Top committed quarterbacks early in the 2027 cycle

The 2027 college football recruiting cycle is only beginning to take shape, yet the quarterback market is moving faster than ever. With National Signing Day still ten months away, half of the nation’s top-ten signal-callers—and 12 of the top 20—have already verbally pledged, according to Rivals industry data. A wave of junior-day visits last month accelerated decisions, and programs are now locking up the faces they hope will define their offenses for the next half-decade.

Texas Tech struck first among the headliners, securing Westwood (Texas) standout Kavian Bryant. Ranked No. 28 nationally and second among quarterbacks, Bryant was sold on the Red Raiders’ vision of making Lubbock “a home away from home.” His father, Kadrian Bryant, told Rivals that offensive coordinator Zach Kittley has consistently positioned Bryant as the heir apparent to Cam Ward, the prolific passer Kittley once developed at Incarnate Word. “He’s constantly telling him how he can come in and basically be the face of the program,” the elder Bryant said.

Nebraska nabbed Carmel Catholic (Ill.) four-star Danny Taylor moments later. Taylor, No. 54 overall and the fourth-best quarterback in the cycle, cited authenticity as the deciding factor. “From the head coach to the recruiting analysts to the professors, that’s the type of people I want to put myself around,” he told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.

Lowndes (Ga.) quarterback Jaden Johnson kept the momentum in the SEC, committing to Texas A&M. Johnson told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that College Station’s rural atmosphere mirrors his hometown of Valdosta, while the Aggies’ emphasis on spirituality and discipline resonated with his family. “A&M is where my heart is,” he said, though he plans to maintain relationships and entertain visits.

Michigan’s reputation for developing pro-style passers lured Tabor Academy (Mass.) standout Brady Bourque. Ranked No. 91 nationally, Bourque studied the trajectories of JJ McCarthy and Drake Maye under position coach Kirk Campbell and sees Ann Arbor as the ideal stage for chasing championships. “To play at a program with expectations like that is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he explained.

LSU retained its grip on Evangel Christian Academy (La.) star Eli Holstein, who ranks No. 100 overall. Despite a coaching overhaul that brought Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge, Holstein stayed pledged after tossing for 4,480 yards and 45 touchdowns as a sophomore, including an NFHS-record 817 yards in a single game.

Ohio State’s pipeline to Huntington Beach (Calif.) continued with four-star Jayden Edmunds, the No. 112 prospect. Edmunds, who models his recruitment after Buckeye commit Tavien St. Clair, cited family ties to Ohio and the chance to work with head coach Ryan Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. “They have the best receiving corps in the nation,” he said. “It’s a quarterback’s dream.”

Illinois flipped Utah product Niko Lopati from a crowded Pac-12 board, impressing the No. 143 overall player with a full-court family press. “They were recruiting my whole family,” Lopati told Rivals. “That means a lot to me.”

Georgia rounded out the national top-200 pledges by landing Gainesville (Ga.) quarterback Jelani Hughley (No. 176). Hughley called the Bulldogs’ locker-room culture “a family” and values the chance to join a former teammate in Athens.

Alabama kept one of its own in Thompson (Ala.) left-hander Jackson Walker, the No. 191 prospect, who praised the Tide’s quick-strike offense as tailor-made for his processing speed and accuracy.

Baylor School (Tenn.) quarterback Holden Croucher (No. 203) rounded out the featured commits by choosing Ole Miss, gushing about the Rebels’ hospitality and up-tempo scheme after his first visit to Oxford.

Beyond the top 16, the early-commit trend continues: Malachi Ziegler is headed to SMU, Weston Nielsen to Arizona State, Luke Babin to Vanderbilt, Jack Sorgi to Louisville, Jameson Purcell to Indiana, Lonnie Andrews III to Virginia, Braylen Warren to Missouri, Logan Flaherty to UCF, DJ Hunter to Kentucky, and James Perrone to South Florida.

With ten months until signatures are official, some pledges will waver and new names will surge, but the 2027 quarterback board already hints at which programs have secured the building blocks of future title runs.