Something that I’ve wanted to do for quite some time and am finally getting around to it with watching the 2026 quarterback offers who are coming off their sophomore years and heading into their junior years.
Obviously, this is extremely early in the process for a lot of these guys but it’s worth looking at what Tech is recruiting for the 2026 quarterback take with the caveat of this being sophomore film and that this list almost certainly will grow as the process continues.
El Paso (TX) Del Valle Jake Fette
2023 Stats: 139/225, 2,465 passing yards, 27-5 TD-INT, 74 carries, 346 rushing yards, 13 TDs
Fette is an extremely polished product for being just a sophomore, showing very good footwork with no wasted movement during his drop and the ability to play with a sound base in structure while working through his read.
Showing an advanced ability to get through his read, hang in the pocket and deliver a throw combined with very good arm strength and good accuracy down the field, Fette shows off the arm in and out of structure with the ability to have enough club staying in his base.
He is also able to create out of structure, showing that same ability to play make out of the pocket with good footwork and arm talent while also possessing the athleticism to be a major threat on his own.
Fette is an 11.51 runner in the 100m and a 22.89 runner in the 200m, very solid marks for a sophomore that translates to the football field.
Melissa (TX) HS Noah Schuback
2023 Stats: Not Available
The Alabama import, a two year starter at Hoover comes over to Melissa to play Texas high school ball and it will be curious to see how the game translates, but the tools are there.
Schuback is a solid athlete with solid footwork that has shown good arm strength and solid accuracy over the top, with the bulk of his best throws coming on vertical routes alongside a pretty quick release.
One of his best traits is the ability to play on the run, showing good playmaking ability outside of the pocket, using his accuracy that seems to take a jump when working out of structure combining it with excellent toughness, taking hits in and out of structure but getting the ball out well.
Schuback is also a strong runner but doesn’t possess as much breakaway speed in comparison to Fette. However, he is willing and able to fight for extra yards while still having the athleticism to be a running threat.
Conroe (TX) Grand Oaks Grant Smith
2023 Stats: (6 games) 77/142, 944 passing yards, 2-6 TD-INT, 23 carries, -6 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Smith is another strong arm who plays with a solid base in structure and is the most “statue” like in the pocket of the group. I would prefer the drop to have a bit more urgency, but it gets the job done for Smith.
A nice arm that has the ability to find almost any club in the bag, both over the top and over the middle, Smith is able to make almost any throw you ask him to accurately. Smith has the strength to get it nearly 50 yards down the field but would definitely like the ball to have a bit more zip underneath.
Smith is a decent athlete and shows off a strong arm and it will be curious to see what kind of season he can put together as a junior.
Carthage (TX) HS Jett Surratt
2023 Stats: 204/308, 3,046 passing yards, 34-8 TD-INT, 5 carries, 16 rushing yards.
Surratt is an extremely advanced arm with very good accuracy and arm strength down the field, showing the ability to drop it into a bucket when pushing the ball downfield, getting significant air under the ball.
While Surratt can seem pretty stagnant in the pocket, his “feel” of pressure and ability to subtly move away from it is very advanced, creating opportunities to create on the run, which he is able to do, despite not being much of a running threat.
A very exciting arm talent who has produced at the 4A level as just a sophomore with plenty of opportunities to continue to develop.
Austin (TX) Westlake Rees Wise
2023 Stats: 132/230, 1,877 passing yards, 21-11 TD-INT, 107 carries, 472 rushing yards, 11 TDs
Wise has a tremendous arm for a sophomore, making throws that will make you laugh with how ridiculous they are. Very strong ability to push it down field, see the first throw to the field side that went 45 yards in the air.
Along with the bomb ability, Wise has tremendous zip over the middle with a very good ability to hang in the pocket, feel pressure, adjust and fire a rocket on the money just before getting hit
Wise’s footwork is pretty refined and he is able to get the ball out after going through his read, but also having the awareness of when it is time for him to pull it down and run with it.
Without tremendous breakaway speed, Wise makes up for it with his strength and ability to break tackles and make defenders miss with sneaky change of direction ability as a ball carrier, making him a big-time threat as a runner at the high school level, and only time will tell if he is able to do that at the next level, but the toughness is evident.
Founded by a Red Raider, All Hands Craft Cocktails is proud to announce their partnership with RedRaiderSports.com. Try these bar strength, ready-to-drink vodka cocktails at Jones AT&T Stadium this football season or find them at a retailer near you. Cheers.
@ALL HANDS
Obviously, this is extremely early in the process for a lot of these guys but it’s worth looking at what Tech is recruiting for the 2026 quarterback take with the caveat of this being sophomore film and that this list almost certainly will grow as the process continues.
El Paso (TX) Del Valle Jake Fette
2023 Stats: 139/225, 2,465 passing yards, 27-5 TD-INT, 74 carries, 346 rushing yards, 13 TDs
Fette is an extremely polished product for being just a sophomore, showing very good footwork with no wasted movement during his drop and the ability to play with a sound base in structure while working through his read.
Showing an advanced ability to get through his read, hang in the pocket and deliver a throw combined with very good arm strength and good accuracy down the field, Fette shows off the arm in and out of structure with the ability to have enough club staying in his base.
He is also able to create out of structure, showing that same ability to play make out of the pocket with good footwork and arm talent while also possessing the athleticism to be a major threat on his own.
Fette is an 11.51 runner in the 100m and a 22.89 runner in the 200m, very solid marks for a sophomore that translates to the football field.
Melissa (TX) HS Noah Schuback
2023 Stats: Not Available
The Alabama import, a two year starter at Hoover comes over to Melissa to play Texas high school ball and it will be curious to see how the game translates, but the tools are there.
Schuback is a solid athlete with solid footwork that has shown good arm strength and solid accuracy over the top, with the bulk of his best throws coming on vertical routes alongside a pretty quick release.
One of his best traits is the ability to play on the run, showing good playmaking ability outside of the pocket, using his accuracy that seems to take a jump when working out of structure combining it with excellent toughness, taking hits in and out of structure but getting the ball out well.
Schuback is also a strong runner but doesn’t possess as much breakaway speed in comparison to Fette. However, he is willing and able to fight for extra yards while still having the athleticism to be a running threat.
Conroe (TX) Grand Oaks Grant Smith
2023 Stats: (6 games) 77/142, 944 passing yards, 2-6 TD-INT, 23 carries, -6 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Smith is another strong arm who plays with a solid base in structure and is the most “statue” like in the pocket of the group. I would prefer the drop to have a bit more urgency, but it gets the job done for Smith.
A nice arm that has the ability to find almost any club in the bag, both over the top and over the middle, Smith is able to make almost any throw you ask him to accurately. Smith has the strength to get it nearly 50 yards down the field but would definitely like the ball to have a bit more zip underneath.
Smith is a decent athlete and shows off a strong arm and it will be curious to see what kind of season he can put together as a junior.
Carthage (TX) HS Jett Surratt
2023 Stats: 204/308, 3,046 passing yards, 34-8 TD-INT, 5 carries, 16 rushing yards.
Surratt is an extremely advanced arm with very good accuracy and arm strength down the field, showing the ability to drop it into a bucket when pushing the ball downfield, getting significant air under the ball.
While Surratt can seem pretty stagnant in the pocket, his “feel” of pressure and ability to subtly move away from it is very advanced, creating opportunities to create on the run, which he is able to do, despite not being much of a running threat.
A very exciting arm talent who has produced at the 4A level as just a sophomore with plenty of opportunities to continue to develop.
Austin (TX) Westlake Rees Wise
2023 Stats: 132/230, 1,877 passing yards, 21-11 TD-INT, 107 carries, 472 rushing yards, 11 TDs
Wise has a tremendous arm for a sophomore, making throws that will make you laugh with how ridiculous they are. Very strong ability to push it down field, see the first throw to the field side that went 45 yards in the air.
Along with the bomb ability, Wise has tremendous zip over the middle with a very good ability to hang in the pocket, feel pressure, adjust and fire a rocket on the money just before getting hit
Wise’s footwork is pretty refined and he is able to get the ball out after going through his read, but also having the awareness of when it is time for him to pull it down and run with it.
Without tremendous breakaway speed, Wise makes up for it with his strength and ability to break tackles and make defenders miss with sneaky change of direction ability as a ball carrier, making him a big-time threat as a runner at the high school level, and only time will tell if he is able to do that at the next level, but the toughness is evident.
Founded by a Red Raider, All Hands Craft Cocktails is proud to announce their partnership with RedRaiderSports.com. Try these bar strength, ready-to-drink vodka cocktails at Jones AT&T Stadium this football season or find them at a retailer near you. Cheers.
@ALL HANDS
