Updated: Recruiting Race for Top 50 2021 Quarterbacks Nearly Over

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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The 4th of July verbal commitment of Washington D.C. area five-star quarterback Caleb Williams to Oklahoma might easily be viewed as the end of the recruiting cycle for impact Class of 2021 field generals. For teams seeking that difference maker in the pocket per recruiting rankings, the race is on for two uncommitted four-star talents and two high-profile three-star prospects.

Every high school football season brings rise to new or overlooked talents that quickly become “can’t miss” recruits. But those rising stars might be compromised in 2020 with uncertainty surrounding the affect of the Coronavirus on the fall season and already missed chances during the offseason at camps and combines. As college programs scramble to fill their 2021 class with known players, the list of available highly ranked quarterbacks in 247/Sports Top 50 has dwindled to four. Add that information to nine Power 5 teams (Alabama, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Colorado, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Miami, and Louisville) in need of a 2021 gunslinger, this race is heating up.

The coming months heading into the early signing period in December will be full of intrigue to see if all the current verbal commitments hold true, where the uncommitted land, and to see which “unknown” rising stars capture the imagination of college programs on the field this fall.

4-Star Shedeur Sanders – Trinity Christian – Cedar Hill, Texas

During the 2019 season, TAPPS Division II teams wanted nothing to do with Trinity Christian thanks in large part to their do-everything talent in the pocket. Listed as a pro-style QB, don’t let the label fool you on the abilities of Shedeur Sanders. The 6-2, 198-pound, quarterback can move the chains with his legs if needed covering 225 yards with 11 trips into the end zone a year ago, and worth noting he is the son of NFL Hall of Fame corner Dieon Sanders. But it is the arm talent sets Sanders apart torching Texas defenses for 3,477 yards with 47 touchdowns against just four picks while completing an eye-popping 74 percent of his passes.

After two state titles, college programs see Sanders as a program changer with 25 reported offers extended. Several Power 5 programs are still in need of a 2021 quarterback, and Alabama and Louisville are on that list seeking Sanders’ skills.

*On July 13, Sanders verbally committed to Florida Atlantic

4-Star Ty Keyes – Taylorsville – Taylorsville, Mississippi

A 2019 Mississippi 2A state championship season helped push Ty Keyes among the elite signal callers in the 2021 class. The 6-2, 205-pound, talent picked apart secondaries for 3,721 yards while tossing for 41 scores against just seven picks. Keyes was throwing darts during his junior run hitting 69 percent of his 309 attempts. The added dimension for Keyes is his running abilities. Keyes kept drives alive with 422 yards picked up on the ground with four rushing scores.

Keyes has announced that he will commit before his senior season begins meaning one of his nine offerees will be adding a great talent to their 2021 haul soon. By process of elimination, Ole Miss seems like a likely landing spot. The Rebels do not have a 2021 QB commit while other Power 5 teams to offer, Auburn, Mississippi State, Oregon, and Nebraska, already have verbal commits to their class.

*On July 24, Keyes verbally committed to Tulane

3-Star Braylon Braxton – Independence – Frisco, Texas

Braylon Braxton loaded up his Knights’ squad last season carrying the team to a 10-3 mark against Texas 5A competition. Braxton had it working covering 3,524 yards with his arm while tossing 48 touchdowns and tore up the field with 864 rush yards and 14 more touchdowns posted on the big board.

The 6-2, 200-pound, dual-threat has 14 reported offers on the table with heavy love from Group of 5 teams across the country. Might a recruiting battle ensue in the coming months if Braxton stays on the market and teams in need pick up the pace ahead of the early signing period?

3-Star Maddox Kopp – St. Thomas – Houston, Texas

College football programs are still finding Maddox Kopp. The 6-5, 210-pound, quarterback has a live arm and a lot of upside leading to 12 offers dropped with teams like Houston, Tulane, Texas State, Wyoming, and Ole Miss all offering since the beginning of June.

Expect more programs to watch Kopp in 2020 after he threw for 3,089 yards with 28 touchdowns as a junior. If big strides are shown early in his senior season, Kopp could be one of the hottest commodities on the recruiting trail this fall.

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Photo credit: Sanders family/Twitter; Shedeur Sanders working with Tom Brady

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