Comparing 2026 QBs to Current College Passers

<p>While quarterback comparisons can often go awry, I love using play style and ability to compare future prospects to current college (or pro) players. This exercise is meant to be fun, and to give insight to how I see players when I watch their film. When I compare players, I think of playing style as the chief criteria, rather than pretend I know whether a future college player will have a similar career arc to already-established players. </p>   <p>So, with that being said, here are comparisons for some of the 2026 QBs in the state of North Carolina.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 QB Comps: College Edition</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='284090' first='Faizon' last='Brandon'], Grimsley - Nico Iamaleava (UCLA)</h3>   <p>I've had this quarterback comparison for a long time, ever since I saw Brandon live in the 4A State Playoffs. While slightly shorter than Iamaleava, Brandon has a similar compact, over-the-top motion. His footwork is pristine, and like Iamaleava was at Tennessee, he's in an offense where he doesn't have to throw it 40 times a game. Accordingly, the stats don't tell the whole story of his talent.</p>   <p>Brandon has elite deep ball accuracy, something Iamaleava was known for out of high school. More than that, though, Brandon's running style is eerily similar to Iamaleava's. He's a long strider who eats up ground and always falls forward. He's not going to break many big ones, but he's hard to stop on third-and-three.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='620328' first='Jackson' last='Debe'], Providence - Julian Sayin (Ohio State)</h3>   <p>Like Sayin, Debe has a short, compact release with a ton of velocity. Neither quarterback is afraid to throw back across their body or use their athleticism to escape the pocket or pick up yardage near the end zone. Debe is a bit bigger than Sayin, but both play with an edge that I love to see from young quarterbacks.</p>   <p>Sayin has become an elite decision-maker as he's gotten older, and Debe's completion percentage and interception totals are slightly worse, but the throwing motions are similar and so are the traits. It's not my favorite comparison on this list, but it certainly works.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='896157' first='Zaid' last='Lott'], Providence Day - Jayden Maiava (USC)</h3>   <p>Lott's ability to fit throws into tight windows and throw on the run reminds me a lot of USC Trojans (and former UNLV Rebels) QB Jayden Maiava. The arm talent is evident, even if the overall accuracy numbers are just so-so. That's not an indictment on either quarterback, as both have lower completion percentages thanks to a willingness to push the ball downfield. I love that from prospects, and that confidence is something that should serve Lott well in the future.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1144640' first='Ely' last='Hamrick'], Crest - Taylen Green (Arkansas)</h3>   <p>Arkansas' Taylen Green has borderline elite speed, while Hamrick's is more in the "very good" category. Beyond that, these two quarterbacks have more similarities than differences. Each loves to throw on the run and are dangerous with the ball in their hands, always looking downfield when breaking the pocket.</p>   <p>Green backslid into some bad tendencies at the college level, but was an elite decision-maker as a high schooler, with 49 touchdowns and nine interceptions in two years as a starter. While he's not quite as prolific a runner as Green, Hamrick's passing upside is higher than Green's</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1099168' first='Lan' last='Farmer'], Shelby - Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)</h3>   <p>Gunslingers at heart, Farmer and Nussmeier are most similar in their pocket movement and fearlessness against pressure. Farmer has already thrown for 76 touchdowns and over 6,000 yards, far more than Nussmeier did in a high school career spent primarily as a backup, but once he finally started at LSU, Nussmeier averaged over 40 attempts a game.</p>   <p>Both guys will occasionally trust their arms too much, something I personally have no issue with whatsoever. The arm talent is excellent and Farmer's ability against pressure is well above-average. The film doesn't lie, and there's a reason we're so high on Farmer.</p>

While quarterback comparisons can often go awry, I love using play style and ability to compare future prospects to current college (or pro) players. This exercise is meant to be fun, and to give insight to how I see players when I watch their film. When I compare players, I think of playing style as the chief criteria, rather than pretend I know whether a future college player will have a similar career arc to already-established players.