Kentucky Future Stars: The 2026 Quarterbacks Selected

As the Kentucky Future Stars prepare to take the field against Tennessee in this year's Battle for State Line Supremacy, all eyes turn to arguably the most important positions in football, the quarterback. For these 6th, 7th, and 8th grade athletes, this stage is more than just a game. It's a chance to showcase leadership, decision-making, and skill under pressure. Evaluating Kentucky's quarterbacks means looking beyond just throwing distance or touchdowns. It's about how well they read defenses, stay composed, communicate with teammates, and make smart plays when it matters most. In a rivalry fueled by pride and passion, the quarterbacks will play a key role in determining which state claims bragging rights.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6th Grade - Class of 2032</h2>    Green is quickly establishing himself as one of Kentucky's top young quarterbacks in the Class of 2032. Kolbi earned honors being named to the KYMSFA 6th Grade Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention team. He combines impressive physical tools with advanced poise for his age, highlighted by a strong arm that allows him to make throws to every level of the field. Green already possesses the size and build coaches look for in a developing quarterback, showing the ability to stand tall in the pocket while delivering passes with accuracy, velocity and confidence. His mechanics and natural arm talent give him the upside to continue evolving into a high-level signal caller as he matures physically and continues to gain experience.   Green also proved he can perform when the lights are brightest during his run with the Battle of the Regions Team, where he led his team to an overtime championship victory. His leadership, composure, and competitive mindset stood out throughout the game, especially in pressure moments where he showed command of the offense and the ability to make winning plays. In addition to his regional success, Green earned recognition as a member of various post season teams from Kentucky's 6th Grade group, further validating his status as one of the state's premier young quarterbacks. With his combination of arm strength, frame, leadership, and clutch performance ability, Green is a name to continue watching closely in the coming years.     Harell put together an impressive 2025 season and continues to establish himself as one of the more promising young quarterbacks in Kentucky middle school football. The Williamsburg standout earned KYMSFA 6th Grade Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention team honors. Harell also received the prestigious “Gunslinger” Award in the Tony Colston 7on7 League after throwing 24 touchdown passes during the short season, proving he can produce at a high level in a fast-paced passing attack. His ability to push the football downfield while staying composed under pressure helped separate him from many quarterbacks in his age group.   Harell's selection to the KYMSFA All Star Classic team further validates the upside he brings to the position. For a young quarterback, he already displays encouraging arm talent, field awareness, and natural leadership qualities that coaches look for. While there is still plenty of growth ahead physically and fundamentally, the long-term potential is clearly there. As he continues to mature and gain experience, he will be a player worth watching closely over the next several years to see how he develops into the quarterback position.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7th Grade - Class of 2031</h2>    Anderson capped off an impressive middle school season by proving himself as one of Kentucky's top young quarterbacks, earning KYMSFA Region 4 Player of the Year honors in 2025. The standout 7th grade quarterback displayed tremendous leadership and playmaking ability throughout the year while guiding his team to a 2025 State Championship. Anderson consistently showed the ability to control the game with smart decision-making, accurate passing, and the confidence to make big plays when needed. His growth as a quarterback was evident all season long, and his championship run solidified his reputation as one of the most promising young QBs in the state.   On the national and regional stage, Anderson continued to make his presence felt as a member of various post season teams from Kentucky's 7th Grade group, Kentucky Future Stars, and the Battle of the Regions Team. He closed out the Battle of the Regions weekend in dominant fashion, helping lead his squad to a commanding 47-0 victory while putting up impressive numbers against the competition. Competing against elite talent from across the region only highlighted his football IQ, arm strength, and ability to rise to the occasion. With a proven winning mentality and experience against high-level competition, Anderson is quickly becoming a name to watch in the future of Kentucky football.     Kaden “KJ” Jackson is quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the Class of 2031. KJ plays the game with a maturity that stands out well beyond his years. Calm under pressure and composed in the pocket, he shows good decision-making ability while delivering the football with accuracy and confidence. His ability to read the field, protect the football, and stay efficient as a passer is reflected in some impressive season numbers that include 1,000+ passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and a 65% completion rate.   What makes KJ even more intriguing is his versatility as a true multi-sport athlete. Competing in basketball and baseball has helped develop his athleticism, coordination, footwork, and overall competitiveness, all traits that translate naturally onto the football field. He moves with confidence, stays balanced under pressure, and brings energy and leadership to every team he's part of. As he continues to grow physically and mentally, KJ's ceiling remains extremely high. Smart, composed, and built to lead, he is laying a strong foundation for the future and proving that he is a young quarterback worth watching in the years ahead.     When Landis made the move from Alpharetta to Louisville after his father accepted the coaching position at St. Xavier High School, it brought another talented young quarterback into Kentucky's growing football spotlight. The Class of 2031 signal caller already has an impressive resume for his age, earning recognition as a Georgia Elite Classic QB, and a three-time Georgia All-Star selection. Standing at 5'10”, Landis has good size for the position for his class.   One of the more exciting parts of Landis' game is his ability to extend plays once the pocket breaks down. The left-handed quarterback stays calm under pressure and does a great job escaping defenders while keeping his eyes downfield to make the hard throws. When he gets into the open field, his speed becomes a real weapon and allows him to pick up yards quickly or create big plays on the run. His ability to stay composed in chaotic situations and make something happen gives him a playmaking element that should make him a fun quarterback to watch develop over the next several years.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8th Grade - Class of 2030</h2>    A new prospect name to us, quarterback Cernius brings an intriguing profile with developmental upside and traits worth monitoring as he continues to progress. While there is still limited exposure and not enough verified game footage available to make a complete evaluation, his overall makeup suggests a player with natural athletic ability, positional versatility, and the type of frame and tools that could translate well. He has already made some coaches heads turn by winning a position on the roster over a huge pool of candidates so that says a lot about this young man already. At this stage, the focus remains on gathering more live evaluation opportunities and seeing how he responds in competitive settings before making any definitive projections, but the early indicators are enough to keep him firmly on the radar moving forward.     Grebner, a talented dual-threat quarterback out of Marshall County, brings an exciting blend of athleticism, playmaking ability, and toughness to the field. Grebner has the natural ability to extend plays when protection breaks down, keeping his eyes downfield while also being dangerous with his legs in open space. His mobility allows him to create opportunities off-script in broken-play situations, making him a difficult matchup for defenses. Whether escaping pressure or picking up crucial yards on designed runs, he consistently shows the instincts, and competitiveness coaches love at the quarterback position.   After serving as an alternate for last year's Kentucky Future Stars team, Grebner used that experience as motivation and went to work refining his game to earn a spot on this year's roster. That determination and commitment to improvement speak volumes about his character and work ethic. Now entering a talented quarterback room, it will be exciting to see how the strides he made over the past year translate on the field against high-level competition. His growth and ability to make plays both inside and outside the pocket should make him a quarterback to watch.     Shannon returns to the Kentucky Future Stars again this season as probably the most experienced quarterback on the roster, bringing leadership, confidence, and valuable game experience to the offense. A returning standout for the program, Shannon has continued to develop each season and has consistently proven himself as a dependable field general. His football IQ and understanding of the game allow him to make smart decisions under pressure. This comes as no surprise as Shannon also carries a 3.9 GPA in the classroom. His strong fundamentals help him stay composed in the pocket. Shannon's growth has been recognized across the state, earning honors such as being selected to the KYMSFA D2 Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team in both 2024 and 2025. Those accolades reflect both his production and the respect he has earned from coaches and evaluators throughout Kentucky middle school football.   Physically, Shannon possesses the ideal frame and build for the quarterback position, giving him the tools to continue progressing at a high level. He throws with solid mechanics, shows good touch on intermediate passes, and demonstrates the ability to command the offense with poise and maturity. His veteran presence will be a major asset for this year's Future Stars squad, especially with younger players looking to him for leadership and stability. Shannon combines toughness, preparation, and natural quarterback traits that make him one of the more reliable signal callers in the region. As he continues to refine his game, he has the potential to be one of the key leaders and playmakers for Kentucky Future Stars this season.

As the Kentucky Future Stars prepare to take the field against Tennessee in this year's Battle for State Line Supremacy, all eyes turn to arguably the most important positions in football, the quarterback. For these 6th, 7th, and 8th grade athletes, this stage is more than just a game. It's a chance to showcase leadership, decision-making, and skill under pressure. Evaluating Kentucky's quarterbacks means looking beyond just throwing distance or touchdowns. It's about how well they read defenses, stay composed, communicate with teammates, and make smart plays when it matters most. In a rivalry fueled by pride and passion, the quarterbacks will play a key role in determining which state claims bragging rights.