College football is back, high school football is underway, and Miles is preparing for his first junior varsity game as a seventh-grade quarterback. In this episode of The Quarterback’s Room, host John and co-host Miles talk football at every level—from youth and JV football to the preseason AP Top 25, NIL, the transfer portal, and the debate over former NFL players returning to college football.
Miles shares why he wears No. 2: to honor former UCF standout and Los Angeles Rams player Otis Anderson Jr. John reflects on Otis’s impact, the friendship their family shared with him, and the bigger message behind carrying a legacy: character, purpose, resilience, and being the best version of yourself—on and off the field. Anderson was a former UCF running back who later spent time with the Rams before his death in 2021.
With Miles about to take the field in his first JV game, the conversation also explores the transition from youth football to junior varsity, competing against older players, learning from older quarterbacks, preparing for game day, and the excitement of starting a new season. It is a real conversation for young quarterbacks, football parents, and coaches about development, confidence, mentorship, and loving the game.
John and Miles then break down why they believe college football preseason rankings are flawed. In the NIL and transfer-portal era, rosters can change dramatically every offseason, making rankings based on program history, recruiting hype, media narratives, and last year’s record difficult to trust. The 2026 preseason AP poll opened with Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas in the top five, but this episode makes the case that every team should have to earn its ranking on the field.
The episode also examines the growing controversy over former NFL players and professional athletes returning to college football. John and Miles discuss what that could mean for high school recruits, roster opportunities, competitive balance, scholarships, and the purpose of college athletics. The Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC have all adopted policies barring athletes with specified professional football ties from joining their football rosters, adding another major chapter to the ongoing eligibility debate.
Plus, John showcases a signed Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills football from The Quarterback’s Room memorabilia collection and shares the latest from Florida Football Prep—including player ratings, game and practice film, custom football gear, trainer connections, football preparation, and team football-prep services.
The Quarterback’s Room is sponsored by Florida Football Prep. Visit FloridaFootballPrep.com for player evaluations, film, football gear, custom team gear, trainer resources, and professionally prepared footballs.