Columbus End of Season Passing Leaders

With the end of the regular season wrapping up in Ohio High School football, it is time to take a look at the states passing leaders from the Columbus area. The state of Ohio is starting to become a hot bed of QB talent here recently, and Columbus is following that trend. The list below includes talent from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 recruiting classes. With a couple quarterbacks from the 2026 class, the stock will rise for these sophomores in recruiting. [player_tooltip player_id='284599' first='Ethan' last='Grunkemeyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='422486' first='Bradyn' last='Fleharty'], and Landon O'connell are central Ohio prospects that have had decorated careers who will be soon starting their college campaigns. Fleharty is making his first ever regional final appearance on Friday, so his stock is still only rising. [player_tooltip player_id='731524' first='Austin' last='Buescher'] is another top QB who is making a regional final appearance on Friday as well. The lone 2025 prospect is Gahanna QB Brennen Ward, who led his team to a regional semi-final. Many of these QB's have offers, but all of them have the talent to compete at the next level. Coaches should also take a look at the 2026 prospects from this list, and get on the recruitment early in [player_tooltip player_id='731524' first='Austin' last='Buescher'], and Jackson Frey.   We have compiled a list of the top 10 QB's in terms of passing yards and touchdowns.   <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/oh/west-jefferson/west-jefferson-roughriders/athletes/austin-buescher/football/stats/?careerid=4rolabpf82rff"> </a><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/oh/west-jefferson/west-jefferson-roughriders/athletes/austin-buescher/football/stats/?careerid=4rolabpf82rff">1. </a>[player_tooltip player_id='731524' first='Austin' last='Buescher'] (West Jefferson) Class of 2026   6'4" 160lbs   3725 Passing Yards, 38 TDS   Offerrs: N/A   Evaluation: Austin has a tall frame to grow into it in the near future. Makes great decisions from the pocket, and is also a coaches kid. When Austin puts on size, his arm strength will pick up even more and his stock will skyrocket.   2. [player_tooltip player_id='284599' first='Ethan' last='Grunkemeyer'] (Olentangy) Class of 2024   6'2" 180lbs   3278 Passing Yards, 37 TDS   Offers: Penn State (commit), Ball State, Akron   Evaluation: Grunkemeyer plays is a QB led offensive system that banks on him to make plays and score. He did it all year throwing RPO's, shots, and quick game. Ethan will have a great career at Penn State.   3. [player_tooltip player_id='1110741' first='Jake' last='Lowman'] (Deleware Hayes) Class of 2024   6'4" 210lbs   2690 Passing Yards, 25 TDS   Offers: Ohio Wesleyan   Evaluation: Lowman is hands down the best QB to play at Deleware Hayes in their history. Jake set numerous records and helped the Hayes program get back to a winning program.   4. Braydn Fleharty (Hilliard Bradley) Class or 2024   6'3" 190lbs   2617 Passing Yards, 30 TDS   Offers: Arkansas State, Army, Bowling Green, Colgate.   Evaluation: Fleharty is leading Bradley to a regional final Friday putting the program on his back. Bradley is a program that produces lethal QB's, and Fleharty might be the best of the bunch.   5. Brennen Ward (Gahanna) Class of 2025   6'3" 200lbs   2370 Passing Yards, 21 TDS   Offers: Akron, Boston College, Bowling Green, Kentucky   Evaluation: Ward is also a coaches kid who has the mechanics to excel at the FBS level. Standing at 6'3", he has time to put more mass on to build into the frame. His exit velocity on the ball is also top tier, so continue to see Ward develop.   6. Jackson Frey (Bexley) Class of 2026   6'2" 190lbs   2356 Passing Yards, 15 TDS   Offers: N/A   Evaluation: Frey had a breakout sophomore season at Bexley High School. Under a new head coach, Frey is helping rebuild the program starting at the QB position. Frey stands a 6'2" and already at 190 , so the more he fills out, the more FBS schools will come around. I see Frey becoming much more well known in Columbus very soon.   7. Aaron Walters (Logan Elm) Class of 2025   6'0" 185lbs   2295 Passing Yards, 22 TDS   Offers: N/A   Evaluations: Logan Elm junior Aaron Walters had a breakout junior campaign and led Logan Elm to a 9-2 record this year. Walters was one of the better QB's in the mid-state league, claiming all league honors.   8. Josh Woods (Hamilton Township) Class of 2024   6'2" 190lbs   2277 Passing Yards, 27 TDS   Offers: N/A   Evaluations: Hamilton Township burst onto the scene this year with a 9-2 record and a big part of that was Josh Woods. Hamilton Township turned more air raidish in 2023, and Woods excelled at doing so. Woods was also able to use all the throwing angles required of him throwing screens, shots, and play-action.   9. Brayden Bayles (Heath) Class of 2024   6'0" 185lbs   2266 Passing Yards, 25 TDS   Offers: Ohio Northern University   Evaluations: Bayles is a freak athlete playing QB at Heath. Bayles was a mastermind when it came to movement in the pocket and freeing himself of space to find receivers open downfield. When Bayles would tuck it to run, most defenses could not get to him.   10. Landon O'Connell (Pickerington North) Class of 2024   6'4" 230lbs   2193 Passing Yards, 23 TDS   Offers: Bowling Green   Evaluations: O'Connell is your prototypical pocket QB standing in at 6'4. His film shows him throwing hole shots on verticals, laying throws right into a deep ball post, and being able to hit the quick game. Pickerington North didn't ask him to do much in the running game, but when they did he was successful with zone read.

With the end of the regular season wrapping up in Ohio High School football, it is time to take a look at the states passing leaders from the Columbus area. The state of Ohio is starting to become a hot bed of QB talent here recently, and Columbus is following that trend. The list below includes talent from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 recruiting classes. With a couple quarterbacks from the 2026 class, the stock will rise for these sophomores in recruiting. Ethan Grunkemeyer Ethan Grunkemeyer 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Olentangy | 2024 State OH , Bradyn Fleharty Bradyn Fleharty 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH , and Landon O'connell are central Ohio prospects that have had decorated careers who will be soon starting their college campaigns. Fleharty is making his first ever regional final appearance on Friday, so his stock is still only rising. Austin Buescher Austin Buescher 6'4" | 175 lbs | QB West Jefferson | 2026 State OH is another top QB who is making a regional final appearance on Friday as well. The lone 2025 prospect is Gahanna QB Brennen Ward, who led his team to a regional semi-final. Many of these QB's have offers, but all of them have the talent to compete at the next level. Coaches should also take a look at the 2026 prospects from this list, and get on the recruitment early in Austin Buescher Austin Buescher 6'4" | 175 lbs | QB West Jefferson | 2026 State OH , and Jackson Frey.