Photo by: Kevan Albright
2026 Position Preview: Quarterbacks
8/22/2026 7:00:00 AM | Football
Graham Harrell is in his second season as Abilene Christian co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2026. That fact marks the first time in head coach Keith Patterson's five-year tenure he will have the same coach leading his offense in consecutive seasons.
Harrell guided the Wildcats to balanced offensive success in 2025 with the United Athletic Conference's third ranked passing offense (238 yards per game) and 4th ranked rushing offense (171 yards). ACU also led the UAC in 3rd down conversion rate (47%) and time of possession (32:13), and now has four offensive players voted to the Preseason All-UAC team.
But, the Wildcats will have a new quarterback in 2026, and for the first time since 2020 it will not be Maverick McIvor (2022-24) or Stone Earle (2020-21, 2025).
Three newcomers -- FBS transfers Marcos Davila and Tucker Parks, and true freshman Joe Castles -- join returner John David Black in competing for the starting job.
Harrell gave his thoughts on ACU's four quarterbacks, in numerical order, through just over three weeks of fall camp.
#5 Marcos Davila, R-Soph, transfer from Nebraska, graduated from Midland Lee H.S.
He's a gifted thrower and you can do some things with him that you can't do with most quarterbacks just because he has an arm that can do it. He is really gifted at throwing the ball down the field. Not only can he throw over the top, but he can throw back shoulder. If we throw deep out routes or deep shake routes, he can fit the ball in windows that most people can't. He's as talented of a thrower as I've been around.
#9 John David Black, R-Soph, spent 2025 as a backup at ACU, graduated from Colleyville Covenant Christian H.S.
Johnny has a cannon for an arm. Where he's grown so much is just from a confidence standpoint. He came here and was shy and kind of feeling his way through things. I think this fall camp he's really coming to his own as far as having confidence and believing he's good enough to do it.
From a talent standpoint he can throw the ball. Similar to Marcos he is a very, very gifted thrower. When John David throws intermediate balls, they get from his hand to the receiver's hands faster than than I've ever seen. Because of that, sometimes the receiver's not quite ready for it, so I've seen some drops. He can throw it that quickly and has tremendous velocity and pop on the football. He can really fit the ball in. He's a better athlete than probably you think, and, I think the biggest thing for him is how much confidence he's gained over the year that he's been here. Used to you didn't really feel his presence when he was on the field and he's done a much better job this fall camp. The offense moves forward when he's out there, and that's ultimately the goal of your quarterback -- get the offense to move forward and score points.
#12 Tucker Parks, R-Soph, transfer from Western Kentucky, graduated from Klein Collins H.S.
Tucker's a tough, competitive kid. He likes to run the ball, and most quarterbacks don't like to run the ball just because they don't like to get hit if we're just being honest. But he can create with his feet and can throw the ball enough to beat you with his arm, too. He is a little bit more of a dual-threat, and has all sorts of intangibles that can help move you the offense.
#14 Joe Castles, Fresh, graduated from Wichita Falls Memorial H.S.
I would compare Joe to Tucker in that he is really tough and really competitive, and he'll run the football. He's athletic enough and you don't realize how fast he is until all of a sudden he's past everybody. He takes off running, those long legs start striding and all of a sudden he's past everybody. He really has a ton of intangibles, the things that you can't teach from a competitive, athletic and toughness standpoint. The more reps he gets, the better he's going to get. As he learns this offense he's going to be a heck of a player and we're going to be glad we have him.
Harrell guided the Wildcats to balanced offensive success in 2025 with the United Athletic Conference's third ranked passing offense (238 yards per game) and 4th ranked rushing offense (171 yards). ACU also led the UAC in 3rd down conversion rate (47%) and time of possession (32:13), and now has four offensive players voted to the Preseason All-UAC team.
But, the Wildcats will have a new quarterback in 2026, and for the first time since 2020 it will not be Maverick McIvor (2022-24) or Stone Earle (2020-21, 2025).
Three newcomers -- FBS transfers Marcos Davila and Tucker Parks, and true freshman Joe Castles -- join returner John David Black in competing for the starting job.
Harrell gave his thoughts on ACU's four quarterbacks, in numerical order, through just over three weeks of fall camp.
#5 Marcos Davila, R-Soph, transfer from Nebraska, graduated from Midland Lee H.S.
He's a gifted thrower and you can do some things with him that you can't do with most quarterbacks just because he has an arm that can do it. He is really gifted at throwing the ball down the field. Not only can he throw over the top, but he can throw back shoulder. If we throw deep out routes or deep shake routes, he can fit the ball in windows that most people can't. He's as talented of a thrower as I've been around.
#9 John David Black, R-Soph, spent 2025 as a backup at ACU, graduated from Colleyville Covenant Christian H.S.
Johnny has a cannon for an arm. Where he's grown so much is just from a confidence standpoint. He came here and was shy and kind of feeling his way through things. I think this fall camp he's really coming to his own as far as having confidence and believing he's good enough to do it.
From a talent standpoint he can throw the ball. Similar to Marcos he is a very, very gifted thrower. When John David throws intermediate balls, they get from his hand to the receiver's hands faster than than I've ever seen. Because of that, sometimes the receiver's not quite ready for it, so I've seen some drops. He can throw it that quickly and has tremendous velocity and pop on the football. He can really fit the ball in. He's a better athlete than probably you think, and, I think the biggest thing for him is how much confidence he's gained over the year that he's been here. Used to you didn't really feel his presence when he was on the field and he's done a much better job this fall camp. The offense moves forward when he's out there, and that's ultimately the goal of your quarterback -- get the offense to move forward and score points.
#12 Tucker Parks, R-Soph, transfer from Western Kentucky, graduated from Klein Collins H.S.
Tucker's a tough, competitive kid. He likes to run the ball, and most quarterbacks don't like to run the ball just because they don't like to get hit if we're just being honest. But he can create with his feet and can throw the ball enough to beat you with his arm, too. He is a little bit more of a dual-threat, and has all sorts of intangibles that can help move you the offense.
#14 Joe Castles, Fresh, graduated from Wichita Falls Memorial H.S.
I would compare Joe to Tucker in that he is really tough and really competitive, and he'll run the football. He's athletic enough and you don't realize how fast he is until all of a sudden he's past everybody. He takes off running, those long legs start striding and all of a sudden he's past everybody. He really has a ton of intangibles, the things that you can't teach from a competitive, athletic and toughness standpoint. The more reps he gets, the better he's going to get. As he learns this offense he's going to be a heck of a player and we're going to be glad we have him.
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