Prove It Year: PRZIA Senior QBs on the Watchlist

Players on the Prep Redzone rankings watch list may have a difficult time trying to prove their worth as potential D2 or D1 prospects due to their lack of exposure in previous seasons or unrefined qualities for the next level, but it doesn't rule them out in any way of taking that next step. Today, we take a look at 7 QBs in Iowa from the Class of 2027 that are entering a prove-it year, to show that they do have what it takes to become big-time signal-callers at the collegiate level!    It's surprising that [player_tooltip player_id='1896856' first='Brooks' last='Weber'] has not earned a place on the rankings for the class of 2027 considering that he was one of the best performing QBs across the entire state last season. Weber is no stranger within our evaluations, and his presence guided immediate growth for the Golden Hawks, surging to a 9-2 record and a run to the Class 2A quarterfinals last season. Weber has proven himself to be a fluid QB with strong mechanics and toughness, being able to deliver accurate passes even after taking a hit, possessing the fundamentals, mindset, and quality leadership to elevate the Golden Hawks' offense. While perhaps overlooked playing at a lower conference, Weber is still very much overlooked despite the big numbers he's posted, and perhaps another strong campaign in 2026 will convince scouts otherwise for serious recruiting potential.     [player_tooltip player_id='1827720' first='Jameer' last='Falls'] doesn't pose himself as a towering signal-caller with the frame to translate his skillset to the next level, but he's proven himself as an underrated signal caller who's helped the Riverhawks as a contentious unit with the 4A conference. Falls completed over 66% of his passes, throwing for 1239 yards, 13 TDs, and 7 INTs while adding 269 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) and 8 rushing TDs. Falls improved considerably with his reads and ball-control, proving to make more precise progressions in the RPO-game and proving versatile as a dual-threat, but his arm strength should not be overlooked either, proving that he can sling the ball just as good as anyone in the state. Falls will look to deliver another strong campaign as he looks to guide Mason City to a winning performance to cap off his high school tenure.     [player_tooltip player_id='1581283' first='Jayden' last='Daale']'s numbers haven't been through the roof, but he's been quietly proving capable as a signal-caller for the Lions over the last 2 seasons. 2025 was a step back from his sophomore season, throwing for 885 yards, 7 TDs, and 4 INTs while rushing for 414 yards (4.5 YPC) and 5 rushing TDs as the team fell to 2-6. It was a jarring drop-off, but perhaps expected after Daale lost two of his top receivers from the previous season. Daale flashes great size and athleticism for the position, putting nice touch and placement on his throws, and showed an exceptional knack of timing and being able to place his passes through some really tight windows over the course of the season. Daale will look to rebound in his senior season and help push the Lions back into playoff contention.     Taking over as the starter in 2025, [player_tooltip player_id='1848962' first='Roston' last='McCarty'] dealt with a good share of bumps in the road adjusting as the varsity signal-caller, but with continued growth and a returning set of starters within his receiving corps in 2026, McCarty could be a wild card prospect to flourish in the 3A conference. McCarty threw for 1518 yards, 9 TDs, and 10 INTs while rushing for 210 yards and 3 TDS. McCarty is noted for his prowess as a pitcher, and his strong left arm shows itself on the gridiron as well, delivering effective strikes and showcasing solid range in stretching the field while also being able to extend the play, moving out of the pocket, and keeping his eyes down the field. McCarty will look to guide Knoxville back in the right direction entering his senior campaign.     Not the best performing QB as a passer, but [player_tooltip player_id='1844844' first='Tanner' last='Ray'] has proven to be a volatile playmaker within the 3A league. Ray completed nearly 66% passes in 2025 and threw for 1726 yards, both of which were improvements from his sophomore season, but he only threw 8 TDs to 12 INTs. He also ran for 990 yards (7.7 YPC) and 10 TDs. There is no doubt about Ray's explosive potential and how dangerous he is as a dual-threat, as well as his progression in his accuracy, though it didn't always translate to points, though to say they weren't very competitive would be a lie, as Ray led near-upsets over stronger teams like Winterset and Atlantic, while also guiding the team to victories in their last 2 games of the season. Ray will look to further improve on his growth as a passer and translate his abilities into more points that could yield more wins for the Panthers in 2026.     [player_tooltip player_id='2085086' first='Emerson' last='Berner'] will have huge shoes to fill in 2026, replacing star QB Reece Rettig to back-to-back double-digit winning seasons. Berner flashed potential in limited appearances on the varsity lineup, throwing for 236 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. Compared to Rettig, Berner has more physical upside as a signal caller, and in limited appearances last season, Berner played exceptionally well, showing solid timing and placement on his throws in the pocket while also being able to extend the play and deliver accurate passes on the run. Berner will be the likely frontrunner to take over under center as the Lightning under several major changes this offseason.     Not a physically gifted QB, and one that certainly is working with a small sample size, but [player_tooltip player_id='1198832' first='Abbas' last='Mangal'] has flashed potential that's placed him as the current favorite to take over under Center for the Warriors with the departure of star signal-caller James Hatlevig this offseason. Mangal went 3 of 5 for 59 yards and 2 TDs on varsity last season. Mangal is an intriguing athlete, flashing fluid mechanics, solid delivery, and an impressively strong arm for his size while being elusive enough to extend the play and scramble outside the pocket to create plays with his legs. That ability could help open up their run game a lot more, which could help create a more explosive and balanced dynamic for the Warriors' offense in 2026.

Players on the Prep Redzone rankings watch list may have a difficult time trying to prove their worth as potential D2 or D1 prospects due to their lack of exposure in previous seasons or unrefined qualities for the next level, but it doesn't rule them out in any way of taking that next step. Today, we take a look at 7 QBs in Iowa from the Class of 2027 that are entering a prove-it year, to show that they do have what it takes to become big-time signal-callers at the collegiate level!