2027 Rankings Update: QBs Possessing Skills to Impress

Editor's note: Prep RedZone's Spring Rankings Update window means savings for you. Throughout the entirety of the cycle, you can save 40% off an annual or two-year subscription by using the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout. This will unlock all rankings and subsequent content at the discounted rate. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Get in the game here.</a>   Big arms and nifty accuracy.   No fear and an ability to initiate contact.   The ultimate decision makers.   The Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings are threaded with quarterbacks who do some or all of the above. Each of them have room for growth, of course, but as they approach their final year of high school ball, we've seen the type of large-scale quarterback room that we're going to be talking about regularly for the next seven-plus months.   Some of them are going to end up (or already have) some pretty heady offers. Others not so much. But what they have in common is the ability to inspire confidence.    This crew isn't going to be forgotten any time soon.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP 5   [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] Oceanside Collegiate   If you've paid attention to our coverage each of the last three Decembers, you've seen a reliable dose of Manavian coverage. Don't blame us because he keeps winning rings. Manavian is expected to surpass 10,000 career passing yards sometime in early October of his senior year and he's a big reason the Landsharks are the odds-on favorite to win another title this coming December.   [player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means'] Northwestern   Means is being evaluated by college coaches to play at least four different positions (that we know of) after his time with the Trojans comes to an end. Yes, he threw for 2,873 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing an insane 76 percent of his throws last fall. But he also has video game speed that led him to another 1,239 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground. He's the top dual-threat in the state and has a bunch of friends (new and old) ready to help him put up another stat-stuffed season.    [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] Ridge View   We're not quick to forget that in Howard's only full season behind center by himself that he threw for 2,476 yards and 22 touchdowns while proving he could make any throw necessary of him. Quick release? Cool. Tight sideline windows? Yep. Deep balls? You bet. None of that has fallen by the wayside even though he missed most of last fall with a leg injury. He's been fully cleared and will begin the next phase of his comeback this weekend in Spartanburg at the Carolinas Coaches Combine.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='McMillan'] Bamberg-Ehrhardt   If McMillan was simply floating the ball out to his four freakishly good receivers, maybe some of the luster from his impressive junior season wouldn't mean as much. But those 4,225 passing yards and 47 touchdowns (did we mention he threw only five picks in 210 attempts?) were backed up by his 951 rushing yards and another 23 scores. That level of insanity isn't supposed to happen at this level.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] Berkeley    The name of the Stags' offense as long as Rivers is running the show is to get him mobile and let his legs do the heavy lifting while his arm remains just as viable. He's tapered off some numerically from his star-studded freshman season but has the look of a quarterback ready to take over like the old days this fall. His physical abilities will frustrate opponents for one more trip through the season.     READY FOR A RISE   [player_tooltip player_id='463113' first='Gideon' last='Merhib'] Byrnes (pictured)   For all of the transfers around the state, the quarterback position was relatively stable (all things considered). Merhib was one of the exceptions to the rule, as a player who threw for 2,361 yards and 19 touchdowns is merging into an offense already loaded at tailback and receiver. We're projecting here quite a bit, but we don't see a way Merhib won't at least have an opportunity to flirt with 2,750 yards or more.   [player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf'] Camden    The coach's son showed some glimpses of something special brewing as a sophomore, but that didn't change that the Bulldogs already had an experienced quarterback who deserved his reps, too. Flash forward to Rimpf's junior year, and the steady diet of playing time made a huge difference. He threw for 2,390 yards and 28 touchdowns against just six picks and added four rushing touchdowns when he wasn't running the ball very often.    [player_tooltip player_id='1819661' first='Tyler' last='Harris'] Cross   On the surface, Harris' production from his sophomore year to his junior season looked pretty similar. Dig a bit further down or ask the coaching staff, and the progress was tangible. He improved his completion rate by 13 percentage points and cut his interceptions in half (10 down to five). The fact the he threw for 100 more yards over the course of the year with two fewer games told us his more measured approach was leading to results.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823525' first='De'Eric' last='Davis'] South Florence    Most weeks, one of the most physically impressive players walking out on the field for South Florence during pregame was only seeing a handful of snaps in that game while being nestled behind a two-year starter at quarterback. That is, except for the Bruins' non-region game against Fort Dorchester. The 6-foot-4 quarterback made the most his reps, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another one. The bulk of his production came from that one game, but it won't be that way for long.     SLEEPERS NO MORE    [player_tooltip player_id='1819537' first='Collin' last='Tillman'] North Augusta    After splitting reps at the position as a junior (more on that below), it certainly appears the job is Tillman's alone for the 2026 season. He threw for north of 1,000 yards and made the most of his half-time role with the Yellow Jackets. The de facto full-time promotion for him comes at an interesting time, as North Augusta will be re-tooling a number of other skill position spots but will simultaneously be returning a ton of talent.    [player_tooltip player_id='630150' first='Owen' last='Glenn'] Clinton    Glenn's junior year included a few more picks than he would have liked, but for him to go north of 1,000 combined passing-rushing yards was a huge sign for what's to come. The Red Devils are still going to be a run-first scheme, but another offseason of acclimation to playing the quarterback job won't be a bad thing. His effectiveness rate on his plays should expand significantly.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary'] Strom Thurmond   The recent North Augusta quarterback will return to a school that has heavy family ties, but also where he's got a strong connection with the existing players coming back from the Rebels' state championship squad. Hillary will have plenty of weapons around him and should provide a nice experience boost after Strom Thurmond's list of losses includes its quarterback and his 1,900 passing yards from last fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820390' first='Brady' last='Dantzler'] James Island   While he was anxiously awaiting his turn to run the Trojans' defense last fall while stacked on the depth chart behind his big brother (Connor), Dantzler stayed active by pitching in 32 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception as a safety. He'll now roll that competitive streak back to his primary position, and he'll do so with a deep and experience receiving corps that can already rely on his physical abilities.

Editor's note: Prep RedZone's Spring Rankings Update window means savings for you. Throughout the entirety of the cycle, you can save 40% off an annual or two-year subscription by using the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout. This will unlock all rankings and subsequent content at the discounted rate. Get in the game here.