COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Ranking every FBS starting QB, 1-128
Editor’s Note: This is the sixth installment of a seven-part series designed to prepare you for the 2015 SEC regular season. We’ve provide you with a guide of the SEC players who could get selected in next year’s NFL draft, our bold predictions for the 2015 season, a printable SEC schedule and a list of each team’s best/worst fans.
We’ll also identify the most entertaining individual matchups of the season (Wednesday).
Rankings that stop at 25 leave way too many questions.
Who’s the 26th-best? Who’s the worst?
I decided to solve that problem and rank every FBS starting quarterback from No. 1 to No. 128.
I used statistical analysis, pedigree, historical offensive numbers and level of competition to shape my rankings, which have to be the most comprehensive list of quarterbacks you’ll find on the web this preseason.
It’s a quarterback’s game, after all.
After far too many hours of research, here are the FBS starting quarterbacks from worst to first.
BOTTOM OF THE STACK
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
128 | John Wolford | Wake Forest | ACC | SO | 2,037 | 12/14 |
127 | Blake Bogenschutz | UTSA | C-USA | FR | 282 | 0/2 |
126 | Mack Leftwich | UTEP | C-USA | SO | 458 | 2/2 |
125 | Matt Linehan | Idaho | S. Belt | SO | 2,540 | 11/18 |
124 | Nick Arbuckle | Georgia State | S. Belt | SR | 3,283 | 23/17 |
123 | Jake Milas | Ball State | MAC | SO | 1,302 | 9/5 |
122 | Lamar Jordan | New Mexico | MWC | SO | 895 | 6/5 |
121 | Shuler Bentley | Old Dominion | C-USA | FR | N/A | N/A |
120 | Bryant Shirreffs | UConn | AAC | SO | 17 | 1/0 |
119 | Garrett Smith | Louisiana-Monroe | S. Belt | FR | N/A | N/A |
118 | Gus Ragland | Miami (Ohio) | MAC | FR | N/A | N/A |
117 | Kyle Pohl | Akron | MAC | SR | 2,189 | 9/8 |
116 | Brooks Haack | Louisiana-Lafayette | S. Belt | JR | 179 | 2/0 |
115 | Reggie Bell | Eastern Michigan | MAC | SO | 1,297 | 9/6 |
114 | Colin Reardon | Kansas State | Big 12 | JR | 2,466 | 14/16 |
113 | Cooper Rush | Central Michigan | MAC | JR | 3,157 | 27/13 |
112 | Ahmad Bradshaw | Army | Ind. | SO | N/A | N/A |
111 | Brandon Silvers | Troy | S. Belt | SO | 1,836 | 11/3 |
110 | Zack Greenlee | Fresno State | MWC | SO | 213 | 1/0 |
109 | Blake Decker | UNLV | MWC | SR | 2,886 | 15/18 |
108 | Austin Appleby | Purdue | Big Ten | JR | 1,449 | 10/11 |
107 | Andrew McNulty | North Texas | C-USA | SR | 1,301 | 6/7 |
106 | Tyler Matthews | Southern Miss | C-USA | SO | 0 | 0 |
105 | Maxwell Smith | San Diego State | MWC | SR | 1,276 | 9/1 |
104 | Derrius Vick | Ohio | MAC | SR | 1,156 | 8/4 |
103 | Phillip Ely | Toledo | MAC | SR | 541 | 4/1 |
102 | Perry Hills | Maryland | Big Ten | JR | 86 | 1/0 |
101 | Alex McGough | Florida International | C-USA | SO | 1,680 | 14/10 |
100 | Quinton Flowers | South Florida | AAC | SO | 111 | 0/2 |
99 | Brent Stockstill | Middle Tennessee State | C-USA | FR | 41 | 0/1 |
98 | Clayton Thorson | Northwestern | Big Ten | FR | N/A | N/A |
97 | Cameron Coffman | Wyoming | MWC | SR | N/A | N/A |
96 | Matt Johnson | Charlotte | C-USA | JR | 1,941 | 13/8 |
95 | P.J. Walker | Temple | AAC | JR | 2,317 | 13/15 |
94 | Hayden Rettig | Rutgers | Big Ten | SO | N/A | N/A |
93 | Tyler Lamb | Appalachian State | S. Belt | SO | 2,381 | 17/9 |
92 | Darius Wade | Boston College | ACC | SO | 23 | 0/0 |
91 | Dane Evans | Tulsa | AAC | JR | 3,102 | 23/17 |
90 | Montell Cozart | Kansas | Big 12 | JR | 701 | 5/7 |
89 | Terrel Hunt | Syracuse | ACC | SR | 983 | 1/4 |
88 | Tyler Rogers | New Mexico State | S. Belt | JR | 2,779 | 19/23 |
87 | Matt Davis | SMU | AAC | JR | 855 | 3/5 |
86 | Johnny McCrary | Vanderbilt | SEC | SO | 985 | 9/8 |
85 | Tyler Stewart | Nevada | MWC | JR | N/A | N/A |
84 | Seth Collins | Oregon State | Pac-12 | FR | N/A | N/A |
83 | Nate Romine | Air Force | MWC | JR | 208 | 0/1 |
82 | Jesse Ertz | Kansas State | Big 12 | SO | N/A | N/A |
81 | Michael Birdsong | Marshall | C-USA | JR | N/A | N/A |
80 | Connor Mitch | South Carolina | SEC | SO | 19 | 0/0 |
79 | C.J. Beathard | Iowa | Big Ten | JR | 645 | 5/2 |
78 | Jake Browning | Washington | Pac-12 | FR | N/A | N/A |
77 | Matt Johns | Virginia | ACC | JR | 1,109 | 8/5 |
76 | Tanner Lee | Tulane | AAC | SO | 1,962 | 12/14 |
MIDDLE CLASS
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
75 | Cody Clements | South Alabama | S. Belt | JR | 2,227 | 14/8 |
One of the UAB castaways, Clements “commanded respect” during preseason practices, his teammates said.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
74 | Brandon Harris | LSU | SEC | SO | 452 | 6/2 |
LSU has decided that the best course of action is to start Harris, who struggled with maturity last season but has more potential, over Anthony Jennings.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
73 | Justin Holman | UCF | AAC | JR | 2,952 | 23/14 |
Holman never will match Blake Bortles. And a tremendous group of receivers is gone. But if Holman can limit his mistakes, he can prove that he’s a better than average starter in the American Athletic Conference.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
72 | Mitch Leidner | Minnesota | Big Ten | JR | 1,798 | 11/8 |
Leidner helped the Golden Gophers navigate to the Citrus Bowl last season, but that was mostly due to a strong running game.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71 | Joe Gray | San Jose State | MWC | SR | 2,305 | 11/9 |
Kenny Potter is still competing for this job, as the team will continue to evaluate the position into the season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
70 | Thomas Sirk | Duke | ACC | JR | 67 | 3/0 |
If there’s any power-conference division that could make it possible for a school to continue to overachieve with an inexperienced quarterback, it’s the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
69 | Drew Hare | Northern Illinois | MAC | JR | 2,322 | 18/2 |
Hare has thrown two career interceptions in 335 pass attempts. He topped 150 yards rushing twice last season playing in a strong NIU system.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
68 | Tyler Jones | Texas State | S. Belt | JR | 2,670 | 22/7 |
Jones quietly topped 3,200 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns last year as an underclassman.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 | Skyler Howard | West Virginia | Big 12 | JR | 829 | 8/0 |
How’s this for a story: Howard began his career as a walk-on at Stephen F. Austin, ran out of money and then wound up at Riverside (Calif.) City College. He played well enough there to draw interest from West Virginia, and now he’s the Mountaineers’ starter.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
66 | Max Wittek | USC | MWC | SR | N/A | N/A |
Wittek sat out last season, transferring from USC after losing the competition there to Cody Kessler.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
65 | Will Grier | Florida | SEC | FR | N/A | N/A |
A rare quarterback who rates near the top half of our list without having thrown a single college pass, Florida still hasn’t named Grier as the starter ahead of Treon Harris, so this is a projection.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | Jeff Driskel | Louisiana Tech | C-USA | SR | 1,140 | 9/10 |
The Florida transfer, a former five-star recruit, has one more season to at least eclipse the 2,000-yard passing mark as a collegiate quarterback.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
63 | Joel Stave | Wisconsin | Big Ten | SR | 1,350 | 9/10 |
Healthier and with better receivers, Stave wasn’t half bad in 2013. But a very good season for the veteran would be 2,500 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
62 | Greyson Lambert | Georgia | SEC | JR | 1,632 | 10/11 |
We now know Lambert will be first to take the field for Georgia this season. Can hie limit the big-moment mistakes he made at Virginia and remain the starter ahead of Brice Ramsey?
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
61 | Jaquez Johnson | Florida Atlantic | C-USA | SR | 2,215 | 17/5 |
Johnson played at East Mississippi Community College prior to Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | Jake Rudock | Michigan | Big Ten | SR | 2,436 | 16/5 |
There’s still no definitive winner here — Shane Morris still is competing — so this is a projection. Either way, it may be another season or two before Michigan gets the sort of quarterback play coach Jim Harbaugh wants.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59 | Tyrone Swoopes | Texas | Big 12 | JR | 2,409 | 13/11 |
The Longhorns have been waiting on the next great quarterback since 2009. It doesn’t seem likely that it’s Swoopes, who nearly threw as many interceptions as touchdowns last season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
58 | Travis Wilson | Utah | Pac-12 | SR | 2,170 | 18/5 |
Concussion issues nearly ended the career of the 6-foot-7 senior. He also had a tough time securing his job this preseason. But when Utah takes the field, Wilson again will start.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
57 | Joe Licata | Buffalo | MAC | SR | 2,647 | 29/11 |
Licata recently was described by a newspaper as “consistently sensational” during the team’s preseason scrimmages. He’s gotten better every year, and may reach 3,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56 | Reggie Bonnafon | Louisville | ACC | SO | 864 | 5/4 |
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino is playing coy with his starter, but it sounds like Bonnafon has the best chance to win the job.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
55 | Driphus Jackson | Rice | C-USA | SR | 2,842 | 24/8 |
Jackson produced his best running performance of the year against Texas A&M in 2014, gaining 84 yards on 13 carries.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
54 | Kevin Ellison | Georgia Southern | S. Belt | JR | 1,001 | 5/3 |
Ellison led Georgia Southern to a 9-win season operating the team’s triple-option offense last year. He rushed for more yards (1,096) than he accrued as a passer.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
53 | Michael Brewer | Virginia Tech | ACC | SR | 2,692 | 18/15 |
Most of the nation, including SEC fans, will be rooting for Brewer this week as he attempts to engineer a second consecutive upset of No. 1 Ohio State.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
52 | Nick Stevens | Colorado State | MWC | SO | 136 | 1/0 |
Stevens will handle the position as the team transitions from Jim McElwain to former Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51 | Blake Kemp | East Carolina | AAC | JR | N/A | N/A |
Shane Carden has departed and Kurk Benkert suffered a season-ending injury last week, clearing the way for the Chandler, Ariz., product to throw his first college pass. He should get an opportunity at good numbers in the Pirates offense.
NOT QUITE NATIONAL NAMES
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | Blake Frohnapfel | UMass | MAC | SR | 3,345 | 23/10 |
At 6-foot-6, Frohnapfel averaged 334.5 passing yards per game, but also absorbed 22 sacks and threw 10 interceptions in 10 games, compiling a 3-7 record. Still, he’s better than average for a Group of 5 quarterback.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49 | Chad Voytik | Pitt | ACC | JR | 2,233 | 16/7 |
Voytik benefits from two outstanding teammates — RB James Conner and WR Tyler Boyd. As such, look for his efficiency to improve in 2015.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
48 | Luke Falk | Washington State | Pac-12 | SO | 1,859 | 13/7 |
Falk’s arm is liable to fall off if it’s not infused with rubber. Picking up where Connor Halliday left off, he attempted 74 passes and threw for 601 yards in a late-season loss to Arizona State.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
47 | Fredi Knighten | Arkansas State | S. Belt | SR | 3,277 | 24/7 |
At 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, Knighten topped 4,000 yards of total offense last season, running for an additional 11 scores. He may be the best Sun Belt quarterback.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | Chad Kelly | Ole Miss | SEC | JR | 3,905 | 47/8 |
The former Clemson headliner (headache?) was an unstoppable talent at the junior college level. Will he parlay that into SEC success? His raw ability would rank him higher on this list. We’ll see if he can harness it for an entire season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Maty Mauk | Missouri | SEC | JR | 2,648 | 25/13 |
A promising career launch as an injury replacement for James Franklin escalated to a fever pitch early last season. Then Mauk, a poor man’s Johnny Manziel, suffered a shoulder injury and a bout of happy feet and poor decision-making. If he can harness his improvisation and couple it with better technique, he’ll move up this list by the end of the year.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
44 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | Big 12 | JR | 2,315 | 12/9 |
The former Texas Tech walk-on beat out Trevor Knight. Alabama rejoices, while Katy Perry is bummed.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | Josh Rosen | UCLA | Pac-12 | FR | N/A | N/A |
Our first true freshman starter on this list, Rosen replaces Brett Hundley on a Bruins team thinking Pac-12 championship.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
42 | Tommy Armstrong Jr. | Nebraska | Big Ten | JR | 2,695 | 22/12 |
While not exactly Eric Crouch, Armstrong Jr. did rush for 705 yards last year. He’s a capable third-year starter for the Cornhuskers.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
41 | Sam B. Richardson | Iowa State | Big 12 | SR | 2,669 | 18/9 |
Richardson uses the middle initial to differentiate himself from Sam E. Richardson, a cornerback for the Cyclones.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
40 | Matt Johnson | Bowling Green | MAC | SR | 313 | 0/3 |
Johnson missed most of last season due to injury after guiding Bowling Green to the 2013 Mid-American Conference championship in an upset of then-Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
39 | Greg Ward Jr. | Houston | AAC | JR | 2,010 | 12/7 |
The speedy returnee has to beat out Adam Schulz — it’s not clear if he’s got the job locked down — but can expect to improve under the tutelage of former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38 | Patrick Towles | Kentucky | SEC | JR | 2,718 | 14/9 |
If he can clean up his mechanics and translate his natural athleticism into greater consistency, Towles could finish 2015 as one of the best four or five quarterbacks in the SEC.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37 | Zach Terrell | Western Michigan | MAC | JR | 3,443 | 26/10 |
Terrell’s completion percentage took a huge leap last season — from 53.0 percent to 67.9 percent. The team followed suit, jumping from 1-11 to 8-5.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36 | Brandon Allen | Arkansas | SEC | SR | 2,285 | 20/5 |
If Allen can approximate his TD/INT ratio from 2014 and hit on a few more passes downfield, the Razorbacks are pointed toward an outstanding season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
35 | Ryan Finley | Boise State | MWC | SO | 161 | 2/1 |
Finley is tough, his coaches said when they awarded him the job. He’s gotten through injuries and alcohol-related arrest for the opportunity to lead what many believe is a Top 25 team in 2015.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
34 | Wes Lunt | Illinois | Big Ten | JR | 1,763 | 14/3 |
The oft-injured Lunt, a one-time Oklahoma State quarterback, has an outstanding arm and good size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds). If he can stay on the field, he could become one of the better Big Ten quarterbacks.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | Sefo Liufau | Colorado | Pac-12 | JR | 3,200 | 28/15 |
Liufau kept the Buffaloes feisty at times last season, including a 7-touchdown performance in a two-overtime loss at Cal. He attempted 40 passes in seven different games. He’s 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, but needs to cut down on mistakes.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
32 | Patrick Mahomes | Texas Tech | Big 12 | SO | 1,547 | 16/4 |
Mahomes ended his freshman season with a flourish, lighting up Baylor for 598 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 48-46 loss.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 | Jake Coker | Alabama | SEC | SR | 403 | 4/0 |
Coker is the highest-rated player on this list that hasn’t yet won the starting job. Alec Morris and Cooper Bateman remain part of the competition. But Coker is a fringe NFL talent. If he starts, he’s capable of putting up efficient numbers with the Tide’s offensive talent.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | Chuckie Keeton | Utah State | MWC | SR | 426 | 2/4 |
After getting battered and bruised by Tennessee in last year’s Sunday season opener, Keeton lasted two more games before a porous offensive line led to a season-ending injury. Under normal circumstances, Keeton has one of the better arms in college football.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 | Kevin Hogan | Stanford | Pac-12 | SR | 2,792 | 19/8 |
Hogan never has transitioned from “very good” to “elite” despite playing so many snaps his first three seasons. Maybe that will change this year for the 6-foot-4 passer.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 | Anu Solomon | Arizona | Pac-12 | SO | 3,793 | 28/9 |
Solomon threw 25 touchdown passes during the first nine games of his college career. What is the encore?
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | Everett Golson | Florida State | ACC | SR | 3,445 | 29/14 |
Talk about an interesting career arc: Golson started the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama as a freshman, then endured an academic suspension from Notre Dame, worked with renowned quarterback guru George Whitfield for a year, came back a “changed player,” nearly ended Florida State’s long winning streak, became turnover prone, lost his starting job and transferred to that same FSU team as the replacement for Jameis Winston.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Jacoby Brissett | N.C. State | ACC | SR | 2,606 | 23/5 |
Since backing up John Brantley at Florida, Brissett has carved out a nice college career for himself in Raleigh, N.C.
BONA FIDE STARS
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | Paxton Lynch | Memphis | AAC | JR | 3,031 | 22/9 |
The 6-foot-7 Lynch completed nearly 63 percent of his passes in 2014.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | Nate Sudfeld | Indiana | Big Ten | SR | 1,151 | 6/3 |
After upsetting Missouri on the road, Sudfeld threw precisely 75 more passes in 2014 and then suffered a season-ending injury. Without RB Tevin Coleman, the Hoosiers need him to keep chucking the ball this fall.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Keenan Reynolds | Navy | AAC | SR | 2,798 | 23/7 |
Reynolds has rushed for 64 touchdowns during his three years operating the team’s triple-option offense. With just 14 more, he’ll break the all-time FBS record set by Wisconsin’s Montee Ball in 2012.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Marquise Williams | North Carolina | ACC | SR | 3,068 | 21/9 |
Williams also rushed for 13 touchdowns in 2014. If he gets help from new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik’s unit, the Tar Heels could give South Carolina lots of trouble Thursday night.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Kyle Allen | Texas A&M | SEC | SO | 1,322 | 16/7 |
Can growing confidence and an array of superior pass-catchers carry the Aggies’ sophomore quarterback to 4,000 passing yards in 2015?
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Malik Zaire | Notre Dame | Ind. | JR | 266 | 1/0 |
Finally free of Everett Golson, it’s up to Zaire to legitimize Notre Dame’s spot at No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Brandon Doughty | Western Kentucky | C-USA | SR | 4,830 | 49/10 |
As if Vanderbilt needed any more bad luck, the Commodores must face the most recognizable, prolific Group of 5 quarterback in the country Week 1.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Mason Rudolph | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | SO | 853 | 6/4 |
A speculative player, Rudolph showed enough in three starts at the end of last season to electrify the Cowboys fan base. Will he live up to the hype?
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Gunner Kiel | Cincinnati | AAC | JR | 3,254 | 31/13 |
The former Notre Dame quarterback lived up to his name in 2013 after latching on with coach Tommy Tuberville’s Bearcats. He could be the top-ranked transfer quarterback this season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Vernon Adams | Oregon | Pac-12 | SR | 3,483 | 35/8 |
The Eastern Washington (FCS) transfer is one of the biggest unknowns of 2015; he hasn’t had much time to pick up the Ducks’ playbook, but some think he’s one of the best in the country already.
GOOD ENOUGH TO CARRY A TEAM
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Mike Bercovici | Arizona State | Pac-12 | SR | 1,445 | 12/4 |
After replacing an injured Taylor Kelly last season, Bercovici threw for 488 and 510 yards in consecutive games, adding 8 touchdowns.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Joshua Dobbs | Tennessee | SEC | JR | 1,206 | 9/6 |
Despite a shoddy offensive line, the Volunteers were effective moving the ball and scoring in 2014 when Dobbs — and his athletic ability — became the “CEO quarterback.”
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Taysom Hill | BYU | Ind. | SR | 975 | 9/3 |
Hill earned darkhorse Heisman Trophy talk last year as a dual-threat quarterback until his leg snapped.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Brad Kaaya | Miami | ACC | SO | 3,198 | 26/12 |
The 6-foot-4 Kaaya threw just three of his interceptions in the final seven games of his true freshman season.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Justin Thomas | Georgia Tech | ACC | JR | 1,719 | 18/6 |
A tad small (5-foot-11, 189 pounds), Thomas still is close to ideal as a triple-option quarterback. He led the Yellow Jackets to late-season wins against Georgia and Mississippi State in two of the team’s three most recent games.
DON’T CHANGE THE CHANNEL
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Jared Goff | Cal | Pac-12 | Jr | 3,973 | 35/7 |
The Golden Bears are going to surprise fans that don’t reside on the West Coast in large part due to this strong NFL prospect.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Jeremy Johnson | Auburn | SEC | JR | 436 | 3/0 |
At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, entering his third year in coach Gus Malzahn’s system, Johnson is the most intriguing Tigers starter since Cam Newton.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Christian Hackenberg | Penn State | Big Ten | JR | 2,977 | 12/15 |
Hackenberg curiously took a nose dive in 2014, but we trust NFL types who insist he’s a potential first-round draft pick.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Seth Russell | Baylor | Big 12 | JR | 804 | 8/1 |
Since Robert Griffin III left, the Bears are the closest thing in the country to a surefire quarterback factory.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Deshaun Watson | Clemson | ACC | SO | 1,466 | 14/2 |
Watson has been best-in-the-nation good when healthy, which he is entering 2015. He also gets to throw to one of the best receiving corps in the country.
ROCK STAR STATUS
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | J.T. Barrett | Ohio State | Big Ten | SO | 2,834 | 34/10 |
Whomever holds the starting quarterback label at Ohio State this year should be tremendous. We think it will be Barrett.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Connor Cook | Michigan State | Big Ten | SR | 3,214 | 24/8 |
Despite a strong running game and a dominant defense, the Spartans weren’t a top 5 program until Cook came into his own as the starter.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Dak Prescott | Miss. State | SEC | SR | 3,449 | 27/11 |
What doesn’t show up in those numbers: Prescott is a candidate to rush for 1,000 yards as well.
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Cody Kessler | USC | Pac-12 | SR | 3,826 | 39/5 |
Even more than our No. 1, Kessler could be college football’s stats monster in 2015.
SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH’S NO. 1 QB FOR 2015
Rank | QB | School | Conf | Class | Pass Yds. | TD/INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trevone Boykin | TCU | Big 12 | SR | 3,901 | 33/10 |
Boykin was a revelation last season — one stemming from the unlikely marriage between coach Gary Patterson and the Air Raid offense. The Horned Frogs averaged 46.5 points per game in 2014, second in the country, and return 10 starters on offense. Make the playoffs, and Boykin is a strong bet to win the Heisman Trophy.