Who are the top 10 quarterbacks returning for the 2026 season in South Jersey?
Here's our list:
We've ranked the top 10 returning quarterbacks. Now, it's your chance to vote for your choice with the poll at the end of the story.
Quarterbacks to Watch in '26
10. Cole Anderson, Shawnee. A three-year starter under center, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Anderson has thrived running the football as he has compiled over 2,100 yards and 29 TDs on the ground, including his first 1,000-yard season last fall. He’s completed 75-of-166 passes for 860 yards and six touchdowns in his career.
9. Mason Shansey, Burlington City. The senior is coming off a banner season in which he threw for 1,665 yards with 18 touchdowns, helping lead the Blue Devils to the program’s first sectional title in 46 years. He recorded six games with multi-touchdown throws.
8. Brent Walulak, Northern Burlington. A Marist University commit for baseball, Walulak is coming off a season in which he helped the Greyhounds reach the South Jersey Group 4 semifinal round. Walulak threw for 1,411 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores.
7. Gregory Wyche Jr., Camden. Thrown into the fire as a freshman starter, Wyche made the most of the opportunity, throwing for 719 yards and seven touchdowns, including five in his first three starts.
6. Bryce Carter, Burlington Township. A broken collarbone was the only thing to slow this Falcon down last season. He threw for 524 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception in five games. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior appears to be in position for a huge season.
5. Marvin Burroughs, Atlantic City. Coming off a sensational sophomore season, Burroughs threw for 2,679 yards and 30 touchdowns last fall. The passing yardage was the second highest in South Jersey and fourth in the state. He was a big reason why Atlantic City hit the double-digit mark in wins and advanced to the sectional final.
4. Charlie Foulke IV, Glassboro. After winning the prestigious Michael Payton Memorial Quarterback Award and Class 6A Player of the Year as he led St. Joseph Prep to a PIAA state championship in 2025, “C4” will be QB1 for the two-time defending state champion Bulldogs following his transfer. He threw for over 2,400 yards and 34 touchdowns as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Foulke is a Syracuse commit. He will have to sit out the first three games of the season due to NJSIAA transfer rules and is also facing legal action following an altercation following an April 12 incident in Philadelphia.
3, Robert O’Connor, Millville. The Thunderbolts’ sky general, O’Connor has produced back-to-back 2,300-passing yards seasons that included a combined 49 touchdowns and 14 interceptions over the stretch. With a full fleet of speedy receivers, O’Connor appears to be in position to soar even higher this season.
2, Anthony Tirico, Seneca. One of the most consistent and productive dual-threat quarterbacks in South Jersey, Tirico has thrown for over 1,600 yards in each of his first three seasons and rushed for 1,560 yards last fall. The senior has posted 5,354 passing yards and rushed for 2,792 yards. He has 83 total touchdowns which includes 48 scoring throws, a TD reception and a pick-6 on defense. Tirico, who is a Marist commit, has 8,154 yards of total offense and puts him on pace to challenge the South Jersey (10,197) and state record (10,737) set by Timber Creek's Devin Leary in 2017 and Old Tappan's Devin Fuller in 2011, respectively.
1, Jalen Parker, Washington Township. The Garden State’s all-time career touchdown pass leader has a new home in Gloucester County. Parker threw for 107 TDs during his three-year career at Winslow Township where he helped the Eagles capture consecutive state titles over the last two seasons. The senior enters the season with 7.723 career passing yards, putting him on pace to challenge the state record of 9.672, set by Timber Creek’s Devin Leary in 2017. Parker will miss the first few weeks of the season due to NJSIAA transfer rules.
Others to watch: Kenneth Bartee, Schalick, junior; Eric Beach, Bishop Eustace, junior; Semaj Dozier, Pleasantville, senior; Shane Reilly, Holy Cross Prep, senior; Josh Greenberg, Cherry Hill East, senior; Naeem Dale, Eastside, senior; Desmond Thomas, Salem, senior; Anthony Salamone, Eastern, senior; Kellen Pierce, Lenape, senior.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 40 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey's Quarterbacks to Watch for 2026 season