Rivals 5-Star: Breaking down the quarterbacks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Rivals 5-Star is within the books and now it’s time to start out the place breakdowns and provides ideas on every prospect who competed on the summer time’s largest occasion. We begin with quarterbacks:
Considered one of solely two underclassmen on the Rivals 5-Star, when Grubbs was in rhythm the four-star Notre Dame commit appeared nice, threw a good looking ball and hit receivers in stride. There have been additionally occasions when the Lake Mary, Fla., standout struggled perhaps the pace of the receivers and defensive backs and was barely tentative at occasions. However on the entire, Grubbs had an excellent efficiency – not nice, not horrible – because the 2026 prospect will solely develop from taking part in increasingly more with older, elite gamers.
*****
Jones did what Jones does. The four-star Florida State commit from Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin is all the time constant, all the time throws a really catchable ball and he makes nice selections. It’s not all flash and wow throws however Jones spins it nicely, can hearth it into tight home windows or put contact on his passes, layer it to all ranges and he’s only a sensible, savvy, accountable quarterback.
*****
When Knight is dealing, he seems like arguably the very best quarterback within the nation. The lefty is so clean, the ball seems so fairly, it will get to the receiver in stride and there’s a very Michael Penix really feel to how he performs the place. Over the previous couple of months and the final many big-time occasions nationally, Knight has knocked away this criticism of inconsistency and the Notre Dame commit has appeared phenomenal in latest months, greater than backing up his No. 1 dual-threat rating.
*****
The previous few weeks have been very busy for the No. 1 prospect within the Rivals250 as he went from occasion to occasion, go to to go to however he got here to Rivals 5-Star and had one other phenomenal efficiency. Lewis throws an exceptional deep ball that’s proper on the cash each time. It’s really fairly shocking when he misses down the sphere as a result of it virtually by no means occurs and it seems easy. Does he throw the fastball as impressively as some others? No. However no one is as constant to all ranges because the USC commit.
*****
After the Elite 11 and the Rivals 5-Star, Russell was placed on five-star watch and with rankings developing later in August, the dialogue round whether or not the Alabama commit ought to have that highest rating will definitely be talked a few ton. The Duncanville, Texas quarterback, who flipped from SMU to the Crimson Tide, has a good looking, clean supply, the ball comes out so easily and naturally and he has phenomenal contact on all his passes. Russell confirmed off great consistency as nicely at quite a few occasions and was arguably the very best (or second-best) quarterback on the occasion.
*****
The five-star quarterback from Newbury Park, Calif., who had a monstrous sophomore season had some actually large highlights through the Rivals 5-Star and I’m certain will go dwelling with some issues to work on as nicely. The brand new Florida State commit has a giant arm and put the ball proper the place it wanted to be quite a few occasions. He additionally appeared not sure on some passes and double clutched so he didn’t get the whole lot behind it and was behind receivers a number of occasions. He’s already forward of so many 2026 QBs even being on the occasion so there have been positively some positives and a few studying classes.
*****
Smith has thrown the soccer a ton in latest weeks as he was on the Elite 11 final week after which got here proper to the Rivals 5-Star and positively had some vibrant moments. Smith confirmed he might layer the ball nicely throughout 7-on-7 play and did a pleasant job throwing to all ranges as nicely. He might nonetheless tighten up some issues however the Oregon legacy has had some high quality showings as nicely and together with his measurement and pedigree there’s a lot to love.
*****
The Ohio State commit will totally be within the dialog for the No. 1 rating within the 2025 Rivals250. He has the identical bodily measurement as first-rounder Drake Maye in April’s NFL Draft, he has been completely excellent at quite a few occasions this offseason together with on the Rivals 5-Star in each setting – one-on-ones, 7-on-7, the QB Problem and he threw the ball 70 yards within the lengthy toss. An enormous dialogue is forward and St. Clair can be a significant a part of it.
