Introducing the 2025 cycle's top quarterback prospects

charles power hsby:Charles Power02/26/24

CharlesPower

On3 has updated its football prospect rankings for the 2025 cycle. The ranking features five quarterbacks within the top 30 and 23 signal callers within the On300.

This ranking is reflective of what we saw from the signal callers coming out of their junior seasons and sets the table as we head into off-season events prior to the senior season, which typically proves as the most predictive exposure point in the process.

Updated 2025 On300

Here’s a rundown of what we see in the top 2025 quarterback prospects after evaluating their junior seasons for this rankings overhaul.

Bryce Underwood – LSU commit

On300 Ranking: No. 1

Bryce Underwood continues to look like the top pure arm talent in the cycle. The ability to drive the ball to all levels of the field stands out at this stage. He also showed perhaps the best pocket movement among the group, sensing and reacting to pressure by moving vertically within the pocket. Underwood turned in another strong season in 2023 with the one of the best statistical passing years of any quarterback in the On300. The Belleville (Mich.) High standout completed 64.9% of his passes for 3,329 yards (a gaudy 12.4 yards per attempt) for 41 touchdowns against three interceptions. He also ran for seven touchdowns. Underwood should technically be a 2026 prospect, as he turns 17 in mid-August. Given his physical ability, on-field play and production and room for continued improvement, we don’t currently see a player with a higher long-term upside in the cycle.

George MacIntyre – Tennessee

On300 Ranking: No. 12 (No. 2 QB)

George MacIntyre shows a translatable skill set on junior film. The 6-foot-5.5, 185-pounder is arguably the best middle-of-the field passer in the cycle at this juncture. MacIntyre has a tight motion that is naturally replicable. He’s a good functional mover and shows the ability to make reactive plays in the face of pressure. The accuracy and ability to hit tight windows in addition to the movement skills and escapability project well as a pocket operator. MacIntyre completed 67.2% of his passes for 3,229 yards and 25 touchdowns while playing the toughest schedule of any top 2025 quarterback as a junior. He carried an offense that struggled to protect or make many plays outside of his individual efforts. He’ll need to tack on considerable mass at the next level in addition to continuing to progress as an overall player.

Matt Zollers

On300 Ranking: No. 17 (No. 3 QB)

Matt Zollers is one of the biggest movers at the position in this rankings update. The 6-foot-3.5, 200-pounder has a live arm, plus athleticism and perhaps the best individual playmaking skills we saw on junior film at the position. No 2025 quarterback put more high-level reactive playmaking on film last fall. He plays fast and shows the ability to make a number of high-level throws on film. Zollers passed for 2,917 yards and 37 touchdowns against two interceptions and added 420 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. On3 was the first to tab Zollers as a blue-chip prospect when he held just one Power Five offer last fall. Penn State, Georgia, Missouri and Pitt make up his top four.

Julian Lewis – USC

On300 Ranking: No. 22 (No. 4 QB)

Long heralded as a top prospect, Julian Lewis made news in January, announcing his reclassification from the 2026 to 2025 cycle. At 6-foot, 180 pounds, Lewis is a pass-first quarterback with an advanced level of passing polish at a young age. He’s highly accurate with arguably the consistent mechanics of the group. Lewis is at his best as a distributor, thriving when operating within the structure of an offense. He was highly efficient last fall, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,094 yards and 48 touchdowns against two interceptions. He’s the smallest top quarterback in the cycle and will need to develop compensatory playmaking ability in order to maximize his ceiling. Lewis is the youngest top quarterback in the 2025 cycle, as he’s a month younger than Bryce Underwood. Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Colorado are among the teams continuing to go after the USC pledge.

Tavien St. Clair – Ohio State

On300 Ranking: No. 27 (No. 5 QB)

Tavien St. Clair had a breakout junior season on the heels of a strong run of camp showings last off-season. At 6-foot-3.5, 210 pounds, St. Clair owns a readymade frame with very good arm strength and solid functional athleticism. He turned in a productive season, completing 70.6% of his passes for , 3,083 yards and 37 touchdowns against six interceptions in addition to 352 yards and four scores on the ground. St. Clair will need continued seasoning with is overall consistency and decision-making, but the degree of progress he showed as a junior is encouraging.

Deuce Knight – Notre Dame

On300 Ranking: No. 54 (No. 6 QB)

Deuce Knight is the best athlete among the top quarterbacks in the 2025 cycle. The 6-foot-4.5, 200-pounder’s athleticism would register on the high-end for receiver prospects, let alone quarterbacks. With a strong arm to go with the elite athleticism, the lefty has all the physical tools to be a top talent at the position. Knight will need to continue improving his accuracy and pocket presence to approach his considerable ceiling. The Lucedale (Miss.) Greene County standout began his junior season at Nashville (Tenn.) Lipscomb Academy before transferring back home to Mississippi mid-season.

Ty Hawkins – TCU

On300 Ranking: No. 84 (No. 7 QB)

Ty Hawkins showed playmaking ability both as a passer and rusher as a junior at San Antonio (Texas) Johnson. The TCU pledge is the most productive rusher among the top 2025 quarterbacks, running for 1,079 yards and 15 scores. He was also effective through the air, completing 67.4 % of his passes for 2,239 yards and 25 touchdowns. The 6-foot-0.5, 200-pounder shows good pocket movement and ability to make plays in the face of pressure. He’ll need to continue improving his lower body mechanics in order to maximize his accuracy.

Lloyd Jones – Texas Tech

On300 Ranking: No. 115 (No. 8 QB)

Lloyd Jones is an intriguing prospect at the position, given his instinctual play both as a passer and rusher. The 6-foot-2.5, 210-pounder backed up a strong sophomore campaign with another good season last fall, accounting for 3,390 total yards and 49 touchdowns in 11 games. Jones shows encouraging playmaking ability and overall athleticism. He doubles as a very good high school basketball player for a state title team and should see an uptick in development once he focuses on football exclusively at the college level.

KaMario Taylor – Mississippi State

On300 Ranking: No. 119 (No. 9 QB)

There may not be a quarterback in the On300 with a wider range of variance than KaMario Taylor. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds with 10.25-inch hands, Taylor is far from the most polished quarterback in the On300, but he has one of the highest ceilings with continued development. Taylor was a big-time playmaker for Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County as a junior accounting for 60 total touchdowns (45 passing, 15 rushing) – the most of any quarterback in the On300. He’ll need to hone his consistency, but the flashes and overall playmaking ability on Friday nights point to considerable upside.

Keelon Russell – SMU

On300 Ranking: No. 123 (No. 10 QB)

Keelon Russel was at the dials of one of the nation’s top high school offenses, completing 74.1% of his passes for 3,267 yards and 35 touchdowns against four interceptions while leading powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High to another state title in Texas’ highest classification. There’s no doubt Russell plays with an elite supporting cast a Duncanville, but he put some high-level throws on film while facing strong competition. He’s one of the younger top quarterbacks in the cycle and is a good athlete who can extend plays.

Rounding out the On300

Thirteen more quarterbacks round out the On300.

+ Husan Longstreet (No. 127) certainly touts one of the strongest arms of the group along with Bryce Underwood. The ball jumps out of the Corona (Calif.) Centennial passer’s hand with tangible zip.

+ Oregon legacy commit Akili Smith Jr. (No. 130) has good tools at the position as a taller passer with a downfield arm and improved functional movement skills.

+ Oklahoma pledge Kevin Sperry (No. 135) is one of the more mechanically sound passers in the cycle. He showed on-field improvement after transferring to Midwest City (Okla.) Carl Albert for his junior season, leading the team to a state title.

+ Madden Iamaleava (No. 148) took over for his brother, Tennessee quarterback and former five-star Nico Iamaleava at Downey (Calif.) Warren and had a fantastic first season as a varsity starter. The younger Iamaleava passed for 3,626 yards and 43 touchdowns against four interceptions, while making some impressive throws on film.

+ Miami commit Luke Nickel (No. 152) makes his debut in the On300 on the heels of a big junior season. Nickel passed for over 3,900 yards and 39 touchdowns while leading Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton to a state title in Georgia’s highest classification. We were extremely impressed with Nickel’s junior film, as the Hurricane pledge showed the ability to make high-level throws against top competition.

+ Clemson pledge Blake Hebert (No. 178) missed the majority of his junior season with an injury. With that said, he impressed with his physical talent heading into the season.

+ North Carolina commit Bryce Baker (No. 184) made strides as a passer as a junior, turning in a productive season after a transfer. Baker doubles as a good high school basketball player and shows playmaking ability outside of structure.

+ Michigan commit Carter Smith (No. 187) is a plus athlete at the position and continued to show the ability to threaten defenses with his legs in addition to making plays through the air.

+ Texas pledge K.J. Lacey (No. 192) is not the biggest quarterback at around 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, but is a consistent passer with the ability quickly find holes in defenses.

+ Stanford commit Bear Bachmeier (No. 274) didn’t replicate the gaudy numbers of his sophomore season, but showed playmaking and the ability to be a run threat with his developed build.

+ Antwann Hill (No. 277) is a big-framed pocket passer with the arm talent to attack defenses downfield.

+ Baylor commit and NFL legacy Adam Schobel (No. 295) is a big-framed pocket passer who led his team on a deep playoff run as a junior.

+ Ryan Montgomery (No. 299) is a polished passer and showed encouraging improvement as a junior, passing for over 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns with five interceptions.