Film Room: Stone Saunders

When offensive coordinator Liam Coen returned for his second stint with Kentucky football, one of the top goals was to fix Kentucky’s inefficient high school quarterback recruiting. In just one offseason, those problems have been solved. The Wildcats have added their second commitment at the premium position in less than three months.

Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy quarterback Cutter Boley committed to Kentucky in May and immediately re-classified to 2024. Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt quarterback Stone Saunders followed suit with a commitment to the Wildcats on Friday evening.

The No. 336 overall prospect in the class of 2025 in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. Saunders is the No. 25 quarterback and a top-10 player in talent-rich Pennsylvania. Over the summer, UK and Nebraska emerged as the top contenders in this recruiting battle, but the Big Blue won out in the end.

Saunders is a two-year starter who is on pace to throw 200 touchdown passes in his prep career. The first commit in the 2025 cycle has a funky throwing motion but delivers the ball with good accuracy, timing, and flashes some off-script playmaking as a young quarterback prospect.

What some would call arm talent

Liam Coen runs a pro-style offense. Coming from a branch of the Sean McVay coaching tree, there are certain traits that we’ve seen Coen prefer in a small sample size when it comes to talent evaluations. Will Levis and Cutter Boley both can throw the football a mile and create easy velocity. Devin Leary also has enough arm power to stretch the field vertically. Stone Saunders can also check that box.

The 2025 prospect still has some growing to do into his 6-foot-2 frame, but there is no denying that the arm power is there to stretch a defense vertically.

The quarterback prospect can generate some easy throwing power in the pocket and can hit receivers over 40 yards down the field. Not only does Saunders have arm strength, but his ball is delivered with timing and accuracy. That feel gives this prospect a great chance at hitting on shot plays when they are schemed up as overthrows or underthrows are often avoided.

Stone Saunders can stretch the field vertically.

Feel for the game

Playing quarterback at a high level is more than having some top-notch physical traits. The arm strength is great, but good ball placement on a variety of throws is sometimes more valuable. Saunders can drop the ball in the bucket or hit small throwing windows and that creates more successful swings for the passing game.

Whether it’s throwing a shorter go ball with more pace and timing, hitting a small window on a fade in the red zone, navigating a muddy pocket, or standing in against heat to make a throw over the middle, Saunders flashes a great feel for the quarterback position.

The prospect can deliver the ball with accuracy in multiple different ways. The touch throws on tape are very good and give this prospect a high upside. The rising junior has some real intangibles that should translate to the next level.

Stone Saunders is an accomplished QB prospect with extensive reps

To get better at quarterback, you have to play quarterback. And that’s not just in 7-on-7. Reps in real 11-on-11 football, when quarterbacks are live for contact, is what will separate players. When Stone Saunders arrives at Kentucky, he might be the most battle-tested true freshman quarterback in college football.

The prospect already shows a great feel for playing the position and has the arm strength to make some of the pro throws that Liam Coen will require. What makes Saunders a tantalizing prospect is his ability to deliver the ball with touch and accuracy. This quarterback can make an assortment of throws and that gives him a bigger explosive play window.

Saunders still needs to grow into his frame, and his throwing motion may need to be cleaned up, but there is a lot to like about Kentucky’s latest commit. Accuracy, feel, pocket movement skills, and some arm power. Those should all translate to the next level.