Recruiting Radar: QB targets in 2017

Quarterback isn't like other positions. You need a talented player who is smart, and athletic, and able to get into and out of plays, and lead the team to victory.

And, its the position that, usually, is the foundation for a given recruiting class.

For 2017, Miami doesn't have a QB commit yet, and that's ok. With so many top tier QBs available this cycle, Miami should be able to find a suitable candidate for this spot in this class.

With QB being a premium position, Miami, and other teams without a QB commit in 2017, should look to work quickly to secure a commitment so they're not in the place of needing a QB for this class and unable to find one.

Targets

4-star Bailey Hockman - This smooth operating Lefty from Georgia is just the kind of player Miami would love to have in the 2017 recruiting class. Hockman has incredibly polished fundamentals, most likely the result of having worked with a private QB coach/tutor. His movement in the pocket and footwoork overall is nearly flawless.

A drawback for Hockman is that he's "only" 6'2". Using baseball's 20-80 scale, Hockman has a 70 arm (plus plus plus arm) which is elite. He's basically the total package. You'll see why I'm so high on his talent (AND THAT ARM, MY GOODNESS) in the highlights below.

Full Highlights:

Pocket Throws only:

4-star Davis Mills - Another talented signal caller from Georgia, Mills is a dynamic playmaker who can hit throws from pocket or on the run. Again, using the baseball 20-80 scale, Mills has a very good arm at 60, but it's not the cannon that Hockman possesses.

When you look at Mills' ability to elude rushers and extend plays (and turn those extended plays into big plays), there's a lot of Jake Plummer to his game. He hits throws on time and in rhythm from the pocket, but when he uses his mobility, Mills has an "IT factor" that few players can claim. You'll see what I mean when you look at the HUDL highlights below:

4-star Chase Brice - The 3rd Georgia native QB on list, Brice is another talented player who could find a great home in Coral Gables. He's currently committed to Clemson, but #1 QB in this class, Hunter Thompson from Indiana, is also committed to the Tigers.

Brice plays for a Traditional powerhouse HSFB program, and surely gets top level coaching. He's a smooth operator who reads his progressions well and has plenty of arm (55 on the baseball scale) to make all the throws you need to run a successful offense. Highlights? Highlights.

4-star Jake Bentley - The top ranked player on list, Bentley is a good sized player with a nice athletic pedigree. Originally from South Carolina, Bentley's brother Shuler is the QB at Old Dominion, his stepbrother (Chas Dodd) played QB at Rutgers, and his father is the new RB coach on Will Muschamp's staff at South Carolina.

A well built 6'4" 215lb player, Bentley claims 18 offers, and that list is SEC heavy. Being a coach's song, Bentley has a good feel for the game, and very good command of his offense. His footwork is, understandably, good, but could use fine tuning. Bentley has a 70 arm on the baseball scale, and more mobility than you'd think with his frame.

With Bentley's dad being on staff at South Carolina, they've gotta be the odds on favorite for Jake. Highlights:

3-star James Blackman - A tall and thin player at 6'5" 165lbs, Blackman is an intriguing player at the trigger position in this class. He might be the epitome of "boom or bust". Because of this, he would be a great candidate for the QB2 spot in someone's class, if they have room for one.

Blackman's arm talent is elite, maybe the best of the group listed today. He's got a 75 arm on the baseball scale, but could use refinement in his mechanics and footwork. Blackman's height helps him push the ball vertically down the field, and that could become the staple of his game moving forward. His ceiling might be the highest of any player on this list, but it's going to take  a good bit of time and refinement to get there.

If you look at Blackman in parts, you could have a 5-star (arm/height), a 4-star (stats/on-field production), a 3-star (mechanics/footwork), or a 2-star (physical development). This means he could be a career scout team player...or an All-Conference player. In short, the variance for Blackman's future performance is BY FAR the greatest of any player Miami is engaged with at the QB position. In any event, you can see his HUDL highlights and judge the components, or the whole package, for yourself.

3-star N'Kosi Perry - Florida's 6A player of the year in 2015, Perry, a former Miami commit, is a supremely talented player. A dynamic Dual-Threat player, Perry can hurt defenses with his arm or legs with equally devastating effect.

In his own words, and in my mind and many others', spread is the money system for Perry going forward. He doesn't have the strongest arm (55 on the baseball scale), but gets the ball there when he needs to. Perry's running ability is top notch for a QB, and should be a featured part of his game at the HS and college levels. Perry has said he's still interested in miami, but offer list exploding now, and there may be better scheme fits for him than the Canes.

4-star Kellen Mond - This year's free agent who's going to play QB at IMG academy, Mond is a highly touted player who originally hails from San Antonio. He's currently committed to Baylor, and is listed as the top Dual-Threat QB prospect in the country.

Mond has a weird kind of push motion when he throws, but that's something that can be fixed with coaching and repetition. Even with that motion (which I'd rather have shorter than longer, word to Tebow), Mond has nice velocity on his ball and a good enough arm (55 on the baseball scale). Like Perry, Mond is a dynamic runner, which you can see early in his highlights (below).

Random aside

Here's my thought on the Dual-Threat QBs: While Mond is the higher rated player right now, I think that Perry is the better prospect for a spread based offensive system. If I had to pick one to play QB in, say, Oregon's offense, I'm picking Perry.

That being said, I think that Mond would be a better fit for the offense that Miami wants to run, because he's not as quick to run, and is a bit more accurate with the ball.

Basically, if Miami and Baylor were to trade Perry and Mond, that would be a money move for all parties involved, in my humble opinion.

Just thought I'd share.

That's it for today.

Go Canes!!