California always features some of the top quarterbacks in the country, and we highlight the best of senior class heading into the 2026 season.
California has been a hotbed for quarterback talent for generations now and the class of 2027 features a ton of talented signal callers. Many of the senior quarterbacks are three or four year starters who have put up massive numbers and led their teams to championships. Three of these quarterbacks competed at the Elite 11 Finals this summer and all of them are committed to Division 1 schools.
Breaking Down the Top 10 Senior Quarterbacks in California
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Here are the top ten class of 2027 quarterbacks in California.
Brady Edmunds
High School: Huntington Beach
Commitment: Ohio State
Breakdown: Brady Edmunds completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,724 yards with 32 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions for Huntington Beach last season and he added 4 rushing touchdowns. He was a top performer at the Elite 11 Finals and showed he is one of the best arm talents in the nation. Edmunds is a pure pocket passer who can fit the ball into tight windows and still take care of the ball.
Dane Weber
High School: Chaparral
Commitment: Cal
Breakdown: Dane Weber completed 70 percent of his passes for 304 yards per game with 41 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for Chaparral last season. He also ran for 688 yards with 14 touchdowns. He has the benefit of having three Power 4 committed receivers in his arsenal and another Division 1 commit at receiver. Weber is a very good athlete for a guy his size and is an anticipatory thrower who can throw guys open down the field.
Ryan Rakowski
High School: Palos Verdes
Commitment: Nevada
Breakdown: Ryan Rakowski completed 69 percent of his passes for 2043 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 1 interception. He also ran for 707 yards with 8 touchdowns and has led Palos Verdes to multiple deep playoff runs. Rakowski was the breakout performer of the weekend at the Elite 11 Finals and won the rail shot challenge with precision accuracy. He’s a good athlete who is better in pads than in a camp setting and still shined among the nation’s best quarterbacks.
Caden Jones
High School: Crean Lutheran
Commitment: Arizona
Breakdown: Caden Jones completed 75 percent of his passes for 3044 yards with 30 touchdowns and just 1 interception for Crean Lutheran last season. He’s an excellent athlete who plays on Crean Lutheran’s high-level basketball team and can extend plays with his legs. Jones doesn’t make a lot of mistakes with the football and when he does take risks, he has the arm strength to fit the ball into tight windows.
Brody Rudnicki
High School: Folsom
Commitment: Cal
Breakdown: Brody Rudnicki backed up BYU signee Ryder Lyons last season but completed 72 percent of his passes for 972 yards with 13 touchdowns, just 2 interceptions and ran for six touchdowns. He started the State championship game for Folsom and had six touchdowns (two passing, four rushing) in a win over Cathedral Catholic. Rudnicki has a big arm and maintains his velocity while throwing off-platform. He will serve a one-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will join Cal in the class of 2028.
Zachary Benitez
High School: Granite Hills (El Cajon)
Commitment: San Jose State
Breakdown: Zachary Benitez completed 68 percent of his passes for 4,009 yards with 42 touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns for a Granite Hills team that won the Division 1 championship. He has led Granite Hills to three consecutive CIF championships and has been a mainstay on the camp circuit since his freshman year. Benitez keeps filling out his frame and stands out physically when you see him among other quarterbacks.
Jaden Jefferson
High School: Centennial
Commitment: Hawaii
Breakdown: Jaden Jefferson threw for 3,348 yards with 37 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions for Cathedral last season. He also ran for 640 yards with 13 touchdowns. Jefferson is one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the class and makes everyone around him better. He has shined on the camp circuit the last few years and looked very at ease in Centennial’s offense at passing tournaments this summer.
Matthew Smith
High School: Santa Margarita
Commitment: Vanderbilt
Breakdown: Matthew Smith completed 69 percent of his passes for 168 yards per game with 7 touchdowns in just six games for Villa Park last season after transferring from Loyola. He has a smooth release and drops to his spot in the pocket quickly. Smith has good ball placement down the field and has put on some muscle since last offseason. He is taking a big step up in competition moving into the Trinity League and he showed some good leadership qualities in summer passing tournaments.
Colter Tannehill
High School: Templeton
Commitment: Fresno State
Breakdown: Colter Tannehill completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,001 yards with 25 touchdowns, just 5 interceptions last season and ran for 6 touchdowns. He is the biggest quarterback in the state at a legitimate 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. Tannehill turned heads with a strong performance at the Elite 11 Regional in LA and flashed a big arm. He has good pocket awareness and does a good job keeping his eyes on the secondary when under pressure.
Taylor Lee
High School: Pacifica (Oxnard)
Commitment: Portland State
Breakdown: Taylor Lee was third in the state in passing yards last season with 4,059 and had 53 touchdowns with 14 interceptions and 5 rushing touchdowns for a Pacifica team that reached a State championship game. He won the accuracy challenge at the Elite 11 Regional in LA and has great ball placement down the field.
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