The Rough Diamonds College Showcase added a new session this year, which saw just Quarterbacks get a full two hours to shine. While some Receivers and Tight Ends would show up later to catch passes, the main focus for the college coaches was on the Quarterbacks.
Adding a session came out of necessity, as college coaches had requested the old final session, QB/WR/DB, be split up so they could see more athletes. RDAF happily obliged and the end results were great, as QB’s were able to show what they can do, and the WR/DB’s could get they own time to shine a little later.
Below is a breakdown of session three athletes. This is a list of athletes that stood out to me, and not a list of every athlete.
This is part three of a four part series covering the event. To view other review, simply click the corresponding link below.
RDAF Showcase Session 1 In Review
RDAF Showcase Session 2 In Review
Quarterbacks
When Jacob Eason (’16 Georgia Commit) shows up to an event, he is typically the best QB in attendance, and the RDAF Showcase was no different. While he wasn’t there looking to get recruited, he was preparing himself for Elite 11 and helping out his teammates, Eason had a great attitude and came to work.
Gresch Jensen (’16 Auburn Mountainview) and Davis Alexander (’16 Gig Harbor) were in my eyes, the top two QB’s in attendance. Jensen has been on fire lately, with great zip on his ball and a great understand of when to take a little off to make the right throw. He looked very good in the drills and movement portions of the event as well. Alexander is the most underrated QB in the Northwest. He has tremendous arm strength, and might not have missed a throw on the day. Alexander is a great all-around athlete and showed very well in the movement portion.
I hate to say he was a surprise, because I have been watching him for over three years now, but Tavin Montgomery (’16 Juanita) had one of his best days. Coming off a serious knee injury, Montgomery showed no signs of ever being on the shelf. He finished in the top 3 of the long toss, launching the 61 yards in the air.
Justus Rogers (’16 Bellevue) and Harley Kirsch (’16 Eastside Catholic) are well known around the state, and both had a nice day. Rogers has spent the entire offseason perfecting his craft and proving doubters wrong. He gifted as a runner and has shown very capable as a passer with good arm strength, accuracy and always improving mechanics. Kirsch is one of the more efficient QB’s and has done a great job the last two year’s guiding the Crusader offense. He showed good arm strength and accuracy, with a great understand of when to throw certain passes.
Liam Fitzgerald (’16 Camas) and Blake Gregory (’16 Skyline) are two of the better quarterbacks in their class. This was the first time I got to take an up close look at Fitzgerald, and really liked what I saw. He has good arm strength, surprising athleticism and a great demeanor. Gregory has really improved his consistency this offseason, and he did so again in a big time setting. This offseason has been huge for Gregory, as he works towards his first offer, which appears as though it could be on the horizon.
I liked what I saw from Kyle Mozzone (’16 Fife), Jake Taylor (’16 South Kitsap) and Jack Heinrichs (’16 Mount Si). All three looked good mechanically posses strong arms. Mozzone has had a tremendous last few months at events I have seen. Taylor looked good at the RDAF event, and the team scrimmage I saw a few weeks back. Heinrichs is making the move to Mount Si and has had a great offseason improving his all-around game.
Bryce Missey (’16 Bethel) and Brian Campbell (’16 Kentwood) both had nice days, capping off good all-around offseasons. Missey is really coming around as a QB, doing a good job in drills and the movement phases. He is solid mechanically and does a good job throwing the right passes. Campbell is a good all-around athlete, with a very strong arm and good accuracy. This could be a big year for Campbell at Kentwood, and he will finally have a chance to throw the ball around and showoff his hard work.
Couple 2016 QB’s out of Oregon Kyle Schwarm (Stayton) and Cedric Brooks (Parkrose) came up and did very well. Schwarm has a quick release, strong arm and did very well in the workout I saw the day before and at the RDAF Showcase. Brooks is a dual-threat that can really throw the ball. This was the first time I had seen him and was impressed with his timing and accuracy.
Coming all the way out from Wyoming, Reese Hiibel (’16 Star Valley) had a really nice day. He did well in the movement drills, showing good feet and surprising athleticism. Hiibel has a nice arm with good touch on his deeper passer. I thought Ryan Thol (’16 Evergreen) did a nice job making a case as a QB. I have said he projects higher as an ATH, and that may still be the case, but he looked good throughout the day, especially in the movement and positional drills.
Nathan Cooprider (’16 Nathan Hale) and Devin Willard (’16 Sedro-Woolley) both come from run heavy offenses, but showed they are capable passers. They each posses the good poise and control you like in your QB, while also showing good arm strength and timing. I will be keeping an eye on both this year.
Rowan Parmenter (’17 Wenatchee) and Connor Alexander (’16 Kamiak) are both sliding into the starting roles this coming season. Parmenter you may remember as a freshman at Cedar Park Christian, was the backup in Wenatchee last year, but appears to have taken the starting job for his junior year. He is good mechanically, deceptively athletic and has put on the weight needed to be a 4A QB. Alexander takes over for a departing senior, and looks like he will keep a good Kamiak offense rolling. He has a nice arm, good composure and a great feel for the position.
Two of the better 2017 QB’s, Kaden Jenks (Royal) and Colton Padgett (Skyline) had nice days. Jenks plays at the 1A level, but has big time ability. He has the athleticism to be a dual-threat, but the arm to be a pocket passer. It will be interesting to follow Jenks this season. Padgett has a huge arm and has done a great job honing his short/intermediate passing game. He is mechanically sound and is a good athlete, but is coming off surgery, so he wasn’t able to fully showcase his athleticism.
Also impressing were Willie Patterson (’17 Franklin Pierce) and Ryder Johnson (’17 Peninsula). Patterson is undersized, but an absolute game. He still has a ways to go as a passer, but improves every time I see him, and this event was no different. Patterson is tremendously athletic and brings all the leadership in the world. Johnson looks to take over the starting roll for the Seahawks this season, and will have some big shoes to fill. Peninsula looks to be in good hands as Johnson has good arm strength, is technically sound and has nice feet.
The 2018 QB class in Washington has some really nice pieces, with two of the better being Jacob Sirmon (Bothell) and AJ Allen (Lakeside). Everyone knows who Sirmon is, so it is really no surprise he was one of the top QB’s in attendance, but he showed good arm strength, accuracy and a willingness to learn. Allen is a player you will want to keep an eye on. He has a great frame at about 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, and is a tireless worker. Allen has good arm strength and is mechanically sound.
Also a part of the 2018 class is Alex Brown (Jesuit, OR) and Hunter Wendling (Stadium). Brown has a nice frame with room to grow (brother is a 6’6″ 300 pound D1 OL). Alex shows good arm strength, is mechanically sound and has the work ethic to be a high caliber QB. We’ve seen Wendling for a while now, although he has now transferred over to Stadium High School in Tacoma. He is a bit undersized, but has good feet and a strong arm.
The 2019 recruiting class looks to be in good hands with Dylan Morris (Graham-Kapowsin) and Joe Green (King’s). Morris looks like he will step in a QB one of the top teams in the state, and from what I saw, he looks capable of big things. He has a great arm and knows the right times to put touch on the ball. This was the first time I have seen Green, the younger brother of Billy Green (Weber State) and must say, I was impressed. He stood tall and threw a nice ball and didn’t look phased in the big time environment.
