Top 5 Class 4A Quarterbacks in Tennessee: 2026 Scouting Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tennessee high school football is loaded with talent heading into the 2026 season, and the Class 4A group is packed with standout offensive playmakers. As summer approaches, several guys are emerging as top prospects to watch in Tennessee high school football recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this scouting series breaking down the top football players by position and classification, here's an in-depth look at the top five Class 4A quarterbacks in Tennessee entering the 2026 high school football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2169190} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/tmanu.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2169190" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Alcoa QB [player_tooltip player_id='2058759' first='Thomas' last='Manu'].</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2058759' first='Thomas' last='Manu'] – Alcoa High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2058759' first='Thomas' last='Manu'] is quietly one of the most productive players in Tennessee and possesses impressive tools. He's coming off an excellent 2025 campaign, where he completed 80% of his passes for 3,099 yards and 49 touchdowns with no turnovers. He recently picked up his first college offer from Georgetown College, but has the potential to contribute at the FBS level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1997375651485978977?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1997375651485978977?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a compact player, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 170 pounds in an athletic frame built to dominate on the gridiron. Manu controls the game at a high level, consistently leading his team downfield while protecting the football. He has nice arm talent with solid arm strength, excellent accuracy, nice touch on his passes and the ability to make nearly every throw on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior is not your true dual-threat quarterback, but he has some nice wheels. Manu ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns this past season, making him dynamic in a multitude of ways. He's flying under the radar, but programs need to take another look at him. Yes, he is an undersized quarterback. But Manu can flat-out play football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2229956} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-16-2026-8-11-42-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2229956" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Pearl-Cohn QB LJ Funk before a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 LJ Funk – Pearl-Cohn High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pearl-Cohn's LJ Funk is one of the top quarterbacks in Tennessee and is fresh off a commitment to Toledo. He's been very productive throughout his two seasons of varsity time, but he was terrific as a junior. In 15 games, he threw for 2,902 yards with 33 total touchdowns to eight turnovers while earning Prep Redzone All-State honors. The rising senior has one year of high school remaining, where his Firebirds will be one of the top teams in Class 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He offers nice size for his position, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 195 pounds with a lean, long frame that allows for additional weight that will only enhance his game. Funk possesses some of the best arm talent in Tennessee with his ability to make all the throws necessary. He's accurate, features nice touch on his passes, impressive velocity, a good deep ball, polished technique and good anticipation. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2229953} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-16-2026-8-05-05-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2229953" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Anderson County QB [player_tooltip player_id='723014' first='JD' last='Gillum'] before a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='723014' first='JD' last='Gillum'] – Anderson County High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='723014' first='JD' last='Gillum'] is one of my favorite underclassmen players in Tennessee, as he showed immense potential this past season for Anderson County. In just over seven games, he threw for 2,158 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the Mavericks to a quarterfinal appearance. His best game was against the eventual state champions, Alcoa. In that regular season finale, the rising sophomore threw for 260 yards with four scores in a 31-30 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He offers great size for his age and position, standing 6-foot and weighing 190 pounds in a lean, athletic frame that allows him to be mobile. Gillum is very fast for a young quarterback, notching a 4.65-second time in the 40-yard dash and having impressive elusiveness with the ball in his hands. While I do like his athleticism, the 2029 prospect has the best arm talent in his class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillum has a strong arm, nice touch on his passes, good accuracy, the ability to throw the football well downfield and good velocity. His mechanics and technique are the best in his class, adding another layer to what he can do. He needs to polish up certain areas of his game, but he will likely remain the No. 1 guy in 2029 unless someone makes an incredible leap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2103262} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/92-Kason-Woodson.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2103262" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Springfield QB [player_tooltip player_id='1588080' first='Kason' last='Woodson'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1588080' first='Kason' last='Woodson'] – Springfield High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield's [player_tooltip player_id='1588080' first='Kason' last='Woodson'] is coming off a standout season, where he earned a spot on the 2025 Prep Redzone All-State team. In 13 games, he recorded 2,786 total yards with 34 scores to eight turnovers. The rising senior is an impressive dual-threat quarterback who's going under the radar on the recruiting trail, but could build a lot of stock for himself throughout the summer and into next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's undersized for his position, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 192 pounds, but is extremely athletic with intriguing tools. Woodson is elusive with the ability to extend plays with his legs, but does not abuse them. The rising senior has a strong arm with nice touch, good accuracy and the ability to make nearly every throw on the field. Yes, he can make the easy ones. But he can also complete tough throws on the move or off-balance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2229951} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-16-2026-8-03-19-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2229951" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Stone Memorial QB [player_tooltip player_id='1668404' first='Max' last='Warner'] during a scrimmage. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1668404' first='Max' last='Warner'] – Stone Memorial High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1668404' first='Max' last='Warner'] is one of the more underrated players in Tennessee heading into 2026. He did not fit White County's scheme, so he transferred to Stone Memorial High School, where the signal-caller is due for a breakout campaign. Very few people have seen him play, but Warner has some nice tools that give him FBS upside once he develops and polishes his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He offers solid size for his position, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds with an athletic frame that allows him to maintain his mobility. Warner is sound technically with nice footwork and polished mechanics. His arm talent is solid, with nice accuracy and the ability to make just about every throw on the field. I like his anticipation and decision-making skills, along with his release.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/max_warner9/status/2063736528979861787?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/max_warner9/status/2063736528979861787?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warner must work on his velocity and arm strength to maximize his potential, but most of the necessary tools are already there. He still has the summer to improve and learn Stone Memorial's system, so I'm excited to watch him play in 2026. I think he's someone who could impress a lot of people as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->