Analyzing Options at QB: Who Will be 2017’s Centerpiece?

Oklahoma State got their quarterback early in the recruiting process around April last year, but the commitment of then under-the-radar Nick Starkel only lasted until December.

But the Cowboys snagged their man on signing day when Keondre Wudtee went Pistols Firing for Mike Gundy and chose OSU over TCU. But for the sake of Gundy’s heart rate, it’s safe to assume he’d like to find his guy early in the recruiting process and not push it to a last minute decision this year. Here’s several 2017 quarterback prospects who the Cowboys have on their radar at the moment.

Jack Sears – 6-3, 200-lbs. (San Clemente, Calif.)

Sears isn’t from an area of familiarity as far as recruiting goes, but Mike Yurcich has proven he’ll leave no stone unturned when finding his quarterback. He picked up Mason Rudolph from the Carolina’s, and Wudtee is a Louisiana native. Sears holds offers from Arizona State, Tennessee, Utah, Boston College, and several others. With signing a dual-threat prospect in Keondre Wudtee for 2016, Sears fits a more traditional pro-style quarterback mold.

Cam Roane – 6-2, 200-lbs. (Colleyville, TX)

Roane is a deep sleeper in this 2017 class. He’s a lefty – something I don’t think Gundy has ventured into with his signed quarterbacks. But the guy can flat out spin the ball. He was ranked as the No. 1 performing QB at The Opening camp in Dallas last weekend, and I think he’s just scratching the surface of his recruitment. He has offers from Arkansas State and Grambling State. But I doubt that stays the same for long.

@AVCoachSmith got a great vid of Cam Roane (@CamRoane15) spinning it, you’ll be hearing a lot more about this guy pic.twitter.com/rzm04OXfMs

— Drew Borsellino (@DrewBorsellino) March 15, 2016

Jelani Woods – 6-7, 225-lbs. (Ellenwood, Ga.)

You read that right – 6-foot-7! Woods is the definition of a dual-threat quarterback with big play ability and skills of a running back under center. He throws a pretty deep ball, but this is more of a J.W. Walsh style prospect than a Mason Rudolph. The Cowboys offered this week – along with Michigan, South Carolina, Louisville and others.

Justice McCoy – 6-1, 190-lbs. (New Orleans, LA)

McCoy is another classic dual-threat prospect from Louisiana powerhouse St. Augustine. Here’s what The Times-Picayune recruiting analyst James Smith wrote about McCoy:

There are few quarterbacks in the state who can sling it like this kid. He throws a pretty ball, shows the willingness to stand in the pocket under duress and has the athleticism to extend the play with his legs.

Jaylen Gipson – 6-2, 190-lbs. (Mexia, TX)

Gipson is another deep sleeper who I doubt will be slept on much longer. He has a couple offers from Jackson State and Texas Tech, and he seems like the type of dual-threat sleeper prospect the Cowboys could target. He’s from Mexia, Texas, too, so distance from home could also be a factor in his college destination.