2023 Rankings Stock-Risers: Quarterbacks

Photo: Dripping Springs High School Austin Novosad (23), Twitter

Jack Densmore

January 19, 2022 @ 01:57 PM

The Texas quarterbacks are filled with talent and skill, but these players made a name for themselves last season. They rose to the occasion and exceeded their previous expectations and rankings. Not only do they continue to rise in rankings, but in recruitment radars as well. 1. [player_tooltip player_id="131814" first="Jackson" last="Arnold"] - Guyer High School (Denton, TX) 2021 Season: 3,921 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 659 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns What makes a great quarterback in today’s game of football is not only the ability to deep and accurate passes but to have the mobility and skill to throw on the run. Arnold displays all of these skills, adding into him keeping cool under pressure. He maintains a consistent awareness of the field regardless of the pass rush or blitz. On top of his abilities, he also has received 23 offers already. This includes schools like Arkansas, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and TCU. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="121947" first="Mason" last="Shorb"] - Rouse High School (Leander, TX) 2021 Season: 3,813 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions Shorb is a quarterback that is poised for a fantastic senior season. If he is not on the radar for college scouts just yet, he soon will be. Shorb played close to perfect through the air, but he does not run very often. Still, his skills as a passer are up there and are not too far from the likes of Arnold or Dripping Springs quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="121942" first="Austin" last="Novosad"]. Despite him not running down the field often, Shorb does have the ability to throw on the run and make adjustments during blitzes. He has a quick arm and when he does run, he can be difficult to tackle. His accuracy is easily his selling factor, making few mistakes and seemingly always right on the dot. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="121945" first="Ashton" last="DuBose"] - Brennan High School (San Antonio, TX) 2021 Season: 3,623 passing yards, 53 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 960 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns When it comes to making few mistakes, DuBose is amongst the best in accuracy and awareness. With a lot of passes, and just two interceptions last season, DuBose has been a thorn in the defense’s sides that will likely continue next season. So far, DuBose has received one offer from UTSA. Much like Shorb, DuBose will likely land on more college scouts radars in his senior season as he turns on the jets once more. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="121948" first="Keldric" last="Luster"] - Liberty High School (Frisco, TX) 2021 Season: 3,435 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 1,579 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns The overall MVP for District 7 5A-II, Luster has played fantastically in 2021. Little to no mistakes through the air, and making a killing on the ground, Luster is an all-around elite quarterback. Not only is he capable of running all over the field, but he can throw the ball all the way down to the endzone as well. He is accurate, tough, and fast, which are all the makings of a powerful quarterback. Luster is definitely one to watch next season. 5. Cedric Harden Jr. - Cedar Hill High School (Cedar Hill, TX) 2021 Season: 1,157 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 812 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns Harden has already received multiple offers including from Arizona, Georgia Tech, Illinois State, Kansas, and Toledo. What makes Harden unique is his ability to run on the ground. He can run circles around the defense, but his mobility also helps him create excellent passing opportunities as well. He definitely makes it hard for defenses to adjust to what he is going to do. He can easily take off or sling the ball downfield. Again, another quarterback to watch next season.