Best of Both Worlds with Texas 2026 Dual Threat Braeden Imhoff

Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Texas 6A teams were put on notice a year ago, this season is shaping up to be a wild one in Prosper. The Eagles posted an 8-3 record during the 2024 campaign and have their 6-6A Offensive Player of the Year back in quarterback Braeden Imhoff. What Imhoff brings to the gridiron is different, and better, than those ranked ahead of him – he understands the game, knows how to deliver the pigskin, and can run the rock.
The vast majority of high school teams now run a Spread offense, but the one executed at Prosper High School is a little different preparing Imhoff for success at the next level.
“We like to do a lot of Y cross, and we do it with different personnel and formations,” Imhoff said. “We like our Spread RPO (run-pass option), that helps us, but our ID routes in our choice game, we do a lot of choice outside and in the slot out of our spread.”
Completing 65 percent of his passes that covered 2,635 yards with 29 touchdowns in the air, Imhoff was utilizing the entire field. Instead of fly, go, or bomb routes play after play, the Vikings were working the field. Imhoff is a few steps beyond his peer group with the ability to throw across the middle and fantastic touch on the boundary.
“Our offense this season will be very similar, we play to our strengths,” Imhoff stated. “But we change things up year by year depending on what we have at each position.”
In addition to the arm and football IQ, he has the unique athletic trait that cannot be taught – speed. His top hand-held time is 4.38 and has laid down 4.44 and 4.45 laser.
“This offseason I have been working on a lot of polishing up getting better at running our offense,” Imhoff shared. “I’ve been working with our receivers; we got new guys that came in. They are filling spots that we lost; we are getting them acclimated.
“Footwork is a big thing. You always have something to work on being a quarterback. I am working on all parts to be more polished.”
If watching film on Imhoff for the first time after reading the interview, part of the offseason program has been reshaping his body.
“My speed has improved, and I am 20 pounds heavier than what I played at last season,” Imhoff said. ” I am taller too. I am throwing the ball better; the ball comes off with more zip than last year. My mental IQ of the game, I feel it is 10 times better than last year.”
One of the big opportunities for Imhoff this spring was the UA camp in Houston.
“It went very well,” Imhoff shared. “I went to make sure my numbers were validated. It was a good camp, I enjoyed it.”
Imhoff spun it at the TCU Mega Camp, Lamar, Pitt State, and Central Oklahoma this summer. The one-on-one time with college coaches furthered the understanding of the college game.
“I learned a lot based on the school and how they do things,” Imhoff stated. “I took away a lot on the mental side of things – different offenses and how they work to beat defenses.”
With teams like Air Force and Navy showing interest, 10 squads have dropped scholarships down for Imhoff.
“Lamar, Pitt State, UCO (Central Oklahoma), Fort Hays State, Missouri Western State, Northwest Missouri State, Nebraska-Kearney, Texas Permian Basin, Southwest Baptist, and OBU (Oklahoma Baptist),” Imhoff listed.
Visits have been part of the summer plans.
“I have visited Pitt State, UCO, Lamar, UPenn, Bryant, Lafayette, and I am getting ready to visit Northwest Missouri State,” Imhoff shared.
The time spent with Lamar was covered, “It went well. I got to introduce the staff to my family. They treated us well. It was a good time. We took a campus tour, had one on ones with the coaches, I watched them lift and practice, and I did a photo shoot.”
Looking ahead to the Northwest Missouri State trip, Imhoff shared, “The big thing, and this is always big for me, it is the culture. I want to see what the culture is with the team. Do they have a common team goal to win. The other important things are an offense that will suit me as a player, the coaches, and is that place somewhere I can live. Those are the main things I look for on a visit.”
Photo credit: Imhoff family; Braeden Imhoff