Film Room: Destin Wade

Adding a quarterback in every recruiting class is now a requirement in modern college football. Whether via the high school route or transfer portal, programs need to spray the board when it comes to finding the most important position in the sport. After missing out on Gavin Wimsatt, the Wildcats appear to have found their guy in the class of 2022.

Destin Wade is a blue-chip prospect in the class of 2022 that sits at No. 350 in the current 247 Sports Composite Rankings. A top-15 player in the state of Tennessee, the Spring Hill (Tenn) Summitt athlete could play multiple positions at the next level. The state champion will get a crack at quarterback at Kentucky after picking the Wildcats over Louisville, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Now we step into the KSR Film Room and show you what type of player offensive coordinator Liam Coen is adding to his position room. The dual-threat quarterback has patience in the pocket and can produce velocity, but some throwing mechanics must be improved before he takes snap under center at the Power Five level.

The best attribute that Wade has right now outside of the physical traits is his playing demeanor. The athletic quarterback never seems rushed on tape. Both interior and outside pressure never seems to rattle the young gunslinger. Wade’s feet stay calm, the quarterback feels the rush and does a good job keeping his eyes downfield. This allows the young QB to create plays off-platform with both his arms and legs.

On the play-action, Wade stays calm and throttles down in the pocket looking downfield. Once the rush is felt, the athleticism takes over and he heads towards free grass. The QB finds a receiver wide open down the field and the result is a touchdown. Pushing the ball vertically can be a challenge for the young player due to a lack of lower body involvement in the throwing motion.

However, when Wade steps into his throws, the ball can be delivered with force and precision.

The young player has no issue with creating velocity from his wrist on the release, but the leg involvement allows him to get more power behind the ball. On the out-and-up, Wade delivers the ball perfectly over the outside shoulder and in stride. This was his best throw on tape.

Wade had more rushing yards (1,509) than passing yards (1,390) in 11 games as a junior. Therefore, the zone-read game is a big part of his toolbox.

The QB averaged over nine yards per rush last season while rushing for 18 touchdowns. Spring Hill used the athlete in many option looks, and they worked effectively. With solid straight-line speed to go along with some change of direction, explosive rushing plays occurred often.

Wade is often put on the move, and that is where his best plays occur. The young passer is very accurate with the football throwing on the run delivering in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

In the red zone, Wade moves right on the play-action fake and delivers a dart into the endzone for a touchdown. The velocity is once again shown off as the ball pops off his right hand.

Oh, it is also pretty cool when your quarterback can turn a sneak into an explosive touchdown play.

Missing out on Wimsatt did sting, but Kentucky found a quality option at quarterback. There is absolutely a scenario where Wade plays defense in college, but this is a prospect that deserves a chance to play quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound athlete has some similarities to current Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder.

The Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier alum was a tall, skinny athlete that had more rushing yards than passing yards in high school. Many projected the raw prospect to be a safety at the next level. However, he could generate easy velocity on his throws and was excellent at playing on the move. Development was needed, but now Ridder enters his last year in college as an NFL prospect who has thrown for 6,905 yards with 1,825 rushing yards in three years while accounting for 79 total touchdowns.

A similar path could be there for Wade.