Vote: Who was the best sophomore quarterback in North Carolina of 2023?
The 2023 high school football season is complete and we are going around the East Coast, reflecting on the previous few months.
One of the big questions is what newcomers or returners in some cases made the biggest impact to a football program or state even? That’s where a boatload of sophomore quarterbacks that saw extensive playing time come into the mix.
That’s why we ask the question: Who was the top sophomore quarterback of 2023 in North Carolina?
We will go state-by-state along the East Coast and once that voting is done, do a final poll including all the sophomores that won going head-to-head.
We’ve selected eight worthy candidates and ask you the fan to vote for who you think topped them all.
Voting will end on February 14th, 2024.
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 that may not be mentioned in our poll.
Here are the nominees:
Lan Farmer, Shelby: The sophomore had the best numbers of any quarterback in his class. Farmer completed 196-of-301 passes for 3,399 yards and 44 touchdowns.
Faizon Brandon, Grimsley: Undoubtedly one of the most efficient signal callers off all the sophomores on this list. Brandon completed 191-of-277 passes for 3,026 yards, 36 touchdowns and just a mere three interceptions.
John Kirkpatrick, Randleman: Kirkpatrick had himself a very strong season for the Tigers in 2023. The quarterback completed 148-of-232 passes for 2,283 yards, 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
Gannon Jones, Cardinal Gibbons: The Crusaders’ signal caller led the way in a solid 2023 campaign for Cardinal Gibbons. Jones completed 132-of-185 passes (71 percent) for 2,193 yards, 29 touchdowns and just three picks.
Izeiah Oates, Eastern Wayne: When taking a look at the kind of yardage Oates put up in 2023, he was up there with the best. Oates completed 105-of-191 passes for 2,350 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Chance Cato, Olympic: Though Cato’s numbers were even when it came down to touchdowns/interceptions, the sophomore had a solid 2023. Cato finished throwing for 2,207 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Jackson Debe, Providence: Throwing for nearly 200 yards a game was impressive this past season for Debe. The sophomore threw for 2,170 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Panthers.
Grant Lawless, East Lincoln: Not many took care of the football the way Lawless did for Mustangs in 2023. The sophomore gunslinger completed 101-of-175 passes for 1,599 yards, 20 touchdowns and just one interception.
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivenc
