South Florida quarterbacks with much to prove in the 2026 season

The 2026 football season is steadily approaching, and South Florida has plenty of high school talent at quarterback. Many of the area's signal-callers, whether committed to a high-level D-1 program or not, have much to prove on the football field in 2026.   Here are some South Florida quarterbacks who are entering a "prove it" year this season.    After briefly being one of three possible starting quarterbacks this past spring at national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, Conness has emerged as the projected starter to lead the Raiders to a possible unprecedented eighth consecutive title in 2026.   Conness throws a solid deep ball and has also shown pinpoint accuracy on intermediate and out routes. The upcoming senior is a traditional pocket passer who is not afraid of taking contact immediately after passing the football.   He does have the athletic ability to get out of the pocket and gain yards with his legs, and is decisive when it comes to passing or running the football. Conness, with limited experience, will have much to prove that he can lead St. Thomas to another championship.     Katz is looking to build on an impressive junior season in 2026. The FIU commit has a cannon arm and continues to improve year after year. He led True North to a historic 10-3 record last year but lost to Chaminade-Madonna in the 1A regional finals.   His mechanics are above average, and he gets the ball out quickly with decisiveness. The athletic quarterback also demonstrates he can make off-script plays and throw accurately on the run. He puts a nice touch on deep balls and often throws his receivers open for big plays.   Katz also plays with fire, believing he is much better than some evaluators project, which drives him to improve with each game.     The former Ransom and Miami Northwestern quarterback is at his third school in three years, but has yet to prove that he can win a state title. Lawrence fell short of engineering The West to back-to-back titles last season and will face a similar task at American Heritage Plantation as the Patriots aim for a third straight state championship.   The patient signal-caller throws his receivers open on deep balls and can also fire it down the middle to hit his targets in stride. The Texas commit has a great sense of pressure in the pocket and can make accurate throws on the run.   Lawrence does need to be more decisive with his decisions and take fewer sacks. If he improves, he can be considered a five-star-rated talent for the 2028 class.     The talented, up-and-coming sophomore quarterback made a name for himself in 2025, leading an experienced Chaminade-Madonna team to the state championship game, but fell short of winning a fifth straight title for the South Florida powerhouse.   Now, with a loaded Miami Carol City team that could be a national title contender, Leonard is out to prove that his freshman season was no fluke.   The new Chief can thread the needle with sharp throws over the middle and make off-script plays if needed. He also excels at throws that require precise timing, placing the ball for his receivers to make plays after the catch. Leonard does need to improve in the area of ball security, as turnovers prevented the budding talent from securing a state title in year one.     The transfer from Immaculata La Salle last season and St. Thomas Aquinas this spring has much to prove as he tries to win big games for Archbishop McCarthy, a district and state title contender in 2026.   The strong-armed quarterback has above-average arm talent and the potential to reach five-star status with his natural athletic ability and size. The long-strider is a threat to make plays with his legs with every snap and can will his way to move the chains, making plays on the run. What he lacks is significant weekly game experience against high-level talent.   Merrell will have many opportunities to prove his talent in games against 2A state runner-up, The Bolles School, and all-time state title leader, St. Thomas Aquinas.     The Northern Illinois commit displayed high-level quarterback play in 2025 with Miami Norland and will command a talented Miami Columbus team in 2026.   Norland underachieved last season, but Moore is a solid signal-caller with a strong arm who stands in the pocket and connects with his receivers on long, short, and intermediate routes.   He displays a nice touch on deep routes and has a great sense of where to go with the football pre-snap. Anything short of a double-digit season for Columbus would be seen as a disappointment, but Moore has to prove he can bring the program back to prominence.     After a stellar year at Miami Southridge, Perrone competed in the spring at both St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Central, ultimately staying in Dade County to play for the Rockets in his senior season. Perrone fell short of beating his current team in a controversial 34-28 regular-season matchup, but believes he can excel in his last high school year with a new team.   The East Carolina commit shows tremendous poise to stay in the pocket and make throws under duress, and can also break free from the pocket to gain yards on the ground. Perrone has above-average feet to shift around in the pocket to avoid pressure and displays high-level arm strength in the pocket or on the run. He also does well to buy time in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield.     The former Lely quarterback is out to prove that he can play with a national powerhouse program and win big football games.   Quinn has shown an elite ability to make accurate on-the-run throws and adjust his arm angles to connect with his receivers. Whether off-balance or with balanced footwork, Quinn can make accurate throws in clutch moments.   He is a naturally talented passer who often throws his receivers open but also has the athletic ability to make big gains as a runner. He has a high football IQ and has a chance to be known as one of the best passers in the country by season's end.     Stroud, who transferred from Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale), has not yet shown he can win against high-level competition, but will certainly have that opportunity at McArthur, as the Mustangs will play South Florida powerhouses St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaminade-Madonna, and American Heritage Plantation in three consecutive weeks.   His frame is a solid base for a quarterback who can develop on the next level. Stroud can make solid throws on the run and deliver the football accurately on-script. Stroud has the arm strength to fit footballs into tight windows and can step up in the pocket to find his receivers for conversions.

The 2026 football season is steadily approaching, and South Florida has plenty of high school talent at quarterback. Many of the area's signal-callers, whether committed to a high-level D-1 program or not, have much to prove on the football field in 2026.