As the 2025 football season approaches, The Sporting News is taking note of the top returning players by region and position.
These are the top 20 quarterbacks in Central Texas returning for another season under the Friday night lights. The list includes a state runner-up and four regional finalists from a year ago.
(The list is in alphabetical order)
Edwin Alvarado, Frost, Sr.
Alvarado put together a solid junior season despite the Polar Bears finishing 4-6. He threw for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, while he rushed for 500 yards and four touchdowns. The rising senior, who earned a Second-Team spot on the All-District 10-2A Division II team, is entering his fourth year as a varsity starter for Frost.
Brant Boatright, Dawson, Sr.
Another dual-threat quarterback, Boatright was a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses last season, throwing for 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 759 yards and 11 more scores for the 5-6 Bulldogs. Boatright earned District 7-2A Division I Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.
Kohl Collins, Fairfield, Sr.
Collins lit up the skies last season by throwing for 3,554 yards and 43 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 7-5 record and a playoff victory over Orangefield. Collins, the District 9-3A Division I Offensive Most Valuable Player, also rushed for 368 yards and five touchdowns. With eight starters returning on offense, Collins could be in for an even bigger season in 2025.
Luke Davis, Llano, Jr.
Davis was the catalyst for the Yellow Jackets’ offense last year, throwing for 2,095 yards and 27 touchdowns as well as rushing for 662 yards and six more end zone visits. Llano finished 12-2 and advanced to the regional finals. Davis earned an All-District 13-3A Division I First-Team nod.
Kase Evans, Lexington, Sr. (Oklahoma State commit)
The product of a football family, Evans will join his father, Chandler (Houston), and grandfather, Bob (Texas A&M), by playing college football at the highest level. He is the No. 149 Class of 2026 recruit in Texas, according to 24/7 Sports, after throwing for 3,113 yards and 37 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 12-2 record and a berth in the regional final last season. The future Oklahoma State Cowboy was the unanimous District 13-3A Division II Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Hudson Humble, Killeen Harker Heights, Jr.
Like Davis, Humble is coming off a monster sophomore campaign. The son of Knights head coach Mark Humble, the standout signal-caller threw for 2,986 yards and 38 touchdowns last season to lead Harker Heights to an 8-3 record. Humble, the District 12-6A Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player, also earned honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s (TSWA) Class 6A All-State Team.
D’Angelo Ingrim, Killeen, Jr.
Although the Kangaroos endured a brutal winless 2024 season, Ingrim was quite a bright spot. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,412 yards and 24 touchdowns, and ran for another 117 yards and one more score. In a 58-52 loss to Killeen Ellison last September, Ingrim threw for an astounding 571 yards and seven touchdowns. He threw for 200 or more yards in all but one game in 2024 to earn Co-District 12-6A Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors.
Jaxxon Marie, Cuero, Sr.
Chuck Cox
Stepping in for injured starter Jayce Guajardo last season, Marie hit the ground running. When the dust settled, he threw for 1,283 yards and 22 touchdowns, and also rushed for 725 yards and nine more trips to the end zone for the 9-4 regional semifinalist Gobblers. Marie, the District 15-4A Division II Newcomer of the Year, and Guajardo are both back for Cuero this season.
Champ Mayo, Temple, Sr.
Mayo heads into his senior season eager to lead what should be an explosive offense. As a junior last year, he threw for 2,724 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead the tradition-rich Wildcats to a 7-4 record. Mayo joined Ingrim in taking home Co-District 12-6A Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year accolades.
Levi Leathers, Axtell, Jr.
Leathers was off to a sizzling start to his sophomore year before suffering an injury five plays into his fourth game of the season. He made it back in the postseason to help the Longhorns go 12-2 and advance to the first regional final in school history. In limited action, Leathers threw for 757 yards and seven touchdowns.
Aidyn Lee, Goldthwaite, Jr.
In his first season as QB1, Lee proved a viable threat in the Eagle offense, throwing for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 605 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Eagles knocked off Maud, 55-12, in the opening round of the playoffs before finishing 7-5 to register their first winning season since 2016.
Brice McCurdy, Waco Robinson, Jr.
Another sophomore last year, McCurdy put up gaudy numbers to lead the Rockets to an 8-3 record. The No. 42 Class of 2027 recruit in Texas, according to 24/7 Sports, threw for 2,016 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for 410 yards and four more trips to the end zone. McCurdy, who is receiving interest from FBS schools, was an All-District 12-4A Division II First-Team selection.
Savoy Nichols, Waco University, Jr.
Nichols, also a rising junior, is coming off a big season. In 2024, he threw for 2,169 yards and 16 touchdowns, while adding four more touchdowns on the ground to lead the Trojans to a 7-4 ledger. In a late-season game against Killeen Ellison, Nichols threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-35 victory. He was a Second-Team All-District 10-5A Division II selection.
Kourtney Parr, Waco La Vega, Jr.
Talk about bursting onto the scene in a big way. As a sophomore last season, Parr piled up 2,163 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, along with eight rushing touchdowns, to lead the Pirates to a Class 4A Division II state runner-up finish. With eight returning starters on offense for La Vega, the All-District 12-4A Division II Second-Team pick is primed for another monster year.
Pryce Rabroker, Rosebud-Lott, Jr.
In his second season starting for the Cougars, Rabroker threw for 1,894 yards and 24 touchdowns, eclipsing 200 yards in five games. He tacked on 214 rushing yards and two more scores to help Rosebud-Lott finish 6-5. Rabroker earned a First-Team nod on the All-District 13-2A Division I squad.
Kaiden Scott, Rio Vista, Jr.
Scott etched his name into the school record books as a sophomore last season, throwing for 2,715 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 5-6 record. He finished with 200 or more passing yards in all but two games in 2024. Scott was named to the All-District 7-2A Division II First Team.
Will Shepard, Belton, Jr.
The Tigers had a rough go of it in 2024, finishing with a 2-9 record. However, Shepard threw for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 366 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Shepard and one of his top targets, Gavin Ross (55-759 yards, 1 TD), were District 10-5A Division I Co-Offensive Newcomers of the Year. The future looks bright in Belton.
Jamarion Vincent, Waco Connally, Sr. (Baylor commit)
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the region, Vincent threw for 818 yards and nine touchdowns but rushed for an electrifying 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was one of two 1,000-yard rushers for the Cadets, along with fellow rising senior RB Braeden Ford, who finished 5-6 last season. Vincent earned First-Team Utility Player of the Year for District 12-4A Division II.
Jace Wheeler, Canyon Lake, Jr.
Wheeler showed his explosiveness and propensity for big plays by throwing for 1,950 yards and 29 touchdowns to lead the Hawks to an 8-4 record and a 63-19 bi-district win over Austin Travis. Wheeler, an All-District 14-4A Division I First-Team selection, threw for 496 yards and 7 touchdowns in a 77-40 win over San Antonio Veterans Memorial.
Bubba Zacharias, McGregor, Sr.
Entering his third season as the full-time QB1, Zacharias is primed for another standout year for the Bulldogs. In 2024, he threw for 2,458 yards and 19 touchdowns and tacked on 421 yards and 10 more touchdowns on the ground. Zacharias garnered an All-District 11-3A Division I First-Team selection.
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