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07-05-2025
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How did we rank CFB's top QBs as high school prospects?
© Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Take a look at where we ranked the expected top college football quarterbacks of 2025 as high school prospects. MORE: Deion Sanders, Colorado trending up with top targets after official visits Advertisement CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker 1. CADE KLUBNIK, Clemson Klubnik was the top quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2022 Rivals250 but it's taken him a little while to find his groove. Behind only Travis Hunter and Walter Nolen in his class, Klubnik showed off an elite skill set as a high school prospect. He could throw with accuracy, power, and touch from inside the pocket while working through his progression. Klubnik was always a threat to make plays with his legs but he was always looking to throw instead of taking off down the field. Advertisement At Clemson, Klubnik only threw 100 passes during his freshman season in spot duty before starting the next two seasons, with the 2024 campaign being his best one yet. Now Klubnik enters the 2025 season as one of the Heisman favorites and has Clemson positioned to make a national title run. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT 2. GARRETT NUSSMEIER, LSU © Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images After waiting his turn behind Jayden Daniels, Nussmeier enters the 2025 season as a Heisman hopeful. A top 100 prospect in the 2021 class and a top 10 quarterback, Nussmeier showed flashes of brilliance during his first season as a starter last year. The Louisiana native, who played his high school career in Texas, had the arm talent to make difficult throws on a consistent basis. Advertisement Nussmeier should have plenty of weapons at his disposal this year. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT 3. DREW ALLAR, Penn State © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images A close loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals left a bad taste in Allar's mouth. The No. 6 quarterback in the 2022 recruiting cycle could have left for the NFL but is returning to Penn State to make another push for a national title. A top-100 prospect in the 2022 Rivals250, Allar dominated the competition in Medina, Ohio. He could have easily just relied on his arm strength and physical tools to overpower his opponents but he showed off a wide range of tools on the field in the fall and at the All-American Bowl. Adjusting to the level of competition has proved to be somewhat of a challenge for Allar but he has a chance to be a first-round draft pick if he continues to make strides this fall. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PENN STATE FANS AT 4. ARCH MANNING, Texas © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Manning is the most well-known college football player in the country but he's just about to begin his first season as the starter for the Longhorns. The top overall prospect in the 2023 Rivals250, Manning may very well be the most mentally prepared high school quarterback we've seen. Despite not participating in the offseason camp or 7-on-7 circuit, Manning's talent at the high school level was undeniable. In his limited playing time at Texas, he's already shown off the strong arm, athleticism, and poise we anticipated. Texas lost a lot off of last year's team, but expectations remain high for the Longhorns with Manning now leading the way. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT 5. CARSON BECK, Miami © Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images After a strong two-year run as the starting quarterback for Georgia, Beck transferred to Miami this offseason to lead the Hurricanes for his final year of eligibility. Coming off of an elbow injury, Beck weighed his options in the NFL but aims to improve his draft stock before moving onto the next level. The former four-star high school prospect has big shoes to fill in Coral Gables after Cam Ward went on to be the No. 1 pick in the most recent NFL Draft. As a high school prospect, Beck was originally committed to Alabama and nearly picked Florida before committing to Georgia. A standout baseball player as well, Beck has always demonstrated impressive arm talent. He was able to deliver passes to his receivers in tight windows from multiple arm angles inside the pocket or on the move. Moving through his progression and quickly reading defenses were where he needed the most development. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT 6. LUKE ALTMYER, Illinois © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Illinois has dreams of replicating Indiana's magical College Football Playoff run from last season and the Illini are counting on Altmyer to lead the charge. The former Rivals250 prospect from the 2021 recruiting class began his career at Ole Miss but transferred to Illinois after the 2022 season. Altmyer was initially pledged to Florida State but the Starkville native committed to Ole Miss a couple weeks before the Early Signing Period. His steady performances as a high school prospect was a strong indicator of how high his floor was. Altmyer's quick delivery coupled with his consistent accuracy were just some of his standout traits. His first year with the Illini was up and down but he showed major improvement last season. Advertisement Altmyer nearly entered the transfer portal this spring but reaffirmed his commitment to Illinois and will finish out his collegiate career this season in Champaign. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ILLINOIS FANS AT 7. LANORRIS SELLERS, South Carolina © Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Sellers collected plenty of accolades after his first year as a starter for South Carolina, including National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year. The Gamecocks seem to be in a window where an SEC championship and College Football Playoff run are within reach but they are going to go as far as Sellers will take them. The former four-star recruit from the 2023 Rivals250 has helped the Gamecocks surge on the recruiting trail as well, making Columbia a destination for some playmakers who should make a big impact this season. Advertisement Sellers, who was originally committed to Syracuse, had a prolific high school career, including a senior season in which he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns while also running for 1,300 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns. He once scored nine touchdowns in one half during his senior season. Sellers didn't face a high level of competition but the playmaking ability was obvious and led to his four-star rating. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA FANS AT 8. DJ LAGWAY, Florida © Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Lagway is one of the bright young stars and Florida is relying on him to lead the Gators back to prominence. As the No. 28 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, Lagway displayed an incredible skill set as a high school prospect. A big, strong player with plenty of athleticism and arm talent, Lagway threw for 4,604 yards and 58 touchdowns in addition to running for 957 yards and 16 more touchdowns. What was even more impressive is he did all of that while completing 72-percent of his passes. Advertisement Lagway didn't blow away the competition during the Under Armour All-America Game but his potential at the college level was clear. Lagway saw consistent playing time as a freshman but really turned it on in the latter half of this past season. After recording a 6-1 record as a starter, Lagway was named a Freshman All-American after the 2024 season. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FLORIDA FANS AT 1ST AND TEN FLORIDA 9. JOHN MATEER, Oklahoma © SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images A former two-star prospect, Mateer signed with Washington State (his only power conference offer) as part of its 2022 recruiting class and remained with the Cougars as the Pac-12 fell apart around them. Despite a productive high school career, Mateer originally committed to Central Arkansas. Former Incarnate Word head coach Eric Morris, who took the offensive coordinator job at Washington State after the 2021 season, was a big part of why Mateer ended up signing with the Cougars. Advertisement Mateer was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation last year, throwing for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions in addition to rushing for 826 yards and 15 more touchdowns. In December he transferred to Oklahoma, following his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. The Sooners are counting on Mateer, who is a five-star and No. 3 in the transfer portal rankings, to help turn this team around in a hurry. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OKLAHOMA FANS AT 10. SAM LEAVITT, Arizona State © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Leavitt is coming off a season in which he won Big 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year after leading the Sun Devils to a berth in the College Football Playoff. A former three-star prospect who was originally committed to Washington State but flipped to sign with Michigan State in the 2023 recruiting class, Leavitt's ability to distribute the ball to his playmakers with accuracy helped raise his profile as a recruit. During his senior season he completed 70-percent of his passes while throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns. Advertisement Leavitt transferred to Arizona State in December 2023 as a top 100 prospect in the transfer portal rankings and it wasn't clear at that time whether or not he would start right away for head coach Kenny Dillingham. Leavitt obviously won the starting job and has positioned himself as one of the most promising quarterback prospects in college football. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA STATE FANS AT
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ACC Spotlight: Notable pipelines to high school football talent factories
© Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC A major part of recruiting is coaching staffs getting their foot in the door at high school programs that annually produce multiple high-level, Power Four players. And once a coaching staff can create a pipeline at these high school football factories, it can be one of the biggest built-in recruiting advantages every year. Advertisement This week, we are taking a look at which Power Four programs have an established pipeline at certain high school football factories. Next up is the ACC. RELATED: Notable SEC pipelines to high school football talent factories CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker CENTRAL (S.C.) DW DANIEL - CLEMSON A local program to Clemson's campus, Daniel has produced a long line of Tigers relative to football on Saturdays and well beyond. The alumni list is as strong as any at the top, with a pair of first-round NFL Draft picks in a three-year span. DeAndre Hopkins may still represent the most famous former Lions player to don the local orange at the next level. Just two years later, defensive end Shaq Lawson also saw his name called in the first round after his CU days were done. Advertisement More notable names in the Daniel-to-Clemson pipeline include longtime NFL player Jarvis Jenkins and a pair of well-known athletes in the current era in brothers Jake and Tyler Venables, of course the sons of longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables. The current Clemson roster sports several Lions, as one may expect, including defensive line contributor Jaheim Lawson among a handful of others. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT FT. LAUDERDALE (FLA.) ST. THOMAS AQUINAS - MIAMI © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Arguably the top football program in fertile South Florida, there have been scores of St. Thomas Aquinas prospects to end up at Miami dating back to Michael Irvin in the 1980s. Of course the pipeline hasn't slowed down into the current era, as former Raiders to see the brightest of lights after time at Miami include first-round NFLers Phillip Dorsett and other pros such as Brandon Linder, Leonard Hankerson, Tavares Gooden and Anthony Reddick. Miami's all-time receiving leader Xavier Restrepo also had a stint at the school before his college days. Advertisement The recent rosters at UM have seen a jolt of local talent line up to play close to home and that means more Raiders became Hurricanes in the process. Freshman defensive back OJ Frederique, breakout running back prospect Jordan Lyle and second-year wide receiver Chance Robinson headline the current contingent on campus. It may not soon slow down, as current Raiders recruits Miami is trying to reel in include Justice Fitzpatrick, Daniel Norman, Julius Jones, Mark Matthews and Zayden Gamble. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT MIAMI (FLA.) CENTRAL - MIAMI John Garcia, Jr. Some of the biggest names to come through the program may have starred against the hometown Miami Hurricanes, like a Dalvin Cook at Florida State for example, but there have been some UM greats coming from the school since the turn of the century such as Willis McGahee and Najeh Davenport. The backfield part of the pipeline would continue with blue-chippers Joseph Yearby in addition to big names Trevor Darling, Navaughn Donaldson and the late Bryan Pata going from a Rocket to a Cane. Advertisement There was a small lull in the pipeline about a decade ago, but it has since turned around in a large way under Mario Cristobal. In fact, five Central Rockets are on the current Hurricane roster including former five-star pass rusher Armondo Blount and 2023 freshman All-American Rueben Bain Jr. On the trail, UM hopes the pipeline continues with blue-chip targets at Central such as linebacker Karon Maycock in the 2026 class and wide receiver Sean Thompson in 2027. DALLAS (TEXAS) SOUTH OAK CLIFF - SMU © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The newest members of the ACC have plenty of pipelines to their own name, too, and the current roster at SMU leans on a new one in Lone Star State power South Oak Cliff. The Bears are represented by five different players on the Mustang roster, including captain and returning All-ACC quarterback Kevin Jennings, Texas pass rush transfer Billy Walton III and others. Advertisement The SOC-to-SMU pipeline may just be hitting its stride as Rhett Lashelee and company should splash following an ACC runner-up campaign in 2024. Looking ahead to the 2027 class, a pair of coveted prospects are high on the program early on in No. 9 offensive tackle Brian Swanson and defensive line recruit Jaderian Jones. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SMU FANS AT
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rivals Camp Series Miami: The Garcia and Smith awards
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Rivals national recruiting analysts John Garcia, Jr. and Greg Smith look back at the Rivals Camp Series stop in South Florida on Sunday and hand out virtual hardware to some of the most intriguing prospects in attendance. Advertisement MORE RCS MIAMI: Rumor mill | Rankings impact | Asher Ghioto interview | Xavier Payne interview | Mark Matthews interview CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker OH, WHAT A CEILING: Mark Matthews Matthews looks the part of a future major Power Four offensive tackle prospect. He's fairly raw right now as a prospect after making the switch from the hardwood to the gridiron, and even then he was primarily a defensive lineman for a chunk of the 2024 season. But seeing him against a good group of pass rushers on Sunday makes it easy to see the potential. If it all comes together for Matthews the sky is the limit on his game. THE ASSASSIN: Jake Kreul Talking with a former Power Four linemen on hand Sunday, he tagged the IMG star as a pass rush assassin and it hasn't left my brain since. Kreul can beat blockers in such a variety of ways, they almost dictate how they will take the ensuing loss by their stance, early leverage off of the snap or by how quickly they retreat and give ground in fear of his speed. That edge bending ability and elite first step has most bailing upon the snap of the ball, but Kreul has really progressed with his counter game, overall strength and hand technique to the point he can get guys 50-plus pounds heavier than him on the ground with his speed to power combinations. There may not be a more polished pure pass rusher in the country at this rate. THE TECHNICIAN: Chancellor Barclay Barclay is truly a prototypical interior offensive lineman. The Orlando (Fla.) First Academy standout has just the right size. But his powerful punch stuns defenders as they try to maneuver by him. Barclay is able to redirect well and deal with counter moves because of his quick feet. You can tell that he's very advanced from a technical standpoint at a young age. As he continues to improve after getting to Clemson the Tigers could have a multi-year starter with him. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT BULL MARKET: Brian Harris There's a lot to like about the Mandarin High standout. His size allows him to play both inside and outside on the defensive line. That type of versatility is something that all colleges are looking for because he can play in multiple schemes. Because Harris is so strong, he can take on bigger players inside and win consistently. He's got family from Philadelphia and Penn State is recruiting him hard. It'll be tough to beat the Nittany Lions but Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and others are trying. DEVELOPMENTAL DARLING: Chancellor Campbell An SEC legacy who has always turned heads because of his 6-foot-8 build, Campbell has frequented Rivals events over the years and the development has shown. He now looks to be as comfortable as ever on the edge, anticipating smaller rushers trying to win leverage and/or the edge against him. Campbell is more filled out, now at 310 pounds, so he is able to win with both his length and improved power at the contact point. Improved footwork has his redirection game headed in the right direction simultaneously, so it's no wonder Ohio State, Penn State, Florida and Miami are battling here. SATURDAY READY: Asharri Charles The Venice (Fla.) High School standout has built up his resume as a combo rusher over the years, savvy against the pass and plenty stout against the run with a good motor. It means the floor is high and the dozens of offers reflect that, but Charles has some game-breaker elements to his skill set as well. The ceiling has never looked better for the four-star, especially as he carries more bulk on his 6-foot-3 frame without any signs of slowing down. He won against fellow Power Four prospects with quickness, including on a pretty inside spin move and a smooth dip on the outside, so as the power becomes permanent a full package could soon be at his disposal. STANDING ON BUSINESS: Aiden Hartnett There may not have been a player at the camp that generated more buzz than Harnett. He goes by the nickname 'Big Country' so you knew he'd be ready to mix it up. He didn't disappoint at all. Hartnett wasn't happy with just winning reps; he wanted to dominate them. And when he did, he made sure to talk a lot of trash. Hartnett had a day that will be tough to forget from this year's Rivals Camp Series. BUY THIS STOCK EARLY: Ismael Schiefer There is already a buzz for Schiefer at IMG Academy and it doesn't take very long to see just why. He is built like the prototype edge rusher relative to his age and he has some refinement to his game despite the youth. His camp is thrilled he gets to battle blue-chippers every day and it has accelerated a development that many of college football's elite are keeping close tabs on. After one win Sunday, an onlooker yelled towards the class of 2028 talent, 'that's why Georgia loves you!' TRANSFER TO WATCH: Cameron McHaney McHaney is a well built prospect in the interior of the defensive line. He recently transferred down to IMG Academy from Detroit to get more exposure which may come sooner than later. Now he'll get to go against opposing linemen daily that are going to major Power Four programs. That'll help sharpen his skills quickly. We like what we've seen so far from McHaney. He's quick off the ball and plays with good leverage which allows him to win a lot of reps. It'll be interesting to see how far his development and recruitment speeds up over the next few months. A SLEEPER NO MORE: Dylan Harris When you turn heads at a camp registration because of a 6-foot-5, 241-pound build to go along with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, extra eyeballs gravitate that way once the competition begins as well. That was Harris on Sunday, working both inside and out along the defensive front with clear athleticism and potential to his name. Also a basketball player who averaged a double-double last season, it's no wonder some of his offers are coming in at tight end while other programs see him on defense. This is a name that should garner more and more traction as the year wears on. Credit to Boston College, Tulane, South Florida and others for already sitting on the offer list.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top three prospects in the 2018 Rivals250 are getting PAID
Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Amon-Ra St. Brown were the top three prospects in the 2018 Rivals250 – all three regulars at Rivals Camp Series events – and they're getting paid. Lawrence signed a five-year, $275-million extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars in June and St. Brown inked a four-year, $120-million extension with the Detroit Lions in April. Fields signed this week with the New York Jets, as the former five-star quarterback agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract. That's $435 million in new contracts for the top three players in 2018. Not bad. Below, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney shares memories and thoughts on each of those three players before they even headed off to college. MORE GORNEY: Checking up on five-stars in the 2026 Rivals250 CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker Nick Lucero/ Now that it's been years since Lawrence was in high school, it was always very unlikely that we were ever going to move him off the top line. The five-star quarterback from Cartersville, Ga., was coming to Rivals events from such a young age. He never backed down from competition and even after being named the No. 1 prospect in the 2018 Rivals250, Lawrence kept coming to compete. Every time on the field, he was the best one. There were always rumors that Lawrence made a silent commitment to Georgia and then backed away from that once he went public with his Clemson pledge early in his high school career. We never got a straight answer on that but it was an interesting rumor for a long time throughout his recruitment. Through the years, our comp for Lawrence was Peyton Manning – a big pocket presence, big arm, super smart and someone who made everybody around him better. Lawrence is a better athlete but hasn't had the highest level of winning yet with Jacksonville. Even after Lawrence was really good, but not great, at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio to close out his high school career, we never seriously considered moving him off that top line. His resume of work was way too impressive and his projection was too great to make any changes. I'm happy we didn't since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT If Fields was in almost any other recruiting class other than 2018, the Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison five-star quarterback would have probably been No. 1 overall. Other than Lawrence and Jadeveon Clowney, there might not have been any other recruiting classes where we were so locked in with the top spot so Fields would've had a chance against anybody. Throughout the recruiting cycle, there were definitely people close to Fields who were pushing the narrative that he was the best quarterback in the class. But we had seen Fields numerous times because he also attended Rivals Camps Series events since an early age and throughout his career, and we thought Fields was phenomenal, just not as good as Lawrence. In some ways, it must have been tough on Fields since he was so dynamic and such a great passer and playmaker to sort of live a little in Lawrence's shadow not only nationally but also in-state as the two lived just 20 miles from each other. It was an incredibly rare circumstance but one that was so intriguing. Fields originally committed to Penn State but then backed off that pledge and picked Georgia in the middle of his senior season. He ended up in the Bulldogs' class with James Cook and many others, making it the top-ranked class nationally. He only played one season at Georgia and was used in some curious ways – and too sparingly some would argue – before transferring to Ohio State. He shined in Columbus and was the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft. Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were the QBs taken ahead of him. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OHIO STATE FANS AT The youngest of three brothers (Equanimeous played at Notre Dame and Osiris played at Stanford), Amon-Ra was the talk of the camp and 7-on-7 circuit since he was in middle school. His dad, John Brown, former two-time Mr. Universe, always talked up the youngest brother and said he'd be the best. The dad was not wrong. St. Brown was so physically dominant in high school that he could basically do whatever he pleased – get open against any cornerback, catch every pass, run by players, headhunt when he was blocking. The five-star receiver had such a killer's mentality on the field as well that it was clear he'd do anything to succeed. At the Rivals Five-Star Challenge in Indianapolis, St. Brown was unstoppable, just one of many events that he took over and never backed down from a challenge. He was also great that year at the All-American Bowl. After all his big plays, he took to punting the football which is probably regrettable now but it just proved his mindset on dominating every time he was on the field. St. Brown chose USC over Stanford and Notre Dame and then had 178 catches in three seasons for the Trojans. But St. Brown was overlooked in the NFL Draft and not taken until the fourth round, a steal for the Detroit Lions. To prove how focused St. Brown has always been on being great, on numerous occasions, the five-star was asked to name – on the spot – the 16 receivers drafted ahead of him. He's never had a problem ripping off those names in order. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH USC FANS AT
