Top quarterback prospects from the state of Alabama since 2009

Recruiting rankings, like preseason polls, can be wildly off target. When it comes to Alabama’s quarterback prospects since 2009, the top prospects have panned out (or are on their way to doing so), while the expert rankings get a little dicier once you get past the elite passers.

The best quarterback to come from the state since ’09, without question, is former Florida State Seminole and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jameis Winston. The 2013 Heisman winner and national champion went No. 1 overall to the Bucs in the NFL draft this year, living up to his five-star recruitment status on the field during a tumultuous college career.

AJ McCarron certainly lived up to his billing as well, winning two national titles as Alabama’s starting quarterback, while Justin Thomas made the right call in flipping from Alabama to Georgia Tech in order to play quarterback (instead of defensive back, where Nick Saban wanted to use him), as he proved in leading Tech to an Orange Bowl win last year. Jeremy Johnson is next up on the list, and he has the makings of the next great SEC quarterback at Auburn.

However, the rest of the top 10 hasn’t had the same success. Five of the players transferred from their original program, while the other player has switched positions after giving it a try at quarterback. Jacob Coker still has a chance to prove himself at Alabama, but the rest of the players in the crowd seem to be past the possibility of becoming a big-time college quarterback.

It’s early in his high school career, but there’s another elite prospect coming along in Opelika. Jake Bentley, a class of 2017 player, is already rated as a four-star prospect in the 247sports industry composite, with a composite score that would rank him right behind McCarron. Schools like Auburn and Clemson are already showing interest.

Here’s a look at the 10 best quarterback prospects to come from Alabama since 2009.