2015 Quarterback Recruits with the Strongest Arms

One of the most loaded positions in the 2015 cycle is quarterback, as eight signal-callers are rated among the top 100 prospects nationally. 

Five of those passers come from the state of California—which boasts another three additional quarterbacks who are committed to power-five schools. 

Overall, this is a deep class with a handful of quarterbacks who possess elite arm talent.

Which 2015 passers have the strongest arms?

*Players listed in alphabetical order.

Blake Barnett

Passers who acquire the dual-threat label are sometimes not given enough credit for the damage they can do from the pocket. 

For example, the nation’s top dual-threat passer this year—5-star Alabama pledge Blake Barnett—has stepped up his production through the air in his senior season. 

According to MaxPreps, he has thrown for 3,186 yards and 23 touchdowns through 10 games this season, which is an improvement of more than 800 yards from a year ago at the same point in the year.

The 6’5”, 200-pounder is scheduled to become the first 5-star passer that Nick Saban has signed since taking over in Tuscaloosa. While his rating is impressive, his body of work as a passer and his arm strength are part of what makes him a candidate to become a future star in the SEC.

Quinten Dormady

Had it not been for a shoulder injury that cost him his junior season, 3-star quarterback Quinten Dormady would have entered the season with a little more fanfare. 

According to Barton Simmons of 247Sports (via Ryan Callahan of GoVols247), the 6’4”, 210-pounder—who is committed to Tennessee—possesses one of the strongest arms in the 2015 class.

“He can make every throw on the field, and if he had played his junior year, I have no doubt that he would have been one of the real big names in this recruiting cycle from the start,” Simmons said. 

Per MaxPreps, Dormady has thrown for 2,893 yards and 32 touchdowns with 14 interceptions through 10 games.

Given the Vols’ rotating door at quarterback in recent years, Dormady gives them an option with the necessary arm strength to scare opposing defenses in the SEC.

Deondre Francois

Jimbo Fisher has landed three quarterbacks from the 2015 class. However, it is 4-star passer Deondre Francois who possesses the most upside of the trio. 

According to his head coach at IMG Academy—former FSU star and Heisman-winning passer Chris Weinke—Francois’ arm talent is part of what makes him an intriguing prospect.

“The physical part speaks for itself,” Weinke told Chris Nee of Noles247. “He can spin it as good as any kid I have ever seen. It is a natural spin of the football coming off his hand.” 

With an endorsement like that in tow, Francois will now attempt to be the passer who leads the Seminoles in the post-Jameis Winston era.

Zach Gentry

At 6’7”, 230 pounds, 4-star New Mexico quarterback Zach Gentry stands out based on sheer measurables alone.

However, as Jeff Howe of Horns247 (subscription required) reports, Gentry has been classified as a Ryan Mallett-type of passer with running ability. 

The comparison to Mallett illustrates the potential that Gentry possesses as a strong-armed quarterback.

As Howe notes, Gentry is a unique prospect who still needs to develop. However, it’s clear that the tools are there for the Texas commitment to potentially become a star on the next level.

Josh Rosen

In a class filled with a number of potential starters at power-five schools, UCLA pledge and 5-star passer Josh Rosen just may be the alpha male of the group.

The 6’4”, 205-pounder flashed his arm talent at The Opening this summer and impressed onlookers enough to be chosen as the “alpha dog” of his team, as noted by Kevin Ryan of 247Sports.

Even though he acknowledged that Rosen has “all the tools” to be successful on the next level, ESPN analyst and former pro quarterback Trent Dilfer was quick to point out that Rosen has some growing to do, according to Chad Carson of 247Sports. 

Regardless, Rosen—who has thrown for 2,217 yards and 21 touchdowns this year, per MaxPreps—is a talented passer who represents the future of the UCLA program.

Ricky Town

While Rosen is headed to UCLA, archrival USC picked up a huge commitment at the quarterback position when it flipped former Alabama pledge Ricky Town in January.

The 6’4”, 205-pounder is the latest in a long line of strong-armed passers who have come through the Trojans program. 

Town—who passed for 2,400 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior—turned in a strong performance at The Opening after shaking off a slow start, per Simmons. 

Simmons also notes that what separates Town from a number of other passers in this class is his gift of processing information in the meeting room and translating it onto the field.

Brandon Wimbush

One of the biggest recent developments in the 2015 cycle came last month when 4-star dual-threat passer Brandon Wimbush flipped his commitment from Penn State to Notre Dame.

As noted by Tom Loy of Blue Gold Illustrated (subscription required), the 6’2”, 205-pounder has flashed a big-time arm in addition to playmaking ability with his legs.

With that type of arm strength and size, he has the potential to be a bigger, more athletic version of Everett Golson for Brian Kelly. 

According to MaxPreps, Wimbush is in the midst of an outstanding senior campaign, throwing for 1,785 yards with 22 touchdowns and only one interception.

His skill set is a perfect fit for Kelly’s offense and should help the Irish expand the playbook in the passing game.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani