25 high school QBs that will make the biggest impact this season

Quarterback is arguably the most important individual position in any sport. Whether you’re talking about the NFL or a Pop Warner squad, exceptional signal callers can almost always mask team deficiencies in other areas. Below, we rank the 25 quarterbacks that will have the biggest impact on high school football this season. This list isn’t about recruiting potential or future prospects – it’s a celebration of the most impressive high school quarterbacks right now as they gear up to make their mark this fall.

1. Dia Bell, Plantation American Heritage (Fla.)

Dia Bell, a Texas commitment, heads into the 2025 season with expectations of leading Plantation American Heritage to another state championship. Last season, Bell threw for 2,597 yards, 29 touchdowns and just six picks before going down with an injury. Fully healthy, Bell looks to finish out his high school career with a bang.

2. Ryder Lyons, Folsom (Calif.)

There’s not many high school quarterbacks that throw the rock as smoothly as Ryder Lyons. The BYU commit is coming off a strong junior campaign that warranted California Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Lyons is a dynamic high school athlete that accounted for more than 3,600 yards and 60 touchdowns for Folsom last season.

3. Dereon Coleman, Orlando Jones (Fla.)

Probably one of the smoothest passers to come out of the Sunshine State in quite some time, Dereon Coleman can sling it with the best of them. The Miami commit heads into the 2025 season hoping to bring home a FHSAA Class 4A title to the 407. Last year as a junior, Coleman threw for 3,412 yards, 28 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He also added 455 yards rushing and four scores on the ground.

4. Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian School (Tenn.)

Jared Curtis had a huge 2024 season and is on track for an even bigger fall campaign at Nashville Christian School. The Eagles’ signal caller was good as a sophomore and tremendous as a junior, completing 179 of 255 passes for 2,830 yards, 40 touchdowns and just three picks. Curtis will look to build on those numbers and cap off his stellar high school career this fall.

5. Luke Fahey, Mission Viejo (Calif.)

In a recent Southern California 7-on-7 tournament, Luke Fahey showed why’s expected to have such a big impact for Mission Viejo this fall. Fahey shared time under center last year for the Diablos was but was absolutely surgical when he was on the field, throwing for 1,638 yards, 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions.

6. Noah Grubbs, Lake Mary (Fla.)

Noah Grubbs threw for 3,024 yards and 37 touchdowns last season and helped lead Lake Mary to Florida’s Class 7A title game. He heads into his senior season set on winning his final high school game and bringing a championship to the Rams.

7. Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park (Calif.)

Brady Smigiel makes the list after a very impressive junior campaign where he completed 219 of 336 passes for 3,521 yards, 49 scores and just three interceptions. The Michigan commit is in line to have a very big 2025 season.

8. Helaman Cusaga, Corner Canyon (Utah)

Many may remember Helman Cusaga for his performance in Corner Canyon’s upset win over IMG Academy last season. The Texas A&M commit stars for one of Utah’s best teams and threw for 1,617 yards, 18 touchdowns and just two picks as a junior.

9. Keisean Henderson, Legacy School of Sports Sciences (Texas)

Keisean Henderson completed 173 of 263 passes for 2,689 yards and 25 scores last season, helping lead Legacy School of Sports Sciences to a 7-4 mark. The Houston commit can do it all on the field and the Titans will need him to be at his best every for every game this fall.

10. Landon Duckworth, Jackson (Ala.)

Landon Duckworth is coming off a dominant junior season in which the dual-threat quarterback compiled over 4,000 all-purpose yards and accounted for 51 touchdowns for Jackson. Expectations are high for Duckworth and the Aggies after last year’s 14-1 state title campaign.

11. Faizon Brandon, Grimsley (N.C.)

The Tennessee commitment led the Whirlies to North Carolina’s Class 4A state championship and is poised for a big senior campaign. Faizon Brandon completed 165 of 214 passes as a junior for 2,814 yards, 35 touchdowns and just two picks. He also added 625 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.

12. Jett Thomalla, Millard South (Neb.)

Thomalla plays for the best team in the state of Nebraska and is looking to close out his high school career with another state championship. The Alabama commitment has a high bar to clear after completing 250 of 359 passes for 3,663 yards and 47 touchdowns as a junior. Look for the future Crimson Tide passer to have a big season in the Cornhusker State.

13. Bowe Bentley, Celina (Texas)

Bowe Bentley, who is committed to Oklahoma, led Celina last season to Texas’ UIL 4A Division-I state championship and an undefeated 16-0 record. He threw for 3,467 yards and 52 touchdowns as a junior and added another 991 yards and 16 scores on the ground. The sky is the limit for Bentley.

14. Elijah Haven, Dunham School (La.)

Whether Elijah Haven was making plays with his arm or his legs, the dual-threat quarterback proved last fall that he was one of the best high school quarterbacks in Louisiana. Last year as a sophomore, Haven completed 193 of 321 passes for 3,093 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also rushed for over 900 yards and 19 scores.

15. Matt Ponatoski, Archbishop Moeller (Ohio)

Matt Ponatoski, Ohio’s reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, was a handful for every defense that tried to slow him down last year. The Kentucky commitment had a monster 2024 season for Archbishop Moeller, completing 282 of 406 passes for 3,456 yards, 57 touchdowns and just three picks.

16. Will Griffin, Tampa Jesuit (Fla.)

Will Griffin is coming off a solid 2024 season where he threw for 2,213 yards and 24 touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Florida commit will be aiming to build on that when Jesuit opens its season aganiust Bishop Verot on Aug. 22.

17. Jake Fette, Del Valle (Texas)

A threat to put the ball in the endzone through the air or on the ground, the future Arizona State Sun Devil is one of the best high school quarterbacks in the Lone Star State. Jake Fette last fall completed 145 of 239 pass for 2,488 yards and 32 touchdowns last season for Del Valle. He also added 589 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

18. Kavian Bryant, Westwood (Texas)

Kavian Bryant was a marvel last season. Just a sophomore, he completed 82 percent of his passes for 2,442 yards and 34 touchdowns for Westwood. He won’t sneak up on anyone as a junior, so Bryant will need to be on his game every Friday this fall.

19. Travis Burgess, Grayson (Ga.)

Travis Burgess plays for one of Georgia’s best programs, and Grayson‘s recent teams have been among the state’s best in large part because of Burgess. The North Carolina pledge threw for 2,225 yards and found the endzone 23 times as a junior.

20. Kane Archer, Greenwood (Ark.)

Not many players can match Kane Archer‘s production at Greenwood last season. The UCF commit completed 81 percent of his passes for 3,880 yards, 57 touchdowns and just two interceptions as a junior. Can Archer come close to breaking the state-record 77 touchdowns Thomas Thrash threw in 2001?

21. Jonas Williams, Lincoln-Way East (Ill.)

Jonas Williams is the top high school quarterback in Illinois after throwing for 2,926 yards, 42 touchdowns and only six picks as a junior. The USC commit is laser-focused on finishing his high school career with a state title after Lincoln-Way East fell in the semifinals last year.

22. Bryson Beaver, Vista Murrieta (Calif.)

Bryson Beaver was one of top passers in California last year, throwing for 3,214 yards with 33 touchdowns. The Oregon commit heads into the fall looking to build on a junior campaign that saw Vista Murrieta reach the state semifinals.

23, Jayce Johnson, Lowndes (Ga.)

Jayce Johnson and Lowndes fell to Buford in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, and the four-star signal caller is surely focused on making a deeper postseason run as a junior. Last year, Johnson as a sophomore threw for 1,799 yards and 16 touchdowns.

24. Oscar Rios, Downey (Calif.)

Oscar Rios is primed for a strong finish to his high school career at Downey. Last fall, the future Arizona Wildcat threw for 2,554 yards with 22 touchdowns and also rushed for over 700 yards and 11 more scores.

25. Jayden Wade, IMG Academy (Fla.)

Jayden Wade may only be a rising sophomore, but he’s already been very impressive in limited on-field action. He is expected to start for IMG Academy‘s National team this fall after backing up Ty Hawkins in 2024.