Prospect Evaluation: 2025 QB Kelden Ryan

One of the nation’s top young gunslingers hails from the greater northwest Dallas area, Kelden Ryan.

Brian Smith | Apr 3, 2022

PLANO, Texas - During the DR Sportz seven-on-seven tournament, there was a third opportunity to see Kelden Ryan compete. It’s usually hard and perhaps even not realistic to accurately grade a quarterback prospect just finishing up his freshman season of high school, but Ryan is quite talented and well trained to date.

Already physically mature enough to look like a rising senior, Ryan holds much promise. Here’s an overview of his skills.

Kelden Ryan

Size: 6’2”, 190-pounds

Position: Quarterback

High School: Keller (Texas) Central / Young Bullz 7v7

Recruitment

Jackson State, Baylor, Arkansas, California, Pittsburgh, and SMU offered already.

Frame

Looks college ready in the lower body. Legs resemble a running back. In the upper body, plenty of room to add mass if Ryan desires.

Arm Talent

Power is there; touch is also present. Ryan shows the consistent ability to complete passes just beyond the linebackers and in front of the safeties. It’s the area of the field that quarterback coaches tend to stay away from because it’s also the highest propensity for interceptions, but Ryan’s confidence and accuracy overcome that challenge. When he wants to throw the football hard, there is plenty of zip even during tough circumstances.

It’s windy once again in Dallas. Ryan throws routes into the wind and does so with line drives. That’s arm strength. He also uses a little bit of touch combined with the power when needed as well. Ryan has multiple 20-plus yard completions today where he drops the pass right where it needs to be.

Maturity

First, this young man is consistently smiling and having a good time. He's happy to be competing and being with his friends. That's a great sign. He does not allow a single bad play get him or his teammates down. Positive young man. It also helps with his overall game.

Even with Ryan’s talent, he consistently threw short and took the four and five yard passes. Teams playing soft zone are seeking easy interceptions when quarterbacks get too aggressive. Ryan does not take the bait. Ryan keeps checking down until a defensive back becomes out of position or too aggressive towards the line of scrimmage so that a deep ball is possible. That’s rare for a 15 year old player.

Mechanics

Natural over-the-top motion that remains consistent during short, intermediate and deep throws. One step into his throw and it is a bullet. Overall, Ryan does not need to adjust his mechanics to throw any type of pass. Strength is obvious to help with this aspect of his game, but sound fundamentals are in place to make it happen as well.

Playmaker

For his high school squad, Ryan also makes plays on the ground. While not able to see that during the prior seven-on-seven tournament, Under Armour Dallas Camp, or today’s DR Sportz Tournament, it’s important to note that Ryan can really move and he’s a threat to take off.

Final Thoughts

Ryan is a signal caller with a tremendous amount of upside. He’s grounded despite exceptional natural ability plus developing quarterbacking skills. This young man trends towards being a true national recruit.

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