#12

Dru DeShields

QB · Kent State · R-Jr. · #12

Returning to Kent State for 2026
R-Jr. · Beloit, Ohio → West Branch HS
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Dru DeShields

QB · Kent State · Fr · #12

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1958 national
CFB
College
Kent State
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Kent State5-7HC: Mark Carney · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Kent State13624056.7%2,0308.5183150.0----
Career13624056.7%2,0308.5183150.0----
SeasonTeam
2025Kent State61380.63--
Career61380.63--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025

W 21–17

vs Merrimack

118 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT  ·  QBR 10.2  ·  2 rush yds (4 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 4 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Pushes it downfield on every look.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Kent State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Quarterback · Kent State

Returning around him

  • 11% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -4 net (11 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Kent State · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #128 · 2026 recruiting class #120

DNA match

Player DNA

Vertical Passer

Elite arm talent, pushing downfield. Completion rate is the variable.

QB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Keyone Jenkins’s 2024 season.

Florida International · 2024

#2

Kirk Francis

Tulsa · 2023

52%
#3

Davis Brin

Tulsa · 2022

49%
#4

Chevan Cordeiro

San José State · 2022

All-Mountain West
48%
#5

Dequan Finn

Toledo · 2021

48%

Matches Keyone on

Yards / attempt
Total pass EPA (college ability)

Differs from Keyone on

Height (higher)
INT rate (lower)
Completion % (lower)

Through 1 college season, his career arc tracks closest to Colton Joseph’s path through Old Dominion.

Old Dominion · 2025

All-Sun Belt
#2

Cade McConnell

UTEP · 2024

77%
#3

Tai Lavatai

Navy · 2023

76%
#4

Matthew Sluka

UNLV · 2024

76%
#5

Walker Eget

San José State · 2025

74%

Matches Colton on

Height
Recruiting rating
Yards per attempt

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Kirk Francis's freshman season at Tulsa (2023).

Kirk Francis

56%match

Tulsa · 2023

#2
54%
#3

Michael Van Buren Jr.

Mississippi State · 2024

47%
#4

J.D. Head

Louisiana Tech · 2021

45%
#5

Cade McConnell

UTEP · 2023

44%

Differs from Kirk on

TD rate (higher)
EPA / dropback (adj) (lower)
Weight (lower)

Player DNA

Players who play like Dru DeShields

#1

Parker McNeil

Louisiana Tech · 2022

63%
#2

Deshawn Purdie

Charlotte · 2024

60%
#3

Haaziq Daniels

Air Force · 2021

59%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #541

Final rank
#676
Avg #611.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #541 this season.

Background

2026 (R-Junior) Phil Steele Preseason 2nd Team All-MAC 2025 (R-Sophomore) Academic All-MAC Finished regular season ranked 3rd in yards per completion (14.93) Finished regular season ranked 23rd in yards per attempt (8.46) Finished regular season ranked 31st in passing efficiency (150) Week 12 MAC...

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