The narrative of Florida high schools not being able to produce elite quarterbacks is certainly starting to shift.
Two of the past three College Football Playoff Championship games — Indiana vs. Miami in 2026 and Michigan vs. Washington in 2024 — saw both teams start quarterbacks from Florida high schools.
Former Columbus High School grad Fernando Mendoza not only won the Heisman Trophy and national championship with Indiana last year but also became the first player from a Florida high school to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in more than half a century.
This year, six players from Florida high schools are in line to start at quarterback for Power 4 programs:
CJ Bailey, N.C. State
The junior who graduated from Chaminade-Madonna High School has started 22 games for the Wolfpack, including all 13 games in 2025. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes (273 of 379) for 3,105 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions last season. He’s accounted for 53 touchdowns over the past two seasons and should be one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC this season.
Rocco Becht, Penn State
Becht followed former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell to Happy Valley and instantly provides the Nittany Lions with a lot of experience under center. The redshirt senior from Wiregrass Ranch High School has made 39 consecutive starts. He’s thrown for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns with 19 rushing touchdowns during his career.
Ryan Browne, Purdue
Browne started all 12 games for Purdue in 2025, throwing for 2,153 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 196 and four scores. Browne, a Venice High School graduate and son of former NFL fullback Jim Browne, could make a jump as he’s entering his second season with Boilermakers offensive coordinator Josh Henson.
Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska
The senior transfer from UNLV comes into Lincoln with 31 career starts and having thrown for 7,452 yards and 49 touchdowns in his career. Colandrea, who starred at Lakewood High School, won Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 when he threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 10 scores.
Alberto Mendoza, Georgia Tech
Fernando Mendoza’s younger brother — and backup quarterback on the Hoosiers’ national title squad in 2025 — opted to leave Indiana for Georgia Tech. Alberto Mendoza was 18 of 24 for 286 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in mop-up duty for Indiana last season.
Austin Simmons, Missouri
Simmons started 2025 as the starter for Ole Miss but suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 against Kentucky and lost his spot to Trinidad Chambliss. In 17 career games, two starts, Simmons has completed 64 of 107 passes (59.8 completion percentage) for 1,026 yards and six touchdowns and five interceptions. The former Pahokee star also has one career rushing score.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Meet the 6 starting QBs from Florida in Power 4 conferences
Reporting by Jon Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jon Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
