Breaking Down The 2025 Rankings: The Quarterbacks

The 2025 quarterback class is DEEP.   Everywhere you look, there are guys with the confidence and ability to make every play asked of them, and more. There are gunslingers, pocket passers, mobile guys, dual-threat standouts, and guys who look to punish you when you're on the move. In every corner of the state, signal-callers seem ready to take center stage during the 2024 season.   Here's a look at the class - from the guys at the top, to players we expect to have breakout seasons, to some stars who could surprise everyone this year.    THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] Westside   Class 4A is a different animal after realignment, with a bunch of teams up and down. The constant, though, is on the west side of Anderson, where Woods will look to lead the Rams back to the top. With a huge arm and coming off a fantastic season that saw him throw for 3,915 yards and 42 TDs, Woods' return has expectations sky high for Westside. Key returners on both sides of the ball and talented newcomers at WR could have the South Carolina commit in an even better spot this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] Irmo   For all Brand's huge offensive numbers - and we'll get to those in a minute - his most impressive stat might be his smallest. He threw two interceptions last season on more than 250 attempts. He makes great decisions, takes care of the ball, and is an absolute animal with the ball in his hands. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, tossing 45 touchdowns, and ran for 1,100 more, tacking on 17 more scores as the Yellow Jackets reached the 4A state finals. The Virginia Tech commit is the definition of a dual-threat guy.   [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] Richland Northeast   Across Columbia, Wilson is doing some of the same things that brand is doing. He had a fantastic offseason at top-tier camps, piggybacking off a season that saw him combine for more than 3,800 yards of total offense and 47 combined TDs. He can get it done with his legs as well as his arm, and the North Carolina State commit seems primed to do even more this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'] Northwestern   Polk is on the cusp of putting up some truly astounding career numbers. He's already surpassed 6,100 career yards, including nearly 3,000 last fall, and he's got 75 career passing TDs. The Trojans are expected to make a deep run in their move up to 5A, and the calm, confident, athletic Polk will be counted on to lead the way.   [player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings'] Summerville   Cummings unquestionably has one of the strongest arms in the class. He throws a pretty, accurate deep ball, he's got touch, and he's adept at moving the pocket and extending plays with his legs. He topped 3,300 yards last season, throwing for 36 touchdowns for the Green Wave.    TEN RISING STARS   [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] Chapin   A true pro-style guy, Albro (pictured) threw for almost 3,000 yards and two dozen touchdowns last season. He has a high completion percentage, low interception numbers, a head for the game, and the arm talent to make every throw.   [player_tooltip player_id='457973' first='Trooper' last='Floyd'] Chester   The temptation to just grind it out with big, powerful running backs is definitely there for the Cyclones. Floyd's talent won't let them. On a team that did lean heavily on the run a times, Floyd still threw for 2,000 yards. He rushed for 551 more, and Chester's better when he's a true dual-threat guy.   [player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray'] River Bluff   Murray threw for 1,620 yards last season and has a couple of talented receivers coming back. They'll be the key to the Gators' offense, and if they can show some increased production, River Bluff could cause some trouble.   [player_tooltip player_id='1012707' first='Lincoln' last='Huskey'] Boiling Springs   Huskey channels the All-American lacrosse player that he is in the winter into his performance on the football field. He's a tough, hard-nosed player who's capable of extending plays, and he's got good downfield vision and touch.   [player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana'] Philip Simmons   Orellana just keeps getting better. He had a strong offseason, and is looking to make his mark this year. A pair of backs who totaled more than 3,000 yards on the ground meant that all Orellana had to do last year was manage things. He's capable of much more, and this year he'll likely show it.   [player_tooltip player_id='463121' first='Austyn' last='Grady'] Northwood Academy   Grady's got an absolute cannon, and he's fearless. There's not a throw that he's not confident he can make. Sometimes that gets him into trouble, but often it pays off for him - to the tune of more than 2,700 yards last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='809746' first='Kalab' last='Sutton'] Hillcrest   Sutton did a ton for the Rams last season as he adjusted to a new school and a new system. All-everything playmaker Avery McFadden is gone, but Sutton will have a bunch of weapons at his disposal. He's plenty dangerous himself, particularly when he's on the move.   [player_tooltip player_id='1253889' first='Kaden' last='Barnett'] Nation Ford   If you're a defensive coordinator, the first thing you'll notice is that Barnett is just maddeningly efficient. He's got a completion rate north of 60 percent, he takes care of the ball, and he makes good things happen, throwing for nearly 2,400 yards and 25 touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='1253938' first='Chalmers' last='Ballard'] Lucy Beckham   Ballard is another take-care-of-it guy in a run-first offense, at least last year. And he was SO good at it. Almost 1,700 yards, 20 TDs, just three interceptions, and a 66 percent completion rate. He didn't throw it a ton, but the Bengals' offense was good when he did, and he could provide even more balance this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian'] West Ashley   Talk about making the most of an opportunity. An early injury necessitated that Dounian take the reigns for the Wildcats, and he stepped up in a big way. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards, threw for 770, and accounted for 18 total touchdowns. What's most impressive is what he didn't do - he didn't put West Ashley in trouble. He didn't throw an interception all year, and he fumbled just twice.    FIVE DARK HORSE CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='1254205' first='Amazay' last='Robinson'] Berea   Robinson burst onto the scene with a 500-yard game as a freshman. He's a dual-threat guy, who accounted for 1,800 yards of offense and 16 touchdowns last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360053' first='JaRae' last='Mitchell'] Manning   Mitchell seems to fully understand what the Monarchs need him to do, and he's more than comfortable with that. He completed 68 percent of his passes last season, throwing for 1,003 yards and nine TDs, and he added 575 yards and three more TDs on the ground, averaging more than six yards per carry.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360121' first='Tanner' last='Macy'] May River   How good is Macy as a physical runner from the QB position? Well, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season and scored 13 times. That's in addition to his 900 yards and nine TDs through the air. The Sharks are switching to a Wing/Flexbone attack on offense, and Macy's strengths will be on full display.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington'] Keenan   Keenan has a ton of talent back, and the Raiders are quietly creating some high expectations. Washington is among the reasons why. He accounted for nearly 1,400 yards of offense and nine total touchdowns. Washington's got the toughness to hang in the pocket until he absolutely can't, and the talent to make good things happen even when you flush him out.   [player_tooltip player_id='985097' first='Landon' last='Cloninger'] North Myrtle Beach   Cloninger had a kind of under-the-radar year last season, throwing for 1,700 yards and 13 scores. But he's got a big arm, he's good on the move, and he's got tremendous upside. He'll help the Chiefs get better as he does.

The 2025 quarterback class is DEEP.