Who is the 8th grade QB with a Penn State football offer?

On Friday, Penn State football held its Elite Showcase IV event, the final prospect camp of the summer. Players from across several recruiting classes were in attendance to show off their skills and, in some cases, come away with an offer from the Nittany Lions. But for one offered QB who made the return visit to State College, patience will need to be the name of the game. This, of course, is in reference to class of 2028 QB Christopher Vargas. But although he has yet to reach high school, the 8th grade QB with multiple Power Five offers is already turning heads on the camp circuit this summer. 

Christopher Vargas is already turning heads on the camp circuit 

Last week, Christopher Vargas camped at Penn State for the second time in as many months. After attending a mid-week prospect camp in late June, Vargas walked away with an official offer from Penn State. The offer was Vargas’s second from a Power Five program. Hailing from St. John’s Prep in Massachusetts, Vargas also has offers from Boston College, as well as UConn and UMass. 

One month after picking up an EARLY offer, 2028 Penn State QB target @chrisvargas_qb (788) is working under the direction of Lions OC Mike Yurcich again today. https://t.co/UMRHAg8ieG pic.twitter.com/LNhbUK7DRE

— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) July 28, 2023

Obviously, since the 8th grade QB hasn’t even reached high school, the major recruiting services haven’t evaluated Vargas yet. However, the site QB Hit List currently rates Vargas as the No. 1 pro-style QB in his class. 

Ryan Oliver, Director of Football Content for Youth 1, offered this evaluation of Vargas:

Vargas is a talented passer with a strong arm. He shows a real presence in the pocket with full command of his team’s offense. Aside from his arm strength, his biggest strengths are his ability to throw on the move and to throw the ball with accuracy. His ability to drop in deep balls on target is remarkable. Each throw looks so easy for Vargas. He shows an ability to play the position well beyond his years. A talent to keep an eye on from the 2028 class going forward.

Is Penn State on to something with this early offer?

Vargas also recently earned an invite to the Under Armour Next 8th Grade All-American game, which will take place next year. So, while there is definitely lots of time for Christopher Vargas to grow and develop, there certainly seems to be a strong foundation in place for the 8th grade QB. 

#ᴀɢᴛɢ Blessed and Honored to be an UA Next 8th Grade All-American. #wantedthissobad @UANextFootball @TheUCReport @StJohnsPrepFB @M2_QBacademy @QBHitList @Preps_247 @PrepRedzoneNext @EdOBrienCFB @On3sports pic.twitter.com/bzMdeuVKH5

— Christopher Vargas 2028 QB (@chrisvargas_qb) May 15, 2023

Vargas also hails from an area where Penn State football has increasingly recruited well. Of course, the Nittany Lions signed Pat Freiermuth out of Massachusetts in the 2018 cycle. But Penn State has five players from New England committed over the 2023 and 2024 classes, including top prospects Andrew Rappleyea, Luke Reynolds, and Liam Andrews. So, while Vargas’s recruitment is a matter for the very distant future, don’t put him too far out of mind. 

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