Top 40 quarterbacks in CIF Southern Section high school football

The traits are many — big arms, dual threats, game managers, clutch performers — but here are 40 who get the job done in a hotbed for the sport and for the position of quarterback.

The football season in California has passed the midway mark and the top players have begun separating themselves.

SBLive is taking a look at the top players in the state, beginning with the top quarterbacks in the CIF Southern Section.

The selection of players — listed here in alphabetical order — are based on a combination of next-level projection and current production.

TOP 40 QUARTERBACKS IN SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL

Parker Awad — Senior — Edison

• 2022 stats: Completed 102 of 145 passes (70%) for 1,779 yards, 19 TDs, 1 INT, 34 carries for 175 yards, 4 TDs

• Recruiting: Alabama State offer

• Best trait: Rarely makes mistakes

Bear Bachmeier - Sophomore - Murrieta Valley

• 2022 stats: Completed 119 of 168 passes (71%) for 1,780 yards, 15 TDs, 2 INTs, 32 carries for 495 yards, 13 TDs

• Recruiting: Boise State and Michigan offers

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

Dieter Barr - Senior - St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy

• 2022 stats: Completed 25 of 36 passes (69%) for 523 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT*

• Recruiting: Cal Poly offer

• Best trait: Movement in the pocket to extend plays

• *Has missed time due to injury

Reyn Beal - Senior Yorba Linda

• 2022 stats: Completed 79 of 115 passes (68%) for 1,203 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INT's

• Recruiting: Division 3 interest

• Best trait: Consistency

Wyatt Becker - Sophomore - Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

• 2022 stats: Completed 104 of 169 passes (61%) for 1,394 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs, 82 rushing yards, 2 TDs

• Recruiting: 16 Division 1 offers including Florida State and Georgia

• Best trait: Rises to the occasion

Elijah Brown - Junior - Mater Dei

• 2022 stats: Completed 105 of 154 passes (68%) for 1,495 yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs, 2 rushing TDs

• Recruiting: 13 offers including Alabama and USC

• Best trait: The complete package

Israel Carter - Senior - Corona Centennial

• 2022 stats: Completed 49 of 85 passes (58%) for 1,108 yards, 17 TDs, 0 INTs, 30 carries for 430 yards and 8 TDs

• Recruiting: Arizona State commit

• Best trait: Lightning fast speed

Aidan Chiles - Senior - Downey

• 2022 stats: Completed 87 of 114 passes (76%) for 1,546 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs, 24 carries for 306 yards and 3 TDs

• Recruiting: Oregon State commit

• Best trait: Strength. Has great arm strength and is very difficult to tackle. 

Pierce Clarkson - Senior - St. John Bosco

• 2022 stats: Completed 50 of 84 passes (59%) for 959 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs, 23 carries  for 219 yards and 2 TDs

• Recruiting: Louisville commit

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

Carson Conklin - Senior - Corona Centennial

• 2022 stats: Completed 28 of 52 passes (54%) for 471 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT*

• Recruiting: Sacramento State commit

• Best trait: Pocket passing, also more athletic than he gets credit for

*Has missed time due to injury

Alonzo Contreras - Junior - Calabasas

• 2022 stats: Completed 93 of 154 passes (60%) for 1,518 yards, 18 TDs and 3 INTs

• Recruiting: UNLV offer 

• Best trait: Big arm

Darius Curry - Junior - Long Beach Poly

• 2022 stats: Completed 134 of 191 passes (70%) for 1,817 yards, 15 TDs, 3 INTs, 31 carries for 102 yards and 5 TDs

• Recruiting: Five offers including Arizona State and Georgia

• Best trait: Great quarterback, great person

Dereun Dortch - Senior - San Jacinto

• 2022 stats: Completed 108 of 158 passes (68%) for 1,730 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs, 39 carries for 338 yards and 5 TDs

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Playmaking in the air and on the ground

Tyler Dudden - Junior - Norco

• 2022 stats: Completed 115 of 180 passes (64%) for 1,486 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs, 48 carries for 287 yards, 1 TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Lethal combination of pocket passing and running

Aidan Houston - Junior - Cypress

• 2022 stats: Completed 84 of 127 passes (66%) for 1,643 yards, 18 TDs, 3 INTs, 45 carries for 406 yards and 8 TDs

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

Nico Iamaleava - Senior - Warren

• 2022 stats: Completed 72 of 124 passes (58%) for 1,190 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs, 22 carries for 218 yards and 4 TDs

• Recruiting: University of Tennessee commit

• Best trait: The complete package

Myles Jackson - Junior - Long Beach Millikan

• 2022 stats: Completed 105 of 165 passes (64%) for 2,006 yards, 26 TDs, 5 INTs, 57 carries for 255 yards and 3 TDs

• Recruiting: 20 offers including Auburn, Oregon and Texas A&M

• Best trait: Gunslinger 

Jack Jacobs - Senior - St. Francis

• 2022 stats: Completed 112 of 187 passes (60%) for 1,813 yards, 20 TDs, 4 INTs, 76 carries for 142 yards and 3 TDS

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Pocket passing

Nathan Johnson - Senior - Ramona

• 2022 stats: Completed 71 of 107 passes (66%) for 1,254 yards, 16 TDs, 1 INT, 14 carries for 65 yards and 1 TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Pocket passing

Trey Kukuk - Senior - Capo Valley

• 2022 stats: Completed 150 of 268 passes (56%) for 1,985 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs, 73 carries for 499 yards and 10 TDs

• Recruiting: Division 3 interest

• Best trait: Gunslinger with great running ability

TJ Lateef - Sophomore - Orange Lutheran

• 2022 stats: Completed 144 of 220 passes (65%) for 1,786 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs, 53 carries for 129 yards and 1 TD

• Recruiting: Arizona, Colorado and Florida State offers

• Best trait: Stays cool under pressure

Husan Longstreet - Sophomore - Inglewood

• 2022 stats: Completed 91 of 135 passes (67%) for 2,030 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 7 carries for 93 yards and 1 TD

• Recruiting: 12 offers including Florida State and Ole Miss

• Best trait: Plays like a senior, wise beyond his years

Diego Lopez - Junior - Oak Hills

• 2022 stats: Completed 97 of 130 passes (75%) for 1,615 yards, 19 TDs, 3 INTs, 18 carries, for 76 yards, 1 TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Accuracy

Boone Lourd - Junior - Brentwood School

• 2022 stats: Completed 97 of 150 passes (65%) for 1,440 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs, 39 carries for 296 yards and 4 TDs

• Recruiting: Five offers including Florida State and Purdue

• Best trait: Gunslinger

Anders "Christian" Lundsberg - Senior - Anaheim Canyon

• 2022 stats: Completed 152 of 217 passes (70%) for 2,451 yards, 34 TDs, 4 INTs

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Consistent producer (video game like stats)

Malachi Nelson - Senior - Los Alamitos

• 2022 stats: 1,716 yards passing, 68% completion percentage, 20 TDs, 2 INTs

• Recruiting: USC commit

• Best trait: The complete package

Richie Munoz - Senior - Charter Oak

• 2022 stats: Completed 94 of 145 passes (65%) for 1,776 yards, 26 TDs, 2. INTs, 37 carries for 176 yards and 1 TD

• Recruiting: Weber State commit

• Best trait: Play making

Jaxon Potter - Senior - Santa Margarita

• 2022 stats: Completed 142 of 199 passes (71%) for 1762 yards, 18 TDs, 1 INT, 30 carries for 116 yards, 4 TDs

• Recruiting: UAB commit

• Best trait: All around good QB who's made impressive jump from junior to senior year

Michael Ramos - Sophomore Yucca Valley

• 2022 stats: Completed 94 of 144 passes (65%) for 1,590 yards, 18 TDs, 2 INTs, 69 carries for 239 yards and 5 TDs

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

David Rasor - Senior - Corona del Mar

• 2022 stats: Completed 64 of 92 passes (70%) for 687 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD

• Recruiting: UC Davis commit

• Best trait: Pocket passing

Byron Rivas - Senior - Granite Hills

• 2022 stats: Completed 96 of 161 passes for 1,601 yards, 22 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 rushing TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Pocket mobility

Gavin Rogers - Senior - Crean Lutheran

• 2022 stats: Completed 90 of 125 passes (72%) for 1,493 yards, 28 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 rushing TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Rarely makes mistakes

Kadin Semonza - Senior - Mission Viejo

• 2022 stats: Completed 106 of 158 passes (67%) for 1,597 yards, 18 TDs, 3 INTs, 43 carries for 148 yards and 7 TDs

• Recruiting: Ball State commit

• Best trait(s): Intelligence and consistency 

Brady Smigiel - Freshman - Newbury Park

• 2022 stats: Completed 153 of 228 passes for 2,251 yards (67%), 31 TDs, 7 INTs, 47 carries for 155 yards and 5 TDs

• Recruiting: Arizona, Florida Atlantic and San Jose State offers

• Best trait: Gunslinger with clear next level potential

Akili Smith Jr. - Sophomore - Vista Murietta

• 2022 stats: Completed 89 of 122 passes (73%) for 1,309 yards, 16 TDs, 1 INT

• Recruiting: Arizona and Fresno State offers

• Best trait: Accuracy

Ryan Staub - Senior - West Ranch

• 2022 stats: Completed 129 of 212 passes (61%) for 1,996 yards, 26 TDs, 2 INTs, 21 carries for 215 yards and 2 TDs

• Recruiting: Colorado commit

• Best trait: The complete package

Anthony Tafoya - Sophomore - Fillmore

• 2022 stats: Completed 98 of 142 passes (69%) for 1,384 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD

• Recruiting: N/A

• Best trait: Hard worker with bright future

Evan Tomich - Senior - Mayfair

• 2022 stats: Completed 65 of 121 passes (54%) for 940 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs, 52 carries for 251 yards and 3 TDs

• Recruiting: Eight offers including Arizona State and Oregon State

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

Javance Tupouata-Johnson - Senior - Chaminade

• 2022 stats: Completed 50 of 86 passes (58%) for 1,036 yards, 12 TDs, 0 INTs, 30 carries for 348 yards, and 5 TDs

• Recruiting: San Diego State commit

• Best trait: A true dual-threat

Bryan Wilson - Junior - Ayala

• 2022 stats: Completed 61 of 105 passes (58%) for 1,228 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs, 18 carries for 55 yards and 2 TDs

• Recruiting: Florida State and Texas A&M offers

• Best trait: Arm strength