Baxter’s Blitz: 2025 Year of the Quarterback

It seems like old times. Baxter’s Blitz is back! Once the most popular column in The State Newspaper for high school sports and recruiting, now brought to you for free right here on SCVarsity.com on Monday’s and Thursdays.

Some great topics today and I’m going to dive right in.

2025 Year of the Quarterback in the Midlands

The Class of 2011 was exciting for quarterbacks in the state of South Carolina. We had Power Five guys all over the place with Myrtle Beach’s Everett Golson going to Notre Dame, Northwestern’s Justin Worely going to Tennessee, Woodland’s Robert Smith going to Clemson (to play defense), and Chester’s Tony McNiel signing with Clemson, as well.

Well, the Class of 2025 in the Midlands is loaded just like the state was loaded that year. I’m going to talk about these guys in no particular order because I have not done rankings for this Class yet (though that is coming soon).

One of the guys that I’m really impressed with is Will Wilson (6’2, 205) at Richalnd Northeast. This guy has a strong arm and is very dangerous running the football. .He reminds me a lot of Dakereon  Joyner when he was at Fort Dorchester but in a bigger package. I talked about AJ Brand (6-1,185)  last week and this is a guy that already has two Division I offers on the table heading into his sophomore season. Lugoff-Elgin’s Jake Morris (6’5, 195) is a lefty for the Demons that can flat spin the pigskin. He’s a pocket passer and may have the strongest arm of this group. While I do believe he will get interest, he is already committed to Clemson for baseball as he is one of the top baseball

pitchers in the state. River Bluff’s Parker Murray (6’1,200) is a dual threat quarterback who can sling it. He got limited action as a freshman on Varsity due to an injury but he had success when he did play. I think he can develop into a strong prospect and he reminds me a lot of a young Richard Mounce (Blythewood days). I mentioned White Knoll’s Landon Sharpe (5’11,175) last week and I really like this kid. He started half of the season for the Timberwolves and passed for more than 1000 yards in five games.

That’s SIX guys that are all going to be playing on Saturdays if they continue to develop. I strongly believe at least five of them have the potential to play Division I football. Imagine that; five quarterbacks in the MIdlands signing Division I scholarships. And we haven’t even seen the players who are yet to be named starting quarterbacks in this class. THAT is exciting.

BEST SHOT AT A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP APPREARANCE

Early look at the Midlands and the teams who have the makings of a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs.

1. 

   Dutch Fork, in my opinion, has the best shot. We are in a year where there is not a team to look at and say “them, they will dominate everyone.” That includes this Dutch Fork team. But they do  have solid offensive skills to compliment whomever wins the starting QB job, a strong offensive line, and a lot ot talent on defense that returns from last season’s State Runner Up team.

2. Camden has as good a shot as any, with 11 starters returning from an 11-3 team that was a state runner up. They do have a tough lower state to get through so time will tell.
3. Gray Collegiate lost the state’s best player (in my opinion) to graduation. But they return an experienced quarterback, a strong sophomore duo at the running back position, strong offensive line and a very fast and athletic defense.

4. 

   Brookland-Cayce and Gilbert each have an outside chance. The Bearcats play a brtual non-region schedule but if they can stay healthy, they have a chance. They do have a good quarterback but they lack that guy that can stretch the field and go get the big play balls. they have a big offensive line and a solid running back. Defesnively they will be strong. Gilbert has a versatile quartrerback who could find himself as their biggest threat at wide receiver if things work out with a certain junior quartrerback. They have two of the best running backs in the Midlands, including 2024’s top midlands’ player as of right now.