The race for the Detroit Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Best Quarterback for 2026 is officially open, and readers have until 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, to cast a vote.
Detroit Free Press high school sports reporter Jared Ramsey has already put together his preseason quarterback rankings, and now the spotlight shifts to the poll. The field is loaded with accomplished passers, title winners and players who are expected to carry major loads this fall.
One of the headliners is Donald Tabron II of Detroit Cass Tech, who has drawn plenty of attention since becoming the Technicians’ starter in 2024. Tabron put together a huge season last year, throwing for 2,819 yards and 35 touchdowns while helping Cass Tech win 23 straight games before the team’s lone loss came in the Division 1 state title game against Catholic Central.
Duke Banta of Novi Detroit Catholic Central is also on the list after guiding the Shamrocks to a Division 1 state championship and a 14-0 season in his first year as a starter. He threw for 2,379 yards and posted a 30-to-2 touchdown-interception ratio.
Another title winner in the mix is Jabin Gonzales of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, who helped the Eaglets capture their second straight Division 2 state title with a 51-14 win over Dexter. Gonzales accounted for 26 passing touchdowns and more than 2,385 passing yards, while also adding 455 rushing yards and seven more scores on the ground.
Ramsey ranked Sam Rouleau of Grosse Pointe South No. 2 on his list and described him as “arguably the best athlete under center in Michigan.” Rouleau led the Blue Devils to a 9-2 record and a District championship, finishing with more than 2,200 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns.
Drew Sheridan of Dearborn Divine Child is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season that ended with the Falcons’ first championship in 40 years. Divine Child went 13-1, and Sheridan completed 82% of his passes for 2,842 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Wynn Diegel of Midland Dow turned in one of the state’s biggest statistical seasons, leading Dow to a 10-2 record while throwing for 3,085 yards and 33 touchdowns. He is already the school’s career leader in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
Kendall Franklin of Belleville spent last season growing into the role of starter after taking over for Michigan Football quarterback Bryce Underwood. Belleville finished 7-3 and fell to Woodhaven in the first round of the playoffs, while Franklin passed for 1,873 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Bryce Backus of Caledonia is another name to watch after producing 600 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns as a junior before a shoulder injury ended his season early. At 6 feet 4 and 200 pounds, he brings size and strength that make him dangerous both in the pocket and as a runner.
Alex Waszczenko of Clarkston enters his third year as a starter and will have more on his plate after the graduation of twin running backs Griffin and Lukas Boman. Last season, he totaled 2,000 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns.
Grayson Thurston of Warren De La Salle rounds out the group. The rising junior helped the Pilots reach the Division 3 semifinals after a 6-7 season, completing 63% of his passes while throwing for 1,9501 yards, rushing for 257 and accounting for 20 touchdowns.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Took A Costly QB Recruiting Hit For 2028
Michigans recruiting momentum has been strong in the 2027 cycle, but the staff is already shifting its attention to the 2028 quarterback board, where the next wave of targets will shape the classs ceiling. That makes the latest development sting a little more than a routine miss, especially with the Wolverines trying to stay ahead of the curve at the sports most important position.
Lukas Prock had been one of the names tied closely to Michigan early in the process, and his decision to head elsewhere forces the Wolverines to keep moving. The good news is that the board is still populated with options, including Donald Tabron, Kamden Lopati, Carter Zingelmann and Kaden Craft, but the early loss means Michigan has to be sharper about where it pushes next and how quickly it can settle on a new priority. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Already Pushing Hard For A Quarterback Fans Will Watch Closely
Michigans quarterback search is already moving well beyond the usual early-summer groundwork, and Kaden Craft has become one of the names worth tracking. The North Carolina prospect has the kind of physical profile and playmaking ability that fits what the Wolverines want under offensive coordinator Jason Beck, which is why Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. have been active in his recruitment.
Craft has drawn attention from several other programs, but Michigan has made a clear push and is leaning into the relationship-building part of the process. His time in Ann Arbor gave Beck and Detmer Jr. a chance to make their case in person, and for a staff trying to establish itself with a new offensive identity, landing a quarterback like Craft would be a meaningful early win. [Read more 🡒]