Southeast Spotlight: Under-the-radar QBs
The quarterback position is unique in college football recruiting. Most teams only take one per class, and coaches start scouting the position earlier than all others. That approach means some players fall through the cracks, and it's why you have NFL starters Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppollo, who never received a Power Five offer in high school.
Today, we continue our weeklong look around the country at under-the-radar quarterbacks with a glance at the Southeast region.
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MORE SOUTHEAST REGION: Class of 2022 prospects on cusp of Rivals100 | Prospects who have impressed on film
MORE UNDER-THE-RADAR QBS: Midwest Region
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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Smith is one of the most dynamic 2022 quarterbacks in the state of Florida. He has a couple of offers, including one from Arizona State, but it seems as if his upside should warrant more attention.
Smith has a big arm and moves around well in the pocket. He lacks truly elite top-end speed, but he has shown himself to be dangerous running the football as well as throwing it. The Miami Palmetto High School star has good size and the ability to get the ball out quickly and accurately on the run. He will add more offers in the year ahead.
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This could, and likely would have been a big spring for Archie. He is set to take over the starting quarterback job at McEachern High, and he would have been throwing in front of a lot of college coaches in May.
Rivals has seen enough to know big things are in store for Archie. He throws with touch, he has great pocket awareness and he is going to be a quarterback you hear a lot more about this fall.
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Kelly has a handful of offers so it’s not as though he has flown under the radar completely. That said, the dynamic playmaker seemed to be on the verge of seeing the recruiting floodgates open this spring.
Kelly has the size, speed and instincts to help a major program and may find himself welcoming new offers as teams miss on their first options. It will be interesting to see what route his recruitment goes in the absence of a spring evaluation period.
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Fedd is a quarterback that knows the game and has a very high football IQ. He is a coach’s son, he is a natural leader, and there is a lot to like about his mental make-up. Some may have questions about his height, but he plays big, he can make the throws and he is a very smart signal caller.
Army and Coastal Carolina have offered and are in strong pursuit. He is receiving interest from Marshall, Memphis, South Alabama and others as well.
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Geriner has half a dozen offers, so he is not an unknown talent, but he is on the Georgia coast, not in Atlanta, and he is not getting the buzz he deserves. As soon as the 2022 rankings are updated on Rivals again, Geriner will be a four-star prospect. He has a great frame, a big arm and he has quietly picked up offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia and LSU.