The success of a team hinges on the production at the quarterback position.
So says GIL BRANDT, who oversaw the Dallas Cowboys' personnel department for 29 years and currently shares his gridiron knowledge as a senior analyst for NFL.com.
"The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and we have an abundance of elite quarterbacks under center in 2010," Brandt says. "Quarterbacks are so much better prepared these days. The position is stronger than ever."
Brandt, who also visits college campuses for draft analysis on NFL.com, sees plenty of quarterback talent coming up the pike.
"This senior quarterback class at the collegiate level is a good one this year," says Brandt. "I think a number of guys from that group can eventually be starting QBs in the National Football League."
Following are Brandt's choices for the top QBs in college today (listed alphabetically):
Top College Quarterbacks
Quarterback | College | Ht / Wt | Brandt's Analysis |
---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL | |||
Jerrod Johnson | Texas A&M | 6-5/240 | "Passed for 3,579 yards and 30 TDs last year. He is very athletic and has a strong arm. He registered eight rushing touchdowns in 2009. Played on Texas A&M's basketball team in 2006." |
Case Keenum | Houston | 6-2/210 | "Accuracy is the name of his game. He's a control quarterback that can place the ball in the right places. He had 700 pass attempts and set a school singleseason record with 5,671 passing yards last year and added 44 TD passes." |
Jake Locker | Washington | 6-3/225 | "He's extremely well-coached. He's a run-first quarterback with a very strong arm. He's a great athlete who throws a 95 mph fastball. He signed a baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2009." |
Andrew Luck | Stanford | 6-4/234 | "His father, Oliver Luck, played quarterback for the Houston Oilers from 1983-86. He is a very intelligent quarterback with good accuracy." |
Ryan Mallett | Arkansas | 6-6/240 | "Had 3,627 passing yards with 30 TD passes in 2009. Has great size and unbelievable arm strength." |
Christian Ponder | Florida State | 6-3/227 | "He runs a pro-style offense very effectively. Had 2,717 passing yards with 14 TD passes in 2009. Already completed his undergraduate degree in finance and earned his MBA and will be halfway through a master's degree in sports management this fall." |
Terrelle Pryor | Ohio State | 6-6/235 | "He is an outstanding athlete. He passed for 2,094 yards with 30 TDs in 2009. He also rushed for 779 yards and seven touchdowns." |
BRANDT'S HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Andy Dalton, TCU; Patrick Devlin, Delaware; Nathan Enderle, Idaho; Ricky Stanzi, Iowa; Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech.
The talent pool will only deepen with these five high school seniors, rated in order of talent by CBS College Sports Network recruiting expert TOM LEMMING:
Top High School Quarterbacks
Quarterback | High School | Ht / Wt | Lemming's Analysis |
---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL | |||
Braxton Miller | 6-3/200 | Wayne (OH) | "He's a spread-offense quarterback. Has a real good arm and great running skills. He can do it all." |
Christian LeMay | 6-3/195 | Butler (NC) | "He is a pro-style quarterback with a great arm. He's a prolific passer at a prolific high school." |
Kiehl Frazier | 6-3/210 | Shiloh Christian (AR) | "A very good spread-offense quarterback. He has the ability to run and throw. Has a knack for making defenders miss." |
Bubba Starling | 6-5/200 | Gardner-Edgerton (KS) | "He has a great arm. Some people are projecting him to be a first-round pick in baseball next year. He is a big-time athlete." |
Marquise Williams | 6-4/220 | Mallard Creek (NC) | "A very good passer and a good athlete. He can be a real physical player if decides to tuck the ball and run. Has great size" |
LEMMING'S HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Jeff Driskel, Hagerty (FL); Cody Kessler, Centennial (CA); Max Wittek, Mater Dei (CA).
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