Top quarterback recruits off to hot starts early in the 2024 high school season
We’re nearly one-third of the way into high school football season in most states — if not further — and some of the nation’s top quarterback recruits are off to great starts early on.
On3 is tracking the numbers for the country’s best passers below:
Note: Florida State QB commit Tramell Jones is out indefinitely with a lower leg injury, and Georgia QB commit Ryan Montgomery will miss his entire senior season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 1.
Five-Star Plus+ Bryce Underwood
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1
High School: Belleville (Mich.)
Status: Committed to LSU
Stats (through 9/19): Full stats unavailable
While Underwood’s entire stat line for the early season is unavailable, he has put on three standout performances thus far. That includes a game-winning 55-yard touchdown with in the final two minutes of their Week 1 game, five touchdown passes in game two, and a six-touchdown performance in the third game that helped him break the Michigan state record for career touchdown passes.
Five-Star Plus+ Tavien St. Clair
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 2
High School: Bellefontaine (Ohio)
Status: Committed to Ohio State
Stats (through 9/19): 53/84 (63.1%), 945 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs (132 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
The Ohio State-bound QB has been sharp early in the season, leading Bellefontaine to a 3-1 record while totaling 14 touchdowns in those four games.
5-star Keelon Russell
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 13
High School: Duncanville (Texas)
Status: Committed to Alabama
Stats (through 9/19): 45/65 (69.2%), 590 yards, 8 TDs (82 rushing yards, 1 TD)
Russell leads one of the top teams in the country at Duncanville and has been nothing short of terrific early in his senior season.
5-star Husan Longstreet
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 23
High School: Centennial (Calif.)
Status: Committed to Texas A&M
Stats (through 9/19): 30/48 (62.5%), 445 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs (187 rushing yards, 4 TDs)
The Huskies have played one of the nation’s toughest schedules so far with games against top-5 teams from California, Utah and Texas. Longstreet has been hobbled by injury but has still managed to put up four rushing scores.
5-star Julian Lewis
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 24
High School: Carrollton (Ga.)
Status: Committed to USC
Stats (through 9/19): 86/109 (78.9%), 1,218 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INT
Lewis has been on fire to start his senior season, leading Carrollton to a 5-0 record while catalyzing an offense averaging 42 points per game.
5-star Matt Zollers
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 31
High School: Spring-Ford (Pa.)
Status: Committed to Missouri
Stats (through 9/19): 54/92 (58.7%), 611 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INT (233 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
Zollers has had an up-and-down start to his senior season through the air but has proven to be one of the country’s most dynamic dual-threat QBs. Unfortunately, he suffered a gruesome injury last weekend that is likely to cause him to miss the rest of the season.
4-star Deuce Knight
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 36
High School: George County (Miss.)
Status: Committed to Notre Dame
Stats (through 9/19): 23/35 (65.7%), 516 yards, 7 TDs (124 rushing yards)
The Notre Dame pledge — who is still strongly considered Auburn — has been terrific through three games for George County, which currently sits at 2-1.
4-star George MacIntyre
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61
High School: Brentwood Academy (Tenn.)
Status: Committed to Tennessee
Stats (through 9/19): 68/101 (67.3%), 924 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT
After a rough 2023 season, MacIntyre is looking to get back on track in 2024 and has Brentwood Academy out to a 3-1 start.
4-star Bryce Baker
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 123
High School: East Forsyth (N.C.)
Status: Committed to North Carolina
Stats (through 9/19): 62/82 (75.6%), 1,075 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT (34 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
One of the nation’s most accurate passers, Baker has only continued that trend early this season while also contributing three scores on the ground.
4-star KaMario Taylor
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 136
High School: Noxubee County (Miss.)
Status: Committed to Mississippi State
Stats (through 9/19): 45/75 (60%), 611 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INT (233 rushing yards, 3 TDs)
Another dynamic dual-threat QB, Taylor has also had his struggles through the air while leading Noxbuee County to an early 1-2 start.
4-star K.J. Lacey
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 153
High School: Saraland (Ala.)
Status: Committed to Texas
Stats (through 9/19): 58/98 (59.2%), 926 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INT
Playing for one of Alabama’s top high school programs, Lacey has been lighting up the scoreboard en route to a 4-0 start for Saraland.
4-star Ty Hawkins
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 179
High School: IMG Academy (Fla.)
Status: Committed to SMU
Stats (through 9/19): 45/64 (70.3%), 649 yards, 8 TDs (180 rush yards, 4 TDs)
Hawkins transferred to national powerhouse IMG Academy this season and has provided them a huge spark at the quarterback position while leading them to a 3-1 start.
4-star Carter Smith
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 193
High School: Bishop Verot (Fla.)
Status: Committed to Michigan
Stats (through 9/19): 52/85 (61.2%), 710 yards, 9 TDs (235 rushing yards, 6 TDs)
Smith was one of only a few quarterbacks on this list not invited to the Elite 11 Finals, but has shown why Michigan coveted him so much with his ability as a runner and passer.
4-star Akili Smith Jr.
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 220
High School: Lincoln (Calif.)
Status: Committed to Oregon
Stats (through 9/19): 57/99 (57.6%), 967 yards, 6 TDs, 4 INT (99 rush yards, 2 TD)
The son of Ducks legend Akili Smith, Akili Jr. has been on a bit of a roller-coaster with his play as Lincoln sits at 2-2 in the early season.
4-star Luke Nickel
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 240
High School: Milton (Ga.)
Status: Committed to Miami
Stats (through 9/19): 54/86 (62.8%) 887 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INT (58 rush yards)
The Miami commit is one of the purest throwers of the football in this class, and while he will need to clean up the interceptions, has led Milton to a 4-0 start and a No. 1 ranking in the Peach State.