Vote: Who is the top quarterback in Minnesota high school football?
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Let’s take a closer look at some of the top returning quarterbacks in high school football for the 2023 season in Minnesota.
Plenty of worthy names are on this list, so be sure to read through the nominees and vote in our poll for who you think will be the top returning quarterbacks for the upcoming season.
Voting will close on August 20 at 11:59 p.m.
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. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.
If you are a coach and you'd like to add a nominee before the poll closes, please email butler@scorebooklive.com.
Nolan Geislinger, senior, Eden Valley-Watkins
Geislinger is second all-time in passing and fourth in rushing in school history entering his final year under coach Adam Tri. The dual threat quarterback, who has been a starter since he was a freshman, was the quarterback of year in his district last season, passing for more than 2,000 yards, while rushing over 800 more.
One of the state’s top baseball players as well, Tri called him an “excellent teammate that works hard and truly cares about winning above everything else.”
Jakob Nachreiner, senior, Springfield
Nachreiner led the state in yards (3,119) and touchdowns (40) last season while completing 68.4 percent of his passes and leading Springfield to a runner-up finish in Class 1A. In his first year as a starter, he was named all-area Offensive Player of the Year.
“Jakob was greatly improved throughout the season,” coach Adam Meyer said. “He had a great feel for finding the gaps in the defense and getting the ball in our playmakers hands on time and on target. He has a very natural arm that can complete the ball to any part of the field. He also has a great understanding of the game which played a huge role in his success last season.”
Photo by Jeff Lawler
Tanner Zolnosky, senior, East Ridge
Zolnosky was one of the state’s most purely productive quarterbacks as a junior for the 7-4 Raptors. The gunslinger threw for 2,913 yards (second in the state) and 27 touchdowns, tossing three-plus touchdowns in five of his eleven starts last year. In addition, five of his starts included 300-plus yards through the air.
Photo by Earl Ebensteiner
Nirvaan Yogarajah, senior, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Yogarajah aired it out as a junior last season to the tune of 2,594 yards (third in the state) and 18 touchdowns at a 61 percent completion rate.
The rising-senior did throw 15 interceptions, but in his final season, has a chance to cut that number down as Benilde-St. Margaret’s attempts to more often play with the lead. In five outings last season, Yogarajah threw for at least 270 yards.
Hayden Charboneau, senior, Barnum
Charboneau will be entering his fourth, and final, season as the Bombers’ starting signal caller. As a sophomore, he broke every passing record Barnum had to offer, then did the same his junior season, breaking his own.
Last season, he put up 1,372 yards and 24 total touchdowns with a 63 percent completion rate for the 8-3 Bombers.
“Hayden has an extremely high football IQ and is willing to do whatever we need him to in order to help our team be successful,” coach Robert Minkkinen said. “Hayden distributes the ball very well and runs the ball hard when he gets his opportunities to do so.”
Bart McAninch, senior, Mankato West
McAninch had an extremely productive season as a junior — a season in which he was named all-district and city — accounting for 28 passing touchdowns, 13 rushing, completing 67 percent of his passes and throwing zero interceptions.
A rising-senior captain and the leader of the Scarlets’ offense, “he naturally has the ability to take over the huddle and make everyone else around him better,” coach JJ Helget said. “His work ethic is one of the top I have ever seen. … Guys gravitate towards him. He interacts with the youth and provides a role model that they can look up to.”
McAninch is back in 2023 and in search of a state title after a 12-1 season in 2022.
Photo by Jeff Lawler
Cooper Freitag, senior, Cedar Mountain
Freitag helped drive a successful 7-3 season for Cedar Mountain last season. He threw for 1,560 yards and 15 touchdowns at 7.5 yards per attempt while throwing just three interceptions.
On the ground, the quarterback turned in 900 more yards and 14 scores. Defensively, he added 38 tackles, three for loss and an interception.
Rees Grimsrud, senior, Rochester Mayo
In his first year as the starting signal caller, Grimsrud threw for 2,146 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 65.4 percent completion rate. He was all-district, and area.
Also a varsity basketball player, “he is the leader of our offense coming into his second year starting,” coach Donald Holcomb said.
Holcomb also lauded his intelligence at the position which displayed itself in his ability to avoid turnovers.
Allan Lankfard, junior, St. Paul Central
The quarterback/strong safety’s 2022 season was cut short due to injury. Prior to his season-ending injury, Lankfard tallied eight touchdowns through three games as the team’s signal caller.
Timmy Guler, senior, Pelican Rapids
Guler is a pure dual threat that can “make magic happen in the option game and create big plays in the passing game,” said coach Eli Beachy.
A two-time captain, all-district quarterback, one time district offensive MVP and all-section player, Beachy has 2,780 career pass yards and 28 touchdowns to go along with 1,669 rush yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.
Guler is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the last game of the regular season last year, and coach Beachy is hopeful he will be back on the field to lead the Vikings once more this fall. Guler has taken visits to a majority of the NSIC and will likely play at the next level.
Kyle Mages, senior, Osakis
A standout defensive back for Osakis, Mages has made his mark at the quarterback position by utilizing his athleticism. He’s thrown for over 1,000 yards two years in a row with 22 touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.
At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Mages is an “excellent runner” according to coach Bill Infanger. He also acts as both a punter, and punt returner for Osakis.
Kaaleem Reiland, sophomore, Kingsland
Reiland operates out of the quarterback position, but is almost exclusively a threat on the ground in Kingsland’s run-heavy offense. Reiland, an all-conference honoree, has been a varsity starter since he was in eighth grade.
“[Reiland] is a natural leader,” coach Matt Kolling said. “He has turned heads at every summer camp he has gone to. Kolling went on to call the sophomore soon-to-be a “big time player with big time skills.”
Landen Mickelson, senior, St. Agnes
Mickelson had not only solid poise in the pocket, but “tremendous arm strength,” according to coach Sam Thompson. A sturdy, 6-foot-2, pocket passer, Mickelson threw for 1,430 yards and 17 touchdowns last year in what was an all-district outing for a 9-2 Aggies program.
“He is an incredible leader and captain of the football team,” Thompson said.
Camden Hungerholt, junior, Leroy-Ostrander
Hungerholt made the transition to quarterback due to an injury to the starter in week one and never looked back. In seven starts, he passed for 1,260 yards and 11 touchdowns, while running for 1,016 yards and 12 more scores. He was a 2022 all-district player, also operating at defensive back.
“Cam is a quick thinker with all the tools to be a true dual threat quarterback and run our RPO scheme,” coach Trevor Carrier said. “He throws with great precision, but more importantly can take over the game with his legs at any time.”
Jacob Mattick, senior, Coon Rapids
Mattick appeared in just seven games on the year for the Cardinals last season, racking up 1,034 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions as a junior.
Jackson Hettwer played a reserve role at quarterback in Matticks’ absence, but it will likely be Mattick’s job to lose as the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder returns as a senior.
AJ Donovan, senior, La Crescent-Hokah
Donovan was in the top-15 in terms of passing yards state-wide with 1,973 last season for the 5-5 Lancers last year. He helped lead a balanced offense, tossing 25 touchdowns, which was a top-10 mark in Minnesota.
George Bjellos, senior, Woodbury
Bjellos was an effective passer last season for the Royals. He passed 151 times for 1,220 yards, 14 touchdowns, six interceptions on 64.9 percent passing.
Peyton Podany, junior, Anoka
Podany is another young, productive, quarterback with upside moving forward. Amidst a one-win season, Podany had bright moments, throwing for 1,670 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The young signal caller threw multiple touchdowns in five of his starts and threw for 300-plus yards in three games. He’ll look to help turn around an Anoka program that lost four one-score games last season.
Grady Guida, senior, Buffalo
Guida was No. 26 in passing yards last season across the state. He threw for 1,593 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Guida added 356 yards and five scores on the ground. The rising-senior also saw some time as a safety.
Cole Heilbrun, senior, Wayzata
In nine games last season for a 5-4 Wayzata program, Heilbrun threw for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. His throws went for 8.5 yards per attempt. In five of his starts, Heilbrun threw multiple touchdowns and on three occasions eclipsed 200 yards.
Jackson Thornburgh, junior, Apple Valley
Thornburgh turned in an impressive sophomore campaign in 2022. The rising-junior accumulated 1,475 air yards and 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions. In four of his starts, Thornburgh threw multiple touchdowns.
Milos Spasojevic, senior, Minnetonka
Spasojevic posted solid numbers in 2022. He passed for 1,307 yards and ten touchdowns in 66.9 percent completion percentage.
Photo by Mark Bloom
