2015 4* QB Zach Gentry - visit in the works?

Submitted by ypsituckyboy on

Per his local paper in Albequerque, it sounds like the 4* QB and current Texas commit may be listening to Harbaugh's overtures after Harbaugh's visit this week. According to some of the Texas sites, Gentry's camp has gone radio silent now, even though they've been pretty quick about shooting down rumors in the past. Couple that with the fact that TA&M commit and 5* QB Kyler Murray made a visit to Texas this week, and there seems to be a fair bit of smoke building. 

Article below (even though it references ChatSports...forgive them, for they know not what they do): http://www.abqjournal.com/529755/sports/unhooked-horn-michigans-harbaug…

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Braylon_Edward…

January 21st, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^

He seems to have a really nice arm and his measurables are off the charts. He got away with some flat footed throws in high school and footwork is decent for someone his size but needs work. Ton of potential, do want.

Joined: 07/27/2014

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mGrowOld

January 21st, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^

Dustin Hawkins was the contributing writer for Chat Sports who broke the story (allegedly) of his visit.

Here's Dustin....

Frankly I'm amazed he had time to break the story AND get back to class before recess was over but hey....kids nowdays are fast.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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LSAClassOf2000

January 21st, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^

His senior season Hudl highlights are here - LINK

For some reason, and it might just be my weird setup post-podcast, but I am not getting music or sound from this one, but the video provides some nice highlights certainly. 

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Rochester Blue

January 21st, 2015 at 10:32 PM ^

He's huge with a big arm, but man, I just watched his sophomore highlight video and nearly every pass is off his back foot, not stepping into his throws.  In his senior highlights, he's a little better, but not much. He doesn't actually seem to need his lower body, the way he slings the ball around with his big upper.

However, I'm thinking Coach knows there is still a lot of untapped potential in this kid.  If anyone would know, it'd be him.

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Jason80

January 22nd, 2015 at 4:31 AM ^

I always thought along those lines then I heard a long time NFL QB say say that a QB during games might make about 30% of his throws with proper mechanics during the game and the remainder must be altered variously due to the defense. I would guess even in college there is a value in being a good, bad ball thrower.

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Auerbach

January 21st, 2015 at 10:55 PM ^

His senior stats: 26 passing TDs, 2,978 passing yards, 60% completions, 22 rushing TDs, 1,057 rushing yards, 10-2 record.

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BeantownBlue

January 21st, 2015 at 11:21 PM ^

That young man looks like a difference maker.  With the experience we have on our OL, I could see him coming in and starting day one and being very successful.

Hook 'em Harbaugh.

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jfoust81

January 22nd, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^

I coach HS football here in NM and this kid has been the talk of the state. To be honest I don't think you can put much stock in the hudl footage here. Our biggest classification would struggle with the 3rd largest in most states. The kid is a nice QB and may turn out to be great but it is going to take some serious coaching and patience. I have not coached against him but most of the programs he played against and most coaches here would agree with my statements. Take it for what you will...

Joined: 12/18/2010

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jfoust81

January 22nd, 2015 at 12:29 AM ^

Just saying that the level of competition here he has been up against is nothing like he would have seen in say Texas or New York. Not a knock on the kid but I would be shocked if he was ready in year 1 or 2 for major college football. But then again, I am just a small town coach in New Mexico where most of our talented kids go D2 and take a couple years to be able to contribute at that level.

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alum96

January 22nd, 2015 at 1:19 AM ^

Thanks for your comments.

Overall thread is refreshing vs the normal comments of "looks like next Peyton Manning combined with RG3". 

I have no idea of chatsports is accurate - I would find it strange they reported Jim visited him Jan 19th when he was in FL Wednesday and TX Tuesday and I assume with Iman Monday the 19th.  Iman didnt fly back until the morning of the 20th (Tue) So Jim left the #3 recruit in the country mid day to fly 3-4 hrs out to NM to catch the end of the day to visit Gentry?  I guess possible but you'd think he was "hosting" Iman the whole day, not leaving at 4 PM EST or something.  Also none of the typical crew of Michigan recruiting guys have reported this.

The Albuquerque Journal confirmed that new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh visited Gentry in Albuquerque on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.

That said - again - very few TRUE FR QBs are ripping it up in CFB, most who have succeeded big are RS FR - so a year of working on things, development, now throwing off back foot etc are fine  This is the right QB coach to fix issues.  Obviously playing in NM is different than playing in TX or FL or even MI.

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Danwillhor

January 22nd, 2015 at 1:40 AM ^

My school in Ohio (play+) produced good teams but is in a low division & league. They/we have only sent 5 kids to D-1 & 4 of them were MAC schools. The other was my buddy, went to an ACC school and almost made the Lions after going undrafted but starting 3 years. One if the MAC kids also almost made the NFL. They/we produced a ton of D-2,3,etc. My hometown school in Michigan is bigger but not as good overall in football. Yet, they've sent some to the NFL over the years and a few to major D-1 (Michigan, Stanford, etc). New York isn't a very good HS football state but I get your point. Anyway, on app so I watched his film on phone and could immediately see it's a case of having talent but simply being SO MUCH bigger/talented than his competition. Mechanics are a mess (fixable), trusts his arm too much with throws into coverage (often fixable), etc. Your basic issues with a kid like that. As you said, I'd take him right now but I wouldn't want him on the field until his RS So/Jr year. BONUS TRIVIA: The league my Ohio HS played in is small but has sent two athletes to UM. Neither from my school or the same school, one was a recent football player of some fame (for terrible personal/life reasons more than football) that was a starter for a year. The other a wrestler from the late 90s-early 2000s. What league is it? HINT: The football player HS's nickname is a much more PC version of the NFL team in Washington D.C. SAD ADMISSION: Knowing the league, I knew why osu pass on him, his film looked so good and I didn't like that we offered him. The play was right but for other reasons I soon felt like a dick for thinking that.

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Roughneck

January 22nd, 2015 at 6:36 AM ^

Visiting Austin and it's great. Nothing wrong with going to UT. Although I know I'm biased, I would have to think he would get more development from Harbaugh than from Strong. I person all like Charlie Strong and think he will do well in Austin but QB isn't his specialty.

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Roughneck

January 22nd, 2015 at 8:48 AM ^

Fair point. I'm not saying Charlie Strong isn't a quality coach. But quarterback IS Harbaugh's specialty and recruits know it. When he is tweeting that he is essentially crossing the country looking for his next Andrew Luck, that has to mean a lot to an 18 year old kid in New Mexico.

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