Noah Grubbs

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 205 lbs. Taller than 80% and heavier than 64% of 2026 Quarterback prospects in the SEC Scouts database (128 with a listed size).

Play Style

He is a rhythm pocket passer with a vertical streak. He plays best from the gun in spread concepts, reading one side of the field and throwing on time. He will aggressively attack deep and seam routes, which accounts for both the high TD totals and the double-digit interceptions. His release is quick and loose, so he can fit throws into short windows. He shows touch on bucket throws down the sideline and can speed up the ball on dig and out-breaking routes. When the pocket breaks down he extends the play to throw rather than to run, keeping his eyes downfield and resetting. The Hail Mary to win the state title is the extreme version of that tendency. His teams won close games, and coaches point to his poise late in games as his defining trait.

Strengths

• Production and durability over a long career: a starter from his freshman year, 11,537 yards and 143 TDs, and three straight seasons of 3,000+ yards (3,670/49 TD as a sophomore, 3,000+/37 TD as a junior, 3,250/40 TD as a senior), all in Florida's top classification
• Arm talent and mechanics: 247Sports' evaluation cites a 'loose arm' and 'cleaner mechanics' that let him 'get the ball to all different levels', meaning a quick release, a compact motion, and touch that changes by depth of throw
• Composure late in games: his teams went 39-12 with him starting, he engineered a season-opening comeback win as a senior, and he threw the walk-off state title TD. Coaches specifically praise his leadership in one-score games
• Experience with a heavy passing load: 354-402 attempts per season gave him far more live reps reading coverage than most signees get, which speeds up his adjustment to a college playbook
• Stayed committed: his pledge to Notre Dame lasted about 18 months through Michigan visits and offers from Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Oklahoma and Penn State, and he enrolled ready to compete for QB2

Areas to Improve

• Ball security and decision-making: 10-12 interceptions each season (a roughly 3% INT rate as a senior) and completion rates in the high 50s (58% as a senior) show he forces throws into tight windows and struggles with timing on intermediate routes. He has to cut down risky throws against faster college defensive backs
• Adding strength and consistency throwing under pressure: he needs to add muscle to hold up to hits in the pocket and keep his accuracy when he can't set his feet or reset his base, which is the main difference between a 4-star recruit and a Power-4 starter
• Seeing the whole field: he has to move from reading one side of a high school progression to full-field reads against Power-4 disguised coverages and post-snap rotations. The Notre Dame staff will develop this over time

College Projection

He is the true-freshman QB2 at Notre Dame in 2026, sharing the backup role with fellow freshman Teddy Jarrard behind junior CJ Carr, and he has seen mop-up snaps, including his first career TD against Purdue. If Carr stays through 2027, he likely has two developmental years of backup reps and could take the four-game redshirt this season. Carr's draft or eligibility timeline could open the starting job as early as 2027-28, and he would be a realistic candidate to start by his redshirt sophomore season (2028). The main risk is competition from future Notre Dame QB recruits and the transfer portal. How much strength he adds and how much he cuts his interception rate in practice will decide whether he wins the job or ends up as a transfer.

NFL Outlook

It is too early to project him meaningfully, but his tools are NFL-shaped: 6-4+ height, a loose and quick release, and throwing to every level. The draft path requires two or more seasons as a Power-4 starter in which he fills out to about 220-225 lbs and shows he can control interceptions against top defenses. If he starts two years at Notre Dame and takes care of the ball, a Day 2-3 range is plausible. A more likely baseline is a college starter with priority free agent or late-round upside. The Notre Dame pro-style scheme and TV exposure help his evaluation.

Best Fit

A pro-style or spread program that gives its QBs a development runway and keeps the offense in rhythm from the gun, with RPO and play-action to simplify reads and a vertical passing game that uses his arm. It should not depend on QB-run volume. Notre Dame is a close fit: an established QB1 lets him develop without being rushed, and the staff's passing concepts and elite tight end usage (his first TD went to TE Matt Jeffery) reward throws in timing and down the seams.