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This position breakdown is the third in a series that will be featured over the summer as we prepare for the upcoming 2022 high school football season. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the top wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.
The difference between a good football team and a great football team is often the quarterback. From the peewee ranks to the highest levels of the NFL, a team that gets consistent, solid quarterback play wins more often than not.
For the 2022 Lowcountry High School season, two veteran quarterbacks will lead two of the best teams in the Lowcountry. Wins aren’t automatic, but rest assured that if Fort Dorchester and Goose Creek lose many games this season, it probably won’t be because of poor quarterback play.
The region’s top quarterback this season is fourth-year college artist Zolten Osborne, named The Post and Courier’s 2021 Offensive Player of the Year. Last season, Osborne passed for 3,512 yards, which is 38 total touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his pass attempts.
In first grade, Osborne was a lanky kid with a big arm. Hard work in the weight room pushed the 6-3 Osborne to around 210 pounds, and he also added some ability to run the football.
Osborne’s performance at summer camps boosted his recruiting. It started with offers from smaller schools like Wingate, Mercer and Benedict, but the offers are getting more and more impressive. Osborne recently landed offers from South Florida and Kent State.
Goose Creek senior Drew Moore also landed an offer from Mercer in the past two weeks and made a verbal commitment to the Bears last week. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Moore threw for over 2,500 yards last season and will be a third-year starter for head coach Jason Winstead.
Moore was getting a lot of interest from schools like Appalachian State, Furman, Wofford and Limestone, but Mercer started a serious push this spring.
“Honestly, Mercer came out of nowhere,” Moore said. “I didn’t think they were super high on me until the summer. I ended up going to camp and had a pretty good day. They (coaches) told me they really love me and about two weeks later I got a call. What I appreciated the most was that they were always honest with me throughout the process.
A popular third senior caller is Suderian Harrison of Woodland. Wolverine head coach Eddie Ford calls Harrison, “the best dual-threat quarterback in the state. Fingers in the nose. I will pit him against anyone.
Harrison, an exceptional student, is only 5-10 but has a cannon arm and is as athletic as any quarterback in the state. He could also become a catcher or a defensive back and be considered one of the best talents in baseball in the state.
Oceanside Collegiate senior Devon Yard (6-3, 205) transferred from Wando where he started most games last fall. Junior Ed Reidenbach should also get plenty of shots after a productive summer.
There are also a host of underclasses running offenses in the area.
James Island’s Braxton Scott is among the most athletic threats in the backfield as a junior. Scott is generally considered one of the top prospects of 2024 in the state. He threw for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Jalen Barry of Stratford, also a junior, is 6-3 with a big arm. Barry won the Class AAAAA state javelin championship in May. He surpassed 1,000 passing yards last season and will have even more chances in the passing game this fall.
Baptist Hill’s Harold Gathers (6-2, 220) threw for nearly 2,400 yards with 30 touchdowns as a sophomore. Timberland junior Kylen Brown will also be a third-year varsity starter this season.
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