#18

A.J. Brand Season 2025

PositionQB
Weight210 lbs
Height6-2
ClassFreshman
HometownCharlotte, N.C.
High SchoolIrmo

High School:  Four-year varsity starter at Irmo High School (Irmo, South Carolina) under head coach and father, Aaron Brand ... Two-sport student-athlete at Irmo, having also competed in basketball ... Named the 2024 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year ... Invited to the 2024 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas ... Eclipsed 10,000 career all-purpose yards as a senior helping Irmo to a 13-2 record and a state runner-up finish ... Spanning his junior and senior seasons, combined to account for 104 total touchdowns (67 passing, 37 rushing) while achieving three 300-yard passing games and 13 instances of 100 or more rushing yards …Three-time South Carolina Football Coaches Association (SCFCA) all-state honoree (2021-23) … 2023 SCFCA Class 4A Lower State Offensive Player of the Year … 2023 The State Midlands Offensive Player of the Year … Two-time The State Midlands First Team all-area quarterback (2022, 2023) … 2023 South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Region 5 4A Offensive Player of the Year … Multi-year all-region selection … Co-led Irmo to the combined 39-10 record during his high school tenure; helped the Yellow Jackets win two region championships (2021, 2023), progress to three state quarterfinal games (2021, 2023, 2024) and reach consecutive state semifinal games (2023, 2024) … As a 2024 senior, has accounted for 42 total touchdowns, completed 151-of-210 passes (71.9 percent) for 2,162 yards, throwing six interceptions; handled 133 carries for 1,530 rushing yards, averaging 11.5 yards per carry … Achieved two 300-yard passing games, including his season high of 377 yards set during Irmo’s 55-7 win at Carolina Forest … Recorded eight 100-yard rushing games, including seven consecutive, setting a season high of 263 rushing yards during the Yellow Jackets’ 55-21 victory against Chapin … Accounted for eight total touchdowns on Nov. 1 against Chapin … Co-led Irmo to a 9-0 start and an appearance in the SCHSL Class 5 Division 2 Lower State championship game (state semifinal) … As a 2023 junior, set Irmo school records for total offense (4,045 yards), passing yards (2,932), total touchdowns (62) and passing touchdowns (45) … Connected on 183-of-253 passes (72.3 percent), throwing two interceptions … Totaled 1,113 rushing yards, averaging 13.3 yards per carry while tallying five 100-yard rushing performances … Co-led Irmo to a 13-0 start, including a perfect regular season (10-0), as well as a berth in the 2023 SCHSL Class 4A state semifinals … Rated as a three-star quarterback by 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals … Ranked as the nation’s No. 19 overall dual-threat quarterback by ESPN; No. 32 overall quarterback by On3 … Ranked as the No. 33 overall athlete by 247Sports … Ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit from South Carolina by 247Sports and On3; No. 18 by ESPN … Ranked as the No. 1 overall quarterback from South Carolina by On3; No. 1 overall athlete from South Carolina by 247Sports; No. 4 overall athlete/quarterback by ESPN.

Personal:  Full name is Aaron Brand Jr. … Born on March 8, 2007 … Hails from Charlotte, North Carolina … Son to Aaron and Patrice Brand … Has one sister, Paedyn … Father, Aaron, played baseball and football at Emory & Henry University, also attended graduate school at Virginia Tech.