Projecting the starting quarterback for top high school teams

When it comes to following the NFL and college football, it’s usually straightforward to track who may be in line to start at quarterback for your favorite team. It’s usually not that easy for high school football fans. To that end, Rivals is projecting the starting quarterback for 16 of the top teams in our way-too-early Top 25.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Calif.) – Furian Inferrera

Furian Inferrera will be leading a very talented Mater Dei offense after serving primarily as the team’s backup last season. The Minnesota commit completed 12-of-16 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in limited action in 2024. Inferrera will be throwing to players like five-star Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr., four-star Buckeye pledge Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and five-star USC commit Mark Bowman, so expect his numbers to skyrocket.

No. 2 Duncanville (Texas) – J’Coryon Rivers

Replacing a legend like Keelon Russell is not going to be any easy task, but we think Duncanville will go with experience here. J’Coryon Rivers served as Russell’s backup last season and now has a chance to shine for the Panthers. The rising senior appeared in five games last year, completing all 12 attempts for 164 yards.

No. 5 St. John Bosco (Calif.) – Koa Malau’ulu

There’s a host of rising sophomores across this list, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that Koa Malau’ulu could be the best of all of the high school quarterbacks in his class. After throwing for 1,812 yards and 19 touchdowns last fall, the signal caller is in line to have a huge 2025 season. Having players like Texas A&M commit Madden Williams and Oklahoma commit Daniel Odom running routes for him will certainly help.

No. 6 North Shore (Texas) – Kaleb Maryland

Kaleb Maryland is next in line for North Shore following the graduation of Kaleb Bailey. The three-star prospect saw plenty of snaps as a backup in 2024, throwing for nearly 700 yards and five touchdowns.

No. 7 St. Frances Academy (Md.) – Jae’Oyn Williams

Whether Jae’Oyn Williams is asked to throw the football or make a play with his legs, the 2026 passer is one of the best on the Eastern seaboard. The Virginia commitment completed 35-for-55 passes for 447 yards, seven scores and just one interception for St. Frances Academy last season. Williams was equally dangerous on the ground, rushing for 420 yards and six touchdowns.

No. 8 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) – Maika Eugenio

If there was any doubt that Maika Eugenio would be on this list, well, shame on you. The 2026 Hawaii pledge will operate another talented Bishop Gorman offense, with future Rainbow Warrior teammate Isaiah Nickels making plays for him at receiver. Last fall, Eugenio threw for over 2,000 yards and 31 touchdowns.

No. 9 Southlake Carroll (Texas) – Angelo Renda

One of the most experienced returners in the Lone Star State, Angelo Renda is coming off a strong junior campaign at Southlake Carroll. The Pittsburgh commit threw for 3,901 yards and a staggering 40 touchdowns in 2024. There’s not many in Texas with that kind of on-field experience and it won’t surprise us at all if Renda throws for over 4,000 yards and 50-plus scores as a senior.

No. 10 Bixby (Okla.) – Carson Kirby

The top-ranked team in Oklahoma, Bixby has the pieces in place to make an undefeated run with Carson Kirby at the helm. Returning for his senior season, Kirby threw for 2,976 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. He’ll look to make it four-straight state championships for the Spartans this December.

No. 11 Centennial (Calif.) – Dominick Catalano

Dominick Catalano, Centennial (Calif.)

Playing for one of the top programs in California and seeing extensive playing time as a junior helps make this an easy pick for Centennial. Dominick Catalano returns for his senior season after completing 64-of-103 passes for 917 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions last fall.

No. 13 Buford (Ga.) – Dayton Raiola

Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Nebraska starter Dylan Raiola, is back for his senior season and looking to end his high football school career with a bang. Last season for Buford, Raiola threw for 1,953 yards and 19 touchdowns. Expect the future Cornhusker to easily surpass those numbers in his last season as a high school quarterback.

No. 15 IMG Academy (Fla.) – Jayden Wade

We identified Jayden Wade as a 2028 splash candidate because there’s a lot to like about the IMG Academy signal caller. Backing up now graduated Ty Hawkins last season, Wade completed 19-of-28 passes for 362 yards and six touchdowns. With one of the best offensive lines in the country protecting him and another star-studded collection of skill players around him, its easy to see why Wade will start and succeed for the Ascenders.

No. 18 Allen (Texas) – Ty Snell

Ty Snell just recently transferred into Allen from Tennessee and the 2029 quarterback didn’t cross the country to ride the bench. Last season as an 8th grader at Lipscomb Academy, Snell completed 74 of his passes for 893 yards and four touchdowns. The rising freshman already has offers from programs like Ohio State, Tennessee and Kentucky.

No. 19 Bryant (Ark.) – Kyler Shelby

Kyler Shelby saw limited game action as a sophomore last season while playing behind Jordan Walker, throwing for 215 yards and two scores. Now with Walker gone, Shelby should assume the role of Bryant‘s starting quarterback in 2025.

No. 20 Dutch Fork (S.C.) – Ethan Offing

After leading Dutch Fork to the SCHSL’s Class 6A state championship last year, Ethan Offing is back to guide the way once again. Offing had a strong junior campaign, finishing the season completing 194-of-291 passes for 2,974 yards and 24 touchdowns against just four interceptions. The Clemson baseball commit can also take off and gain yards with his legs, rushing for 451 yards and eight scores in 2024.

No. 21 Thompson (Ala.) – Trent Seaborn

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound signal caller was sensational as a sophomore and returns as Thompson‘s starter. Trent Seaborn is one of the top high school football quarterbacks in the Yellowhammer State after lighting up opponents for 2,675 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The four-star junior is hoping to make it six state titles in seven seasons for the Warriors.

No. 28 Milton (Ga.) – Derrick Baker

Derrick Baker is entering his first season at Milton after spending the last two seasons at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.). Across his two underclassman seasons in Fort Lauderdale, the 2027 three-star completed 40 of 58 pass attempts for 542 yards and eight scores.