1 – DJ Lagway (6’ 2”, 225 Florida Gators)
Lagway hails from Willis, Texas, and displays excellent arm strength, a big athletic frame, and a tremendous upside. He improved his game as a senior and guided his school to their best finish in six decades. Lagway is quick at releasing the ball, and has the velocity to squeeze the ball into tight coverage, but needs to improve his overall accuracy. He is a plus runner for his size and improved in his decisions, lowering his turnovers as a senior. He will need a season or two of development before seeing much action, but with his arm and running skills, has a chance to become an early pick in the NFL Draft when his days in Florida conclude.
2 – Dylan Raiola (6’ 3”, 230 Nebraska Cornhuskers)
Raiola will take his imposing frame with an NFL-caliber arm from Buford, Georgia to Nebraska, where he’ll be the center of the Cornhuskers’ offense. He moves better than anticipated for his size and can buy time in the pocket. Raiola can get the ball out from a wide variety of arm angles with great velocity, while also impressive on the touch pass. He displayed the ability to take care of the football as a senior, being intercepted only once in 250 passes. He has all the physical attributes to succeed at the collegiate level but might need time to get used to the increased speed and upper echelon competition in the Big Ten.
3 – Luke Kromenhoek (6’ 4” 185, Florida State Seminoles)
Kromenhoek is a gifted athlete who also played wide receiver and defensive back while at Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia. He went 26-3 in two seasons as a quarterback, winning a state championship as a junior. Tall and lanky, Kromenhoek has a big-league arm capable of squeezing balls into coverage. He displays good enough speed and maneuverability to excel in Florida State’s offense that designs rushes with the quarterback. He can get into trouble at times but trying to do too much and will likely need a year on the sideline before seeing game action. The ceiling is as high as possibly being an NFL Draft selection.
4 – Julian Sayin (6’ 1” 195, Ohio State)
Sayin played his high school ball in Carlsbad, California, and put together an MVP effort at the Elite 11 Finals. He is average size for a quarterback but showed increased strength as a senior. A big positive is his football IQ, as well as his accuracy, timing, and coolness under pressure. Sayin displayed more ability as a senior to evade pass rushers and scramble for yards when needed. While not the most physically gifted of the quarterbacks in this class, Sayin might be the most ready to play given his knowledge of the game.
5 – Walker White (6’3” 222, Auburn Tigers)
White is an impressive physical specimen who led Little Rock Christian Academy to the state finals as a senior. He has the arm strength to get the ball down the field, but his erratic throws have led to more interceptions than any of the top quarterbacks in this class. Not a fast runner, but White has the strength to convert with his legs on short-yardage situations. An intriguing prospect, White will likely need some time before jumping in as the starting quarterback in the tough SEC. Has the potential to get attention from NFL scouts should he keep improving.
6 – Air Noland (6’ 2” 195, Ohio State Buckeyes)
The first left-handed quarterback on this list, Noland led Langston Hughes in Fariburn, Georgia to a state title as a junior and went 36-6 overall as a starter. He threw for more than 10,000 yards and 126 touchdowns as a four-year starter. He likes to surgically pick apart defenses from the pocket, but can also get out and run when needed. While the threw only four interceptions as a junior, he matched that total in his final high school game. Noland has the confidence to take chances, but must be more wise at his decision making. He has the potential to be an early-round NFL Draft pick, but for the time being will battle Julian Sayin for playing time.
7 – CJ Carr (6’ 2” 195, Notre Dame)
Carr became the full-time varsity starter in Saline, Michigan as a sophomore. He has a high football IQ and has increased his speed and ability in reading defenses over his final two high school seasons. Carr has good arm strength and has enough mobility to buy time in the pocket. He can gain yards on the ground if needed, but don’t expect to see him pile up the yards with his legs. Carr should eventually become starter at Notre Dame.
8 – Ethan Grunkemeyer (6’2” 190, Penn State Nittany Lions)
Grunkemeyer put up solid overall numbers while leading Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio. He showed good accuracy and decision making with above average velocity. He can manuever well enough to avoid pressure in the pocket. Grunkemeyer displayed the knack of creating something out of nothing. He still has room to grow into his body, but has the smarts and arm talent to be an eventual starter at Penn State.
9 – Jaydn Davis (6’ 202, Michigan Wolverines)
Davis doesn’t have great size or arm strength but was a proven winner at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He won stats titles as a junior and senior and thrived in the short and intermediate passing game. His release is quick and showed great effectiveness with three-step drops. Davis has a high football IQ and poise to potentially be a two-plus year starter at Michigan. Should he continue to progress, he will gain interest from NFL scouts down the road.
10 – Ryan Puglisi ( 6’ 3” 205, Georgia Bulldogs)
Puglisi is an excellent athlete who also played basketball and baseball at Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut. He likes to show off a strong arm by squeezing balls into tight coverage. He is also not afraid to stay in the pocket and take a hit while throwing. Puglisi is diverse in that he can throw well on the run and from different arm angles. He needs to improve on accuracy and reading defenses. Puglisi likely will need time to develop in those areas, but should eventually be the starter for the Bulldogs.
