Quarterback Marcus Stokes brought his stay arm to the Elite 11 Finals in June, offering the nation’s best expertise (and expertise evaluators) a glimpse of his techniques. Amid individuals most amazed was John Garcia, Jr., Athletics Illustrated’s director of football recruiting.
“The arm talent seriously is undeniable,” Garcia explained. “He’s as confident a quarterback as there is, and you can find so significantly dynamite in his proper arm [with] just a dynamic launch. It’s swift, it really is strong, he’s cozy carrying out that in the pocket, off-system, and on the operate. Each time you require that dollars toss, he is the most capable to do it.”
Stokes is a single of the most intriguing prospective customers in Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class, a 6-2 quarterback from Florida who delivers a good deal of bravado and swagger to the placement. He was among the the 20 quarterbacks invited to the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles, where Stokes debuted a single of the nation’s strongest arms.
Stokes threw for 2,672 yards and 22 touchdowns last period at Nease High in Ponte Vedra, Fla., and Penn Condition observed promptly. Head coach James Franklin and his workers produced Stokes his to start with Electric power 5 scholarship supply and turned that into an April commitment.
Now, numerous colleges (notably individuals in Florida) are using detect, but Stokes has reaffirmed his determination to the Lions.
“It claims a large amount about Penn State’s scouting, getting on him sooner than basically all the universities in the spot,” Garcia said. “It appeared like right before he fully commited, Florida, Miami and all these universities had been nearing that scholarship offer you, and just prior to they could get there, Penn Point out had him dedicated. And he is expressing all the right things given that that level, even even though Florida even now is on the lookout for a quarterback. So that will be intriguing to observe.”
Garcia stated Stokes brings tangible “bravado” to the placement, a attribute that blends properly with freshman quarterback Drew Allar. Previous 12 months, Allar was between the nation’s most extremely ranked quarterback recruits, and Garcia claimed Penn State confirmed knowledge in recruiting the distinct skills.
“[Stokes] is sort of the antithesis of Drew Allar, so I believe it is so wise to bring them in back again-to-back,” Garcia claimed. “You’ve got obtained your massive, basic pocket-type dude [in Allar], while he can run definitely, but genuinely he does his ideal work from the pocket. And then Marcus is this kind of gunslinger — large arm, confident form of child. So I consider it’s a wonderful counter from just one cycle to the subsequent.”
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Stokes has some “polish” to add in the course of his senior 12 months, notably with his precision and footwork, Garcia explained. But at Elite 11, Garcia drew a person strong summary.
“He is got a means to go, but I do consider the uncooked torque in his proper arm is anything to behold, and seeing that among the nation’s very best, it however stands true,” Garcia said. “… That ideal arm is certainly dynamic.”
View the online video over for additional from Garcia about Stokes and Penn State’s 2023 recruiting course.
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