QB Challenge: What to watch for in Atlanta
The Rivals Quarterback Challenge Presented by Under Armour
stops in Atlanta on Sunday and will host some of the top
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quarterbacks in the region. The competition will be heated as prospects from
across the Southeast all take the field at Northview
(Ga.) High School. The quarterbacks will be asked to demonstrate their skill levels in
accuracy, velocity, ability to throw on the run and downfield vision. There will
be an accuracy competition and other evaluations that will be tracked by our
analysts in a unique and objective points system.
The Quarterback Challenge is a new addition to the Rivals Camp
Series Presented by Under Armour and will feature four events
across the country this spring -- Los Angeles (Feb. 21),
Dallas, Atlanta (March
22) and Cincinnati (April 25).
The winner of each Quarterback Challenge -- along with 10 others from
across all four challenges -- will be flown to Baltimore during the weekend of
the Rivals Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour to compete in the finals of the
Rivals Quarterback
Challenge.
The events are attracting top prospects from across the country, giving us
numerous storylines to track at the game's most important position. Here are
five storylines we will be watching in Atlanta.
Dueling headliners
Jarrett Guarantano is scheduled to visit Tennessee
next week.
Austin Kendall and Jarrett Guarantano are both Rivals250
prospects. Kendall is the No. 27 overall prospect in the country, while
Guarantano checks in at No. 91. Both have a long list of scholarship offers and
national reputations.
A simple head-to-head competition between the two will be interesting on its
own. When you also consider the fact that Kendall recently broke his commitment
to Tennessee and Guarantano is reportedly considering pledging to the
Volunteers, their matchup this weekend at the Rivals Quarterback
Challenge becomes all that more interesting.
Kendall and Guarantano have drastically different styles, as the former is more
of a drop-back passer while the latter is more gifted when it comes to making
plays with his feet. Still, a lot will be learned about these two when they are
asked to make the same throws.
Proving it
Columbia (Tenn.) Spring Hill quarterback Tylin Oden checks in as the
No. 204 prospect in the Rivals250 Presented by Under Armour. He is the No. 7
dual-threat quarterback in the 2016 class and ranks as the No. 6 overall
prospect in the state of Tennessee. He has solid film and the start of an
impressive offer list.
The thing is, he's still a relatively new commodity. Oden didn't have a
single offer until December, when his junior film was released. He's also never
rubbed elbows with other top FBS prospects at an elite camp such as Sunday's, so it will be interesting to
see how he reacts in a new setting.
Gaines' gun
Xavier Gaines was a top performer at the Rivals Speed
& Skill Challenge in Orlando earlier this month.
Xavier Gaines is a four-star dual-threat quarterback and has impressed
at previous offseason stops. Winning a point-based accuracy challenge is
sometimes tough for a dual-threat option such as Gaines, as half of his skill set
doesn't necessarily translate to those kinds of drills. That said, if anyone has
a chance, it is Gaines.
The Frostproof (Fla.) Lake Wales prospect looked incredibly accurate at the
Rivals Speed & Skill Challenge Presented by Under Armour two weeks ago.
He showed off impressive arm strength to boot. There's no reason to think that
Gaines won't be in the thick of the hunt for the region title on Sunday. Either
way, it will be interesting to note how lesser-known talent stacks up to the
established star attempting to push his way into the Rivals250.
Young blood
Just a sophomore, Joey Gatewood already holds a handful of offers from
major programs and he will likely add a handful more in the coming months. His
6-foot-3 frame, poise in the pocket and strong arm have been impressive on the
camp circuit thus far.
The Jacksonville-based Gatewood will join fellow Florida-based 2017 prospect
Jake Allen of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons in Atlanta this
weekend. Allen currently lists offers from Rutgers and Florida Atlantic.
Trevor Lawrence, a 2018 prospect, will also be in attendance and is
someone to watch as a possible future star. He is already receiving college
interest but has yet to receive his first offer.
Huntley's buzz
Tyler Huntley won MVP honors at the South Florida Opening regional, but
had an off day the following weekend at the Rivals Camp Series
Presented by Under Armour in Miami. He's been solid at recent
7-on-7 events.
Huntley is a recognizable name is South Florida football circles. He has a
handful of offers and plenty of other schools are watching him closely. It's
easy to get the feeling that the Hallandale (Fla.) High School quarterback is on
the verge of seeing a giant jump in scholarship offers. The spring evaluation
period will help his cause, as could an impressive showing in Atlanta this
weekend.
