Elite 11: The Best-Situated QBs Along The Coast

With just a little over one month until the 2024 football season begins, that means we're just a little over one month until some dynamic head-to-head quarterback battles in the Lowcountry and Grand Strand & Pee Dee.   These 11 quarterbacks from PRZ's Coastal zones each enter the 2023 season on the heels of strong 2023 campaigns. Collectively, they bring every attribute to the table.   In some cases, they have something closely resembling the total package.    The best part is that we won't have to wait to see more than one of them on the field at the same time. Even before some of their shared region play begins, some interesting non-region contests will feature two of the players on this list.   For each player, we've included an interesting non-region game that will be an important indicator of the rest of the season.    [player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana'] Philip Simmons    When Orellana's numbers dipped from his sophomore year to his junior year, it might have looked like a red flag. To us, it was proof that he understood his role. Behind two backs who rushed for 3,000 yards, Orellana was a game manager to the extreme. And in that role, he didn't disappoint. He kept his completion percentage up and actually cut his pick figure down considerably from 2022 (eight) to 2023 (one). Or how about this? On average, one of out every six passes he threw last fall went for a touchdown, which is how he added 15 more to his career ledger.    Non-region game to circle: vs. Beaufort, Sept. 6 - The Eagles are built similarly on both sides of the ball. That means their ones are going up against something similar in practice, too. This could be a sheer will type of game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe'] Myrtle Beach   It's almost laughable how quickly Goodroe progressed after his acclimation period over the course of his junior year. After having not played the sport at the varsity level before (he was a baseball play and focused on the diamond), he went from throwing four interceptions in his career opener (a 43-0 loss to Camden) to throwing only three more in the team's final 11 games. All told, he ended up with 1,415 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, the final six of which came over the course of two playoff games.    Non-region game to circle: at Sumter, Sept. 6 - Goodroe was sacked 20 times in 12 games last year. The Gamecocks are adept at getting into the backfield. This could display his ability to overcome in-game issue.   [player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian'] West Ashley    Thrust into the starting job thanks to an early injury, Dounian quickly gravitated to the gritty nature of the team and vice versa. He rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns while pitching in another 770 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. And the Wildcats' signal caller wasn't shooting himself in the foot along the way, either. He didn't throw a single interception and he only lost two fumbles. That's not too shabby for a guy who was supposed to be a back-up. There's no question that the job is now his.    Non-region game to circle: at Lucy Beckham, Aug. 23 - We don't know exactly what the Bengals are going to do defensively, but it stands to reason linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1039208' first='Hank' last='Aeppli'] is going to have an eye on Dounian from the get go.    [player_tooltip player_id='463121' first='Austyn' last='Grady'] Northwood Academy   Not many quarterbacks in the state threw for more yards per game last year than Grady, who averaged 251 yards each night out. He ended his junior season with 2,767 yards and 24 touchdowns. That's pretty good, but it was packaged with a lot of room for growth, too. All those yards came on a 53-percent clip and he also had 14 picks. If he cleans up those types of things, there's no telling how many yards he might put up as a senior.    Non-region game to circle: at Strong Rock Christian (Ga.), Aug. 16 - Strong Rock allowed less than 15 points per game a season ago and averaged an interception per game. If Grady can avoid one or two, he could start 2024 on a high note.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] Stratford   Davis' stat line - 1,416 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 593 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns - was pretty good. As part of an offense bringing back 10 starters and showing significant potential, Davis has every chance to shine. He's just a junior, as are the four returning offensive linemen and a returning tight end in front of him. An overall stat line closer to the 2,750-yard mark looks absolutely attainable while he continues to develop.    Non-region game to circle: vs. Summerville, Aug. 23 - The Green Wave defense has the top overall player in the class of 2027 in [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] and plenty of others who will be trying to continue their dominance.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] Lamar   What we saw out of Pierce last year was nothing more than a first-year head coach and first-year starting quarterback feeling each other out for the long haul. Still, the then-sophomore finished with 1,447 yards and 19 touchdowns passing and another 355 yards and six scores on the ground. Our favorite part of his game, thoughts that in 126 passes, he was intercepted one time. That's not to say he was mistake-free. But the Lamar staff would have been OK letting a whole bunch more go. Pierce's decision-making is a huge plus, and he might be about to pop off as a junior.    Non-region game to circle: vs. Darlington, Aug. 23 - The Falcons are going to come after Pierce early and often and try to make him uncomfortable. They might be better adept at doing so than any of the Silver Foxes' next few opponents.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165104' first='Julius' last='Hippenstiel'] Hanahan   With Kevon Rivera (and all his rushing yards from the last two seasons) graduating, we have a pretty good idea of what the future is gonna look like for the Hanahan offense. And that future involves the highly accurate Hippenstiel getting more opportunities to lead the way. As a sophomore, he completed 65 percent of his passes, threw for just shy of 2,000 yards and had a 20-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. We don't think any of that was some form of beginner's luck.    Non-region game to circle: vs. Philip Simmons, Aug. 23 - The Iron Horses are going to do everything in their power to keep the Hanahan offense on the sideline. Hippenstiel will have limited opportunities to put up yards.    [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] Oceanside Collegiate   Anyone who has been paying attention the last three-quarters of a year know Manavian is a budding star who, one, helped lead his team to a state championship and, two, has the type of arm that allows him to make any throw possible. Some folks will look at the first five games on the schedule and wonder if Oceanside can sustain success. To combat that, we'd point to the 10 sacks Manavian fought through in that state championship game. He still threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns. He'll be just fine.    Non-region game to circle: at Irmo, Aug. 23 - The Yellow Jackets are loaded and even with Oceanside coming off a championship, all eyes will be on Irmo. It might let Manavian slide into the season more than most years.    [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] Ashley Ridge   Coach Jeff Tate's wide-open offensive scheme is meant to spread the ball around as much as humanly possible. It's what earned him a state title at Wren not all that long ago. Now in the Lowcountry, Tate's system is one that's going to benefit Kalisz more than anyone else. Last year, the then-sophomore threw for 2,989 yards and 28 touchdowns. He's accurate and has at least three or four reliable targets on every single snap.    Non-region game to circle: at Berkeley, Aug. 23 - This has the making of one of those contests where the maintenance staff needs to make sure the scoreboard lights are ready to go. Kalicz will need to be ready right off the bat.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] Berkeley   Between Kalisz and Rivers, the Week 0 matchup between Ashley Ridge and Berkeley is going to move the needle. Rivers burst onto the scene last fall as a freshman, when he had 2,302 passing yards, another 557 on the ground and a combined 33 touchdowns. Had he not been injured early against Summerville in the second-round playoff loss, he would have almost assuredly topped 3,000 combined yards. As it stands, he's got three excellent receivers and plenty of support around him to do even more as a sophomore.    Non-region game to circle: vs. Ashley Ridge, Aug. 23 - For the same reasons above, Rivers is going to have to push aside what has been eight months of offseason hype. Ashley Ridge has been scouting him for some time.    [player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings'] Summerville   Of all the players on this list, none are as established or insulated with as much talent as Cummings (pictured). He's coming off a junior year in which he threw for just shy of 3,400 yards and 36 touchdowns. The Dartmouth commit lost a few of his favorite weapons from last fall, but more are ready to make the jump up the ranks. Now add in the fact that he's only been at Summerville for about 18 months after transferring from Hanahan (where he put up 1,500 yards as a sophomore), and we're ready to see the final act.   Non-region game to circle: vs. South Florence, Aug. 30 - The Bruins lost a bunch of their best defenders. But in [player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] (LB) and [player_tooltip player_id='1267265' first='Amare' last='Reaves'] (DB), the Bruins still have some high-impact playmakers who can shake up a game.

With just a little over one month until the 2024 football season begins, that means we're just a little over one month until some dynamic head-to-head quarterback battles in the Lowcountry and Grand Strand & Pee Dee.