearing down on him is incredibly impressive. He should have ample opportunities at the next level, he has shown he has everything it takes.

I’ve always said option QBs need to really impress me in order for me to seriously think of them as a college QB prospect. In fact, from all of the great Veer QBs I’ve watched from Adams and Seaholm, I’ve never seen a more polished passer than Ryland Watters Ryland Watters 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB/LB Rochester Adams | 2026 State MI .

Ryland is a tall and well-built lefty. In the reps I watched, Ryland threw a few very accurate out routes with high velocity and one nicely placed fade route. A great performance here and QB MVP at our Prep Redzone camp makes me very confident in his abilities as a passer. My big question is if he has the IQ to make those necessary reads as a pro-style passer.

Ryland is simply too talented, too good of a runner, and too well-built to not be a GLIAC quarterback. I know he runs an option offense, and that may scare away some colleges, but I firmly believe that every GLIAC should offer Ryland.

Ryland continues to impress me this offseason even coming off his injury. I loved what I saw from him tonight as he was looking comfortable throwing on the run, throwing off platform and moving around in the pocket. His strong arm and ability to be accurate showed up multiple times throughout the session. Rino is going to be a problem for defenses in his senior season!

After an injury sidelined him for a number of weeks, Ryland appears to be back and ready to work! I am super excited to see what he can do in front of scouts. As he eases into things on the field, I’ll be paying attention to his mechanics and footwork, along with his decision making and vision. Numbers will come later as he continues to heal, but I’ll be watching how he performs with his fundamentals!