There might not be a more battle-tested signal caller in this round than Tanner Payne Tanner Payne 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB West Carteret | 2026 State NC , and he’s earned every bit of that reputation. The Elon-bound quarterback has been putting on a clinic all season, shredding defenses with his arm talent, pocket poise, and ability to make tight-window throws look routine. When the game speeds up, Payne slows it down—reading coverages, manipulating safeties, and delivering strikes to every level of the field.

This week, he faces one of the toughest challenges of the bracket: a heavy-favored St. Pauls squad with athletes all over the defensive side. That’s exactly the type of stage Payne has thrived on all year. If his team is going to pull off the upset, it’ll require another elite, high-level performance from their leader under center.

Payne has the composure, the arm strength, and the competitive fire to keep his team in any game, no matter the opponent. And if he gets rolling early—hitting explosives, moving chains, and keeping McBryde off the field—this matchup could get very interesting. For his team to advance, Tanner Payne Tanner Payne 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB West Carteret | 2026 State NC must once again be the best version of himself… and he’s shown all year he’s capable of exactly that.

Tanner Payne Tanner Payne 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB West Carteret | 2026 State NC (QB, West Carteret, Senior) has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, proving why he’s already locked in his commitment to Elon University. Payne has piled up over 1,300 passing yards while accounting for 21 total touchdowns, showing the ability to push the ball downfield with accuracy and make plays with his legs when needed. A true leader for the Patriots, Payne has been the centerpiece of their offense, delivering consistently in both big moments and week-to-week play. His production, efficiency, and poise make him one of the premier quarterbacks in the Carolina Recruits Region and a clear headliner on the mid-season offensive Player of the Year watchlist.

Tanner Payne Tanner Payne 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB West Carteret | 2026 State NC is quietly putting together a phenomenal season. The fact that he’s thrown 6 touchdowns with zero interceptions and has yet to give the ball away speaks volumes about his decision-making and poise in the pocket. Not every QB can keep that kind of accuracy and efficiency, especially without a ton of passing yards. But for Payne, it’s clear that he’s focused on being smart with the football and taking what the defense gives him, rather than forcing anything.

At just over 300 yards, his stats may not pop off the page yet, but that doesn’t take away from how effective he’s been. His performance has been about quality, not quantity—and once his yardage numbers start catching up to his TD-to-INT ratio, Payne could quickly become one of the top QBs in the area.

As an Elon commit, Payne is already showing why he’s such a sought-after prospect. His ability to execute an offense with efficiency and without turning the ball over will be something to watch as the season goes on. When his yards ramp up, people will definitely start paying more attention.

Payne is getting more and more consistent as a passer and has put up some nice combine performances to remind me that he’s a better athlete than his tape full of mostly pocket passing would suggest. Entering his second season as a starter, he’s starting to turn his arm talent into consistent accuracy, leading to a bump of around seven spots.