Early Look At 11 of New Jersey's Top 2029 Quarterbacks

From the sons of former NFL Pro-Bowlers to reclassed prospects hoping to mature physically and mentally before hitting the high school ranks, below is a look at some 8th grade (class of 2029) Quarterbacks who are looking to/expected to have a big 2024 season. Things change quickly for athletes at this level and what's true in August, may not be true in November. Nonetheless, here are some notable names from around The Garden State.    You will be hearing a lot about this young man for several reasons over the next couple years. Aside of being the son of three-time Pro Bowler turned multimedia mogul Shawne Merriman, [player_tooltip player_id='1272681' first='Justin' last='Merriman'] has lights out ability. Already closing in on 6-foot-1 and 160-pounds, he's an electric dual-threat kid with 4.84 speed in the forty. In May 2024 he turned heads at our PRZ Next Middle School Camp with his on-field ability. Keeping an eye on him since that day, he unrelentingly trains and works in the off-season on top of playing travel lacrosse--certainly not resting on his pedigree. Look for Merriman and his go-to target WR [player_tooltip player_id='1020479' first='Max' last='Juliani'] to put up video game numbers for the Manalapan Braves 14u team this year.     As recently as June 2024, I'm on record saying that [player_tooltip player_id='1155914' first='Walker' last='Snee'] is the top 2029 Quarterback in The Garden State. Another signal caller with an NFL pedigree, Snee is the son of New York Giants Ring of Honor inductee, Chris Snee. The first time I saw and talked to Snee (without officially knowing the NFL ties) was after his sixth-grade season--when it was obvious he was different. His arm talent is among the best I've seen for a pre-high school QB in New Jersey since I started evaluating them in 2010--up there with now New York Giant and Cedar Grove-resident, Tommy Devito, who I saw in 2012-2013. Already clocked at 85 mph on his fastball, Snee's right arm is special. He's looking to close out his pre-high school career by helping Franklin Lakes to a 5th straight Tri County Youth Football League championship. Expect him to feed WR's [player_tooltip player_id='1371528' first='Hudson' last='Eilert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1371527' first='Gerald' last='Corrado'] all season long.     We've talked about a QB from "down the shore" in Monmouth County and we've talked about a QB from the hotbed of Bergen County in North Jersey, now we hit Salem County in Southwest Jersey for field general, [player_tooltip player_id='1140616' first='Frank' last='Hoerst']. One of the tallest QBs in this 2029 class, Hoerst is nearly 6-foot-3 and 185-pounds. Over the last calendar year, he's worked and established himself as a winner in the state and has proven it time and time again. Last season he helped lead the Woodstown Pirates to a Tri-County United Football League title and then went on to QB the JTF Jets to an NFL Flag National Title. Hoerst, who was likely the youngest on the field last year, was playing 12U football and made the decision to reclass back to the 2029 class ahead of this upcoming season. Look for Hoerst and his right arm to let it fly in 2024.     It wasn't always this way, but with the all the changes to the football landscape, Rudanovic has already pledged to attended DePaul Catholic next year as freshman--in August 2024 before the first bell of his eighth-grade school year has even rung. It's clear to see why the Spartans are excited to get Rudanovic, as he already stands 6-foot-4 and 180-pounds and can't dunk a basketball. Following a decorated two seasons with the New Jersey Dark Knights, which resulted in a lot of championship hardware, the tall drink of water will be lining up for the Bergen County Stars this season. Rudanovic and his right arm are surrounded by some very talented playmakers on the BC Stars--RB/DB Blake Dominique and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1278074' first='Noah' last='Rivera'] immediately come to mind. He can also rest assure that massive two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1371461' first='Yah-Yah' last='Lewis'] will protect his backside.     Rivera made it known very early that he was leaning towards reclassing, looking for another year of physical growth and has already seen his options from the academic side (the more important side) bloom with opportunity. The 2023-2024 regular season and off-season saw Rivera continue to make strides in overall ability, something that I have well-documented on PRZ Next. He was one of two QBs to help lead the Jersey Shore AYF 14U All-Stars to an AYF National Title in December and then went on to light up our PRZ Next Middle School camp. He also racked up numerous other accolades on the camp/all-star game scene. I will continue to say it until I'm blue in he face, he throws one of the prettiest deep balls you'll see anywhere in the state.     Gloucester County is home to one of the state's most intriguing QBs in this 2029 class. Like [player_tooltip player_id='1016186' first='Rahmir' last='Rivera'] (listed above), [player_tooltip player_id='972832' first='Keeanu' last='Darji'] is also a reclassed prospect hoping to use this year to develop physically and get ready for his high school future. However, before worrying about the future, Darji has business to take care of as QB1 of the Woodbury Steelers 14U team. Last year he put up gaudy numbers for the Steelers and was also an obvious standout at the New Jersey PRZ Next Middle School camp in May. He's a very fun QB to watch who moves around well and possesses a very lively arm. The scariest thing about the upcoming 2024 season is that he may have more Weapons around him this season, than he did last year--highlighted by the freaky [player_tooltip player_id='1141022' first='Jacoby' last='Martin'] and ultra-talented [player_tooltip player_id='1141030' first='Saadiq' last='Marshall'].    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2029 Quarterbacks With Something to Prove</h2>    Quarterback (who also plays Linebacker) that has done some impressive things ahead of this 2024-2025 season/cycle. The Piscataway native has traveled the state this summer--from Bergen County down to Camden County--competing with many of most talented prospects in New Jersey.     When talking about arm talent in this 2029 class, [player_tooltip player_id='1141061' first='Jimmy' last='Derwin'] out of Midland Park needs to mentioned near the top of the conversation. Derwin, a Bergen County Junior Football League All-Star selection last year, reclassed to 2029 and will be playing for Silk City this year. If the height can get there, watch out.     Flanked by a fresh haircut and a "new" team in the 2024-2025 season/cycle, [player_tooltip player_id='1371622' first='Anthony' last='Seibert'] is one to watch on the Haddonfield 14u team down in Camden County. After spending the last few seasons with the Washington Twp. Minutemen and winning the Offensive MVP last year, the two-sport athlete (baseball) will take the helm for the Bulldawgs this season.     The Southpaw QB from just outside New York City will line up for Union City this year, after spending previous seasons of his pre-high school career with Hoboken. I don't have specifics on size, but he's one of the smaller QBs in the state. He throws a pretty ball during training sessions and hopefully it translates to a big 2024 season for Ben-Meir.     The biggest take away from [player_tooltip player_id='1371693' first='David' last='Ciliento Jr.'] is that I want to see more film of him playing, because in the short clips I have seen--he looks like a talent. The righty QB made several nice throws downfield while on the run, look mundane. Wood-Ridge finished 4-4 a year ago.

From the sons of former NFL Pro-Bowlers to reclassed prospects hoping to mature physically and mentally before hitting the high school ranks, below is a look at some 8th grade (class of 2029) Quarterbacks who are looking to/expected to have a big 2024 season. Things change quickly for athletes at this level and what's true in August, may not be true in November. Nonetheless, here are some notable names from around The Garden State.