B/R CFB Recruiting: Ranking the Top 10 Quarterbacks in the 2025 Class

After an incredible crop of quarterbacks two recruiting classes ago, the '25 class of signal-callers doesn't carry as much hype. But top-to-bottom, it's better than the 2024 group.

There is plenty of talent that could challenge that '23 class.

The group of quarterbacks in this year's cycle may not have as many "sure things", but the upside is just as high. Sure, the nation's top-ranked overall player spearheads the bunch, but he isn't the only big-ticket arm.

Coast to coast, this class has some quality quarterbacks. The best thing is for the drama unfolding around this class is a couple of these names are nowhere near settled on a school, either, despite having given a commitment.

The battles for Deuce Knight and Julian Lewis wage on, as big-name programs keep swinging for their signatures.

Others are settled on their schools, but their stocks still aren't set. For instance, one guys tumbled in the rankings after an injury kept him from the elite summer camps. Another player on the list surged after strong showings.

With high school senior seasons kicking off, rankings are sure to fluctuate. But after independent film study, Bleacher Report took our swing at ranking the top quarterbacks in the '25 class. Here's where we stand.

10. Madden Iamaleava, UCLA Bruins

Credit: 247Sports

As incredible as that 2023 class of quarterbacks was on paper (though it still has to prove it on the field), one of the best of the bunch was California-cool Nico Iamaleava, who signed with Tennessee.

While Rocky Top will have Nico Fever this year as the redshirt freshman leads the Vols after giving us a glimpse during last year's Citrus Bowl, his brother is gearing up for his senior season at Warren High School in Downey, California.

Madden Iamaleava may not have the clout as his older brother, but the 6'3", 185-pound quarterback is still a top-tier talent. He is rated the No. 114 overall player in the '25 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and his slot of 10th in the QB rankings is just about right.

Iamaleava narrowly edged out KaMario Taylor (Mississippi State pledge), Trammel Jones Jr. (Florida State pledge) and Ryan Montgomery (Georgia pledge) for 10th because of his arm strength and the fact that he has learned from his brother.

With just one year of starting under his belt as he waited behind Nico, Madden Iamaleava is just now scratching the surface of what he can do, and he is going to be a nice pickup for the UCLA Bruins and first-year coach DeShaun Foster.

Flashing some mobility as well, the younger Iamaleava will be the centerpiece of Eric Bieniemy's offense for years to come.

9. Bryce Baker, North Carolina Tar Heels Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

When Mack Brown first came back to Chapel Hill, he had the North Carolina Tar Heels cleaning up when it came to instate recruiting.

The past few years, that hasn't been the case. Teams like Tennessee (which has commitments from the top-ranked player in the state from three of the past four cycles from 2023-26), North Carolina State and Clemson are poaching players.

But Brown was still able to secure a star passer from Kernersville, North Carolina, for the '25 cycle. Bryce Baker is a 6'2.5", 195-pound dual-threat signal-caller from East Forsyth High School, and while he is far from a finished product, he's got a ton of upside.

The 247Sports Composite rankings have Baker as the No. 132-ranked overall player and the 12th-rated quarterback, but Baker slides comfortably into the top 10 with B/R due to his skill set.

Again, we are focused on upside in these rankings, and while there are several others who are more polished than Baker, but he flashes with his athleticism, long ball and his sturdy build. He looked great at this summer's Elite 11 camp, and that solidifies him here.

"North Carolina commit Bryce Baker (No. 99) makes a big move inside the top 100," On3's Charles Power wrote when the network moved him up the rankings this summer. "Baker turned in a consistent showing at the Elite 11 Finals, showing a strong arm. Baker, who is a 1,000 point scorer in high school basketball, is a strong athlete at the position and plays with a creative playmaking style."

There are a lot of reasons to love his future upside with the Heels.

8. Julian Lewis, USC Trojans Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

You've been hearing about Julian "JuJu" Lewis for several years now as he has dazzled playing for Carrollton High School in Georgia.

After committing to play for Lincoln Riley at USC in the summer of 2023, though, that hasn't stopped schools from pursuing the 6'1", 185-pound quarterback who was named the MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore of the year.

The 247Sports Composite rankings have Lewis as a 5-star prospect and the fourth-rated quarterback overall, but he doesn't wow you with any of his measurables. Yes, Lewis makes some magical plays, and he is surgical with the ball, but how will that translate on the college level?

He's going to have a strong career, but the guess is a few others have higher upsides. Still, many programs view Lewis as a "sure thing", and while the Trojans have his commitment for now, it's far from secure.

Popular names emerging as contenders recently are Auburn, Colorado and (surprisingly) Indiana, where Curt Cignetti could nab the player to turn around the Hoosiers' program if Lewis shocks everybody and heads to Bloomington.

As a matter of fact, 247Sports' Tom Loy said just last week he gives the "edge" to Indiana over the field for Lewis. Auburn is in on some big-name guys to flip, too, but right now, the buzz is on other teams for Lewis.

Apparently, he's listening.

7. Husan Longstreet, Texas A&M Aggies Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

With all the talent in Texas, normally the Aggies don't have to venture outside of Lone Star State borders to pluck elite talent. But coach Mike Elko did when he went to Corona, California, to grab his '25 quarterback.

He got a gem when Husan Longstreet decided to come to College Station from the Golden State, a place known for churning out elite signal-callers.

Longstreet is committed to play his college ball in the SEC and be the future of the Aggies, and there are a lot of people who believe he's one of the top overall players in the nation. He is sixth in the overall QB rankings, but 247Sports has him as a 5-star and the fourth-rated quarterback.

At 6'1.5", 195 pounds, Longstreet should stand to gain a little more weight, but even though he isn't the biggest quarterback, there's a lot to love about his game.

Longstreet has a lanky build and, like Patrick Mahomes, he can throw from a lot of different arm angles and with a lot of torque that generates power. Couple that with his athleticism, and he is a fun, do-it-all type of player who looks like he could grow into a leader and a great player.

The question remaining now is can the Aggies hang onto him? According to On3's Steve Wiltfong, USC is trying to flip him, and with the uncertainty surrounding Julian Lewis, it could cause a domino effect.

Elko needs to do everything in his power to keep Longstreet from heading to the Trojans.

6. Matt Zollers, Missouri Tigers Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

You can't question the season coach Eli Drinkwitz had a season ago at Missouri, capitalized by a stunning 14-3 Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State.

Some big-time recruiting wins and shrewd transfer portal work helped Coach Drink close the gap on the rest of the SEC, and he is continuing that momentum by stacking solid classes.

This year, he's got his centerpiece in the class in quarterback Matt Zollers.

The 6'3.5", 205-pound Royersford, Pennsylvania, quarterback is ranked all the way up at second in the position rankings for On3, the No. 11-ranked overall player and the second-rated quarterback. While we think that's a smidge too high, Zollers is the real deal.

He easily could wind up one of the top three or four quarterbacks in this class. He's rated seventh in the Composite rankings, and he's a spot higher here. Back in April when he committed to the Tigers, he shocked a lot of people, choosing them over Georgia and instate schools Penn State and Pittsburgh.

His brother, Zach, is a walk-on defensive end with the Panthers, but Zollers saw his future in Columbia. He's been the catalyst for a terrific haul that is currently No. 17 in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

"When I first committed, they told me that I needed to trust them because I was the first commit (in the Class of 2025)," Zollers told The Athletic's Grace Raynor. "They were telling me I needed to trust them, saying that this (year's class) had the chance to be the best in school history. They've kept their word ever since."

Zollers will have the opportunity to compete for snaps right away, and he is talented enough to take off.

5. George MacIntyre, Tennessee Volunteers Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

One thing about the recruiting rankings on the major sites—they'll hammer you if you don't participate in their summer camps.

Tennessee quarterback commitment George MacIntyre didn't suddenly become a worse football player this summer, enough so that the Brentwood Academy High School from the suburbs of Nashville fell from a 5-star prospect to the No. 58 overall player and eighth-rated quarterback in the class.

Instead, he simply couldn't participate in the Elite 11 camp due to an injury not healing quickly enough.

This is still a player who was the top quarterback on the board of the Vols, Alabama and Clemson, among others.

He ultimately decided to stay instate and play for Josh Heupel in Knoxville, and Tennessee is glad he did. We think he's better than eighth nationally, and he has as much upside of anybody on this list outside of the top two.

MacIntyre stands at 6'5.5", 190 pounds, and while he needs to add weight to play on the next level, he will have plenty of time to season waiting behind Nico Iamaleava and possibly Jake Merklinger.

The prospect can make all the throws, and though he has played great competition for a bad team, MacIntyre needs to cut down on the interceptions at the next level. Still, he has all the tools to be special.

4. Deuce Knight, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

Much like Julian Lewis, the race to land Deuce Knight really hasn't slowed down all that much since he decided to commit to coach Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

For a while, Knight was linked to the Tennessee Vols and even left Mississippi to play high school ball outside Nashville. But UT was able to lure George MacIntyre to Knoxville, effectively ending the courtship with Knight, and he quickly moved on to the Irish.

Knight is now back in Lucedale, Mississippi, playing his senior season, but it doesn't matter where he is, schools are chasing.

Now, the big flip talk is coming from possibly Hugh Freeze's Auburn Tigers and Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss Rebels. If Kiffin can keep him home, it would be a coup for the Rebels' future at the position, but Freeze has ties in the Magnolia State, too.

Right now, the Tigers are the buzz.

Whoever gets Knight is getting a gem. He's a 6'4.5", 206-pound left-handed signal-caller who is this high on the list because of his major upside, big-time athleticism and speed and all the tools to be great.

He is very raw and has a ways to go, but by the time Knight is seasoned by the right coach, he could be an outstanding playmaker.

3. Tavien St. Clair, Ohio State Buckeyes Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

The Ohio State Buckeyes are stacked at quarterback for the foreseeable future.

With Will Howard in line to play for coach Ryan Day this year, the Buckeyes are going to be hard-pressed not to give a hard look to true freshman Julian Sayin, who transferred from Alabama and has wowed with his ability. That's not even to mention Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and another freshman, Air Noland.

For the '25 class, the Buckeyes have another potential superstar lined up in Tavien St. Clair.

The 6'4", 225-pound Bellefontaine, Ohio, signal-caller has been set on the home-state Buckeyes for some time, and he has all the traits of another outstanding prospect who can do it all on the football field.

St. Clair is pretty clearly one of the top three quarterbacks in this year's class. He's rated No. 2 in the Composite rankings, and even though he sits at that ranking for 247Sports, he's the No. 2-ranked overall player, as well. Rivals thinks so much of St. Clair, that service has him as the top overall player.

At the prestigious Elite 11 camp this summer, St. Clair was stellar, winning the accuracy challenge. When you couple that with his size and exceptional athleticism, it's no wonder he is surging up the rankings.

St. Clair has shown his ability in every outlet, forum and situation in which he's put. He has that alpha swagger you love to see in your offensive leader, and he may wind up being the best player at his position in the class.

2. Keelon Russell, Alabama Crimson Tide Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

For a while, Keelon Russell seemed set on playing his college football close to his home with the SMU Mustangs.

But when the bigger programs came calling, he couldn't stick with the new ACC program. Instead, he's heading to Tuscaloosa to be Kalen DeBoer's future quarterback with the Crimson Tide.

So, while a lot of services have Tavien St. Clair ahead of him, why did we go with Russell as the second-rated quarterback overall? It certainly wasn't an easy decision.

St. Clair is bigger, and he scored well (as we mentioned) at elite camps. But the 6'3", 175-pound Russell has a higher upside in our opinion. He hasn't come near filling out yet and has the frame to hold 205-210 pounds easily and not lose any of his elite speed.

Russell plays for an all-star program at powerhouse Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, so he is used to playing top-tier competition, and he's lost just one game in two years. When the play breaks down, Russell can dominate with his speed and take it to the house.

But he also has a big arm and makes plays all over the field with his ability to throw teammates open. When you factor in that Russell has completed nearly 70 percent of his prep passes (according to his 247Sports profile), he has the accuracy in his skill set, too.

Russell is the perfect player to orchestrate DeBoer's spread offense, and he can distribute the ball with the best of them. You can't go wrong either way with St. Clair or him in this second position, but the nod goes to the future Tide prospect just narrowly.

1. Bryce Underwood, LSU Tigers Commitment

Credit: 247Sports

As much as we debated putting Keelon Russell or Tavien St. Clair over Bryce Underwood in the rankings to be different and a contrarian, the film just wouldn't let it happen.

In St. Clair's case, his physical attributes are stout. In Russell's, the seasoning he gets playing at an elite program is a proverbial feather in his cap (helmet?). But Underwood has the complete package.

The 6'3.5", 205-pound Belleville, Michigan, native eschewed staying home and playing for the Wolverines or Spartans and is instead heading to the Bayou to play for the LSU Tigers. He's been committed for a long time and hasn't ever wavered.

That's huge news for coach Brian Kelly. Already, Underwood has amassed 141 total touchdowns in high school, compiled a 40-2 record and won't turn 20 years old until his third collegiate season.

Not only does his "now" wow you, Underwood hasn't really scratched the surface of what he can be. While Underwood didn't really do the national scene in the camps this year, he hasn't slipped in the rankings yet (except for on Rivals) because of his elite ability.

He chose to work on his game at home in Michigan and is already set on LSU, so he didn't have anything to prove. Underwood can dissect defenses, explodes away from pressure and can deliver the ball accurately to receivers. He can beat teams with his legs (and will), but he is a pass-first quarterback.

He is just too talented not to put at No. 1. The Bayou Bengals have the best player in the class committed.

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All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.