Rating the highest 10 school soccer quarterbacks in 2024

With spring practices about to kick off, we’re taking inventory of school soccer’s high returning gamers at a number of positions. First off is a very powerful place on the sphere: quarterback.

We polled our school soccer reporters, asking them to rank their high 10 QBs coming into the 2024 season. Factors had been assigned based mostly on their votes: 10 factors for first place, 9 for second place, all the way down to 1 for tenth place.

Our picks embody 4 quarterbacks from the SEC and two who’re getting back from harm after lacking most or all the 2023 season. And whereas QBs have been frequent guests to the switch portal lately, solely two transfers from this offseason made our record. So perhaps there’s one thing to be mentioned for continuity behind heart.

Listed here are our picks for the highest 10 quarterbacks in school soccer.

2023 stats: 3,941 yards passing, 24 TD passes, 6 INTs, 117 yards dashing, 4 TD rushes, 85.2 QBR

Factors: 89 (5 first-place votes)

After ready patiently for 3 seasons, Beck lastly took over Georgia’s offense in 2023. He led the Bulldogs to an unbeaten common season and practically took them again to the School Soccer Playoff. In his first season as a starter, he accomplished a whopping 72.4% of his go makes an attempt for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. After all of the considerations about Georgia having a brand new quarterback and offensive coordinator (Mike Bobo), it ranked fifth within the FBS in scoring (40.1 factors per recreation) and eleventh in passing (305.3 yards).

This season, Beck will not have All-America tight finish Brock Bowers or receiver Ladd McConkey. Then once more, he did not have them at his disposal for prolonged stretches final season, both. Georgia continues to be stocked with pass-catchers; it added tight finish Benjamin Yurosek (Stanford) and receivers Colbie Younger (Miami), Michael Jackson III (USC) and London Humphreys (Vanderbilt) by way of the switch portal. Beck ought to be much more comfy with 14 begins below his belt. — Mark Schlabach

2023 stats: 3,660 yards passing, 30 TD passes, 6 INTs, 373 yards dashing, 12 TD rushes, 87.3 QBR

Factors: 85 factors (three first-place votes)

Gabriel’s switch from Oklahoma to Oregon was one of many extra shocking offseason strikes, contemplating he led the Sooners to a 10-2 mark and threw for 3,660 yards with 30 touchdowns final yr. Gabriel, who spent his first three collegiate seasons at UCF, discovered a brand new house simply days after coming into the portal, touchdown at Oregon, the place he’ll change Bo Nix. Nix’s success story in Eugene is a blueprint Gabriel would like to observe, as Nix elevated his recreation considerably after heading west from Auburn. The Geese did not simply herald Gabriel via the portal, both. Dante Moore, the previous five-star recruit who noticed intensive enjoying time for UCLA as a real freshman in 2023, additionally transferred in for what’s assumed to be a developmental yr behind Gabriel.

Gabriel enters the season No. 8 on the all-time FBS passing record with 14,865 yards and desires 4,353 to interrupt Case Keenum’s document (19,217). That will require Gabriel to set a profession excessive, nevertheless it’s definitely throughout the realm of risk given Nix threw for 4,508 yards for the Geese final season. — Kyle Bonagura

2023 stats: 3,479 yards passing, 22 TD passes, 6 INTs, 75 yards dashing, 5 TD rushes, 78.7 QBR

Factors: 71 (two first-place votes)

Ewers remodeled his physique (and his haircut) earlier than final season and devoted himself to getting higher. He did simply that, ending the season with 3,479 yards, which was fifteenth most amongst all FBS quarterbacks, to go along with 22 landing passes and 6 interceptions. He helped information the Longhorns to a 12-2 document with the one blemishes a 4-point loss to Oklahoma within the common season and a 37-31 loss to Washington within the School Soccer Playoff semifinal.

Texas is dropping its high two receivers (Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell) to the NFL, however the employees introduced in Alabama’s Isaiah Bond, Houston’s Matthew Golden and Oregon State’s Silas Bolden to assist fill these voids and provides Ewers extra gamers on the skin. The Longhorns face a tricky schedule in 2024, with Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and Texas A&M all on the slate. However Ewers has expertise, expertise round him and a data of the offensive system, all of which ought to assist him replicate — and maybe surpass — the success he and the workforce noticed in 2023. — Tom VanHaaren

2023 stats: 2,834 yards passing, 23 TD passes, 6 INTs, 531 yards dashing, 12 TD rushes, 80.5 QBR

Factors: 57

When Alabama benched Milroe following a Week 2 loss to Texas in 2023, few anticipated him to undertaking as a top-five quarterback for the next season. However he responded effectively to the setback, growing his downfield passing abilities and different areas, and serving to the Tide to an SEC championship and a CFP look. Milroe accomplished greater than 80% of his passes in his first two video games after the benching, and completed at 65.8% for the season. He additionally threw solely three interceptions on 218 go makes an attempt in his ultimate 10 video games. Milroe ended his first season as Alabama’s starter with 2,834 passing yards and 23 landing passes whereas showcasing his mobility in opposition to the likes of LSU, Auburn, Michigan and Kentucky.

His subsequent problem will likely be adjusting to a brand new teaching employees, led by Kalen DeBoer and coordinator Nick Sheridan. DeBoer remodeled Michael Penix Jr. right into a record-setting passer and undoubtedly will function Milroe’s deep-ball expertise. Like Penix did at Washington, Milroe will want a lot better safety after taking 44 sacks in 2023, together with six in opposition to Michigan within the CFP semifinal. But when he can preserve or elevate his effectivity, he will likely be within the combine for the Heisman Trophy and different nationwide awards this fall. — Adam Rittenberg

2023 stats: 2,869 yards passing, 25 TD passes, 6 INTs, -33 yards dashing, 0 TD rushes, 83.8 QBR

Factors: 42

Fifita was a 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect out of Anaheim, California, and he had an unassuming set of gives from colleges in his area (Arizona, Cal, Fresno State, Hawai’i, Utah State). Even when he had been to finally flip right into a strong participant, he wasn’t the kind of prospect a coach would lean on for an in a single day program turnaround. And but … after an 8-8 begin to Jedd Fisch’s tenure in Tucson — which was a strong enchancment in itself contemplating the Wildcats had misplaced 23 of 24 video games earlier than he arrived — the Wildcats ignited the second Fifita entered the lineup for an injured Jayden de Laura. He practically led upsets of each Washington (he threw for 232 yards and three TDs in a 31-24 loss) and USC (303 yards and 5 scores in a 43-41 loss), and from mid-October on, he did not lose once more.

A relative unknown earlier than the season, Fifita completed with 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns regardless of beginning solely 9 video games, and he completed eighth in Complete QBR, forward of such notables as USC’s Caleb Williams, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Florida State’s Jordan Travis. Fisch left for Washington, however each Fifita and 1,400-yard receiver Tetairoa McMillan remained with UA, they usually could lead on the Wildcats to a beautiful begin to life within the Massive 12. — Invoice Connelly

2023 stats: 3,364 yards passing, 23 TD passes, 5 INTs, 391 yards dashing, 8 TD rushes, 78.5 QBR

Factors: 41

Expectations are hovering for Ole Miss headed into 2024, and all of it begins with quarterback Jaxson Dart. Final yr, Dart capped the primary 11-win season at school historical past with a powerful efficiency in a 38-25 win over Penn State within the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, throwing for 379 yards with three landing passes, whereas including a dashing rating. In all, Dart threw for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in his finest yr to this point. One other yr below Lane Kiffin and people numbers ought to enhance even additional.

Now think about who returns alongside Dart — receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins and tight finish Caden Prieskorn. Harris and Prieskorn mixed for 17 catches for 270 yards within the Peach Bowl. Although there are questions at operating again with Quinshon Judkins leaving for Ohio State, the Rebels return expertise at that place too. However finally all eyes will flip to Dart as he tries to steer Ole Miss into the School Soccer Playoff for the primary time. — Andrea Adelson

2023 stats: 705 yards passing, 5 TD passes, 1 INT, 74 yards dashing, 0 TD rushes, 82.7 QBR

Factors: 34

All he is acquired to do is keep on the sphere. In his previous 14 full video games, Daniels has thrown for 3,336 yards, 29 touchdowns and solely eight interceptions whereas dashing for 691 yards (not together with sacks). He scrambles fantastically, avoiding each sacks and picks, and over the 2022-23 seasons, he produced the very best mixed Complete QBR of any returning quarterback. However discovering that “14 full video games” pattern requires you to look via Kansas’ previous 29 video games. He missed a month in 2022 and noticed snaps in solely three video games final season due to again points. He was an enormous purpose for the Jayhawks’ quick begins in each 2022 and 2023, however he hasn’t performed since Sept. 23 of final season.

Is that this the yr all of it comes collectively for the participant from Lawndale, California? He is acquired a dynamite operating again corps, with 1,200-yard rusher Devin Neal and massive Daniel Hishaw Jr., at his disposal, and his receiving group is loaded with seniors. Kansas went 9-4 with backup Jason Bean beginning most of final season, and the offense has truckloads of expertise for brand spanking new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Yep, all Daniels has to do is keep on the sphere. Hopefully that is the yr. — Connelly

2023 stats: 3,230 yards passing, 27 TD passes, 3 INTs, -77 yards dashing, 4 TD rushes, 63.1 QBR

Factors: 33

Colorado’s begin to the season ended up being a mirage on a number of ranges, however not relating to Sanders, who transitioned effectively from the FCS to the FBS. He completed ninth nationally in completion proportion (69.3%), tenth in passing yards common (293.6 ypg) and fourth in interception proportion (0.7%) regardless of the workforce’s late-season challenges and an incessant pummeling that left him with a damaged again.

Sanders set Colorado’s single-game passing document in his Buffs debut, piling up 510 yards at TCU. He had 348 passing yards or extra in 5 video games and had a number of landing passes seven occasions, whereas throwing only one interception in his ultimate six contests. Sanders generated NFL draft buzz, particularly throughout the first half of the season, and completed with a team-record 3,230 passing yards and 27 landing passes (second most in CU historical past).

He’ll enter his first full season with coordinator Pat Shurmur, who took over playcalling in November. Sanders finally should do his half to restrict sacks and hits after taking 52 sacks and being pressured on 39.9% of his dropbacks. If he stays wholesome and retains progressing within the Buffs’ new league, he ought to be one of many high quarterbacks on NFL draft boards for 2025. — Rittenberg

2023 stats: DNP

Factors: 24

Rising wasn’t presupposed to be Utah’s savior again in September 2021. The Utes opened that season with Charlie Brewer as their starter after the Baylor switch beat out Rising for the job. The early outcomes had been poor, nevertheless, and Utah misplaced its first two video games in opposition to FBS foes earlier than coach Kyle Whittingham made a change. And as soon as Utah was Rising’s workforce, the Utes by no means regarded again.

Rising and the Utes went 9-1 and received a Pac-12 championship earlier than dropping in a shootout in opposition to Ohio State within the Rose Bowl — a recreation by which Rising accounted for 3 TDs and accomplished 77% of his throws. It was extra of the identical in 2022, with Rising main the Utes to a 10-3 document and one other Pac-12 title earlier than falling to Penn State within the Rose Bowl. Over the course of these two seasons, Rising was 18-6 as a starter with 46 landing passes, 13 picks and an 83.6 Complete QBR.

However for a real appreciation of Rising’s worth, simply look what occurred to Utah’s offense when he missed the 2023 marketing campaign with a knee harm. The Utes went from averaging practically 39 factors in 2022 to only 23 final yr, and noticed a decline of 85 passing yards per recreation, whereas their go TD whole was minimize in half. — David Hale

2023 stats: 3,735 yards passing, 25 TD passes, 7 INTs, 144 yards dashing, 8 TD rushes, 65.2 QBR

Factors: 19

In what may need been probably the most dramatic quarterback switch of the offseason, Washington State’s Cam Ward entered the portal, declared for the NFL draft — in what now seems to have been a leverage play — and eventually opted to remain at school at Miami. Ward’s expertise is apparent. He had a number of unimaginable moments for the Cougars over the previous two seasons and was an FCS revelation at Incarnate Phrase earlier than that. However consistency has been a difficulty. He threw for 3,735 yards final season, however over a five-game winless stretch in the midst of the season, tossed simply 4 landing passes.

Washington State was conscious very early final season that it might possible be Ward’s ultimate season in Pullman. The Cougars did not have the NIL firepower to maintain him round and the collapse of the Pac-12 made his departure practically a positive factor. This may very well be a make-or-break yr for Ward by way of his NFL outlook. He would have been a late-round prospect had he stayed within the draft, but when he improves his consistency, he may very well be thought of a top-three-round sort of participant. — Bonagura

Additionally receiving votes: Brady Prepare dinner, Missouri (13); Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (11); Will Howard, Ohio State (8); Garrett Greene, West Virginia (5); Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee (4); Kaidon Salter, Liberty (4); DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State (4); Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma (2); Conner Weigman, Texas A&M (2); Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech (1); Will Rogers, Washington (1)