SI All-American Ranks the Top 10 QB Recruits: See Where Sam Huard Fits In

As Sports Illustrated All-American reveals the nation's top 10 quarterback recruits for 2021, Sam Huard isn't No. 1 on this list.

He's sixth.

It has nothing to do with his arm.

Maybe his feet.

But so what.

To be included in this exclusive group of high school quarterback talent, landing anywhere from 1 to 10, puts you in pretty heady company.

The college football programs holding pledges from these chosen ones will tell you that their chances of fielding a top 10 team and making a run at a national championship increase exponentially with a quarterback of this caliber.

Anywhere from 1 to 10.

Besides, the career paths and corresponding numbers can change before they get their hands on that scholarship.

You can read Sports Illustrated's story about the top 10 right here.

Huard is headed to the University of Washington to quarterback the Huskies, same as his father Damon and his uncle Brock, both three-year starters and eventual NFL players.

He could be better than both of them.

This younger Huard, whose other uncle Luke went to North Carolina as a scholarship quarterback, comes with all the skills necessary for NCAA greatness, according to John Garcia, SI director of recruiting.

"Huard has about all the physical tools to develop into a college superstar, along with great, tangible production," Garcia said. "He is an excellent decision-maker, the throwing motion is pure and his ball has “easy” velocity from a stationary position or while on the move.

"Huard probably has my favorite deep-ball consistency of the fellow elite passers in what is a great recruiting cycle at the game’s most important position."

The SI quarterback top 10 has players headed to the perennial national contenders, such as Oklahoma, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

Huard is one of three committed to Pac-12 schools, rated two notches behind Oregon-bound Ty Thompson and three slots higher than USC-bound Miller Moss.

North Carolina and SMU are schools trying to elevate themselves in the national picture with top-rated QB recruits.

In the video, former NFL and college coach Jim Mora, the former Washington Husky linebacker, breaks down the talents of Tar Heels commit Drake Maye and Georgia pledge Brock Vandagriff, a pair of Southern recruits.

Dual-threat Caleb Williams from Washington, D.C., is SI All-American's top-rated quarterback, not to mention its No. 1 recruit overall at any position.

Garcia, who is spearheading SI's expanded recruiting coverage and is a nationally respected analyst, said ranking the quarterbacks was no easy thing. The difference between the top half-dozen or so was negligible.

"There wasn’t a runaway pick for the top spot and every separation thereafter was contested closely," Garcia said. "Huard’s floor, one could contest, is as strong as any passer in the class but some ahead of him could have a higher ceiling with a more expanded athletic toolbox and similar arm talent.

"Every top 10 guy, and likely a few spots beyond, is a build-around-this-guy candidate for college football’s top teams, making this initial ranking that much harder. Senior campaigns will factor greatly in the next steps towards the next SI All-American team."

SI All-American's quarterback rankings, with each player linked to his SI recruiting profile, are as follows:

1. Caleb Williams - Oklahoma (OU) Commitment

2. Brock Vandagriff - Georgia (UGA) Commitment

3. JJ McCarthy - Michigan (UM) Commitment

4. Ty Thompson - Oregon (UO) Commitment

5. Drake Maye - North Carolina (UNC) Commitment

6. Sam Huard - Washington (UW) Commitment

7. Tyler Buchner - Notre Dame (ND) Commitment

8. Kyle McCord - Ohio State (OSU) Commitment

9. Miller Moss - USC Commitment

10. Preston Stone - SMU Commitment