The timeline for quarterback recruiting plays out earlier in high school than other positions because of the value of the position and because most schools only take one per class. While quarterback recruiting in the 2021 class is largely complete, it is just starting to heat up for the class of 2022. Here is a look at the top five 2022 quarterback prospects still available in the South Central.
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MORE: Five top Midwest 2022 quarterbacks | Southeast | East Coast | West
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
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Recruitment: The offers have not stopped rolling in for Weigman this fall as he continues to emerge as a household name in the state of Texas. Sources close to the Houston-area quarterback indicated that a recent overture Florida and, in particular, SEC offers, loom large because of Weigman's interest in baseball. A recent offer from Oklahoma could also have his attention. It seems inevitable that Texas A&M and Texas will eventually join the race, too.
Evaluation: Weigman, another two-sport standout from Houston, has a live arm with fantastic mobility. He has enough juice to throw lasers outside the numbers with ease and can fit balls into very tight windows. There's some aspects of his game that need to be shored up, but Weigman manuevers well within the pocket and is always a threat to tuck it and run. He's enjoying a breakout junior campaign that should place him among the country's best at the position.
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Recruitment: Klubnik's recruitment gained a pulse in the aftermath of a junior season in which he contributed on a part-time basis en route to a state championship finish. Now the unquestioned leader for this team, Klubnik's offer sheet has ballooned with overtures from Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU and Washington. The Longhorns are the latest to offer the local standout, who plays his high school ball just down the road from Texas.
Evaluation: Now with a larger sample size as the QB1 for Austin Westlake, Klubnik has impressed with his ability to move within the pocket and attack all areas of the field with his arm. Klubnik can throw well on the move, evade pass-rushers and is a threat to take off and run. Klubnik has the ability to throw on the move to his left and right and maintain accuracy. He engineers one of the highest-scoring offenses in the state.
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Recruitment: Teams began to take notice of Locke when he delivering dimes to former five-star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is continuing to make plays as a freshman at Ohio State. North Carolina, Wake Forest and Rice all offered the Rockwall passer this season, joining the likes of Miami, Arkansas, SMU and Kansas, who offered earlier in the process.
Evaluation: Locke is an efficient, accurate passer that can distribute passes and tear apart a defense in the short field or attack downfield. This year, he anchored a comeback against Ewers' Southlake Carroll squad, which served as a reminder of Locke's big-game prowess. Locke throws with excellent rhythm and timing and is quick to diagnose mismatches in the passing game.
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Recruitment: As an underclassmen at Rockwall and then Dunne, Orji landed offers from Oklahoma, Baylor, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Kansas and Minnesota. Since finding a home at Sachse, he's added Virginia Tech, Nebraska and even a Vanderbilt offer, which is where his brothers play. Because of the lack of visits and camps, Orji hasn't been able to venture to different schools much of late, but we anticipate Oklahoma, Baylor and Vandy being likely contenders. A lot will also hinge on Orji's position preference -- if he wants to continue to develop as a passer or consider a move to a skill position on offense or defense. All are certainly feasible.
Evaluation: A true athlete manning the quarterback position, Orji is big-framed (6-foot-2, 205) with massive arm strength and a threat to make plays with his legs in the open field. Orji makes the bulk of his throws in astonishing fashion -- throwing on the run or lofting a pass downfield or bulldozing defenders in his way to pay-dirt. Orji's brothers played linebacker and safety, but he's sticking with quarterback. While he isn't a polished passer, he has raw, game-breaking ability
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Recruitment: During an atypical offseason, Hoover landed new offers from North Texas, Arkansas and Illinois State, then added overtures from Nevada, New Mexico and Tulsa after beginning his junior campaign. Because of COVID-19, Hoover has yet to visit any college campuses or explore new offers.
Evaluation: The 6-foot-2, 205-plus-pound Hoover is a big-framed quarterback enjoying a stellar fall. Hoover, who despite his size, is very mobile inside the pocket and adept at extending plays, deals well with pressure and is difficult to sack. Hoover throws well on the run and can rifle throws in as he moves to his left or right, which makes him all the more dangerous to contain.
