With a new high school football season right around the corner, The Sporting News is taking a look at the top returning players in Texas by region and position.
These are the top 20 quarterbacks in the Austin metro area returning in 2025. The list includes a state champion, a state runner-up and a state quarterfinalist from one season ago.
(The list is in alphabetical order)
Tacoma Ames, Buda Hays, Sr.
In his first season starting for the Hawks as a junior, Ames threw for 1,298 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. Hays finished 4-6 overall but won three district games. Ames earned All-District 12-5A Division I honorable mention. With eight starters back on offense, Ames is in position to potentially lead Hays to a playoff berth this year.
Nico Anderson, Austin St. Michael's, Jr.
Anderson had himself quite a sophomore season, throwing for 2,317 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for 47 yards and seven more scores. He helped the Warriors finish 8-3 and earn a trip to the playoffs. He is one of 11 starters returning for St. Michael's in 2025, including six on offense. Anderson is entering his third year starting behind center.
Jack Appl, Round Rock, Sr.
Appl is coming off a stellar junior season that saw him throw for 1,439 yards and 23 touchdowns, also rushing for 173 yards and nine more trips to the end zone. He helped the Dragons finish 8-3 and earn a playoff berth. Appl garnered a spot on the All-District 25-6A Second Team for his performance.
Kaden Arnot, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, Jr.
Arnot and the Rangers got rolling in the second half of last season, winning four of their final six games to finish 6-5 (5-3 in district play). Arnot threw for 200 or more yards in all but one game in that span, finishing his sophomore season with 1,880 yards and 19 touchdowns passing and 109 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He also earned a Second-Team spot on the All-District 25-6A Team.
David Cooper, Cedar Park, Jr.
Another super sophomore, Cooper led the Timberwolves to a 6-5 overall record, which included a 49-46 win over Class 5A Division II state champion Austin Vandergrift (15-1) and a playoff berth. Cooper threw for 2,190 yards and 19 touchdowns, also rushing for 585 yards and another score. He also earned the distinction as the District 8-5A Division I Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Jack Devine, Regents School of Austin, Jr.
Devine had perhaps the best sophomore season of any QB1 in the Austin area, throwing for 2,352 yards and 34 touchdowns and rushing for 456 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the Knights to an impressive 11-2 record and a trip to the TAPPS Division II title game, where Regents lost, 42-26, to Fort Worth All Saints. He also earned an All-State honorable mention nod. Devine, indeed.
Tripp Henderson, Lago Vista, Sr.
Henderson was a steady presence running the offense during a 9-4 campaign for the Vikings in 2024. He threw for 1,164 yards and 10 touchdowns with just four interceptions. A First-Team All-District 13-4A Division II selection, Henderson also rushed for 163 yards and three more scores. He is one of seven returning starters on offense for Lago Vista this season.
Cam Huff, Manor, Sr.
The Mustangs had a difficult 2-8 season in 2024, but Huff put up some solid numbers as a junior. He threw for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 75 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Huff threw for 341 yards in two of the first three games last year — a 60-34 loss to Austin Bowie and a 43-36 win over Hutto.
Maverik Maddux, Lake Belton, Sr.
In six games as the starter last year, Maddux threw for 1,124 yards and 10 touchdowns and tacked on 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground to help lead the Broncos to a 7-4 record and a postseason berth. Maddux was named to the All-District 8-5A Division I Second Team. He is a TCU baseball commit.
Kaleb McDougle, Georgetown, Jr.
McDougle ran one of the top scoring offenses in the state (49.3 points per game) by throwing for 2,442 yards and 30 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 10-2 record, a district title and a playoff win over Burleson Centennial. McDougle landed a spot on the All-District 8-5A Division I First Team. With seven starters back on offense, Georgetown could make some serious postseason noise in 2025.
London Morgan, Leander Rouse, Sr. (Navy commit)
A stellar dual-threat quarterback, Morgan was a force to be reckoned with for the Raiders in 2024. He threw for 2,649 yards and 24 touchdowns, adding 188 yards and five touchdowns on the ground to lead Rouse to a 6-5 season. Morgan also earned a First-Team selection on the All-District 9-5A Division I squad.
Weston Nielsen, Bastrop, Jr.
Another prolific sophomore starter last season, Nielsen torched opposing defenses to the tune of 3,100 yards and 37 touchdowns passing, along with 129 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Ranked as the No. 126 national player in the Class of 2027 by 24/7 Sports, Nielsen led the Bears to a 9-3 record, including a bi-district win over San Antonio Lanier. He was named the District 11-5A Division II Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Christian Salazar, Manor New Tech, Jr.
Although the Titans finished with just four wins last season, Salazar led them to a postseason berth by throwing for 1,035 yards and 10 touchdowns. Salazar and company will look to capitalize on the return of 17 starters, including nine on offense, to take the next step in 2025. Salazar earned a Second-Team spot on the All-District 13-4A Division I team.
Jaxon Schad, Pflugerville Weiss, So.
Starting at quarterback on the varsity as a freshman did not phase Schad. He hit the ground throwing (2,689 yards, 32 touchdowns) and running (215 yards, three touchdowns) to lead the Wolves to an 8-3 season. He was named District 12-5A Division I Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Duh.
Kaden Stefek, Hutto, Sr.
The Hippos had a rough season in 2024, but Stefek provided a huge offensive spark. As a junior, he threw for 2,061 yards and 27 touchdowns, and also rushed for 338 yards and four more scores. Stefek earned a spot on the All-District 25-6A Second Team. He has several weapons back for 2025, along with a new head coach in former North Crowley offensive coordinator Eli Reinhart.
Jadon Sultz, Round Rock McNeil, Sr.
In his second season as QB1 for the Mavericks, Sultz threw for 1,553 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown to lead McNeil to a 5-6 record. Sultz earned an All-District 25-6A Second-Team selection. He is one of 15 returning starters, including eight on offense, for the Mavs.
Cole Taylor, Pflugerville, Sr.
Taylor put up some staggering numbers as a junior last season. He also earned honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A All-State Team after throwing for 3,379 yards and 43 touchdowns and rushing for 76 yards and seven more trips to paydirt to lead the Panthers to an 8-4 record and a playoff win. The No. 175 Texas recruit in the Class of 2026, according to 24/7 Sports, Taylor was a First-Team All-District 11-5A Division II selection.
Miles Teodecki, Austin Vandergrift (K-State commit)
Naomi Skinner/Wichita Falls Times Record News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Teodecki was a huge reason why the Vipers reached the promised land last season. The left-hander threw for a whopping 3,256 yards and 48 touchdowns to lead the Vipers to a 15-1 record and a Class 6A Division II state title. The District 25-6A Offensive Most Valuable Player is ranked the No. 182 overall Texas prospect in the Class of 2026 by 24/7 Sports.
Cooper Waits, Round Rock Westwood, Jr.
The Warriors struggled to a 2-8 record in 2024, but Waits flashed some big-play ability. He finished his sophomore season with 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air. Waits garnered honorable mention on the All-District 25-6A Team. He is one of eight starters back on offense for Westwood this season.
Rees Wise, Austin Westlake, Sr. (Ole Miss commit)
Chuck Cox
QBHS is at it again. Wise is the next in a long line of elite signal-callers for the Chaparrals. Last year, he threw for 2,598 yards and 23 touchdowns, and also rushed for 464 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead Westlake to a 14-2 record and a trip to the Class 6A Division I state title game, where the Chaps fell to North Crowley, 50-21. Wise, an All-District 26-6A First-Team pick, is ranked No. 142 in Texas in the Class of 2026 by 24/7 Sports.
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These are the top 20 quarterbacks in the Austin (Texas) area returning this season