With the 2025 football season rapidly approaching, The Sporting News is taking a look at the top returning players by region and position.
This list takes a look at the top 20 quarterbacks to watch in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area, back in order to help lead their teams to glory. This list includes one of the top signal-callers in the state who plans to stay close to home at the next level and a couple of others who have committed to Power Four in-state programs. Plus, there’s another QB seeking to add a repeat state title to his portfolio.
Kyden Barker, League City Clear Falls, Sr. (Tulsa commit)
Barker transferred in the offseason from Galveston Ball, where he passed for more than 4,500 yards each of the past two seasons. As a junior, he threw for 2,526 yards and 32 scores. Now, he’s set to help Clear Falls improve from last season’s 6-5 finish.
Tyler Begeal, Cypress Bridgeland, Sr.
Though he split duties last season, Begeal still put up some solid numbers for a Bears’ squad that finished 12-2 and reached the UIL 6A Division I regional championship game. He completed 71% of his passes (73-of-103) for nearly 1,000 yards and 13 TDs. In an October win against Cypress Park, Begeal completed 8-of-10 passes for 188 yards and three scores. It’s now Begeal’s show, as he will assume the full-time starting role in ’25.
Chris Brown, Houston Yates, Sr.
Brown is one of nine returning starters for the Lions, who are looking to build off of last season’s 8-3 finish. He can make an impact with both his arm and feet. On the passing side, Brown completed 120-of-182 attempts (66%) for 2,437 yards and 30 TDs, while rushing for 1,273 yards and 17 TDs. In an October win against crosstown rival Northside, Brown passed for 325 yards and six TDs while rushing for 108 yards and two more scores.
Timonthy Carter Jr., Houston Furr, Sr. (Central Missouri commit)
Last season playing for KIPP Sunnyside, Carter completed 60% of his passes (148-of-247) for 2,454 yards and 33 TDs. In a three-game stretch from late September to early October, all wins, Carter passed for a total of 994 yards and 14 TDs. In the offseason, Carter transferred to Houston school Furr. Earlier this month, he committed to Central Missouri over a Division I offer from Arkansas State.
Jack Daulton, The Woodlands, Sr. (TCU commit)
One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the metropolitan area, Daulton was responsible for 18 TDs passing and 18 more TDs running. He threw for more than 1,300 yards and added 1,142 yards on the ground as he helped the Highlanders to a 11-2 record, advancing to the 6A Division I regional semifinals.
Brandon Derbigny Jr., Cypress Falls, Sr.
Last season, the Eagles went undefeated in District 17-6A play and eventually finished 9-3. Derbigny earned first-team all-district honors as he accounted for nearly 1,300 total yards. He passed for 977 yards and 10 scores and rushed for more than 300 yards and seven TDs. Derbigny is more than ready for another big season as a senior.
Jaxyn Faldyn, Tomball, Sr.
A year ago, Faldyn was a unanimous choice as the First-Team All-District 15-6A quarterback after accounting for 2,747 yards of total offense and 27 TDs for the Cougars, who finished 10-2. He completed 68% of his pass attempts for 2,050 yards and 20 TDs while adding nearly 700 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Santiago Fernandez, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Sr. (Army commit)
In July, Fernandez committed to play for the Black Knights of Army West Point. That came on the heels of a superb junior year in which he completed 65% of his passes (150-of-231) for 2,475 yards and 29 TDs along with rushing for 1,353 yards and 13 more scores. He had four rushing TDs twice for the Warriors.
Keisean Henderson, Legacy the School of Sport Sciences, Sr. (Houston commit)
Henderson is considered perhaps the top Class of ’26 quarterback prospect in the state. But there’s really no intrigue when it comes to his recruiting. After getting offers from a slew of high-profile Division I programs, Henderson decided to stay close to home and attend Houston, giving the Cougars a possible cornerstone as they are still finding their way in the Big 12 Conference. Last season, he threw for 2,689 yards and 25 TDs and earned a spot in the Navy All-American Game, in which he earned MVP honors.
Houston commit Keisean Henderson receives his trophy as the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl MVP. 🏆@AABonNBC | @KeiHenderson1 pic.twitter.com/pVsJaNHWI6
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 11, 2025
Zach Johnson, Klein Cain, Sr.
Johnson went from throwing for just 14 yards his sophomore season to accumulating 2,520 yards as a junior. He completed 62% of his passes (163-of-263) and threw for 24 TDs. In Cain’s first three games - all wins - Johnson threw for 10 combined TDs, and passed for 413 yards in a win against Klein. He also had three rushing TDs on the year, as the Hurricanes finished 9-2.
Kaeden Johnson, Fort Bend Marshall, Sr. (Texas A&M commit)
Johnson is a threat to make something happen whether it’s passing the ball or running with it. As a junior, he threw for 2,109 yards on 157-of-259 passing (61%) along with 25 TDs. Then, Johnson rushed for 571 yards on 106 carries and crossed the end zone six times. Before heading to College Station, he is determined to take the Buffalos to larger heights after finishing 10-3 a season ago.
Kaleb Maryland, Galena Park North Shore, Sr. (Utah State commit)
Maryland has been waiting in the wings for the chance to become the Mustangs’ QB1. The time is officially now. But Maryland has seen plenty of experience and is more than ready to create his own legacy, especially since he has committed to Utah State. Last season, he threw for more than 500 yards and three TDs while adding four rushing TDs. Can he continue North Shore’s recent run of success? We’re about to find out.
Kaden Mendenhall, Alief Elsik, Sr.
Mendenhall more than doubled his yardage from the 2023 season. That year, he threw for 1,088 yards, but last season, Mendenhall passed for 2,517 yards on 182-of-313 attempts, earning him first-team all-district honors. He also went from nine TDs his sophomore year to 23 as a junior. Can Mendenhall - who also rushed for 500 yards and five TDs last season - dramatically increase those numbers across the board again as a senior?
Camren Renfro, Manvel, Sr.
Renfro completed 60% of his pass attempts a season ago (128-of-212) for 1,703 yards and 21 TDs while rushing for nearly 300 yards and nine more scores. In a three-game stretch, all wins, late in the regular season, Renfro was a combined 36-of-46 passing for 655 yards and 12 TDs - seven of those coming in a decisive win against Pasadena Sam Rayburn.
Darien Rogers, Cypress Woods, Sr.
Rogers is coming off a junior campaign where he completed 65% of his passes (138-of-213) while throwing for 2,287 yards and 28 TDs. He had at least one TD pass in all but one of his team’s games, including five in two contests. In addition, Rogers rushed for 503 yards and 12 TDs, and was named the Offensive MVP in District 16-6A.
Romin Seymour, Fort Bend Ridge Point, Sr.
Seymour had been at another Fort Bend school, Elkins, before transferring over the offseason. With Elkins a season ago, he completed 119-of-193 pass attempts for 1,801 yards and 15 TDs while garnering first-team all-district honors. He now joins a Ridge Point squad coming off a 10-2 season and featuring talent at receiver and on the offensive line.
Tyler Skrabanek, Richmond Randle, Sr.
Skrabanek has had two sterling seasons behind center, passing for a combined 4,452 yards and 52 TDs. While his numbers as a junior were less than his sophomore year (Skrabanek went from 2,337 yards to 2,115 yards along with 27 to 25 TDs), he definitely liked the ending much better. In just its third season as a program, the Lions finished with a perfect 16-0 record and captured the UIL 5A Division II championship.
Grant Smith, Conroe Grand Oaks, Sr.
Smith is one of seven starters returning on offense and hopes to end his career at Grand Oaks by guiding the Grizzlies to their first-ever postseason appearance. In his first three seasons, Smith has thrown for 3,624 yards and 31 TDs. As a junior, he passed for career highs in yards (2,167) and TDs (24).
Noah Spinks, Humble Summer Creek, Jr.
Spinks transferred to Summer Creek from Flower Mound, where he passed for more than 2,000 yards and 16 TDs a season ago. He now steps into the role as the signal-caller for a Bulldog squad that is loaded with talent, especially with receivers like Tre Brown and Benny Easter Jr., both of whom have fielded numerous Division I offers.
Jake Westmoreland, Pearland, Sr.
Westmoreland grabbed the reins in his first season behind center for the Oilers. He ended up throwing for 1,661 yards and 21 TDs to help Pearland finish 9-3 while earning first-team all-district honors. Westmoreland, who added four rushing TDs in 2024, is one of many experienced starters back who are determined to help the Oilers go deeper in the postseason.
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