Published Mar 24, 2015
Atlanta QB Challenge: Top Performers
Adam Friedman
Recruiting Analyst
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. -- Many of the best quarterbacks in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic converged on Northview High School on Sunday for the Rivals Quarterback Challenge Presented by Under Armour. The rainy conditions weren't ideal but the best players rose to the occasion.
Recruiting wrap: Allen currently has offers from Rutgers and Florida Atlantic.
Performance: It was a tight race between Brice and Allen for the top spot on this list. Allen was very good in short, intermediate and rollout drills. He has a big arm and put a lot of velocity on his throws. In other drills, Allen showed the ability to quickly process information and deliver an accurate pass. Allen's quick release will pay dividends during games, especially in pressure situations.
3PQB
Nick Starkel
Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian School
Recruiting wrap: Starkel holds offers from Oklahoma State, Old Dominion and Indiana State.
Performance: Starkel had one of the stronger arms at the camp. The ball jumped off his hand and he had a very smooth release. Starkel was quick to get into his drop and didn't waste any steps at the top of his drop. It was easy to see Starkel is a polished quarterback that thrives in this type of environment.
4DQB
Kato Nelson
Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Flanagan
Recruiting wrap: Nelson's only offer so far is from Temple.
Performance: Nelson excelled throwing the deep ball. His accuracy down the field was impressive and his quick release helped in the catch-and-throw drills. Nelson's footwork in the rollout drills was some of the best at the camp. Look for more offers to come in from teams looking to take advantage of his athleticism.
5PQB
Austin Kendall
Waxhaw (N.C.) Cuthbertson
Recruiting wrap: Kendall recently decommitted from Tennessee and has Kentucky at the top of his list followed by Auburn, Florida and Oklahoma.
Performance: Kendall is a very polished quarterback that throws a very catchable ball. He won the "Perfect Spiral" award because his throws came out of his hand very nicely almost every time. Some people question his arm strength, but he did a good job with his deep passes and sideline passes.
6DQB
Jarrett Guarantano
Oradell (N.C.) Bergen Catholic
Recruiting wrap: Rutgers holds a slight lead for Guarantano over Tennessee and Ohio State. Guarantano visited Tennessee earlier this week.
Performance: Guarantano took home the "Rocket Arm" award and it really wasn't even that close of a contest. Every time he hit a target, it jumped backwards. Guarantano had the best footwork of any quarterback in the rollout drills, looking eerily similar to Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. He was also very accurate when throwing to the opposite sideline and threw a consistent deep ball.
7PQB
Trevor Lawrence (2018)
Cartersville, Ga.
Recruiting wrap: Lawrence's recruitment has yet to really get off the ground but he is considered one of the up-and-coming stars in Georgia.
Performance: Lawrence came into the camp with a lot of hype and did not disappoint. He has a great frame at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds and his arm strength was very impressive for a freshman. Lawrence is a very natural and smooth passer that has good mechanics. As he gets older, look for his release to get even quicker.
8DQB
Stephen Calvert
Miami Gardens (Fla.) Carol City
Recruiting wrap: USF was Calvert's first offer.
Performance: The ball seemed to jump out of Calvert's hand every time he let one go. He excelled throwing the ball down the field and while on the run. Calvert was a bit streaky, but when he was on, there were few that were better. There is room for Calvert to fill out his 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame and some added strength could help him be more consistent.
9PQB
Kole Stealy
Weston (Fla.) Cypress Bay
Recruiting wrap: Stealy holds an offer from Eastern Michigan.
Performance: Stealy doesn't have the biggest arm or the fastest release, but his accuracy was undeniable. His crisp footwork and throwing mechanics helped him stay accurate throughout the camp, even as his arm got tired later in the day. Stealy's short throws toward the sideline were on the money nearly every time.
10DQB
Kha'Darrius Davis
Fairfield (Ala.) Bessemer City
Recruiting wrap: Davis will see his interest spike after a solid performance on Sunday.
Performance: Davis had one of the stronger arms at the camp and was one of the few quarterbacks that was able to hit the target in the long touchdown pass drill. He won the "Touchdown Touch" award because of his performance in that drill. As Davis' 6-3, 175-pound frame fills out and he tightens up his throwing motion, he could see his offer sheet start to fill up.
11DQB
Justin Berry
Charleston (S.C.) West Ashley
Recruiting wrap: Arizona State, Temple, Akron and Youngstown State have offered Berry.
Performance: Berry is a smaller quarterback that throws a very accurate ball, but there wasn't a ton of zip on his passes for much of the day. He can get by like that in this type of environment, but that will need to change during games. Berry was very consistent in catch-and-throw drills and there are plenty of things to like about his game when he is outside the pocket.
Adam Friedman
Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
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