By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There are many talented quarterbacks across our coverage area that features more than 60 teams. Below are some of the top quarterbacks to watch this season. This list is in alphabetical order.
NOTE: Some worthy players may appear on one of our other SIX football watch lists. In an effort to highlight as many players as possible, A PLAYER CAN ONLY APPEAR ON ONE LIST.
The football watch lists we will be releasing are: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Receivers, Linemen, Linebackers, Defensive Backs and Breakout Players.
QUARTERBACKS TO WATCH
Blandy Burall, Reeds Spring
It’s not very common to see lefty quarterbacks, but Burall is good enough to flip the entire playbook for. As a junior, he threw for 2,506 yards and 34 touchdowns (the most in the Ozarks) in leading Reeds Spring to a state championship game appearance. He’s also great at using his feet to extend plays and make defenses pay downfield.
Hobbs Gooch, Joplin
Few quarterbacks improved more from Week 1 to the end of the season than Gooch. In his first three starts, he threw four interceptions. He threw just four interceptions over his final seven games (132 pass attempts). Curtis Jasper has been one of the best developers of quarterbacks in the Ozarks, which led to Gooch passing for 1,894 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior.
Gavyn Hoover, Seneca
The Big 8 isn’t always known for quarterback play, but Hoover is built a little different. He’s a tough and physical, Big 8-brand quarterback which Seneca needed, but he also has an impressive arm. He threw for 1,709 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior. That production came on limited attempts. He makes it difficult to load the box against Seneca’s loaded run game.
Quenton Hughes, Neosho
Brandon Taute has orchestrated some of the best local offenses of the last five years, and last year’s job with Neosho (which averaged 41.6 PPG) was no exception and Hughes was the triggerman for it all. He finished top five in the area in passing yards (2,836; 2nd) and touchdowns (28; 5th). He operates with surgical precision, completing 69 percent of his attempts and throws one interception every 40 attempts.
Carter Pruett, Liberty
Not many 4-year starters at quarterback are walking around in the Ozarks and Pruett has earned every single start with his immense talent. He’s built like a linebacker, runs like a running back and has arguably the most gifted arm in the Ozarks. With Jansen Acklin taking over a Liberty program that has seen some big-time quarterbacks, Pruett is right there with the best of them in terms of physical tools.
Russell Roweton, Willard
The numbers are solid, but Roweton is a total eye-test guy. He passed for 2,074 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, but it’s how he got those numbers that was impressive. He can make every throw that you’d ask a high-level quarterback to make. He can beat you with timing or with his big arm. He can also make plays outside the pocket. He’s on track for a monster senior season.
Gavin Smith, Lebanon
He’s the only quarterback on this list to not throw for 500 yards, but that doesn’t make Smith ineffective at what he does; he’s one of the best running quarterbacks in the Ozarks. The Jackets routinely have one of the top ground games in the Ozarks, and Smith gives them yet another explosive threat. As a junior he rushed for 1,007 yards and 18 touchdowns while throwing for 484 and seven more scores. You constantly have to account for where he is.
Wyatt Woods, Republic
The catalyst of Republic’s turnaround is Woods and his dynamic play at quarterback. He makes plays with his legs, he makes plays through the air and he’s a master of improvisation. As a junior he threw for 1,046 yards and rushed for another 936 yards with 30 total touchdowns, in a league that is full of big-time defenses.
OTHERS TO WATCH
AJ Dampier, Skyline
Logan Decker, College Heights
Destyn Dowd, McDonald County
Jourdyn Edelstein, Strafford
Nate Hill, Miller
Gavin Johnston, Mt. Vernon
Aiden Lane, Ava
Payton Marbough, Diamond
Dexter Merrell, Carl Junction
Quinn Northrup, Springfield Catholic
Thessen Prenger, Rogersville
Bodee Rose, Cassville
Henry Schnelle, Lockwood
