Preseason Ranking the top 13 college football quarterbacks in 2024
Check out our Top 13 college football quarterbacks in the Preseason. We will start at 13 and work our way down to 1! Let us know what you think on Twitter!
13. Dillon Gabriel, ORUN
The UCF/Oklahoma transfer looks to have a big season in an offense that fits his play style well. A true RPO system QB, his highest quality trait is his ability to create with his legs. Does not have the build of an NFL QB, being 5’11 with below-average arm strength and accuracy while not being a plus athlete is very concerning for me.
12. Conner Weigman, TXAM
Weigman’s 2023 campaign was cut short by a foot injury he sustained, causing him to only play 4 games. He plays with solid athleticism and has showcased the ability to extend plays with his legs while keeping his focus downfield. His largest weakness is his poise under pressure, gets panicky and has happy feet when he feels pressure causing misfires.
11. Donovan Smith, TXHO
Smith is a high-ceiling player with a raw skillset. He displays impressive quickness in the pocket and in space. He plays loose with his mechanics which leads to inaccuracy at all three levels. Needs to improve his understanding of when to use touch and fire a bullet, these decisions have led to crucial turnovers for the Cougars.
10. Jaxson Dart, MSUN
Dart plays a fun backyard football style of QB where he relies on his legs to get him out of tough situations, often creating positive plays for the offense. He is a good athlete with adequate arm strength. He is a quick processor and understands how to work through progressions. His mechanics are adequate at best, needs to improve his footwork and not pat the ball before every release. If he cleans that up and improves his timing on anticipatory throws he could rise boards.
9. Cam Ward, FLMI
Cam Ward is a very exciting player with very good arm strength. He started his career at UIW before Washington State and now Miami. A tremendous athlete who can make throws most players dream of making, he is an RPO guy with a quick release. Most accurate attacking short areas, accuracy drops downfield. Has a large hole in his game vs pressure, he floats way behind the LOS putting himself and the offense in awful positions. Causes large negative plays too often.
8. Graham Mertz, FLUN
An adequate athlete that flashes play extension ability with his quickness within the pocket. I like how he drives the ball to the 2nd level between coverages and has adequate accuracy when working short to intermittently. Can struggle with his accuracy when throwing with a touch downfield. One of the cleaner QBs in this class as far as mechanics.
7. Riley Leonard, INND
Leonard is going into his first year at Notre Dame after his former HC took the job in College Station. Leonard was off to a great start in 2023 before suffering a brutal sprained ankle. He is an elite athlete at the position, very Josh Allen-like when he is in space with very good COD. Throws with marginal accuracy and has below-average velocity. Does not have the quickest processor, but he is very quick to use his legs. Overall I am very unsure of his QB ability at the next level due to struggling with progressions. His pedigree as an athlete will buy him time in the league.
6. Jalen Milroe, ALUN
Milroe is an intriguing option going into the 2024 season. Milroe has flashed impressive NFL-level throws with good arm strength and throws are solid at throwing with anticipation. Has good timing with teammates and is a good processor working through reads. Disappointed in how nonchalant he is with his mechanics, I know he is a good athlete so it would be great if he showed that when he is inside the pocket. Has heavy feet in his drop with adequate play speed.
5. Drew Allar, PAST
Allar truly is a throwback-type QB, he is a true pocket passer with a 6’4 frame while weighing 246 lbs. A conservative player who does not take many shots downfield and plays in a heavy run offense where he can exceed attacking off of PA. Not much of an athlete, but has some quickness in the pocket, and relies on the large frame to break through sacks. Smart with football, with only 4 ints in his career.
4. Carson Beck, GAUN
Beck is an adequate athlete with an above-average processor. He excels attacking the middle third of the field’s soft spots with good timing. Has good overall arm strength and is one of the most accurate QBs in the class. The big question with him is what will it look like if he does not have a top offensive unit surrounding him.
3. Quinn Ewers, TXUN
Ewers blew me away with how much he improved from his 2022 campaign. He improved vastly as a decision-maker, showing he is beyond capable of progressing through his reads to find the open man. He displays elite arm strength and can drop the ball in buckets 40+ yards downfield. He is an accurate thrower when working the first two levels and has flashed the ability to extend plays. Love his mechanics, clean footwork, always looks ready to throw. Putting on some weight would help at the next level.
2. Sheduer Sanders, COUN
Sheduer is the best anticipatory thrower in this year’s class. He displays very good accuracy with good timing on short/intermediate routes. Places the ball in a spot that is often optimal for YAC yards. An underrated athlete that can extend plays with his feet and is smart about taking hits. Would really like to see him improve on the time in which he is releasing the ball, takes way too many sacks trying to wait till the last second for someone to get open. Can improve the quickness in his release, longer and higher than most at the position.
1. Noah Fifita, AZUN
Fifita is a really impressive athlete who can get out of tough situations with his legs and attack downfield from different platforms with plus arm strength. Has a quick release that allows him to be a successful RPO QB. A very smart football player who plays with very good timing at the 2nd level. Above-average feel for throwing his receivers open in space. Needs to improve his ball placement on deep balls and accuracy by stepping into throws when attacking downfield. Size is a major concern here, although if Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Bryce Young got shots at going in the 1st round, I do not see why Fifita would not have a chance to do the same. Also is a redshirt Sophomore, so he has plenty of eligibility to work himself into day 1 conversation.
