Vista Murrieta senior quarterback Bryson Beaver has never been the type to don a false persona to gain attention.
Broncos coach Coley Candaele said he has received a handful of calls from college coaches and recruiters during the past year.
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Vista Murrieta High School senior quarterback Bryson Beaver, 18, who has verbally committed to the University of Oregon, will lead the Broncos into the 2025 season. Murrieta on Thursday, Jul. 31, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Vista Murrieta High School senior quarterback Bryson Beaver, 18, who has verbally committed to the University of Oregon, will lead the Broncos into the 2025 season. Murrieta on Thursday, Jul. 31, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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“They wondered if his attitude was genuine or wanted to know if he was putting on some kind of act,” Candaele said about those calls after Beaver’s recruiting visits. “I just kept telling them, ‘With Bryson, what you see is what you get.’ Bryson is just Bryson.”
What many have seen, including those college coaches, is one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting class.
Beaver, who stands 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, is rated by ESPN.com as the nation’s No. 15 pocket passer in this current recruiting class. Rivals.com is even higher on Beaver, placing him at No. 5 among quarterbacks. Beaver had more than a dozen offers from colleges but committed to Oregon following a visit to Eugene in June.
The numbers have been impressive since Beaver arrived at Vista Murrieta as a sophomore. In two seasons as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, Beaver has thrown for 5,764 yards and 59 touchdowns over 23 games.
“I think the thing that stands out most about Bryson is his confidence,” Candaele said. “He has that presence when he’s on the field. The skills are there. It’s now all about getting bigger and better with everything he does.”
Beaver played his freshman season at Temecula Valley and got plenty of reps with the varsity team that year. He made the move to Vista Murrieta as a sophomore, and that authentic personality benefited him immediately.
“I think I’m pretty easy to get along with,” Beaver said with a chuckle. “I already knew a lot of the guys through young football, so that made it easy to acclimate to a new school. I always feel it’s best to just be myself around others. If you’re acting fake, your true colors are going to come out eventually and that leads to trouble.”
Beaver’s arrival at Vista Murrieta for the 2023 campaign coincided with Candaele’s return as the head coach of the program. Beaver passed for 2,550 yards and 26 touchdowns, helping the Broncos earn a playoff berth.
Last season was even better as Beaver threw for 3,214 yards and 33 touchdowns, helping Vista Murrieta reach the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. The most impressive improvement, however, was Beaver’s accuracy. His completion percentage went from 56.6% to 66.4%.
“I think it just shows I was really comfortable in the system and making better reads and throws,” Beaver said. “I want that number to be even higher this season. I have the goal to complete at least 70% of my passes.”
Beaver also showed last season that he can make plays with his legs. After rushing for only 41 yards on 41 carries during his sophomore campaign, Beaver ran for 411 yards on 58 carries (7.1 yards per carry).
“He’s labeled as a pocket passer, but I think he could be seen as a dual-threat quarterback,” Candaele said. “As a sophomore, he was extending plays by running around and waiting for a receiver to get open. Last year, we talked about going through progressions and then taking those yards (on the ground) if nobody is open.”
Beaver joins Kavon Seaton as the only three-year starting quarterbacks in the program’s history. Beaver is poised for another big season with the team’s three leading pass catchers also returning. Sean McCullough is coming back from an ACL injury, but he caught 81 passes for 1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Tyler Caldwell had 62 catches for 834 yards and nine scores, while tight end Cash Bryant has 30 receptions.
“I think we have one of the best receiving groups in all of SoCal. We’re excited to all be back,” Beaver said.
Beaver said a big reason he chose Oregon was the program’s history of producing NFL quarterbacks.
“I think they have the most active QBs in the NFL right now,” Beaver said. “The goal every football player has is to play in the NFL. I fell in love with the school and culture and look forward to developing my game there.”
OTHER INLAND QUARTERBACKS TO WATCH
Khalil Abdul-Aziz, Sr., Orange Vista: Four-year starter has passed for 8,320 yards and tossed 91 touchdowns during his career.
Jacob Anzaldua, Jr., Banning: Had a breakout sophomore campaign, throwing for 2,103 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.
Isaiah Arriaza, Sr., Damien: Has passed for 5,783 yards and 57 touchdowns over the past two seasons as the Spartans starter.
Keegan Campuzano, Sr., Etiwanda: Threw for 1,966 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season under center for the Eagles.
Dominick Catalano, Sr., Centennial: Shined last season when opportunity knocked and now will be the starter for the Huskies.
Jacob Chambers, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga: Fresno State commit passed for 1,677 yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns.
Josiah Dupree Boyd, So., Vista del Lago: Rising star passed for 2,052 yards and 23 touchdowns during his freshman season.
Jeremiah Duhu, Sr., Beaumont: Passed for 2,004 yards, rushed for another 743 yards and accounted for 35 total touchdowns.
Cole Fornelli, Jr., Ontario Christian: Transfer passed for 1,442 yards and 21 touchdowns last season at Arrowhead Christian.
Lequand Jackson, Jr., Upland: Threw for 1,601 yards and 13 touchdowns and also ran for 519 yards and eight touchdowns.
Travis Lippert, Sr., Bonita: Passed for 2.129 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, his first year as a starter for the Bearcats.
Syree Matthews, Sr., Moreno Valley: Dual-threat quarterback accounted for 2,012 yards from scrimmage and 22 touchdowns.
Alex Medyn, Sr., Chino Hills: Had strong first season with the Huskies, finishing with 2,271 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
Daniel Mielke II, Jr., Murrieta Valley: Transfer from Ontario Christian could split time under center with sophomore Ty Isaia.
Blake Nadler, Jr., Roosevelt: Looks to make an impact with Mustangs following a midseason transfer from Rancho Christian.
Clayton Plewe, Sr., Santiago: Returns under center for the Sharks after passing for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.
Jerred Pocock, Sr., Claremont: Passed for 1,651 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first season as the Wolfpack signal caller.
Matthew Ramos, Sr., Hillcrest: Threw for 1,261 yards and 18 touchdowns and also ran for 492 yards and seven more scores.
Koa Regalado, Jr., Colton: Dual threat passed for 2,064 yards, ran for 790 more yards and accounted for 40 total touchdowns.
Angel Robles, Jr., Canyon Springs: Impressed as a sophomore, passing for 2,481 yards and 35 touchdowns for the Cougars.
C.J. Thompson, Sr., Rancho Verde: Returning starter threw for 2,017 yards and also tossed 24 touchdowns for the Mustangs.
Jesse Vega, Sr., Valley View: Passed for 1,746 yards and 20 touchdowns and also ran for another 727 yards and 10 scores.
Isaac Vitela, Sr., Redlands East Valley: Was a bright spot for the Wildcats, passing for 1,913 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Marcus Washington, Fr., Cajon: The program’s most buzzed-about freshman quarterback since Jayden Daniels back in 2015.
Dane Weber, Jr., Chaparral: Passed for 2.660 yards and 27 touchdowns and also ran for 834 yards and 11 more touchdowns.
