While Deuce Wallace's decommitment is tough to take, it was not entirely surprising. The surprising part is the timing, what with Wallace visiting campus twice within a month, starting to recruit other players on our behalf, and seemingly being "all in" in his interviews, on Twitter, etc. To me, a kid from Tennessee by way of Louisiana always seemed more likely to end up somewhere down south. Hopefully the coaches also saw the possibility that Deuce would end up elsewhere and kept doors open for other QB prospects.
But now what? Do we re-focus on the two remaining offered prospects? Widen the net with evaluations during the spring period?
Here's my take on the possible QB targets, with the offered prospects coming first (click the names to check out tape):
Joshua Jackson: Easy to tell that Jackson has been around football all his life. Even with it being a highlight tape, he makes timely, accurate throws with the right ball speed -- varying ball speed is a skill that most high school quarterbacks lack. A pretty good athlete, he would be less of a true run threat, but still capable of keeping a defense honest. Arm strength may be a touch below ideal, but good enough and works well with timely decisions and accuracy. Seems to throw a very catchable ball. Throws effectively on the run.
Anthony Brown, Jr.: Very interesting prospect that can do a lot on the field. Has a whole lot of tools, but is just starting to learn how to use them. For a slight guy who's more athlete than quarterback at this point, he flashes the ability to get on top of the ball and drive it into the seams. The ball surprisingly jumps out of his hand. A very capable athlete who would be a true run threat with the ball. Even if he isn't a quarterback, he could probably be an effective receiver. I'm intrigued that he put us in his recently-published top five even when Wallace was still committed. Would be the perfect kind of guy to take behind Thorson, redshirt to refine his QB skills and put on some weight, then figure out how to get him on the field.
All in all, I would be happy with either (or both) of these guys as QBs in the class. Jackson is probably the higher-floor guy while Brown is the higher-ceiling guy. I would imagine that Fitz reached out to both of them in the past 12 hours, saying "things have changed on our end. It's still 'first-come, first-served' at the QB position. Your call."
That said, there seem to be some local backup options in the event we don't get Jackson or Brown:
Steven Frank (Oswego/IL): Illinois and MAC offers to date. Much more of a "traditional QB" than the others at 6-4 215 with less mobility. A slightly longer release, but gets the ball out with pretty good arm strength. Probably a guy that the coaches would want to see throw in person or in a camp setting.
Matt Little (Evanston/IL): Yes he's currently committed to Western Michigan, but I don't think that would last long if the B1G school up the street came calling. Reminds me a little of Lloyd Yates with slightly less mobility and better size. A work in progress as a passer, he tends to "cup" the ball in the middle of his release, which decreases arm strength considerably. Can move around in the pocket and make throws. Another guy who coaches would probably want in camp or see in person (which is considerably easier than some other prospects on the board).
It would be ideal to get a QB on board quickly and interesting to watch how quickly coaches might move down their list from Jackson and Brown if neither jump on board sooner rather than later.
But now what? Do we re-focus on the two remaining offered prospects? Widen the net with evaluations during the spring period?
Here's my take on the possible QB targets, with the offered prospects coming first (click the names to check out tape):
Joshua Jackson: Easy to tell that Jackson has been around football all his life. Even with it being a highlight tape, he makes timely, accurate throws with the right ball speed -- varying ball speed is a skill that most high school quarterbacks lack. A pretty good athlete, he would be less of a true run threat, but still capable of keeping a defense honest. Arm strength may be a touch below ideal, but good enough and works well with timely decisions and accuracy. Seems to throw a very catchable ball. Throws effectively on the run.
Anthony Brown, Jr.: Very interesting prospect that can do a lot on the field. Has a whole lot of tools, but is just starting to learn how to use them. For a slight guy who's more athlete than quarterback at this point, he flashes the ability to get on top of the ball and drive it into the seams. The ball surprisingly jumps out of his hand. A very capable athlete who would be a true run threat with the ball. Even if he isn't a quarterback, he could probably be an effective receiver. I'm intrigued that he put us in his recently-published top five even when Wallace was still committed. Would be the perfect kind of guy to take behind Thorson, redshirt to refine his QB skills and put on some weight, then figure out how to get him on the field.
All in all, I would be happy with either (or both) of these guys as QBs in the class. Jackson is probably the higher-floor guy while Brown is the higher-ceiling guy. I would imagine that Fitz reached out to both of them in the past 12 hours, saying "things have changed on our end. It's still 'first-come, first-served' at the QB position. Your call."
That said, there seem to be some local backup options in the event we don't get Jackson or Brown:
Steven Frank (Oswego/IL): Illinois and MAC offers to date. Much more of a "traditional QB" than the others at 6-4 215 with less mobility. A slightly longer release, but gets the ball out with pretty good arm strength. Probably a guy that the coaches would want to see throw in person or in a camp setting.
Matt Little (Evanston/IL): Yes he's currently committed to Western Michigan, but I don't think that would last long if the B1G school up the street came calling. Reminds me a little of Lloyd Yates with slightly less mobility and better size. A work in progress as a passer, he tends to "cup" the ball in the middle of his release, which decreases arm strength considerably. Can move around in the pocket and make throws. Another guy who coaches would probably want in camp or see in person (which is considerably easier than some other prospects on the board).
It would be ideal to get a QB on board quickly and interesting to watch how quickly coaches might move down their list from Jackson and Brown if neither jump on board sooner rather than later.