Meet the Iowa quarterback top programs want ... and he's not even a junior yet

Chris Cuellar | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Take a look ahead at next year's potential recruiting class Sports reporter Chris Cuellar looks ahead at who could be the top prospects coming out of Iowa in 2018.

Recruiting has been a rush for Max Duggan.

In less than two years since becoming Council Bluffs Lewis Central’s surprise starting quarterback as a freshman, the son of head coach Jim Duggan has become Iowa’s most highly prized passing prospect.

But there’s little time to reflect on the college football recruiting process when you have less than two hours at home between Big Ten camps.

“I honestly love it,” Max Duggan said Friday afternoon, shortly after arriving home from Minnesota and leaving for Nebraska. “Every time I get to go on a visit, I just get more and more familiar with the coaches and the schools, and I’m building relationships.

“This is my first time getting to see most of this stuff. I think it’s amazing and a huge opportunity for me.”

Duggan stands 6-foot-1, weighs about 180 pounds, and projects as either a pro-style or dual-threat quarterback, depending on who you ask. His scholarship offer list shows how many programs feel the four-sport athlete can fit their mold.

Iowa was in first with an FBS offer, one day after West Des Moines Valley ended Lewis Central’s 2016 season. Iowa State followed suit in November.

The college interest has only spiked, which explains Duggan’s incredibly busy schedule.

“We started out at Penn State on June 3, then went to Oklahoma State on June 6,” Jim Duggan said.

“Then we traveled out to North Carolina for their quarterback academy on June 11. We got back and hit Minnesota on Thursday. Now, it’s Nebraska, then Iowa State, then Iowa. Finally, we’ll go to Kansas State on July 22.

“We’re still trying to figure out a date to go out to Notre Dame when baseball is over. And we actually skipped Virginia Tech, which we had planned on, because (Lewis Central) had baseball against St. Albert and we didn’t want to be too worn out.”

Duggan would hit two home runs, including the game-winner, against St. Albert.

Minnesota, Kansas State, and North Carolina offered before June. Penn State, Nebraska and Marshall have done the same this month, as the four-star 2019 prospect became a hot commodity outside of Iowa.

Duggan already had efficient varsity production for an overachieving Class 4A team — 27 touchdowns to six interceptions while completing 61.6 percent of passes and rushing for 18 touchdowns in two seasons — and now coaches and scouts could see his skills up close.

He is considered the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class by 247 Sports. No Iowa high school quarterback has been rated higher than No. 14 at the position over the last 15 years.

“I think there is some validation to being considered a top pro-style or dual-threat kid, but I think ‘hybrid’ should probably get its quarterback category,” Jim said. “I’d call Max a ‘hybrid’ guy. He can run it, but he’s comfortable sitting in the pocket and throwing the ball.

“I don’t consider him truly pro-style or dual-threat yet, but that’s probably helped him with regard to which schools are interested in him. There are traditional pro-style offenses looking at him and there are spread teams looking at him.”

Max is trying to progress as a passer and a prospect while still participating in activities year-round for the Titans. Summer visits have interrupted baseball. He recently ran in four events at the state track and field meet, including the 200-meter dash in 4A, and plays basketball in the winter.

Duggan has no plans to drop any of those sports. Just like he has no plan to make a college football commitment any time soon, which will make him an increasingly intriguing prospect on the Iowa and Nebraska border.

“A lot fans give me their two-cents worth,” Max said with a laugh, “and it’s fun getting to hear from people.

“I haven’t felt any pressure about making a decision yet.”

The Hawkeyes have an advantage from being in first and recruiting with assistant coach Reese Morgan, who favors versatile athletes. The Cornhuskers are closest and can see Duggan in workouts Friday and with an unofficial visit Saturday. Iowa State and Iowa will get camp appearances next week.

His interest list won’t be trimmed until late summer. As a dad and a football coach, Jim is enjoying traveling with Max to find the right fit at the next level.

“It’s been educational, because I’m picking up different drills, talking to coaches, talking different concepts with offensive plays,” Jim said.

“But we’ve talked as a family that we’ll evaluate every place we’ve been and start to whittle it down at the end of camp season. That’s only fair to the schools, too.”

Max is more focused on resting up before his next camp than finding the right answer in his recruitment. There are still two months of summer and two years of high school left.

“Getting these experiences at camps, I’ve found a lot of stuff I need to work and a lot of stuff I need to prove,” Duggan said. “Which, for me, is great.”

IOWA’S PRIME QB PROSPECTS

Max Duggan still has two years to go until his high school recruiting ranking is finalized, but as a four-star prospect and the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the country according to 247 Sports, he is already considered one of Iowa’s best prep quarterback prospects ever. Below are the state’s most highly-rated players — who were projected as quarterbacks — over the last 15 years. Ratings via 247 Sports Composite.

Name Class QB Rank High School College

Austen Arnaud 2006 Dual 14 Ames Iowa State

AJ Derby 2010 Pro 14 Iowa City High Iowa

Rocky Lombardi 2017 Dual 14 Valley Michigan State

Devon Moore 2017 Dual 18 Waterloo West Iowa State

Ryan Boyle 2015 Dual 25 Dowling Iowa

Bret Meyer 2003 Dual 26 Atlantic Iowa State

James Vandenberg 2008 Pro 27 Keokuk Iowa

Joel Lanning 2013 Dual 40 Ankeny Iowa State

Jesse Ertz 2013 Pro 43 Mediapolis Kansas State