Josh Allen had no FBS offers coming out of high school at
Firebaugh (Calif.) despite throwing for more than 5,000 yards at the Central Valley school.
The three-sport athlete from the town of 8,000 near Fresno played at Reedley Junior College before landing at the University of Wyoming and being drafted seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
A front-runner for MVP honors this season, Allen has set NFL records in each of the past two weeks. In a 44-42 loss to the Rams, he became the first player in NFL history to rush and throw for three touchdowns. That feat happened one week after becoming the first quarterback to record a throwing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a game.
Many of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks prepped at large high schools or private schools. Allen is among a strong group of small-town talent that show it's not where you played but how much game you have.
The list of the greatest small town quarterbacks includes players who competed in schools with fewer than 1,000 students in towns with a population of less than 10,000. Some schools on the list no longer qualify as small schools but did when the quarterback played there.
Top 10 small town quarterbacks
1. Troy Aikman, Henryetta (Okla.)
Small town: Following eighth grade, Aikman moved from Cerritos (Calif.) to the small town of Henryetta (Okla.), which had a population of about 6,000 when he moved there in 1980. A three-sport athlete, Aikman was an all-state quarterback by the Tulsa World as a senior and was also one of the state's top basketball players and earned all-state honors in baseball.
Big time: The No. 1 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Aikman led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006.
2. Norm Van Brocklin, Acalanes (Lafayette, Calif.)
Small town: Lafayette is a city in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area and it has a population of about 25,000. But back when Norm Van Brocklin was a star at Acalanes High School, the unincorporated town had only a few thousand people. A three-sport star in high school as a sophomore and a junior in 1943 and 1944, Van Brocklin left school his senior year to serve in the armed forces during World War II
Big time: Van Brocklin played nine seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, setting a single-game passing yardage record of 554 yards in 1951 that still stands today. The Rams won the NFL championship in 1951 and Van Brocklin later led the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFL title against Green Bay in 1960. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971.
3. George Blanda, Youngwood (Pa.) – closed in 1983
Small town: Youngwood was a Class B school when Blanda played there in 1944. One of the top players in the state, Blanda was recognized for his ability to pass, run and kick the ball while also being a rugged tackler on defense. He was named honorable mention All-WPIAL Class B.
Big time: Blanda set the NFL record for longevity, playing 26 years in the NFL and finishing his career as the league's all-time scorer with 2,002 points. He also earned All-Pro honors in the AFL while setting multiple league passing records. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1981.
4. Steve McNair, Mount Olive (Miss.)
Small town: Twice an All-State pick by the Mississippi Sports Writers Association, but as a defensive back, not a quarterback. He threw for 3,700 yards over his junior and senior year, but he also set a state record for interceptions on defense with 30.
Big time: After a record-breaking career at Alcorn State, McNair joined the Houston Oilers, later the Tennessee Titans, and led them to a Super Bowl. He was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2003.
5. Tony Romo, Burlington (Wis.)
Small town: Spent part of his childhood in the San Diego area but moved to Burlington by the time he was in high school. He actually earned more honors in basketball, where he was the school's all-time leading scorer, than in football, where he was all-conference.
Big time: Romo had a spectacular career at Eastern Illinois, earning the Walter Payton Player of the Year award. In 13 seasons in Dallas, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
6. Archie Manning, Drew Hunter (Drew, Miss.)
Small town: Manning was a three-sport start in high school, earning all-conference honors in football and basketball and getting drafted by the Major Leagues in baseball. He was known more for using his legs as a quarterback in high school, rushing for 16 touchdowns and only throwing for a few during his senior year.
Big time: Manning twice finished in the top four in the Heisman Trophy voting and was selected No. 2 overall in the 1971 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, but is, perhaps, known better now as the son of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.
7. Josh Allen, Firebaugh (Calif.)
Small town: Not highly recruited in high school, Allen nonetheless threw for 5,269 yards in two seasons before heading to Wyoming.
Big time: Allen came into his own at Wyoming and was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Buffalo Bills. He's made the Pro Bowl twice and is a leading candidate to earn NFL MVP honors for the 2024 season.
8. Babe Parilli, Rochester (Pa.)
Small town: Although Rochester played in the Class AA in the 1940s in Pennsylvania, the town itself still had only about 7,000 people. Parilli earned Class 2A honorable mention All-State after leading Rochester to an 8-0-1 record.
Big time: Parilli was a star in the AFL during his 18-year career, earning three Pro Bowl selections while with the Boston Patriots. When he retired in 1969, he was the No. 8 in career passing yardage on the combined NFL-AFL leaderboard.
9. Jay Cutler, Heritage Hills (Lincoln City, Ind.)
Small town: Earned Class 3A All-State honors after leading his team to a 15-0 record and a state championship. He passed for 2,252 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Big time: A 12-year veteran, Cutler made one Pro Bowl and threw for 35,133 yards in his career.
10. Lynn Dickey, Osawatomie (Kan.)
Small town: An All-State selection in Kansas in 1966 (along with John Riggins), Dickey threw for 2,114 yards as a senior and 4,022 in his career.
Big time: His career passing yardage record at Kansas (6,208 yards) lasted for nearly 40 years. Mainly a backup in the NFL, Dickey started for the Packers in 1983 and led the NFL in passing yardage and touchdown passes.
