My focus coming into the day was on 3 quarterbacks in particular; Jacolby Criswell, a QB I've previously written about on here, KJ Jefferson, the 2019 QB commit, and Chandler Morris, who is Coach Chad Morris' son and also picked up a Clemson scholarship recently. Coach Chad Morris followed this group around nearly all day, and not just because his son was in it. One of these 3, and possibly all 3, will be the future at the QB position for the Hogs. I'll highlight their performances and differences through the examination of 2 drills in particular.
The first drill, and the most indicative of a game situation, was a drill where each QB would start by sprinting to a series of 3 stations and delivering a ball that either hit a dummy or a net (simulating a fade ball). Upon completing these 3 runs and accompanying throws, they would then take a fourth and final trip around a large series of cones (simulating a sprint out), and would have to hit a bag on the run to complete the drill. NOTE: Each QB had 3 opportunities to hit each target, and if they missed all 3, they were made to do 5 push ups and added 5 seconds to their timed total at the end.
Jacolby handedly won the first round of competition, and made it look easy while doing so. This was likely where the coaches all stood up and said "hey, this guy's legit." He left camp with an offer yesterday, and I think this drill had a lot to do with that. He posted a time of 25.68 seconds in the first round, which was faster than anyone else by about 2 seconds. He moves well with the football, and had the strongest arm out of all of the QB's at the camp, not just the 3 aforementioned. He is fast and shows good escapability. Strong arm and good speed are tools that could develop into an elite QB. However, the biggest surprise in this drill came from Chandler Morris, who wiped away the competition in the second round, posting a time of 23.87 seconds. Chandler is very accurate, rarely missed a tempo throw, and showed decent ability to run and create outside of the pocket. KJ is more of a project at this point in time, albeit a project with a ceiling higher than anyone else at the camp. He looks almost Cam Newton like, in the sense that he is huge with very large hands and a physical build. His accuracy could use help but he exhibited touch throws on his fades which was encouraging. If this staff can make him as effective inside the pocket as he will be outside of it, you're looking at (potentially) Arkansas' version of Deshaun Watson. If all else fails, you're looking at a Cole Kelley-like QB, not as tall but a big physical guy who will play tough and make the defense account for him as a runner.
The next drill was a classic one where QB's work through timing routes, option routes, and fades. Chandler again impressed a lot here, as he did all day. Just because he's the coaches son doesn't mean we are a lock for him either; with Clemson already offering, it's only a matter of time before his varsity game tape convinces other schools to hop on board as well. Chandler has a strong arm and an exceptionally quick release, almost like a shortstop. KJ also looks very smooth on his throwing mechanics. I imagine he will continue to spend a lot of time refining these, because I believe it is truly the last step in his maturation from being a good QB to a great one, potentially game-breaking. KJ did fine in timing routes and rifled some balls, as he too has a rather strong arm. But KJ's fades were likely the best of the group. He throws it with a snap that you really like to see, and rarely missed the breadbasket over the shoulder on his WR's running go routes.
Jacolby is not the odd man out here. In fact, I believe he had the best QB camp out of all the participants, so much so that he left Arkansas with an official scholarship offer. I truly hope it isn't too late, as within the last month or so his recruitment has gone into overdrive. His 3 star rating can only be attributable to what is perceived as inferior HS competition, but let me tell you, when he gets out on that field, he already looks like an elite QB. Homegrown talent that this state would LOVE to get behind. Truly a dual threat, too, because he was very fast all day and didn't look overwhelmed or tired once. My only (and I do mean ONLY) negative on Criswell is that his throwing mechanics on roll outs are a bit unorthodox and probably could use some fine tuning. That's it, folks. There just aren't many flaws in his game at all. Smooth, quick release, throws harder than just about anyone at his age, and possesses top end speed. He doesn't have the frame or the build that KJ has, which makes KJ's ceiling slightly higher, but Jacolby is a year behind KJ and already possesses a skill set that is arguably more advanced than KJ's.
Final Takeaways:
1) Jacolby Criswell will play for a very good D1 school and will shine if given the proper environment to hone his skill set. Arm and speed were the best of any QB out there.
2) KJ Jefferson is good, with potential to be great. Sure, he isn't necessarily there with his accuracy, but his intangibles (Height, Poise, Awareness) were the best of the group and he just looks like a guy that will only get better with time.
3) Chandler Morris is a stud. Don't let the small frame fool you, he has a rifle arm and had the best accuracy of any QB on the field yesterday. Plus, you just know he would fit our system perfectly as that's likely what he has been coached to do all of his life.
4) Arkansas Football is in good hands with any one of these 3 QB's.... that being said, I would love to see Jacolby lead this squad in 2-3 years time. If he were to leave the state and ball out elsewhere, it may be a mistake we would regret for the foreseeable future.
The first drill, and the most indicative of a game situation, was a drill where each QB would start by sprinting to a series of 3 stations and delivering a ball that either hit a dummy or a net (simulating a fade ball). Upon completing these 3 runs and accompanying throws, they would then take a fourth and final trip around a large series of cones (simulating a sprint out), and would have to hit a bag on the run to complete the drill. NOTE: Each QB had 3 opportunities to hit each target, and if they missed all 3, they were made to do 5 push ups and added 5 seconds to their timed total at the end.
Jacolby handedly won the first round of competition, and made it look easy while doing so. This was likely where the coaches all stood up and said "hey, this guy's legit." He left camp with an offer yesterday, and I think this drill had a lot to do with that. He posted a time of 25.68 seconds in the first round, which was faster than anyone else by about 2 seconds. He moves well with the football, and had the strongest arm out of all of the QB's at the camp, not just the 3 aforementioned. He is fast and shows good escapability. Strong arm and good speed are tools that could develop into an elite QB. However, the biggest surprise in this drill came from Chandler Morris, who wiped away the competition in the second round, posting a time of 23.87 seconds. Chandler is very accurate, rarely missed a tempo throw, and showed decent ability to run and create outside of the pocket. KJ is more of a project at this point in time, albeit a project with a ceiling higher than anyone else at the camp. He looks almost Cam Newton like, in the sense that he is huge with very large hands and a physical build. His accuracy could use help but he exhibited touch throws on his fades which was encouraging. If this staff can make him as effective inside the pocket as he will be outside of it, you're looking at (potentially) Arkansas' version of Deshaun Watson. If all else fails, you're looking at a Cole Kelley-like QB, not as tall but a big physical guy who will play tough and make the defense account for him as a runner.
The next drill was a classic one where QB's work through timing routes, option routes, and fades. Chandler again impressed a lot here, as he did all day. Just because he's the coaches son doesn't mean we are a lock for him either; with Clemson already offering, it's only a matter of time before his varsity game tape convinces other schools to hop on board as well. Chandler has a strong arm and an exceptionally quick release, almost like a shortstop. KJ also looks very smooth on his throwing mechanics. I imagine he will continue to spend a lot of time refining these, because I believe it is truly the last step in his maturation from being a good QB to a great one, potentially game-breaking. KJ did fine in timing routes and rifled some balls, as he too has a rather strong arm. But KJ's fades were likely the best of the group. He throws it with a snap that you really like to see, and rarely missed the breadbasket over the shoulder on his WR's running go routes.
Jacolby is not the odd man out here. In fact, I believe he had the best QB camp out of all the participants, so much so that he left Arkansas with an official scholarship offer. I truly hope it isn't too late, as within the last month or so his recruitment has gone into overdrive. His 3 star rating can only be attributable to what is perceived as inferior HS competition, but let me tell you, when he gets out on that field, he already looks like an elite QB. Homegrown talent that this state would LOVE to get behind. Truly a dual threat, too, because he was very fast all day and didn't look overwhelmed or tired once. My only (and I do mean ONLY) negative on Criswell is that his throwing mechanics on roll outs are a bit unorthodox and probably could use some fine tuning. That's it, folks. There just aren't many flaws in his game at all. Smooth, quick release, throws harder than just about anyone at his age, and possesses top end speed. He doesn't have the frame or the build that KJ has, which makes KJ's ceiling slightly higher, but Jacolby is a year behind KJ and already possesses a skill set that is arguably more advanced than KJ's.
Final Takeaways:
1) Jacolby Criswell will play for a very good D1 school and will shine if given the proper environment to hone his skill set. Arm and speed were the best of any QB out there.
2) KJ Jefferson is good, with potential to be great. Sure, he isn't necessarily there with his accuracy, but his intangibles (Height, Poise, Awareness) were the best of the group and he just looks like a guy that will only get better with time.
3) Chandler Morris is a stud. Don't let the small frame fool you, he has a rifle arm and had the best accuracy of any QB on the field yesterday. Plus, you just know he would fit our system perfectly as that's likely what he has been coached to do all of his life.
4) Arkansas Football is in good hands with any one of these 3 QB's.... that being said, I would love to see Jacolby lead this squad in 2-3 years time. If he were to leave the state and ball out elsewhere, it may be a mistake we would regret for the foreseeable future.
