With the 2025 football season on the horizon, The Sporting News is looking at the top returning players in Texas by region and position.
These are the top 20 quarterbacks in the North Texas region back for another year on the gridiron. The list includes a state champion, a state semifinalist, a regional finalist and four regional semifinalists.
(The list is in alphabetical order)
Noah Adams, Wolfe City, Jr.
As a sophomore starter in 2024, Adams threw for 1,112 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead the Wolves to an 8-3 season and a playoff berth. Coleman handed Wolfe City a tough 40-35 loss in bi-district. Adams was a unanimous first-team All-District 6-2A Division I selection. He will also have one of the top running backs in the region, HD Davis (2,789 yards, 33 TDs), joining him again in the backfield. Watch out for the Wolves in 2025.
Brock Belcher, Windthorst, Jr.
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Another sophomore starter a season ago, Belcher dismantled opposing defenses on a regular basis. He threw for 2,614 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushed for 887 yards and 12 touchdowns. The dual-threat QB1 led the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a trip to the regional semifinals. Belcher earned honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s (TSWA) Class 2A All-State Team. He is one of nine returning starters on offense for the Trojans.
Casen Carney, Muenster, Sr.
The Muenster mash was in full effect last season, as Carney mowed down opponents with 3,163 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, along with 1,599 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns to lead the Hornets to the Class 2A Division II state title and a 14-2 record. That’s 4,777 yards and 66 touchdowns in 16 games. From one human being. Carney earned a third-team selection on the TSWA’s Class 2A All-State Team and a spot on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s 2025 Preseason All-State Team.
Joe Castles, Wichita Falls Memorial, Sr.
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Entering his fourth year as QB1 for the Mavericks, Castles had a stellar junior campaign, throwing for 2,580 yards and 31 touchdowns. He led Memorial to a 9-3 record, including a bi-district win over El Paso Chapin. Castles also garnered second-team All-District 2-5A Division II honors and honorable mention on the TSWA’s Class 5A All-State Team.
Colt Fagan, Whitesboro, Jr.
Fagan proved he could more than handle the starting quarterback job as a sophomore last season, throwing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 378 yards and 11 more scores for the 6-5 Bearcats. In a late-season 37-21 win over Pilot Point, he racked up 289 total yards and four touchdowns. Fagan earned District 6-3A Division I Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors.
Wyatt Gavit, Jacksboro, Sr.
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If you were at a Jacksboro game last season and blinked, you might have missed a Gavit touchdown. As a junior in 2024, he threw for an incredible 3,667 yards and 45 touchdowns, while he rushed for 586 yards and six more end zone visits to lead the Tigers to a 9-4 record and a regional semifinal berth. Gavit earned a spot on the All-District 6-3A Division II first team.
Dalton George, Alvord, Sr.
George enters his third year starting for the Bulldogs after throwing for 1,655 yards and 15 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 319 yards and three more scores. Alvord went 4-7, but the victories all came in district play. George is one of seven returning starters on offense for the Bulldogs in 2025.
Donnie Hooten, Tom Bean, Sr.
In a season of highs and lows for the Tom Cats, Hooten was a steady force, throwing for 1,564 yards and 16 touchdowns, and rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Bean won its first four and last two games to finish 6-4, but only two of those wins were in district play. Hooten earned honorable mention on the All-District 6-2A Division I squad.
Cayden Humphrey, Pottsboro, Sr.
One of the most prolific dual-threat quarterbacks in the region, Humphrey threw for 1,859 yards and 18 touchdowns and also rushed for an impressive 1,551 yards and 35 touchdowns. Humphrey eclipsed 100 yards on the ground in all but two games, including three 200-plus-yard games. Wow. The Cards finished 9-2 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Humphrey was the District 6-3A Division I Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Jaxon Jenkins, Collinsville, Jr.
As a sophomore starter last season, Jenkins lit up the skies with 3,517 passing yards and 38 touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a 12-2 record and a regional finals berth. Collinsville knocked Roscoe, Wellington and Windthorst out of the playoffs before falling to eventual state champ Muenster. Jenkins earned honorable mention on the TSWA’s Class 2A All-State Team and a Second-Team All-District 8-2A Division II selection.
Layton Kennedy, Peaster, Jr.
Peaster had a monumental 2024 season, picking up the first playoff win in program history — a 33-30 victory over Comanche — before finishing 9-3 with an area loss to Shallowater. Kennedy was a big reason for that milestone, throwing for 1,834 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 699 yards and 11 more scores. The Greyhounds are loaded for 2025 with the return of 15 starters, including eight on offense. Kennedy earned a second-team All-District 4-3A Division I spot.
Jacoby LaCook, Leonard, Sr.
Another dual-threat quarterback, LaCook eclipsed 1,000 yards through the air and on the ground last season to help the Tigers finish 6-5 with a tough 26-24 bi-district loss to Scurry-Rosser. Leonard will rely heavily on LaCook this season with just four starters back on offense. LaCook earned a first-team nod on the All-District 7-3A Division II team.
Rayder Mann, Bowie, Sr.
Mann put together a solid junior campaign, racking up 1,502 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, along with 382 rushing yards and five touchdowns for the 5-5 Jackrabbits. He threw for 199 yards and five touchdowns in an early-season win over Howe. Mann earned first-team All-District 4-3A Division I accolades.
Will McIntire, Iowa Park, Jr.
The Hawks experienced some growing pains last season, finishing 1-9 and winless in district play. However, McIntire managed to provide a spark as a sophomore starter. He threw for 1,861 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed for 110 yards and five more touchdowns. McIntire earned an All-District 4-3A Division I second-team spot.
Ayden Olalde, Paradise, Jr.
As a sophomore in 2024, Olalde platooned with senior Ayden Winters and still threw for 1,376 yards and 13 touchdowns and also rushed for 627 yards and nine scores. The Panthers finished 12-3 and reached the state semifinals with postseason wins over Clyde, Bushland, Tuscola Jim Ned and Shallowater before falling to Malakoff. Olalde was the District 4-3A Division I Newcomer of the Year. He should be in for a big-time junior season as the full-time QB1.
Jake Prescher, Valley View, Sr.
Although the Eagles struggled through a one-win 2024 season, Prescher gave Valley View reason for optimism this year by throwing for 1,207 yards and nine touchdowns. He threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns in a season-opening 33-29 win over Alvord. The Eagles also have a new head coach in alum Amos Davidson.
Tyson Price, Ponder, Sr.
The Price was right for the Lions last season. As a junior, the signal-caller tallied 2,291 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air to go along with 674 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. That’s not all. He also started at defensive back and punter, earning the District 4-3A Division I Utility Player of the Year. Ponder finished last season with a 5-5 record.
Ty Scott, Vernon, Sr.
Scott was a frequent visitor to the end zone as a junior last season. He threw for 902 yards and nine touchdowns and also rushed for 948 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Lions finished 9-4 with playoff wins over Sweetwater and Amarillo River Road to reach the regional semis. With Scott and RB1 Tru Gipson (1,126 yards, 17 TDs) returning, Vernon is primed for a deep playoff run. Scott was the District 4-3A Division I Offensive Player of the Year.
Malachi Williams, Wichita Falls City View, Sr.
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Williams is coming off a monster junior season that saw him lead the Mustangs in passing (1,982 yards, 19 TDs) and rushing (1,110 yards, 22 TDs). City View finished 9-3 and beat Clifton, 53-0, in bi-district before falling to Gunter, 45-14, in area. Williams earned first-team recognition on the All-District 6-3A Division II team.
Ziondre Williams, Anna, Sr.
There are gaudy numbers, and there are gaudy numbers. Williams’ 2024 season falls into the latter, italicized category. The No. 233-ranked player in Texas in the Class of 2026 by 24/7 Sports threw for 4,308 yards and 38 touchdowns and, for good measure, also rushed for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns. Among the state’s top passers in any classification, Williams led the Coyotes to a 9-4 record and a trip to the regional semifinals. He earned a first-team All-District 4-5A Division II spot.
