Iowa's best high school football players: Meet the state's top quarterbacks

Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school football. The list focuses on quarterbacks. 

There are hundreds of standout football players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other quarterbacks worthy of fans’ attention in 2023. 

Connor Moberly, 6-4, 200, Sr., Southeast Polk

Moberly led Southeast Polk to the Class 5A state championship as a junior, completing 70.7 percent of his passes (145 of 205) for 1,954 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Iowa State University commit earned second team all-state honors last season. In six games this season, Moberly has completed 93 of 140 passes (66.4 percent) for 1,176 yards and 14 touchdowns for the top-ranked and unbeaten Rams.

Graham Beckman, 6-2, 205, Sr., Iowa City Liberty

Beckman passed for 2,580 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior last season, throwing just four interceptions. The second-team Class 4A all-stater is on track to surpass those marks this fall, with a state-leading 1,795 yards and 17 touchdowns through six games.

Colin Gordon, 6-1, 195, Sr., Grundy Center

A first team Class A all-state selection last season after leading Grundy Center to a state championship, Gordon has continued to impress in 2023. He has passed for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns with just two interceptions and leads the team in rushing with 335 yards. Gordon threw for 2,071 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 542 yards and 11 scores last season.

Drew Kluender, 6-2, 175, Sr., Woodbury Central

Kluender led the state of Iowa with 3,419 passing yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior on his way to second team all-state accolades. The Southwest Minnesota State commit is putting together another outstanding season this year, with 1,429 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also running for five scores for the unbeaten Wildcats.

Vincenzo Gianforte, 6-0, 195, Jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Gianforte has passed for 1,477 yards and 16 touchdowns through six games this season and the Cougars have won four in a row after dropping their first two games. As a sophomore, Gianforte had 1,362 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Alex Manske, 6-2, 190, Jr., Algona

Manske is a three-star recruit with offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, among others. He has completed 64.2 percent of his passes (70 of 109) for 1,398 yards and 14 touchdowns and has rushed for a team-high 489 yards and eight touchdowns. As a sophomore, Manske threw for 1,688 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 407 yards and six scores. Manske also plays defense and has charted 23 tackles.

Will Nuss, 5-10, 170, Jr., Johnston

Nuss led all sophomores in Iowa last season with 2,259 passing yards and was second among sophomores with 23 touchdowns. This fall, he has thrown for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns. Nuss is also a baseball standout for the Dragons, who have won two straight state titles.

Joey Rhomberg, 6-3, 195, Sr., Mount Vernon

Rhomberg passed for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, but had to sit out the Class 3A state championship game against Harlan because of an injury suffered in a semifinal. He has picked up where he left off, however, this season with 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also rushing for four scores.

Preston Ries, 6-2, 215, Sr., Monticello

Ries and Monticello lost to Rhomberg and Mount Vernon in the first game of the season, but the Panthers have reeled off five wins in a row since. A Class 2A first team all-state pick as utility, the University of Iowa commit racked up 2,543 passing and 1,421 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns. This year, he has 1,335 passing and 829 rushing yards and a combined 24 touchdowns. Ries is also Monticello’s leading tackler with 52.5 stops.

D.J. Vonhamme, 6-4, 210, Sr., Carroll Kuemper

Vonhamme has also committed to Iowa as a walk-on and like Monticello’s Ries, is a versatile performer and will likely play tight end for the Hawkeyes. Vonhamme had 1,339 passing yards and 20 touchdowns at quarterback for Kuemper last season and has made the switch to tight end with 10 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns.

Jack Wallace, 6-3, 205, Jr., Iowa City West

Wallace has passed for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns in six games this season. He had 17 touchdown passes (1,754 yards) as a sophomore last season and was also the Trojans’ starter as a freshman.

Trenton Smith, 6-2, 205, Sr., Ankeny Centennial

Smith was a first team all-district pick last season after completing 111 of 165 passes for 1,319 yards and 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Thus far this season, Smith has 1,039 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.

Drew Larson, 6-1, 185, Sr., Iowa City High

Although he suffered a broken thumb in the first game this season, Larson is considered one of the top quarterback recruits in Iowa. He has passed for over 3,100 yards with 35 touchdowns in his previous two seasons as the Little Hawks’ starter. Larson ranked among the top five in Class 5A last season in passing yards with 1,841, touchdown passes with 19, total touchdowns with 23 and completion percentage (68) despite missing two games because of an injury.

Gavin Kramer, 6-1, 180, Jr., Goose Lake Northeast

Kramer was a first team all-district selection who was fifth in Class 2A with 2,556 total yards (1,688 passing, 868 rushing) and had a hand in 30 of his team’s 38 touchdowns last season. This season, he has passed for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 619 yards and five scores.

Aidan Harder, 6-3, 205, Sr., Norwalk

Harder is enjoying a successful first season as Norwalk’s starting quarterback. He ranks third in the state with 1,632 passing yards and has thrown 14 touchdown passes.

Carson Lullman, 6-2, 240, Sr., Storm Lake

The stocky senior has put up some gaudy numbers for the Tornadoes this season. Through six games, he has passed for 1,616 yards – which ranks fourth statewide – and leads his team with 152 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Tate Platte, 6-0, 185, Sr., Des Moines Christian

Platte finished second in Class 2A with 2,293 passing yards last season and led the class with 31 touchdown passes. He is once again the cream of the crop in 2A this season with 1,538 yards and 19 touchdowns. Platte has also rushed for 261 yards and a couple of TDs.

Cal Jepsen, 5-9, 165, Soph., Sioux City East

Although short in stature, Jepsen is among the Class 5A leaders, ranking third in passing yards with 1,364 in his first varsity season. He has completed 54.2 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns.

Cael Turner, 6-2, 165, Sr., Creston

Turner ranks first in Class 3A in both passing yards (1,613) and touchdown passes (20) and has helped the Panthers to an unbeaten mark through six games. An all-conference baseball performer, Turner has also ran for three touchdowns.

Jack Cooley, 6-4, 195, Sr., Clarke

Cooley is in his second season as the starter for the Indians. He passed for 1,515 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 54 percent of his passes as a junior. This year, Cooley is the third best passer in Class 2A with 1,276 yards and has thrown 11 touchdown passes.

Gentry Dumont, 6-2, 205, Iowa City Regina

Dumont leads Class 1A with 1,547 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. Last season, he threw for 1,049 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Regals.

Gavin Batta, 6-5, 202, Sr., South Central Calhoun

Batta fits the bill as a dual-threat quarterback, having passed for 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 241 yards and three scores. As a junior, he finished with 1,577 passing yards and 13 touchdowns and averaged 14.1 points per game in basketball.

Charlie Zimmerman 5-11, 175, Sr., Bettendorf

The elusive Zimmerman has led the resurgence at Bettendorf, as the Bulldogs are in the upper echelon of 5A this season, in his second year as a varsity starter. He has passed for 712 yards with 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and has run for 365 yards and an additional 5 scores. He is 10 yards off the team rushing lead and is tied for the team lead in rushing TDs.

Brady Hetzel, 5-11, 175, Sr., Lewis Central

Hetzel took over for all-stater Braylon Kammrad, who led the Titans to a state runner-up finish last season. Thus far, Hetzel has fared well, completing 57.9 percent of his passes (77 of 133) for 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns and adding two rushing scores. His passing yards rank third in Class 4A.

Aiden Flora, 5-10, 170, Sr., ADM

Flora returns as one of the most versatile performers in the state. This season, he has amassed 1,945 total yards, ranking first in Class 4A and fifth overall. Flora has 1,185 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 91 carries and is 51-for-72 (70.8 percent) with 780 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Last season, he exploded for 3,452 total yards, tops in Class 3A and earned first team all-state honors.

Perrin Sulzle, 6-4, 200, Sr., Baxter

Sulzle leads the Iowa 8-player class in passing with 1,710 yards through six games. He has completed 139 of 222 and thrown 23 touchdown passes and rushed for 258 yards and three scores.

Keagan Lee, 5-11, 135, Soph., Easton Valley

Another 8-player standout, the sophomore signal-caller is among the leaders in his class with 1,499 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.

Beau Burns, 5-11, 170, Soph., BGM

Burns ranks second behind Baxter’s Sulzle in 8-player passing yards with 1,614 and has tossed 21 touchdown passes. The dual-threat youngster has rushed for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns for 8-player’s top offensive squad.

Shane Helmick, 6-2, 220, Sr., Moravia

Helmick is tied for the 8-player state lead with 24 touchdown passes. He has completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 1,163 yards.

Brodyn Pryor, 6-0, 165, Soph., Woodbine

Already in his second season as the starter, Pryor has racked up some impressive numbers. After passing for 2,327 yards and 30 touchdowns as a freshman, he has 1,418 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.

Photo of Southeast Polk's Connor Moberly by Matthew Putney