The case for the high school QB

supacane

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When it comes to QB in the portal era, I dont think there is any question that paying big bucks for proven QBs in the portal is a better deal imo. But here is the down side, while courting portal Qbs there are other players specifically on offense that are also deciding where to go and while the uncertainty around your QB situation lingers, it may force or cause other players WRs specifically to look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on the unknown. In this scenario I think its a plus to have a talented underclassmen on your roster. I can see Michigan for example being very attractive for skill players next offseason. I think eventually we have to start having players we recruit being the QB on the team, ever so often. And I see the plus in getting a highly thought of guy in the fold.

Everyone knows the risk of paying high schoolers big money at QB. They could be Nico or Air Noland etc.

I guess a strategy I would employ is try to get a proven guy from say G5 or lower power 4 like Aguilar or Mendoza, then bring in a highly rated underclassmen that hasn't played and is looking for a change of surroundings with an eye that they are next up, get them some playing time etc. Preferably a dual threat guyThats if we not sure about the guys on the roster.

I would love for Nickel to be the guy next year. Even if we have to take some bruises I would stomach it. Then u can maybe have a 2, 3 year run of stability and a run at everything. Upheaval is not so bad on defense. Its terrible on offense.
 
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He won’t go into next year with Nickel as the starter. We will again buy a QB in the portal, which we should. I just hope we can find a few veteran OL pieces if we lose Bell as well.
 
When it comes to QB in the portal era, I dont think there is any question that paying big bucks for proven QBs in the portal is a better deal imo. But here is the down side, while courting portal Qbs there are other players specifically on offense that are also deciding where to go and while the uncertainty around your QB situation lingers, it may force or cause other players WRs specifically to look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on the unknown. In this scenario I think its a plus to have a talented underclassmen on your roster. I can see Michigan for example being very attractive for skill players next offseason. I think eventually we have to start having players we recruit being the QB on the team, ever so often. And I see the plus in getting a highly thought of guy in the fold.

Everyone knows the risk of paying high schoolers big money at QB. They could be Nico or Air Noland etc.

I guess a strategy I would employ is try to get a proven guy from say G5 or lower power 4 like Aguilar or Mendoza, then bring in a highly rated underclassmen that hasn't played and is looking for a change of surroundings with an eye that they are next up, get them some playing time etc. Preferably a dual threat guyThats if we not sure about the guys on the roster.

I would love for Nickel to be the guy next year. Even if we have to take some bruises I would stomach it. Then u can maybe have a 2, 3 year run of stability and a run at everything. Upheaval is not so bad on defense. Its terrible on offense.
The bruises with nickel would be almost unrecoverable next year. We will be getting a portal quarterback next year.
 
When it comes to QB in the portal era, I dont think there is any question that paying big bucks for proven QBs in the portal is a better deal imo. But here is the down side, while courting portal Qbs there are other players specifically on offense that are also deciding where to go and while the uncertainty around your QB situation lingers, it may force or cause other players WRs specifically to look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on the unknown. In this scenario I think its a plus to have a talented underclassmen on your roster. I can see Michigan for example being very attractive for skill players next offseason. I think eventually we have to start having players we recruit being the QB on the team, ever so often. And I see the plus in getting a highly thought of guy in the fold.

Everyone knows the risk of paying high schoolers big money at QB. They could be Nico or Air Noland etc.

I guess a strategy I would employ is try to get a proven guy from say G5 or lower power 4 like Aguilar or Mendoza, then bring in a highly rated underclassmen that hasn't played and is looking for a change of surroundings with an eye that they are next up, get them some playing time etc. Preferably a dual threat guyThats if we not sure about the guys on the roster.

I would love for Nickel to be the guy next year. Even if we have to take some bruises I would stomach it. Then u can maybe have a 2, 3 year run of stability and a run at everything. Upheaval is not so bad on defense. Its terrible on offense.
We had to go portal the last two years because the developmental pipeline was upset by losing Jaden Rashada in the 2023 class and pivoting from Josh Gattis after the 2022 season. The latter affected the 2024 class, because it compelled a new OC in Dawson to start from scratch with relationships less than a year before the next class’s NSD.

It’s not coincidence that we got our first blue chip recruit at quarterback in the 2025 class, and have another set for 2026.
 
When it comes to QB in the portal era, I dont think there is any question that paying big bucks for proven QBs in the portal is a better deal imo. But here is the down side, while courting portal Qbs there are other players specifically on offense that are also deciding where to go and while the uncertainty around your QB situation lingers, it may force or cause other players WRs specifically to look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on the unknown. In this scenario I think its a plus to have a talented underclassmen on your roster. I can see Michigan for example being very attractive for skill players next offseason. I think eventually we have to start having players we recruit being the QB on the team, ever so often. And I see the plus in getting a highly thought of guy in the fold.

Everyone knows the risk of paying high schoolers big money at QB. They could be Nico or Air Noland etc.

I guess a strategy I would employ is try to get a proven guy from say G5 or lower power 4 like Aguilar or Mendoza, then bring in a highly rated underclassmen that hasn't played and is looking for a change of surroundings with an eye that they are next up, get them some playing time etc. Preferably a dual threat guyThats if we not sure about the guys on the roster.

I would love for Nickel to be the guy next year. Even if we have to take some bruises I would stomach it. Then u can maybe have a 2, 3 year run of stability and a run at everything. Upheaval is not so bad on defense. It’s terrible on offense.
If Nickel is the guy, you could easily endure the bruises in 2026 and have him surge in 2027…but then he leaves for the NFL. So you’ve sacrificed one year training up a guy for a…one year run.

Or you can skip the one year of sacrifice and just go for a premium portal player and get the one year of productivity without the one year of bruises.
 
Yeah, could just see this calm, patient group taking bruises with Nickle. Hopefully he or one the our HS QBs eventually gets on the field, but comical to be worried about Nickle leaving early for the NFL.
 
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