Top Triad Area Returning Quarterbacks

Today kicks off a new series for me where I am digging into the Triad Area players in the state of North Carolina to spotlight before the season starts. Previously, I focused on the Charlotte Metro Area in a series earlier this year, and my colleague Will Helms dug into the Raleigh area in a similar fashion earlier this year as well. The Triad in North Carolina will feature schools centered near the cities of Winston-Salem and Greensboro for full clarity.   This article will feature some Triad Quarterbacks worth keeping an eye on this upcoming season. There is definitely room for new stars to move up from Junior Varsity or transfer in from different schools; however our article will focus on players returning after playing Varsity football for their teams last season.    The Tennessee commit is back in action for his senior year, fresh off of leading the Whirlies to a state championship last season. Faizon has looked impressive in recent Elite 11 competition, winning the Rail Shot Challenge, which tests the arm strength and accuracy of the quarterbacks in attendance. His mechanics and arm strength are top-notch, and it will be fun to watch him and the Whirlies try to repeat as State Champions in a brand new playoff format.     JaQuez recently announced on Twitter/X that he has transferred to Northeast Guilford High School for his senior season. As part of a two-headed quarterback offense at Dudley, JaQuez was known as the more pro-style type of quarterback, as he impressed on Friday nights with his arm strength and accuracy. His offensive coordinator from Dudley, Antonio Hall, is the new head coach at Northeast Guilford, so it should be a smooth transition on the field for JaQuez.     The second part of the dual-headed quarterback system at Dudley last season, Brayden, is more of a dual-threat player in the Panthers' offense. Last season, Brayden produced nearly 1700 yards passing, 500 yards rushing, and 22 touchdowns in split-time duties, so it will be exciting to see what he does having the full-time quarterback spot presumably to himself. Brayden also stars on the baseball field as well, a nice complement to his football abilities.     Jaxson has had a strong offseason so far, as I was able to see him live at the CFI Carolinas MEGA Showcase back in May. With a 4.3 GPA and National Honor Society accolades, he can pretty much attend any college from an academic standpoint. That intelligence also shows on the field, as you can see with an 18-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio last season. Jaxson also showed some dual-threat ability last year with over 300 rushing yards on the ground.     Haines played at Lake Norman High School last season and transferred to West Forsyth High School after the season. I saw him play live during a jamboree last season, and I came away impressed with his fundamentals. My colleague Will Helms recently wrote that he thought Haines had some of the best footwork among quarterbacks in the 2026 class. I agree, and as a pocket passer, Haines can put the ball where it needs to go on a consistent basis. I think he fits well in the TItans' offensive scheme.     The NC State commit missed most of last season due to injury, but by all reports, is healthy and ready to go for his senior year. What we did see last year, was impressive. Jacob displays strong mechanics, footwork, and shows a good ability to feel pressure in the pocket and make big plays off improvisation. Jacob is also committed to play baseball for NC State, and should help the Raiders back to the playoffs again this year.     Braxton is stepping up to lead one of the better teams in the Triad this season, and some early footage of him in 7 on 7 has been promising. I like the touch Braxton puts on the deep ball, and he looks relaxed with his mechanics in this setting. One rep in particular on a rollout pass, I like how Braxton gets depth on his roll and then attacks, throwing forward on the run. A lot of young quarterbacks don't master this level of technique until they become an upperclassman. I will keep track of how Braxton continues to develop as he is on our watch list.     Draeton was very productive as a freshman starting quarterback for the War Eagles last season, throwing for over 1500 yards and double-digit touchdowns on the year. Draeton will have a new head coach this season, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts to a new offensive system. Draeton is a special athlete as well, as he has some success on the basketball court as well as a point guard.     John threw for nearly 2500 yards and 33 touchdowns for a good team last season that made the playoffs. John shows some dual-threat ability on film, along with the trait to scramble out of the pocket and keep his eyes downfield to make throws. I like the touch and accuracy John shows within the pocket as well. John does a really good job of layering the ball over defenders on intermediate routes , allowing them to catch and run for big gains.       I wrote about Majette recently in reference to camp performance, but as a prospect I like his physical frame and as a 2027 prospect, he can continue to get stronger and add weight for his college football prospects. With offers from Charlotte and Gardner-Webb, this young man will be a prospect to watch for sure this upcoming season and is one of the best quarterbacks in the Triad.

Today kicks off a new series for me where I am digging into the Triad Area players in the state of North Carolina to spotlight before the season starts. Previously, I focused on the Charlotte Metro Area in a series earlier this year, and my colleague Will Helms dug into the Raleigh area in a similar fashion earlier this year as well. The Triad in North Carolina will feature schools centered near the cities of Winston-Salem and Greensboro for full clarity.