Preseason Top 10 Houston-area quarterbacks

It's time for football!

MaxPreps is ready to kick off its preseason coverage with this week's look at the best quarterbacks in the Houston area. Three Division I commits highlight the list, and it's also an honest look at the best individual quarterbacks, regardless of their team's records from last season.

Houston ranks No. 7 on our list of the best metro areas for high school football.

1. Darrell Colbert, Lamar (Houston)
Colbert, an SMU commit, led the Redskins to the Class 5A Division I state title game last season, and he'll begin the 2013 season with high expectations on his shoulders. With Lamar gunning towards another shot at a Texas state championship, Colbert will be able to handle the pressure well. He has an extremely high football IQ and will have the support of running back Ronnie Wesley to hand the ball off to when needed. Colbert threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2012, and he also ran for an additional 600 yards. Expect him to find wide receiver Shelby Walker (SMU) often in 2013. Both he and Walker will look to play their final game as Redskins in Arlington before beginning their collegiate careers down the road in Dallas.

2. Aaron Sharp, Summer Creek (Houston)
A two-time District 19-4A MVP, Sharp exhibits pinpoint accuracy while throwing to a number of talented receivers for the Bulldogs. The Kansas State commit is a leader by example and displays a quiet confidence, has great knowledge of how to play the game and rarely gets rattled on the field. After losing to the eventual 4A state champion Georgetown in the regional semifinals last year, look for Sharp and company to be on a direct march towards Arlington in 2013.

3. Zach Cripps, Clear Springs (League City)
Cripps accounted for a ridiculous 3,100 yards and 33 touchdowns a year ago. Under new head coach Frank Maldonado, Cripps and his powerful arm will be back for his third campaign under center as a senior, with even more experience and timing. In the Chargers' high-powered offense, Cripps can both throw and run the ball effectively and has a host of weapons to choose from.

4. Jarrett Hildreth, Clear Creek (League City)
Coming off a junior campaign that saw him produce nearly 2,900 yards in the air and 22 scores, Hildreth has spent the offseason working on his ground game in order to become more of a threat to extend plays. That could be a problem for teams in District 24-5A, as Hildreth has a variety of offensive playmakers at his disposal.

5. Cole Martin, Cypress Ranch (Houston)
Martin threw for more than 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns last year as he helped lead the surprising Mustangs to the Region III-5A final, where they lost to Katy. District 17-5A is always loaded with offensive talent within the Cy-Fair ISD, and Martin may be the best quarterback amongst them. He won't have running back Keith Ford (Oklahoma) to hand the ball off to anymore, but Martin has the skill to help Cy Ranch build on what it accomplished in 2012.

6. James Davis, South Houston
Davis posted big numbers in 2012 as a junior (2,800 yards and 24 touchdowns passing; 650 yards and six touchdowns running) to lead the Trojans offense in both categories as a dual threat QB for a team that went 2-8. As a senior, expect Davis to continue shining his athleticism as South Houston battles for a playoff position out of District 22-5A and against perennial powers Pearland and Manvel. Davis will be a standout playmaker and a player to watch all season.

7. Darius Lee-Campbell, Spring
One could argue that Lee-Campbell is the top run-threat quarterback in the Houston area after he scampered for more than 1,400 yards and averaged nine yards per carry in 2012. He scored 16 touchdowns on the ground by himself and then passed for six more for a team that only won three games. But opponents will be able to game-plan for Lee-Campbell to take off running under pressure this year if he doesn't improve his passing game.

8. Clay Holgorsen, Katy Taylor
The nephew of West Virginia head coach Dana Holgersen, Clay was the District 19-5A Co-Newcomer of the Year despite being on a team that is in the midst of rebuilding and went 1-9. Now a senior, Holgersen (1,950 yards, 20 touchdowns) has already committed to Memphis and will be the bright spot on a squad that will be battling just for a chance at a playoff berth. The Mustangs have an outside shot at one with Holgersen – a pocket passer – guiding the offense.

9. Kiley Huddleston, Katy
When you're the returning starting quarterback for the 5A state champions and you play for the perennial powerhouse Katy Tigers, it automatically qualifies you to be one of the top signal callers in the city. The senior will look to make it two titles in a row and continue the Tiger way by protecting the football and handing it off to his assortment of talented backs. Huddleston threw for nearly 1,600 yards last year with 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

10. Ronald Monroe, Fort Bend Bush (Richmond)
Monroe and his twin brother, wide receiver Donald Monroe, combine with receiver Kasey Poole to form one of the more dangerous passing games in all of Houston. Ronald tossed for more than 1,800 yards in 2012 and led the Broncos to the area round of the playoffs and a school-record 10 wins. Monroe – now a senior – is a veteran of coach Allen Aldridge's program and has a solid grasp of the Bronco offense.

David Fanucchi is a sports reporter for Houston Community Newspapers. He can be reached on Twitter at @miracleongrass