Our 704 Junior Bowl QB gets another accolade, being the top-ranked quarterback out of Mecklenburg County as well. College programs are now taking notice of what we’ve already known, as Ethan has picked up recent offers from Samford, Eastern Michigan, and Kent State since the start of 2026. Ethan’s dual-threat ability keeps plays alive for the Husky offense, and this season, I expect we’re going to see even more dynamic ability throwing the football down the field with the talented teammates Ethan has in his program this upcoming year.

Ethan Royal Ethan Royal 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB William A. Hough | 2027 State NC , rising senior quarterback, capped off a huge season by being named the 8A State Championship Game Overall MVP, cementing his status as one of the premier signal-callers in the state. Royal threw for 2,272 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding 721 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores, proving to be a true dual-threat weapon. He can dissect defenses from the pocket with timing and touch, but when plays break down, he has the athleticism to turn broken plays into explosive gains. Royal’s command of the offense, production, and big-game performance all point to a quarterback ready to lead at the next level.

A state-championship quarterback is almost a no-brainer for inclusion on our 704 Junior Bowl team. Ethan took the questions people had at the beginning of the season about him leading a talented Huskies program and flushed them down the toilet. His dual-threat ability week in and week out made highlight plays for the Hough offense look routine. Ethan’s propensity to come through in clutch situations against tough opponents was something fun to watch, most notably in Week 1 against a South Carolina state champion in South Pointe at Bank of America Stadium. Ethan is getting Division 1 offers now and deservedly so.

Royal does so much that goes beyond the box score,l and while Hough didn’t play many close games in 2025, when they needed a clutch play, it was Royal who stepped up to provide it. He became a bigger rushing threat this year, but it’s his arm talent that has him ranked as the top 2027 quarterback, and I’m told by several of his training partners that his arm strength and accuracy haven’t hit their respective ceilings.

Royal is a gamer, and despite leading arguably the best team in the state, you have to see him in person to really appreciate his talent. He can make every throw, and though his raw numbers aren’t in that elite category, his arm talent and pocket movement are. He rarely takes sacks, and he’s not afraid to tuck it and run in key situations. He averaged almost nine yards a carry and scored four touchdowns in the playoffs last season.

Ethan Royal Ethan Royal 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB William A. Hough | 2027 State NC was the overall Game MVP, delivering when it mattered most. The junior quarterback accounted for three touchdowns, capping off his night with a back-breaking 75-yard touchdown run that put the game completely out of reach. Royal showcased his elite athleticism and playmaking ability, stressing the defense both with his arm and his legs. Already holding several Division I offers, his performance on the state’s biggest stage should only add more to that list this offseason. A true difference-maker and an elite athlete at the quarterback position. 🏈

Ethan Royal Ethan Royal 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB William A. Hough | 2027 State NC , Hough’s 2027 QB, has been a true dual-threat force all season. He scored twice last week against West Charlotte and enters the 8A title game with more than 2,500 total yards and 37 total touchdowns, the engine behind the Huskies’ historic championship run.

Ethan didn’t have a huge statistical game in this one, but he was able to stay in control of the Husky offense and not have any turnovers or costly mistakes. He directed the offense to take advantage of some West Charlotte miscues and turnovers, and that’s what good players and teams do. Ethan scored the first touchdown of the game on a short TD run and threw a touchdown pass on the 2nd touchdown drive of the game. Once it got to a two-score game, the Huskies leaned on the running game to take them over the top.