Top 20 quarterbacks in Central Texas high school football entering 2023 season

Central Texas - Waco, Austin, San Antonio and beyond - is loaded with quarterback talent

The 2023 Texas high school football season has arrived.

Football practice for UIL schools statewide begins this week as the countdown to the beginning of the football season reaches its final stretch ahead of opening weekend.

As teams across the Lone Star State take the field for preseason practice, SBLive Texas is taking a look at the top returning teams and players around the state by region, starting with the toughest position in sports.

>> SBLive’s 2022-23 All-Central Texas high school football teams, awards

We started with the Top 20 QBs in North Texas first and are moving down from there.

Who are the top quarterbacks in Central Texas entering the 2023 season? Here is SBLive's top 20 — plus a few more — spanning schools of all sizes from Waco, Austin, San Antonio and the rest of the central part of the state.

Stay with SBLive Texas (@SBLiveTX) for a position-by-position look at the top high school football players across each of the Lone Star State's six regions entering the 2023 season, along with reader polls asking fans to choose the best on each watch list. Players are listed in alphabetical order.

TOP 20 QUARTERBACKS IN CENTRAL TEXAS

Cash McCollum, China Spring / Photo by Brian McLean

Deuce Adams, 6-2, 175, sr., Austin Vandegrift

After a stellar junior season at New Braunfels Canyon, Deuce and his twin brother, Eli Adams, have found a new place to play on Friday nights this fall at Austin Vandegrift. After leading the Cougars to a 9-2 record with 3,007 passing yards to go along with 34 touchdowns, the University of Louisville commit and four-star rated quarterback will look to lead the Vipers back to the state championship to avenge last year’s loss in Arlington with a loaded, talented roster on both sides of the ball. Adams was a SBLive All-Central Texas first-team quarterback a year ago, and looks to end his high school career with a state title before heading off to Louisville.

Leighton Adams, 6-1, 195, sr., New Braunfels

The Unicorns had a great 2022 season, and Adams, who made the District 27-6A first team a year ago, will battle for a district title and add onto his impressive high school career stats after passing for 2,400 yards and had 28 TDs. After battling back from a career-threatening injury, Adams - along with his fellow senior wideout Lance Beeghley and senior backfield running mate Ty’Ree Johnson - will help the Unicorns look to upend conference foe Cibolo Steele for the district title.

Jaxon Baize, 6-0, 180, jr., Boerne

It will be tough to improve upon the year that Baize had under center in his sophomore season for the Greyhounds. Baize led the Hounds to a 15-1 record and lost to China Spring in the 4A Division I state title game. Baize, who threw the ball around for 3,500-plus yards and 53 TDs in the air, was the District 14-4A Offensive MVP and completed almost 68% of his passes. One of the top quarterbacks in the San Antonio area for the 2025 class, Baize returns to lead the Boerne offense with a lot of returning talent at the skill position and protecting him on the offensive line.

Noah Booras, 5-10, 185, sr., Georgetown

The District 11-5A Offensive MVP, Booras returns for his senior finale season after completing 77% of his passes while tossing 36 TD passes en route to a 10-3 record. With a slew of talent returning on the offensive side of the ball, look for Booras to have another huge impact with a successful season.

Noah Farris, 5-11, 165, sr., San Antonio Harlan

Farris returns for his final campaign of his high school career after coming up short in the state semifinal last season. He will lead the Hawks' offense in the loaded District 29-6A, competing against perennial area rival Brennan, and with Farris’ dual-offensive ability, Harlan will look to run the table back in 6A Division II.

Cayden Glass, 5-8, 155, soph., San Antonio Brennan

The sophomore quarterback is entering his first season as the Bears' starter after Brennan lost Ashton Dubose to graduation, and it appears the perennial powerhouse Bears will be just fine as Glass is projected as a top-caliber quarterback in the area. Glass will look to lead one of the top San Antonio-area teams to a fourth straight district title and another long run through the 6A Division I playoffs.

William Hammond, 6-2, 195, sr., Hutto

The future Texas Tech Red Raider will look to build upon his high school numbers with Hutto after tossing 30 TDs and adding another nine on the ground. Hammond, who competed in the National Elite-11 competition this summer, is seen as one of the top QBs in the state and will look to bring home a District 12-6A title this season for the Hippos.

Ty Hawkins, 6-0, 195, jr., San Antonio Johnson

Hawkins burst onto the scene just one year ago during his sophomore campaign, which was his first year under center in the Jaguar program. The District 28-6A Offensive MVP and All-Area QB is seen as one of the top players in the San Antonio area for the Class of 2025. Hawkins threw for 2,100 yards and 30 TD passes, and the dual-threat QB added 920 more on the ground and eight scores. The junior quarterback has already committed to play at the next level at TCU, and will look to lead the Jaguars back to a district title and a deep run into the state playoffs after a disappointing 7-4 2022 season.

Brad Jackson, 6-0, 185, sr., San Antonio Reagan

In his first year with the area powerhouse Rattlers, Jackson will look to add to his 7,500 career passing yards and 75 touchdowns while leading Reagan to yet another District 28-6A title in San Antonio. Jackson, a 247-composite three-star QB who is committed to play at Texas State next year, will team up with a talented backfield to lead the Rattlers' offense.

Kadyn Leon, 5-11, 155, sr., Lake Travis

The senior dual-threat quarterback was forced into a starting role for quarterback powerhouse program Lake Travis. Leon performed well as a junior, throwing for 1,300 yards and 22 TDs to just one interception and rushed for another 500 yards. After a disappointing 7-5 finish in 2022, Leon will look to lead the Cavaliers to a district title in the competitive District 26-6A.

Maddox Maher, 6-3, 195 jr., Dripping Springs

The junior gunslinger will step into the QB1 position for the Tigers this season after the graduation of Austin Novostad, who is now at the University of Oregon. Dripping Springs plays in the always competitive District 26-6A, and Maher certainly looks the part to carry the torch for the Tigers as they will look to build upon last year’s 12-2 record as they are currently ranked No. 17 in 2023 preseason rankings throughout Texas.

Arrington Maiden, 6-3, 195, sr., College Station

It was an impressive run in 2022 for Maiden and College Station en route to a 13-3 overall record, ending as state runner-ups in 5A Division I. With Maiden returning, along with his top target on the outside and his running mate in the backfield, College Station will look to get back to Arlington to capture the state title. Maiden threw for 2,200-plus yards to go along with 22 TDs, and will certainly look to increase those numbers as the Cougars look to win another district title.

Cash McCollum, 6-4, 210, sr., China Spring

The senior quarterback is coming into the 2023 season after having led China Spring to a 4A Division I state title just a year ago, and is poised to help the Cougars win their third straight championship. The University of North Texas commit passed for over 3,200 yards a season ago to go along with 37 touchdowns through the 2022 campaign. He added 454 yards on the ground with six more scores with his feet. With the 2023 season being his second in the China Spring program, McCollum will look to improve upon the Cougars’ 43-points per game from a season ago.

Antonio Meza, 6-0, 170, sr., San Antonio Warren

Meza is entering the 2023 season as one of the top quarterbacks in the loaded District 29-6A, as he led the Warriors to the state playoffs last season after throwing for 3,400 yards and 34 TDs. Meza will look to continue his stellar high school career with a district championship this season.

Lincoln Philyaw, 6-2, 208, sr., San Antonio Brandeis

The senior quarterback enters the 2023 season as QB1 for coach Charles Bruce and the Broncos. Philyaw looks poised to lead the Broncos to compete in a tough District 28-6A against top crosstown rivals Johnson and Reagan. With top area talent at the wideout position, look for Philyaw to have a breakout senior season.

Ali Scott, 6-0, 180, jr., Austin LBJ 

In his second year as the starter for LBJ, Scott enters the 2023 campaign after leading the Jaguars to a District 12-5A title last year after tossing for a thousand yards in the air and 20 TDs. Entering his second season as the starting quarterback, look for Scott to post some big numbers in the district while helping lead LBJ to its third straight district title.

Brett Skinner, 6-3, 190, sr.,/Paxton Land, 6-5, 210, sr., Austin Westlake

After falling to Houston powerhouse North Shore in the state championship last season, Skinner will battle for the QB1 spot through fall camp of the Chaparrals this season as the Chaps look to claim another state title that escaped them last year. Skinner threw for 1,300 yards and had 16 TDs to just two interceptions in just 10 games played.

Meanwhile, Land also saw time last year under center for the Chaparrals and looks to be in a battle for the QB1 spot this fall with Skinner. In 10 games played a season ago, Land was able to throw for 1,571 yards and 17 TDs while completing 65% of his passes.

Rather it be either Skinner or Land taking snaps for coach Tony Salazar this fall, Westlake will look to continue their annual dominance in 6A Division I football as the Chaps have won three out of the past four state titles.

Cody Stoever, 5-10, 185, jr., Wimberly

Stoever had an incredible sophomore season for the Texans a year ago and was responsible for 51 touchdowns as they finished as state runner-up and a 15-1 record. In his sophomore season, Stoever threw for 2,400 yards and rushed for another 1,100 on the ground. Stoever and the Texans look to be ready for another deep run in the 4A Division II playoffs.

Ryland Walker, 6-2, 209, sr., Smithson Valley

Walker comes into his senior season as the QB1 of the Ranger program, and was able to get his first start of his career last season in the Rangers’ playoff loss to College Station. Walker, along with the return of University of Texas commit Freddie Dubose, will look to bring another district title back to Smithson Valley.

Chad Warner, 6-3, 180, jr., Cibolo Steele

In his first year as QB1 of the perennial powerhouse Knights, Warner led them to an undefeated regular season and District 27-6A title, but their state title dreams were upended in the bi-district round against another perennial power in Lake Travis. With a loaded roster returning for the 2023 campaign, Warner will look to build upon his sophomore year success and lead the preseason top-ranked team in the San Antonio area back to the promised land with a state championship.

HONORABLE MENTION 

Corey Dailey, 6-4, 165, so., Seguin

Cameron Dickey, 5-10, 195, sr., Crockett

Chaston Ditta, 6-0, 190, jr., Lake Travis

Brady Gephart, 5-11, 175, sr., Austin Anderson

Kutter Gage Webb, 6-0, 170, sr., San Marcos

—

Photo by Brian McLean