QUARTERBACK
Returning players
NONE
2025 players not returning
Bryson Barnes (Graduation; SIGNED CFL Ottawa Redblacks)
Jacob Conover (Graduation)
Kaden Cox (Retired from football)
CJ Tiller (Transferred to Utah Tech University)
2026 post-spring ball attrition
NONE
2025 total production lost
19 games
13 starts
235 completions
395 attempts
Completion percentage 59.5%
3,126 yards
22 touchdowns
5 interceptions
198 carries
777 yards
10 touchdowns.
2025 total production returning
NONE
2025 total production transferring in (transfer portal/junior college)
4 games
0 starts
4 completions
5 attempts
Completion percentage 80.0%
33 yards
0 touchdowns
0 interceptions
5 carries
28 yards
New Faces in 2026:
Grady Brosterhous 6’3″ 220 (3*) – University of Virginia – (2 years to play 2)
2025 (Jr.) Stats: Did not see any action
2024 (So.) Stats: 10 carries 14 yards 4 TDs
2023 (RsFr.) Stats: 1 completion 1 attempt (100%) 21 yards; 4 carries 7 yards
2022 (Fr.) Stats: Redshirted at University of Virginia
Offers from: UNKNOWN
Original offers from: Virginia (PWO)
Primary recruiter: Matt Johns
https://www.hudl.com/profile/11159882/Grady-Brosterhous
Crew Cacciacarne 6’1″ 185 (NR) – Weber HS, UT – (Greyshirt; Preferred Walk-on)
2024 (Sr.) Stats: 131 completions, 221 attempts, 1,921 yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs
2023 (Jr.) Stats: 166 completions, 243 attempts, 2,281 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs
2022 (So.) Stats: 8 completions, 23 attempts, 100 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Offers from: Weber St (PWO)
Primary recruiter: Skyler Ridley, Matt Johns
https://www.hudl.com/profile/15908017/Crew-Cacciacarne
Brady Goodman 6’4″ 215 (3*) – Mountain View HS, AZ
2025 (Sr.) Stats: 185 completions, 299 attempts, 2,256 yards, 28 TDs, 9 INTs; 135 carries, 463 yards, 11 TDs
2024 (Jr.) Stats: 202 completions, 314 attempts, 3,087 yards, 43 TDs, 4 INTs; 79 carries, 435 yards, 4 TDs
2023 (So.) Stats: 35 completions, 59 attempts, 490 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
2022 (Fr.) Stats: 27 completions, 50 attempts, 330 yards, 2 TDs; 5 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
Offers from: North Texas, Northern Arizona, Wyoming
Primary recruiter: Matt Johns
https://www.hudl.com/profile/18079747/Brady-Goodman
McCae Hillstead 5’10” 195 (3*) – byu – (2 years to play 2)
2025 (RsSo.) Stats: 4 completions, 5 attempts (80.0%), 33 yards; 5 carries, 28 yards
2024 (So.) Stats: Redshirted at byu
2023 (Fr.) Stats: 94 completions, 158 attempts (59.5%), 1,062 yards, 11 TDs, 8 INTs; 44 carries, 36 yards
Offers from: UNKNOWN
Original offers from: Florida International, Utah St, Washington St
Primary recruiter: Matt Johns
https://www.hudl.com/profile/14580197/McCae-Hillstead
Kaleb Maryland 6’0″ 195 (3*) – North Shore HS, TX
2025 (Sr.) Stats: 170 completions, 265 attempts (64.2%), 3,266 yards, 34 touchdowns, 8 interceptions. 102 carries, 549 yards, 10 touchdowns
2024 (Jr.) Stats: 46 completions, 60 attempts, 688 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs; 55 carries, 303 yards, 4 TDs
2023 (So.) Stats: 10 completions, 30 attempts, 180 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 16 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
Offers from: Jackson St, Lafayette, Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Oklahoma Baptist, Prairie View A&M, Southern Mississippi, Stephen F. Austin, Texas St, Texas-San Antonio, UNLV, utah, UTEP, Washington St
Primary recruiter: Matt Johns
https://www.hudl.com/profile/15198222/Kaleb-Maryland
2026 OUTLOOK
McCAE HILLSTEAD
McCae Hillstead is a transfer from byu who will enter the 2026 season as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
As a redshirt sophomore with the cougars last season, Hillstead played in 4 games, completing 4 passes in 5 attempts (80.0%), for 33 yards. He also carried the ball 5 times for 28 yards.
During his 3-year career at byu and Utah State, he has played in 12 games with 4 starts, completing 98 passes in 163 attempts (60.1%), for 1,095 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He also has 49 carries for 64 yards.
According to On3 Sports, Hillstead is rated as the 1,719th-best transfer portal player nationally and the 118th-best quarterback. Utah State was his first transfer portal offer, and he committed just days after his official visit. He originally held offers from Florida International, Utah State, and Washington State.
In his lone season at Utah State in 2023, Hillstead showed he is a quarterback with a lot of upside. Don’t let his size fool you; he plays at a very high skill level, and he is capable of making every kind of pass on the field. He has a smooth throwing motion with minimal wasted movement. He consistently delivers passes with good velocity and timing. He does a good job going through his progressions. He has the ability to pick defenses apart with accurate throws on every pass. He can roll out of the pocket and hit a receiver in stride. I like his gunslinger mentality. I think it’s important to have a quarterback believe he can make any throw. He can also extend plays with his mobility. It will be interesting to see how much further along in his development he is now that he has been away from the Aggie program for two years.
KALEB MARYLAND
True freshman Kaleb Maryland enrolled at Utah State in January and gave himself a huge advantage by going through spring ball.
As a senior at North Shore High School (TX) in 2025, Maryland amassed 170 completions in 265 attempts (64.2%) for 3,266 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He also toted the rock 102 times for 549 yards and 10 more touchdowns. He led the Mustangs to the Texas State 6A-D1 state championship.
During his 3-year career with the Mustangs, he played in 36 games with 15 starts and completed 226 passes in 355 attempts (63.7%), for 4,134 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also toted the rock 173 times for 907 yards and 15 touchdowns.
According to On3 Sports, Maryland is rated as the 1,718th-best player nationally, the 100th-best quarterback, and the 242nd-best player in Texas. Maryland chose the Aggies over offers from Jackson State, Lafayette, Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Marshall, Oklahoma Baptist, Prairie View A&M, Southern Mississippi, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, UNLV, utah, UTEP, and Washington State.
Maryland has that IT factor. He’s a legit dual-threat quarterback who can attack a defense in the air or on the ground. He is an intelligent player who understands the game. He has good throwing mechanics and consistent arm movement on his throws. His throws are on a rope, tight and accurate. His excellent rotational spin on the ball and throw location allow him to have good anticipation and timing with his receivers’ routes. He has a tight trajectory on throws made downfield, and his arm strength gives his throws high velocity in all areas of the field. He works best while on the go, and he’s very difficult to contain. He is elusive with breakaway speed and extremely dangerous on the run. Thanks to his dangerous arm and elite speed, he can attack opposing defenses at every level of the field.
GRADY BROSTERHOUS
Grady Brosterhous is a graduate transfer from the University of Virginia who will enter the 2026 season as a medical redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
As a redshirt junior last season, Brosterhous missed the entire year due to an injury.
During his 4-year career with the Cavaliers, he has played in 13 games with 0 starts, completing his only career pass attempt (100.0%) for 21 yards. He also had 14 carries for 21 yards and 4 touchdowns.
According to On3 Sports, Brosterhous is rated as the 2,794th-best transfer portal player nationally and the 194th-best quarterback. At press time, it is unclear whether Brosterhous held any other transfer portal offers. He originally held a preferred walk-on offer from the University of Virginia.
Brosterhous brings physicality and size to the table. He possesses a “power runner” frame that the Cavaliers used to their advantage by creating a goal line/short yardage package appropriately labeled “The Grady Bunch”. He is able to use his athleticism to create enough leverage to gain the necessary yardage he is tasked with picking up. He can also be used in “Wildcat” formations, which will force opposing defenses to account for him as a legitimate runner and not just a “Tush Push” threat. While he has not been called on to throw the ball hardly at all, he does have a live arm, and he has the strength to make throws all over the field. His overall game reminds me of former Aggie quarterback Levi Williams. Transferring in from a P4 program and being an upperclassman should help from a leadership standpoint in a quarterback room that has five new faces and zero returning players this season.
BRADY GOODMAN
True freshman Brady Gooman joined the Aggie program in June and will look to make some noise in fall camp.
As a senior at Mountain View High School (AZ) in 2025, Goodman amassed 185 completions in 299 attempts (61.9%) for 2,256 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He also toted the rock 135 times for 463 yards and 11 more touchdowns.
During his 4-year career with the Toros, he played in 40 games with 26 starts and completed 449 passes in 722 attempts (62.3%) for 6,163 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He also toted the rock 219 times for 924 yards and 16 touchdowns.
According to 247sports, Goodman is rated as the 1,807th-best player nationally, the 102nd-best quarterback, and the 28th-best player in Arizona. Goodman chose the Aggies over offers from North Texas, Northern Arizona, and Wyoming.
Goodman is a dual-threat quarterback. I would still classify him as primarily a pocket passer; he has proven to be an effective runner in short-yardage and red-zone situations, as shown by the number of rushing touchdowns during his career. He has a quick release and a great arm. He likes to use pump fakes to allow his wide receivers to make a double-move and get open. He makes quick, decisive throws and can move through his progressions, not just settling on one read. He has a rare ability to throw on the move with accuracy, putting just the right touch on his passes. He does have the potential to be a big-play threat with his legs. He is much more mobile than he is given credit for. He is often touted for his knowledge of a playbook and called a “coach on the field”.
CREW CACCIACARNE
True freshman preferred walk-on Crew Cacciacarne got an early jump on things, enrolling at Utah State in January after greyshirting the 2025 season.
In 2024 at Weber High School (UT), Cacciacarne battled an injury to play in 7 games with 7 starts, completing 131 passes in 221 attempts (59.3%), for 1,921 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
During his 3-year career with the Warriors, Cacciacarne played in 23 games with 16 starts, completing 305 passes in 487 attempts (62.6%), for 4,302 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also carried the ball 63 times for 73 yards and 1 touchdown.
Cacciacarne chose the Aggies over a preferred walk-on offer from Weber State.
Cacciacarne is capable of throwing for a high completion percentage. He has good touch on his throws to the sideline, and he is able to put the ball where only his receiver can get it. He has a good completion percentage on the short and intermediate routes. He also looks comfortable throwing on the run while rolling out to his left or right. He has sound mechanics and a fluid throwing motion. He can stand in the pocket and deliver the ball with poise and accuracy. He is smart with the football and is rarely guilty of a turnover. He isn’t fleet of foot, but does have good pocket escapability.
PROJECTED 2026 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
QUARTERBACK
00 McCae Hillstead (5-10, 190, Jr., TR, 3*)
00 Kaleb Maryland (6-0, 195, Fr., HS, 3*)
00 Grady Brosterhous (6-3, 210, Jr., TR, 3*)
00 Brady Goodman (6-4, 215, Fr., HS, 3*)
00 Crew Cacciacarne (6-0, 190, Fr., HS, NR)
Coming Up On Tuesday: Wide Receiver