Call them QB1 or the starting quarterback.
High school football in the Peoria area edges closer and closer to returning with each passing day. This is the fourth of a five-part series highlighting quarterbacks , running backs, linemen , wide receivers and defensive players to watch during the 2024 season.
All the games: Here are the Peoria area's high school football schedules for the 2024 season
Here are 10 quarterbacks to watch, with players listed alphabetically.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior took the majority of snaps last season for the winless Turks. Look for Bane II to take the next step in 2024 following his 713 passing yards, two touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He completed 54.2 percent (84-for-155) of passes including a 93-yard strike. Luckily for Bane II, he welcomes back three of four favorite targets in Jordyn Balsimo, Luke Haley and Blaine Williams
The 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior shared snaps with classmate Mack Sutter , alternating every series during Dunlap's Class 6A playoff appearance last season. Bargen remained efficient throughout 2023, including 134 yards on 8-for-14 passing with a TD against Pekin. His development as a QB will come with more snaps this fall, eyeing his favorite targets in Sutter and senior wide receiver Dawson Marmion.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior is garnering next-level interest, including Western Michigan, Morehead State and Valparaiso. Breedlove appeared in all nine games last season, completing 41.4 percentage of his passes for 468 yards, one TD and five interceptions. In averaging 6.1 yards a carry, he rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also played safety, finishing with five interceptions, two forced fumbles and 32 tackles.
The 6-foot-1 senior was a prolific passer in 2023, helping the Bombers pick up four victories. He completed 64.3 percent (90-for-140) of his passes for 1,664 yards in averaging 184.9 yards a game. The all-LincolnLand Conference-Large Division honorable mention quarterback threw for 22 touchdowns and three picks. Holthaus also rushed for 356 yards and four touchdowns off 57 carries.
The 6-foot, 182-pound senior helped lead the Panthers to a Class 6A semifinal appearance and an outright Mid-Illini Conference title last season. He threw for 541 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions on 36-of-78 passing. The all-Mid-Illini second-team pick also rushed for 385 yards and four TDs. He'll have the benefit of throwing to Division-I hopeful wideout AJ Jones, who returned to Washington after last season at Bolingbrook.
William Lott, Princeton
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior picked up plenty of experience in Princeton's run to the Class 3A quarterfinals. In 12 games last season, Lott threw for 1,024 yards by completing 69.5 percent (73-for-105) of his passes. The all-Three Rivers Conference-East Division second-team quarterback had 11 touchdowns to five interceptions. He also rushed for a touchdown, while collecting 17 tackles and two picks on defense.
The 6-foot, 165-pound junior got plenty of experience last season, throwing 68 passes and running 17 times as EP won a pair of games. Oakman accounted for 375 passing yards with one touchdown and three picks. He also scored three rushing TDs for the Raiders. New EP coach and former record-setting college QB Sam Durley should help tutor Oakman into a great passer.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior ended last season on a high note. He posted a seven-touchdown effort in Week 9's victory over Rantoul, throwing for four scores on 302 yards and rushing for three more TDs off 132 yards. Ratcliff opened last season in a big way, throwing for 326 yards and five TDs in a seven-point loss to Paxton Buckley-Loda. His ability to be a dual-threat QB has the potential to be a game changer this season.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior came up big in 2023 as his first season under center. The Farmers went 9-2, advancing to the second of the Class 2A playoffs. As an all-LincolnLand Conference-Large Division unanimous first-team quarterback, Wheelwright passed for 1,328 yards and 19 TDs. He also showed off his speed, rushing for 1,015 yards, 15 TDs and averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound junior will have big shoes to fill following the graduation of Tino Gist . Gist ended his tenure with the Lions as one of the program's most prolific passers. Now, Green gets an opportunity to run the uptempo Peoria High offense. "Dynamic athlete, that's scary," Peoria High coach Aaron Montgomery said, "Multi-faceted. Big arm. Fast guy."
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Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 10 quarterbacks to know around Peoria high school football in 2024
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