Top 10 California QBs for 2022 HS football season
LOS ANGELES (BVM) – The California high school football season is nearing the halfway point and through roughly a month, the Golden State has not disappointed with its quality of play. Talent at the quarterback position around the state has arguably never been better as California boasts a handful of signal callers who will go on to represent Power 5 programs.
According to MaxPreps, California is home to the top-two ranked high school football teams in the country this season – national No. 1 St. John Bosco and No. 2 Mater Dei – and, unsurprisingly, each of their quarterbacks are among the state’s best.
With that being said, here are California’s top 10 quarterbacks for the 2022 high school football season.
10. Marino Fragata, Jr., Johnson-Sacramento
After playing sparingly as a sophomore (just 35 pass attempts), the Johnson-Sacramento coaching staff must be pleased with its junior quarterback in his first stint as a full-time starter. Fragata opened the 2022 season with 464 passing yards and five touchdowns to just one interception in a close, 36-32 loss to Bella Vista. The Warriors (3-1) have gone undefeated since then and Fragata has continued his sparkling play. After back-to-back weeks of 300-plus yards passing and five touchdowns, Fragata put together an eye-opening performance in Week 4. During a 54-27 win over Galt, Fragata threw for 516 yards and seven touchdowns. Fragata currently leads the state of California in passing yards (1,678) and is a name to watch.
9. Jaxon Potter, Sr., Santa Margarita Catholic
After throwing for 2,869 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, Potter is on pace to shatter those marks as a senior. The 6-foot-4, three-star QB has led the Eagles to a 3-1 record so far this season and kept them competitive against a strong Los Alamitos squad on September 15 by throwing for 482 yards and five touchdowns in a 69-49 loss. Potter has tallied 1,099 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns to zero interceptions while completing 66 percent of his passes through four weeks. The senior QB committed to UAB in August and will look to finish his prep career on a high note before arriving in Birmingham.
Jaxon Potter. Fourth down. TD. pic.twitter.com/g3Cn8vr4Zu
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) September 16, 2022
8. Ryan Staub, Sr., West Ranch
Through five games of the 2022 season, Staub already has as many passing TDs (21) as he did all of last season in 11 games played. Perhaps even more impressive than that, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound QB has yet to throw an interception to go with his 21 passing scores and 1,190 yards through the air. Staub came out of the gates scorching as he threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns while completing 71 percent of his passes during a 61-41 season-opening win. The three-star QB committed to Colorado in January despite fielding offers from Arizona, Fresno State, Nevada and SMU.
Colorado-bound quarterback Ryan Staub continues to have a stellar senior season at West Ranch HS in California. He led his team to another win tonight, and we were there.
Here are a few highlights of the Buffs commit from @MattRMoreno. pic.twitter.com/9PfmSjUcQL
— CUSportsReport (@CUSportsNation) September 10, 2022
7. Myles Jackson, Jr., Millikan
Jackson would likely be higher on just about any other state’s top QB list, but his placement here speaks to the high quality at the position in California. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound QB shined last season, throwing for 2,607 yards and 32 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions, but he’s entered a new level as a junior. Jackson opened the season with a 414-yard, six-touchdown performance in a 62-13 win over Santa Ana before accumulating 776 passing yards and seven touchdowns over the next two weeks. He then completed 13 of his 15 pass attempts for 244 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 93 yards on the ground in a 63-14 win over Woodrow Wilson on September 16. With 1,588 passing yards and 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions on the season so far, the four-star prospect has offers from Auburn, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and others.
2024 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Myles Jackson with a perfect DEEP BALL at Battle at the Beach
Arizona, BYU, Oregon, Ole Miss are in the mix@MylesTJacksonQB | @adamgorney | 🎥 @RivalsCorey pic.twitter.com/ysNE5jdrxg
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 9, 2022
6. Pierce Clarkson, Sr., St. John Bosco
Clarkson is the quarterback for the No. 1-ranked team in the country and is one of the most sought-after prospects in the Class of 2023. After spending his sophomore season as half of a two-QB tandem with Michigan State’s Katin Houser, Clarkson put together an impressive junior campaign (1,416 yards passing and 20 total touchdowns) before committing to Louisville in January. The 6-foot, 190-pound QB is off to a relatively slow statistical start to his senior campaign as he’s totaled 571 yards passing and seven touchdowns to three interceptions. Nonetheless, the four-star recruit chose the Cardinals over the likes of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and more.
Eugene was fun with the boys 😁 pic.twitter.com/F8maTu8Mq3
— 10VE. (@PierceClarkson_) September 16, 2022
5. Elijah Brown, Jr., Mater Dei
From Matt Leinert and Matt Barkley to reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, Mater Dei is used to elite QBs and Brown is no different. Since throwing 15 touchdowns to just one interception as a freshman, Brown has been among the nation’s best signal callers. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound QB completed 74 percent of his passes as a sophomore to go along with 2,581 yards, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Brown’s junior campaign is off to a similar start as he’s once again completing nearly 70 percent (69.6) of his pass attempts for 1,117 yards and 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions through five games. The four-star prospect is uncommitted but has picked up offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, USC and others.
🎥 WATCH: Top #USC Targets Key in Mater Dei's 43-20 Victory Over Centennial (9/2)❕📈
QB @ElijahBrown_29 was Extremely Impressive 🔥
FULL VIDEO: ➡️ https://t.co/55HSMEbN5P @On3USC @MDFootball @marthagreatest @Jord0n2 @marcusbrown_9 #FightOn✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/McHfHG6vMK
— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) September 5, 2022
4. Jaden Rashada, Sr., Pittsburg
Rashada has bounced around quite a bit – spending his freshman year at Brentwood Liberty before transferring to IMG Academy (FL) and then to Pittsburg – but there’s no question about his immense ability. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound QB led the Pirates to the 2021 North Coast Section Division I championship as a junior while throwing for 2,220 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Rashada has picked up where he left off, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns through four games of his senior campaign. The four-star recruit committed to Miami in June over offers from Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and others. Rashada is also believed to be the first high school football player to profit from endorsements when he inked a four-figure endorsement deal with the recruiting app AIR (Athletes in Recruitment).
FINAL: @PittHSFootball 34: California 14
Strong outing for @jadenrashada as the Miami-bound senior went 21-30 / 360 YDS / 3 TD. Rashada is ranked one of the top QB's in the nation. Full highlights this Sunday @49erscalhi @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/CU52MIA6VT
— Jake Vanderbroek (@JakeVanderbroek) September 10, 2022
3. Julian Sayin, Jr., Carlsbad
Most of the nation’s top college football programs – Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, USC and others – have offered Sayin and hope he brings his unique skillset to their campus. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound QB is the No. 1 prospect in California’s Class of 2024 after completing 71 percent of his passes for 2,769 yards and 34 touchdowns to just five interceptions as a sophomore. Sayin is off to a similarly hot start in his junior campaign with 798 passing yards and nine total touchdowns through four games. The five-star QB’s impending commitment will have major implications on the college football landscape.
LSU and Georgia continue to battle for 2024 five-star QB Julian Sayin. @adamgorney caught up with Sayin to talk Dawgs and Tigers: https://t.co/WOy2cOXRxA pic.twitter.com/5smpOqzAUt
— Rivals (@Rivals) September 1, 2022
2. Nico Iamaleava, Sr., Warren
Nico Iamaleava is likely the most recognizable name on this list due to his funky playstyle and even funkier pajama pants that he wears on the 7-on-7 circuit. The five-star QB is back at Warren (where he threw for 2,224 yards and 33 touchdowns to just one interception as a junior) after transferring to Long Beach Poly in the spring. Iamaleava has accounted for 456 passing yards and seven touchdowns with a single interception through three games of his senior campaign and continues to get Tennessee fans excited. The consensus top-five QB in the country committed to the Volunteers in March over Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, USC and others.
Five-star Nico Iamaleava's coach tells @adamgorney the Tennessee commit will be the best among the 2023 QBs: https://t.co/uvgx7cUuUW pic.twitter.com/xzX5YZmucw
— Rivals (@Rivals) September 16, 2022
1. Malachi Nelson, Sr., Los Alamitos
Texas commit Arch Manning was the No. 1 player in the country according to each of the four major recruiting evaluators – 247Sports, On3, Rivals and ESPN – until Nelson took the top spot on July 25. The consensus five-star QB possesses all the necessary skills to become an NFL franchise QB one day and just about every college football program in the country knows it. Nelson totaled 2,690 passing yards and 39 touchdowns as a junior and is the best football talent the state of California has to offer. Previously committed to Oklahoma, Nelson flipped to Lincoln Riley and USC in November and is the third No. 1 overall commit to the Trojans, joining running back Joe McKnight (2007) and Barkley (2009).
Malachi Nelson connects with Makai Lemon here for a 65 yard touchdown. pic.twitter.com/4kKD3JDHMz
— bigWRguy (@bigWRguy) September 16, 2022