The Puget Sound's Top 2023 QBs

Washington state is quickly becoming one of the largest hotbeds of recruiting talent in the country, with the past three recruiting classes all seeing the top players in Washington commit to decorated national programs like Ohio State, USC, and Oregon. That trend does not look to be letting up anytime soon; rather, the talent coming out of the Evergreen State should only continue to flourish over the coming years. Within the state, there is perhaps no greater source of talent than the largest metropolitan area, Seattle and the Puget Sound. In this series, I will be covering some of the top senior talents in the Seattle area that I am most looking forward to getting my eyes on this fall, starting with the most important position in all of sports, the Quarterbacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='87404' first='Gabarri' last='Johnson'] | 6'2" 200 | Lincoln HS (Tacoma)   The biggest name on this list, Johnson has no shortage of accolades going into his senior season. Currently rated as a 4-star quarterback and our number 5 player in the state, it might feel odd to say that he is being disrespected on the national level. However, in a highly decorated 2023 QB class, the Missouri-bound Johnson is not getting some of the same buzz that other guys around the nation are getting, and I think that he will use his senior season to make a name for himself on the national level. It starts with his excellent mechanics, both in his feet and throwing motion, which allow him to make exceptional throws at all levels of the field regardless of any pressure in his face. He also has very impressive arm strength for a player his size, with the ability to consistently deliver throws down the field with zip. None of this is to say anything about his ability as a runner, which is what separates him as a playmaker. Make no mistake, Johnson will be a household name for the entire country very soon; the teams in the PCL will just be the first to witness it this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='202533' first='River' last='Lien'] | 6'1" 200 | Glacier Peak HS (Snohomish)   When I think about how to describe the way that [player_tooltip player_id='202533' first='River' last='Lien'] plays, one word comes to mind: fearless. There is not a play on the field that Lien will not try to make, whether that is with his arm or his legs, and there are very few that I have seen that he cannot make. He is routinely forced to leave the pocket, but he has the innate ability to keep his eyes down the field and try to complete a pass when all hope seems lost, often leading to a big play for his Glacier Peak team. He stays cool under pressure, never panicking in the pocket or rolling out until it is absolutely necessary. His arm strength is also superb, with the ability to deliver passes on a line to guys in the deep third of the field with regularity. None of that is to speak of his ability as a runner, where he is able to routinely make big plays on the ground when he isn't able to find an open guy. Lien is a guy I am excited to watch this fall, and I think a big season from him will catch the eyes of evaluators at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='87427' first='Gabe' last='Downing'] | 6'0" 180" | Olympia HS (Olympia)   The Portland State-bound Downing might have the best arm of anyone in the state, and the ways that he is able to utilize this trait are what separate him as a player and has him on track to be playing D1 football this time next year. He can deliver the ball with zip at all levels of the field, with one play in particular from his junior season standing out: rolling to his left, avoiding defenders, and delivering the ball almost fifty yards downfield on a line. Quite frankly, there are things that he can do in the passing game that not a lot of young quarterbacks are able to do, and I am glad to see the Vikings already secured his talents. While he may not have quite the same running ability that some players in the state do, he is probably the best pure pocket passer of the bunch. That's not to say he cannot make plays with his feet or escape the pocket when he needs to, because he absolutely can; rather, if a defense is not able to get Downing off his platform, it will be a long day for them.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dempsy-james/#player-news">Demspy James</a> | 6'1" 185 | Spanaway Lake HS (Spanaway)   James might be the quarterback I am most excited to watch in person this fall, as he is able to routinely produce "wow" plays for his Spanaway Lake team. Of course, everyone sees all the long runs and broken tackles, and that is no doubt a large component of what makes him such a dangerous player. But his arm strength, touch, and accuracy are all extremely impressive, especially for a player that is not getting as much talk as a high-level recruit as some of the other players in the state. Whether it's due to his size or other reasons, James has not been getting the recruiting attention that a player of his caliber dictates from his on-the-field performance. If he can produce another season of high-quality play and continue to show the athleticism and traits that he did in 2021, I have no doubt that coaches at the next level will come calling very soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='87437' first='Chance' last='Guadiz'] | 6'1" 200 | Rainier Beach HS (Seattle)   The top quarterback in the Metro League last fall, Guadiz possesses one of the most impressive arms that I have seen in Washington state in my preparation for this season. What impresses me most about his game is the way that he can use his arm strength in multiple different ways, making plays with the long ball at an impressive rate but also zipping it in in the short and intermediate game so defenders don't have a chance to get a hand on the ball. Rainier Beach's offense dictated a lot of screens, but when he was asked to make plays down the field, he was able to do so at a rate that gives me no doubt he can continue to grow into a role as the centerpiece for his offense. Once the offense is flowing through Guadiz, look out; this could be one of the most exciting offenses to watch in the Seattle area in 2022.   [player_tooltip player_id='333687' first='Brady' last='McKelheer'] | 6'1" 185 | Eastside Catholic HS (Sammamish)   McKelheer is entering his senior season coming off of 2nd Team All-Metro honors, and I'm excited to see what he can do to claim the top spot. The first thing that stands out when I watch him is his deep touch and accuracy; he throws a beautiful ball in the latter third, both in the middle of the field and outside the numbers. He has also shown the ability to work even when the pocket is collapsing, keeping his head up as guys fall around his feet and finding a way to make plays either with his arm or his legs. His size may scare off some big-name schools in the recruiting market, but make no mistake, McKelheer is going to do a lot of damage this fall, and I like him as a guy who could increase his stock greatly with a big season, especially coming from a storied program like Eastside Catholic.   [player_tooltip player_id='87415' first='Kayde' last='Bodine'] | 6'0" 165 | Sumner HS (Sumner)   Bodine is a true multi-tool player at the quarterback position, with most of his top plays coming when he is outside the pocket and making magic out of nothing. That is not to say that he is strictly a running quarterback; in fact, many of his most electrifying moments are when he escapes pressure, gets on the move, looks like he is going to take off, and finds an open man down the field for a big play. He also possesses fairly impressive arm strength when he is in the pocket, able to deliver throws at all levels of the field. Of course, his biggest asset is his running ability, where he is able to make multiple defenders miss in the open field and often leave defensive coordinators scratching their heads on how to defend him. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to a new team at Sumner this fall, but Bodine has all the tools to make a name for himself on the recruiting trail.   Jackson Brown | 6'0" 180 | Timerbline HS (Lacey)   Jackson Brown is likely the biggest sleeper on this list, but make no mistake, he is a true playmaker. What stood out to me most was his ability to make throws outside of structure; whether he was on the run, his feet weren't set, or he had a defender right in his face, he was able to deliver the ball with the same precision that he would in a clean pocket. He also has a very efficient throwing motion, allowing him to get the ball out quickly when the play is breaking down. It's also worth noting his exceptional athleticism, as he possesses the ability to make defenders miss in the open field and act as a duel threat for his offense. While Brown is a sleeper right now, if his Timberline squad can make some noise in 2022, it will be on the back of his playmaking ability, which will certainly start to get the attention of recruiters at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='333756' first='Payton' last='Faker'] | 6'2" 195 | Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma)   What impressed me the most about Faker's game was his ability to make throws off platform, as he can deliver the ball with touch and accuracy even when rolling outside the pocket. He was also able to make some great anticipation throws at the intermediate and deep levels of the field, putting the ball exactly where it needed to be in order for his receiver to make a play on the ball. From a pure accuracy and anticipation standpoint, Faker might be one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the state; he was able to routinely lead his receivers with his throws in ways that ended up turning a modest gain into a big one. The Tacoma area is awash with quarterback talent in this class, but Faker can make a name for himself if he continues to build on his already impressive body of work.

Washington state is quickly becoming one of the largest hotbeds of recruiting talent in the country, with the past three recruiting classes all seeing the top players in Washington commit to decorated national programs like Ohio State, USC, and Oregon. That trend does not look to be letting up anytime soon; rather, the talent coming out of the Evergreen State should only continue to flourish over the coming years. Within the state, there is perhaps no greater source of talent than the largest metropolitan area, Seattle and the Puget Sound. In this series, I will be covering some of the top senior talents in the Seattle area that I am most looking forward to getting my eyes on this fall, starting with the most important position in all of sports, the Quarterbacks.