Most college football programs take one quarterback - and sometimes even two - each recruiting cycle. It’s an inexact science, of course, and recruiting the right quarterback under center is never easy or guaranteed. Naturally, that allows some highly rated passers to never live up to expectations while others go above and beyond the call of duty.
This week, we take a look around the country at quarterbacks flying under the radar, this time in the South-Central region.
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MORE UNDER-THE-RADAR QBS: Midwest Region | Southeast
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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Kitna, the son of longtime NFL QB Jon Kitna, currently ranks as a top 50 prospect in Texas and the No. 17-ranked pro-style passer in America. Before the Coronavirus ended 7-on-7 and spring football activities, the former Boston College commit was picking up some serious steam on the recruiting trail, adding new overtures from Arizona, Florida and Georgia Tech, among others.
Last year, Kitna had an impressive stint as the QB1 of Frisco Reedy, showcasing big-time arm strength and making impressive throws from the pocket as well as the ability to make plays with his legs. That earned him a high three-star grade until Rivals could get an in-person evaluation. This offseason, the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder clocked a 4.7-second 40, a 35-inch vertical and a 10-5 broad jump before he was supposed to debut at Burleson High this spring.
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James caught our attention last summer when he flashed as a field general for Prime 21 camp in Arlington. Since then, he’s piled up an impressive offer sheet including overtures from William & Mary, Dartmouth, Illinois State, Liberty, Texas State, UAB and Louisiana-Monroe. The 6-foot, 175-pounder completed 62-percent of his passes as a junior for John Paul II as well as 4,100-plus yards and 44 touchdowns. James gets the ball out quick, hits wide-open receivers in stride, throws well on the move and is a smart decision-maker. He thrived in the spread offense and excelled at finding mismatches.
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Wright pledged to Iowa State at the start of the spring and got his commitment out of the way. The Austin High standout had several offers to choose from, including Louisiana-Lafayette, North Texas and UTSA, but the Cyclones were an early Power 5 overture and multiple visits up to Ames was enough to convince Wright that was the move.
Wright completed 55 percent of his throws as a junior to go along with 2,520 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 picks. He also has the ability to make some plays with his legs. On tape, Wright shows the ability to operate a spread system and make big throws downfield in a vertical offense. He has really good upside with Matt Campbell calling the plays and an emphasis on getting talented receivers the ball in space. North Carolina State -- which tabbed former Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck to the same position -- recently offered.
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At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Rodriguez might have a future at multiple positions at the next level. While he’s ranked as a dual-threat quarterback and certainly could fill that role for a college team, Rodriguez has the ability to slide in at linebacker or carry the rock. He’s instinctive in coverage and the run game. He’s also a physical runner in the open field, a true home-run threat, elusive in the pocket and a unique gadget player much like Tayson Hill. Although he’s not asked to sling it around the yard, Rodriguez can make plays through the air as well. Offers from Baylor, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Virginia are proof.
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KAI HORTON
Horton recently completed his first season as Carthage’s starting quarterback. The two-sport standout finished 16-0 and closed the year out with a Class 4A D-1 state championship. Horton completed better than 60 percent of his passes for 3,741 yards, 49 touchdowns compared to six interceptions.
The East Texas standout possesses an impressive frame (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and on tape impresses with his ability to stand tall in the pocket, throw downhill and outside the numbers, has good accuracy and tends to place the ball where only his receivers can make plays. Horton also throws well on the run and has good arm strength and his calm demeanor is noticeable. Stephen F. Austin became his first scholarship offer earlier in the week.
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South Florida, UTEP, San Diego State, Nevada, Coastal Carolina, Western Kentucky, Central Florida, McNeese State, Missouri State, Cornell, Penn and Yale have all offered Coley since the 2021 dual-threat took home QB MVP honors of the Rivals Camp Series stop in Houston in February. The former Friday Night Tykes star earned himself a three-star grade and recently picked up his first overture from the SEC -- from Arkansas.
Coley would be a top candidate to earn even more offers by participating in prospect camps this summer. Coley can throw ropes, plays with great anticipation and is a dynamic runner in space. Tennessee has been a team flirting with Coley for some time and we’ll see if and when the Vols elect to make their move.
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Green is entering a pivotal juncture at Lewisville High. The 6-foot-5, 200-plus pounder reported offers from Missouri State, Texas Southern, San Diego State and Illinois State earlier in the offseason, but has the attention of Power 5 schools such as Baylor, Colorado, Syracuse, TCU in addition to SMU.
Green is a long-jumper and triple-jumper with a verified 4.6-second 40. Last season, Green accounted for 2,217 yards, 25 touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He completed 60 percent of his passes and rushed for another 400-plus yards and 12 touchdowns. Green has the frame, athleticism and a good-enough arm to make a lot of plays at the next level, not to mention a playmaker like Rivals100 wide receiver Armani Winfield to help the highlight reel.
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McClelland’s junior campaign was cut short for an off-the-field incident, but it’s worth pointing out that he’s a four-year starter for Houston powerhouse Katy High School with 2,900 yards and 33 touchdowns in that span. Before his season came to an end in 2019, McClelland threw for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. In other words, 2020 will be a critical season for McClelland’s recruitment. With so many college coaches around the Katy program, they have gotten wind of the quarterback’s strong arm, mobility, cool demeanor in the pocket and ability to throw with touch. If everything is sorted out off the field, which has been an area of focus for McClelland, he will be playing at the next level.
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On Thursday, Arkansas offered and landed a commitment from Rogers, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound dual-threat from Little Rock (Ark.) Parkview. As a junior, Rogers completed 54 percent of his throws for 1,661 yards, 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also boasts an impressive 4.58-second 40 time.
On tape, Rogers showcases a big arm capable of making throws downfield, the ability to improvise and create or extend plays, being a dangerous threat to take off and run while also remaining calm and cool under pressure. In addition to Arkansas, Kansas, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Tennessee-Martin, Coastal Carolina and Tennessee-Martin have all offered. Rogers would have benefited greatly from camp exposure this summer.
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Wilson is a classic instance of an undersized quarterback that still has a big arm and orchestrates one of Texas high school football’s most explosive offenses. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Furman and Texas Southern have each offered Wilson, who completed 66 percent of his passes for Del Valle (Texas) High to go along with 2,500 yards, 27 touchdowns compared to six interceptions, and another 400 yards and four scores on the ground. Wilson has made a habit of delivering the ball to his top playmakers in a variety of ways. He’s got the arm, the mobility and work ethic.
