Eight Upstate QBs To Watch In 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are guys with big arms all over the Upstate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the area, QBs are taking center stage, with guys who had breakout seasons a year ago poised to take the next step, including a couple with a new home. Here's a look at eight of the top QBs in the area, who should play a huge role in their teams' success this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>.<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144060' first='Ethan' last='Anderson'] J.L. Mann</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson has a big arm, can extend plays with his legs, and makes good decisions, all of which helped make him one of the top QBs in Greenville County a year ago. He threw for 2,373 yards and 27 TDs last year, and with the return of top target [player_tooltip player_id='1142457' first='Mikel' last='McClellan'], Anderson could be poised for another big season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kamajay Brackett-Brannon Broome</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brackett-Brannon might be the most dynamic guy on this list. He's deadly in the running game, and keeps defenses from focusing on backfield mate (and cousin) [player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill']. Brackett-Brannon threw for more than 1,500 yards last season, ran for 976 yards at an 8.1 yards per carry average, and accounted for 21 total TDs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond'] Greenville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drummond won the starting job for the Red Raiders last season, then produced nearly 2,500 passing yards and 34 TDs through the air. Greenville has a wealth of talent around him, and Drummond held off another challenge in the spring to firmly entrench himself as Greenville's guy. Look for big things from Drummond again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142563' first='Luke' last='Gray'], Pendleton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs didn't have a great year in region play a year ago - but the win-loss record didn't reflect the quality of Gray's play. The rising senior threw for nearly 2,200 yards, completed almost 68 percent of his passes and tossed 23 TDs while helping lead Pendleton to more than 31 points per game. He's got a solid core of talent returning with him, and Gray could have a breakout year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448984' first='Eli' last='Hudgins'], Powdersville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudgins is, first and foremost, an athlete. He's a true dual-threat guy, and he's committed to play baseball at Army. And he can sling it. He led the Patriots to the Upper State championship, throwing for almost 2,800 yards and 27 TDs. He added 16 more scores on the ground on 843 rushing yards, averaging nearly 6.5 yards per carry. With losses on the offensive side of the ball, Hudgins is the key for Powdersville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton'] Gaffney</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staton is an interesting player, at his fifth school since 8th grade. He transferred to Greenville in the spring, wasn't happy with the fit there, and is now at Gaffney. There, he'll helm an Indians offense with a rugged running game and a couple of playmakers. He's a tough player with a big arm - he threw for more than 2,100 yards and 24 TDs at Gray Collegiate last year - and he could be the piece the Indians need to replace Grayson Loftis, who's now at Duke.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809746' first='Kalab' last='Sutton'] Hillcrest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sutton had a huge season for Easley last year, notching 2,003 passing yards with 24 TDs and rushing for 492 yards and eight more scores. His transfer to Hillcrest finds him paired with one of the top receivers in the area in [player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden'], and with a wide-open offensive mind in new Hillcrest coach Bennett Swygert. Sutton could put up video game numbers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] Westside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woods is one of the top QBs in South Carolina's 2025 Class, and is drawing big-time attention. And rightly so. There doesn't seem to be a throw he can't make, and he passed for more than 3,000 yards last year, racking up 28 TDs and scoring four more on the ground. The Rams averaged more than 39 points per game, have a ton of offensive talent back, and could open things up even more under new coach Brian Lane. In two years, Woods has notched more than 5,000 passing yards and 59 scores. Those numbers should continue to be the standard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->