College Football Recruiting: QB Kai Millner Joins the Class of 2021
The three-star, 10th overall Pro-Style QB in the Nation Joins the Class
I want to thank God for the blessing of being in this position. I also want to thank my family, friends, teammates, teachers and coaches for all the support over the years. I am EXTREMELY excited to announce my commitment to the University of California Berkeley! 🐻 #CalGang21D
Hailing from Gilbert, Arizona the QB joins his former teammate and previous Higley HS QB Spencer Brasch. He also holds offers from Arizona, Boise State, Miami (The U), Michigan State, and Washington State.
In 2019, in his first year starting he threw for 2382 yards and a 31/6 TD/INT ratio and a 13.9 YPA. His aggregate statistics were lower than Spencer’s Senior Year stats, but similar to the Spencer’s Junior Year.
Kai Millner
QB – Higley HS (Gilbert AZ)
6’2” 180 lbs (self-declared)
c/o 2021
3 star consensus (#33 QB National)
The parallels between current Freshman QB Spencer Brasch and his successor at Higley HS are uncanny. Both are/were two-year year starters at Higley High School. Both are beanpole QBs. Both were no-doubt P5 prospects. Both throw an accurate long ball that focuses more on touch/loft than arm strength/velocity. Both remind me of Davis Webb in look and style.
Higley runs a lot of 11 personnel package (1 RB, 1 TE) with the 3 WR going on top-of-the-tree pro routes that stretch the field vertically rather than bottom-of-the-tree spread-option that focus on creating width space/mismatch/change of direction. As a result, you see Brasch and Millner make a primary read and usually stick with it and complete a long pass. Both Brasch and Millner had a decent amount of rushing TDs, but that may be due to scheme because the verticals routes left giant holes in the middle. I don’t think Brasch nor Millner can be called dual-threat in the Pac12, but perhaps be mobile enough to not be statues.
In terms of positive, Millner looks the part. Tall, quick throwing motion, good eye for seeing downfield windows, and very accurate touch. He is accurate to the point where he drops his passes into a very small window even when his man is partly covered. And his numbers don’t lie. Despite having a 13.9 YPC, he had a .642 completion average and a tiny 2.2 INT % rate. Those stats are comparable to the best stats that Brett Favre ever recorded during his pro-career.
And he did well against quality teams. While Higley did not play in the division with the largest schools – they played a very difficult schedule that included local 5A football program royalty Williams Field, Horizon, Millennium, Campo Verde, Mission – plus Miller Moss lead Alemany.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s talk about things he needs to work on. He appears to be an ectomorph, so like Brasch, may struggle to put on some muscle. And his arm strength is not great. Like Brasch before him, the speed of the Pac12 defenders will close passing windows that were previously open to him at the high school level. He will struggle to complete anything until he gets stronger. Second, Higley’s quick-release long-ball game means that Millner needs more experience going through progressions rather than locking in on his first look. Lastly – this may signal that elite prospect of Miller Moss coming to Cal just dimmed.
But the talent is absolutely there. The Coaching is there. He’s a smart kid. If he picks up Davis Webb’s work ethic, I will be all too happy to see all those long touchdowns that will happen in the near future. Have a fantastic senior season Kai (hopefully it gets played). You’re in for a special time at Cal.
Thank you for the fun news!!! Looks like a great get, and I'm sure we have Charlie Rangle to thank, along with Coach Musgrave! I SO need this sort of hopeful post at times like this......