Position Breakdown: 2024 Quarterbacks
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One of the most exciting position groups to watch in New York and some major talent throughout the entire state, the Quarterback class of 2024 is exciting. What is interesting about this quarterback class is that there is a ton…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most exciting position groups to watch in New York and some major talent throughout the entire state, the Quarterback class of 2024 is exciting. What is interesting about this quarterback class is that there is a ton of potential throughout, but there is the lack of usually top 1-2 guys who fall atop the entire state rankings. Part of that is due to how deep this class of 2024 truly is, especially along the offensive and defensive line. But the other aspect is that while many of these quarterbacks have proven seasons under their belt, no one has yet to take the entire state by storm and really separate themselves in a huge way.
What this means headed into 2024 is that throughout the fall season, we could see these rankings be shaken up quite a bit as some quarterbacks show they can build off strong seasons and generate some serious college interest while others potentially plateau and find themselves with offers around the level they are currently graded at. Overall, an exciting class with exciting potential.
In this article, I will include statistics from these players’ seasons; those will be pulled from a combination of MaxPreps, Social Media, and discussions with players directly or with coaches. Just a disclaimer that those statistics be not exactly accurate down to the yard due to the variance of sources but will be close enough to the point where the general performance statistically can be understood.
Top Quarterback
Will Currid Will Currid 6’2″ | 195 lbs | QB Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY not only is the top quarterback state because of what we see on film in terms of his accuracy and anticipation down the field but his ability to put up incredible numbers in the most difficult league in New York State. Currid ended his first full season as the starter for Archbishop Stepinac with 3,294 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and a 65.9% completion percentage. Currid had one of the most impressive quarterback seasons in New York and if not for top 2023 talent in Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6’3″ | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY and Dante Torres Dante Torres 6’3″ | 190 lbs | QB St. Anthony’s | 2023 State NY , Currid could have been the top QB in the NYCHSFL.
Currid displays very developed fundamentals where his timing and ability to work in rhythm with good footwork and vision are top traits in this class. Currid is also incredibly accurate in the short and intermediate areas of the field where he puts the ball in optimal catching positions for receivers to stay in-stride and work their way up the field after the catch. Currid runs an offense at Archbishop Stepinac that really showcases a dominant short/intermediate passing game that requires quick and confident decision making. Currid excels in both of those areas and was one of the main reason for Stepinac’s offensive dominance averaging 36 points per game throughout the season. This season I want to see Currid stretch the ball down the field more especially to big target and 24′ Jahi Gary Jahi Gary 6’5″ | 200 lbs | WR Archbishop Stepniac | 2024 State NY who is primed for a big season. In 2022, Stepinac’s top receivers excelled in the short area but headed into this season, their top returner Gary can really stretch the field. Currid has the arm strength and accuracy to make the throws but challenging defenses 40+ yards through the air is the next step for Currid.
Highlights
Five Prospects to Watch
Jake Tripptree Jake Tripptree 6’1″ | 185 lbs | QB Sayville | 2024 State NY is an incredible talent and he is one of the most efficient playmakers in all of New York. Tripptree led a dominant Sayville offense in Long Island and 2,566 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a 67% completion percentage. Tripptree has a really smooth arm and does a great job of utilizing his touch and accuracy to make throws all over the field. Tripptree is a really quality decision maker and does a great job of not being overaggressive with the ball. With only 5 interceptions all season Tripptree knows how to take care of the ball and his consistency throughout the season is something that a ton of other quarterbacks in this class struggle with.
With Tripptree there is some concerns in terms of the competition level throughout the season with several games on the schedule where a player of his caliber is expected to perform very well. However, when it matters Tripptree steps up. His best performances come in the most important games and Tripptree has the poise you want from a quarterback at the next level. What I want to see Tripptree show a little more on tape is being a little more aggressive as a passer. Tripptree makes all the right plays and does it well but with a dominant season where Sayville did not lose a game we know what Tripptree can do. I want to see him take some more risks and showcase that he has the arm and accuracy to separate himself from other quarterbacks in this class.
Highlights
Zymier Jackson Zymier Jackson 6’1″ | 175 lbs | QB East | 2024 State NY is one of the best quarterbacks in New York when it comes to being a dangerous through on the run and moving in the pocket but also showing great reps as a passer. Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in New York when it comes to creating plays and generating positive yards from broken plays. This past season Jackson had 1939 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. On the Ground Jackson added 283 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Jackson is elite and moving in the pocket and keeps his eyes down field moving outside the pocket. While there are some athletes at quarterback in this class who can make plays with their feet, Jackson is the best when it comes to still utilizing his arm when forced to adjust and create. Jackson has a thrower still can develop stronger footwork and fundamentals but in terms of pure arm strength and ability to make off platform throws at a high level Jackson has one of the highest ceilings in New York at the position.
Jackson’s tape is a collection of incredible plays that feature things not many other quarterbacks can do. What I want to see from Jackson is more consistency making the simple plays. Jackson is always seeking that huge play but with more consistency in the short and intermediate area of the field Jackson can becoming a much stronger recruit in the eyes of colleges. To counter my point about Jackson improving in the short areas of the field he is incredibly efficient as a player. For the style of quarterback he plays where the deep ball is such a huge part of his game, only 2 interceptions and 1 fumble on the season is incredible for a player that is often creating highlight reel plays on his own. Jackson takes risks as a quarterback but it pays off for him more than anyone in the class.
Highlights
Nahseem Deas Nahseem Deas 6’3″ | 190 lbs | QB Lincoln | 2024 State NY is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in this class. Deas was the leader of an explosive Lincoln offense where he registered over 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing to go along with 24 total touchdowns. Deas has great arm talent and can make all the throws you would ask a quarterback to make. Deas can make off-platform throws and adjust his arm angle when needed to make throws. Deas is a true dual-threat because of his ability to pick up yards when pushed outside of the pocket or on more designed QB runs. Deas has great vision in terms of finding running lanes and has the speed and agility to make defenders miss, accelerate, and break away for long gains.
Deas needs to bring a little more consistency in his game especially against top competition in the PSAL. Improvements in footwork and overall throwing mechanics would make Deas a little more accurate and really help complete his ability as a passer, considering he already has the arm strength. Deas has the ability to change the game on broken plays but finding success on routine plays that have to be made, especially at the next level would really help his development. Deas does rare things that not many guys in New York can do, so this season will be big for the second-year starter in-route to playing at the next level.
Highlights
AJ Miller AJ Miller 6’3″ | 200 lbs | QB Rye | 2024 State NY has all the physical tools you look for with an elite frame at 6’4, 200lbs with room to add weight. Miller had a really solid season for Rye where he had 2,210 yards and 20 touchdowns. Miller has one of the strongest, if not the strongest arm in New York state and is one of the most aggressive quarterbacks in the state. While Miller’s homerun or strikeout style of playing the position make for incredible highlights that feature throws that are impressive even for a college quarterback 7 interceptions and a 55% completion percentage showcase the nature of Miller’s play style. While the efficiency is not quite there, Miller has nearly more college level traits than any other quarterback in this class. Miller has elite arm strength and his touch on balls 30+ yards down the field is fantastic. Miller also knows how to utilize changing the trajectory of his passes around the field to not only complete throws but to put his receivers in positions for easy receptions. Miller has the size, arm talent, and proven production to be a quality player at the next level and this spring/camp season should be huge for Miller.
While his aggressive nature as a passer contributes to the efficiency concerns Miller’s concerns are all very coachable. His frame and fundamentals alone should get him some interest at the next level but headed into his senior season Miller should be able to take that next step as a pass who can limit turnovers and hit a completion % a little bit above 60% which would showcase that he can not just be that big play arm but make the simple plays consistency.
Highlights
Matthew Meacham Matthew Meacham 6’3″ | 175 lbs | QB Honeoye Falls-Lima | 2024 State NY has some of the best mechanics as a thrower in this entire class, the Honeoye Falls-Lima signal caller had a strong season as a true pro-style passer where he had 1,812 yards passing, 24 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a 61.9% completion percentage. Meacham has great patience in the pocket and does a fantastic job of using movement in the pocket to create more time to continue getting through progressions down the field. Meacham has good accuracy throughout all three levels of the field and does a good job of making throws in the middle of the field through tight spaces. Meacham has really nice touch on throws and there is not a quarterback in this class who looks easier to catch balls from than Meacham. I think Meacham as a passer has a clear fit at the next level and already has a year of really solid tape under his belt.
Where Meacham can improve is that he is a non-factor with his legs past the line of scrimmage, Meacham is a little thin at 170lbs which is small for the next level and while taking hits is inevitable showing some success at creating positive yards as a runner would add another element to his game. While Meacham by no means needs to become a leading rusher or anything near that for HFL, just showing some ability to pick up first downs on the ground and add another element to his game would certainly help. The concept of a Pro-Style passer has evolved and even guys who are clearly passers first and runners second need to be able to showcase the ability to generate positive running plays. Meacham also plays at a low competition level making his true ceiling tougher to evaluate but his ability to showcase the arm talent to make throws at all three levels of the field on a consistent basis on tape determines that he has a fairly high floor in terms of making it to the next level.
Highlights
Prospects To Keep An Eye On
Jayden Rapp Jayden Rapp 6’1″ | 220 lbs | LB MILLIKAN HS Long Beach California | 2024 CA is a very intriguing sleeper prospect in this class. At 6’1, 220lbs Rapp has a very well built frame for potential at the next level. As the starter for Greece Athena Rapp had 2,348 passing yards, 35 total touchdowns, and a 60% completion percentage. Rapp has solid arm strength and solid accuracy as a thrower. Rapp is a fairly trigger happy thrower and is not afraid to throw into coverage. While statistically Rapp jumps off the page his mechanics and decision making need to improve. Rapp is the all or nothing type of player who has exciting tape and makes incredible plays both in the pocket and when plays break down. However, more refinement to his game is needed to jump into that top group of quarterbacks. Rapp is certainly one of the most intriguing prospects that is a sleeper at the position.
Joey Tomasso Joey Tomasso 6’2″ | 180 lbs | QB Waverly | 2024 State NY is one of the only players on this list with multiple years as a very successful starter. Tomasso had a 63% completion percentage, 2239 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and is only 52 yards short of 6,000 career passing yards. Tomasso showcases a strong ground game with 818 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season. Tomasso has proven production and a ton of tape to go off of. Tomasso does a great job of making all the throws you ask and making many of them look very easy. Tomasso has good mechanics and can be a true dual threat prospect. At only 175lbs Tomasso’s weight does limit him at the next level and perhaps the biggest question mark is that Tomasso plays in class C in New York. The level of competition is tough to recruit from but Tomasso surely is making it hard for us and colleges to not take notice to his advanced skillset.
Brandon Booker Brandon Booker 6’5″ | 175 lbs | QB Capital Prep Harlem | 2025 NY has some very intriguing physical traits at 6-5 Booker was the PSAL leader in passing yards. Booker has a huge arm and can make huge throws with little to no effort. Booker has solid touch and can rely on a huge arm to make longer throws with a really high arc or flatten out the path of the ball and get it to his targets quickly. Booker is incredibly lean and can improve on his mechanics and continue develop his decision making and getting through his progressions. While Booker may not have some of the consistency in his tape as some of the other guys on this list, nobody has a frame and arm like Booker. Traits that could easily get him to the next level after big senior season.