Jake Nawrot

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 190 lbs. Taller than 73% and heavier than 23% of 2027 Quarterback prospects in the SEC Scouts database (22 with a listed size).

Play Style

Nawrot is a rhythm-and-timing distributor who wins before the snap and on his first read. He gets the ball out on time, rarely puts it in danger, and is efficient on short-to-intermediate throws, but he can still threaten downfield: 11.7 yards per completion in 2025 and about 15.2 per completion early in 2026. His under-center drops and play-action mechanics look more like a pro-style college quarterback than a spread high school passer. His rushing is limited to scrambles and short-yardage sneaks and keepers rather than a true zone-read threat.

Strengths

• Ball security and decision-making: 41 TD and 2 INT on 263 attempts in 2025, then 17 TD and 0 INT in 127 attempts through five games of 2026. That is roughly a 20:1 TD-to-INT ratio over two seasons, which points to strong processing and not just good talent around him.
• Accuracy under evaluation: he completed 71% of his passes in 2025 (187 of 263). At the Elite 11 Finals he was on target on 17 of 20 throws in one session and 16 of 18 in 7-on-7 with two touchdowns, while ranking near the top of the field each night.
• Pro-style fundamentals: clean drops from under center, a balanced base, and timing throws. His footwork was singled out at Elite 11, so he should need less mechanical rebuilding than most freshman quarterbacks.
• Big-game consistency against strong suburban Chicago competition: 285 yards and 3 TD vs. Carmel Catholic, 361 yards and 3 TD on 25 of 32 against Barrington, and 230 yards and 4 TD on 17 of 22 against Neuqua Valley.

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and weight gain: at 200 pounds he needs to get to about 215-220 to hold up against SEC hits and to keep his arm strength and velocity on deep outs and field-side throws late in the season.
• Working off-script against pressure: his production came mostly with clean pockets and an efficient Hersey offense. He has not shown on film that he can create outside the pocket or handle blitzes, and Kentucky's line play in the SEC will test that.
• Mobility as a threat: he is not a designed runner, so his college coordinator has fewer RPO and QB-run options. Improving his escape-and-throw ability would raise his ceiling.

College Projection

He will likely take scout-team and backup reps in 2027, probably redshirting while he adds weight under the four-game rule. A realistic starting window is 2028 (redshirt freshman) or 2029, depending on who is on Kentucky's roster and the transfer portal. His accuracy and decision-making give him a high floor as a multi-year SEC starter. His ceiling as a top-tier SEC quarterback depends on how he handles pressure and whether he adds arm strength as he fills out.

NFL Outlook

He has legitimate draft potential. A 6-4 pocket passer with clean footwork, pro-style experience, and elite ball security fits the NFL quarterback profile. If he adds the expected mass and posts multiple efficient SEC seasons against top pass rushes, he projects as a Day 2 prospect with room to move higher. The biggest risks are his thin frame and his limited ability to create off-script, which NFL teams increasingly value.

Best Fit

A pro-style or play-action-heavy offense with under-center snaps, timing-based concepts, and a line that protects well enough for him to work through his reads. Kentucky fits well. He would be less suited to a tempo spread offense built around QB runs and RPO keepers.