Five Stepping Up: Quarterbacks

This last year of football brought us some great quarterback play but multiple seniors who will be moving on to the college level in 2022-23. We are looking at some of those top teams and who will, most likely, be stepping in at the one of the most impactful positions on the team. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="239972" first="Cooper" last="Weitzel"] | Archbishop Bergan | Jr | 5’11  165lbs Cooper played multiple positions for Bergan including snaps at Wide Receiver and a tailback position. He is athletic and can make plays with his legs, averaging over 6.3 yards per carry with 2 TDs last year. Taking snaps at QB, he had 29 attempts completing 58.6% of his passes for over 10 yards a completion. Replacing [player_tooltip player_id="147831" first="Koa" last="McIntyre"], who committed to Wyoming, is tough but Bergan will also be losing leading rusher Jarret Boggs. Weitzel to [player_tooltip player_id="180279" first="Kade" last="McIntyre"] should be a common scoring connection next year. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/cooper-weitzel/RB82r7yBEemAzfp8ouYFiw/default.htm">https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/cooper-weitzel/RB82r7yBEemAzfp8ouYFiw/default.htm</a> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="169899" first="Daniel" last="Kaelin"] | Bellevue West | So | 6’1"  170lbs Daniel is one of the hottest QB prospects in the state. He is replacing an underappreciated Luke Johnasson, who finished 2nd in the state in passing yards, but did get playing time his sophomore year and showed glimpses of the next level arm talent. In limited action, Daniel threw for over 800 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging over 13 yards a completion. Bellevue West is not short on talent but will be replacing three division I athletes at multiple offensive positions. Daniel should have plenty opportunity to put up major yards with his receiver group led by another hot sophomore prospect [player_tooltip player_id="169896" first="Dae’Vonn" last="Hall"]. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/daniel-kaelin/AbZhKEtREeqAzqREozo6lw/football/stats.htm">https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/daniel-kaelin/AbZhKEtREeqAzqREozo6lw/football/stats.htm</a> &nbsp; Bennett Turman | Skutt Catholic | So | 6’0"  165lbs Turman will have to take over for [player_tooltip player_id="147507" first="Caden" last="Becker"], the Wyoming commit had over 2000 yards if offense with 17 touchdowns last year. Turman is more comfortable in as a pocket passer but can be mobile enough to get some yardage on the ground. He is not afraid to show his arm strength, averaging over 18 yards a completion last year, in limited action but will need to keep developing his ability to take what the defense gives him and not force balls in deep locations.  Skutt will be returning some key offensive players which should help Turman be more comfortable in making plays. https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/bennett-turman/2jY1MQBuEeyAz5TgcHt2rg/default.htm &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="245854" first="Dean" last="Donaldson"] | Creighton Prep | So | 6’3"  185lbs Jack Piernicky took every snap for the Jr. Jays last year at QB. That said, Dean will have his work cut out for him with limited varsity snaps.  Donaldson has all the physical tools to be elite. He has great size and arm strength but will have to lean on his run game, namely [player_tooltip player_id="227009" first="CharMar" last="Brown"] who averaged over 118 yards per game, early in the season but could really provide an electric element through the air with Junior Pierce Johnson that could make Creighton Prep really dangerous heading into the postseason. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14286336/Dean-Donaldson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/14286336/Dean-Donaldson</a> &nbsp; Sebastian Circo | Omaha North | Fr | 5’10"  160lbs Circo transferred to Omaha North after spending his freshman football season at Omaha Burke and already has interest from Ole Miss University. He shows great pocket awareness and is able to escape when it breaks down, throwing on the move with accuracy. Circo has good arm strength and will continue to develop his downfield accuracy as he matures. Circo might generate some explosive offense with Junior’s Tre’Shaun Porter and [player_tooltip player_id="227001" first="Tre’Vionne" last="Brown"]. Pair that with Omaha North’s tremendous defense and the Vikings could look for a deep run. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/sebastian-circo/gTzD61Z2EeuAzqREozo6lw/default.htm">https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/sebastian-circo/gTzD61Z2EeuAzqREozo6lw/default.htm</a>