As we hear at times that the Florida Panhandle is forgotten about, but here at FloridaHSFootball.com we try to cover all areas equally to the best of our abilities. As we start to roll out our Top 10 lists from each region for the 2023 season sprinkled with dozens and dozens of talented athletes as we look to see who were the Top 10 by position that will include the following positions: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Offensive Lineman, Defensive Lineman, Linebackers, Defensive Backs and Kickers/Punters.
To determine the ranking, statistics, team strength of schedule from the 2023 season, and touchdown-to-interception ratio were among the factors considered for the ranking. Just because a quarterback threw for the highest number of yards or led in a statistical category does not mean he should be the highest-rated quarterback. Also prospect or recruiting rankings do not have a factor in determining who the best quarterback was for our lists.
Here is our ranking of the Top 10 quarterbacks from the Panhandle for the 2023 season:
QB Jesse Winslette, Choctawatchee (FOrt Walton Beach) [Photo Credit: @JesseWinslette7/X]Winslette had over 1,900 yards passing with 25 touchdowns against 3 interceptions giving him an 8 to 1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions on the season. He also added 163 yards rushing and four more touchdowns on his way to a 115.8 quarterback rating. Winslette led the Indians to the regional finals before falling to eventual Class 3S runner-up St. Augustine.
2. Haden Klees, Wakulla (Crawfordville), Sr.
QB Haden Kleens, Wakulla (Crawfordville) [Photo Credit: @HadenKlees/X]Probably the most impressive quarterback in the Panhandle in 2023 when it came to the stat line, Klees threw for an impressive 3,575 yards with 50 touchdowns against just three interceptions. As such, Klees had one of the highest touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratios of any quarterback in Florida in the 2023 season with a 16.7 to 1 ratio. Klees finished his senior season with a 130.0 quarterback rating.
3. Jeremy Johnston, Florida High (Tallahassee), Sr.
QB Jeremy Johnston, Florida High (Tallahassee) [Photo Credit: @JeremyWJJ12/X]Florida High has been one of the most consistent programs in the Panhandle and Johnston has been a part of that over the last few seasons. This season, to complete his career with the Seminoles, he threw for 2,631 yards with 30 touchdowns against eight interceptions. As such Johnston had a 3.75 touchdown to interception ratio. Johnston also completed 68% of his passes, one of the highest marks by any quarterback in the Panhandle and all of Florida.
4. Kane Lafortune, Niceville, Jr.
QB Kane Lafortune, Niceville [Photo Credit: @kane_lafortune/X]Lafortune might not have had the most impressive statistical resume but throwing 1,538 yards is still solid given the fact he threw 17 touchdowns against six interceptions. That gave Lafortune a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 2.83 to 1. Also to his credit, Lafortune rushed for 232 yards and a touchdown helping the Eagles to the regional semifinals in 2023.
5. Anthony Hall, Escambia (Pensacola), Sr.
QB Anthony Hall, Escambia (Pensacola) [Photo Credit: @A6Hall05/X]Throwing for 2,887 yards and 23 touchdowns, Hall helped guide the Gators to a playoff berth. Throwing only five interceptions, Hall had a 4.6 to 1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions on the season.
6. Sammy Freitas, Mosley (Lynn Haven), Jr.
QB Sammy Freita, Mosley (Lynn Haven) [Photo Credit: @sammyfreitas06/X]Here is another junior quarterback that will have a lot of eyes on him in 2024, but for the 2023 season he threw for almost 2,000 yards with 1,954 yards to be exact, throwing 22 touchdowns against eight interceptions in the process. Freitas had a 2.75 to 1 ratio this season between touchdowns and interceptions, as the Dolphins won a district championship and earned a playoff berth.
7. Christian Sims, Lincoln (Tallahassee), Jr.
QB Christian Sims, Lincoln (Tallahassee) [Photo Credit: @SimsChristian15/X]While Sims might have struggled with his touchdown-to-interception ratio, the thing to keep in mind is that Sims played some tough quality competition in the process throwing for 1,508 yards and throwing 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions. That gave him a 1.22 to 1 ratio when compared to touchdowns to interceptions thrown. However, Sims also made up for some of the mistakes in the air through his legs with 419 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
8. Battle Alberson, Gulf Breeze, Sr.
QB Battle Alberson, Gulf Breeze [Photo Credit: @BattleAlberson3/X]Alberson led the Dolphins to a winning record and just outside of the playoffs in Class 4S due to a chaotic Region I. However, of all the quarterbacks from Tallahassee to Pensacola, Alberson was second in stats with 3,142 yards passing and 30 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. As such, Alberson had a 2.72 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio while completing just over 60% of his passes for his senior year.
9. John Nicholas, West Florida (Pensacola), Sr.
QB John Nicholas, West Florida (Pensacola) [Photo Credit: @JohnJohn_N_9/X]Throwing for 2,024 yards is a pretty good season, especially when the stats were acquired in just nine games. Nicholas threw for 26 touchdowns against six interceptions giving him a 4.3 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio for the 2023 season. Also, to Nicholas’ credit, he had 233 yards rushing and four touchdowns for his stat line.
10. Wells Bettenhausen, Walton (DeFuniak Springs), Jr.
QB Wells Bettenhausen, Walton (DeFuniak Springs) [Photo Credit: @Wells_bett1/X]Completing 66% of his passes in a season that saw the Braves go undefeated in the regular season, Bettenhausen threw for 2,658 yards along with 30 touchdowns against seven interceptions. As such, Bettenhausen had a 4.3 to 1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions for the 2023 season. And not to forget, Bettenhausen also had five rushing touchdowns to add to his stats.
Honorable Mention: Nick Simmons, Pace, Jr.; Tremaine Hughes, St. John Paul II (Tallahassee), Jr.; JP Pickles, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee), Sr.; Peyton Gay, Bozeman (Panama City), Sr.; George Grant, Maclay (Tallahassee), Jr.
![Choctawhatchee Quarterback Jesse Winslette was one of the top quarterbacks in the Panhandle region for the 2023 season, helping the Indians reach a second consecutive regional final appearance. [Photo Credit: @JesseWinslette7/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Top-10-Panhandle-Quarterbacks-of-2023-Landscape-Panel.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Jalen Wiggins, Rickards (Tallahassee) who just recently committed to the Florida Gators was among some of the best defensive linemen performers form the Panhandle in 2023. [Photo Credit: Hudl]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Top-10-Panhandle-Defenisve-Linemen-of-2023-Landscape-Panel.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Stanford commit Cole Tabb from Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) has been one of the top running backs in the Panhandle the last couple of years. [Photo Credit: @ColeTabb/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Top-10-Panhandle-Running-Backs-of-2023-Landscape-Panel.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
