2029 Rankings Winter Update: Breaking Down the QBs

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone</a>, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.   Handing an offense over to a freshman goes against everything we've been told to expect.   Yet, here we are.   Nine of the 10 quarterbacks we have ranked in our latest update have been given that responsibility. The only one who didn't was stacked behind a pair of seniors.    We mention all that first because getting onto the field, let along experiencing some success, isn't what this position leads anyone to expect.    Again, though, here we are.   The signal callers in the Prep RedZone Class of 2029 rankings collectively bring arm strength and guts, mobility and pocket awareness. They were all various shades of green. At least, they were.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP THREE   [player_tooltip player_id='1595007' first='Khayel' last='Sam Fong-Talia'] Dillon    The expectation of greatness that Fong-Talia carried into the back half of his freshman season couldn't have been easy. He stormed out of the gate and drove the Wildcats' offense despite having had only a matter of months to adjust to varsity ball. Nothing he did over the course of his first year could be viewed as anything less than a wide-eye-inducing crystal ball into his future.    [player_tooltip player_id='1881741' first='Bear' last='Woods'] Westside   The same goes for Woods, the Rams' legacy quarterback who finished the year with 2,300 passing yards and 23 touchdowns against just six picks. That sort of jumpstart into his varsity career packaged with coach Brian Lanes' affinity for airing it out over and over again tells us that Woods is not only going to flirt with 10,000 career passing yards, it'll be expected. That's anything but normal under the standards of South Carolina high school football.    [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'] Gray Collegiate    We saw Wright live multiple times during the 2025 season, and while he took one on the chin against South Florence in the Lower State final, what he did prior was impossible to ignore. The lefty threw for 2,200 yards, which was nice. He did so while completing 60.2 percent of his passes and possessing a 22-to-five touchdown/interception ratio, which was even better.    READY FOR BRIGHTER SPOTLIGHT   [player_tooltip player_id='1647349' first='Cade' last='Amell'] Hammond   Amell's got a longer history than most, as he was an unusual two-year starter at Trinity Collegiate before making the move to Hammond for his freshman season (he spent two years as an eighth grader at Trinity). He split time last fall with a senior, and word on the street is the full-time job could lead to some monumental personal numbers for him as a sophomore. He's going to be more seasoned than most as this grade, so we like his chances.   [player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker'] Lexington    The nationally recognized baseball catcher is gritty, and anyone who has seen him play will easily give him that. Some injury issues led him to the field, and then the de facto starting job. He rewarded the Wildcats with nine total touchdowns. Crocker is still a touch on the small side for 5A football, but he makes it work. He'll get more time behind center as a sophomore, and the play calling should reflect him as more than a game manager.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817908' first='Max' last='Breit'] Southside Christian   As we mentioned in our introductory post on Breit's addition to the rankings, this youngster can throw on the run, something that helps inexperienced quarterbacks get out of trouble. What we held back on is that he almost relishes it, even when he clearly wants to stay in the pocket. Breit likes to occasional change his arm angle and doesn't get rattled by pressure in his face.    MORE NOTABLE NEW ADDITIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='2106784' first='Xavier' last='Sammet'] Greer   The Yellow Jackets were faced with an improbable situation in that it had both a sophomore and a freshman at the position ready to replace last year's starter. Greer never really chose, and don't plan to any time soon. Sammet's role in that was showing that his ability to escape or execute both the run and pass was a strength. He finished the season with six passing touchdowns and another five on the ground.    [player_tooltip player_id='1563930' first='Harper' last='Doyle'] Woodmont   When Doyle is under pressure, which he often was, he reaches into his bag of tricks and shows off an ability to zip one out without stepping into the throw. Much like Breit and his ability to throw while moving left or right, Doyle proved he didn't need to be comfortable to put the ball where it needed to be. Yes, some of the guys on this list have much more impressive numbers, but certain skills aren't really taught so much as they're simply absorbed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1077186' first='Corey' last='Taylor'] Gaffney (pictured)   By rule, we tend not to spend too much time evaluating guys at the sub-varsity levels. It's simply not realistic to do so with this many players. Taylor forced our hand via some offseason events before he even got to high school. No, he didn't see the field for the Gaffney varsity, but he will soon. And his smooth delivery, big arm and and skills in different game scenarios will translate to a higher range of attention that will catch on sooner rather than later. We'll be waiting when it does.   [player_tooltip player_id='2106782' first='Logan' last='Bragg'] Laurens    Bragg is one of just two quarterbacks in the rankings class south of 6-feet, so we get why he hasn't turned a lot of heads. He should. Bragg spent his freshman season daring defensive backs to go after some of the passes he snuck through tight windows and then celebrated with his teammates after sizable gains. Did he throw some picks? Yes. But those failures were also a great teacher. Get ready for his second go around. It'll be fun to watch.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.