SARASOTA – They play the most important position in team sports, and have their hands on the football more often than any other player. So it makes sense the odds of reaching the postseason favor those teams with a skilled quarterback under center.
In Sarasota and Manatee counties, there are a handful. With the start of the 2024 Florida high school football season not far off, their performance will be critical to their team’s success.
Here’s the Herald-Tribune’s list of the Sarasota and Manatee area’s top quarterbacks, in alphabetical order:
Lucas Despot
Braden River
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds
College Offer: Shorter University
In 10 games for the Pirates, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback completed 126 of 215 passes for 1,619 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, for a QB rating of 100.5.
Ryan Downes
Booker
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
College Offers: Brown, Indiana, Kansas, Marshall, Penn
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback last season backed up Venice starter Jadyn Glasser. Downes saw action in nine games, completing 13 of 25 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran nine times for 200 yards and seven scores. Downes played in five games in 2022 for the IMG Academy national team.
Liam Fernandez
Lakewood Ranch
Vitals: 6-foot, 170 pounds: Jr.
College Offers: None
As a sophomore last season, Fernandez saw action in the Mustangs’ final few games, starting two. He finished 26-of-42 for 334 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Running the ball, Fernandez rushed 14 times for 74 yards and a score.
Andrew Heidel
Manatee
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds; Sr.
Commitments: United States Military Academy
In leading Manatee to a 9-3 record last season, the junior quarterback completed 206 of 318 for 2,618 yards, 20 TDs, and six interceptions. Heidel finished with a QB rating of 103.5. Running the ball he scored five touchdowns.
Devin Mignery
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals: 6-foot, 205 pounds; Jr.
College commitment: None
Splitting time at quarterback last season with Michael Valentino, Mignery completed 72-of-141 passes for 1,303 yards, 12 touchdown passes, and three interceptions for the state-champion Cougars. Running the ball, Mignery finished second on Mooney, rushing for 896 yards on 88 carries and 10 touchdowns.
Riverview
Vitals: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds
College commitments: None
Last season the one-time Venice High quarterback was second on the Rams with 26 catches for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Miller also completed 4-of-9 passes for 109 yards and a score. With the graduation of Braxton Thomas, Miller will be Riverview’s starting quarterback.
Ben Milliken
Sarasota Christian
Vitals: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds; Jr.
College commitments: None
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback missed most of last season with an injury but still threw for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns, completing 69 of 134 in about four games of action. In 2022, as a freshman, Milliken threw for 3,303 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Jayce Nixon
Venice
Vitals: 6-foot, 195 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: Northern Iowa
Last season, quarterbacking for Tampa Gaither, Nixon completed 246 of 363 passes for 3,172 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Nixon also ran 66 times for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top high school football quarterbacks in Sarasota, Manatee counties to watch in 2024
Herald-Tribune
