ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his top college quarterbacks this week.

To no surprise, Kiper Jr. slotted Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott as the fifth-best senior quarterback heading into the 2015 season. In a bit of an eye-opener, the draft guru ranked Kentucky’s Patrick Towles as the fifth-best non-senior.

Kiper Jr.’s Top 5 Senior QBs

1. Connor Cook, Michigan State
2. Cody Kessler, USC
3. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
4. Trevone Boykin, TCU
5. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

Kiper Jr.’s Top 5 Underclassmen QBs

1. Jared Goff, Cal
2. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
3. Cardale Jones, Ohio State
4. Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati
5. Patrick Towles, Kentucky

Prescott completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 3,449 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last year. Still, his bruising running style (986 yards, 14 TDs) may have been his most dangerous asset. In returning to Starkville for his senior year, Prescott’s goal is to refine himself as a pocket passer without abandoning his athleticism.

With a great season, Prescott could turn himself into a second-day pick in the 2016 NFL draft (second or third round).

The bigger surprise is seeing Towles’ name on this list, just two spots behind Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones. The Buckeyes standout started the ’14 season as the third-team quarterback, but has a stronger arm than just about anyone in the country, is built like a tank and beat Oregon Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota in the national championship game.

Towles still must beat out redshirt freshman Drew Barker just to win the starting job at Kentucky, a competition that will linger deep into the fall.

Here’s what Kiper Jr. wrote about the team’s ’14 starting quarterback:

The numbers won’t jump out at you, but the size (6-5, 241 pounds) and natural ability will. Don’t let that size make you think Towles lacks athleticism, either. The former high school high jumper can really move. With new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s arrival from West Virginia, there will be high expectations for this offense, and the return of four starters on the O-line will help.