Every offense has a leader.
From directing teammates in the huddle to making adjustments at the line of scrimmage, quarterbacks are responsible for keeping everything on schedule.
They don’t just throw passes.
They manage games, extend plays and make decisions that can turn close contests into victories. When the offense takes the field, they’re the player teammates look to for leadership and confidence.
With that being said, let’s meet the Times-Reporter coverage area’s top 10 quarterbacks entering the 2026 season.
The top five are ranked, followed by five honorable mentions listed alphabetically.
5. Grady Miller (Jr.), Garaway QB
2,529 yards, 31 touchdowns, 69% completion and 180 passing yards for game also rushed for 431 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Jaxon Jones (Sr.), Malvern QB
The 6-foot-4 senior quarterback will look to improve on his numbers from a season ago as Malvern looks to capture its fifth IVC North crown in the past seven seasons. Jones ended last season with 1,330 passing yards and tossed 12 touchdowns.
3. Dieter Weber (Jr.), Dover QB
It is a new conference for Weber and company this season, but after a season when Weber tossed for 1,986 yards and 19 touchdowns and set the school record for passing completions in a single season with 76%. He’ll look to etch his name in Dover’s history books a little more as his junior season is about to kick off.
2. Ryker Williams (QB), Indian Valley QB
Success is an understatement for the dynasty Indian Valley has created coming into this season and at the helm of it is Ryker Williams. The Indian Valley offense will have some big shoes to fill with Ohio Mr. Football Grady Kinsey graduating. However, Williams was a member of the IVC’s First Team a season ago and his stats prove that he can lead this team to another tournament run.
2025 stats: 1,283 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 615 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
1. Kaden Leggett (Sr.), Conotton Valley QB
He comes in at number one, but the number that stands out is seven. That is the amount of quarterbacks that threw for more yards in 2025 than Leggett, according to MaxPreps. He tossed 46 touchdowns — second most in the Buckeye state — as the Rockets advanced to the second round of the playoffs a season ago. The senior recorded 3,084 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Honorable mentions:
Liam Fetty (Soph.), Sandy Valley QB
Brody Gonda (Sr.), Carrollton QB
Beckam Hines (Sr.), Tusky Valley QB
Brody Hurst (Sr.), Strasburg QB
JJ Justice (Jr.), Newcomerstown QB
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Who are the top quarterbacks in the Times-Reporter area for 2026?
Reporting by Jacob Shondel, The Times-Reporter / The Times-Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jacob Shondel, The Times-Reporter | USA TODAY Network
