DeKalb County has never lacked quarterback talent, and the 2026 season is no exception. From polished pocket passers to explosive dual-threat playmakers, the county is loaded with signal-callers capable of changing a game with both their arms and legs.
These quarterbacks have already built impressive résumés, and each enters the fall with high expectations. Here’s a look at the Top 5 DeKalb County quarterbacks heading into the 2026 high school football season.
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1. Braylon Carter | Sr. | Southwest DeKalb | 6’3”, 200 lbs
Soon to become Southwest DeKalb’s all-time leading passer, Braylon Carter enters his senior season as the top returning quarterback in DeKalb County.
Carter is coming off an outstanding junior campaign in which he threw for 2,300 yards, 25 touchdowns, and completed 64% of his passes, earning First Team All-Region and All-County honors. He returns as the county’s most accomplished passer and the leader of one of DeKalb’s most explosive offenses.
Some critics have labeled Carter a “system quarterback” because of the talent surrounding him—including Liberty commit Jordan Christie, along with rising stars Myson Perry and Marquise Ealy. However, Carter has consistently shown he’s much more than a product of the system. His poise, decision-making, and accuracy allow him to maximize every opportunity, while his ability to escape pressure and extend plays with his legs adds another layer to his game.
With another year of experience and an arsenal of playmakers at his disposal, Carter will look to lead the Panthers to one of the program’s best seasons in recent memory.
2026 Prediction: 2,700 passing yards, 25 TDs, 8 INTs
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2. Jace German | Sr. | Tucker | 6’0”, 200 lbs
Fresh off his commitment to Boston College, where a possibility to play defensive back or another offensive position is imminent, Jace German remains one of the state’s most electrifying quarterbacks.
German is already Tucker’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and became the Tigers’ first quarterback since Dwayne Harris to throw for 2,000 career passing yards while rushing for 1,000 career yards.
Last season, he accounted for 1,500 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding another 600 rushing yards, earning Second Team All-Region and All-County honors.
The senior possesses one of the strongest arms in DeKalb County and has the ability to make every throw on the field. Combine that with legitimate 4.4 speed, and he’s capable of turning a broken play into a long touchdown at any moment—as he proved against Valdosta last season.
Keeping German contained is one of the toughest challenges opposing defenses will face this fall.
2026 Prediction: 1,900 passing yards, 15 TDs, 8 INTs
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3. Czar Daniels | Sr. | Columbia | 6’2”, 180 lbs
One could easily argue that Czar Daniels deserves to be even higher on this list based on how he finished his junior season.
Daniels threw for at least 150 yards in five of Columbia’s final six games and eclipsed 270 passing yards in both playoff contests. While turnovers against stronger competition kept him from cracking the top two, his development over the second half of the season was impossible to ignore.
Surrounded by Arkansas commit Rashaad Silver, the talented Davis twins (Damarion and Jamarion), and offensive coordinator Shadell Bell, Daniels has everything in place for a breakout senior year.
He’s one of the county’s most naturally gifted passers, displaying the ability to throw accurately on the move and fit passes into tight windows. If he cuts down on turnovers, Daniels has the talent to become one of DeKalb’s elite quarterbacks of all time.
2026 Prediction: 2,300 passing yards, 22 TDs, 10 INTs
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4. Zabrian “Z-Bo” Boler | Sr. | Stephenson | 6’3”, 190 lbs
For Zabrian “Z-Bo” Boler, the formula for taking the next step is simple: limit turnovers and finish more drives with touchdowns.
Despite posting a one-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio last season, the recent John C. Smith commit still threw for more than 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 300 rushing yards and four rushing scores.
Those numbers came in an offense that leaned heavily on the ground game, featuring two 1,000-yard rushers, including 2,000-yard rusher and Middle Tennessee State commit Jayden Johnson.
Now entering his senior season, Boler welcomes another major weapon with the addition of former Arabia Mountain standout and ESPN’s No. 1-ranked tight end in the Class of 2028, Xévien Brinson.
Boler’s arm talent has never been questioned though. He can drive the football to every level of the field and possesses enough mobility to create explosive plays outside the pocket. If he protects the football more consistently, Stephenson has the pieces to make a deep postseason run.
2026 Prediction: 1,900 passing yards, 17 TDs, 7 INTs
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5. Brandon Davis II | So. | Martin Luther King Jr. | 5’11”, 160 lbs
The youngest player on this list, Brandon Davis II, arrives at Martin Luther King Jr. after transferring from Cedar Grove, where he earned All-County Honorable Mention honors as a freshman.
Last season, Davis threw for just under 1,000 yards and six touchdowns, showing maturity well beyond his years while leading one of the county’s premier programs.
Now surrounded by one of DeKalb County’s most talented rosters, Davis brings an exciting dual-threat skill set to the Lions’ offense. His greatest strength is his ability to process what defenses give him and quickly turn those opportunities into explosive plays—whether through the air or on the ground.
Despite standing just 5-foot-11, Davis shows impressive poise in the pocket and delivers the football with surprising velocity for a quarterback his age. Those traits, combined with his athleticism, make him one of the county’s brightest young stars heading into 2026.
2026 Prediction: 1,200 passing yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs
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Honorable Mention
Drayden Gibbs | Sr. | Lithonia | 6’1”, 180 lbs
The newest addition to DeKalb County, Drayden Gibbs transferred from McDonough this spring and has already generated plenty of buzz.
Before taking a snap for the Bulldogs, Gibbs showcased his athleticism by finishing as the Class 4A state runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles during track season while also posting a personal best 11.52 in the 100-meter dash.
For the Bethune-Cookman commit, he appears to have secured Lithonia’s starting quarterback job heading into the fall. While he has yet to establish himself on Friday nights in DeKalb, his combination of athleticism, accuracy, and overall upside makes him one of the county’s most intriguing quarterbacks entering the season.
If Gibbs can translate those physical tools into on-field production, don’t be surprised if he quickly becomes one of the county’s breakout players.
2026 Prediction: 1,400 passing yards, 15 TDs, 8 INTs
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Final Thoughts
DeKalb County once again boasts one of the deepest quarterback groups in Georgia entering the 2026 season. Veterans like Braylon Carter, Jace German, Czar Daniels, and Zabrian Boler bring proven production and leadership, while rising sophomore Brandon Davis II represents the future of the position. Add in the upside of newcomer Drayden Gibbs, and fans should expect another exciting year of quarterback play across the county
