Breaking Through: New Quarterbacks Added to the '26 Rankings

The latest update to the 2026 rankings brought some new quarterbacks into the mix. These players have been working hard, and now they're getting the recognition they deserve. Whether it's their strong performances on the field or the potential they've shown in practice, these prospects are starting to turn heads. In this piece, we'll dive into the new quarterbacks added to the '26 rankings, looking at what sets them apart and why they could be key players to watch as the season unfolds.    Entrenched in a quarterback battle for the top spot in Borphy's offense, [player_tooltip player_id='1369387' first='Rylan' last='Umphrey'] is an incredibly explosive athlete. With speed that truly leaves defenders in the dust, when he decides to tuck the ball and run, he can do some serious damage to a defense. With that athleticism, he does a great job of extending plays and moving out of the pocket to buy himself time. Showing good accuracy when he is on the run, Umphrey has incredible improvisation when the play breaks down. He's going to have to walk the fine line between making something happen and living for another down against the increased speed and size on the varsity level. If he can continue to keep the ball out of harm's way while still letting his athleticism shine, Umphrey's talent will be hard to overlook when choosing a starter.      After getting some reps in at the varsity level as a sophomore and an impressive offseason, [player_tooltip player_id='1369417' first='Brady' last='Goodman'] looks poised and ready to take over as QB1 for the Mountain View Toros. Last year, he showed a good strong arm and the willingness to challenge the middle of the field, and often did so with accuracy. Throughout the offseason, I think it's obvious that Goodman emphasized the short game. Things like ball placement to keep it away from defenders, reading a defense and making sure he doesn't get too locked on to one target, and using nice touch when throwing the ball down the field. He has really nice mechanics in the pocket and though he may not rush for 1,000 yards, he has the agility to get out of the pocket and make throws on the run. Stepping in to take over for a very talented Mountain View roster, Goodman could really turn some heads through his junior year.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Had a great time competing with my team at NAU 7s this past weekend! <a href="https://twitter.com/litten_andy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@litten_andy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachbwright4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coachbwright4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRoderick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRoderick</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JUSTCHILLY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JUSTCHILLY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gridironarizona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gridironarizona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyTCameron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CodyTCameron</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MVToro_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MVToro_Football</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteKnow_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteKnow_</a> <a href="https://t.co/uDfHlxe2zi">pic.twitter.com/uDfHlxe2zi</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1369417' first='Brady' last='Goodman'] (@bradygoodman_5) <a href="https://twitter.com/bradygoodman_5/status/1799916871392821361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2024</a></blockquote>     [player_tooltip player_id='1369426' first='Everett' last='Stano'] is a quarterback who isn't at all afraid to launch the ball down the field. Playing in a Boulder Creek offense that does a fantastic job of scheming his receivers open, he often has to make the read of which player is more open rather than which receiver is open. The amount of misdirection and complex routes that he has to handle shows you the type of football IQ that Stano possesses. Although he only ran for a total of 104 yards last season, he's shown that his legs can be more of a weapon than that. With a full year of experience under his belt, the 6'0" 200 lbs Boulder Creek quarterback is a player coaches should have their eye on in 2024.      The last time I wrote about [player_tooltip player_id='1369445' first='Brodie' last='Vehrs'], he was in a potential battle for the top spot on the depth chart. It's no shock that this was one of the quickest quarterback competitions to be settled this offseason with Vehrs winning the job. Here's the breakdown of his 2023 film:   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> The pure arm strength he possesses is off the charts. What might be even more impressive is his ability to use that arm strength when he's completely off balance. Whether it be across his body or fading away, he still manages to put enough on the ball to get it down the field. Vehrs is able to do all of this and still maintain accuracy... He does a good job of not being too committed to any one receiver; when someone else comes open, there's zero hesitation to move off his initial read and take what the defense is giving him. His form is already incredibly refined with mechanics that will translate very nicely to the next level. </blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/therealbeadle/status/1819844004315627711 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1219129' first='Jose' last='Cardona'] seems to finally be getting some of the attention he deserves. Slightly undersized for a quarterback at 5'9" 160 lbs, what he lacks in size he makes up for in remarkable athleticism. As just a sophomore starting at the varsity level, Cardona averaged over 200 total yards a game and finished the year with 24 scores to just six turnovers. This type of efficiency is a true testament to his impressive decision-making. What truly separates him from everyone else is his versatility as a football player, not just a quarterback. Also a defensive back and a very consistent placekicker for Maricopa, he's proven he's willing to do whatever he possibly can to get his team a win. With a full year of experience under his belt, look for Cardona to garner lots of attention with his explosive plays in 2024.      [player_tooltip player_id='1258666' first='Marcos' last='Ryan Vasavilbaso'] has some really long arms under center for Desert View. He gets really good arm whip on his release, which, when paired with his length, makes for really nice natural zip on his passes without seemingly much effort. He's shown that he's willing to take the nice and easy check-down if that's what the defense is giving him, something not usually seen in quarterbacks at this stage. With his accuracy on the run and his calm demeanor in the pocket, Vasavilbaso is a player to watch as he looks to get a full year under center.

The latest update to the 2026 rankings brought some new quarterbacks into the mix. These players have been working hard, and now they're getting the recognition they deserve. Whether it's their strong performances on the field or the potential they've shown in practice, these prospects are starting to turn heads. In this piece, we'll dive into the new quarterbacks added to the '26 rankings, looking at what sets them apart and why they could be key players to watch as the season unfolds.