Vote: Who has been the best quarterback in Central Florida so far in 2023?
There’s an air raid across Central Florida football fields these days, and quarterbacks are loving it.
Halfway through the 2023 season, area signal-callers are putting up huge numbers and lighting up the scoreboard. A good number of them have received Power 5 offers or have committed to an FBS program.
We took a look at schools in seven counties (Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard and Indian River) and came up with 21 quarterbacks that we nominated for Best Quarterback in Central Florida at the midway point of 2023.
We ask you, the fan, to decide who should be the top quarterback selected. Voting will conclude on a date to be announced.
Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. The poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player that may not be mentioned in our poll.
Voting concludes October, 20th at 11:59 p.m.
Here are our nominees.
Sabby Meassick, Sophomore, Tohopekaliga (Kissimmee): The 10th-grader is one of the top passers in the country, completing 122 of 158 passes (77 percent) for 1,547 yards and 20 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. Meassick, who has an offer from UF among others, has led the Tigers to a 3-1 start.
“We’re competing in all three phases, giving us an opportunity to compete for a win each game, with our team giving effort for four quarters,” Meassick said. “I want to continue to grow, give my team opportunities to execute and stay consistent to put my teammates in a position to make plays.”
Sabby Meassick
Noah Grubbs, Sophomore, Lake Mary: The ultra-talented 10th-grader has exploded onto the scene since taking over the starting job in the early part of last season. He has completed 81 of 124 passes (65 percent) for 1,525 yards and 23 TDs with only three interceptions. He has multiple Power 5 offers and has led the Rams to a 4-0 start.
Noah Grubbs
Jackson LaTour, Senior, Oviedo: The sharp-shooting thrower has passed for 1,398 yards and 15 TDs with only one pick, and has rushed for four scores. His efforts have helped the Lions get off to a 3-2 start with one of the area’s toughest schedules.
“I feel like our season has gone very well,” LaTour said. “We had three top 100 teams that we played in the early part of the season, but I definitely think that opened our eyes a little bit and we turned the switch back on and haven’t looked back since.
“From a personal standpoint, I feel like I can work on all aspects of my game and strive to get better every single day,” LaTour said.
Jackson LaTour
Malachi Walters, Junior, University (Orange City): The talented 11th-grader has become the top quarterback in Volusia County by completing 76 of 101 passes (75 percent) for 1,270 yards and 13 TDs with just two interceptions, and rushing for 126 yards and two scores. He has helped the Titans surge to a 5-0 record.
“I feel like my season has gone good and I’m proving myself and my coaches right by what me and my team are doing on the field,” Walters said. “I have a lot of stuff to work on, but overall, I’m having a pretty good season with the team being 5-0 and my stat line being pretty good.
“I think I can work on my indecisiveness when it comes to certain plays and just making the first read and sticking with it; that’s the main thing right now that stands out and the rest will be examined and fixed in the offseason,” Walters said.
Malachi Walters
Brady Hart, Sophomore, Cocoa: The terrific 10th-grader has kept the Tigers’ passing machine humming by completing 90 of 126 passes (71 percent) for 1,260 yards and 13 TDs with just four picks. He nearly engineered a huge upset of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas earlier this year. Cocoa is off to a 3-1 start.
Brady Hart
Salomon Georges, Junior, Leesburg:The supremely talented 11th-grader has led a revival at this Lake County school, completing 65 of 90 passes (72 percent) for 1,157 yards and 16 TDs with no interceptions, and rushing for 107 yards and two scores. He has helped the Yellow Jackets to a 4-1 record.
“I feel like my season is going pretty good,” Georges said. “As far as what I have to work on, I really want to perfect every part of my craft.”
Salamon Georges
Chase Cromartie, Junior, Viera: The sharpshooter is Brevard County’s top passer, completing 91 of 134 passes (68 percent) for 1,121 yards and 13 TDs with five interceptions, and rushing for 76 yards and two scores. He has led the Hawks to a 2-2 record.
“I feel like it has gone pretty well,” Cromartie said. “I am pretty happy with my production. Looking at film, I feel like I have missed a few plays but I am working on all my reads daily.”
Stanley Anderson-Lofton, Junior, Dr. Phillips (Orlando): Outstanding dual-threat quarterback has passed for 1,075 yards and nine TDs with three interceptions, and rushed for 68 yards and seven TDs to lead the Panthers to a 3-2 record.
“My season has gone fairly well and my team has shown glimpses of greatness and is finding our stride up front and at the skill positions,” Anderson-Lofton said. “I think I could improve on using my legs more. I have the ability to move and be fairly elusive, which others may not have, so I want to improve and work on my God-given advantage.”
Stanley Anderson-Lofton
Brogan McNab, Sophomore, Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne): The dual-threat sensation has had a stellar season for the Tigers, completing 67 of 100 passes (67 percent) for 1,056 yards and 11 TDs with two interceptions, and rushing for 466 yards and eight TDs. He has helped HTEA to a 4-1 start.
“We’ve got a good start to the season,” McNab said. “We’re 4-1. We have some great players on our team. We’re going to improve every week. We need to keep working and take it one game at a time.”
Troy Saladin, Senior, Eustis: The Lake County star has thrown for 1,018 yards and 12 TDs with six interceptions, and rushed for 67 yards and a score. He has led the Panthers to a 3-2 record.
“I feel like the season so far has been very upheld and business-like,” Saladin said. “We come into the games with class and handle our business for sure.
“One thing I need to work on is communication with my team through the whole game and help keep the hot streak going in the game and not let any momentum leave the game for us,” Saladin said.
Caden Mitchell, Junior, Hagerty (Oviedo): The 11th-grader had some big shoes to fill with the departure of record-setting quarterback Anthony Benzija, but has responded with a strong season. He has completed 53 of 78 passes (68 percent) for 914 yards and six TDs with three interceptions, and rushed for two TDs. He has led the Huskies to a 3-1 start.
Bjorn Jurgensen, Junior, Bishop Moore Catholic (Orlando): One of Orange County’s top signal-callers has played well, completing 81 of 129 passes (63 percent) for 907 yards and seven TD with four interceptions, and rushing for 197 yards and three TDs. He has helped the Hornets to a 2-3 record with one of the toughest schedules in the area.
“I think our season started off a little rough because we had a bunch of new guys learning how to play together as a team,” Jurgensen said. “But these last couple of games, we’ve really started to click and it’s been fun.
“I think for me, I need to work on my leadership a little bit more and just be a little more vocal to my guys,” Jurgensen said.
Bjorn Jurgensen
Jackson Hughes, Senior, Lake Minneola: Multi-year player took over for Quinn Niemann, who graduated, and has played well for the Hawks, passing for 904 yards and seven TDs and four interceptions. Lake Minneola is off to a 1-3 start playing a brutal schedule.
“I would say this season has been going good for my first year starting,” Hughes said. “Credit to my offensive line, they have kept my jersey clean all year, only letting up one sack. Also, want to shout-out my receivers for creating separation and my coaches for putting me in the best position possible at all times.
“We are playing against top competition such as (Ocala) Vanguard, (Daytona Beach) Mainland, Wekiva, Dr. Phillips and Manatee (Bradenton),” Hughes said. “Although we may not have the record that we expected to have, we have constantly been improving and I think we’re ready to finally hit our stride.
“Personally, I want to continue to make sure I keep my composure, never let the moments get too big, distribute the ball to my playmakers, and be the leader my team needs me to be; all of that will help contribute to the success of this team,” Hughes said.
AJ Williams, Senior, Winter Park: The transfer from Timber Creek stepped right into the Wildcats’ program and excelled. He has completed 73 of 93 passes (79 percent) for 881 yards and 11 TDs with just one interception, and rushed for two scores. His play has helped the Wildcats, who were decimated by graduation, get off to a 4-0 start.
AJ Williams
“I think that my season has gone very well so far with a 4-0 start,” Williams said. “A lot of the success this year is due to my great offensive line and skill guys who can make big plays in space, and being backed by a great defense and coaches making the right calls at the right time.
“I think that I can work on throwing with more anticipation and progressing through my reads a bit faster,” Williams said.
Joseph Allen, Freshman, Melbourne Central Catholic: Talented ninth-grader has played well for the Brevard private school, passing for 873 yards and nine TDs. He has helped the Hustlers to a 3-2 record.
Bryce Speed, Junior, Windermere: Superb athlete has thrown for 836 yards and eight TDs and four interceptions, and rushed for 141 yards and three scores in leading the Wolverines to a 3-2 record.
Tyler Aronson, Senior, Vero Beach: The talented 12th-grader has kept the Indians’ offensive machine rolling, completing 56 of 85 passes (66 percent) for 821 yards and 10 TDs with three interceptions, and rushing for 69 yards and three TDs. The Indians are off to a 3-1 start.
Cam Brown, Junior, Poinciana (Kissimmee): Athletic quarterback has passed for 821 yards and nine TDs with just one interception. He has led the Eagles to a 2-2 record.
Michael Clayton, Sophomore, Edgewater (Orlando): The talented 10th-grader replaced star quarterback Chase Carter, who graduated, and has had a solid season. He has passed for 803 yards and nine TD and three interceptions in leading the Eagles to a 5-0 start.
“Feeling great that we’re 5-0 and having beaten real strong competition,” Clayton said. “We’re focused on getting better each week and excited about our challenge this week.”
Michael Clayton
Shaun Hartman, Sophomore, Merritt Island: Talented underclassman has completed 66 of 109 passes (61 percent) for 795 yards and nine TDs with four interceptions. His play has helped the Mustangs to a 4-1 start.
“I feel like it’s been good, definitely a huge team effort and I feel like this is just the beginning for Merritt Island,” Hartman said. “We’re going to keep working and proving people wrong and glorify God while doing it.”
Karson Siqueiros-Lasky, Senior, Seminole (Sanford): Talented quarterback has made the most of his second stint with the powerful Seminoles, completing 64 of 107 passes (60 percent) for 793 yards and 11 TDs with four interceptions, and rushing for 119 yards and one score. He has led Seminole to a 4-1 start.
“We had some great games where the offense and defense started to click at the same time,” Siqueiros-Lasky said. “In our one loss to Treasure Coast, we dominated the game but didn’t finish in the red zone. It was definitely a wake-up call. There are so many talented players on this team both offensely and defensively. We haven’t even hit full stride yet. Looking forward to the second half of the season and a deep playoff run.”
Karson Siqueiros-Lasky
-- Jeff Gardenour | jgardenour1962@gmail.com | @sblivefl
