2026 Rankings Release: Quarterbacks
In this article:
With the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we have now turned our attention to a class debut in our rankings. The 2026 class is loaded with several talented players but some stood out above the rest to make our initial Top 100. With those rankings being officially posted, I will now be breaking them down by position. To kick things off, here are our top quarterbacks in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.
Even though he’s just entering his second year of high school football, Cam O’Hara Cam O’Hara 6’2″ | 180 lbs | QB Cooper | 2026 State KY has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the state, regardless of class. O’Hara had an outstanding freshman season, completing 128/219 passes for 2,018 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Cam has a very strong arm, which he uses to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride in the deep passing game. He also puts a nice amount of touch on his passes, showing the ability to put the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. O’Hara is off to a great start to his sophomore year, completing 27/32 passes for 496 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception through Cooper’s first two games. Cam currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Austin Peay, and Tennessee State, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber quarterback prospect.
Jaxon Strautman Jaxon Strautman 6’1″ | 195 lbs | QB Frederick Douglass | 2026 State KY is a quarterback that has jumped onto my radar this season. After spending most of his time as a backup, Strautman has started the first two games of the season for the Broncos this year and has had some impressive moments. In his first two games, Strautman has completed 11/35 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions against two very tough opponents. Last week, he picked up his first varsity win against 6A powerhouse Trinity. Strautman throws a nice deep ball, showing the ability to stretch the field and hit his receivers in stride. He has also shown good ball placement, putting the ball where only his intended receiver has a chance to catch it. Strautman doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is a quarterback to keep an eye on with the potential to develop into a high-caliber quarterback process as he continues to gain more experience in the high-powered Frederick Douglass offense.
Highlights
Colin Daniels Colin Daniels 6’2″ | 180 lbs | QB North Oldham | 2026 State KY is a talented young quarterback that is sitting in the reigns waiting for his turn behind talented senior Cole Hodge Cole Hodge 6’2″ | QB Christian Academy Of Louisville | 2024 State KY . Daniels impressed in the games he appeared in last season, completing 21/34 passes for 249 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Colin has a very strong arm which he uses to stretch the field in the deep passing game. He also is very good at handling pressure. When the pocket breaks down, Daniels has shown the ability to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field to make throws on the run. While Daniels doesn’t currently hold any offers, I expect that to change once he takes over next season as he has all the tools to be a very successful quarterback.
Highlights
Another impressive sophomore quarterback that is currently waiting in the reigns behind a talented senior is Mario Litmer Mario Litmer 6’0″ | 175 lbs | QB Highlands | 2026 State KY from Highlands. Litmer is in an interesting situation as he is the backup behind Brody Benke Brody Benke 6’4″ | 235 lbs | ATH Highlands | 2024 State KY but he is still brought it in certain situations when Benke is used at other positions. When he has been in the game, Litmer has impressed, showing great accuracy and arm strength. He has shown the ability to hit receivers out of their breaks and fit passes into tight coverage in the short/intermediate passing game while also showing the ability to stretch the field in the deep passing game. Litmer has also shown the speed and athleticism to tuck the ball and pick up positive yards with his legs when under pressure. Mario doesn’t currently hold any offers but I expect college coaches to keep their eyes on him as he has the potential to be a very impressive starter once he fully takes over the job.
To wrap up our top five quarterbacks in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have Zakary Anderson Zakary Anderson 6’4″ | 190 lbs | QB Pulaski County | 2026 State KY from Pulaski County. After serving last season as a tight end, Anderson has moved into the starting quarterback role this season and has impressed so far. In his first two games, Anderson has completed 29/53 passes for 463 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. Zak has impressive accuracy as a passer, showing the ability to hit his receivers out of their breaks and fit passes into tight windows where only his intended receiver can catch it. Anderson also has shown the ability to make plays with his legs when necessary, using his speed to pick up solid gains on the ground. While he doesn’t currently hold any offers, Anderson will be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons as he continues to develop as a passer in a high-powered Pulaski County passing attack.
Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 100):
6. Maddox O’Neal Maddox O’Neal 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB KY (McCracken County)
7. Peyton Higginbotham Peyton Higginbotham 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB McCreary Central | 2026 KY (McCreary Central)
8. Kace Eastridge Kace Eastridge 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Campbellsville | 2026 State KY (Campbellsville)
9. Wyatt Robbins Wyatt Robbins 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Murray | 2026 State KY (Calloway County)
10. Chase Varney Chase Varney 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Belfry | 2026 State KY (Belfry)
11. Baylor Murphy Baylor Murphy 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Boyle County | 2026 KY (Boyle County)
12. Mason Griffin Mason Griffin 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB South Laurel | 2026 State KY (Knox Central)