Quarterbacks Crushing It in 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four weeks into the 2025 season, quarterbacks across the state of Iowa and all classes have had hot starts. Who stands out the most amongst them? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242935"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d2d304a68aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leading the No. 1 team in Class 2A, [player_tooltip player_id='1242935' first='Brock' last='Badding'] has had an ultra-hot start to the 2025 season. He and Kuemper Catholic are not only 4-0, but Badding has a helped lead one of the top offenses in all of Iowa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now in his third year as the full-time starter for the Knights, Badding has been super efficient, while also passing at a high volume. Through four games -- including a victory over [player_tooltip player_id='1197438' first='Jaxx' last='DeJean'] and OABCIG last week, Badding has completed 72-of-102 passes (70.6%) for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns to just one interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading one of the more balanced offensive attacks in 2A, the Knights appear ripe and ready for a UNI-Dome appearance this fall, if not a championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Teagan Hanson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"GTRA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d31b261a11d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An 8-Man star in the making, taking the full-time starting reigns for the first time in his high school career, Teagan Hanson of GTRA is tearing up opposing defenses thus far in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standing at 6'1" and just 150 pounds, Hanson is slight of frame, but he doesn't let that hinder his production, as he is currently tied for the lead state-wide in touchdown passes, having already thrown for 18 scores to just 2 interceptions. He's also second in yards with 1,222 through four games for the undefeated Titans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though this is his first year as the full-time starter, one can tell that Hanson's prior experience under center has proved fruitful for he and GTRA, as he has clear chemistry with his receivers, knows where to put it where only his guys can get it, and understands the timing of the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1204436"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d2d304a6949"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A rare starter as a sophomore last season for Waukee Northwest, [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] has continued his winning, efficient ways for the Wolves through four games this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far, the junior leads 5A in passing yards and touchdowns, as he's thrown for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns -- the only quarterback in his class to have eclipsed 1,000 passing yards and ten touchdowns to this point in the season. Not to mention, he's the only one among the other class leaders who hasn't thrown a single pick, <em>and </em>he's completing just under 80% of his passes. Throw all of those statistics together and he's blowing the rest of the class out of the water in passer rating, posting a QBR of 221.8 -- no other 5A quarterback is above 185.4 ([player_tooltip player_id='1895238' first='Brett' last='McGovern'], Waterloo West). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heitland has a barrage of weapons at his disposal in [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'], [player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'], [player_tooltip player_id='1361719' first='Ryan' last='Woodruff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1603066' first='Paulo' last='Tobongye']. The No. 1 Wolves couldn't be in a better spot with a ridiculously efficient QB, a solid running attack and back-to-back wins of 35+ points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d2d304a69c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another 8-man star on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='1242285' first='Keagan' last='Lee'] and Easton Valley have put up some monstrous numbers, especially considering the lack of volume through the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Completing just 61-of-82 passes (74.4% completion percentage) so far this season, Lee has already tossed for 1,142 yards and 18 touchdowns to just one pick. Just under 30% of his completed passes have gone for touchdowns. Few have benefitted more from Lee's near-perfect start than Callan Messerich, a senior receiver for Easton Valley and Lee's go-to target. Messerich has now caught 27 passes for 624 yards and nine scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more productive runners of this group, Lee's ability to avoid pressure and dispense of would-be tacklers in the backfield makes him unique as a runner and a passer. He's taken 40 carries for 324 yards and five scores, leading his team in all three rushing categories. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1671366"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d2d304a6a1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There must be something about the name Mack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Heitland before him, [player_tooltip player_id='1671366' first='Mack' last='Murdock'] has been uber-efficient to start the 2025 season. A sophomore, Murdock has completed 57-of-71 passes (80.3% completion percentage) for 1,053 yards and 13 touchdowns to zero picks. One of three quarterbacks in Class 2A to surpass 1K yards passing and throw for at least 13 touchdowns, Murdock is the only one that hasn't thrown a single interception to this point in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Murdock is clearly the No. 1 QB in 2028 for a reason. With his physical size and arm talent, Murdock looks like he's ready made for the next level -- and he still has 2.5 seasons of high school football left. He'll need to continue to put up ridiculous numbers at the 2A level and compete at big camps to get seriously considered by big programs at the next level, but the physical attributes are more than there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->