Elite Eight: Top 8 Returning Passing Yard Leaders in 2026 (8-Man)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;OscarGalindo30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are well into the offseason, I can look ahead to some of the top statistical producers who will be back for the 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We checked out some of the top 11-man stat leaders, now lets look at the eight-man standouts. Here are the top returning passing yards leaders from the eight-man ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. 2,439 yards - [player_tooltip player_id='1590722' first='Kamerin' last='Sealey'] ('28), Sandy Creek - 6'0" 175 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1590722' first='Kamerin' last='Sealey'] didn't just meet expectations as he took over as QB1 for the reigning D1 champions, but he far surpassed them and led the Cougars to repeat titles. Kamerin was one of the top dual-threats in the state as he threw for 2,439 yards, 36 touchdowns (6 INTs), a 132.6 QBR, and a 71% completion rate while also rushing for 1,781 yards and 38 touchdowns. Sealey was also a big playmaker on defense where he tallied 68 tackles, two TFLs, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23140283/691f5603a14e8c4649c71e39' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697ee35690c6d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. 1,713 yards - Wyatt Fulton ('27), Johnson-Brock - 5'9" 170 lbs - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After taking a big leap in his junior season, Wyatt Fulton looks primed to lead the Johnson-Brock Eagles on a deep run next fall with another big jump in year four. Wyatt actually recorded the same number of completions and attempts at the year before going 100 for 144 , but nearly doubled his production with 1,713 yards (968 prior), 24 passing touchdowns (12 prior - 6 INTs), and a 131.7 QBR. Fulton also showed what he can do on the ground with 507 yards and 11 touchdowns on 93 carries.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16396808/696a6b50d8257179824d1890' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697ee35690cbd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. 1,619 yards - [player_tooltip player_id='1591389' first='Cooper' last='Arehart'] ('28), Neligh-Oakdale - 6'0" 170 lbs - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Neligh-Oakdale's [player_tooltip player_id='1591389' first='Cooper' last='Arehart'] is a player who jumped on our radar as a freshman after a great season and looks like he continued that into his sophomore season. Cooper completed 46% of his passes for 1,619 yards and 16 touchdowns (12 INTs). He also continued to tear up defenses with his legs, posting 898 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 148 carries. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. 1,541 yards - Austin Sudbeck ('27), Hartington-Newcastle - 6'2" 180 lbs - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hartington-Newcastle QB Austin Subeck showed he can get the job done both through the air and on the ground with a solid dual-threat season. The junior QB threw for 1,541 yards and 17 touchdowns (6 INTs) while completing 99 of 155 attempts and rushed for 908 yards and 15 touchdowns.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. 1,468 yards - Kobe Maertins ('29), Plainview - 6'3" 180 lbs - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The varsity lights proved to not be too bright for Plainview QB Kobe Maertins who led them to a 10-2 season as a freshman. Kobe completed 98 of 166 passes for 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns (4 INTs). Maertins also contributed 371 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. 1,424 yards - Preston Foxhoven ('28), Crofton - 6'0" 175 lbs </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sophomore Preston Foxhoven stepped in nicely into the QB1 role for the Warriors, helping them make the Class D1 state championship game. Last season, Preston completed 75 of his 120 pass attempts for 1,424 yards, 18 touchdowns (5 INTs), and a 125.8 QBR. Foxhoven was also an effective runner with 93 carries for 512 yards and nine touchdowns and was crucial on defense with 62 tackles, three TFLs, six interceptions (one pick-six), and a forced fumble.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27103531/69089d67a445b339d33daf51' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697ee35690cf7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. 1,418 yards - Zander Welsh ('28), Pender - 5'11" 180 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pender's Zander Welsh looks like a hidden gem prospects after quietly having an efficient season for the Pendragons. Zander completed 90 of 132 attempts for 1,418 yards, 26 touchdowns (6 INTs), and a 124.3 QBR. Welsh also recorded 300 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 82 carries. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16428960/691b68b9886c1ea6c5d0cad4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697ee35690d28"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. 1,256 yards - Parker Perry ('28), Centennial - 6'0" 145 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sophomore QB Parker Perry had a solid season as he helped lead the Broncos in their transition from 11-man to 8-man. There were some growing pains in Parker's first season as a starter, but he still managed to throw for 1,256 yards and 11 touchdowns (14 INTs) while completing 49% of his passes. Parker also added 119 yards and two scores on the ground. I couldn't find any tape of Parker's sophomore season, but with one full year of experience under his belt, he should come out firing this fall.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure to follow <em>@PRZ_OscarG</em> for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->