| 25 January 2011
We can call the 2012 quarterbacks the "Rodney Dangerfields" as a whole. They are getting no respect. With Braxton Miller, the best quarterback Ohio has ever produced to this time, and Cardale Jones the second best, plus the class of 2013 likely to produce a quarterback who is better than either Miller or Jones, 2012 is getting overlooked. It is actually quite a good class with a couple of players who could have possibly seen a Buckeye scholarship offer if the situation were different.
Geovonnie McKnight, 6-4, 200, Middletown. Maybe the least well known of these quarterbacks because he shares the position with 2013 superstar Jalin Marshall. I understand why the Middletown coaching staff is playing it this way. Wanting the ball in Marshalls hands on every play is understandable. I am confident Marshall will be a receiver at the next level but he is a good fit as quarterback for some offenses so it isn't like the offense is run only with Marshall in there. McKnight reminds me of Cardale Jones. He is a big kid but moves well and has a fine arm. I am sure the Big Ten schools will be all over him despite the fact that he is not a full time starter.
Tyler Eden, 6-4, 220, University School. There is so much to like about Eden. He is a big mobile kid with a fine arm and a quick release. One thing that is going to make him more valuable to recruiters is that he is such a good athlete and his size is legit so a move to tight end is definitely in the cards if he does not win the starting job at quarterback. His level of competition will surely mean he will have to get out to camps and combines this summer.
Tyler O'Connor, 6-4, Lima Central Catholic. I did not give this kid a good look the first time around. Not too long ago Mark Porter suggested I give him another look. Mark had put together a really outstanding film that gives a good look at O'Connor. The more I liked the better I liked him. Big kid with plenty of arm strength. Great mechanics and he is very polished. Looks like he could step right into a pro style offense and not miss a beat.
Austin Appleby, 6-4, North Canton Hoover. I am seeing so much about what is wrong with Appleby, the long baseball throwing motion and that he is not very athletic. What I see is a big kid with a great arm and the toughness to hang in there and deliver the ball knowing he is about to take a shot. Alot of schools still like a pure pocket passer. They will find their way to North Canton.
Reggie McAdams, 6-6, 200. Elida. If McKnight is not new to you then I am sure McAdams is. He is the most intriguing of the lot other than McKnight. His film as delivered to Mark did not allow a good look at his mechanics but what I see is a very accurate passer and a very competitive kid. He is running around out there and making things happen. He is not an athletic quarterback, meaning he is just as dangerous as a runner as he is as a passer but he moves around pretty well for a pocket passer. McAdams is a player I will be keeping an eye on.
Collin Michael, 6-6, Lexington. Had an injury that greatly impacted his season. I will be looking forward to seeing what he can do this summer in camps and combines. He is in a spread type offense but came to camps and combines last year and showed legit arm strength.
Austin Pritchard, 6-3, 200, Strongsville. Very nice quarterback. Nice touch. Very accurate. Poised in the pocket. It is such a temptation for high school coaches to go with a spread when they have a kid who can throw it like this but the throws that show the college coaches arm strength are not there in spread offenses.
Will McCollister, 6-4, Rock Hill. Tough year for McCollister. His team was not very good so he had little support. Still, like Michael, he threw very well last summer so there is every reason to believe he will get out to camps and combines again and show what he is capable of.
Again, a very nice class but I doubt we will see Ohio State looking for a quarterback. If the staff decides they want one and believes they have the room I think a fallback to the already offered national superstar in Shane Dillon might be right here at home.
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