Illinois high school football: Meet the state's top quarterbacks

Who are the top quarterbacks in Illinois in 2023?

SBLive Illinois is taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Illinois high school football. This list focuses on the quarterbacks.

There are hundreds of standout football players in Illinois, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. 

You can discuss the other quarterbacks worthy of fans’ attention in 2023 by connecting with us on Twitter/X at @SBLiveIL or by emailing latsch@scorebooklive.com. 

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Top quarterbacks in Illinois high school football

Makobi Adams, Sr., Mt. Zion

Adams showed off his electric skill set as a first-year starter for the Braves last season. He accounted for 2,508 yards of offense and 36 touchdowns while leading Mt. Zion to a 6-4 record and a 4A playoff appearance.

This season, Adams' huge numbers have helped his team start off 5-0 start he has thrown for 1,457 yards and 20 touchdowns to two interceptions and rushed for 176 yards and three scores.

Adams has been on visits to Ball State, Illinois, and Southern Illinois.

Robert Battle III, Sr., East St. Louis

A starter since his freshman year, Battle has been a huge part of the Flyers' success over the last four years. After a 6A state runner-up finish as a sophomore, Battled led East St. Louis to a 12-2 record and a 6A state title last season after totaling 2,856 yards of offense and 34 touchdowns.

This season, while grinding through a difficult schedule that includes several out-of-state opponents, the Lindenwood University commit senior has thrown for 887 yards and eight touchdowns to just one interception and 351 yards and four scores on the ground. 

Ryan Boe, Sr., Batavia

With two years of starting experience and a 20-5 record as a starter coming into this season, Boe has lived up to the hype throughout his career. 

As a junior last season, Boe led Batavia to a 7A runner-up finish while throwing for 1,664 yards and 16 touchdowns and adding five rushing scores. 

Now a senior and a North Dakota State commit, Boe has thrown for 1,090 yards and seven touchdowns and run for six scores through the first five games. 

Troyer Carlson, Sr., Kaneland

Carlson has been the Knights' go-to guy at QB since he arrived as a freshman and has already been a two-time all-state honorable mention and a two-time all-conference selection.

As a junior last season, Carlson led Kaneland to a 7-4 record and a second-round playoff appearance as he threw for 2,179 yards and 25 touchdowns. Now a senior, he has thrown for 1,174 yards and 15 touchdowns along with 303 rushing yards and five scores during his squad's 3-2 start to the season.

Carlson is uncommitted and has received interest from several schools at both the Division I and Division II levels thus far. 

Michael Champagne, Sr., Glenbard South

Champagne earned the starting job for the Raiders as a sophomore and has put up some big numbers while earning two all-conference selections.

As a junior last season, he threw 28 touchdown passes with just two interceptions and racked up 1,798 yards while leading Glenbard South to a 7-3 record.

Through the first five games this season, Champagne has helped the Raiders average 53 points per contest. The Amherst College commit has thrown for 767 yards and 15 touchdowns with just one interception and also run for 352 yards and six touchdowns. 

Jake Curry, Sr., Edwardsville

As a junior last season, Curry led Edwardsville to a 7-4 record and a second-round appearance in the 8A state playoffs. He threw for 1,811 yards and 24 touchdowns with just four interceptions and rushed for 347 yards and seven scores. 

Through the first five games this season, the Southern Illinois commit has accounted for 1,088 yards of offense and 18 touchdowns while helping Edwardsville get off to a 5-0 start.

Lucas Dyer, Jr., Mahomet-Seymour

A sophomore reserve last season, Dyer saw action in seven games for the 5A quarterfinalists and threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns. 

Now a junior who has solidified himself as the starter for Mahomet-Seymour, Dyer has thrown for 1,162 yards and 12 touchdowns while helping his squad to a 4-1 record through the first five weeks. His breakout performance came in Week 3 against Charleston when he threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of a 49-21 victory.

Jack Elliott, Jr., Mount Carmel

A first-year starter this season, Elliott has picked up right where the Caravan left off a year ago when they went 14-0 and won the 7A state title.

The junior quarterback led Mount Carmel to five wins in his first five starts. In his first varsity start against a tough East St. Louis squad, Elliott produced two touchdowns – one passing, one rushing – and led the Caravan to a thrilling 36-33 victory.

Ryan Fitzgerald, Jr., Loyola Academy

Fitzgerald thrived in his first five games as a starter for Loyola Academy, the defending 8A state champions, this season.

The junior has thrown for 818 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception and has added 190 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as Loyola opened the the season with five wins.

Fitzgerald had a breakout performance in a 41-24 win over conference rival Brother Rice in Week 4 when he threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score.

Colton Gumino, Jr., Hersey

Gumino earned all-conference honors and helped lead Hersey to a 10-1 record last season as a sophomore after accounting for 20 total touchdowns and throwing for 1,065 yards.

This season, Gumino is putting up big numbers – 1,205 total yards and 18 touchdowns – for the Huskies, who opened the season with five straight wins and averaged nearly 45 points per game.

He has received early interest from a several Division I programs.

Jett Hilding, Sr., St. Rita

As a junior last season, Hilding led St. Rita to a 10-3 record and a 7A semifinal appearance while totaling 1,009 yards of offense and nine touchdowns.

This season, he helped lead the Mustangs to a 4-1 start and has thrown for 430 yards and six touchdowns while adding with 190 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Hilding has received early interest from Columbia and Dartmouth of the Ivy League as well as South Dakota.

Max Howser, Sr., Wheaton North

A starter last season as a junior, Howser commanded the Wheaton North offense and threw for 1,187 yards and 10 touchdowns.

This season, he has been lighting up the stat sheet as he has thrown for 1,211 yards and nine touchdowns and added two rushing touchdowns during the Falcons' 3-2 start.

Howser is also a standout lacrosse player.

Bradyn Little, Jr., Quincy

Little was a breakout performer as a sophomore a year ago when he threw for 2,773 yards and 24 touchdowns and led the Blue Devils to an 8-3 record and a second-round appearance in the 6A playoffs. His performance helped him earned an all-conference selection as well as an all-state honorable mention accolade.

This season, Little led Quincy to a 5-0 start through the first five weeks while he threw for 1,466 yards and 18 touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown.

Logan Malachuk, Jr., Nazareth Academy

As a sophomore last season, Malachuk helped the Nazareth Academy Roadrunners become the first team in IHSA history to overcome an 0-3 start and win a state championship.

He accounted for 2,771 yards of offense and 24 touchdowns and earned player of the game honors in the 5A state championship game.

In a Week 5 victory over St. Ignatius, the Roadrunners trailed 7-0 with 12 minutes left but Malachuk rallied the offense to 21 fourth quarter points.

Dennis Mandala, Sr., IC Catholic Prep

Mandala has now seen four years worth of varsity action for IC Catholic Prep and has experienced a great deal of success.

As a junior last season, the gunslinger threw for 2,651 yards and 37 touchdowns (with just five) interceptions while leading the Knights to a 13-1 record, a 3A state title, and earning all-state honors.

Now a senior, Mandala has led IC to a 5-0 start through five weeks and has thrown seven touchdown passes — including three in a Week 5 win over 8A Marist.

Cale McThenia, Sr., Marian Central Catholic

McThenia has been one of the state's most prolific passers since the start of his junior season a year ago.

He threw for 2,604 yards and 27 touchdowns and also ran for 408 yards and eight TDs in just nine games for Marian Central Catholic last season.

Through the first five weeks this season, the Northern Iowa commit had completed 72 percent of his passes for, 1,874 yards and 24 touchdowns and also added 270 yards and four scores on the ground.

Alessio Milivojevic, Sr., St. Francis (Wheaton)

A first-year starter a year ago as a junior, Milivojevic led St. Francis (Wheaton) to the 4A semifinals and accounted for 2,450 yards and 36 touchdowns, which earned him a 4A all-state honorable mention.

Now a senior and a Ball State commit, Milivojevic has shown poise as a passer and has thrown for an impressive 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns along with three rushing touchdowns through the first five games.

He has received an offer from Iowa State and is continuing to receive interest from Power 5 schools.

Arthur Palicki, Sr., Willowbrook

Palicki has been a varsity player since his freshman season with the Warriors.

As a junior last year, Palicki led Willowbrook to a 7A playoff appearance. Through the first five games this season, Palicki threw for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns with running for another 425 yards and nine scores while leading the Warriors to a 3-2 record.

Palicki has received interest from several Division I schools and he has an offer from Northern Iowa.

Nick Peipert, Jr., Barrington

A first-year starter this season, Peipert has had an excellent start to the season and led Barrington to five wins through the first five weeks.

He has thrown for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interception and added 189 rushing yards. In a Week 2 win over Prospect, 49-14, he tossed five touchdown passes to lead the offensive outburst.

Ethan Plumb, Jr., St. Charles North

Plumb has been the North Stars’ starting quarterback since his freshman year.

As a sophomore last season, he was an all DuKane Conference selection and helped lead St. Charles North to a 10-2 record. This season, Plumb threw for 1,448 yards and 19 touchdowns through the first five weeks while leading St. Charles North to a 3-2 start.

Quinn Schambow, Jr., Libertyville

As a sophomore starter last season, Schambow helped lead Libertyville to a 7A playoff appearance.

He had a breakout performance in his second varsity start with 165 yards passing and two touchdowns in a 42-17 victory over Evanston.

This season, Schambow has thrown for 1,158 yards and 16 touchdowns (with just one interception) during the Wildcats 3-2 start through the first five weeks.

Also a talented baseball player, he is committed to continue his career on the diamond at Oklahoma State.

Nate Stempowski, Sr., Geneva

A junior starter last season, Stempowski led the Vikings to a 7A playoff appearance and threw for 1,517 yards and 17 touchdowns paired with 323 yards and six touchdowns rushing.

This season, he helped Geneva get off to a 5-0 start by throwing for 742 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception and rushing for 253 yards and two TDs.

Stempkowski also excels as a shortstop on the baseball diamond and is committed to play baseball at McHenry County College.

Marcus Thaxton, Jr., Morgan Park

A varsity player since his freshman year, Thaxton enjoyed a successful sophomore season as a first-year starter for the Mustangs last year.

He helped lead Morgan Park to a 9-2 record and a second-round playoff appearance while throwing for 1,757 yards and 21 touchdowns. He earned second-team all-city honors and all-area honorable mention.

This season, Thaxton has his squad off to a 4-1 start through the first five games while throwing for 879 yards and nine scores and adding a touchdown on the ground.

The junior quarterback has collected an early offer from New Mexico State and continues to receive interest from Division I schools.

Braden Tischer, Sr., Lincoln-Way East

As a junior last season, Tischer helped lead Lincoln-Way East to a 13-1 record and an 8A runner-up finish while throwing for 2,192 yards and 21 touchdowns and running for 458 yards and four scores.

This season, he led the top-ranked Griffins to a 5-0 start through five weeks while throwing for 913 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Tischer is currently uncommitted but has received interest from several colleges.

Jonas Williams, Soph., Bolingbrook

It did not take Williams long to burst on the scene as a freshman last season. In his first varsity start, Williams threw for a whopping 407 yards and seven touchdowns and he finished the season with 2,737 yards and 37 touchdowns in 10 games.

This season, he picked up right where he left off and has led Bolingbrook to a strong start while putting up huge numbers. In a Week 3 bout with Naperville North, he threw for 355 yards and six touchdowns.

The sophomore has already received several Division I offers, including from Michigan, Tennessee, Illinois and Arkansas. 

Illinois' top 25 high school football prospects entering 2023 season

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- Mike Carpinelli | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL