The Best 2024 QBs Before the Season Starts

QB is objectively the most important position in football. The helm of the offense, and the biggest game-changer on the team. And before we enter a new season, I want to take a minute to share some of the top 2024 gunslingers who you need to know before the season starts.   [player_tooltip player_id='534660' first='Will' last='Barthel']: STMA 5'11" 170 lbs   Barthel was primarily a JV QB last season, but he looks to take the helm in 2024. He's shown flashes of brilliance at the lower levels, showcasing some of his great mobility at the Stock Up Showcase in December. Barthel has solid throw power as well as good ball placement and decision-making. I'm eager to see how Barthel's talents translate to the varsity field in 2023.   [player_tooltip player_id='242447' first='Frank' last='Daniels']: Blaine 6'3" 200 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 1067 yards, 48% completion percentage, 14 TOT, 6.8 YPA, 68.2 Passer Rating   Daniels returns as the Bengals QB after a 4-5 junior campaign. Daniels shows talent both as a gunslinger and as a dual-threat QB. He runs hard and takes long strides, always fighting for extra yards. He absorbs contact well and shows off great pocket awareness in his film. With a year of varsity under his belt, Daniels is primed to take a big leap in year 2.   [player_tooltip player_id='105394' first='George' last='Bjellos']: Woodbury 6'2" 190 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 1220 yards, 64.9% completion percentage, 15 TOT, 8.1 YPA, 104.2 Passer Rating   Bjellos enters 2024 as arguably the best QB in Minnesota. He led the Royals to a 7-3 record and has been a staple of their offense for years. Simply put Bjellos is special. He's mechanically sound and has fantastic poise in the pocket. Phenomenal arm strength, great ball placement, and good decision-making. Bjellos is a prototypical pocket passer who looks to lead a deep playoff run this upcoming season.   [player_tooltip player_id='105379' first='Tanner' last='Zolnosky']: East Ridge 5'11" 195 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 2913 yards, 61.5% completion percentage, 27 TDs, 10.5 YPA, 114.4 Passer Rating   Zolnosky is my pick for the top 2024 QB prospect. The East Ridge gunslinger lead the Raptors to a 7-4 record and a deep playoff run. I despise the hate shorter QBs get. Zolnosky was the leading passer in all of MN last season, and this kid oozes talent. He is electric in the pocket, able to throw 50 yards downfield with the flick of a wrist. His ball placement is elite, able to put it where no DB could get it. Could East Ridge win a state title in 2023-2024? As long as Zolnosky is there it's possible.   [player_tooltip player_id='241903' first='Charlie' last='Brandt']: Mahtomedi 5'11" 185 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 866 yards, 48.4% completion percentage, 10 TOT, 9.5 YPA, 80.2 Passer Rating   A talented QB on a run-heavy team. Brandt is hot off a 10-2 season and a nice state-run. Brandt shines out of the play-action. He has a lightning-quick release and quick feet in the pocket. He does a great job of selling fakes and extending plays on his feet. Could Brandt lead another deep-state run? I think it's very possible.   [player_tooltip player_id='551344' first='Dylan' last='Blount']: St. Clair 6'1" 175 lbs   Blount got varsity playing time last year, just primarily on defense. His JV QB film shows an elusive QB who has no problem extending plays on his legs or taking designed QB runs. Blount is a good athlete with raw arm talent, who could develop into a solid QB. St. Clair went 10-1 last year, and Blount looks to recreate that success in the 2023-2024 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='348683' first='Logan' last='Butler']: Hutchinson 6'4" 185 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 1030 yards, 59.6% completion percentage, 7 TDs, 93.4 Passer Rating   Butler is a giant, prototypical pocket passer, who is going to take a massive leap next season. Fresh off a run to the state championship, Butler looks to lead the Tigers right back there in the 2023-2024 campaign. Butler boasts a college-ready frame and smooth throwing mechanics. He has veteran poise in the pocket and can throw the ball on a rope. This kid has everything you need to be successful as a QB at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='105383' first='Daylen' last='Cummings']: Centennial 6'1" 185 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 546 yards, 54.2% completion percentage, 7.6 YPA, 9 TOT, 73.0 Passer Rating   His stats may not jump out at you, but don't underestimate Cummings. He was his teams leading rusher and it's clear why. This dude is an athlete. He is exceptionally mobile and is incredibly fluid in the pocket, ducking and weaving all sorts of tackles. He can throw on the run as well as anyone else in MN and often makes back-foot throws look incredibly easy. Fresh off a state-run, eyes are on Cummings to run it back.   [player_tooltip player_id='105407' first='Kameron' last='Fox']: Cooper 5'10" 175lbs   2022 Season Stats: 863 yards, 61.6% completion percentage, 8.7 YPA, 7 TOT, 93.1 Passer Rating   Fox may have only gotten 5 full games under his belt last year, but look for an explosive senior campaign. Fox boasts a quick release and pinpoint accuracy. He has plenty of varsity reps under his belt to the point where you can see how calm and mature he is in the pocket. This kid has been in the lab all offseason and looks to lead Cooper back to the section finals in the 2023-2024 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='246007' first='Levi' last='Hahn']: Mayer Lutheran 6' 205 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 798 yards, 45.6% completion percentage, 14 TOT, 74.0 Passer Rating   Mayer Lutheran may be another run-first team, but that doesn't stop Hahn from scoring however he can. Hahn fights for every yard on the ground, and with his bigger frame, he's shown he can bowl over defenders who stand in his path. Hahn is a playmaker, plain and simple. He extends plays when the pocket collapses, buying time for his wideouts to get open before nailing them in the chest with a beautiful throw. He's a must-watch next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='246255' first='Cole' last='Heilbrun']: Wayzata 6'2" 205 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 1503 yards, 58% completion percentage, 14 TDs, 103.0 Passer Rating   Our Stock Up Showcase MVP, Heilbrun was a stellar QB in his junior year. He's your prototypical QB. A great leader with a cannon for an arm. He has crisp mechanics and consistent ball placement. His swaggy demeanor and smooth footwork are only part of his success, the other part can be easily attributed to his ability to stand in the pocket and take a hit, while still delivering a perfect pass downfield. Watch out for Wayzata this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='246028' first='Bart' last='McAninch']: Mankato West 6'1" 205 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 2423 yards, 67% completion percentage, 41 TOT, 126.1 Passer Rating   Possibly the most college-ready QB in MN, it astounds me how McAninch doesn't have D1 offers flowing in. He was part of a state title team as a sophomore and made a trip back to the championship this last season. His presence in the pocket makes the whole offense flow. His smooth throwing mechanics, fantastic decision-making, and great athleticism have all contributed to what was one of the most potent offenses in MN football. Pressure makes diamonds but it also cracks pipes. McAninch however, is a diamond.   [player_tooltip player_id='241908' first='Austin' last='Randall']: Waconia 6' 175 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 662 yards, 59.3% completion percentage, 6 TDs, 75.2 Passer Rating   Another QB behind one of the top rushing offenses in Minnesota, Randall has come a long way in a short amount of time. Mechanically, you can tell he's put in the work. He has a sound and smooth throwing motion. One of the things I've observed while watching Randall is how slippery he is. He is dangerously elusive in the pocket. When I watched his throws at the Stock Up Showcase, I was able to see how his accuracy had improved in such a short time. He makes ballsy throws look incredibly easy and seems calm and relaxed in the pocket. He's ready to blow up as a prospect.   [player_tooltip player_id='242401' first='Milos' last='Spasojevic']: Minnetonka 6'4" 210 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 1307 yards, 66.9% completion percentage, 12 TOT, 88.4 Passer Rating   Another kid with a college-ready frame, Spasojevic looks to build off his 2022 campaign next fall. One of the things I've noticed that Spasojevic does very well is his timing with receivers on deep routes. He does an excellent job of leading them and placing the ball only where the WR can get it. His arm strength is phenomenal, and he loves launching the ball downfield. He has a great sense of pressure as well. Can Minnetonka make a deep run this season behind Spasojevic? I think so.   [player_tooltip player_id='279756' first='Caden' last='Wick']: Prior Lake 6' 180 lbs   Wick steps into the varsity spotlight his senior season, and I think he's more than ready. Wick is one of a handful of JV QBs who I think could've stepped up and played varsity last season. His poise in the pocket is that of a multi-year varsity starter. You can see him work through his reads on the field, and he often makes the right choice. He puts great touch on the ball and you can see him playing miles ahead of his JV counterparts. Watch out for Wick next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='105384' first='Jack' last='Wojciak']: Irondale 5'10" 170 lbs   2022 Season Stats: 459 yards, 57.9% completion percentage, 7 TDs, 101.5 Passer Rating   Although Wojciak only got 4 games last year, he showed out where it mattered. Coming back healthy in 2023 means a potential breakout year for the Irondale QB. Wojciak has great arm strength, he loves lofting back shoulder passes that only the WRs can catch. He also has quick feet in the pocket, which helps contribute to his elusiveness. He's not afraid to throw a dart across the middle, or leave one dangling for the WR to go up and catch it either. Irondale lost some talent, but Wojciak could help lead them to a deep playoff run.

QB is objectively the most important position in football. The helm of the offense, and the biggest game-changer on the team. And before we enter a new season, I want to take a minute to share some of the top 2024 gunslingers who you need to know before the season starts.