Other than highlights I have not seen enough of Ryan to form a strong opinion, but when winning the MVP of the Golden Arm Challenge in early April over 5 star recruit Ricky Town & others caught my eye.
1. QB RYAN STANLEY, PEMBROKE PINES (FLA.) FLANAGAN
Stanley continues to make a name for himself this spring, capping off a strong couple of months by taking home the overall Golden Arm crown. What's impressive about Stanley is just how much he continues to improve from week to week and event to event. What set him apart at this event was his overall consistency. He was on target all day and was very good at taking and adjusting to coaching. Stanley only has offers from Florida International and UAB, but that will surely change in the coming weeks and months.
2. QB DE'ANDRE JOHNSON, JACKSONVILLE (FLA.) FIRST COAST
The Florida State commit drew praise from the event's coaches for his competitive drive. Johnson strives to be the best and came to Atlanta looking to prove it. In the end he just missed out, finishing second to Stanley. Johnson is very cerebral on the field and has an understanding of what it takes to be an effective quarterback. He showed good mechanics and excellent footwork as well. The one knock on him is his height, but with his ability as a passer in addition to the damage he can do with his legs, it's not a major concern.
3. QB RICKY TOWN, VENTURA (CALIF.) ST. BONAVENTURE
The five-star quarterback drew rave reviews for his performance during the classroom portion of the event on Friday, and according to test results finished with the top overall score at the event. On Saturday, however, Town was outplayed on the field as he continues to work on his footwork. The USC commit clearly has all the tools but is still working on putting them all together. Once he does, the Trojans will have their quarterback of the future.
4. QB LORENZO NUNEZ, KENNESAW (GA.) HARRISON
Based on the camp's grading system, Nunez finished just behind Johnson for the 2015 honors behind Stanley. After winning the quarterback MVP at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour Atlanta stop last week, Nunez continued his excellent play. Known for his ability to run, Nunez continues to progress as a passer. He's good at leading his receivers and putting zip on the ball, but not just firing fastballs on every throw.
5. QB LOGAN BYRD, KATHLEEN (GA.) VETERANS (2016)
Byrd took home top honors for the 2016 class after impressing with his athleticism and size as well as classroom work. Last year at this time Byrd was splitting time between football and baseball, but now that he's focused solely on football, his throwing motion has grown leaps and bounds. The ball comes out very well and he has terrific velocity. He's also known for his ability to run and throw on the run, two things he showed during drills.
6. QB LAMAR JACKSON, BOYNTON BEACH (FLA.)
Jackson is still a little raw as a passer, but his overall package makes him very intriguing to several BCS schools. He's an ideal fit for the zone-read offense and while he can run, he's more than adequate as a passer. He showed good arm strength and a nice ability to throw the deep ball. He still has some growing to do as a quarterback, but continues to get better this offseason.
