South Florida '19- The QBs

Jul 9, 2018

Over the past decade, we’ve seen a steady stream of superstar college QBs from South Florida. Lamar Jackson, Geno Smith, Teddy Bridgewater, Shoelace Robinson, Winky Flowers and others have put up big numbers and won games for their programs.

Although I expect that trend to continue, this class is a bit of a step back. There are good players, but not too many Power 5-caliber playmakers. With that said, it’s easy to envision some of these guys putting up numbers in the right system.

* means verified numbers

Nik Scalzo- 5’10, 179, 4.84* (Cardinal Gibbons)- The Johnny Manziel of Broward County. Instinctive playmaker who put up numbers in an Air-Raid offense (2,065 yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs). Lit up American Heritage’s star-studded defense. Elite field vision. Average arm strength but very accurate. Athletic. Put on a show at the Opening catching passes while doing backflips. Smart player with Ivy League offers. Kentucky commit.

Gio Richardson- 6’1, 195, 4.67* (Oxbridge)- FAU commit and the top QB in Palm Beach County. Threw for 1,593 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 495 yards and another nine scores. Played well in state title game against Chaminade. Strong runner who excels on vertical throws. Can drop the ball in a bucket.

Mariano Valenti – 6’0, 211* (St. Thomas)- High upside prospect who flashed the most arm strength at the Miami Opening. Transfer from Michigan. Sneaky athlete who likes to improvise. Similar build to Matt Stafford. Will compete with Curt Casteel for starting job. Northern Illinois commit.

Mariano Valenti HL

Isaiah Velez- 6’0, 160* (Northwestern)- Smooth pocket passer who models his game after Ken Dorsey. Underrated in my opinion. Always on balance. Transferred from North Miami to compete with better talent. Fringe physical tools but excellent accuracy. Turned heads at the LSU camp. Has some FCS offers but should get FBS interest with a big season.

Velez HL (North Miami)

T.J. Smith- 6’1, 179* (McArthur)- South Broward transfer who was arguably the most consistent passer on the local camp circuit. Good velocity and above-average placement. Freakish 10.63 inch hands. USF offer.

TJ Smith HL

Curt Casteel- 6’2, 200, 4.84* (St. Thomas)- Polished QB that struggled as a junior. Shared snaps with 2020 LB Derek Wingo. Good size with marginal arm strength. Will battle with Mariano Valenti for the Raiders’ starting job. Harvard commit.

Curt Casteel HL

Daniel Richardson- 5’9, 190* (Carol City)- One of the most prolific, but mistake prone, QBs in South Florida history. Started since his freshman year at Booker T (including state title in 2015) but will spend his senior year with Carol City. Built like a RB. Pass-first spread QB with similar arm talent to Treon Harris. On pace to challenge several Dade County records.

Daniel Richardson HL (Sophomore)

Cariq Rackley- 6’, 165 (Palmetto)- Precise and productive (21 TDs, 7 INTs). Led the resurgent Panthers to an 8-2 record. Excels on back-shoulder throws. Not a physical presence. Made his name as a standout freshman at Killian. UAB offer.

Cariq Rackley HL

Kamran Kadivar- 6’0, 190 (Pinecrest)- Small school prospect with intriguing arm strength. Ball jumps out of his hand. Solid athlete who can throw on the move and from odd angles.

Kamran Kandivar HL

Maurice Underwood- 6’3, 158, 4.86* (Central)- Tall athlete whose game is still catching up to his tools. Has some arm strength. Needs consistency-- Central often functioned better with Wildcat QB. Marshall commit.

Maurice Underwood HL

Jesse Rivera- 6'3, 190 (Western)- Tall, pro-style passer who transferred from Archbishop McCarthy. Will be interesting to watch how he progresses with better talent around him. Ivy league offers.

Jesse Rivera HL

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Coach Macho

Jul 10, 2018

No Jesse Rivera?

6'3" kid with an offer from Pitt.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2018

S
SleepOnIt

Jul 10, 2018

Zbrod95 said:
Yes, yes he is...nothing to do with the fact he’s putting up great numbers vs. top tier D1 players or anything. Did you say the same thing about Jarren because he committed to play for a “relevant” P5 school up til October?

Jarren isn't 5'10. This is so strange. Had no idea you were related to him.

Jul 10, 2018

Zbrod95 said:
My man gonna be out in Nova Scotia looking for QBs the way things are going.

Have ya heard about Gord McKenzie, eh? He can really run that RPO.

Gooner#44

Jul 10, 2018

IcemanArcade said:
For the slow ones who thumb down this, it’s a reference on tua tagovailoa beating Georgia, Jesus Christ

Is Tua a shrimp, I thought he was like 6'2?

IcemanArcade

Jul 10, 2018

Gooner#44 said:
Is Tua a shrimp, I thought he was like 6'2?

He’s 6’1 on a good day

Gooner#44

Jul 10, 2018

IcemanArcade said:
He’s 6’1 on a good day

Got ya, I just remember his 3 second half/OT TD passes

gogeta4

Jul 10, 2018

DC3 said:
Does anyone know the reason for Richardson transferring for his final season? Curious that a guy who won a state title as a starting QB would leave

because he threw about 100 ints and likely was benched. But CC has gotten alot of the optomist stars to head that way and he played his optomist ball in Broward.

frostycane

Jul 10, 2018

Coach Macho said:
No Jesse Rivera?

6'3" kid with an offer from Pitt.

Any relation to Daniel?

Gooner#44

Jul 12, 2018

frostycane said:
Any relation to Daniel?

Geraldo's cousin

Category5ive

Jul 12, 2018

DB4 said:
I liked what I saw of the Velez kid in his highlights against Atlantic. I actually think if he stayed at North Miami they’d have a chance to make noise in 8A region 4.

I’ve seen a fair amount of TJ Smith recently and I don’t think he has it to be an elite QB. I can see him at a group of 5 school but there’s a lot he has to do to even get that.

Definitely no Miami caliber QBs in the list. Maybe Scalzo if they badly want a QB for this cycle

It never ceases to amaze me how everyone criticizes South Florida's lack of producing high-level quarterbacks. When history and if any of you knew what you are talking about would know different.

The issue QBs face in South Florida is the high level of competition (yea, south florida is most competitive HS Football region of the country). Its hard to look as impressive as other qbs around the country when you routinely face 3-4-5 star dbs, massive pass rushes from aggressive defenses, etc.

Let's take a look back:

Lamar Jackson, Boyton Beach: Not heavily recruited as a QB, most recruitniks ranked him as a 3-Star QB (really!!!!), Oh by the way, he won the Heisman and was a 1st Round Draft Pick. Can you imagine if he was playing at Miami the last 2 years....Can you say Nat Title!!!!

Brandon Doughty, N Broward Prep: Another lowly recruited South Florida QB. All he did was set passing records at WKU (Like avg 4K yds a season. Certainly not good enough to play at Miami (Please!!!!)

Mike White, U School: Started at USF transfered to WKU and the rest is history, but another QB that many of you believe couldn't play at Miami.

Tyler Huntley, Hallandale: Had 2 offers going into his Sr. season (Miami wasn't one of them), I guess he didn't have the measurables, 6-1 180lb. But the one thing he could do, is play football, especially QB. Our loss, Utah's game. And, by the way, he beat out a highly recruited Sr. (who UM recruited) to win the job during his RS-Freshmen year.

I could go on and on about South Florida QBs many of you slept on or thought were not that good, James Blackmon (FSU), Kato Nelson (Akron), Todd Centeio (Temple), Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert (Liberty) all very good QBs. And who could forget Quinto Flowers (USF), Dennard Robinson (Michigan), Teddy Bridgewater (UL), Geno Smith (WVU) Rakeem Cato (Marshall), D'Angelo Fulford (who led Mt Union to Nat Title D3),etc.

So before we throw the towel out on South Florida's Class of 2019, think again. Scalzo, Smith, Richardson, Underwood and Menard are better than many of you think, because they are battle tested having played in South Florida.

And having watched Smith over the last couple years, I think he possesses the most upside. He's played on sub-par teams but has garnered QB MVP honors at just about every camp he's competed in including QB MVP at UCF and NC State this summer. We'll see how he does at Paradise this year.

D.L.I.N.K.D.A.GR8

Jul 12, 2018

Category5ive said:
It never ceases to amaze me how everyone criticizes South Florida's lack of producing high-level quarterbacks. When history and if any of you knew what you are talking about would know different.

The issue QBs face in South Florida is the high level of competition (yea, south florida is most competitive HS Football region of the country). Its hard to look as impressive as other qbs around the country when you routinely face 3-4-5 star dbs, massive pass rushes from aggressive defenses, etc.

Let's take a look back:

Lamar Jackson, Boyton Beach: Not heavily recruited as a QB, most recruitniks ranked him as a 3-Star QB (really!!!!), Oh by the way, he won the Heisman and was a 1st Round Draft Pick. Can you imagine if he was playing at Miami the last 2 years....Can you say Nat Title!!!!

Brandon Doughty, N Broward Prep: Another lowly recruited South Florida QB. All he did was set passing records at WKU (Like avg 4K yds a season. Certainly not good enough to play at Miami (Please!!!!)

Mike White, U School: Started at USF transfered to WKU and the rest is history, but another QB that many of you believe couldn't play at Miami.

Tyler Huntley, Hallandale: Had 2 offers going into his Sr. season (Miami wasn't one of them), I guess he didn't have the measurables, 6-1 180lb. But the one thing he could do, is play football, especially QB. Our loss, Utah's game. And, by the way, he beat out a highly recruited Sr. (who UM recruited) to win the job during his RS-Freshmen year.

I could go on and on about South Florida QBs many of you slept on or thought were not that good, James Blackmon (FSU), Kato Nelson (Akron), Todd Centeio (Temple), Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert (Liberty) all very good QBs. And who could forget Quinto Flowers (USF), Dennard Robinson (Michigan), Teddy Bridgewater (UL), Geno Smith (WVU) Rakeem Cato (Marshall), D'Angelo Fulford (who led Mt Union to Nat Title D3),etc.

So before we throw the towel out on South Florida's Class of 2019, think again. Scalzo, Smith, Richardson, Underwood and Menard are better than many of you think, because they are battle tested having played in South Florida.

And having watched Smith over the last couple years, I think he possesses the most upside. He's played on sub-par teams but has garnered QB MVP honors at just about every camp he's competed in including QB MVP at UCF and NC State this summer. We'll see how he does at Paradise this year.

You related or close to TJ?

Jul 12, 2018

Lol California and Texas deal with talented defenses too and they somehow manage to put it out high level QBs on a consistent basis.

As for Smith, you’re making excuses about the talent around him. Aren’t big time QBs at this level supposed to make their teammates better? He’s the one being dragged down by teammates?

And he’s doing well in summer camps... are they padded camps? Him dong well in 7 on 7s and stuff like that only goes so far in my opinion.

He has to do plenty this season to show me he’s worth it. He has potential. Can’t live on potential forever. Gotta put up in your senior season.

Category5ive

Jul 12, 2018

DB4

No argument regarding making team better. Scalzo did it for CG (although CG is private and has the luxury of recruiting the best athletes in the area). I would argue this though, South Broward went 1-9 before TJ's arrival, 6-2 the following season (2 games not played due to hurricane), that constitutes making your team better.

Word is he transfered to McArthur (who Larry Blustein believes will shock the South Florida landscape this season).

Mark your calendars, McArthur vs CG on 11/2. (Smith and Scalzo go head to head)

BTW/ As big as Texas is, there per capita output of QBs are low compared to Florida.

Jul 12, 2018

Category5ive said:
DB4

No argument regarding making team better. Scalzo did it for CG (although CG is private and has the luxury of recruiting the best athletes in the area). I would argue this though, South Broward went 1-9 before TJ's arrival, 6-2 the following season (2 games not played due to hurricane), that constitutes making your team better.

Word is he transfered to McArthur (who Larry Blustein believes will shock the South Florida landscape this season).

Mark your calendars, McArthur vs CG on 11/2. (Smith and Scalzo go head to head)

BTW/ As big as Texas is, there per capita output of QBs are low compared to Florida.

You're correct about South Broward, but they also went from 6-2 to 4-5 last season and TJ got benched and it wasn't due to injury.

I do believe he will do much better and McArthur will do much better as well. TJ needed a change of scenery. McArthur will be significantly better. They'll contend for a playoff spot. I also don't think that district is terribly strong so they'll compete with the likes of Nova and West Broward for the district title (that's their ceiling IMO).

As far as that McArthur/CG game, I dont think McArthur is ready for all that yet. Gibbons should win that on comfortably. But the battle of the QBs should be interesting.

Coach Macho

Jul 12, 2018

Category5ive said:
It never ceases to amaze me how everyone criticizes South Florida's lack of producing high-level quarterbacks. When history and if any of you knew what you are talking about would know different.

The issue QBs face in South Florida is the high level of competition (yea, south florida is most competitive HS Football region of the country). Its hard to look as impressive as other qbs around the country when you routinely face 3-4-5 star dbs, massive pass rushes from aggressive defenses, etc.

Let's take a look back:

Lamar Jackson, Boyton Beach: Not heavily recruited as a QB, most recruitniks ranked him as a 3-Star QB (really!!!!), Oh by the way, he won the Heisman and was a 1st Round Draft Pick. Can you imagine if he was playing at Miami the last 2 years....Can you say Nat Title!!!!

Brandon Doughty, N Broward Prep: Another lowly recruited South Florida QB. All he did was set passing records at WKU (Like avg 4K yds a season. Certainly not good enough to play at Miami (Please!!!!)

Mike White, U School: Started at USF transfered to WKU and the rest is history, but another QB that many of you believe couldn't play at Miami.

Tyler Huntley, Hallandale: Had 2 offers going into his Sr. season (Miami wasn't one of them), I guess he didn't have the measurables, 6-1 180lb. But the one thing he could do, is play football, especially QB. Our loss, Utah's game. And, by the way, he beat out a highly recruited Sr. (who UM recruited) to win the job during his RS-Freshmen year.

I could go on and on about South Florida QBs many of you slept on or thought were not that good, James Blackmon (FSU), Kato Nelson (Akron), Todd Centeio (Temple), Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert (Liberty) all very good QBs. And who could forget Quinto Flowers (USF), Dennard Robinson (Michigan), Teddy Bridgewater (UL), Geno Smith (WVU) Rakeem Cato (Marshall), D'Angelo Fulford (who led Mt Union to Nat Title D3),etc.

So before we throw the towel out on South Florida's Class of 2019, think again. Scalzo, Smith, Richardson, Underwood and Menard are better than many of you think, because they are battle tested having played in South Florida.

And having watched Smith over the last couple years, I think he possesses the most upside. He's played on sub-par teams but has garnered QB MVP honors at just about every camp he's competed in including QB MVP at UCF and NC State this summer. We'll see how he does at Paradise this year.

You just named a bunch of kids that played at lower tier schools. Those kids aren't/weren't ACC caliber.

The ones that didn't play at lower tier schools (Jackson, Bridgewater, Smith) played for great/innovative OC's that molded their offense around said QB's ability.

Lamar Jackson wouldn't have been Lamar Jackson if he came here.
Same for Geno Smith.

We would've put those kids under center and they would've looked like a$$ and taken twice as long to develop.

The problem with Miami and the local QB talent is that Miami doesn't run a system that in conducive to their skill-set and abilities.

Coach Macho

Jul 12, 2018

DB4 said:
You're correct about South Broward, but they also went from 6-2 to 4-5 last season and TJ got benched and it wasn't due to injury.

I do believe he will do much better and McArthur will do much better as well. TJ needed a change of scenery. McArthur will be significantly better. They'll contend for a playoff spot. I also don't think that district is terribly strong so they'll compete with the likes of Nova and West Broward for the district title (that's their ceiling IMO).

As far as that McArthur/CG game, I dont think McArthur is ready for all that yet. Gibbons should win that on comfortably. But the battle of the QBs should be interesting.

CG is going to put a running clock on MCA.

Silly to even suggest that it will be a game.

Category5ive

Jul 13, 2018

D.L.I.N.K.D.A.GR8 said:
You related or close to TJ?

Coached him in Pop Warner.

Category5ive

Jul 13, 2018

DB4 said:
You're correct about South Broward, but they also went from 6-2 to 4-5 last season and TJ got benched and it wasn't due to injury.

I do believe he will do much better and McArthur will do much better as well. TJ needed a change of scenery. McArthur will be significantly better. They'll contend for a playoff spot. I also don't think that district is terribly strong so they'll compete with the likes of Nova and West Broward for the district title (that's their ceiling IMO).

As far as that McArthur/CG game, I dont think McArthur is ready for all that yet. Gibbons should win that on comfortably. But the battle of the QBs should be interesting.

Have had several convo's with people in the know at SB regarding last season. SB lost 17 seniors including 5 D1 (Hall, Canty, Lubin, Robinson, Roberts), Coaching change (Coach Georgia out, Franklin in). TJ's benching had nothing to do with performance, but Coach Franklin's desire to run the football from the QB position. Word is the kids quit on Franklin mid-season as evidence by 15 kids leaving the program in June 2018, including TJ.

I agree, the district should be easily McArthurs, they looked impressive vs a big much improved Killian squad in the Spring 21-19 loss (without TJ and the 8-10 kids that transferred in this summer). McArthur is going to shock everyone, Coach Senatis is a winner, Jaquay Nunnally is a **** of an OC (TJ should benefit from a true spread offense). Watch out for the Jermaine Hart (WR) kid who followed TJ from SB, he is one of the best WR in South Florida (according to Coach Sly and many others, his tape looks good, why SB didn't get him the ball more is beyond me).

The McArthur vs Gibbons game is going to be closer than everyone thinks. (McArthur should ride into Gibbons undefeated and averaging 30-40pts per game)

Category5ive

Jul 13, 2018

Coach Macho said:
CG is going to put a running clock on MCA.

Silly to even suggest that it will be a game.

Get in the know.... Alot going on at McArthur. The game is going to be a lot closer than everyone expects, certainly not a running clock.

Category5ive

Jul 13, 2018

Coach Macho said:
You just named a bunch of kids that played at lower tier schools. Those kids aren't/weren't ACC caliber.

The ones that didn't play at lower tier schools (Jackson, Bridgewater, Smith) played for great/innovative OC's that molded their offense around said QB's ability.

Lamar Jackson wouldn't have been Lamar Jackson if he came here.
Same for Geno Smith.

We would've put those kids under center and they would've looked like a$$ and taken twice as long to develop.

The problem with Miami and the local QB talent is that Miami doesn't run a system that in conducive to their skill-set and abilities.

Lamar Jackson, would have been Lamar Jackson no matter what school he played at (shocking you would even make that comment). So are you suggesting Lamar Jackson would not have fared better than Rozier? Cmon' Man! Or Teddy B? Tyler Huntley? Both Mike White and Brandon Doughty are NFL Draft Picks. Carson Wentz, played at ND State, if you can play QB you can play QB. But perhaps you are right Carson Wentz couldnt have played at UM. lmaof.

BTW, Miami runs a multi-flex offense (Pro and Spread). I think this group of '19 QBs from South Florida, when it is all said and done are going to have many of you eating your words. Daniel Richardson is going to light it up in college wherever he goes, Scalzo is going to be a spark at UK, Underwood or as I would like to call him, UnderUtilized will have a great career at Marshall and so will the rest of the pack listed in the article.