Michigan All-State 2026 QB Nate Rocheleau drawing a collegiate crowd

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Put up the numbers and wins, college coaches will soon follow; at least that is what is happening for Nate Rocheleau this offseason. His Pioneers’ squad posted a 10-win season with the Class of 2026 prospect earning All-State and All-Region honors, now college coaches are swinging by Harper Woods (MI) for a visit.

Watching Rocheleau (6-0, 185) deliver the rock, there is no question about his next level arm. All the other skills mixed in are what makes Rocheleau special. The ability to buy time in the pocket, the 72 percent completion rate speaks to his accuracy, and the statistics lets college coaches know he can operate modern day offenses.

“We run a Spread offense with RPO (run-pass option),” Rocheleau stated. “There’s a lot on me reading the defense in our offense. My coaches put a lot of trust in me to make calls based on what I am seeing out there. We are up temp, no huddle, get to the line fast and wear the defense out.”

Going over 2,000 yards passing again, Rocheleau was asked about his strengths on the field, “I feel like I can make any throw on the field. What helps me stand out are the throws to the field; the left hash, 18-yard come backs to the field. A lot of QBs can’t do that.”

Leadership is key for all quarterbacks. An injury kept Rocheleau off the field for four weeks, but when he came back, the team got back on track.

“I had a sprained knee and missed four weeks,” Rocheleau said. “Coming back, I was trying to help my team as much as I could. When I came back, we went on a seven-game winning streak to the semifinals. It was not just me that went out; we lost our starting running back and two receivers. We were missing a lot of guys. We knew when we came back, we’d have to lock up and bring the team up, and that is what we did.”

Playing 7-on-7 with Rising Stars and working with Donovan Dooley at Quarterback University, Rocheleau is focused on improving his skill set.

“I am focusing on tweaking the small stuff with my mechanics,” Rocheleau shared. “I am diving in on the cerebral stuff; coverages, board work, man, zone, and how they try to disguise themselves. And the regular, getting bigger, faster and stronger.

“We watch film and coach Duley has my Hudl login. He would help me during the season going over what they would do. He does everything with me. We’ve been on QB trips going around the country throwing.”

Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, and Miami-Ohio have given the three-star offers. Interest is growing.

“I have a couple of MAC schools showing interest, Eastern Michigan, Western Illinois, Akron, Toledo, and some Big Ten schools,” Rocheleau shared. “Cincinnati, I talked to them today. Mostly the interest is from the MAC.”

More information was given on the stop-by from the Bearcats.

“It went well,” Rocheleau said. “I have been talking with their QB coach (Pete Thomas). I’ve been down there a couple of times, for a visit and a camp. I am building a relationship with their coach right now.”

Fall trips were taken to Cincinnati and Miami-Ohio, now coaches are coming to Harper Woods.

“Coaches every day are coming in meeting me and some of my teammates,” Rocheleau stated. “Today was Cincinnati and Akron. There have been others like Indiana, Grand Valley State, Kansas, Eastern Michigan, and NIU.”

Northern Illinois checking in on Rocheleau will be in turn rewarded.

“I am going to a couple Junior Days,” Rocheleau said. “I am going to NIU and most of the MAC schools that I am talking to for Junior Days. I am going to a lot of spring practices to see how they run stuff at practice. During a Junior Day, you don’t see the guys practicing.”

Asked about going to DeKalb to see the Huskies, Rocheleau replied, “I know a player there from Canada, like me. He got me in contact with their coaches. I went down there on the way to a 7-on-7 in Chicago; we stopped at Northern Illinois. It is a nice spot. This will be my second time going. I didn’t get to tour the whole place; this time I am hoping to see everything.”

During the Pioneers’ 10-4 season, Rocheleau threw for 2,021 yards with 24 touchdowns hitting 110 of 152 attempts. The sophomore season was just as impressive, covering 2,698 yards in the air with 25 passing scores.

Photo credit: Rocheleau family; Nate Rocheleau at Cincinnati.