The Ryen Russillo Podcast | September 24, 2025

Episode: Dart and Caleb Outlooks, Disappointing 2026 QB Class, Coach Quincy Avery & Ryder Cup Talk With Michael Kim

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the evolving landscape of college and NFL quarterback development with renowned QB coach Quincy Avery. The conversation spans hot-button topics like Jackson Dart's NFL trajectory, detailed dissections of the 2026 draft’s bleak QB class, and honest evaluations of headline-grabbing prospects such as Caleb Williams and Arch Manning. Later, pro golfer Michael Kim jumps on fresh off a European Tour win to preview the Ryder Cup, discuss player dynamics, and share candid insights from the pro tour. The show rounds out with the trademark "Life Advice" segment, mixing listener dilemmas with locker-room humor.

1. Quarterback Developments: NFL and NCAA Check-in (02:35–40:20)

A. Jackson Dart Getting the Start (02:37–07:43)

• Jackson Dart to Start for the Giants: Russillo and Avery kick things off reflecting on the Giants’ decision to bench Russell Wilson for rookie Jackson Dart.
• QB Readiness and Offensive Fit: Avery lauds Dart's preparedness due to Lane Kiffin trusting him with an expanded playbook at Ole Miss, emphasizing the importance of giving young quarterbacks real responsibility.
• Challenges of College QBs in the NFL: Avery explains how college offenses often shortchange QBs’ development by limiting their real-time decision-making, making the NFL transition tougher.

  "When you start running an offense like that, you limit the quarterback's ability to develop and be able to make aggressive plays on their own." (Quincy Avery, 06:35)

B. Elite 11 Surprises and Evaluations (07:43–13:34)

• Jaden Daniels – From Afterthought to Star: Avery admits misjudging Daniels’ toughness at Elite 11, only to be proven wrong by his college resurgence and maturity.

  "At that point, I wrote him off as a quarterback. [...] Then he had a turnaround unlike anything I'd ever seen." (Quincy Avery, 08:24)

• Tua Tagovailoa's Ceiling: Despite Tua’s early promise, Avery now sees his physical limitations as too great to overcome for sustained NFL success.

  "The more and more I watch him today, he's just so physically limited...I just don't know how you can have a team that's going to win consistently with Tua as your quarterback." (Quincy Avery, 10:17)

C. Breaking Down Turnovers and Rookies (13:34–16:50)

• The Challenge of Assigning Interception Blame: Discussion on the frequent ambiguity behind who’s at fault for picks—QB or receivers—and how insiders like Avery get clarity through direct locker room sources.
• Caleb Williams' Early Returns: Avery believes Caleb is showing promise under a more structured system, but true greatness hinges on his ability to blend system discipline with his elite arm talent.

  "Caleb Williams throws the ball off platform better than anybody in the NFL, and it's not close." (Quincy Avery, 15:39)

2. The Disappointing 2026 QB Class & Top Names Dissected (17:16–33:35)

A. General Outlook: No Surefire Stars (17:16–22:52)

• Avery's Stark Assessment: He calls the 2026 QB draft class "terrible," lamenting the lack of first-round talent and skepticism toward hyped names.

  "I hate that someone's going to get drafted in the first round and fans are going to be pissed." (Quincy Avery, 17:16)

• Mattier’s Potential & Limitations: Despite injuries and raw edges, Avery sees hope if fundamental issues are coached out.

B. Specific Prospects

• Garrett Nussmeier: Once high on him; Avery now sees him as likely a second/third-rounder, not accurate or decisive enough.

  "You've got to be deadly accurate, deadly anticipation. If you're not a great athlete and you have to play that way and he doesn't, he's not getting the ball out of his hands..." (Quincy Avery, 19:54)

• Sellers: Spectacular athlete but too raw; lacking ability to read through progressions required for NFL success.
• Drew Allar & Cade Klubnik: Not seeing the accuracy or mental sharpness; Allar described as "very inaccurate."
• Best Systems for QB Development: Calls out Duke and Minnesota as college staffs genuinely teaching NFL-style reads and progressions.

C. The Dante Moore Revelation (23:41–26:59)

• Dante Moore at Oregon: The best college QB right now in Avery’s view, praised for smoothness, anticipation, and processing.

  "He is the best quarterback in college football right now. If he leaves, he should be the first quarterback selected." (Quincy Avery, 25:18)

• Jordan Love Comparison: Moore has traits that Dylan Gabriel didn’t, notably a "unique ability to push the ball downfield."

  "He reminds me so much of Jordan Love, the smoothness and the efficiency in which he plays." (Quincy Avery, 25:03)

D. Dylan Raiola's "Roller Coaster" (26:59–29:58)

• Inconsistent Urgency: Raiola’s cool demeanor swings between brilliance and casual errors—Avery says that kind of inconsistency will bite in the NFL.

  "To me, the quarterbacks who play like that, it's a lack of focus, a lack of attention to the details." (Quincy Avery, 28:39)

3. The "Arch Manning" Phenomenon Debunked (29:58–33:35)

• Avery Is Unimpressed: Arch labeled as overly hyped without real competition tested; Avery argues he avoided all major showcase camps and wilts against top talent.

  "Every opportunity that he had to show that he was actually better than the top quarterbacks in the class, he passed..." (Quincy Avery, 31:02)

• Nepotism and Program Politics: Suggests Arch remains in contention at Texas purely because benching a Manning is reputationally fraught for any program.

  "If he was anybody else, he'd have been benched by now and they'd have put in K.J. Lacy." (Quincy Avery, 32:53)

• Fundamental Flaws: Misses basic throws; praised for minor plays against weak competition, not SEC-level.

4. NFL QB Fit and System Talk (33:57–39:45)

• Daniel Jones' Resurgence in Indianapolis: Avery credits a system fit for Jones' improved play, contrasting the bad Giants fit with Colts’ structure.

  "He's a rigid kind of guy, and he's playing in a rigid system. Offense is like, these are the rules." (Quincy Avery, 34:41)

• QB Self-Awareness: Importance of a quarterback understanding—and advocating for—what systems suit their strengths.

5. Quincy Avery. The Evaluator: Could Teams Use Him? (36:13–39:45)

• Pitching the Avery Perspective: Avery highlights his unique edge—knowing prospects from age 16 and understanding their makeup, work ethic, and off-field skills.

  "It's all the other skills, the soft skills that you need to have in order to be successful." (Quincy Avery, 38:15)

• Not Worried About C.J. Stroud’s Downturn: Believes Stroud remains an elite prospect; systemic issues with Houston's current offense, not the player.

6. Ryder Cup & Pro Golf with Michael Kim (42:09–70:17)

A. Fresh Off a Win: Michael Kim Reflects (42:09–44:28)

• Victory at the Open de France: Kim shares a moment of honest nerves and strategic thinking at the final hole, highlighting the pressure even for seasoned pros.

B. Ryder Cup Pairings and Strategy (44:28–51:21)

• US Pairings a Puzzle: Europe’s established pairings bring cohesion; US faces challenge fitting four rookies into winning partnerships.

  "[Europe] has their, like, go-to teams (...) whereas the US side, with so many new guys, (...) the pairings aren't as easily set." (Michael Kim, 44:52)

• Home-Field Advantage: Home crowd and marginal course-setup tweaks make a tangible difference, especially with energy late in the week.

C. Rory vs. Bryson: Golf’s New Rivalry (48:02–53:21)

• Public Perception Flipping: Bryson DeChambeau has engineered a "heel to hero" story via YouTube and engagement; Rory McIlroy maintains respect but loses some US fan affection.

• Crowd Dynamics: Bryson’s bold (sometimes “wrestler” style) persona expected to energize the home crowd at Bethpage Black.

  "Bryson has done a complete 180 of his popularity metric." (Michael Kim, 49:09) "Whatever you feel about Bryson, he makes you feel something." (Michael Kim, 52:32)

D. Golf Course and Player Experience (54:16–65:39)

• Bethpage Black: Labeled "one of the hardest courses I've ever played"—especially tough for average golfers, with length and tight fairways.
• Rookie Pressure: Describes how first-timers experience the Ryder Cup as more intense than any major.
• US vs. Europe Top Talent: Kim breaks down team strengths; US with top-heavy star power, Europe owning the competitive middle.

E. Scheffler Redemption Arc (64:01–65:39)

• Scheffler’s Motivation: After being routed in Rome, Kim expects him to play "out of his mind" at Bethpage.

  "He's as competitive a person as you'll find on the PGA Tour, so he'll be...awesome this week." (Michael Kim, 65:39)

F. Amateur Golf Life & Club Selection (65:39–70:17)

• Russillo’s Short Game Woes: Audience gets comic relief as Russillo seeks advice on chipping, leading to honest talk about amateur struggles and club choices.

7. Life Advice, Locker Room Banter, and Listener Mail (71:29–98:41)

A. Who Should You Invite to the Wedding? (71:29–78:04)

• Weddings & Work Colleagues: The team debates whether not inviting co-workers is a "power move" or just a practical solution.

  "I always found it fascinating, the people that didn't invite anyone from work. I admired them." (Russillo, 75:14)

B. Youth Sports Sideline Etiquette (78:17–89:19)

• Celebrating During Blowouts: Listener recounts being accused of rudeness for cheering; hosts unanimously side with the coach—let parents celebrate their kids, even if it’s 6-0.

  "No one is taking her side that's listening to this email." (Russillo, 81:40)

• Russillo's Youth Basketball "Turnaround" Story: Anecdote about an 0-14 team, league expansion, and a redemption arc with pivotal dad-coaching moments.

C. Golden Retrievers and "Too Much Licking" (89:23–98:41)

• Extended Dog Licking Etiquette: Listener dilemma—should you intervene when a guest's dog is getting "too familiar" on the family couch? The hosts walk through social norms and the subtle art of protecting your upholstery.

  "Do I let it ride and accept that some people are fine being treated like a popsicle by a golden retriever?" (Listener, 95:05)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Quincy Avery on the 2026 QB Class:

  "I absolutely hate it. I hate that someone's going to get drafted in the first round and fans are going to be pissed." (17:16)

• On Arch Manning:

  "Every opportunity that he had to show that he was actually better than the top quarterbacks in the class, he passed." (31:02)

• On Dante Moore:

  "He is the best quarterback in college football right now. If he leaves, he should be the first quarterback selected." (25:18)

• Michael Kim on Bryson DeChambeau:

  "Whatever you feel about Bryson, like, he makes you feel something, and that's...rare." (52:32)

• On youth sports etiquette:

  "No one is taking her side that's listening to this email." (81:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|----------------| | Jackson Dart & Giants QB situation | 02:37–07:43 | | Elite 11 stories/Jaden Daniels/Tua | 08:05–11:50 | | Caleb Williams & Rookie QBs | 13:34–16:50 | | 2026 QB Class & Dante Moore | 17:16–26:59 | | Dylan Raiola, other prospects | 26:59–29:58 | | Arch Manning deep-dive | 29:58–33:35 | | Daniel Jones & System Fit | 33:57–34:41 | | Quincy Avery as NFL evaluator | 36:13–39:45 | | Michael Kim on Ryder Cup & PGA | 42:09–70:17 | | Life Advice (Weddings, Sideline Etiquette) | 71:29–89:19 | | Dog Licking Dilemma | 89:23–98:41 |

Tone and Style

The tone is candid, informed, and often light-hearted—mixing deep insider sports wisdom with bracing honesty and plenty of humor. The hosts don’t shy away from hard truths (especially Avery on overhyped QBs), and the transitions from technical analysis to relatable everyday content ("too much licking") keep the show easy to follow for both diehards and casual fans.

In Summary

For QB fans: The episode offers a masterclass in quarterback evaluation and development, with Avery holding nothing back on household names and providing rare insight from years inside the Elite 11 program.

For golf fans: Michael Kim's breakdown of Ryder Cup strategy and pro tour life is accessible, fun, and refreshingly honest.

For all sports fans: The “Life Advice” section keeps things relatable—and as ever, the show draws its edge from a blend of technical expertise, storytelling, and everyday banter.

Episode recommended for:

• Those curious about the evolution of NFL and college quarterbacking
• Sports fans who appreciate blunt, behind-the-scenes takes
• Anyone seeking tactical golf talk with Ryder Cup flavor
• Listeners who love their sports analysis with a side of real-life humor