Pivotal 2023 ahead for Louisiana's many 2025 QBs

Fourteen young quarterbacks earned positions in Prep Redzone Louisiana's latest rankings update for the 2025 class.   But only a few offers have been reported by the group thus far.   Half of the group were still primarily — or, in some cases, completely — varsity backups this fall with most of their live snaps coming at the junior varsity level.   Almost half are hoping for another growth spurt or two, for college coaches to fall in love enough with their other attributes to overlook a lack of "prototypical" size, or for both.   But, in any circumstances, the group begins ramping its way into the forefront this offseason and this fall with so much of the recruiting process in the modern era occurring prior to senior year — particularly for quarterbacks — and more openings and opportunities presenting themselves to the now-rising juniors as the state's highly touted 2023 quarterback group heads to college.   Here are a few notes on the 2025 prospects listed in the latest rankings update with some notes on what earned them positions and what their circumstances are in 2023.     No. 19 [player_tooltip player_id='710076' first='Joshua' last='Brantley'] | 6-4, 200 QB | Ruston   There probably isn't a more heavily anticipated junior season among Louisiana's 2025 class than that of Brantley, the great-looking young quarterback taking the reins of a 2022 state runner-up squad. Buzz from the area is that he has the potential to be the Bearcats' best passer in decades and that the typically run-heavy offense will be opened up accordingly to take advantage of his talent. And several Power Five programs, including home-state LSU, are monitoring.   No. 24 [player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne'] | 6-2, 185 QB | Denham Springs   As mentioned in the initial countdown of the latest 2025 rankings, the polished young passer with the strong arm showed the talent and poise to push 2023 standout [player_tooltip player_id='138487' first='Reese' last='Mooney'], who signed with Liberty, and to look impressive in his opportunities. Horne, who has proven a quick study thus far, takes over the offense this year with newly announced coordinator Kyle Caskey, a longtime college and NFL staffer, with high expectations.   No. 28 [player_tooltip player_id='291089' first='Jackson' last='Bradley'] | 6-3, 200 QB | Oak Grove   Bradley is one of few 2025 quarterbacks around the state with two years of starting varsity experience already and the only one with a state championship under his belt. The son of former Louisiana Tech standout tight end Josh Bradley has a tall, strong build and has shown the ability to lead a team from a young age and make plays with his arm — which his Oak Grove coaches have trusted to throw more than in previous years — and with his legs as a big, physical runner between the tackles or rolling out.   No. 42 [player_tooltip player_id='198807' first='Sawyer' last='Pruitt'] | 6-5, 215 QB | Live Oak   The tall, long athlete has garnered varsity opportunities each of the past two seasons, while also developing as one of Louisiana's top young pitchers on the baseball field. Pruitt has sprouted up another two inches in that span and filled out about 20 pounds, with enough athleticism to be effective moving in the pocket, rolling away from pressure and extending plays or being enough of a threat to keep defenses honest on read-options. He will work this year with new coach Hutch Gonzalez, a former all-conference receiver at Southeastern Louisiana who recently coached a successful Mandeville offense and team overall in the same 5A classification.   No. 60 [player_tooltip player_id='144901' first='Abram' last='Wardell'] | 5-11, 195 QB | Calvary Baptist   Few of Louisiana's 2025 quarterbacks have more varsity experience than Wardell so far, and few, if any, quarterbacks of any age were more consistent and efficient this fall. He completed 145 of his 186 passes (a sky-high 78%) this fall for 2,410 yards, 33 touchdowns and four interceptions (an 8.25 TD-to-INT ratio) while working the ball downfield to the tune of 13.0 yards per attempt and 16.6 yards per completion. He's off to a productive start to the offseason getting heavy 7-on-7 reps on a Bootleggers North squad with several of his Calvary Baptist teammates. And while he said another focus this offseason is trying to improve his athleticism, Wardell moves well in and around the pocket, has on his film several impressive off-platform throws and possesses some metrics and statistics that would suggest his ability to run enough when forced to to make defenses respect that threat: listed 4.7-second 40-yard dash and 4.3-second shuttle times and a 7.1-yard average on 23 varsity rushing attempts the past two seasons.   No. 61 [player_tooltip player_id='291086' first='Tylan' last='Johnson'] | 5-10, 180 QB | Madison Prep   Johnson learned behind and alongside former Chargers star Zeon Chriss, who just completed his freshman season at Louisiana (Lafayette), before taking the reins this past season with an all-district performance that helped keep the program among the state's notable contenders as a district champion and Division-II select quarterfinalist. Johnson completed 126 of 204 passes (61.8%) for 1,994 yards (15.8 yards per completion and 9.8 per attempt) and 21 touchdowns   No. 63 [player_tooltip player_id='148529' first='Brodie' last='Savage'] | 6-3, 155 QB | Captain Shreve   Another multi-sport football/baseball standout with good mobility and some experience already under his belt, Savage earned some opportunities for the Gators this season and takes over this year for graduating senior Kenyon Terrell. Savage appears on his sophomore film to be one of the more elusive players on this list escaping pressure to extend plays or taking off downfield and displays both creativity and arm talent with some of his varying off-platform throws on the move. And many of his passes, to each level, show good ball placement for his receivers.   No. 69 [player_tooltip player_id='426968' first='Jackson' last='Firmin'] | 6-2, 170 QB | Central (Baton Rouge)   The Central (Baton Rouge) sophomore took the reins of the offense early last season and learned through a wealth of experience in one of the state's top districts, which included senior stars [player_tooltip player_id='138485' first='Eli' last='Holstein'], [player_tooltip player_id='138486' first='Rickie' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='138489' first='Czavian' last='Teasett'] at the position. Firmin has sprouted up past 6-feet the past couple years with a strong arm to excel on both his deep ball and throws on the run. And, even against the challenging slate, he showed good awareness and quickness maneuvering around the pocket, or rolling out of it, to avoid the rush. Like other players on this list, he is working with a new coach this year as former offensive coordinator David Simoneaux returns to the Wildcats after a tenure at Catholic (Baton Rouge) that included a state championship.   No. 76 [player_tooltip player_id='291167' first='Colton' last='Morris'] | 5-11, 190 QB | Loranger   The young Wolves took some lumps this fall with young guys — particularly in the trenches — growing up against a challenging schedule, but also saw the emergence of some key playmakers and leaders for 2023 and beyond. Among the standouts was the sophomore quarterback with the solid build, strong arm and mature poise with a highlight reel full of well-timed and well-placed passes all over the field, including pretty deep balls dropped over the shoulder, that set his receivers up in stride for big after-catch gains. Morris also showed the toughness and athleticism to take hits, make throws on the move and hurt opposing defenses with his legs if forced or left free to do so.   No. 77 [player_tooltip player_id='710085' first='Peyton' last='Renfro'] | 6-0, 170 QB | Iota   Renfro earned the starting role for his Bulldogs this fall as a sophomore and led the team to a district championship with his 1,704 yards and 14 touchdowns. The multisport standout, who also plays baseball for the school, was light on his feet and quick in his decisions and release from hitting quick slants in stride, touch-passing screens and other passes over defenders or standing in and driving well-placed ropes downfield on vertical routes.   No. 81 [player_tooltip player_id='710283' first='Dylan' last='Champagne'] | 6-2, 165 QB | Dutchtown   Champagne, another notable football/baseball multisport athlete, backed up upperclassman leaders Ethan Aucoin and [player_tooltip player_id='138348' first='Pierson' last='Parent'] this fall for the Griffins' offense, but did step in and earn some varsity experience along with his JV season. He has some good throws on film, particularly downfield, and some of the best height and athleticism on this list.   No. 88 [player_tooltip player_id='144904' first='Cortland' last='Brownfield'] | 5-11, 175 QB | University Lab   The son of longtime Baton Rouge area coach Corey Brownfield has grown up around — and excelled at — the game at a high level from a young age from watching and learning from many top local players and coaches through the years, attending and opening eyes at college camps even as one of their youngest participants, earning National Youth Player of the Week recognition in 2019 and more. The younger Brownfield is now a rising junior with a calm, cool demeanor and an arm to make pretty throws all over the field and is eagerly awaiting his opportunity to take the reins of a varsity offense.   No. 89 [player_tooltip player_id='291087' first='Caleb' last='Gonzales'] | 5-9, 165 QB | Zachary   The Broncos' sophomore, who moved from Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) before high school, is hard-working and polished young quarterback at his age largely battling being overlooked because of his shorter stature. Gonzalez is an accurate passer all over the field from doing an excellent job hitting his receivers in tight windows and in stride to his pretty deep ball and has succeeded at every level thus far, including a 53-for-70 (75.8%) junior varsity showing this fall with 1,138 yards (21.5 yards per completion and 16.3 per attempt) and 13 touchdowns and another rushing score and a strong 7-on-7 season with F3 Elite working with former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey.   No. 91 [player_tooltip player_id='710766' first='Tylik' last='Albert'] | 6-2, 190 QB | East Ascension   The young prospect on this list of whom we've seen the least so far has one of the handful or so most prototypical frames and has looked good early this spring on the 7-on-7 circuit with well-placed throws all over the field showing both a strong arm and nice touch.

Fourteen young quarterbacks earned positions in Prep Redzone Louisiana's latest rankings update for the 2025 class.