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One of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the 2016 recruiting cycle will pick his college home soon.
Jawon Pass, a four-star recruit out of Columbus, Ga., is likely to choose one of Alabama, Auburn, Louisville or North Carolina when he makes his commitment announcement on Thursday at 4 p.m ET.
While Alabama and Auburn are able to win recruiting battles against the likes of a program like Louisville more often than not, there is one major factor working in the Cardinals’ favor this time around.
Jawon’s older brother, Khane Pass, is a freshman safety for Bobby Petrino’s Louisville program. And based on what their mother, Kershena Thomas, told The Courier-Journal’s Steve Jones last week, there is reason to believe that the younger Pass may choose to join forces with his brother at Louisville.
“They’re connected at the hip and the head,” she said with a laugh. “They are extremely close. I thought Jawon was going to need counseling when Khane left (for college).”
Jones reported that Thomas believes that her son may have narrowed his choices down to Louisville and Alabama, and also mentioned that things have been quiet on the Auburn front recently.
Though the Crimson Tide may not be able to produce a brother for Pass to enjoy the college experience with, it does have one of his high school teammates (Mekhi Brown) reporting as an incoming freshman this fall, according to AL.com’s Drew Champlin.
According to his Twitter account, Pass is making a last-minute visit to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday before the announcement, which is to take place at Carver High School in Columbus.
Pass, who checks in at an impressive 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds with 4.5 speed (according to 247Sports), recently participated the Elite 11 quarterback finals in Beaverton, Ore., with many of the top quarterback prospects in the 2016 class. Former NFL quarterback and camp counselor Trent Dilfer told USA Today’s Paul Myerburg that Pass had a little way to go in positional development compared to the rest of the group.
“He’s never been taught a drop, a defense, a play,” said Dilfer, “so this is like giving me the Chinese dictionary and saying, ‘Hey, go.’ But he gets better every rep.”
Myerburg described Pass as the “rawest quarterback at the event,” which almost assuredly signals the need for a redshirt season at a school like Alabama or Auburn.
Playing the waiting game with Pass’ development shouldn’t be an issue for the schools vying for his services, as Alabama (Jalen Hurts), Auburn (Woody Barrett) and Louisville (Tylin Oden) already have quarterbacks committed for the 2016 recruiting cycle. North Carolina has two commitments, but neither is rated as highly as Pass.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
