Starting this week, we will preview some of the top Florida high school football players at each position. We begin with a look at the top 10 quarterbacks ahead of the 2023 season, along with a few honorable mentions as well. (Rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
Honorable Mention
- JP Pickles (North Florida Christian)
- Jamar Malone (IMG Academy)
- Trever Jackson (West Orange)
- Henry Boyd (Moore Haven)
- Tyler Aronson (Vero Beach)
- Riley Trujillo (Bartram Trail)
- Jayce Nixon (Gaither)
- Tramell Jones Jr. (Mandarin)
- Luke Warnock (Cardinal Newman)
- Bekkem Kritza (Miami Central)
10. James Resar (Bishop Kenny)
Resar, a three-star Iowa commit, returns for his senior season as the starter at Bishop Kenny. Leading the Crusaders to an 8-3 record, as well as a Class 2M regional quarterfinal appearance, a year ago, Resar completed 66.3% of his passes for 1,986 yards with a 16:6 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 520 yards and 11 touchdowns.
9. Ennio Yapoor (Norland)
Sitting in the No. 9 spot on this list of top Florida high school quarterbacks in 2023 is South Florida standout Yapoor, who returns as the starter for a Norland team that went 9-3 to reach the Class 2M regional finals last season. One of Florida’s top 2025 quarterbacks, Yapoor is coming off a season in which he completed 70.4% of passes for 2,924 yards with a 27:7 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns on 124 attempts.
8. Zac Katz (True North Classical Academy)
The only quarterback in the 2027 class to make this list is Katz, who returns as the starter at True North Classical Academy after leading the Titans to a 9-4 record, as well as a Class 1M state semifinal appearance. Katz enjoyed a massive season a year ago as an eighth grader, completing 75.6% of his passes for 2,847 yards with a 34:5 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 attempts.
7. Davi Belfort (Western)
The No. 7 spot goes to one of Florida high school football’s most notable offseason quarterback transfers. Belfort, who moves from Gulliver Prep to Western, is a three-star Virginia Tech commit in the 2024 class. He’s coming off a season in which he completed 66% of his passes and accounted for 2,300+ total yards of offense and 16 touchdowns.
6. AJ Hairston (Monarch)
Falling just short of the top five at No. 6 is Hairston, a three-star UMass commit who returns for his senior season at the starter at Monarch. Hairston helped lead the Knights to a 9-3 record and Class 4M regional semifinal appearance while completing 67.9% of his passes for 3,217 yards and a 32:6 TD:INT ratio, along with rushing for 347 yards and 7 touchdowns on 53 attempts.
5. Carter Smith (Bishop Verot)
We begin the top five with Smith, a four-star prospect who just might be the top junior quarterback in the state. In leading Bishop Verot to a 10-3 record and a Class 2S state semifinal appearance, Smith completed 62.5% of his passes for 3,104 yards and a 29:6 TD:INT ratio a year ago. He also rushed for 692 yards and 19 touchdowns on 133 attempts.
4. Alberto Mendoza (Miami Columbus)
Sitting at No. 4 is Mendoza, a three-star prospect in the 2024 class who returns as the starter for defending Class 4M state champion Miami Columbus this fall. Mendoza helped lead the Explorers to a 14-1 record last season, completing 72.7% of his passes for 2,470 yards and a 34:7 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 attempts.
3. Colin Hurley (Trinity Christian Academy)
Coming in at No. 3 on our list of top Florida high school quarterbacks in 2023 is Hurley, who is arguably the state’s top 2024 quarterback recruit. Hurley, a four-star LSU commit, is coming off a season in which he led the Conquerors to an 11-1 record, as well as a Class 1M regional final appearance, by completing 53.1% of his passes for 1,444 yards with a 16:5 TD:INT ratio.
2. Jayden Bradford (IMG Academy)
Bradford returns as the starter for arguably the state’s top preseason team, IMG Academy. A four-star prospect in the 2024 class, he led the Ascenders to an 8-1 record and an average of 49.8 PPG while completing 78% of his passes for 1,071 yards and a 19:0 TD:INT ratio. He also contributed 53 yards and 2 touchdowns on 27 rushing attempts.
1. Cedrick Bailey (Chaminade-Madonna)
Sitting in the No. 1 spot among top Florida high school quarterbacks in 2023 is Bailey, a senior who returns as the starter for defending Class 1M state champion Chaminade-Madonna. The three-star NC State commit led the Lions to a 13-1 record and an average of 48 PPG last season by completing 70.2% of his passes for 3,355 yards with a 45:5 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 attempts.
