Furian Inferrera, No. 1 8th grade QB, is ‘built different’
LAS VEGAS (BVM) – Furian Inferrera is projected to be the No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2027 according to QB Hit List. The Game Changers Sports Academy 8th grader stands at a whopping 6-foot-3 – making the 14-year-old as tall as an average NFL QB.
“I was always the taller kid for my age,” Inferrera said. “Multiple people in my family are over 6-foot-3. Usually, a lot of people are shocked when they find out I’m still 14 years old. A lot of people think I’m much older.”
But according to Inferrera’s QB coach Drew Aumavae – who for years has worked with and/or watched in person all of the top 25 high school QBs in the nation as a member of the Trent Dilfer Football QB organization – said there’s so much more to Inferrera than his height. Aumavae even compared Inferrera to a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL.
“I saw Trevor Lawrence play when he was a 7th grader and when Inferrera was in the 7th grade, I thought he was a more advanced Trevor,” Aumavae said. “It wouldn’t have even been close [between the two in the 7th grade] because Furian mentally gets it. He’s got a big arm. For his age group, he’s way ahead – it’s not even close.”
Inferrera currently travels to play with the OG Ducks in Corona, California. Last season, he threw for 2,472 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 231 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns. So it’s no surprise why he’s picking between the current No. 1, No. 5 and No. 8 high school football programs in the country to play for next year.
“Mater Dei (California), St. John Bosco (California) and Bishop Gorman (Nevada) are some of the options that I have for high school football, but I haven’t made my decision yet,” Inferrera said.
Aumavae noted a few reasons why Inferrera is in the position to choose between some of the top 10 schools in the country.
“Furian is far more advanced than guys his age,” Aumavae said. “His brain works super fast and I can talk through mental concepts and he gets it. He is acute as a QB, a problem solver, his ability to process information is super quick and he’s a super smart kid. He’ll be an AP guy who will qualify for the Ivy Leagues and probably have all the opportunities to go anywhere he wants.
“You would think he’s a fourth-year starter on a varsity team. He can probably start for a few public schools right now in Nevada if he were given a chance as an 8th grader. He’s in a cool predicament where he can attend any of the top schools in the nation from the east to the west coast. As a whole, he’s got the potential to be a five-star and go anywhere he wants as long as he maintains the process.”
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Inferrera has already had a taste of success playing against high school football players. Over the summer, after 7th grade, he played up to lead his team to win the high school championship at the NextGen All America Showcase camp. He was also named the high school QB MVP.
“I learned how to anticipate throws and get the ball out quickly while I was playing in the high school divisions for camps and with high school quarterbacks,” Inferrera said.
So far, Inferrera’s only Power 5 offer is from Pitt – which he received the summer after the 7th grade. But next year, the DI offers are bound to roll in as did for last year’s long-standing No. 1 ranked 8th grade QB Julian Lewis. Lewis didn’t hold many offers as an 8th grader, but he now has many Power 5 offers including from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan. Just as it did for Lewis, Inferrera said he has “an increased amount of motivation” from the No. 1 ranking.
With some higher-level success in the books, the real question remains: can he really be the most sought-after QB in the Class of 2027?
“In that Class of 2027 there won’t be anyone close to him as a quarterback as long as he maintains the current path he’s on,” Aumavae said. “There are going to be other players who will chase him as the top recruit in the nation in that class regardless of the position, but QB-wise, he’ll always be a top guy in the nation. He’ll be on top of the hill and everyone will be chasing him as a quarterback.”
Although he’s only in middle school, it’s safe to say that this football prodigy’s career will go past the college level. Inferrera, who is part Hawaiian, may one day join the list of Polynesian NFL QBs.
“My Polynesian heritage means a lot to me because I represent all my family in Hawaii, along with all the people who live there,” Inferrera said. “I look up to (NFL starting QBs) like Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa and (Clemson QB) Dj Uiagalelei because of how they are paving the way for other Polynesian quarterbacks.”
Inferrera is also half-Korean.
“He told me [when he was 12] that he wanted to be the first Korean Heisman Trophy winner,” Aumavae said. “I said Kyler Murray is and he said, ‘he’s only a quarter.’ Others would say I just want the trophy but he was just socially aware of who he is for the community. At 12 years old, I was like this kid is built different.”
Inferrera is currently a four-sport athlete who on top of football plays basketball, baseball and track & field. He noted that he also has to make the decision on what sports he wants to cut out in high school so that he can primarily focus on football.
“The expectation of being a highly-recruited 2027 athlete is a blessing and I’m excited to continue to be able to showcase my talents in the future,” Inferrera said. “I’m very excited for my high school career and I believe that I can continue to excel at football at the high school level.”