After landing the nation’s top quarterback in the class of 2016 247Sports composite rankings in Shea Patterson, Hugh Freeze and Dan Werner had a challenge on their hands in the class of 2017. With just two scholarship quarterbacks returning to the roster in 2017, they were looking to sign two signal callers in this class.
Then they missed on a slew of their top targets such as: Tristan Gebbia, Tua Tagovailoa, Jake Fromm and others. On Wednesday they offered Connor Blumrick, an athletic 6’6 gunslinger from Pearland, Texas.
Blumrick has also become a focus for other programs, as of late, due to most of the top-ranked quarterbacks already having come off the board.
Though the decommitment bug has bitten the quarterback position recently, Blumrick still figures to be in high demand over the coming weeks.
Unless Ole Miss or Memphis are able to take
him off the market. With the Tigers in contention it’s almost instinctual to compare Blumrick to recent first round selection Paxton Lynch.
John Elway and the Denver Broncos selected the former Tiger quarterback due in large part to his size and arm strength, size and arm strength that Blumrick almost mirrors. Though classified as a pro-style passer on 247sports, he has more than adequate ability to move, evade and run, due to his athleticism.
Sure Blumrick is not as polished some higher rated quarterbacks in his class, his ceiling could be much higher, though. Barton Simmons of 247sports wrote this morning, in a piece detailing the what’s left at quarterback in the 2017 cycle, that Blumrick is one of “Five quarterbacks you should know.”
He even through a comparison that is sure to excite Rebel fans. Simmons full report on Blumrick from his story: “Connor Blumrick, Pearland (Texas) High School – I compared him to Carson Wentz recently as a guy that’s a three-star now who could project to an NFL kid if he polishes things up on the next level. He’s huge, athletic and has a big arm and Ole Miss and Memphis are both pushing for a commitment.”
While there is no doubt Freeze and Werner coveted other targets in this class, but Blumrick could provide the best fit of all.
For depth purposes there could an experienced quarterback, such as a juco or grad transfer, also come on board later in the process.
But with Shea Patterson likely anchoring the quarterback spot at least through the 2018 season, Ole Miss doesn’t need a quarterback to perform early in his career.
This would give Blumrick time to develop and blossom under the tutelage of Werner. As Simmons mentioned, the big prep signal caller has NFL potential, having time to develop could also benefit him in regards to his future as well.
All in all, it appears to be a good fit for both parties. It is yet to be seen how soon the Rebels will be out of the market for a high school quarterback, but Simmons says they are pushing. The Rebels could be on the verge on landing an impressive signal caller for the third straight class. So far, still just a redshirt freshman, Jason Pellerin has been impressive.
He possess size and arm strength, as well, and would be the hope of the future if not for Patterson giving the Rebels his signature this past February. Now, in 2017 it appears they have found another talented option that fits the program. Of course, they still have to land him, however, it is impressive they were able to still find a quality option after facing a few tough breaks from the 2017 quarterback carousel.