Breaking Down The 2026 Rankings: Quarterbacks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterbacks in the Class of 2026 has the potential to be special. They have command of the offense that they are running and they put the ball where only their receivers can go up and plays.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are several guys that while you may not know their names now, you'll know them as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2409","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2451","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d63a2fa142a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon']</strong> | South Pointe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have yet to see McMillon in game action with his new school after transferring over from Fairfield Central. He is recovering from offseason surgery and there is no clear timetable on his return. But when the Stallions eventually get him back, they'll have a dynamic dual threat player who can create on the run and sling it around with pinpoint accuracy. He threw for 2,394 yards in 2023 with the Griffins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore']</strong> | Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After spending last year at Ben Lippen, Gilmore has a new home in the Upstate. And the Indians are getting an excellent gunslinger going into his junior year as he has committed to Arkansas. He has a rocket for an arm and his ball placement is really, really fun to watch. He can make the quick throws or launch it downfield for a big play. He threw for 1,767 yards and 23 touchdowns with the Falcons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> | AC Flora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wentzky looked comfortable in helping the Falcons get off to a great start two weeks ago in a 42-6 rout of Westwood. He threw four touchdowns and did an excellent job of selling the play action fakes and making the defense respect the run game. If that trend continues, he'll continue to light up the scoreboard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz']</strong> | Ashley Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalisz got his season off to a great start against Berkeley two weeks ago, throwing for 258 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for one more. He can drop the ball into the bread basket and he excelled especially on designed rollouts to his receivers as he found them open and put it in a place where only they could get it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] </strong>| Gray Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waller had an impressive debut for the Eagles against James Island in the opening contest of the 2024 season. He found open receivers near the sidelines on rollouts. He's also not afraid to put his head down, keeping plays alive with his feet and getting some extra yardage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18932175/66cd0f59e569e645b41a803f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d63a2fa159f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RISING STARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165104' first='Julius' last='Hippenstiel'] </strong>| Hanahan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hippenstiel has a nice zip on his throws. He excelled in their opening win over Philip Simmons at getting the ball out quick on screens and allowing his receivers to get up field and make plays. He's also a guy who can keep plays alive with his feet to find someone open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] </strong>| Lamar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce (pictured above) threw for 1447 yards in 2023, and he'll be looking to top those results in 2024. His team got their first win of the season against Green Sea Floyds this past Friday, throwing for 130 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for one more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy'] </strong>| Bluffton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCarthy can put the ball right on the money, whether it be a deep ball for a touchdown or an intermediate throw over the middle to where his receiver can make the catches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown']</strong> | Lancaster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is an athletic and quick quarterback who can extend plays with his legs. He's smart with the football and won't make disastrous plays. Combine that with a strong start to the 2024 campaign with wins over Chester and Indian Land to begin the season, Brown could turn some heads with the Bruins as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] </strong>| Heathwood Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belk has great pocket presence in being able to create plays with his feet. And he has great size to be able to see the whole field to make plays downfield and when he does, it's fun to watch. He puts the ball in a position where his guys can go get it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] </strong>| Belton Honea Path</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas excels in rolling out and making accurate throws. He can toss it out on a quick screen or launch it deep, keeping his eyes downfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] </strong>| Stratford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis has a solid spiral on his throws where he allows his receivers to run right underneath it and catch it in stride. He can also roll out and keep plays alive with his feet in the opening contest against Summerville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025811' first='Jay' last='Stoker'] </strong>| Easley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stoker had a great start to his senior season against Pickens, throwing for 408 yards and four touchdowns. We saw him make throws to the corner and on checkdowns to the back, not forcing the ball downfield and just allowing his receivers to make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17731672/66cb909b072b58aa9d64224c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d63a2fa15ca"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DARK HORSE CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403906' first='Banks' last='Bouton'] </strong>| Greenville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bouton can stand in the face of pressure and make the throws. Whether it's rollouts or deep balls, he puts the ball on the money and can move around in the pocket to keep plays alive as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald']</strong> | Loris</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gerald could be on the verge of a special season, if Game 1 is any indication. He has great athletic ability and he can see the field well to be able to step up and make accurate throws. When his receivers make catches, they typically run right underneath and catch it in stride.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1411101' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] </strong>| Darlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Augustus can make plays on the ground and is not afraid to take a hit, as we saw against Lamar a couple of weeks ago. He also has a nice zip on his throws to be able to put it where his receivers can go get it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17791624/66c978bcb720123517656140' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d63a2fa15e9"} /-->