Zone Read: Upstate 2023 QBs Shine

The Upstate was strong at a bunch of positions in the 2023 class. Linebacker? Absolutely. Offensive Line? Among the best in the state.   Under center, though, is where the class stood out. There are 25 QBs ranked by Prep Redzone in the Class of 2023 in the state. Nine of them - more than a third - are from the Upstate. Here's a look at the guys who made it go.   [player_tooltip player_id='89339' first='Raheim' last='Jeter'], Spartanburg   The East Carolina signee and Shrine Bowl QB is just a winner. Jeter threw for nearly 2,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. What sets him apart, though, is what else he does. He's a hard-nosed runner, and he's a true leader on the field, consistently putting the Vikings in a good position. He's got a big arm, can make all the throws, and looks poised to stand out at the next level.    [player_tooltip player_id='89340' first='Grayson' last='Loftis'], Gaffney   Loftis helped lead the Indians to a 5A state championship as a junior, and helped power them back to the Upper State title game as a senior. The Duke signee shows all the tools - he can throw deep balls with accuracy, has a nice touch on short routes, and can throw on the move. Loftis topped 3,000 yards as a senior, and tossed 25 touchdowns.    [player_tooltip player_id='262574' first='Bennett' last='Judy'], Hillcrest   Judy was the trigger man for one of the most high-octane offenses in the Upstate. He threw for more than 2,700 yards and 32 touchdowns on the year despite being hampered by an injury for the last several weeks of the regular season. Judy did a great job of finding the Rams' playmakers, especially on deep routes. He's also a threat with his legs, bringing another dynamic to the Hillcrest offense. He's headed to Western Carolina to continue his career.    [player_tooltip player_id='89349' first='Ja'Corey' last='Martin'], Southside Christian   Martin is a true dual-threat guy, and he put the Sabres on his back at times. What sets Martin apart is that he's not just an adequate runner, he's a dangerous one. Everything he can do with his feet just sets the table for what he can do with his arm, which is plenty. Martin led the Sabres to a pair of state championships in his career, and to a deep playoff run again in his senior season.    [player_tooltip player_id='202732' first='Robinson' last='Sanders'], Riverside   Sanders had another impressive season for the Warriors, throwing for almost 2,300 yards and 27 TDs. He sees the field well, does a good job of moving the pocket, and excels at delivering the deep ball.    [player_tooltip player_id='262618' first='Woods' last='Windham'], Christ Church   All Windham did was help the Cavaliers break Southside Christian's two-year stranglehold on the 1A title, helping to lead Christ Church back to the championship in the process. He was brilliant in his senior season, throwing for almost 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns. He handles pressure well, he gets the ball out quickly, and he does a great job of taking advantage of what the defense gives him.    [player_tooltip player_id='582099' first='Blaine' last='Simons'], Daniel   Want to talk about pressure? How about stepping in to fill the shoes of the two-time Gatorade Player of the Year? That's what Simons was tasked with this season, and he surpassed all expectations. Simons threw for 2,724 yards and rushed for 388 more, accounting for 44 total touchdowns. He did a great job of getting the ball into the hands of Daniel's playmakers, and became a playmaker himself along the way, as the Lions went 12-1, falling on a two-point conversion in overtime in the playoffs.    [player_tooltip player_id='262692' first='Cooper' last='Tankersley'], Wade Hampton   Tankersley helped lead the Generals to their best season in years, providing a spark as a true dual-threat guy. Tankersley threw for 1,809 yards and 16 TDs. He might have been even more valuable with his legs. He was a fantastic complement to lead back Nigel Bruster, as he contributed more than 1,000 yards on the ground, rushing for 8 TDs, averaging 7 yards per carry, and finishing the season with eight 100-yard rushing games.    [player_tooltip player_id='582128' first='Bryce' last='Payne'], Walhalla   Payne's another dual-threat guy, and he's something of a wrecking ball for the Razorbacks. An all-region LB as a sophomore, he still looks the part. And he brings a linebacker's mentality to the other side of the ball, willing to dish out punishment. That mentality is all that remains from the move, however, as he's every bit a QB. He accounted for more than 3,000 yards of total offense and 41 total TDs, throwing for 23 and rushing for 18 more.

The Upstate was strong at a bunch of positions in the 2023 class. Linebacker? Absolutely. Offensive Line? Among the best in the state.