Vote: Who has been the top high school quarterback in Georgia so far in 2023?
Footballs have been flying all over the state of Georgia thus far in the 2023 season, with tons of yardage piling up and touchdowns lighting up Peach State scoreboards.
So, who has been the best quarterback in Georgia high school football so far in 2023. We've selected 10 candidates we believe are in this conversation and we're asking you to help decide by voting in our poll. Voting will conclude on October 31st at 11:59 p.m.
Here are the nominees:
Aaron Philo, Prince Avenue Christian
The senior has been balling out the last two seasons and hasn’t shown any signs of decline this season. He currently leads all Georgia passers with 1,926 passing yards in six games played and has an insane 25-3 touchdown to interception ratio while also leading his team, currently, to a 6-0 record. Philo also has the legs to be good in the run game and he currently has 263 rushing yards and eight touchdowns which is one shy of his career high. With back-to-back seasons of 4,500 passing yards, Philo is trying to top his season best. The star quarterback’s talents have been noticed by all and especially Georgia Tech, where he will be playing his college ball.
Dylan Raiola, Buford
Raiola has been impressive his entire high school career and has been equally impressive his senior season. Raiola hasn’t put up the gaudy numbers like some of his counterparts but that’s mostly because he doesn’t need to play the whole game because his team is up big by the fourth quarter. For example, look at last week’s 43-0 blowout win over Collins Hill. Raiola only threw the ball 16 times for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. The Future UGA Bulldog is the #1 QB recruit in the nation for a reason.
Antwann Hill Jr., Houston County
The head man for Houston County has been one of the main reasons that his team is 5-1 and averaging 48 points per game. Last season he really jumped onto the scene when he ended his sophomore season with 3,600 yards and 40 touchdowns in 13 games. This season he has seemed to turn it up a notch. In only six games he has already thrown for 1,536 yards and 21 touchdowns. His talent isn’t going unnoticed, as he has 28 offers including ones from Colorado, Alabama, Auburn, and Florida.
Jeremy Hecklinski, Walton
Hecklinski is a true baller and has the Raiders rolling right now at 5-0 with wins over Grayson, Brookwood, Pope, Marietta and North Paulding. He has thrown for more than 250 yards in four out of five games this season, including his most recent 340-yard, five touchdown performance in the win over North Paulding. Hecklinski is the key cog to one of the most dynamic offenses in the state. The Raiders are currently averaging 55 points per game. This season he will try to outperform his record breaking season last year in which he threw for 3,500 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Julian Lewis, Carrollton
Julian Lewis took the country by storm last year during his freshman season and he still has everyone captivated in his sophomore campaign. Lewis’ play has had him shoot up the ranks and he is the #1 recruit overall in the class of 2026. Lewis has led his team to a 5-1 record with the one loss being a five-point loss to Langston Hughes in the first game of the season. So far he is over 1,000 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Sire Hardaway, Douglas County
Hardaway has stepped on the scene in a big way for the Tigers. Six games in, he is at 1,580 passing yards which is 200 shy of his single season record and has already broken his season high in touchdowns with 14 while completing 75% of his passes. He is recently coming off a 50-point win over New Manchester in which he went 15-of-17 for 300 yards and three touchdowns. The real highlight of his season thus far was when he led his team to a victory over Langston Hughes which no team could accomplish last season.
Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day
The 4-Star senior is leaving quite a mark in his last rodeo with Calvary Day. He is a four-year starter, and it shows in his play on the field. He is currently at 1,300 yards passing with 15 passing touchdowns and just one interception while completing 66% of his passes. Calvary Day is averaging 52 points per game behind the arm of Merklinger. His legs are underrated as well, with 263 rushing yards on the season and five touchdowns.
Luke Kromenhoek, Benedictine
The senior play-caller led Benedictine to a 13-2 record and 4-A State Championship last season, now he has the Cadets at 6-0 and humming through the season. The 6-foot-4 FSU recruit is showing why he is a 4-Star with his play on the field. He hasn’t had to do much because of how the games are dominated from start to finish but he has over 1,000 total yards and 13 total touchdowns with only two turnovers through six games.
Elliott Sturbaum, McIntosh
Sturbaum may be a new name to most, but will be a household name soon. The 6-foot-2 Chiefs' quarterback has been turning heads this season. Not only does he have the big arm and have the yards to show it, with 1,500 and 19 passing touchdowns, but he is accurate with a 70% completion rate and doesn’t turn the ball over, with only four interceptions. At 5-1 he has helped McIntosh match its win total from last season and has the Chiefs off to their best start since 2013. Outside of some crazy arm talent, Sturbaum has shown dual-threat capabilities with 239 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. His highlight game of the season was against Landmark in which he threw for nearly 200 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 106 yards with two scores on the ground.
Prentiss Air Noland, Langston Hughes
Air Noland had one of the best seaons in Georgia history last year. He threw for over 4,000 yards, 55 touchdowns, four interceptions, completed 73% of his passes and went 15-0 in route to a 6-A State Championship. This season won’t be statistically as good as last season but don’t get it twisted, Air Noland can still sling it with the best. At the six-game mark, he has 983 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions, with a 64% completion rate. Those are great numbers, but the Ohio State commit has opened himself up to a higher standard than the field, but anyone who watches the games can see that the arm talent and poise are still there.
