This season, the early signing period has moved up, so even as we watch the current crop of college football signal-callers, there’s another group of passers getting ready to make their mark. Here, we break down all of the top class of 2025 quarterbacks, not just relying on their recruiting rankings but providing our analysis of the top guys.
Here are the top 2025 QB recruits.
Class of 2025 QB Rankings
The 2025 quarterback class has a bunch of talent at the top. In fact, I think three or four of the top 10 players at the position may start from Day 1.
In our rankings below, we utilize a combination of rankings for the big four recruiting websites: On3, 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. However, our final rankings are based on film study and conversations with scouts and coaches nationwide. We’ve also included player comps for the top 10 to give readers a better idea of the way each of these quarterbacks plays.
1) Julian Lewis, Carrollton
College: Colorado Buffaloes
Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 175
On3 Position Rank: 10
247 Position Rank: 9
ESPN Position Rank: 2
Rivals Position Rank: 3
Comp: Bryce Young
I don’t typically agree with the scouts at Rivals or ESPN, but I do here and will take it one step further. Julian Lewis was the best freshman quarterback I’ve ever scouted. Still, unlike a couple of the other guys on this list, he was punished in the rankings by reclassifying from the 2026 class, probably due to his size.
I don’t have player comps for every player on this list, but Lewis has the point guard distribution ability of Bryce Young with better pocket movement and athleticism at this stage in his career. That’s a comp I’ve had for years, dating back to his time as a freshman and Young’s time at Alabama. It says a lot about his upside that Lewis has since outgrown the quarterback that he best mirrored early in his career.
While he needs to get in the weight room, I’d pencil him in as the starter in Boulder next season, even if Deion Sanders is saying all the right things for this to be a true quarterback battle with transfer Kaidon Salter.
2) Bryce Underwood, Belleville
College: Michigan Wolverines
Hometown: Belleville, Michigan
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215
On3 Position Rank: 1
247 Position Rank: 1
ESPN Position Rank: 1
Rivals Position Rank: 2
Comp: Marcus Mariota
We’ve all heard about Bryce Underwood’s NIL-centered recruitment, but what about Bryce Underwood, the player?
Obviously, Michigan boosters wouldn’t put together the most extensive NIL package ever reported for a player who couldn’t start early in his career. While it’s true Underwood isn’t walking into the most talented quarterback room in the country, that’s not the only reason he’s the likely starter next year.
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Underwood has elite size, but unlike some of the guys he’s being compared to, he’s advanced as a passer and though he has the physical traits to run, he’s usually looking to pass when he breaks the pocket. Still, he’s learning to rely more on his legs.
I think people forget how good Marcus Mariota was as a college quarterback. Mariota averaged 6.6 yards a carry en route to 2,200 career rushing yards and a 104-to-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Underwood has that type of upside. As he’s learning how to best use all of his physical talent, Underwood will probably undergo a transformation in the type of player that he is, much like Mariota.
3) Keelon Russell, Duncanville
College: Alabama Crimson Tide
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 180
On3 Position Rank: 2
247 Position Rank: 3
ESPN Position Rank: 1
Rivals Position Rank: 1
Comp: Jayden Daniels
Keelon Russell comes from the football-rich town of Duncanville, Texas. He’s a weird evaluation as his athleticism suggests he’ll be a true dual-threat quarterback at the next level, but he’s rarely asked to run in a quick-hitting Duncanville offense.
Russell is wiry and should probably add about 15-20 pounds before playing at the college level. While I don’t think he’s as college-ready as some of the other players on this list, his ceiling is as high as any player on this list, which pushes him into the third position.
That sounds a lot like Jayden Daniels, who took a while to take off at the college level. Both throw with the anticipation of a distributor, but have the elite athleticism to wreak havoc as runners.
4) Matt Zollers, Spring-Ford
College: Missouri Tigers
Hometown: Royersford, Pennsylvania
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 200
On3 Position Rank: 9
247 Position Rank: 7
ESPN Position Rank: 7
Rivals Position Rank: 18
Comp: Matthew Stafford
Matt Zollers is the most physically gifted passer in the class, with an accurate and live arm. Typically, those two traits lend themselves well to a more in-phase quarterback, but Zollers is at his best when things break down and he can improvise.
Zollers is not the most athletic quarterback, but he has enough in his legs to escape pressure and deliver downfield. He throws a consistent ball, and his physical traits make him a candidate to start early.
That physical ability reminds us of former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and makes Zollers one of the top 2025 QB recruits.
5) Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, James Campbell
College: California Golden Bears
Hometown: Ewa Beach, Hawai’i
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225
On3 Position Rank: 4
247 Position Rank: 8
ESPN Position Rank: 17
Rivals Position Rank: 9
Comp: Michael Penix Jr.
The state of Hawai’i has been a recruiting hotbed for high-level quarterbacks for years, and Jaron-Keawa Sagapolutele looks like the next superstar. A long-time California Golden Bears commit, Sagapolutele didn’t stay with the Bears, flipping to Oregon on Signing Day. Sagapolutele eventually followed his heart, transferring back to Cal within three weeks of enrolling in Eugene.
As a player, Sagapolutele has a live arm and quick release. He has better straight-line speed than lateral quickness he won’t have many designed quarterback runs, but he can succeed when teams lose in the middle. In that way, he reminds us a lot of Michael Penix Jr. though at this point, Penix had a slightly better arm.
Sagapolutele will have little trouble adjusting to the college game, both as an athlete and with his ability to make all sorts of difficult throws.
6) Tavien St. Clair, Bellefontaine
College: Ohio State Buckeyes
Hometown: Bellefontaine, Ohio
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 225
On3 Position Rank: 5
247 Position Rank: 2
ESPN Position Rank: 3
Rivals Position Rank: 1
Comp: Cam Ward
Tavien St. Clair has the highest upside of any quarterback in the class, but I have a few concerns about his ability to find immediate success. Bellefontaine is hardly a football power, and there will be a considerable learning curve moving from a school with less than 650 students to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
St. Clair has elite arm talent and good athleticism, but he often wins on film by being bigger and stronger than everyone around him. He’ll need to learn a bit more finesse, and for that reason, I don’t have him as a guy who should make an early impact. With some development, however, St. Clair could be a future superstar.
Though he’s a bit taller than Cam Ward, the playing style is familiar. He’s fearless against pressure, but often trusts his arm and athleticism a bit too much, leading to both highlight-reel and turnover-worthy plays. Still, his upside makes him one of the top 2025 QB recruits.
7) Husan Longstreet, Centennial
College: USC Trojans
Hometown: Corona, California
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195
On3 Position Rank: 3
247 Position Rank: 4
ESPN Position Rank: 4
Rivals Position Rank: 8
Comp: Jaxson Dart
Hailing from California powerhouse Centennial High School — a school that produced quarterbacks like BYU Cougars passer Jake Retzlaff, among others — Husan Longstreet switched his commitment from the Texas A&M Aggies to USC hours after the aforementioned Lewis de-committed.
Longstreet is a prototypical QB prospect with great accuracy. He’s not going to win any longest throw contests, but he has elite functional arm strength and is able to drive the ball between defenders. Longstreet’s lack of one elite trait bumps him down the list, but he has the high-level traits to be an early starter and lands as one of the top 2025 QB recruits.
8) Dan Mahan, Walter M Williams
College: Duke Blue Devils
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 180
On3 Position Rank: 34
247 Position Rank: 55
ESPN Position Rank: 63
Rivals Position Rank: 9
Comp: Jalen Milroe
Here’s where I differ the most from the major recruiting outlets. I’m betting on traits here, and, my goodness, Dan Mahan has traits. That puts him squarely in the running with the top 2025 QB recruits.
Mahan is raw, with inconsistent footwork and while he rarely throws interceptions, they often come in bunches.
Mahan has an absolute rocket for an arm, but he’s still learning as a quarterback. He primarily played as a receiver as a freshman and sophomore, only moving behind center as a junior. He reminds me of Jalen Milroe. Milroe is substantially bigger now, but at Mahan’s age he was equally slim. Mahan has many of the same traits that Milroe has and will likely have a similar learning curve to the college game.
With some coaching, Mahan is a superstar, and Duke should have some packages for him as a freshman.
9) Deuce Knight, George County
College: Auburn Tigers
Hometown: Lucedale, Mississippi
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 210
On3 Position Rank: 6
247 Position Rank: 6
ESPN Position Rank: 2
Rivals Position Rank: 2
Comp: Kellen Moore
I have so many mixed thoughts on Deuce Knight. At his best, he could be the best quarterback in the class, even after he re-classified from the 2026 class. He’s a lefty with a pretty deep ball and decent running ability.
However, Knight is best when the play breaks down, an improvisor who can be late on his reads, especially over the middle of the field. He also often tries to do things all by himself. That will need to change, but his raw talent is impressive.
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Knight’s entire transfer situation to Lipscomb Academy in Nashville and back to Mississippi was strange, and there are real questions about the competition level. Still, something must be said about the quality of teams pursuing him.
Lane Kiffin and company tried their best to pry Knight away from Auburn, but the Ole Miss Rebels got the final shot at the Egg Bowl and landed Knight. He likely won’t have to start early, but if Freeze grows impatient with Jackson Arnold, Knight could hear his name called.
While I’ve heard Michael Penix Jr. as a comp, I don’t love that as Penix thrives in phase and Knight prefers to be off-script. In that regard, another lefty quarterback with a similar throwing motion comes to mind in former Boise State Broncos legend Kellen Moore.
10) Bryce Baker, East Forsyth
College: North Carolina Tar Heels
Hometown: Kernersville, North Carolina
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 200
On3 Position Rank: 11
247 Position Rank: 13
ESPN Position Rank: 4
Rivals Position Rank: 7
Comp: Baker Mayfield
Bryce Baker isn’t college-ready … yet. Credit to some of the scouts at the Power Four schools that were among the first to offer because while the size and arm talent were there, Baker wasn’t there from a decision-making standpoint as recently as last season.
This season, something clicked. Baker hasn’t just flashed high-level decision-making; he’s been as consistent as anyone in the country in that category. He’s been quick to make decisions and delivers with excellent accuracy and ball placement.
The next step for Baker is to see him go through reads because he’s often a “one-read and run” quarterback. But the traits are there, and so is the development. It says a lot about his upside that he was the first recruit Bill Belichick visited after becoming North Carolina’s head coach and Baker will have the chance to at least compete for playing time in 2025.
11) George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy
College: Tennessee Volunteers
Hometown: Brentwood, Tennessee
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 190
On3 Position Rank: 12
247 Position Rank: 14
ESPN Position Rank: 8
Rivals Position Rank: 10
12) KaMario Taylor, Noxubee County
College: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Hometown: Macon, Mississippi
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205
On3 Position Rank: 7
247 Position Rank: 11
ESPN Position Rank: 8
Rivals Position Rank: 7
13) KJ Lacey, Saraland
College: Texas Longhorns
Hometown: Saraland, Alabama
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 181
On3 PositioAcademy 36
247 Position Rank: 19
ESPN Position Rank: 10
Rivals Position Rank: 6
14) Ryan Montgomery, Findlay
College: Georgia Bulldogs
Hometown: Findlay, Ohio
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215
On3 Position Rank: 18
247 Position Rank: 12
ESPN Position Rank: 9
Rivals Position Rank: 5
15) Malik Washington, Archbishop Spalding
College: Maryland Terrapins
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215
On3 Position Rank: 14
247 Position Rank: 5
ESPFloridaion Rank: 14
Rivals Position Rank: 5
16) Tramell Jones Jr., Mandarin
College: Florida Gators
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195
On3 Position Rank: 29
247 Position Rank: 21
ESPN Position Rank: 9
Rivals Position Rank: 4
17) Luke Nickel, Milton
College: Miami Hurricanes
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 215
On3 Position Rank: 13
247 Position Rank: 22
ESPN Position Rank: 25
Rivals Position Rank: 15
18) Adam Schobel, Columbus
College: TCU Horned Frogs
Hometown: Columbus, Texas
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 190
On3 Position Rank: 15
247 Position Rank: 16
ESPN Position Rank: 19
Rivals Position Rank: 16
19) Ty Hawkins, IMG Academy
College: SMU Mustangs
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
On3 Position Rank: 21
247 Position Rank: 18
ESPN Position Rank: 5
Rivals Position Rank: 4
20) Akili Smith Jr., Lincoln
College: Oregon Ducks
Hometown: San Diego, California
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 230
On3 Position Rank: 33
247 Position Rank: 15
ESPN Position Rank: 6
Rivals Position Rank: 13
21) Carter Smith, Bishop Verot
College: Wisconsin Badgers
Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 190
On3 Position Rank: 17
247 Position Rank: 20
ESPN Position Rank: 3
Rivals Position Rank: 3
22) Alex Manske, Algona
College: Iowa State Cyclones
Hometown: Algona, Iowa
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205
On3 Position Rank: 8
247 Position Rank: 31
ESPN Position Rank: 35
Rivals Position Rank: 25
23) Antwann Hill, Houston County
College: Memphis Tigers
Hometown: Warner Robins, Georgia
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215
On3 Position Rank: 37
247 Position Rank: 10
ESPN Position Rank: 5
Rivals Position Rank: 14
24) Brady Hart, Cocoa
College: Texas A&M Aggies
Hometown: Indialantic, Florida
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 185
On3 Position Rank: 20
247 Position Rank: 26
ESPN Position Rank: UR
Rivals Position Rank: UR
25) Madden Iamaleava, Warren
College: UCLA Bruins
Hometown: Long Beach, California
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190
On3 Position Rank: 38
247 Position Rank: 17
ESPN Position Rank: 12
Rivals Position Rank: 6
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