2026 Rankings: Quarterbacks By The Numbers

The 2025 quarterback class has made so much noise in the last year or two that the next crop of signal callers has been somewhat overshadowed.    And, true, this group might not have the recruiting flair that its predecessor does.   But the cupboards certainly won't be bare of next fall, either.    From the coastal regions to the Midlands to the Upstate and Catawba River Region, the quarterbacks in the Class of 2026 already have some notability in the state's football scene.    Let's take a look at this class as a whole.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] Gray Collegiate   With Gray Collegiate's schedule last fall was creating reverberations that would eventually be felt statewide, Waller put his head down and used the opportunity to get better in his first season as a full-time varsity starter. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. And while his 10 interceptions needs to be trimmed down, the long-term worth of those huge late pickups on the schedule and the team's playoff run can't be diminished.   [player_tooltip player_id='205556' first='Josiah' last='Oxendine'] Dillon   Oxendine has yet to fully show off his skill set for Dillon, if for no other reason that the Wildcats have relied heavily on their rushing attack during his first two seasons. But watch Oxendine in non-game settings and it's easy to see he could eventually be one of the more polished quarterbacks in this class. It's just a matter of opportunity. Considering he's just not about to be an upperclassmen, we think his time is coming.    [player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore'] Gaffney   At a cool 6-foot-6, Gilmore presents something most quarterbacks don't have, an ability to see over Gaffney's huge offensive line. Gilmore threw for just shy of 1,800 yards last season at Ben Lippen and now joins a team that is about as developed in the trenches as anyone. There's also a top-flight tailback in [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] and bringing Gilmore's huge arm into the mix won't hurt the Indians one bit.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] AC Flora   Wentzky shot out of a cannon in his first year as the starter. Despite not being expected to do just that, Roper took over the job and threw for 2,694 yards and 30 touchdowns in 11 games. What projects so nicely is there is significant room for growth. If his completion percentage ticks upward even a little, there's no reason to think he can't get to a 3,000-yard season in at least one of the next two seasons.    [player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon'] South Pointe   After a sophomore season in which McMillon threw for 2,395 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes and getting picked off only four time, he transferred to South Pointe and immediately boosted the Stallions' chances for the 2024 season. He'll join a stacked roster, sure, but the weapons at his disposal - with his existing skill set - makes this team very dangerous.     NINE RISING STARS   [player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] Lancaster - Brown was fun to watch during the Bruins' run to the third round of the playoffs last fall. However, the 5-foot-8, 195-pounder was still relatively raw. Now the real fun begins.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] Stratford - Every bit of what you'd consider a dual threat, Davis passed for 1,400 yards, ran for another 600 and tallied 23 total touchdowns last fall. He was sacked almost 20 times, and as the line evolves, his production will, too.    [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] Ashley Ridge - It's difficult to say a guy who did what Kalisz did last fall was just the opening salvo. But his commitment to the offseason routine can't be ignored and will show come August.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165104' first='Julius' last='Hippenstiel'] Hanahan - If you like quarterbacks who complete 65 percent of their passes and have a seven-to-one touchdown-to-interception rate, Hippenstiel is your guy. He's a true gamer who shines brightest when the lights come on.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] Dutch Fork - Thrown into action last fall, Offing had a bit of a bumpy start. But it's hard to not point out that he appeared in seven games in October and November and didn't throw a single interception.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] Lamar - Electric as they come, Pierce is an becoming an expert in protecting the football. And when he needs to turn it on, he can do that too. Ask Branchville how it feels about Pierce's abilities from last year's playoff opener.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025811' first='Jay' last='Stoker'] Easley - Stoker turned heads when he threw for 347 yards against Wade Hampton on September 1. He never reached that type of figure again, but his completion percentage stayed high and he put some nice experience to good use.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165153' first='Gavin' last='Thoma'] Seneca - After quietly throwing for 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first season as a starter, Thoma is definitely a player to watch this fall. If he cuts down on some young'n mistakes, more success will follow.    [player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] Belton-Honea Path - Everyone and their mother knows who this offense runs through. But don't sleep on Thomas, who is capable of challenging for a top-10 finish in the state in passing yards, regardless of class, during his junior season.    DARK HORSE CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] St. James - After two years of waiting patiently, Sandt's time has come. The expectations are being tampered because of all the change elsewhere. But he's no stranger to the throws he'll be asked to make or the offense he'll be in charge of running.   [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] Heathwood Hall - We're still sort of in a holding pattern to see what Belk can do after losing most of his sophomore season to an injury. Don't be shocked if he returns stronger than before. Belk has an it factor that makes him a competitor.    [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] Loris - Gerald isn't the team's starter, at least not yet. But it's also clear that Loris is trying to get him reps without sacrificing the development of expected three-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff']. Those occasional sets could be a spring board for 2025, if not earlier.     Basically, this group is destined to do some serious damage of the course of the next two seasons. It'll continue this fall. And while it may be a bit of a time to cut some pretenders from the contenders, there's no shortage of the second category.

The 2025 quarterback class has made so much noise in the last year or two that the next crop of signal callers has been somewhat overshadowed.