2017 Football Preview: Top 10 quarterbacks

It’s a very strong year for quarterbacks. Solorio’s Quincy Patterson, Prairie Ridge’s Samson Evans and Lyons’ Ben Bryant have all committed to FBS colleges. Naperville Central has added a talented transfer, Drake Davis from Bureau Valley.

1. Quincy Patterson, Solorio, Sr., QB (6-4, 236): Had 33 regular season touchdowns. He wasn’t only instrumental under center for the Sun Warriors, he was impactful in the secondary. Patterson is a big-bodied safety with great field vision and football IQ. The Virginia Tech recruit had 42 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in the six games he played on defense. Patterson advanced to the finals of prestigious Elite 11 competition this summer.

2. Samson Evans, Prairie Ridge, Sr., QB (6-0, 200):Iowa recruit led the Wolves to the Class 6A state title behind an offense that averaged 50 points. He’s an electric dual threat with 1,363 rushing yards, 740 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in the regular season. The Iowa recruit is poised for a massive senior season.

3. Ben Bryant, Lyons, Sr., QB (6-3, 193):Bryant’s arm has impresseed since he was a freshman He passed for 1,847 yards last season and averaged more than nine yards a toss. The Cincinnati recruit threw 20 touchdowns and accounted for four rushing touchdowns last season as he led the Lions into the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.

4. J’Bore Gibbs, Phillips, Sr., QB (6-3, 215): A true dual-threat quarterback on a talented team, Gibbs threw for 1,674 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for more than 600 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Gibbs is light on his feet with breakaway speed. He has good field vision and knows how to find the open man.

5. Eric Mooney, Huntley, Sr., QB Huntley (6-1, 185): Mooney made a name for himself last season. He has great pocket presence and can also make a play with his legs. He accounted for 34 touchdowns (21 rushing) and 3,300 yards last season. Mooney is a big play threat that led the Red Raiders to the quarterfinals of the Class 8A playoffs.

6. Raymond Niro, Barrington, Sr., QB (5-10, 177):Niro has wheels. He ran for 1,402 yards as a junior, averaging more than ten yards per carry. An all Mid-Suburban West selection in 2016, he scored 29 touchdowns and finished with a total of 2,612 yards.

7. Payton Thorne, Naperville Central, Jr., QB (6-2, 180):First team All-DuPage Valley last season, threw for 1,623 yards and 23 touchdowns for Metea Valley. The junior has transferred to Naperville Central and will have to adjust to a new system. His has size, field vision and the ability to make the long toss.. Thorne is capable of putting the ball on the ground, but is most dangerous through the air.

8. Drake Davis, Naperville North, Sr., QB (6-0, 190): Davis is a transfer from Bureau Valley, but he is no stranger to the area. He’s played with Naperville-based Midwest Boom’s traveling team the last several years. Davis has tremendous accuracy. He passed for 1,743 yards, rushed for 988 yards and accounted for 33 touchdowns. Davis has the potential to to outdo his No. 8 ranking, depending on how he adjusts to his new team.

9. Austin Coalson, Hoffman Estates, Sr., QB (5-10, 175):All-Conference as a junior, Coalson posted 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 68 percent completion percentage. He can throw on the run, has the arm strength to go deep and sees the game well.

10. Jake Zylman, St. Rita, Sr., QB (5-10, 180): A true dual-threat quarterback, Zylman rushed for 853 yards last season. He sees holes and knows how to punch through them. He passed for 1,429 yards and 20 touchdowns.

This is the seventh story in the Sun-Times 2017 Football Countdown series. Here’s what you can expect over the next couple weeks:

Aug. 14: No. 5 Lyons

Aug. 15: Top 10 defensive players

Aug. 16: No. 4 Waubonsie Valley

Aug. 17: Top 10 receivers

Aug. 18: No. 3 Loyola

Aug. 19: Top 10 running backs

Aug. 20: No. 2 Maine South

Aug. 21: Top 10 quarterbacks

Aug. 22: No. 1 Prairie Ridge

Aug. 23: Week 1’s top games

Aug. 24: A capsule look at the Super 25, Top 50 players