Quarterbacks Not Done Defining Class of 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year ago this time, we had seen the writing on the wall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2025 rankings were already <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/class-of-2025-quarterback-room-nothing-short-of-absurd/">chock full of quarterbacks</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But not simply those who played the position. South Carolina was loaded. We expected these quarterbacks to collectively challenge the state's high-water mark of six NCAA Division-I signees, previously set in 2002 and matched in 2014. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They did. And then some.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We already knew were capable of putting up big-time numbers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Checked that box, too. Again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And we already believed these players could spark win after win after win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They did. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what we don't know is exactly what the final tally of QB1s from the Palmetto State will be on a college roster next year. Because while the early signing period inked a few and spurred a commitment or two, this positional group still has plenty to offer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's first look at the class as a whole. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_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-676451853accc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What you can't see on that embedded table is the current commitments/signees. We can help you there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PLAYER</strong></td><td><strong>HIGH SCHOOL</strong></td><td><strong>COLLEGE</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods']</td><td>Westside</td><td>South Carolina (enrolled)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</td><td>Irmo</td><td>Virginia Tech (signed)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</td><td>Richland Northeast</td><td>North Carolina State (enrolled)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk']</td><td>Northwestern</td><td>Gardner-Webb Signed</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</td><td>Dartmouth</td><td>Dartmouth (Ivy Enrollment Process)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby']</td><td>Bamberg-Ehrhardt</td><td>North Carolina Central (signed)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='457973' first='Trooper' last='Floyd']</td><td>Chester</td><td>Johnson C. Smith (Division II)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1031336' first='Corey' last='Tillman']</td><td>North Augusta</td><td>The Citadel (verbal commitment)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That list, as impressive as it appears on the surface, is only the beginning. Here's the best way we can show you:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a shade under 12 months time, Prep RedZone South Carolina went from 24 ranked quarterbacks in the Class of 2025 to a whopping 44. And that doesn't include a number of players who are so influential in other positions that we classified them as athletes instead of quarterbacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In deed, this positional group was the driving force at a level of football that can often get by with a game manager capable of handing the ball off, making the occasional solid read and simply not turning the ball over to the opposing defense. But that's not what this group is. Not by a long shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We feel comfortable saying that because of the large number of uncommitted college prospects still mulling offers or trying to attract a little more attention prior to the regular signing period in February. Between now and then, the eight-player list above is destined to grow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are who we believe are the top five uncommitted prospects at the position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch'] Catawba Ridge | Couch easily could have been one of the bigger names in the state had he not missed his junior year after suffering an ankle injury away from football. Still, he returned for the Copperheads and threw for 3,096 yards and 33 touchdowns. He put up a decent amount of that production while star tight end [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] was out with an injury, and his arm strength and decision making are both well above what anyone would describe as average. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana'] Philip Simmons | For much of the last three offseasons, it appeared as if someone other than Orellana would be leading the Iron Horses' offense. Yet, come season opener time, it was Orellana who'd fended off competitors. It's not difficult to see why. He's a winner. He completed 62 percent of his passes and had a 58-to-15 touchdown-to-interception rate. Philip Simmons, not surprisingly, won 27 games since the beginning of his sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond'] Mountain View Prep | Drummond made the decision last spring to transfer to the upstart program and all he did was play a massive role in leading the Stars to the Class 3A Upper State final. He connected on 68 percent of his passes and finished with 2,004 yards and 26 touchdowns. That all came one season after helping Greenville to its Upper State final by throwing for 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns. Maybe it wasn't an institutional thing after all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1012707' first='Lincoln' last='Huskey'] Boiling Springs | We aren't naive to the fact that some colleges just aren't crazy about a left-handed quarterback. But the ones who have seen Huskey up close and personal can shelf that craziness. He's as tough as they come and routinely bounces back from hits that might send others to the sideline. Given the Bulldogs' competition level, his numbers were equally solid: 1,823 passing yards, completed 63 percent of his passes, 23 total touchdowns (20 passing), three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) in 248 passes/carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] Chapin | Albro - who like Huskey is in this weekend's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl - is trying to put a nicer bow on what has been his roughest season out of three as a Class 5A starting quarterback. Let us tell you how miserable it was for him. The Eagles senior threw for 2,603 yards and 22 touchdowns. He completed 59 percent of his passes. And he led Chapin to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2021. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->