JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Wes Lunt is a 6-6/190 quarterback prospect from Rochester, Illinois. He has a lot of solid offers right now, including Virginia, Wisconsin, Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Michigan State and more. Iowa has yet to offer Lunt, but according to Rivals.com that could change soon.
Edgytim (yes, that is what he calls himself), who covers Illinois high school recruiting for Rivals and has for a long time, had an interview with Lunt where the prospect said Iowa Offensive Coordinator Ken O'Keefe was at his school recently and had good things to say to his high school coach. Here is a link to his Rivals profile. Rivals.com tabs him as a four star prospect where Scout has given him three stars.
According to Scout.com, Lunt has a "self reported 33-inch vertical jump and finished his junior season with 2,135 yards passing, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. He helped lead his team to a perfect 14-0 record and a state championship."
I found an impressive (and free) highlight compilation for Lunt, and it's worth a watch. You can view it here (sorry no embed option). Most of his snaps come from the shotgun in a spread offense with a few under center. He shows an ability to throw on the run to either side, quick decisions (though many are likely pre-snap read quick hitters) and he has very good throwing mechanics at this stage of the game. His footwork is really good, too. The vibe I got watching his tape kept reminding me of Drew Bledsoe...not, I am not saying this kid is going to have an All Pro career the way Bledsoe did, but he release and how he moves around in the pocket kept bringing Bledsoe to mind.
At 6-6, he doesn't have a long throwing motion, either; he knows how to get rid of the ball and it doesn't take him a long time. Rochester is southeast of Springfield, Illinois, or 'downstate' as those in the Windy City might call it. I wouldn't call him fleet of foot but the highlight reel didn't really show a lot of pressure getting to him. In the offense he plays in, he didn't hold on to the ball very long but I suspect he is more of a passer than he is a runner. His brother Wil started for Rochester four years ago and put up a monster career; he is at Western Illinois right now (and is also 6-3, so little brother got the best of that category).
Iowa may have a challenge of landing a top flight quarterback in this class, as they landed Jake Rudock in last year's class. However, most top flight quarterbacks posses a confidence and they have to know that if they go to a successful program, that program is going to bring in at least one quarterback a year.
It will also be interesting to see how Iowa does this year at this position after Ricky Stanzi's 5th round selection. It had been a looong time since Iowa had a quarterback drafted; going back to 1992 in fact in Matt Rodgers. We'll see if that pays any dividends this year or down the road. But from watching Lunt's tape, I will not be surprised in the least bit if Iowa offers him a scholarship in the coming days.
Edgytim (yes, that is what he calls himself), who covers Illinois high school recruiting for Rivals and has for a long time, had an interview with Lunt where the prospect said Iowa Offensive Coordinator Ken O'Keefe was at his school recently and had good things to say to his high school coach. Here is a link to his Rivals profile. Rivals.com tabs him as a four star prospect where Scout has given him three stars.
According to Scout.com, Lunt has a "self reported 33-inch vertical jump and finished his junior season with 2,135 yards passing, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. He helped lead his team to a perfect 14-0 record and a state championship."
I found an impressive (and free) highlight compilation for Lunt, and it's worth a watch. You can view it here (sorry no embed option). Most of his snaps come from the shotgun in a spread offense with a few under center. He shows an ability to throw on the run to either side, quick decisions (though many are likely pre-snap read quick hitters) and he has very good throwing mechanics at this stage of the game. His footwork is really good, too. The vibe I got watching his tape kept reminding me of Drew Bledsoe...not, I am not saying this kid is going to have an All Pro career the way Bledsoe did, but he release and how he moves around in the pocket kept bringing Bledsoe to mind.
At 6-6, he doesn't have a long throwing motion, either; he knows how to get rid of the ball and it doesn't take him a long time. Rochester is southeast of Springfield, Illinois, or 'downstate' as those in the Windy City might call it. I wouldn't call him fleet of foot but the highlight reel didn't really show a lot of pressure getting to him. In the offense he plays in, he didn't hold on to the ball very long but I suspect he is more of a passer than he is a runner. His brother Wil started for Rochester four years ago and put up a monster career; he is at Western Illinois right now (and is also 6-3, so little brother got the best of that category).
Iowa may have a challenge of landing a top flight quarterback in this class, as they landed Jake Rudock in last year's class. However, most top flight quarterbacks posses a confidence and they have to know that if they go to a successful program, that program is going to bring in at least one quarterback a year.
It will also be interesting to see how Iowa does this year at this position after Ricky Stanzi's 5th round selection. It had been a looong time since Iowa had a quarterback drafted; going back to 1992 in fact in Matt Rodgers. We'll see if that pays any dividends this year or down the road. But from watching Lunt's tape, I will not be surprised in the least bit if Iowa offers him a scholarship in the coming days.
