2026 NY Rankings: Quarterbacks

Check out the updated 2026 Rankings<a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2026-rankings/"> HERE</a>   This quarterback group is an intriguing one. There will be a second part that includes a bunch of other prospects that show some promise, but for now, it will be a run-through of the top 5 and 2 prospects who I think will have big-time senior seasons. This group includes a lot of really talented athletes; there are not any true pocket passers coming out this year, a lot of dual-threat guys or guys who meet the requisite athleticism standard for the next level and can make plays outside of the structure of a play.   Each prospect gets a little intro with TWO or THREE of the traits that stand out on tape - a lot of different body types and even play styles in this group but a lot of promising tape to work with.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Five Quarterbacks</h2>    Jones led CBA-Albany to the state title game this year and earned tons of post-season accolades, but the tape is why he lands at #1 in the quarterback position in our rankings.   Jones does many things well, but what stands out on tape are three traits that you rarely see with HS quarterbacks, especially as consistently as you see them with Jones.   Pocket Awareness & Movement: Jones has an incredible feel for pressure in the pocket; his ability to use his athleticism to escape or move and reset his feet is better than anyone in this class.   Anticipation: When you watch tape from each game, there are multiple throws every game that Jones makes where most QBs wouldn't pull the trigger. He understands throwing guys open and is not afraid to test coverage by making throws at all field levels. He targets open space and does so efficiently; not many high school quarterbacks have this type of feel for the game, and if they do, they tend to turn the ball over often.   Touch: You see a wide variety of throws on tape, but Jones makes a lot of really nice touch throws or level 2/level 3 balls. These passes have some air on them and sometimes require being off-platform or making throws with just the upper body. There is also an accuracy element to touch, since these throws often don't involve traditional mechanics. The accuracy aspect of these touch throws for Jones comes more naturally than with other QBs. Nothing looks forced or off; instead, you get a smooth release and catchable ball down the field.     Coan was dominant for his first season as a full-time starter for Sayville's quarterback factory. He has elite measurables for the position and should end up around the 6'4 "220 range in college. He has the athleticism to make plays on the run.   Size: Coan is the only quarterback near the top of this quarterback group who exceeds what you look for in quarterback measurables; most guys just hit the requisite level, but Coan has the frame to be an asset at the next level.   Velocity: Coan can spin it. He stands out with level 1 balls, which are on a straight line and essentially full-strength throws in the short and intermediate areas of the field. He flashes a strong arm and deep accuracy, but those intermediate throws to the sidelines and over the middle of the field have some very good zip on them. You see a lot of success over the middle of the field because of the velocity Coan has on his throws.   Timing/Decision Making: Coan is incredibly efficient when working in rhythm and delivering out of 3-step and 5-step drops. He does the simple things well, which, although it sounds easy, you realize that every year, fewer quarterbacks can consistently make the simple plays. It all starts with his decision-making and ability to work within the structure of a play and its timing.     Guzman could be the next two-sport athlete at the next level coming out of New York if he chooses that route. There are some very intriguing traits to work with here, and although slightly undersized, he has the athleticism and arm talent to make up for it.   Arm Talent: Guzman has probably the strongest arm in the state, and that makes sense, considering his recruitment as a shortstop to the University of Maryland. He can make any throw on the field and can put some velocity behind any throw you ask him to make.   Athleticism: Guzman is a good athlete, which should be no surprise considering his multi-sport acumen. He is twitchy and flashes some good burst and quickness, which you often see when he evades guys in the pocket.   Poise: Guzman has a very calm presence under pressure. He can deliver in the face of defensive linemen and shows a good ability to escape, but he keeps his eyes down the field to deliver passes. He has also done a good job adjusting his arm angle or footwork to readjust and deliver in the face of pressure.     I touch on a lot in one particular skillset I like with Kleitz so this intro will be short but a 3-year starter with tons of production there is plenty of tape that proves he is among the top QBs in this class.   Multi-Sport Pedigree: I am going to tie this in with the concept of spatial awareness, something specific multi-sport athletes can develop a lot, but Kleitz is not only one of the top-producing quarterbacks in the state but also one of the highest-scoring point guards in the state.   Football Career: 6,897 Yards, 69% Completion, 71 TDs, 17 INTs, 515 Rushing Yards, 5 TDs   A one-month snapshot of his basketball production: 31.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 5.3 SPG, 3.5 RPG   The All-Time NYS passing record held by Greg Paulus is 4,863 yards away, which, without a full postseason run, would be hard for Kleitz to reach. However, he can undoubtedly reach the 8,000 mark and a top five loaded with stars from recent history.   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1st</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">11,760</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Greg Paulus</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Syracuse CBA</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2001 - 04</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2nd</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">10,027</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Matthew Valecce</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Fordham Prep</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2014 - 17</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3rd</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">9787</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Jack Coan</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Sayville</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2013 - 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">4th</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">8929</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Charlie McKee</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Oceanside</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2018 - 21</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5th</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">8480</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Joseph Filardi</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Half Hollow Hills East</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2022 - 24</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   *Records via NYSSWA, in addition to my research.   If Kleitz replicates his Jr season, he would fall 2nd with 10,131 - a full 1,500ish off 1st place - enough with stats, though the point is that he is a highly accomplished multi-sport athlete.   While there has been evidence of a positive correlation that many college athletes were successful multi-sports athletes in high school with what he does on the basketball court, something I noticed in his football film is his spatial awareness. He can escape and extend, but his awareness of the sideline, his depth, and the pass rushers around him is special - his multi-sport feats are impressive, but on the football tape there are so many reps where he shows an excellent feel for what is happening around him and the LOS.   Arm Talent   There is a ton of variety on tape in the types of throws Kleitz makes; he targets every level of the field and consistently can attack between the hash marks. There are plenty of throws outside the pocket that show his ability to push the ball down the field off the platform. You don't have the production Kleitz has without the arm talent and it shows itself throughout his tape.     Robinson took advantage of his transfer and first year as a full-time starter at Long Island Lutheran; he got some run at St. Anthony's last season and put some good stuff on tape, but a full season of tape as the starter gives coaches a ton to evaluate.   Arm Talent: Not many quarterbacks push the ball down the field as consistently as Robinson does; while it is a great display of his arm talent down the field, he is able to attack the deep third of coverage so often that you almost look for more short-area throws on tape. He can attack the middle of the field, the sideline, and anything 30+ yards down the field. Robinson has a few reps of it on tape.   Deep Accuracy: He has the arm to get it there, but actually, connecting on those throws is not easy. Multiple reps show great ball placement along the sidelines, where throws can only be caught by WRs, and there are also plenty of reps getting the ball between closing safeties. The ability to push the ball down the field accurately is what lands Robinson near the top of this quarterback class.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Expect Big Senior Seasons From</h2>    Anzalone missed most of this season due to injury, but his SOPH tape and seeing him throw live last summer at a DB clinic keep me confident in his ability and where he belongs in these rankings.   Athleticism: Anzalone did not run a ton when he started as a Freshman, but as a Sophomore, his athleticism was an asset in the run game. Not only can he navigate outside the pocket when things break down, but he has the size and athleticism to be a factor in the designed QB run or zone read the game at the next level. He is not a burner, but he shows some burst and the ability to turn the corner on guys.   Ball Placement: I can only speak on what I have seen on tape and in person, but there are some throws on tape where the ball placement stands out on tape. A majority of Anzalone throws on tape, Anzalone is not just hitting guys but getting the ball in the ideal spot for guys to catch and turn upfield in the sequence of their route or when throwing toward the sideline, putting the ball in spots that are away from the defender.     Scott is in a similar boat to Anzalone, and that is why he lands in the potential breakout senior year area. Except instead of injury, Scott transferred to St. John the Baptist, where, although he got some run at points in the season, he had a quarterback returning, blocking the immediate path to play time.   Velocity: His arm strength is there; off-platform, he can make some throws with zip on them. Working from the pocket, he can really deliver high-level level 1 and level 2 passes. Although he played more as a SOPH at a different school, his velocity has clearly improved from SOPH to JR year.   Mechanics: When you watch Scott throw in the rhythm of a play, his throwing motion looks so smooth and efficient. The tape is too far away to get very specific about each part of his throwing motion, but as far as a snap to delivery on a 3-step drop, it looks about as good, if not better, than anyone in this class.   Scott gets an outro here because this evaluation really is not complete until we see him work this senior year as the starting quarterback at St. John the Baptist. He should perform well in a camp setting, but the key will be his production and tape this fall.

Check out the updated 2026 Rankings HERE