Every Power 5 Quarterback Plus the Top 10 Group of 5 (& a Few Independents)
Seventy-five. That's the number of quarterbacks on Power 5 teams plus the best Group of 5 and Independent quarterbacks. That seventy-five translates into seventy five different quarterbacks that I've watched film of. It is shockingly difficult to find quality tape of Arthur Sitkowski at Rutgers, or Thomas MacVittie Jr. at Kansas.
That doesn't even include the schools who still haven't named a starter. Auburn has two extremely talented freshman, Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix, who seem to be in a deadlock heading into fall camp. J.T. Daniel's job at USC is probably secure, but the new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell might view Jack Sears or Matt Fink as a better fit for his air raid offense. Heck, Mack Brown at North Carolina has three freshman who could start, and due to their new offensive system they didn't even start their quarterback competition until fall camp opened about a week ago.
There's also players like Isaiah Williams at Illinois, or Lucas Johnson Jr. at Georgia Tech where the only film available is their high school film. High school film can be really valuable, but it does involve projecting their skill set to the speed of the college game and the offensive system their school runs.
It's been a long, fun project. Without further adieu, the top quarterbacks in the country ranked, and broken into tiers for simplicity.
Tier 1: Heisman Contenders
1a. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: The SEC Championship game and Alabama's dominance that had him sitting most fourth quarters possibly cost him the Heisman last season. With the country's best receiving corps, and best receiver in Jerry Jeudy Jr., Tua could break some records this season.
1b. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson: It's hard to put Tua or Trevor above the other one. No amount of hyperbole can overstate how talented the sophomore from Cartersville, Georgia is. His ability to generate power off platform and complete anticipatory throws make Clemson's offense near impossible to defend.
3. Jake Fromm, Georgia: On paper, there was a point last offseason when From was the third most talented quarterback on his own team. Fast forward and Jacob Eason is at Washington, Justin Fields is at Ohio State, and Fromm is heading into his third year as the starter with Heisman and National Championship aspirations. For Fromm to take his game to the next level I'm looking for him to push the ball down field more and open up the offense. He has the talent to do so, and that's what I think it will take for Georgia to get past Alabama.
4. Ian Book, Notre Dame: Yes, I too was surprised that Book ended up this high. The more I watch him though, the more convinced I am that he is the most accurate passer in the country. He's a mobile threat at least, which adds to his game. Opposing defenses have to defend the entire field, which defensive coordinators hate. With road games at Georgia, Michigan, and Stanford it will be hard for Notre Dame to get back to the playoffs, but Book isn't getting talked about enough in the Heisman race.
5. Justin Herbert, Oregon: The top NFL quarterback prospect as it stands today. Our East Coast friends who are asleep for Pac 12 after dark are missing out. Herbert comes in at a cool 6'6", 237 lbs, and he looks like an NFL player who somehow snuck his way into Autzen. He's always been the most talented player on the field, but at times you'll see him try to jam the ball into a window that's been closed for a while instead of going through his full progression. If he can improve in that aspect his senior year then Oregon's offense will be as good as any in the country.
6. Justin Fields, Ohio State: Coming out of high school Fields and Trevor Lawrence were the top two players in the country, not just the top two quarterbacks. Yogi Roth, a PAC 12 Network analyst who helps run the Elite 11 quarterback camp came on my podcast (Double Take with Matt and Jake), and Fields was one of the players we talked about. He said both players were in the 99th percentile talent-wise of all the quarterbacks he's ever seen. Fields looked shaky in Ohio State's Spring Game, and was monumentally misused at Georgia, but fans who have lost track of Fields since high school are going to be blown away when he's the full time starter. Ohio State's total offensive production shouldn't have any drop off from losing Haskins to the NFL.
Tier 2: Two Minute Drill
7. Nate Stanely, Iowa: Watch any Iowa game from last season and you'll see that Stanley operates like an NFL quarterback. The overused stereotype of "field general" actually applies to Stanley, but he lost two tight ends to the first round of the NFL draft so there could be a dip in production. He's an underrated NFL prospect in his own right, however, and I have him projected in the second to third round right now, but won't be shocked at all if he's a first rounder next April.
8. Bryce Perkins, Virginia: Head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who coached Saint's swiss army quarterback Taysom Hill at BYU, found the perfect quarterback for his offensive system in junior college transfer Perkins. He accounted for thirty six total touchdowns last season, and is a big reason why the Cavaliers are among the favorites in the ACC Coastal Division.
9. K.J. Costello, Stanford: The forgotten quarterback in the forgotten conference. Most of the media attention in the PAC 12 has gone to Herbert or former Washington quarterback Jake Browning. Costello quietly had a 155.4 passer efficiency rating and threw for over 3,500 yards last season. Even with the loss of his best receiver to the NFL, he has a chance to top those numbers and hopefully be talked about more nationally as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
10: Brock Purdy, Iowa State: The good folks of the state of Iowa got both their quarterbacks in the top 10. After a 1-3 start Purdy stepped in as the starter and the Cylcones went 7-2 the rest of the way. As a freshman he had the sixth highest passer efficiency rating in the country last year at 169.9 and has maybe the best arm strength in the BIG XII.
11. *Khalil Tate, Arizona: People around the Arizona program have told me that Tate is fully healthy, and while I'm cautiously optimistic about his health, his name needs an asterisk. Two years ago he was one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the country. Last season BYU and Houston (and partly his own head coach, Kevin Sumlin), gave a blue print for how to shut Tate down before the Wildcats even got to conference play. When/if he's healthy and used properly he's one of the most special players in the country.
12: Jake Bentley, South Carolina: I'm higher on Bentley than just about everyone in Columbia, South Carolina. I get it, their best record is 9-4 since he's been there and he has some turnover issues (fourteen interceptions a year ago). I'm not ignoring the turnovers, but part of the reason the interceptions are so frustrating with him is because he does everything else so well. He's got a great arm, quick throwing motion, can make throws off platform and from different arm angles. I have him as a mid round NFL draft pick and if he can cut the turnovers down to the 5-9 range then hopefully people will appreciate him more because he's put together a pretty solid career thus far.
13. Sam Ehlinger, Texas: Baker Mayfield started the hate train on Ehlinger train this summer that for whatever reason never really seemed to slow down. Some of his raw numbers aren't great, only 32nd passer efficiency and 40th in ypg last season. It's hard to argue with his results, however, as he knocked off USC, Oklahoma, and shockingly beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last season. All of those teams had more talented rosters than Texas last season, and yet Ehlinger helped the Longhorns go 3-1 against their toughest opponents. (For whatever reason, Texas can steamroll Georgia but can't find a way to get over the Maryland hump, but I digress.) Ehlinger is one of the toughest quarterbacks in the country, and fantastic when the game is on the line. His most impressive game to me was actually a loss against Sam Darnold's USC team in 2017, where Ehlinger arguably outplayed the future 3rd overall pick for the Jets.
14. Shea Patterson, Michigan: Patterson could have been anywhere from seventh to twenty-three in these rankings. The former five star Ole Miss transfer wasn't really a great fit for Michigan's pro-style offense last season. With new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis running a more spread system Patterson should have a much better 2019 season.
15. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma: Hurt's is taking his 26-2 record as a starter to Norman, where he'll be hoping to follow in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray's footsteps and take the Sooners to their third straight College Football Playoff. He's not as talented of a passer as Mayfield and Murray, but to be fair they put up two of the most efficient seasons in history (ironically, Tua set the record last year). I think the Heisman and 1st overall pick streak will end for Lincoln Reilly, but other than likely playing Texas twice Oklahoma has a manageable schedule and Hurts could/should be back in the playoffs.
16. Kelly Bryant, Missouri: Except for maybe Bentley, Bryant gets unfairly criticized as much as any other quarterback. Bryant adds a mobile threat to a talented Missouri offense that returns seven starters. His biggest criticism has been his accuracy, but according to Pro Football Focus in 2017 Bryant led the ACC with a 115.4 passer rating on balls thrown 20+ yards downfield.
17. Jacob Eason, Washington: The second victim of Jake Fromm on the list. He hurt his knee during the first game of the 2017 season, and a week later Fromm lead the bulldogs to a win in South Bend and the Eason era in Athens was over without really starting. Eason has to replace the all time passing leader in Washington, but is far more talented than Browning. He's probably the most purely talented passer head coach Chris Peterson has ever had, at Washington or Boise State.
18. J.D. Martinez, Nebraska: It's New Years Six Bowl or bust in Lincoln this year, and Martinez is a big reason behind the hype. Even in their 0-6 start last season Nebraska, and Martinez, played better than their record. Last season when he faced pressure he was quick to break the pocket, and though he did a good job of keeping his eyes down field for the most part, it often lead to broken plays. If he can manage to step up in the pocket and maintain pocket composure his game will take a huge leap.
19. Tommy Devito, Syracuse: Touted as "Dino Barber's QB Recruit" he played sparingly behind Eric Dungey last season but shined when he did get on the field. Last season Syracuse was second in the country in offensive pace, behind Wake Forest. With Devito replacing Dungey the pace of play might take a hit with a more pass focused attack, but the offense overall will be fine and Syracuse will be a top twenty offensive team, just like last year.
20. Jordan Love, Utah State: Love was in the top fifteen in every major passing statistic last season, though almost no one in the country has seen him play. I grew up in Utah and I barely saw him play last season. Love is a mobile threat, but surgical from the pocket. He has a talented receiving corps and former Western Kentucky head coach Mike Sanford Jr. as his new offensive coordinator.
21. Matt Corral, Ole Miss: My favorite quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class, Corral is reason enough to tune into Ole Miss games. Head coach Matt Luke brought in former Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, who's offense is all about using spread out formations to create running lanes. Rodriguez and running back Scottie Phillips are going to take as much of the offensive load off of Corral as possible, so when the Rebels are in passing situations Corral will be able to play as free as possible, which is when he's at his best.
22: Tate Martell, Miami: An indirect victim of Jake Fromm, Martell transferred to Miami from Ohio State when Justin Fields transferred into Columbus. Martell went 45-0 in high school at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He plays bigger than his 5'11" frame, is extremely athletic, and plays with a brashness that hasn't exactly landed himself on any Hobey Baker Award watchlists (best character on and off field). He's top five in the country in terms of pure talent, and hopefully new head coach Manny Diaz can help him put it all together.
23. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M: Mond was a player I thought would be lower on the list based on what I remembered from last year. Going back and watching his game though there was a lot to like. He has an unconventional throwing motion, but the ball pops out of his hands and when he sets his feet he's pretty accurate for the most part.
24. Joe Burrow, LSU: Last season Burrow got an unfair label as a "game manager," which is often code for un-athletic without a great arm. That's not really the case with Burrow. While he's not John Elway he was in the top 25 in yards per completion last year, and LSU even ran the option a bit. One area he could improve is at times he tends to lock on to a receiver. If he can go through progression and play better with his eyes that will be the biggest jump for him.
25. D'Eriq King, Houston: King had a coming out party against Arizona in the second game of the season last year with six total touchdowns. New head coach Dana Holgersen has never had a playmaker like King at quarterback, so it'll be interesting to see how Holgerson can take advantage of King's arm and playmaking abilities as a runner.
26. Josh Jackson, Maryland: Jackson got hurt last season playing for Virginia Tech, and this off season it became clear that Ryan Willis would be keeping the starting job. Jackson made the decision to transfer and ended up at Maryland. He's a simple player in all the best ways. He plays like a point guard, he has a clear understanding of what opposing defenses are trying to take away and does a great job of quickly getting the ball to his playmakers.
27. J.T. Daniels, USC: Daniels should be entering his true freshman season, but he reclassified out of Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei and is going into his sophomore year with the Trojans. USC brought in former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell as their new offensive coordinator, and he runs a clean, simple offense that is all about open space. Last season Daniels had so many offensive responsibilities, this season it's all about reacting and letting maybe the best non-Alabama receiving corps in the country make plays
Tier 3: Prove It
28. Hunter Johnson, Northwestern: A former five star recruit at Clemson, by the end of Trevor Lawrence's first spring practice Johnson saw the writing on the wall. Johnson is far and away the most talented passer that Pat Fitzgerald has had at Northwestern. He hasn't played much meaningful football since 2016, which is my biggest question. It's not a huge deal, but also not playing for that long isn't nothing.
29. Charlie Brewer, Baylor: Brewer can absolutely sling it, he was one of the funnest players to watch for this project. The talent just doesn't match the numbers though, which is correctable, but still a problem. He only completed 61.5% of his passes and ranked 50th in the country in passing efficiency. Another full off season should help him improve those numbers.
30. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati: This is as much of a projection as any player on this list. In his freshman year he made it clear how talented he is, but also he had some freshman moments. He has really clean mechanics, good pocket presence for a young player, and great size. I think you'll see a more experienced Ridder make a big jump in his game this year.
31. Tyler Huntley, Utah: Utah is switching from a spread system to more of a pro-style under former Vanderbilt Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig, which should take advantage of Huntley's accuracy and running ability in open space. Huntley hasn't been able to finish the past two seasons due to unrelated injuries. He's put on about 25 lbs. this off season, and if he can stay healthy is one of the most accurate passers in the country.
32. Alan Bowman, Texas Tech: In eight games as a freshman, Bowman threw for over 2,500 yards and had a 150.1 passer efficiency rating. Bowman inherits Utah State's coaching staff as Kliff Kingsbury moved on the the Arizona Cardinals, but the offense should look relatively similar. One thing I think can be cleaned up is that on some deep throws he has a bit of a baseball-style wind up that could be cut down a bit.
33. Nathan Rourke, Ohio: Rourke runs a lot of RPO and speed option at Ohio, which opens up a lot of inside passing lanes behind the linebackers. When he does need to stay in the pocket and make a play he has clean footwork and keeps his eyes downfield.
34. Ryan Willis, Virginia Tech: Hokie's head coach Justin Fuente clearly disagrees with where I have Willis, because Willis is still at Virginia Tech and Josh Jackson is now at Maryland. The Kansas transfer (never a good way to start a sentence) is Joe Burrow lite in a sense. He's more athletic than he looks, but does need to improve his decision making.
35. Tommy Stevens, Mississippi State: Stevens followed Bulldog head coach Joe Moorhead from Penn State, where Moorhead was the offensive coordinator and Stevens waited behind Trace McSorely. Stevens could have stayed at Penn State, but I think he's a better fit in Mississippi State and there won't be too much of a drop off from last year's starter Nick Fitzgerald.
36. Jace Ruder, North Carolina: Ruder is in a battle with fellow freshman Cade Fortin and Sam Howell, and they only started their qb competition about a week ago. Head coach Mack Brown has called Ruder the "most aggressive leader" of the three. For whatever's that worth, his aggressive leadership and his athleticism are why I think he'll begin the season as the starter. True freshman Sam Howell is going to play at some point.
37. Dorien Thompson-Robinson, UCLA: I wanted to put him higher, and think by the end of the season he can be regarded as a top 25 quarterback in the nation. People forget he wasn't a full time quarterback until his senior year of high school, he backed up Tate Martell and played wide receiver at Bishop Gorman until Tate graduated. He's had one more full off season as a full time quarterback and he's my pick for most improved player in the country.
38. James Blackmon, Florida State: The first time the country was introduced to Blackmon was when then FSU quarterback Deondre Francois hurt his knee against Alabama in the first game of the 2017 season. That whole season it was clear that he wasn't ready to play, but he also flashed that he could be a pretty good college quarterback. Blackmon was able to red shirt last year, and in his third year in the program now he should look a lot better than he did in 2017.
39. Zach Wilson, BYU: Midway through his true freshman season Wilson took over for the Cougar's Hail Mary Hero Tanner Mangum. (Those are two separate links for two separate Hail Mary's that are well worth your time, the second one was the loudest moment in any stadium I've ever been in.) In a vacuum Wilson would be higher on the list, but BYU's receivers really struggle to create separation. Last season that cost BYU two or three games, and it's going to make Wilson look worse than he actually is. He'll still have a good season, but his efficiency and total stats won't match his talent level.
Tier 4: Talented with Questions
40. Sean Clifford, Penn State: Another player who's lower on the list than the guy he "beat out." I think Stevens transferring from Penn State to Mississippi State, leaving Clifford to be the Penn State starter, worked well for both schools. Clifford is replacing Trace McSorely, who ended his career as the single season and all time passing leader at Penn State. Clifford has the size and the talent, but there's a major drop off in experience that head coach James Franklin wil have to work through.
41. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State: Sanders is the most athletic quarterback head coach Mike Gundy has had in Stillwater since Zac Robinson. Gundy has actually hinted that they could use a two quarterback system, with Hawaii Grad Transfer Dru Brown being the other piece of that. With three manageable games to start the season before they start conference play against Texas, the quarterback competition could extend into mid September.
42. Ben Hicks, Arkansas: Hicks transferred to Arkansas from SMU where he left as the all time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, and a pretty much every other passing stat. A lot of that time at SMU was spent under head coach Chad Morris before he left for Arkansas. The pairing has already had so much success together that Arkansas should improve on their 2-10 record from a year ago.
43. Feleipe Franks, Florida: A lot of times in college football if a quarterback is a three or four year starter it's hard for the fanbase to shake their first impression. Franks has had a hot and cold relationship with Florida's fanbase. He improved a lot under Dan Mullen last season, throwing for twenty four touchdowns and only six interceptions. 60% completion is the number Florida fans should be hoping for Franks to hit this year.
44. Bo Nix, Auburn: One of my favorite quarterbacks in this year's recruiting cycle, Nix was Alabama's 2018 Mr. Football. Nix is in a pretty even battle with fellow freshman Joey Gatewood currently. Nix is a more talented passer, but Gatewood was around the program last year and might be a better fit for Gus Malzahn's offense. On paper Gatewood would make more sense, but Nix is too talented not to put on the field. Change of pace throws are sometimes hard for naturally talented quarterbacks to mange, but that's one area where Nix shines, and that will help adjust to SEC speed.
45. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin. Another true freshman, the Kansas Native may be the best quarterback recruit in Badgers history. He's surrounded by so many weapons on offense and five of his first games are at home, he's in the best situation of any freshman starter.
46. Justin Rogers, TCU: Rogers redshirted during his first year in Fort Worth last season, only seeing action in the infamous Cheez-It Bowl. He also only played one game during his senior year of high school due to an injury, which means he hasn't played more than a few meaningful snaps of football since 2016. He was still good enough to be the number two rated dual threat quarterback in the country, and the number two overall player in the state of Louisiana coming out of high school. The injury shouldn't be a concer, and TCU's offense should get back to Trevone Boykin levels of electric.
47: Sam Hartman, Wake Forest: Hartman won the job as a true freshman, then about midway through the season suffered a leg injury that held him out for the year. People close to the program have told me that he's as close to fully recovered as he can be, and is in a dead even quarterback battle with Jamie Newman, who took over when Hartman went down last year. Newman played well, but Hartman is a better passer and a better fit in the offense.
Tier 5: Won't Lose You Games, Probably
48. Anthony Brown, Boston College: Boston College has one of the best running backs in the country in AJ Dillon, so Brown has never been asked to do a whole lot. He's a perfect quarterback to play with a talented back like Dillon, which makes Boston College one of the harder offenses to prepare for. Brown is at his best when he's rolling out, usually on a play action where the defense sinks towards Dillon. He's athletic enough to create space for himself to get the ball down field.
49. Steven Montez, Colorado: Montez actually started the PAC 12 Championship game for Colorado when they made it three seasons ago. He's experienced, has a big arm, and has one of the best wide receivers in the country in Laviska Shenault Jr. Colorado won't be spectacular, but Montez could put up some solid numbers.
50. Austin Kendall, West Virginia: Kendall is a good player who just had too many guys in front of him at Oklahoma. He'll help first year head coach Neal Brown get his program going at West Virginia.
51. Jack Tuttle, Indiana: A transfer from Utah who was granted immediate eligibility, Tuttle was one of the best quarterbacks in the 2018 class. He's accurate and has a good frame. He's another player who could end up much higher than his ranking when the season is over.
52. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State: One of three quarterbacks to sign with the Sun Devils in last years recruiting cycle. He was the best quarterback in California his senior year of high school. Arizona State has a talented roster, if he can cut down on freshman mistakes than they'll have a shot at the PAC 12 South.
53. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State: The ultimate game manager, which is exactly what head coach Mark Dantonio wants. Being a game manager isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if the Spartans get down by seventeen it's going to be hard for them to overcome that.
54. Gage Gubrud, Washington State: Head coach Mike Leach hasn't hinted any direction regarding a starter, but those close to the program believe it'll be Gubrud. An Eastern Washington transfer, at the very least he'll put up a ton of passing yards.
55. Shane Buechele, SMU: The former Longhorn split time with Ehlinger at Texas for a bit until Ehlinger ultimately won the job. For his career he only averages about seven yards per attempt. If he can increase that number a bit he could have a good season at SMU, which I think is a good program fit for him.
56. Quentin Harris, Duke: As a back up to first round pick Daniel Jones last year Harris actually saw meaningful action. He has one of the best arms in the country, but he'd tend to tuck the ball and run if he felt pressure last season. Pocket presence is where I'm hoping to see the biggest leap.
Tier Six: Reservations
57. Terry Wilson, Kentucky: Wilson was tricky to place. When he was good he was great, and helped lead the Wildcats to their best season in a long time last year. At times though, he struggled to the point where the back up actually came in once or twice. Star running back Benny Snell Jr. moved on to the NFL, so there's even more on Wilson's shoulders this year.
58. Brandon Wimbush, UCF: The Notre Dame transfer has had some accuracy issues throughout his career. The Knight's top two quarterbacks are both hurt, likely for the year, so Wimbush is by default the guy that UCF fans are hoping can take them to their third consecutive NY6 bowl.
59: Elijah Sindelar, Purdue: Sindelar played in twelve games in 2017, then only in two last season due to injury. Luckily for him Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore is maybe the most explosive player in the country, so all head coach Jeff Brohm really needs to do is get the ball in Rondale's hands. Purdue's offense could end up looking a lot like Bel-Air Academy this season.
60. Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee: Guarantano beat out Stanford transfer Keller Chryst last season for the starting job. Guarantano winning the job registered as a 4/10 surprise for me, if only because of Chryst's experience. There's not a question about talent with Guarantano, but his decision making needs improve for the Volunteers to get back to bowl eligibility. 2019 for Guarantano is going to be all about cutting down his head scratching moments. He'll have three manageable games before back to back games with Florida and Georgia to work the kinks out.
61. Jawon Pass, Louisville: Starting quarterback at Louisville last year was maybe the worst position in the country because the last guy to do it was Lamar Jackson. A year removed from replacing Jackson and a new head coach in Scott Satterfield should help Pass create his own identity.
62. Riley Neal, Vanderbilt: Neal was a three year starter at Ball State before coming to Nashville as a grad transfer. Neal should give head coach Derek Mason time to help discover a more long term replacement for Kyle Shurmur.
63. Skylar Thompson, Kansas State: Thompson is a good athlete who can make throws off platform. New head coach Chris Kleiman coached Carson Wentz in college, as well as Charger's 5th round pick Easton Stick. With a whole offseason and better coaching than there's been in Manhattan Thompson has a high cieling.
64. Matt McKay, North Carolina State: McKay was the primary backup to Ryan Finley last season. McKay is battling Devin Leary for the starting job. It's hard to not see McKay at least beginning the season as the starter though.
65. Brady White, Memphis: White transferred to Memphis from Arizona State. Memphis lost running back Darrell Henderson to the Los Angeles Rams, and Henderson was as crucial to Memphis's offense as any non-quarterback in the country last year. White is going to have a much bigger load on offense this season.
Tier 7: Can They Play In The Pocket?
66. Kelvin Hopkins Jr., Army: Another player where I'm off from the national consensus. Hopkins Jr. is a great player, but if he wasn't at a Service Academy running the triple option he'd have a lot of question marks as to whether he could play from the pocket. That's the only reason he's not higher.
67. Kenny Pickett, Pitt: Last year he helped Pitt win the ACC Coastal Division, with a cool 7-7 record. Anytime there's pressure he seems nervous and plays jittery. Hopefully another full off season will help him with his pocket composure.
68. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota: Morgan was a part time starter last year, but played in the bowl game where Minnesota dismantled Georgia Tech. He needs to increase his arm strength and get more zip on short and intermediate throws,
69. Chase Garbers, Cal: Cal was one of the participants of the infamous Cheez-It Bowl that was barely football. If you didn't watch Cal football last year, it wasn't extremely far off from their offensive production in the regular season. If Garbers can lead even an average offense then Cal could have some big upset wins and mess with the PAC 12 standings.
70. Artur Sitkowski, Rutgers: He's big and has a quick throwing motion, which is a great place to start. He was last among qualified quarterbacks in passing efficiency last season, so tall and quick throwing motion are also where the list essentially ends.
71. Ryan Agnew, San Diego State: San Diego State is the Group of 5 Michigan State, and Ryan Agnew is the Group of 5 Brian Lewerke.
72. Jake Luton, Oregon State: A West Coast Artur Sitkowski.
73. Thomas Macvittie, Kansas: Macvittie transferred to KU from Pitt by way of junior college. He'll get the first shot at helping Les Miles turn Kansas around.
74. Isaiah Williams, Illinois: Former Illinois quarterback "Juice" William's, who led the Illini to the Rose Bowl and was the coolest college football player ever, legal name was also Isaiah Williams. My bar has been set as high as possible for the true freshman and new Isaiah Williams.
75. Lucas Johnson, Georgia Tech: With the Yellow Jackets abandoning the triple option, the only thing anyone expects from Georgia Tech this season is growing pains.
That doesn't even include the schools who still haven't named a starter. Auburn has two extremely talented freshman, Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix, who seem to be in a deadlock heading into fall camp. J.T. Daniel's job at USC is probably secure, but the new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell might view Jack Sears or Matt Fink as a better fit for his air raid offense. Heck, Mack Brown at North Carolina has three freshman who could start, and due to their new offensive system they didn't even start their quarterback competition until fall camp opened about a week ago.
There's also players like Isaiah Williams at Illinois, or Lucas Johnson Jr. at Georgia Tech where the only film available is their high school film. High school film can be really valuable, but it does involve projecting their skill set to the speed of the college game and the offensive system their school runs.
It's been a long, fun project. Without further adieu, the top quarterbacks in the country ranked, and broken into tiers for simplicity.
Tier 1: Heisman Contenders
1a. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: The SEC Championship game and Alabama's dominance that had him sitting most fourth quarters possibly cost him the Heisman last season. With the country's best receiving corps, and best receiver in Jerry Jeudy Jr., Tua could break some records this season.
1b. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson: It's hard to put Tua or Trevor above the other one. No amount of hyperbole can overstate how talented the sophomore from Cartersville, Georgia is. His ability to generate power off platform and complete anticipatory throws make Clemson's offense near impossible to defend.
3. Jake Fromm, Georgia: On paper, there was a point last offseason when From was the third most talented quarterback on his own team. Fast forward and Jacob Eason is at Washington, Justin Fields is at Ohio State, and Fromm is heading into his third year as the starter with Heisman and National Championship aspirations. For Fromm to take his game to the next level I'm looking for him to push the ball down field more and open up the offense. He has the talent to do so, and that's what I think it will take for Georgia to get past Alabama.
4. Ian Book, Notre Dame: Yes, I too was surprised that Book ended up this high. The more I watch him though, the more convinced I am that he is the most accurate passer in the country. He's a mobile threat at least, which adds to his game. Opposing defenses have to defend the entire field, which defensive coordinators hate. With road games at Georgia, Michigan, and Stanford it will be hard for Notre Dame to get back to the playoffs, but Book isn't getting talked about enough in the Heisman race.
5. Justin Herbert, Oregon: The top NFL quarterback prospect as it stands today. Our East Coast friends who are asleep for Pac 12 after dark are missing out. Herbert comes in at a cool 6'6", 237 lbs, and he looks like an NFL player who somehow snuck his way into Autzen. He's always been the most talented player on the field, but at times you'll see him try to jam the ball into a window that's been closed for a while instead of going through his full progression. If he can improve in that aspect his senior year then Oregon's offense will be as good as any in the country.
6. Justin Fields, Ohio State: Coming out of high school Fields and Trevor Lawrence were the top two players in the country, not just the top two quarterbacks. Yogi Roth, a PAC 12 Network analyst who helps run the Elite 11 quarterback camp came on my podcast (Double Take with Matt and Jake), and Fields was one of the players we talked about. He said both players were in the 99th percentile talent-wise of all the quarterbacks he's ever seen. Fields looked shaky in Ohio State's Spring Game, and was monumentally misused at Georgia, but fans who have lost track of Fields since high school are going to be blown away when he's the full time starter. Ohio State's total offensive production shouldn't have any drop off from losing Haskins to the NFL.
Tier 2: Two Minute Drill
7. Nate Stanely, Iowa: Watch any Iowa game from last season and you'll see that Stanley operates like an NFL quarterback. The overused stereotype of "field general" actually applies to Stanley, but he lost two tight ends to the first round of the NFL draft so there could be a dip in production. He's an underrated NFL prospect in his own right, however, and I have him projected in the second to third round right now, but won't be shocked at all if he's a first rounder next April.
8. Bryce Perkins, Virginia: Head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who coached Saint's swiss army quarterback Taysom Hill at BYU, found the perfect quarterback for his offensive system in junior college transfer Perkins. He accounted for thirty six total touchdowns last season, and is a big reason why the Cavaliers are among the favorites in the ACC Coastal Division.
9. K.J. Costello, Stanford: The forgotten quarterback in the forgotten conference. Most of the media attention in the PAC 12 has gone to Herbert or former Washington quarterback Jake Browning. Costello quietly had a 155.4 passer efficiency rating and threw for over 3,500 yards last season. Even with the loss of his best receiver to the NFL, he has a chance to top those numbers and hopefully be talked about more nationally as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
10: Brock Purdy, Iowa State: The good folks of the state of Iowa got both their quarterbacks in the top 10. After a 1-3 start Purdy stepped in as the starter and the Cylcones went 7-2 the rest of the way. As a freshman he had the sixth highest passer efficiency rating in the country last year at 169.9 and has maybe the best arm strength in the BIG XII.
11. *Khalil Tate, Arizona: People around the Arizona program have told me that Tate is fully healthy, and while I'm cautiously optimistic about his health, his name needs an asterisk. Two years ago he was one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the country. Last season BYU and Houston (and partly his own head coach, Kevin Sumlin), gave a blue print for how to shut Tate down before the Wildcats even got to conference play. When/if he's healthy and used properly he's one of the most special players in the country.
12: Jake Bentley, South Carolina: I'm higher on Bentley than just about everyone in Columbia, South Carolina. I get it, their best record is 9-4 since he's been there and he has some turnover issues (fourteen interceptions a year ago). I'm not ignoring the turnovers, but part of the reason the interceptions are so frustrating with him is because he does everything else so well. He's got a great arm, quick throwing motion, can make throws off platform and from different arm angles. I have him as a mid round NFL draft pick and if he can cut the turnovers down to the 5-9 range then hopefully people will appreciate him more because he's put together a pretty solid career thus far.
13. Sam Ehlinger, Texas: Baker Mayfield started the hate train on Ehlinger train this summer that for whatever reason never really seemed to slow down. Some of his raw numbers aren't great, only 32nd passer efficiency and 40th in ypg last season. It's hard to argue with his results, however, as he knocked off USC, Oklahoma, and shockingly beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last season. All of those teams had more talented rosters than Texas last season, and yet Ehlinger helped the Longhorns go 3-1 against their toughest opponents. (For whatever reason, Texas can steamroll Georgia but can't find a way to get over the Maryland hump, but I digress.) Ehlinger is one of the toughest quarterbacks in the country, and fantastic when the game is on the line. His most impressive game to me was actually a loss against Sam Darnold's USC team in 2017, where Ehlinger arguably outplayed the future 3rd overall pick for the Jets.
14. Shea Patterson, Michigan: Patterson could have been anywhere from seventh to twenty-three in these rankings. The former five star Ole Miss transfer wasn't really a great fit for Michigan's pro-style offense last season. With new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis running a more spread system Patterson should have a much better 2019 season.
15. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma: Hurt's is taking his 26-2 record as a starter to Norman, where he'll be hoping to follow in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray's footsteps and take the Sooners to their third straight College Football Playoff. He's not as talented of a passer as Mayfield and Murray, but to be fair they put up two of the most efficient seasons in history (ironically, Tua set the record last year). I think the Heisman and 1st overall pick streak will end for Lincoln Reilly, but other than likely playing Texas twice Oklahoma has a manageable schedule and Hurts could/should be back in the playoffs.
16. Kelly Bryant, Missouri: Except for maybe Bentley, Bryant gets unfairly criticized as much as any other quarterback. Bryant adds a mobile threat to a talented Missouri offense that returns seven starters. His biggest criticism has been his accuracy, but according to Pro Football Focus in 2017 Bryant led the ACC with a 115.4 passer rating on balls thrown 20+ yards downfield.
17. Jacob Eason, Washington: The second victim of Jake Fromm on the list. He hurt his knee during the first game of the 2017 season, and a week later Fromm lead the bulldogs to a win in South Bend and the Eason era in Athens was over without really starting. Eason has to replace the all time passing leader in Washington, but is far more talented than Browning. He's probably the most purely talented passer head coach Chris Peterson has ever had, at Washington or Boise State.
18. J.D. Martinez, Nebraska: It's New Years Six Bowl or bust in Lincoln this year, and Martinez is a big reason behind the hype. Even in their 0-6 start last season Nebraska, and Martinez, played better than their record. Last season when he faced pressure he was quick to break the pocket, and though he did a good job of keeping his eyes down field for the most part, it often lead to broken plays. If he can manage to step up in the pocket and maintain pocket composure his game will take a huge leap.
19. Tommy Devito, Syracuse: Touted as "Dino Barber's QB Recruit" he played sparingly behind Eric Dungey last season but shined when he did get on the field. Last season Syracuse was second in the country in offensive pace, behind Wake Forest. With Devito replacing Dungey the pace of play might take a hit with a more pass focused attack, but the offense overall will be fine and Syracuse will be a top twenty offensive team, just like last year.
20. Jordan Love, Utah State: Love was in the top fifteen in every major passing statistic last season, though almost no one in the country has seen him play. I grew up in Utah and I barely saw him play last season. Love is a mobile threat, but surgical from the pocket. He has a talented receiving corps and former Western Kentucky head coach Mike Sanford Jr. as his new offensive coordinator.
21. Matt Corral, Ole Miss: My favorite quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class, Corral is reason enough to tune into Ole Miss games. Head coach Matt Luke brought in former Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, who's offense is all about using spread out formations to create running lanes. Rodriguez and running back Scottie Phillips are going to take as much of the offensive load off of Corral as possible, so when the Rebels are in passing situations Corral will be able to play as free as possible, which is when he's at his best.
22: Tate Martell, Miami: An indirect victim of Jake Fromm, Martell transferred to Miami from Ohio State when Justin Fields transferred into Columbus. Martell went 45-0 in high school at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He plays bigger than his 5'11" frame, is extremely athletic, and plays with a brashness that hasn't exactly landed himself on any Hobey Baker Award watchlists (best character on and off field). He's top five in the country in terms of pure talent, and hopefully new head coach Manny Diaz can help him put it all together.
23. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M: Mond was a player I thought would be lower on the list based on what I remembered from last year. Going back and watching his game though there was a lot to like. He has an unconventional throwing motion, but the ball pops out of his hands and when he sets his feet he's pretty accurate for the most part.
24. Joe Burrow, LSU: Last season Burrow got an unfair label as a "game manager," which is often code for un-athletic without a great arm. That's not really the case with Burrow. While he's not John Elway he was in the top 25 in yards per completion last year, and LSU even ran the option a bit. One area he could improve is at times he tends to lock on to a receiver. If he can go through progression and play better with his eyes that will be the biggest jump for him.
25. D'Eriq King, Houston: King had a coming out party against Arizona in the second game of the season last year with six total touchdowns. New head coach Dana Holgersen has never had a playmaker like King at quarterback, so it'll be interesting to see how Holgerson can take advantage of King's arm and playmaking abilities as a runner.
26. Josh Jackson, Maryland: Jackson got hurt last season playing for Virginia Tech, and this off season it became clear that Ryan Willis would be keeping the starting job. Jackson made the decision to transfer and ended up at Maryland. He's a simple player in all the best ways. He plays like a point guard, he has a clear understanding of what opposing defenses are trying to take away and does a great job of quickly getting the ball to his playmakers.
27. J.T. Daniels, USC: Daniels should be entering his true freshman season, but he reclassified out of Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei and is going into his sophomore year with the Trojans. USC brought in former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell as their new offensive coordinator, and he runs a clean, simple offense that is all about open space. Last season Daniels had so many offensive responsibilities, this season it's all about reacting and letting maybe the best non-Alabama receiving corps in the country make plays
Tier 3: Prove It
28. Hunter Johnson, Northwestern: A former five star recruit at Clemson, by the end of Trevor Lawrence's first spring practice Johnson saw the writing on the wall. Johnson is far and away the most talented passer that Pat Fitzgerald has had at Northwestern. He hasn't played much meaningful football since 2016, which is my biggest question. It's not a huge deal, but also not playing for that long isn't nothing.
29. Charlie Brewer, Baylor: Brewer can absolutely sling it, he was one of the funnest players to watch for this project. The talent just doesn't match the numbers though, which is correctable, but still a problem. He only completed 61.5% of his passes and ranked 50th in the country in passing efficiency. Another full off season should help him improve those numbers.
30. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati: This is as much of a projection as any player on this list. In his freshman year he made it clear how talented he is, but also he had some freshman moments. He has really clean mechanics, good pocket presence for a young player, and great size. I think you'll see a more experienced Ridder make a big jump in his game this year.
31. Tyler Huntley, Utah: Utah is switching from a spread system to more of a pro-style under former Vanderbilt Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig, which should take advantage of Huntley's accuracy and running ability in open space. Huntley hasn't been able to finish the past two seasons due to unrelated injuries. He's put on about 25 lbs. this off season, and if he can stay healthy is one of the most accurate passers in the country.
32. Alan Bowman, Texas Tech: In eight games as a freshman, Bowman threw for over 2,500 yards and had a 150.1 passer efficiency rating. Bowman inherits Utah State's coaching staff as Kliff Kingsbury moved on the the Arizona Cardinals, but the offense should look relatively similar. One thing I think can be cleaned up is that on some deep throws he has a bit of a baseball-style wind up that could be cut down a bit.
33. Nathan Rourke, Ohio: Rourke runs a lot of RPO and speed option at Ohio, which opens up a lot of inside passing lanes behind the linebackers. When he does need to stay in the pocket and make a play he has clean footwork and keeps his eyes downfield.
34. Ryan Willis, Virginia Tech: Hokie's head coach Justin Fuente clearly disagrees with where I have Willis, because Willis is still at Virginia Tech and Josh Jackson is now at Maryland. The Kansas transfer (never a good way to start a sentence) is Joe Burrow lite in a sense. He's more athletic than he looks, but does need to improve his decision making.
35. Tommy Stevens, Mississippi State: Stevens followed Bulldog head coach Joe Moorhead from Penn State, where Moorhead was the offensive coordinator and Stevens waited behind Trace McSorely. Stevens could have stayed at Penn State, but I think he's a better fit in Mississippi State and there won't be too much of a drop off from last year's starter Nick Fitzgerald.
36. Jace Ruder, North Carolina: Ruder is in a battle with fellow freshman Cade Fortin and Sam Howell, and they only started their qb competition about a week ago. Head coach Mack Brown has called Ruder the "most aggressive leader" of the three. For whatever's that worth, his aggressive leadership and his athleticism are why I think he'll begin the season as the starter. True freshman Sam Howell is going to play at some point.
37. Dorien Thompson-Robinson, UCLA: I wanted to put him higher, and think by the end of the season he can be regarded as a top 25 quarterback in the nation. People forget he wasn't a full time quarterback until his senior year of high school, he backed up Tate Martell and played wide receiver at Bishop Gorman until Tate graduated. He's had one more full off season as a full time quarterback and he's my pick for most improved player in the country.
38. James Blackmon, Florida State: The first time the country was introduced to Blackmon was when then FSU quarterback Deondre Francois hurt his knee against Alabama in the first game of the 2017 season. That whole season it was clear that he wasn't ready to play, but he also flashed that he could be a pretty good college quarterback. Blackmon was able to red shirt last year, and in his third year in the program now he should look a lot better than he did in 2017.
39. Zach Wilson, BYU: Midway through his true freshman season Wilson took over for the Cougar's Hail Mary Hero Tanner Mangum. (Those are two separate links for two separate Hail Mary's that are well worth your time, the second one was the loudest moment in any stadium I've ever been in.) In a vacuum Wilson would be higher on the list, but BYU's receivers really struggle to create separation. Last season that cost BYU two or three games, and it's going to make Wilson look worse than he actually is. He'll still have a good season, but his efficiency and total stats won't match his talent level.
Tier 4: Talented with Questions
40. Sean Clifford, Penn State: Another player who's lower on the list than the guy he "beat out." I think Stevens transferring from Penn State to Mississippi State, leaving Clifford to be the Penn State starter, worked well for both schools. Clifford is replacing Trace McSorely, who ended his career as the single season and all time passing leader at Penn State. Clifford has the size and the talent, but there's a major drop off in experience that head coach James Franklin wil have to work through.
41. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State: Sanders is the most athletic quarterback head coach Mike Gundy has had in Stillwater since Zac Robinson. Gundy has actually hinted that they could use a two quarterback system, with Hawaii Grad Transfer Dru Brown being the other piece of that. With three manageable games to start the season before they start conference play against Texas, the quarterback competition could extend into mid September.
42. Ben Hicks, Arkansas: Hicks transferred to Arkansas from SMU where he left as the all time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, and a pretty much every other passing stat. A lot of that time at SMU was spent under head coach Chad Morris before he left for Arkansas. The pairing has already had so much success together that Arkansas should improve on their 2-10 record from a year ago.
43. Feleipe Franks, Florida: A lot of times in college football if a quarterback is a three or four year starter it's hard for the fanbase to shake their first impression. Franks has had a hot and cold relationship with Florida's fanbase. He improved a lot under Dan Mullen last season, throwing for twenty four touchdowns and only six interceptions. 60% completion is the number Florida fans should be hoping for Franks to hit this year.
44. Bo Nix, Auburn: One of my favorite quarterbacks in this year's recruiting cycle, Nix was Alabama's 2018 Mr. Football. Nix is in a pretty even battle with fellow freshman Joey Gatewood currently. Nix is a more talented passer, but Gatewood was around the program last year and might be a better fit for Gus Malzahn's offense. On paper Gatewood would make more sense, but Nix is too talented not to put on the field. Change of pace throws are sometimes hard for naturally talented quarterbacks to mange, but that's one area where Nix shines, and that will help adjust to SEC speed.
45. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin. Another true freshman, the Kansas Native may be the best quarterback recruit in Badgers history. He's surrounded by so many weapons on offense and five of his first games are at home, he's in the best situation of any freshman starter.
46. Justin Rogers, TCU: Rogers redshirted during his first year in Fort Worth last season, only seeing action in the infamous Cheez-It Bowl. He also only played one game during his senior year of high school due to an injury, which means he hasn't played more than a few meaningful snaps of football since 2016. He was still good enough to be the number two rated dual threat quarterback in the country, and the number two overall player in the state of Louisiana coming out of high school. The injury shouldn't be a concer, and TCU's offense should get back to Trevone Boykin levels of electric.
47: Sam Hartman, Wake Forest: Hartman won the job as a true freshman, then about midway through the season suffered a leg injury that held him out for the year. People close to the program have told me that he's as close to fully recovered as he can be, and is in a dead even quarterback battle with Jamie Newman, who took over when Hartman went down last year. Newman played well, but Hartman is a better passer and a better fit in the offense.
Tier 5: Won't Lose You Games, Probably
48. Anthony Brown, Boston College: Boston College has one of the best running backs in the country in AJ Dillon, so Brown has never been asked to do a whole lot. He's a perfect quarterback to play with a talented back like Dillon, which makes Boston College one of the harder offenses to prepare for. Brown is at his best when he's rolling out, usually on a play action where the defense sinks towards Dillon. He's athletic enough to create space for himself to get the ball down field.
49. Steven Montez, Colorado: Montez actually started the PAC 12 Championship game for Colorado when they made it three seasons ago. He's experienced, has a big arm, and has one of the best wide receivers in the country in Laviska Shenault Jr. Colorado won't be spectacular, but Montez could put up some solid numbers.
50. Austin Kendall, West Virginia: Kendall is a good player who just had too many guys in front of him at Oklahoma. He'll help first year head coach Neal Brown get his program going at West Virginia.
51. Jack Tuttle, Indiana: A transfer from Utah who was granted immediate eligibility, Tuttle was one of the best quarterbacks in the 2018 class. He's accurate and has a good frame. He's another player who could end up much higher than his ranking when the season is over.
52. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State: One of three quarterbacks to sign with the Sun Devils in last years recruiting cycle. He was the best quarterback in California his senior year of high school. Arizona State has a talented roster, if he can cut down on freshman mistakes than they'll have a shot at the PAC 12 South.
53. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State: The ultimate game manager, which is exactly what head coach Mark Dantonio wants. Being a game manager isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if the Spartans get down by seventeen it's going to be hard for them to overcome that.
54. Gage Gubrud, Washington State: Head coach Mike Leach hasn't hinted any direction regarding a starter, but those close to the program believe it'll be Gubrud. An Eastern Washington transfer, at the very least he'll put up a ton of passing yards.
55. Shane Buechele, SMU: The former Longhorn split time with Ehlinger at Texas for a bit until Ehlinger ultimately won the job. For his career he only averages about seven yards per attempt. If he can increase that number a bit he could have a good season at SMU, which I think is a good program fit for him.
56. Quentin Harris, Duke: As a back up to first round pick Daniel Jones last year Harris actually saw meaningful action. He has one of the best arms in the country, but he'd tend to tuck the ball and run if he felt pressure last season. Pocket presence is where I'm hoping to see the biggest leap.
Tier Six: Reservations
57. Terry Wilson, Kentucky: Wilson was tricky to place. When he was good he was great, and helped lead the Wildcats to their best season in a long time last year. At times though, he struggled to the point where the back up actually came in once or twice. Star running back Benny Snell Jr. moved on to the NFL, so there's even more on Wilson's shoulders this year.
58. Brandon Wimbush, UCF: The Notre Dame transfer has had some accuracy issues throughout his career. The Knight's top two quarterbacks are both hurt, likely for the year, so Wimbush is by default the guy that UCF fans are hoping can take them to their third consecutive NY6 bowl.
59: Elijah Sindelar, Purdue: Sindelar played in twelve games in 2017, then only in two last season due to injury. Luckily for him Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore is maybe the most explosive player in the country, so all head coach Jeff Brohm really needs to do is get the ball in Rondale's hands. Purdue's offense could end up looking a lot like Bel-Air Academy this season.
60. Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee: Guarantano beat out Stanford transfer Keller Chryst last season for the starting job. Guarantano winning the job registered as a 4/10 surprise for me, if only because of Chryst's experience. There's not a question about talent with Guarantano, but his decision making needs improve for the Volunteers to get back to bowl eligibility. 2019 for Guarantano is going to be all about cutting down his head scratching moments. He'll have three manageable games before back to back games with Florida and Georgia to work the kinks out.
61. Jawon Pass, Louisville: Starting quarterback at Louisville last year was maybe the worst position in the country because the last guy to do it was Lamar Jackson. A year removed from replacing Jackson and a new head coach in Scott Satterfield should help Pass create his own identity.
62. Riley Neal, Vanderbilt: Neal was a three year starter at Ball State before coming to Nashville as a grad transfer. Neal should give head coach Derek Mason time to help discover a more long term replacement for Kyle Shurmur.
63. Skylar Thompson, Kansas State: Thompson is a good athlete who can make throws off platform. New head coach Chris Kleiman coached Carson Wentz in college, as well as Charger's 5th round pick Easton Stick. With a whole offseason and better coaching than there's been in Manhattan Thompson has a high cieling.
64. Matt McKay, North Carolina State: McKay was the primary backup to Ryan Finley last season. McKay is battling Devin Leary for the starting job. It's hard to not see McKay at least beginning the season as the starter though.
65. Brady White, Memphis: White transferred to Memphis from Arizona State. Memphis lost running back Darrell Henderson to the Los Angeles Rams, and Henderson was as crucial to Memphis's offense as any non-quarterback in the country last year. White is going to have a much bigger load on offense this season.
Tier 7: Can They Play In The Pocket?
66. Kelvin Hopkins Jr., Army: Another player where I'm off from the national consensus. Hopkins Jr. is a great player, but if he wasn't at a Service Academy running the triple option he'd have a lot of question marks as to whether he could play from the pocket. That's the only reason he's not higher.
67. Kenny Pickett, Pitt: Last year he helped Pitt win the ACC Coastal Division, with a cool 7-7 record. Anytime there's pressure he seems nervous and plays jittery. Hopefully another full off season will help him with his pocket composure.
68. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota: Morgan was a part time starter last year, but played in the bowl game where Minnesota dismantled Georgia Tech. He needs to increase his arm strength and get more zip on short and intermediate throws,
69. Chase Garbers, Cal: Cal was one of the participants of the infamous Cheez-It Bowl that was barely football. If you didn't watch Cal football last year, it wasn't extremely far off from their offensive production in the regular season. If Garbers can lead even an average offense then Cal could have some big upset wins and mess with the PAC 12 standings.
70. Artur Sitkowski, Rutgers: He's big and has a quick throwing motion, which is a great place to start. He was last among qualified quarterbacks in passing efficiency last season, so tall and quick throwing motion are also where the list essentially ends.
71. Ryan Agnew, San Diego State: San Diego State is the Group of 5 Michigan State, and Ryan Agnew is the Group of 5 Brian Lewerke.
72. Jake Luton, Oregon State: A West Coast Artur Sitkowski.
73. Thomas Macvittie, Kansas: Macvittie transferred to KU from Pitt by way of junior college. He'll get the first shot at helping Les Miles turn Kansas around.
74. Isaiah Williams, Illinois: Former Illinois quarterback "Juice" William's, who led the Illini to the Rose Bowl and was the coolest college football player ever, legal name was also Isaiah Williams. My bar has been set as high as possible for the true freshman and new Isaiah Williams.
75. Lucas Johnson, Georgia Tech: With the Yellow Jackets abandoning the triple option, the only thing anyone expects from Georgia Tech this season is growing pains.
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