To hold a five-star ranking at quarterback is an accolade one must earn, with only a handful of players across the country awarded that honor each year. As an example of just how uncommon that rating can be, take a look at Florida: One of the most talent-rich states in the game has seen only seven five-star quarterbacks since 2000. Here’s a look back at the careers of those top Florida high school quarterbacks and an update on where they are today.
Shea Patterson – IMG Academy
Patterson came out of IMG Academy in 2016 as a top 5 player nationally and a rating as the No. 1 overall quarterback in the country. After leading the Ascenders to an undefeated 2015 season, Patterson went on to play collegiately at Ole Miss and Michigan. He has made several professional stops, most recently in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers and New Orleans Breakers.
Xavier Lee – Seabreeze
Similar to Patterson, Lee also was considered the No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2004 class out of Seabreeze, where he was a top 10 player nationally. Coming off a memorable prep career in which he was one of Florida’s top passers, Lee went on to play collegiately at Florida State and last suited up in 2013 with the San Antonio Talons of the Arena Football League.
Tim Tebow – Nease
One of the top – and best-known – quarterbacks to come out of the Florida high school ranks, Tebow was considered the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation in 2006. He achieved a memorable collegiate career with the Florida Gators and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy, then made multiple stops professionally from 2010-15, as well as in 2021. Tebow is currently a college football analyst with ESPN.
Jeff Driskel – Hagerty
Rated the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2011 class, Driskel is the second former Florida Gator to be included on this list. The Hagerty product, however, finished his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech and is still playing in the NFL with the Houston Texans.
Aaron Murray – Plant
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2009 class, Murray was a standout at Plant High School who went on to continued success at Georgia. One of the SEC’s top quarterbacks during his time in Athens, Murray made a few stops professionally and last played in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL.
J.J. McCarthy – IMG Academy
Not only is McCarthy the second former IMG Academy product on this list, he is also the most recent five-star quarterback from Florida, having last played for the Ascenders during the 2020 season. Coming to Michigan in the Wolverines 2021 class, McCarthy is now in his sophomore season in Ann Arbor, where he’s the starting quarterback for one of the Big Ten’s top teams.
John Brantley – Trinity Catholic
The final name on this list of top Florida high school quarterbacks is yet another former Florida Gator – Brantley took his talents to Gainesville after spending his prep career at Trinity Catholic. The former five-star prospect in the 2007 class last played professionally back in 2012.
