Zero Teen Fatalities' Player of the Month: Las Vegas High's Tanner Vibabul

Quarterback Tanner Vibabul is pictured after a practice June 10, 2025, at Las Vegas High School. Photo by: Courtesy photo

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Tanner Vibabul would sit mesmerized in the Las Vegas High bleachers watching the players he idolized command the field below.

The grade-schooler studied every spiral quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins unleashed, every explosive run by Miles Davis, dreaming of the day he'd orchestrate similar magic from under center.

Scroggins parlayed his cannon arm into a scholarship at Howard University, while Davis took his versatility to BYU as a tailback and return specialist. Now Vibabul has emerged as arguably the most complete player of the trio — a dual-threat quarterback whose combination of arm strength and mobility has earned scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Navy and Temple.

The rising senior is considered one of the area's premier talents—if not the outright best quarterback — heading into the high school season that begins in August.

Vibabul's 2024 statistics tell the story of a dynamic playmaker. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound signal-caller threw for 1,827 yards and 25 touchdowns on 57% completion, per MaxPreps data. Yet his rushing numbers were truly remarkable: 1,295 yards and 11 scores on only 83 carries, translating to an eye-popping 15.6 yards per attempt.

"I've always loved watching Lamar Jackson," he said of the Baltimore Ravens' MVP quarterback, "and how he impacts the game with his arm and legs."

Vibabul flew under the recruiting radar until this spring, when assistant coaches from across the country began making stops at Las Vegas High during their recruiting swings. The Wildcats' program commands respect from college scouts, having produced talent like former NFL defensive lineman Billy Winn, explosive running back Reggie Bulloch (East Carolina) and Fernando Carmona Jr. (Arkansas) in recent years.

Las Vegas coach Jose Cerriteno simply needed to show the recruiters Vibabul's game film, he said.

"He's a really, really good football player," the coach explained. "He can make so many different things happen, especially with his legs when he's on the run."

The breakthrough came in mid-April when Air Force offered the first scholarship. An elated Vibabul's first instinct was to phone his older brother to share the news.

"(The scholarships) mean that all of my hard work is paying off," Vibabul said. "This was always my dream. I stayed the course and kept working toward it."

Vibabul views himself as equally dangerous whether dropping back to pass or tucking the ball and running—he simply takes whatever the defense offers. But he's quick to share credit with his supporting cast, many of whom have been hauling in his passes since those same grade school days when he dreamed of quarterbacking the Wildcats.

"I've been throwing to some (of our receivers) for four years now and that chemistry makes a difference," Vibabul said.

Vibabul heads to West Point this weekend for an official visit with Army football, emphasizing how privileged he feels to hold scholarship offers from all three service academies. His appeal extends beyond athletics — the coach notes that Vibabul maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA in the classroom.

"So happy for the kid, especially with how hard he works," Cerriteno said. "Good player; better person and a 4.0 student. He's the real deal."