Football | 8/7/2026 9:38:00 AM

August 7, 2026-For the last decade the quarterback room at Emporia State has been deep and talented. Over the last 12 years eight different Hornet quarterbacks have thrown for over 300 yards in a game a combined 67 times, with 23 games of at least 400 yards and two 500 yard games while ten different quarterbacks have thrown at least two touchdown passes in a season. With two quarterbacks returning that have started and won MIAA games for the Hornets, the room should be well stocked again this year.
 
Ben Harris played in just seven games before suffering a season ending injury. The Midwest City, Okla. native was third in the nation in passing completions per game while ranking seventh nationally in passing yards per game, and eighth in total offense at the time of his injury. He finished the season ranked fifth in the MIAA in total passing yards despite missing four full games. He was 194 of 314 for 2,075 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year.
 
Jamison Sarver started the final four games as a true freshman for Emporia State last season.  In his first career game for the Hornets he went 25 of 41 for 288 yards and two touchdowns while leading ESU to a fourth quarter comeback at Central Missouri. For his efforts he was named MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week. He also led Emporia State to a 45-17 Turnpike Tussle win over Washburn.
 
Josh Burdick is in his second year at Emporia State out of Cheney, Kan.  He was the 3A Offensive Player of the Year and Earned First Team All-State honors from multiple publications as a senior for Cheney HS.
 
Freshmen Dominic Leesman and Carter Ricke round out the quarterbacks on the roster
 
QUARTERBACK NOTES:
There is one senior, no juniors, one sophomores, one redshirt freshman and two true freshman listed among the five quarterbacks.
Four of the five quarterbacks came here as freshmen and three have been at ESU for at least two years.
Two of the quarterbacks are from Kansas, two are from Oklahoma, and one is from Missouri.

QUARTERBACKS

5	Ben Harris	QB	6-0	196	R-Sr.	Midwest City, OK	Carl Albert HS	Oklahoma/North Alabama
7	Josh Burdick	QB	6-0	200	R-Fr.	Cheney, KS	Cheney HS
15	Jamison Sarver	QB	6-2	201	So.	Olathe, KS	Olathe North HS
16	Dominic Leesman	QB	6-0	197	Fr.	Joplin, Mo	Joplin HS
	Carter Ricke	QB	6-0	188	Fr.	Tulsa, OK	Lincoln Christian HS

This is the third part of an eight-part series of position previews for the Emporia State football team. Yesterday the defensive line was featured and tomorrow the receivers will be at the podium.
Quarterbacks Ben Harris, Jamison Sarver and Josh Burdick along with quarterback coach Brayden Gleason and head coach Garin Higgins will be available on Friday, August 7 in the interview tent at Welch Stadium.