Evaluating five-star QBs within the 2025 Rivals250 to NFL standouts
There are 4 five-star quarterbacks within the 2025 Rivals250 and, as is pure with high-profile prospects, they’ve every been in comparison with different quarterbacks all through their careers. Rivals nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney provides his comparisons beneath and breaks down why on every quarterback:
JULIAN LEWIS – DREW BREES
Once I was a youngster, my brother and I drove two hours from our dwelling in Northeastern Pennsylvania to State Faculty to see Drew Brees’ Purdue group play in individual.
Years later throughout an internship, I coated Brees when he was with the San Diego Chargers and I keep in mind one factor specifically. Throughout a break in apply, a rubbish can was arrange within the again nook of the tip zone and Brees was engaged on some drops and a few accuracy throws and from in regards to the 20-yard line out, Brees stored throwing ball after ball shut or proper into that rubbish can. It was actually spectacular to see.
And Lewis jogs my memory a variety of Brees throughout these days. The five-star USC commit is an outstanding decision-maker, he makes the sport look sluggish round him as he’s dissecting defenses, he has a complicated understanding of the sport from years of coaching with elite quarterbacks and trainers within the Atlanta space and a lot extra.
Lewis basically skipped his junior season to play yet another 12 months at Carrollton, Ga., underneath Joey King, Trevor Lawrence’s coach in highschool. No second is just too large for him, he doesn’t get rattled and whilst different elite quarterbacks have been making big-time throw after big-time throw on the Rivals 5-Star this summer season, Lewis would step proper up and put it proper on the cash as effectively.
Similar to with Brees at the same stage, arm power was a query however with Lewis it’s extra arm zip or velocity than power as a result of Lewis can throw the deep ball with the perfect of them. Will he have a Corridor of Fame profession and be a Tremendous Bowl champion like Brees? Who is aware of.
However in two years enjoying high-end competitors in Georgia, Lewis has 96 landing passes (48 annually) and he reduce his interceptions down from 12 to 2 as his decision-making has gotten higher.
*****
KEELON RUSSELL – JAYDEN DANIELS
A few of the comparability work between Russell and Jayden Daniels is uncanny however a number of the trajectory of each gamers may be a bit of off.
As for bodily stature, Russell and Daniels have been just about the identical participant in highschool besides Russell might be a bit of extra bodily developed. By way of drop, imaginative and prescient across the discipline, the pop of their soccer, the accuracy and their capability to take a seat within the pocket comfortably however then additionally escape and make issues occur with their ft, the similarities are dead-on.
Russell is a extra superior passer than Daniels on the identical stage. And Daniels’ profession was type of tapering off and going nowhere (he had 10 touchdowns and 10 picks his closing season at Arizona State) earlier than resurrecting all the pieces at LSU particularly in his closing season there. Russell appears to be like to be heading into a much more pleasant offense underneath coach Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, one which units up the quarterback for nice success.
From my interactions with each, they’re nice children. Daniels was one of many friendliest individuals I’ve coated in recruiting. Russell is as affable as they arrive. Their personalities appear comparable, their bodily stature and enjoying type are comparable. Daniels ended up as a Heisman Trophy winner and the second total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. Can Russell match that degree of success?
*****
TAVIEN ST. CLAIR – JUSTIN FIELDS
There have been different Ohio State quarterbacks that St. Clair has been in comparison with – primarily CJ Stroud – however my comp for the brand new No. 1 total participant is Justin Fields, not the five-star QB in highschool however the extra bodily developed participant he’s now within the NFL.
Fields would have nearly undoubtedly ended up because the No. 1 prospect within the 2018 Rivals250 if not for Trevor Lawrence being in the identical group. He was sensible, very able to making all of the performs, competed with a coolness however a particular give attention to successful and being the perfect and he had great ball placement and decision-making.
St. Clair may be very comparable however has a fair higher body at 6-foot-4 and 225 kilos proper now, one inch taller and two kilos lighter than Fields within the NFL. In two seasons at Ohio State after transferring from Georgia, Fields had 63 touchdowns and 9 picks earlier than being the No. 11 decide within the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance have been the quarterbacks taken forward of him. Solely Lawrence was the fitting decide.
*****
BRYCE UNDERWOOD – DESHAUN WATSON
There have been different comparisons made to Underwood as a result of he appears to be like taller than 6-foot-3 so he’s gotten Trevor Lawrence and a few CJ Stroud however I feel Deshaun Watson is the perfect comp at this stage. It is not an ideal comparability as a result of Underwood is extra dynamic, a step sooner escaping stress and the ball pops off his hand just a bit greater than Watson on the identical stage.
Nonetheless, Watson can sit within the pocket and crush defenses, he does a fantastic job of escaping edge rushers or gamers coming proper at his face, he can throw on the run and he may have some designed runs labored in all through the years. Don’t overlook, Watson rushed for greater than 1,100 yards one season at Clemson and had 26 whole speeding touchdowns in three years.
Underwood performs similar to him besides a bit of extra dynamic in nearly each aspect. One large distinction – and this one is appreciable. Watson by no means hid from main occasions whether or not it was Elite 11 or quite a few Rivals nationwide occasions. The five-star was at all times able to get after it, compete and present he was the perfect. Underwood did little or no this summer season on the nationwide stage. That’s unlucky as a result of he undoubtedly has the flexibility to be the No. 1 total participant within the Rivals250.
