SI All-American Watch List: Quarterbacks 16-20
As the 2021 football season draws near, SI All-American continues to evaluate the nation's top prospects at every position in the class of 2022. The first wave of the evaluations are the 'Watch List' selections, also known as SI All-American candidates, to be released throughout the month of July.
It precedes the SI99 rankings, our preseason mark of America's top college football prospects regardless of position, to be released in August.
Naturally, the quarterback watch list is up first and it will be released in more detail than the rest. The 25 SI All-American candidates will be broken down in groups of five, with the top five revealed on Friday before other positions begin to roll out.
16. Garret Rangel
Vitals: 6'2", 175 pounds
School: Frisco (Texas) Lone Star
Committed To: Oklahoma State
2020 Stats: 2,429 pass yards, 69.1%, 27 TD, 5 INT (11 games)
2019 Stats: 4,855 pass yards, 69.2%, 50 TD, 10 INT (15 games)
Rangel is an incredibly productive young quarterback that is a great fit for the Oklahoma State offense. The Lone Star standout is a heady young quarterback with clean mechanics, a quick release and a lot of moxie. The future Cowboy has completed over 69% of his throws the last two seasons despite attacking down the field at a high rate.
Rangel has a compact, clean throwing motion that allows him to quickly get the ball out to pass catchers. He processes quickly, he shows top-notch anticipation and his understanding of ball placement is advanced for his age. Rangel is an excellent decision maker and he’s more than willing to fit the ball into tight windows. He shows good downfield touch and he throws the deep ball effectively.
Rangel isn’t much of a runner but he does move around the pocket effectively. His lack of size and lack of a running threat drags down his grade a bit but he has a chance to be an outstanding college quarterback.
17. Gunner Stockton
Vitals: 6'1", 220 pounds
School: Tiger (Ga.) Rabun County
Committed To: Georgia
2020 Stats: 3,128 pass yards, 67.2%, 45 TD, 4 INT - 1,581 rush yards, 26 TD
Stockton has put up gaudy numbers for three seasons, throwing for 9,518 yards and 122 touchdowns to go with 3,416 rush yards and 62 more scores on the ground. He’s an outstanding high school quarterback that brings many impressive tools to the game.
Stockton has a short, stocky, powerful build that helps him handle the pocket and aids to his running ability. He’s the kind of athlete and runner that should allow his future coaches to make him a focal point of the run game. Stockton shows patience as a runner, he makes reads like a running back and he has enough juice to turn open holes into big gains.
As a passer, the Rabun County standout shows a powerful arm and a gunslinger mentality. He’s a gritty passer that shows top-notch accuracy and the ball jumps out of his hand. Stockton has to process reads faster and show better anticipation, but the tools are there.
So why is Stockton ranking lower than most? It’s simple, it’s about fit. Stockton’s game doesn’t translate as well to the Georgia offense as it would elsewhere.
18. Jacurri Brown
Vitals: 6'4", 220 pounds
School: Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes
Committed To: Miami (Fla.)
2020 Stats: 1,537 pass yards, 47.8%, 14 TD, 7 INT - 1,101 rush yards, 16 TD
There isn’t a quarterback on this list with a bigger gap between what he is and what he could be. To use an old evaluation expression, he’s the most “boom or bust” prospect on this list.
There are several traits that immediately stand out with Brown. He has a great frame at 6-4 and 205 pounds, and he’ll add a lot more weight to that frame. Brown has a huge arm, one that allows him to attack any coverage over the top and gives him the ability to make tight window throws that few quarterbacks in the class can make. He has a relatively clean release and he keeps a good base in the pocket.
Brown is a dynamic runner that is a threat to gash defenses on designed runs and when using his legs to make plays when pass plays break down. Despite his ability to do damage as a runner, Brown is more than willing to use his athleticism to buy time in the pocket in order to use his arm to hit open wideouts down the field.
Brown’s ceiling is one of the best in the class, but there is a lot about his game he must clean up. He was a sub-50% passer last season and there are way too many easy throws the he will miss. Brown’s release point is erratic and far too often he rushes his mechanics and gets off target.
If he cleans up his mechanics and makes better decisions he could skyrocket up this list in the postseason update.
19. AJ Swann
Vitals: 6'2", 200 pounds
School: Canton (Ga.) Cherokee
Committed To: Maryland
2020 Stats: 2,505 pass yards, 60.3%, 23 TD, 6 INT
Landing Swann was vitally important for Maryland coach Mike Locksley. The Peach State signal caller has a lightning quick release and has a knack for making off-schedule plays. Swann throws extremely well on the run, he’s a gutsy quarterback that will take chances and he does an excellent job keeping his eyes downfield as the pocket is collapsing and when he’s on the run.
Swann shows good poise in the pocket and has impressive downfield touch from the pocket and when on the move. At times Swann will leave the pocket too early and he will need to be more effective on platform, but his combination of arm talent, guts and touch give him the projection to develop into an impactful pocket passer.
Swann is a quality athlete that can move the chains, but his running ability is used primarily to buy time in the pocket until he finds an open teammate down the field.
20. Zach Pyron
Vitals: 6'3", 205 pounds
School: Pinson (Ala.) Pinson Valley
Committed To: Baylor
2020 Stats: 2,314 pass yards, 54.5%, 23 TD, 11 INT - 306 rush yards, 3 TD
Pyron is an intriguing player that right now is more about projection than he is a polished quarterback. After playing in a hybrid shotgun/option offense his first two years of high school, Pyron is still learning the nuances of the drop back passing game, but he has tools that Baylor’s staff is going to like.
At times the ball jumps out of Pyron’s hand, which makes one think he has a bit more power than he often shows on film. With more experience as a passer I expect to see him start getting more consistent zip on the football. Pyron shows good downfield touch and accuracy, he thrives in the RPO (run pass option) game and he’s dangerous once he gets out of the pocket.
Pyron is a mobile quarterback that can make plays in the run game and his ability to extend plays out of the pocket add to his value. For Pyron to reach his full potential, however, he’ll need to become a better decision maker, improve how quickly he can work through progressions and protect the ball.