Chance Barker
Chance Barker
About Chance
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Matthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
2026 Princeton QB
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
capped off his high school career with the one final hurdle he had left to accomplish, a state championship. He orchestrated the most high-powered offense in the state of West Virginia this season and further proved that he has D1 ability at the quarterback position. We expect an FCS program to eventually sign Barker after a stellar career, and he rewrote the school record books for the Tigers.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
As Princeton enters another postseason push, 2026 quarterback
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
has established himself as the orchestrator of the offense. His first year running the show in new head coach Nathan Tanner’s offense revealed just how advanced he already is, showing poise, command, and the natural traits coaches look for in a long-term leader. Barker’s combination of size, mobility, and effortless throwing ability gives Princeton a great shot to win its first state title.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
Orchestrating the Princeton Tigers’ offense for the third-straight year is veteran 2026 quarterback
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
. He’s made his name well-known in the state since leading the Tigers to the state championship as a sophomore in 2023, but his title destiny has yet to be fulfilled. With one more opportunity to do so in his high school career, Barker is entering his senior season as the best version of himself and is ready to lead his team to that one final goal.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
2026 Princeton Quarterback
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
wasn’t needed all that much in the Tigers’ round one win over Hampshire in a lopsided game but he was very efficient. The junior gunslinger completed 8/11 passes for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 63-9 victory. Barker is up to 2,300 passing yards and 34 touchdowns through 11 games this year as our #1 QB prospect in the 2026 class.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
2026 QB
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
had as good of a debut season as QB1 as you can have in 2023 passing for 3,500 yards and 49 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions as a first-time varsity starter as a sophomore. He has the makings of a future D1 prospect who is only just scratching the surface of his full potential which is exciting given the success he had during his first year. Princeton has a great building block in Barker with weapons surrounding him to continue their march for a state championship during the next two seasons. Barker has the size, athleticism, and arm talent to develop into a highly sought-after quarterback prospect by his senior year whose prolific sophomore season likely got him on early college radars.
Although there was still a lot of rawness in his game last season which was to be expected in a young first-time starter, Barker is a Top 10 prospect in this class in our eyes and should take a big step forward in his junior season.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
2026 Princeton QB
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
broke onto the scene more than anyone did in WV in 2023 during his first year as QB1 for the varsity team while helping lead the Tigers to the Class AAA State Championship game. Barker took the state by storm as a sophomore throwing for 3,600 yards and just under 50 touchdowns in his first season as the starter. Barker has a very high ceiling as a quarterback prospect and is the true definition of a gunslinger. He’s an athletic quarterback who may not be considered a true dual threat but certainly has the athleticism to extend plays and escape the pocket to take off and run when needed with natural scrambling ability. Barker operated the prolific Princeton offense like a veteran and showed few instances of being a green varsity sophomore starter. He’s an accurate passer whose 70% completion rate backs up that claim and throws a very catchable ball with good ball placement at all three levels of the route tree. Barker’s footwork is developed well for his age and puts himself in a position to step into throws or use his scrambling ability to buy time or take off and run. He can stretch the field well and will continue to improve his arm strength the more he fills out his 6’3 frame. Barker throws with a nice touch at all three levels and can also throw with velocity over the middle.
The biggest thing to watch with Barker next season is how he performs without his main target and 2023 Moss Award winner Dom Collins who was as good of a safety blanket as you’ll find for a quarterback. He earned our #1 2026 QB ranking last season and should further cement that high acclaim as a junior with continued development. Barker should be a D1 prospect sooner rather than later.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
Princeton quarterback
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
burst onto the scene about as well as you can in his first season as QB1 for the Tigers. Barker helped lead the Tigers to a Class AAA state championship runner-up finish throwing for 3,500 yards and 49 touchdowns which were second and tied for first in each category respectively. He’s a lanky 6’3 170 pocket passer who does have the athleticism to make plays with his legs when needed. Barker had the luxury of throwing to the 2023 House and Moss award winner
Dominick Collins
Dominick
Collins
5'9" | 165 lbs | WR
Princeton | 2024
State
WV
who was a fantastic safety net for him so it will be interesting to see how he’ll perform the next two seasons without him. He’s a young gunslinger who gets to throw it all over the field in Princeton’s offense and will be a great duo with #3 ranked 2026 WR
Brad Mossor
Brad
Mossor
5'11" | 180 lbs | WR
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
in the new Class AAA. Barker has a high release on his passes which allows him to throw with nice touch at all three levels of the passing game. He throws with nice zip on the ball over the middle and is an accurate passer on quick throws. Barker’s deep balls can float a bit at times and are a work in progress but his short and intermediate throws are typically well-placed and on time. He enters the 2026 rankings as the #1 QB in the class and has a great chance of maintaining that high mark over the next two years.
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Read EvaluationMatthew Layton | Prep Redzone Scout
Princeton has some very exciting 2026 prospects currently in their program but the one that has coaches and fans the most giddy is sophomore quarterback
Chance Barker
Chance
Barker
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Princeton | 2026
State
WV
. Barker has more than exceeded expectations this season for the Tigers who was a first-time starter entering the season. He took over for the now-graduated and current WVU walk-on Grant Cochran who was excellent for Princeton in his career starting all four years. Cochran’s record may be in jeopardy by the time Barker finishes his career if he can stay healthy. He has already thrown for 3,290 yards and 47 touchdowns in his sophomore year with one more game to go. That includes the 500-yard and 8-touchdown performance against Bridgeport in the semifinal game that propelled the Tigers to the championship game.
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