Charlie Strong’s Texas-style national recruiting effort had an enormous payoff today in the form of 2015 quarterback Zach Gentry (Eldorado High School – Albuquerque, NM). Gentry chose the Longhorns over offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and TCU. Gentry tallies as the Longhorns’ first quarterback commit of the year and the tenth overall for the class.
The first thing you notice when you look at the consensus four star Gentry is his size. At 6’7 and 230 pounds, he certainly stands out on the field. New Mexico does not have a rich tradition of quarterback talent, but the few they have produced showed well at the college level. The most recent success story belongs to former Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones.
Coach Strong and his staff scouted Gentry early on while at Louisville, and continued the pursuit when they set up shop in Austin. Shawn Watson was his main recruiter, and worked overtime to pull Gentry away from the myriad of SEC schools he shared interest in. Gentry is a shining example of the type of quarterback the new staff prefers.
Gentry’s commitment represents a huge win on the national recruiting scene for the new coaching staff. The Longhorns went head to head with Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide and secured the commitment of a player who’s recruiting stock is certain to rise even more in the upcoming months. As Texas fans are well aware, you can’t have too much quarterback depth in Austin. The Longhorns will probably look to take another prospect at the position before signing day.
Film Analysis:
Gentry’s frame is impressive with room to add on a little more weight. His height allows him to stand tall in the pocket and survey the entire field. He shows big time arm strength and a quick release that allows him to make throws all over the field. Gentry possesses good mobility for his size, and can extend plays with his feet. He shows great poise and pocket presence and is very good throwing on the run. Perhaps his best asset is his mobility in the pocket, as he shows the ability to slip pass rushers while keeping his eyes down field. His decision making skills are impressive, and he rarely turns the ball over or makes a bad throw. While he displays great touch and understanding on the long ball, a downside is his reliance on his upper body when throwing. When Gentry steps into his throws and rotates his lower half his throws are on the mark with the right amount of zip. More often than not though, he only uses his arm and upper body when throwing. When the pass rush is on he has a tendency to release the ball off his back foot which can cause errant passes. These mechanics can be cleaned up by coaching at the next level. Competition level might be another concern, but in any setting it’s clear he has a big time skillset. Gentry appears to be very mature in his understanding of the game and shows great poise.
Final Verdict:
Typically when you talk about a guy with this skillset, he is usually a very raw prospect. Gentry on the other hand has a refined game to go along with all of his tools. I’m a believer that all quarterbacks could use a redshirt year, but Gentry should be able to compete with Jerrod Heard and Tyrone Swoopes from the moment he steps on campus. If he pans out, his ceiling is that of an All-American and first round pick.
