Michigan's Top 10 Quarterbacks for the Class of 2019

The state of Michigan historically has produced some of the nation's top quarterback prospects throughout the years. Last season, for example, eight quarterbacks from the Great Lakes State signed with Division I college football programs. This year, that total could be even higher, with a plethora of high-level D-I signal-callers suiting up for teams all over Michigan. This season is somewhat unique in that there are multiple QBs 6-foot-1 or under who are truly some of the top players at their position in the Midwest. Also, the pass-catch combos of D-I level QBs and WRs on the same team is off the charts this season throughout the Great Lakes State. Here are the state of Michigan's top 10 quarterback prospects for the class of 2019 --

Michigan's Top 10 Quarterback Prospects for the Class of 2019 (all are D-I recruits) -- 

1. Dwan Mathis-6-5, 205-Oak Park-One of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the nation, Mathis has the lean body and long strides to be a Vince Young-type QB at the next level. Will team with junior blue-chip WR Maliq Carr (6-6, 205, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Syracuse offers) to form one of the Midwest's best passing combos. Verbal to Ohio State
2. Sam Johnson-6-4, 195-Walled Lake Western-Draws some comparisons to Drew Henson (Brighton, U-M, NFL and MLB) with arm strength, threw for 2,115 yards and 23 touchdowns with five interceptions last season. Will combine with junior WR Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (6-2, 185, Maryland, Purdue, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota offers) to form an explosive pass-catch duo this upcoming season. Verbal to Boston College
3. Brian Elder-6-6, 225-Bay City Central- One of those kids I don't understand why he isn't getting more national, let alone, state publicity. Already Big Ten size, Elder has a powerful and accurate arm, good mobility and strong leadership skills. Will be a three-year starter. Broke school passing record, which stood for 60 years, last year throwing for over 1,700 yards. Will team with one of the nation's top junior wide receivers in Devell Washington (6-4, 200, Michigan, Ohio State offers) to form high-octane pass-catch twosome. Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, etc. where are you on this kid?
4. Austin Brown-6-0, 190-Madison Heights Madison-I seriously don't understand recruiting in this state sometimes. Austin Brown arguably is the best three-sport athlete in the state of Michigan. Brown is one of those natural, once-in-a-lifetime athletes that, despite his size and stature, consistently exceeds all expectations. Named the AP Division 7-8 Player of the Year last season as a junior, Brown threw for 3,062 yards and 40 TDs. On the basketball court, the point guard was named All-State as a junior. On the diamond, Brown is one of the Midwest's top recruits, throwing 88 miles per hour from the hill and is a power switch-hitting shortstop. He'll be a four-year starter at the high school level, playing two years at national powerhouse program Detroit Catholic Central as a freshman and sophomore. Last year, Brown led Madison to a 12-1 overall record and a spot in the Division 7 state semifinals. Also a classroom standout, Brown has a 4.0 grade point average. Akron, Miami (OH), Cornell, Dartmouth, Colgate offers. Like Brian Elder, where are you Big Ten on Brown? West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa State, etc., get on this kid.
5. Dequan Finn-6-2, 200-Detroit King-All one needs to know about Finn is that he will be a four-year starter at King. One of the top programs in the Midwest, anyone who can start for four years for the Crusaders, especially at the QB spot, is a bonafide big-time prospect. Finn can do it all from under center. Last season, Finn was 93-of-174 passing for 1,252 yards and 15 TDs, while rushing for 764 yards and six scores leading King to the Division 2 state semifinals. As a sophomore, Finn led the Crusaders to a D-2 state championship. Will combine with junior star WR Rashawn Williams (6-1, 190, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Pitt, Purdue, Kansas State, Indiana, Maryland offers) to form exciting passing duo.Verbal to CMU
6. Tommy Schuster-6-1, 185-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley-Just a gamer. Schuster, who runs a 4.6 40, plays some of the best high school football competition in the state of Michigan and will be a three-year starter for Chippewa Valley. Last season, Schuster, who was named to the Division 1 All-State squad, was 110-of-176 passing for 1,925 yards and 26 TDs with three interceptions as a junior. On the ground, he rushed for four TDs. He has a career completion rate of 63 percent. Last year, Schuster led the Big Reds to the Division 1 state quarterfinals. Like many QBs on this list, Schuster has a standout WR to throw the ball to in senior David Ellis (6-0, 190, verbal to CMU).
7. Drew Humm-6-3, 185-Alma-Will be a three-year starter for the Panthers. Last season, Humm passed for over 1,300 yards and 14 TDs, leading Alma to an 8-3 overall record. Humm is also a talented and hard-hitting FS for the Panthers.
8. Eric Wenzel-6-1, 190-Kalamazoo United-I love this kid. Super productive on the field, can hurt opponents with his arm or with his scrambling ability. Last season, Wenzel was 243-of-387 passing for 3,101 yards and 35 TDs with 10 interceptions. On the ground he rushed for three TDs. Runs a 4.7 40. Last year, Wenzel was named the Kalamazoo Gazette Player of the Year. Teams with All-State senior WR Heath Baldwin (6-4, 195, No. 10-ranked receiver in Michigan's class of 2019) to form highlight reel-like pass-catch combo.
9. Blake Gatfield-6-2, 190-DeWitt-The Lansing area's top returning signal-caller, Gatfield helped lead DeWitt to a 10-2 overall record last season reaching the Division 3 state quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Muskegon. The left-handed throwing Gatfield is a strong pocket-passer, tossing a Lansing area best 25 TDs last year. Behind Gatfield, the Panthers averaged 38 points per game last season.
10. Tobin Schwannecke-6-3, 180-Traverse City Central-Another big-time athlete playing quarterback. Schwannecke is a D-I level recruit in both football and basketball. A true dual-threat QB, last season Schwannecke passed for 2,000 yards and 21 TDs, while rushing for 1,000 yards and 14 scores, accumulating 3,000 total yards of offense and 35 TDs for Central. In hoops, Schwannecke has played at the varsity level since he was a freshman and is one of the top point guard prospects in the state of Michigan. Schwannecke runs a 4.6 40, bench presses 235 pounds and squats 405 pounds. He'll team with senior TE Jack Sherwin (6-4, 230, verbal to WMU) to form a hard-to-stop passing duo this upcoming year. Big Ten, MAC, take a look at this guy.

Other top quarterbacks for the class of 2019 (all are D-I prospects)- Isaac VanDyke-6-2, 200-Holland West Ottawa (threw for 2,400 yards and 34 TDs last season, while rushing for 550 yards, named to the Holland Sentinel All-Area first team), Will Jontz-6-3, 200-Brighton, Alex Fries-6-3, 180-Saginaw Swan Valley, George Walterhouse-6-3, 205-Linden (165-of-259 passing for 2,905 yards, 25 TDs, 11 ints., 571 rush yards, nine TDs), Emanuel Ferguson-6-2, 185-River Rouge (Division 3-4 All-State as junior, passed for 1,500 yards, rushed for 700 yards last season, verbal to Air Force), Hunter James-6-0, 180-Kingston (Selected to the AP 8-Man All-State first team as junior, throwing for 21 TDs, with only two interceptions, while rushing for 777 yards on 86 carries with 12 TDs), Jackson Ostrowsky-6-0, 200-Mount Pleasant (was 91-of-162 passing for 1,942 yards and 21 TDs last year, named AP Division 3-4 All-State), Jay Solano-6-2, 185-Trenton (passed for 2,000 yards and 18 TDs last season as junior), Tyler Helgeson-6-3, 190-Portage Northern, Luke Majick-6-0, 185-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (passed for 1,787 yards and 21 TDs, rushed for 840 yards and 15 TDs last season), Mason Vieau-6-4, 215-Pinconning, Khol Partridge-6-2, 185-Brooklyn Columbia Central (was 113-of-204 passing for 1,303 yards, 12 TDs with four interceptions, rushed for 517 yards and 10 TDs, named to Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team as junior, also earned Citizen-Patriot Dream Team honors for baseball), Drew Alsobrooks-6-1, 180-Livonia Churchill (also one of state's top placekickers), Wilson Wirebaugh-6-2, 210-Holland Christian, Chase Brown-6-0, 200-Comstock Park (passed for 2,800 yards last season), Sam Spaulding-6-4, 195-Berrien Springs (one of Michigan's best all-around, pure athletes, star hoops player for Shamrocks and state champion high jumper who's cleared 6-foot-9 in the event, could switch to WR, SS or LB at next level).

PHOTO -- Madison Heights Madison's Austin Brown (6-0, 190, No. 4-ranked QB in Michigan's class of 2019) is arguably the top three-sport athlete in the state of Michigan this upcoming year. The reigning AP Division 7-8 Player of the Year in football, Brown passed for 3,062 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior. On the basketball court, as a high-scoring point guard with the hops to dunk, he was named All-State, while on the baseball diamond, he's one of the top prospects in the Midwest as a switch-hitting shortstop and pitcher with an 88-mile-per-hour fastball.