20 best quarterbacks in the nation during the 2023 high school football regular season

These 20 signal-callers have put up big stats this fall

From five-star talents to underrated up-and-comers, athletes across the country have blossomed over the course of the 2023 high school football regular season.

With the playoffs fast approaching in several states, SBLive Sports set out to find the best offensive and defensive players in the nation this fall. We’ll kick things off with the most important position in sports: quarterback.

Here are 20 quarterbacks who have thrived behind center during the 2023 high school football regular season.

Note: All stats are current through Oct. 9. 

Micah Alejado, sr., Bishop Gorman (Nevada)

A three-star Hawaii commit, Alejado has thrown for more than 8,000 yards during his Bishop Gorman career. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior is an undersized pocket passer who has passed for 1,849 yards and 24 touchdowns this season without an interception. 

Brady Atwell, jr., Owensboro Catholic (Kentucky)

Atwell has accounted for 41 of Owensboro Catholic’s 46 offensive touchdowns this fall. The junior has thrown for 2,247 yards and 33 touchdowns while running for 297 more yards and eight TDs. 

Gage Baker, sr., Paradise Honors (Arizona)

The nation’s leading passer, Baker has completed 199 of 276 attempts for 3,278 yards and 50 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He recently eclipsed the 9,000-yard mark for his Paradise Honors career. 

Elijah Brown, sr., Mater Dei (California)

Running the offense for national power Mater Dei, Brown is one of the most accurate passers in the country. The four-star Stanford commit has amassed 1,674 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. 

Alex Erby, sr., Steelton-Highspire (Pennsylvania)

Erby recently became the all-time leading passer in Pennsylvania history. Erby, who is sitting on 11,287 career yards, is a three-star prospect with more than a dozen Division I offers. 

Max Huston, jr., Seaman (Kansas)

Huston is a dual-threat quarterback who has thrown for 1,970 yards and 28 touchdowns this fall to go along with 357 rushing yards and five TDs. A two-sport star, Huston recently decommitted from Kansas State’s baseball program and is now considering his football options at the next level. 

DJ Lagway, sr., Willis (Texas)

Lagway, a five-star Florida commit, has been nothing short of spectacular during his senior season for Willis. Lagway has accounted for 41 total touchdowns — 36 passing, five rushing — while throwing for 2,292 yards.

Julian Lewis, so., Carrollton (Georgia)

The nation’s No. 1 overall recruit for the class of 2026, Lewis fired 48 touchdowns as a freshman and is on pace to break that mark this season. The USC commit has accumulated 1,575 passing yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore, recently becoming the youngest football player to make the cover of Sports Illustrated. 

Drake Lindsey, sr., Fayetteville (Arkansas)

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Lindsey is a prototypical pocket passer. The senior has thrown for 1,753 yards and 22 touchdowns to just one interception this fall. 

Sabby Meassick, so., Tohopekaliga (Florida)

After tearing it up as a freshman, Meassick has lit up opposing defenses for 2,460 passing yards and 30 touchdowns through six games as a sophomore. Meassick already holds an offer from Florida. 

Austyn Modrzewski, jr., Mountain Vista (Colorado)

Modrzewski is closing in on 7,000 yards for his Mountain Vista career. The junior has thrown for 2,108 yards and 24 touchdowns this fall. 

Athan Palmateer, sr., South Salem (Oregon)

Palmateer is putting up big stats as a dual-threat quarterback for high-powered South Salem. The senior has thrown for 1,919 yards and 21 touchdowns this fall while carrying it 57 times for 430 yards and six more scores. 

Shaker Reisig, jr., Union (Oklahoma)

Reisig has completed 149 of 190 passes as a junior for 1,989 yards and 23 touchdowns. The three-star prospect has also found the end zone six times on the ground for Class 6A contender Union.

Brady Smigiel, so., Newbury Park (California)

Smigiel threw for 3,479 yards and 46 touchdowns as a freshman and is on pace to eclipse both marks this fall with 2,333 yards and 35 TDs through seven games. A five-star recruit, Smigiel’s offers include Florida State, Georgia and Michigan. 

Danny Stoddard, sr., Medina (Ohio)

Coming off a season that featured 5,035 passing yards and 70 total touchdowns, Stoddard has been productive again this fall for Medina. The senior has thrown for 2,277 yards and 25 touchdowns while running for eight more scores. 

Daveon Superales, sr., Graham-Kapowsin (Washington)

Superales is the point man for Graham-Kapowsin’s loaded offense. The senior has thrown for 1,554 yards and 21 touchdowns to just one interception while also being a threat on the ground with 298 yards and a pair of TDs. 

Bryce Underwood, jr., Belleville (Michigan)

Underwood, the No. 1 overall recruit nationally for the class of 2025, has played like a blue-chip prospect this fall. The junior is averaging 20 yards per attempt, completing 79 of 119 throws for 1,578 yards with 21 touchdowns and one interception. 

John White, sr., Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Mississippi)

A three-star Southern Miss commit, White is closing in on 10,000 yards for his high school career. The senior has passed for 2,397 yards and 28 touchdowns this season while also running for three scores. 

Demond Williams Jr., sr., Basha (Arizona)

One of the nation’s most electric players, Williams is a four-star Arizona commit. The senior has thrown for 8,623 yards, run for 2,269 yards and scored 112 total touchdowns during his Basha career. 

Isaac Wilson, sr., Corner Canyon (Utah)

Wilson, the younger brother of New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, is putting up eye-popping stats for Class 6A power Corner Canyon. The four-star Utah commit has thrown for 3,058 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior while also running for 603 yards and eight TDs. 

(Demond Williams Jr. photo by Patrick Breen)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports