Top returning QBs to watch in North Carolina this season

Football fans across North Carolina bid farewell to a strong cache of talented quarterbacks after the 2023 season. Consider:

* UNC’s Drake Maye earned the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft.

* Duke’s Riley Leonard joined Notre Dame via the transfer portal a few months after nearly beating the Irish in front of ESPN College GameDay.

* North Carolina Central’s Davius Richard began his pursuit of a professional career after repeating as MEAC offensive player of the year.

* Campbell’s Hajj-Malik Williams took his passing talents to the FBS ranks, signing with UNLV’s Runnin’ Rebels.

* Methodist’s Brandon Bullins exhausted his eligibility after setting school records and throwing for 10,000-plus career yards at the D3 level.

Yet, the cupboard isn’t as bare across the Old North State as you might think. There will be plenty of new names to get to know for sure. But four of last year’s top six passers from across the state — and eight of the top 16 in terms of passing yardage — will be back under center with their ’23 squads.

Here’s a look at 12 returning quarterbacks to keep an eye on:

1. Joey Aguilar | Appalachian State

The Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Cure Bowl MVP played in all 13 games a year ago, starting 12. He set a new school record for touchdown passes in a season (33) and finished with the most passing yards of any North Carolina QB at any level (3,757).

For sure, Power Four programs must have been trying to lure Aguilar out of Boone. But Aguilar chose to run it back with the Mountaineers again in 2024. Big things could be afoot — and through the air — at The Rock this fall.

“I’m a big believer that when you commit somewhere, you commit there for a reason,” Aguilar said earlier this year in a story published by 247Sports.  “What made me come here was the tradition of winning, the hard work, and the brotherhood.  I’ve been the underdog my whole life, so all I do is hard work. 

“I’ve been overlooked; not really having offers out of high school and then going (to junior college), wondering if I would get something.  Coming to App State and having a chance to perform was really a blessing. I really thank App State for believing in me and giving me an opportunity.”

—> READ MORE: Statewide Stats – 2023 passing leaders from across North Carolina

2. Cole Gonzales | Western Carolina | FCS

SoCon media voted Gonzales the conference offensive player of the year after a 2,803 yard, 28-touchdown season. Gonzales had the Catamounts on the doorstep of the FCS playoffs a year ago and his return should put WCU among the contenders again.

HERO Sports named Gonzales the No. 3 returning quarterback in all of FCS. He trailed only Cam Miller of North Dakota State and Mark Gronowski of South Dakota State in HERO Sports’ list of Top 25 FCS Returning Quarterbacks.

3. Matthew Downing | Elon | FCS

The transfer from Georgia, TCU and Louisiana Tech found his niche with the Phoenix in 2023. He averaged 294 passing yards over Elon’s last four games, keeping the Phoenix in the playoff chase. During that four-game span, Downing threw 12 touchdown passes against no interceptions. For the season, he finished with 1,915 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Downing played big against two of Elon’s biggest foes. He threw for 352 yards and three TDs against then-No. 5 Delaware and blitzed Richmond (a playoff team) to the tune of 281 yards and two more scores.

4. Brooks Bentley | Wingate | D2

The Bulldogs have made their mark on the defensive end in recent years, and last season was no exception. Bentley gave Wingate huge sparks on the offensive side of the ball, earning SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.

Bentley, who piloted the Bulldogs to an upset over previously unbeaten Lenoir-Rhyne (24-of-37, 335 yards, 4 TDs), finished with 1,834 passing yards, 141 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns.

5. Preston Brown | Catawba | D2

Overall, the state’s Division II quarterback room will be deep this season. Brown, from Charlotte (West Mecklenburg HS), proved one of the best in the South Atlantic Conference a year ago. He started red-hot and for a time led the state and much of the nation in total passing yardage.

Brown finished with 2,565 passing yards (sixth-best in the state) and 19 TDs a year ago. The College Football Network lists Brown as one of the top returning QBs at the D2 level.

6. Colin Johnson | UNC Pembroke | D2

The dual-threat standout from Sanford (Lee County HS) did not throw a pass in the Braves’ first two games but still finished with 1,885 yards and 18 touchdowns for the season. He crossed the 300-yard plateau in the finales against Glenville State and Concord, both lopsided triumphs.

Johnson proved a menace in the ground attack as well, finding the end zone 11 times with his legs and recording 760 rushing yards. He earned second-team All-Mountain East honors. UNCP should be a team to watch in North Carolina this season, though it plays in a conference (the Mountain East) with no other NC schools.

7. Ethan Beamish | Brevard | D3

North Carolina’s fourth-best passer from last season, in terms of total yardage, hailed from the Division III ranks. Beamish averaged nearly 270 yards per game and tossed 23 TD passes across 10 contests.

Beamish landed on the USA South’s second-team all-conference list. With the Tornados top ground-gainer also slated to return (Chancellor Lee-Parker), Brevard could find itself among the conference contenders again.

8. Grayson Loftis | Duke | FBS

One of the most intriguing returning quarterbacks in the state may not be the Blue Devils’ starter when the season opens in late August. Loftis was third on the depth chart a year ago but stepped to the forefront after Riley Leonard and backup Henry Belin IV both suffered injuries.

He performed admirably, keeping the Duke ship steady over the last six games. Loftis finished with 1,008 passing yards and eight touchdowns, including a 248-yard, 2 TD effort against Pitt in the regular season finale. Loftis also piloted the Devils to a bowl win over Troy shortly after coach Mike Elko left for Texas A&M.

Maalik Murphy, a highly touted transfer from Texas, is expected to win the starting role, but Loftis may push him through summer camp. (With Belin also back, the Duke quarterback room looks solid).

9. Coulter Cleland | Davidson | FCS

The Wildcats earn their living with a punishing ground game, averaging more than 300 rushing yards per contest in 2023. But the Davidson signal caller was sneaky good in his own right a year ago.

Cleland threw 17 touchdown passes in 2023 and finished 120-for-171 through the air (70.1 percent completion percentage). He also rushed for 364 yards — third-best on the team — keeping defenses honest when they teamed up to stop the ‘Cats dynamic rushing duo of Mari Adams and Mason Sheron.

10. Jalen Ferguson | Lenoir-Rhyne | D2

The Clemmons product (West Forsyth HS) completed more than 72 percent of his passes last season, including 17 TDs against only two interceptions. Injuries kept him from being 100 percent at times, especially during the playoffs. But Ferguson still finished with 1,537 passing yards. He’ll be one to watch as the Bears seek to defend their SAC title under a new coaching regime.

11. Walker Harris | North Carolina Central

The standout from Rolesville (Heritage HS) has been biding his time with the Eagles, serving as Richard’s back-up the past three seasons. He saw the field mostly as a holder.

Walker’s one start a year ago, though, with Richard injured, proved a head-turner. Walker lit up Mississippi Valley State in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis to the tune of 263 passing yards and five touchdowns. He also completed 12-of-18 passes in a spot role against UCLA the week earlier at the Rose Bowl.

Richard will be tough to replace under center, but Walker knows the NCCU system and culture, and has shown promise when given his chances.

12. Daylin Lee | Winston-Salem State | D2

Coach Robert Massey called Lee the “face of the franchise” heading into 2024. Lee started 10 games as a freshman (1,845 yards, 18 touchdowns) and earned second-team all-CIAA in his debut. He also was named the CIAA’s Male Scholar Athlete of the Year earlier this month.

2023 Statewide Passing Leaders