The first evaluation I did for the Irish Tribune was Noah Grubbs, a 4-star QB from Lake Mary, Florida, who was just starting his junior season at the time. I came away impressed, and hopeful that Notre Dame was adding another big time piece to their future rotation at the most important position in football. I've now gotten a chance to check him out in person, and watch some more film as his junior season wraps up. He currently has his Lake Mary Rams right in the middle of a state championship run, and looks to be set up for a major senior season campaign next year. Let's compare and contrast some of the things I saw with him previously, and where he may have grown as a player to this point. As always, the criteria for evaluation will be scored on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!
Photo via Noah Grubbs, X (@NoahGrubbsQB)
Arm Strength: Good (5.5)
I do not generally designate any "half points" in my ratings, but I wanted to be able to highlight improvement from what I had previously seen on film within reason. The game that I happened to attend in person, I watched him hit a WR in stride for a 40+yard touchdown on a throw that was basically all arm, due to the fact Grubbs had a free rusher in his face and could not step into his throw. I love his ability to pull the ball on a play-action and just let it rip in the short to intermediate game as well. The first time I wrote about him I said arm strength was one of the easier QB traits to develop, and with another full season in high school in front of him, my best projection is that his arm talent becomes VERY GOOD by the time his college career begins.
Accuracy: Very Good (6)
Grubbs' accuracy is still one of his best attributes, and I saw nothing new on film that would change that. Although my grade for this trait remains the same as the first time, one thing catching my attention is the back shoulder throw. I did not see it very much from him as a Sophomore, but on his Junior tape he has utilized it multiple times, especially in the Redzone. His ball placement overall seems a tick better (which may correlate with some improved arm strength) as he really does an excellent job leading receivers deep and throwing with anticipation in tight windows. He rarely puts the ball in danger, and a QB that protects the ball is a QB you can win with.
Mental Processing : Very Good (6)
This particular trait is up a full point for me. Grubbs had already proven to have a high football IQ, but it now really seems as if he is processing things a tad faster than everyone else on the field. The back shoulder throws I mentioned above in accuracy, also reflect his mental processing. His ability to know when to utilize certain throws against certain leverages the DB's are playing with really keeps him a step ahead of the defense. He sets up screens and throwbacks well with his eyes, and generally always find the appropriate hole to attack against zone. Without having personally spoken to him, I would be willing to bet he is a film guy and takes pride in knowing what the defense is going to do before he even takes the snap.
Footwork/ Throwing Mechanics: Very Good (6)
This is not an area I dug into on my first evaluation, but this time I think it is worth mentioning. I have watched a lot of high school QB's with plenty of mixed results when it comes to mechanics. This is an area where once again, Grubbs just seems to be more advanced than most. He never gets too wide with his base, which is important for delivering accurate passes. The minute you become wide, you lose ability to step into throws, and that's when passes begin to sail high or land wildly short. He makes sure he squares his shoulders and has good lower body torque behind his passes. He does not take unnecessary extra hitches, which is why his passes are in rhythm and on time. It's good mechanics all around, and a big reason he is such a highly touted prospect.
The more I watch of Grubbs, the more I am convinced he is the real deal. His high school coaches and QB trainer seem to have done a great job with him to this point, and the potential for what he can become continues to grow. The stars on his recruiting profile only tell a small part of what he can be at the next level, and if I'm Marcus Freeman or anyone on the offensive staff, I am more excited about landing him by the day.
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