High school football preview: Ranking the Top 10 Fort Worth-area quarterbacks in 2022
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram begins its 2022 Texas high school football player-by-player preview and today we look at the area’s best quarterbacks and play-callers.
Last season, the area saw five 3,000-yard passers and three return with Byron Nelson’s Jake Wilson, Brock’s Tyler Moody and Southlake Carroll’s Kaden Anderson.
How many will the Fort Worth-area have this fall?
Here are the Top 10 QBs entering the 2022 season:
1. Jake Strong
Senior, 6-2, 200, Justin Northwest
Commit: Texas Tech
Last season: 2,334 yards passing, 29 TDs, 918 yards rushing, 8 TDs
Facts: The 3-star Tech commit was voted district MVP in 2021, helping the Texans to a share of the district title. Strong enters with the eighth-most passing yards among 2022 area returners and has thrown for 58 TDs during the past two seasons. According to the 247Sports composite, Strong is the highest-ranked Fort Worth-area QB and second in DFW, only behind Denton Guyer’s Jackson Arnold.
2. Kaden Anderson
Senior, 6-4, 205, Southlake Carroll
Commit: Wyoming
Last season: 3,036 yards passing, 34 TDs, 7 rushing TDs
Facts: Anderson was shuffled in at QB1 right away for the Dragons and never looked back, leading them to a state semifinal appearance. Among 2022 area returners, he threw for the third-most passing yards and was one of four QBs to throw for 30 TDs.
3. Weston Smith
Senior, 6-5, 215, Colleyville Heritage
Commit: Princeton
Last season: 2,608 yards pass, 29 TDs
Facts: Smith was named all-area offensive newcomer after helping the Panthers to another district title and deep playoff run. His 29 TD tosses are tied for fifth-most (with Strong) among 2022 area returners.
4. Jake Wilson
Senior, 6-2, 200, Byron Nelson
Last season: 3,884 yards passing, 38 TDs
Facts: Wilson had a career year as he was named district offensive MVP and helped the Bobcats to the third round for the first time. He finished 2021 with the most passing yards in the area (over 500 yards more than the next QB), the most per game (299) and was tied for second most TD passes.
5. Tyler Moody
Senior, 5-10, 170, Brock
Last season: 3,096 yards passing, 45 TDs, 510 yards rushing, 10 TDs
Facts: Moody had much success during the 2021-22 school year, starting in the state title game for both the Brock football and baseball teams. He led the area in TD passes and finished with the second-most passing yards among 2022 returners.
6. Tre Guerra
Senior, 6-2, 180, Keller
Committed: Central Arkansas
Last season: 2,021 yards passing, 22 TDs
Facts: Guerra led the Indians to a 5-0 start in 2021 and ultimately a playoff berth. He was voted by the fans this summer to have the best season among Fort Worth-area quarterbacks.
7. Kaden Brown
Senior, 6-2, 175, Midlothian Heritage
Committed: South Dakota State
Last season: 2,276 yards passing, 19 TDs, 1,055 yards rushing, 16 TDs
Facts: Brown led the Jaguars to the second round of the playoffs in 2021. Heritage moves up to Class 5A for the first time and if the team wants to prove doubters wrong, it will start with the dual-threat QB, who had the second-most rushing yards by a QB among 2022 returners.
8. Gunner McElroy
Senior, 6-2, 185, Peaster
Last season: 2,626 yards passing, 27 TDs
Facts: McElroy led the Greyhounds to their first playoff game and a 7-4 overall record. His stock has been rising during the off-season with visits and camps from some of the top programs in the country. He also played defense in 2021 and finished with 38 tackles and three interceptions.
9. Ryan Clark
Senior, 6-2, 240, Weatherford
Last season: 1,474 yards passing, 14 TDs, 1,001 yards rushing, 20 TDs
Facts: Clark was voted district offensive MVP a season ago after coming in second among all area quarterbacks with 20 touchdowns on the ground. The Kangaroos made the playoffs for the third straight season and hosted a postseason game for the first time.
10. Hudson White
Senior, 5-10, 185, Glen Rose
Last season: 1,545 yards passing, 11 TDs, 1,862 yards rushing, 30 TDs
Facts: White was the obvious district MVP in 2021 after finishing with the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by an QB in the area, and is the MVP favorite this fall. Among 2022 returners, he ranks second in rushing yards, TDs and rushing yards per game (155).