Ten Quarterbacks to Watch Week One

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2021-22 football season kicks off tonight, meaning that high school football is officially back.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With the opening kickoffs of the season just hours away, now is the perfect time to highlight a handful of the best quarterbacks that call Colorado home.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The season begins tonight for one of the players listed below, while the other nine will step foot on the gridiron under the lights on Friday night.</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="165130" first="Bekkem" last="Kritza"] | Fairview | 6’4”, 180lbs | 2025</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Kritza is a freshman phenom who will be leading the Knights’ varsity team this fall with high expectations. He is a young athlete with an advanced football IQ and an accurate cannon for an arm that would give a Howitzer a run for its money. Kritza will be making his debut in the traditional crosstown rivalry season opener against Boulder on Friday night.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/stretch2025/status/1426699442783014916?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="143622" first="Blake" last="Barnett"] | Erie | 6’2”, 210lbs | 2024</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Barnett’s varsity debut came last year when he started the season as QB1 for the Tigers during his freshman year. Through the first two games, he showed that he is a force to be reckoned with as a passer, scrambler, and rusher. His season was cut short byway of an injury, but he is back in full stride with an electrifying receiving core. Barnett will be making his official return to the gridiron Friday night during an away game against Hinkley.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/blakebarnett03/status/1330562077161766912?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="143623" first="Blake" last="Palladino"] | Mullen | 6’3”, 195lbs | 2024</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Palladino exploded onto the scene this past offseason with very impressive camp performances. He is more of a pocket passer, but he can use his legs to extend plays when needed. He has a strong arm with quick releases and accurate targeting. Palladino got varsity reps as a freshman and put on performances that earned him the tag of QB1 for the season, which will open with an away game against Cherokee Trail on Friday night.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/PalladinoBlake/status/1337526626108788742?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="22744" first="Brayden" last="Dorman"] | Vista Ridge | 6’5”, 205lbs | 2023</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Dorman is currently recognized by many as the top QB prospect in the state heading into this season. He is primarily a pocket passer with one of the strongest arms among the returning gunslingers. Dorman is one day away from his junior season home opener against Windsor and he already looks to be in Division I college form. </span> [embed]https://twitter.com/brayden_dorman/status/1423836657892069381?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="43677" first="Marte" last="Russell"] | Cherry Creek | 6’0”, 185lbs | 2023</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Russell is a dual-threat QB with a rifle for an arm, which means he can beat defenses through the air and on the ground with his legs. He has the power in his arm to thread the needle and connect on difficult passes. Russell will be taking over the offense for a program that has won the last two 5A state championships, which is a legacy he will be looking to continue.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/MarteRussell1/status/1417316846735433730?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="62228" first="Cole" last="LaCrue"] | Broomfield | 6’2”, 190lbs | 2023</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">LaCrue is a player with a plethora of talent and unstoppable potential. He is a QB with excellent pocket presence and decisive decision making. His accuracy is top-notch and he possesses the mobility needed to extend plays. LaCrue’s perfect balance between being a gunslinger and game manager will be on display in Friday night’s away game against Golden.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/9Preps/status/1427669031989960706?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="22751" first="Tavian" last="Tuli"] | Fountain-Fort Carson | 6’2”, 210lbs | 2023</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Tuli is the first player to start as a QB for the Trojans as a freshman and he will be returning for his third consecutive season at the helm. He is a mobile athlete who can extend plays with his legs and make accurate throws while on the run. From the pocket, he goes through his progressions quickly and avoids holding the ball too long. Tuli’s junior season will kick off during tonight’s away game against Widefield.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/TavianTuli/status/1336531958495633409?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="149314" first="Tristan" last="Langenegger"] | Boulder | 6’3”, 170lbs | 2022</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Langenegger is returning after a junior season as a multiple position athlete which ended with a state championship appearance this past spring. He is a dual-threat QB and a highly athletic player who is extremely dangerous whenever the ball is in his hands. Langenegger will make his varsity QB1 debut in Friday night’s crosstown rivalry against the Fairview Knights.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src='//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13074514/608a1271bed8090840e00632'%20width='640'%20height='360'%20frameborder='0'%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13074514/608a1271bed8090840e00632" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="153674" first="Clayton" last="Jacobs"] | Lutheran | 6’2”, 185lbs | 2022</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jacobs is an athletic QB who can beat defenses with his arm and his legs. He is an accurate passer with a big-time arm and the ability to pick apart defensive secondaries. Jacobs will be opening his senior season with a big-time out of state matchup against Duchesne in Missouri on Friday night, which will only add to his extensive experience at the position.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/clayjayqb10/status/1331293585665269762?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="153721" first="Gavin" last="Garrettson"] | Mead | 6’2”, 185lbs | 2022</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Garrettson will be entering his senior season with a sense of unfinished business after a Covid quarantine brought an abrupt end to last year’s postseason campaign before it actually began. He is a poised QB with a strong arm and accurate ball placement, especially when he throws a bomb that allows for the receiver to run underneath the catch. He is also effective in the run game, which makes him a very difficult player to contain. Garrettson’s final high school campaign will kick off Friday night with a home opener against Pueblo Centennial.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/GGarrettson_/status/1327826105844330496?s=20[/embed]