Every August, returning quarterbacks around college football generate unparalleled interest, and the 2023 collection is no exception.
The overall transfer market might not have popped as much as the one heading into the 2022 season, but Notre Dame‘s Sam Hartman (Wake Forest) and Kentucky‘s Devin Leary (NC State) are among the ones generating buzz entering the fall.
During the spring and summer, I spoke with more than 20 head coaches and assistants from across the country to break down the strengths and weaknesses of the top returning quarterbacks. Here’s what they had to say.
Caleb Williams, USC: The 2022 Heisman winner drew high marks — unsurprisingly — from coaches, who noted that his athleticism helped USC handle a new scheme under coach Lincoln Riley and covered up some possible issues along the offensive line. Williams had 10 rushing touchdowns on 113 carries and consistently extended plays with his legs.
His mobility complemented an accurate and prolific passing output (4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, 66.6% completions).
“It’s the non-normal play, where Caleb is scrambling and he’s looking down the field,” a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. “All of a sudden, you’ve got everybody covered, and then the play breaks down or he scrambles and all of a sudden, it’s a 60-yard gain. We counted 10 of those in various games.”
Added another Pac-12 defensive coordinator: “Everybody said [USC] had a good O-line last year, but that’s just because Caleb could run.”
Michael Penix Jr., Washington: After injuries derailed his career at Indiana, Penix found the perfect system/coach by reuniting with Kalen DeBoer in Seattle. DeBoer, who served as Penix’s offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2019, orchestrated a system in which Penix could feel protected and maximize his passing prowess.
Penix set single-season Washington records with 4,641 passing yards and 4,733 of total offense, while taking only five sacks on 573 dropbacks.
“So accurate and poised,” a Pac-12 coach said. “He’ll hold that ball forever and get it out.”
Washington returns tackles Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten, who can protect Penix and ensure his arm — considered one of the nation’s best — is put to full use.
“He was my first-team all-conference pick last year,” a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. “Now it’s different if you can get to him. If you watch the Arizona State game from last year, he still had a big game, but they affected him at critical times. He’s like any quarterback. You need to get him uncomfortable.”
Bo Nix, Oregon: Like Penix, Nix benefited greatly from transferring to the Pac-12 after his time at Auburn reached an impasse. Nix thrived in a freewheeling offense, looking confident and comfortable as he attacked defenses in different ways.
Pac-12 coaches respect Nix’s experience and knowledge of the game. They wonder how he’ll deal with another new coordinator (Will Stein) and an offensive line that loses some key parts.
“He’s earned enough swagger that if he doesn’t like what’s going on, he will make sure it’s stuff he likes,” a Pac-12 coach said. “He’ll be able to say, ‘This is what we’re doing. I want to run this.’ Very NFL style.”
Stein told ESPN he appreciates Nix’s knowledge and freedom to shape the offense. But some coaches say Nix is at his best when operating a streamlined scheme. One noted Nix’s early struggles against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl before a big fourth quarter lifted Oregon to victory.
“They started doing a lot, motions and that stuff, and he didn’t play well at all,” said a defensive coordinator who faced Oregon. “Then, they slowed it down and made it simple for him. Look for how much motioning and shifting, how many different formations you see [defenses] in, because if you see all of that, he’s not going to be as good.”
Cam Rising, Utah: He has two Pac-12 titles under his belt along with 18 wins in 25 career starts. Rising earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021, when the league’s overall quarterback play wasn’t as robust, and honorable mention honors last season despite better numbers (3,034 pass yards, 26 touchdowns, 465 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns) than the previous fall (2,493 pass yards, 20 touchdowns, 499 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns).
The main question is Rising’s health after he tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. Rising has been limited early in training camp.
“He’s a gritty player,” a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. “He reminds me of a Big Ten player: tough as nails, very consistent, and he’s going to play hard every play.”
Jayden de Laura, Arizona: He has made his mark at two Pac-12 programs, earning the league’s Offensive Freshman of the Year honors at Washington State in 2021 and putting up the third-best single-season passing total in Arizona history (3,685 yards) last fall. De Laura has 48 passing touchdowns the past two seasons but also 23 interceptions, as he plays with an aggressive style that can border on reckless at times.
“I get that he makes mistakes, but man, when you’re preparing for him, it’s not like you’re saying, ‘OK, good,'” a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. “You’re like, ‘Oh, hell, OK, another one.”
De Laura has delivered huge performances against Colorado (484 pass yards, most ever allowed by a Buffaloes team, and six touchdowns) and UCLA (78.6% completions, 315 yards), but also has had five multi-interception games the past two seasons.
“He’s just super athletic,” a Pac-12 coach said. “But if you hit him, it becomes a fight and then he loses his head and makes mistakes.”
DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State: The next chapter of Uiagalelei’s career will be fascinating. In his first career start back in 2020, he passed for 439 yards at Notre Dame, the most ever allowed by a visiting player. He appeared ready to follow predecessors Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, but he couldn’t get on track as Clemson’s full-time starter in 2021, completing only 55.6% of his passes and with more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9). Uiagalelei was better last season — 62.1% completions, 22 touchdowns, 7 interceptions — but was benched in the ACC championship game and soon transferred.
He picked Oregon State for its pro-style offense, which he hopes will broaden his skill set and accelerate his NFL development. A Power 5 defensive coordinator questioned the transition, noting that if Uiagalelei couldn’t succeed at Clemson — “The simplest system you’re ever going to see, and he’s getting benched,” he said — Oregon State would be a tough challenge.
“He’s super talented,” the coach added. “I just don’t think he can process.”
Several coaches who faced Uiagalelei at Clemson noted his running numbers, which increased every year. Oregon State has a deep group of backs, led by Damien Martinez, and doesn’t rely on the quarterback run, but it could use Uiagalelei’s size and athleticism.
“Any time [Clemson] got in the red zone or third-and-medium, he was running it,” a Power 5 defensive coordinator said.
Added a Pac-12 defensive coordinator: “He brings the running element that you never had to worry about when you played them.”
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: When Deion Sanders became Colorado’s coach, he left no doubt about who would be the team’s QB1, pointing to his son at the first team meeting and saying, “That’s your quarterback.” Shedeur shined for Deion at Jackson State, passing for 6,963 yards and 70 touchdowns in two seasons and completing 69% of his attempts.
The key is how Shedeur Sanders will transition to the FBS and the Pac-12, although coaches think coordinator Sean Lewis’ offense will put Sanders in position to succeed. A defensive coordinator set to face Colorado described the offense’s pre-snap motion as “kind of gimmicky” but noted the difficulty it poses in changing tempo. The coach also noted Sanders’ connection with fellow Jackson State transfer Travis Hunter, who “can take the top off” defenses when playing receiver.
“It will be interesting to see,” said another defensive coordinator who will face Sanders this season. “He’s athletic. You don’t know what kind of passer he is. Looks like he’s good enough to do it, but you just don’t know. The system is smart; it will spread you out. We’re going to have to force [Sanders] to do something and see if the game plan works.”
Dante Moore, UCLA: True freshmen rarely appear in this breakdown, but coaches are aware of what the Bruins are getting in Moore, ESPN’s No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class. Moore originally committed to Oregon before signing with UCLA, which has an open competition at quarterback after Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s departure.
He’s by far the highest-rated recruit of coach Chip Kelly’s tenure and could be a Day 1 starter in Westwood. But Moore is a different type of quarterback than Kelly usually has for his offenses.
“Dante is pro-style,” a Power 5 coach said. “He’s not in any way, shape or form a dual [threat]. But he’s an elite passer. Elite.”
A Pac-12 defensive coordinator expects Kelly to emphasize the run game with the backs, “Allowing the QB, if it’s the freshman, just to make some effective decisions.”
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan: He emerged as Michigan’s QB1 early last season and efficiently led a run-heavy offense before opening things up in the passing game down the stretch. McCarthy, ESPN’s No. 25 overall recruit in the 2021 class, had 2,719 passing yards with 22 touchdowns, plus decent running numbers.
He executed a relatively safe passing game, though, and struggled at times with downfield throws. Coaches are curious whether a more unleashed McCarthy will be a better version.
“He’s at the top of the league, obviously, I’m just not sure how good he really is,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. “He was protected in terms of actually having to go out there and make some s— happen on his own. If they can run the ball, then they can protect those guys and not ask them to do a ton.”
McCarthy only had five interceptions on 322 attempts, but several proved particularly costly, including two pick-sixes in Michigan’s CFP semifinal loss to TCU.
“He’s just gotta protect the ball,” a Big Ten coach said. “If he does that, they have very gifted players. I thought he made them different.”
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland: He has unfairly gone through his college career as “Tua’s brother,” but Taulia is carving his own legacy at Maryland, where he’s already the career leader in passing yards (7,879), completions (665), completion percentage (67.4) and career touchdowns (51). Coach Mike Locksley thinks Tagovailoa belongs on the NFL radar and will soon join his older brother, telling ESPN, “There hasn’t been a more consistent guy that throws the ball well and puts his team in position to win than Lia.”
Big Ten coaches are bullish on Tagovailoa, noting he thrives in a “freewheeling,” quarterback-friendly offense.
“He’s really good,” a Big Ten coach said. “He’s probably one of the best in the conference.”
“He’s dangerous,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. “He’s a little inconsistent, but when he’s on, he can win a game. He played Michigan tough; he played Ohio State really tough.”
Cade McNamara, Iowa: Imagine helping Michigan to the team’s first win over Ohio State in a decade, its first Big Ten title since 2004 and its first-ever CFP appearance … and then losing your job. McNamara will have plenty of motivation as he takes over an Iowa offense that will welcome his steadiness and experience after the Hawkeyes’ historically poor performance in 2022.
In his lone full season as Michigan’s starter, McNamara completed 64.2% of his passes for 2,576 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
“He’s really good, and he has to be really motivated,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. “Cade is very capable of [helping] them beating some people they haven’t been able to beat the last couple of years with that offense. I would be shocked if they didn’t win the West [Division].”
Added a Big Ten coach: “The kid’s gritty and tough. He’s got something to him. I think they’re going to be instantly better because of that. Quarterback hasn’t been what it used to be there.”
Hudson Card, Purdue: Shortly after being hired at Purdue, coach Ryan Walters targeted Card as a package deal with new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell to lead the Air Raid at Ross-Ade. Card, who transferred after making five starts at Texas, immediately established himself as Purdue’s starter this spring. He had solid numbers in limited work with the Longhorns last season — 69.4% completions, 928 pass yards, 6 touchdowns, 1 interception — but could really thrive under Harrell’s tutelage.
“He was one of the top [transfers], we thought,” a Big Ten coach said. “But, at the same time, he still got beat out twice [at Texas]. But he is talented for sure. He’ll give them a shot.”
Where Card sets himself apart from most Air Raid quarterbacks is his athleticism, which Walters and Harrell raved about during the offseason. Card had only 47 rushes at Texas.
“He can run better than people think,” another Big Ten coach said. “That’s why they liked him.”
Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin: The team’s transition under new coach Luke Fickell included three incoming quarterback transfers. Mordecai, who began his college career at Oklahoma and started the past two seasons at SMU, was among that group. He sought out new Wisconsin OC Phil Longo and the Air Raid system for his final college stop. Mordecai finished in the top 20 nationally in passing in each of the past two seasons, and he set SMU records for career touchdown passes (72) and 300-yard passing games (13).
AAC defensive coordinators didn’t think Mordecai had overwhelming arm talent, but one said he “fits who Longo wants to be.”
“Phil has done a good job with quarterbacks,” an ACC defensive coordinator said. “It doesn’t seem like he puts a whole lot of stress on them. Some guys take three or four years to develop, but his quarterbacks go in there and they usually play well [immediately].”
Drew Allar, Penn State: There’s awareness of Allar around the Big Ten, even though he hasn’t started games and is navigating somewhat of a competition in camp with Beau Pribula. Allar was ESPN’s No. 2 pocket passer and No. 51 overall player in the 2022 class. He has a massive frame at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds and could elevate an offense that ranked 50th nationally in yards per attempt (7.78) in 2022.
Allar backed up longtime starter Sean Clifford last season and passed for 344 yards and four touchdowns.
A Big Ten assistant who knows Allar from recruiting said: “He’s got a huge arm, he can rip it, he’s accurate as hell.” The assistant noted that Allar operated a pass-heavy offense in high school and could help Penn State open up its scheme.
“He’s got really good arm talent,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator added. “I don’t think he’s super athletic. I think he moves decent, where Clifford, at times, we missed three or four sacks on him with his ability to move around. There’s always [quarterbacks] who get the hype, and you just don’t know.”
Kyle McCord/Devin Brown, Ohio State: The two contenders to replace Stroud are logging plenty of reps in camp, as Ohio State has been operating on two practice fields. McCord, ESPN’s No. 31 overall recruit in 2021, who enters his third year with the Buckeyes, is seen as a slight favorite. He boasts a strong arm and played high school ball with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Biletnikoff Award favorite. He also has appeared in 12 games for the Buckeyes.
But Brown is a worthy competitor who brings more athleticism and natural playmaking ability to the offense.
“Either one, you can just mark it down that they’re going to throw for x amount of yards, x amount of touchdowns; that’s just how they operate,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. “I do think they’ll try to run the ball more this year.”
Athan Kaliakmanis, Minnesota: The Gophers are going through an offensive reboot after the departures of four-year starting quarterback Tanner Morgan, career rushing leader Mohamed Ibrahim and coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. But there’s a lot of internal optimism around Kaliakmanis, a 6-4 sophomore who should elevate a passing game that ranked 115th nationally last fall. Coach P.J. Fleck told ESPN that Kaliakmanis has “a completely different skill set” from Morgan and said he expects the offense to be “a lot more balanced than we’ve ever been.”
Kaliakmanis played well down the stretch, passing for 319 yards and two touchdowns against Wisconsin and completing 7 of 9 passes in a bowl win against Syracuse.
“He’s more athletic than you think,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. “He can run around. They say they want to open it up and all that, but we’ll see.”
ACC
Drake Maye, North Carolina: His first season as a starter brought team records in passing yards (4,321) and completions (342), and he tied the single-season mark for touchdown passes (38). Maye displayed accuracy and production, and surprised coach Mack Brown with his mobility, rushing for 698 yards and seven touchdowns. His overall numbers mirrored those of recent Heisman Trophy winners, and he could challenge Williams to become the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
“The best quarterback in our league, and I don’t think it’s even close,” an ACC defensive coordinator said. “He’s smart and he’s big. The one thing about him, though, is he doesn’t like to get hit. If you sit back and give that kid time, he is going to pick you apart. The key to beating him is you’ve got to bring pressure. He doesn’t like any kind of traffic in front of him.”
A challenge for Maye could be a coordinator change with Phil Longo off to Wisconsin and veteran playcaller Chip Lindsey replacing him.
“I think he’s phenomenal,” an ACC coach said of Maye. “He can move, he’s an athlete, but it will be interesting to see. Longo kept things really simple.”
Jordan Travis, Florida State: His passing numbers took off last season as he finished with 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions, while remaining a consistent threat with his legs (417 rushing yards, seven touchdowns). Travis joined Heisman Trophy winners Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke and Jameis Winston as the only FSU players to record 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in a season.
Coaches are somewhat split on Travis, while acknowledging his improvement and potential for even bigger things as a senior.
“He’s much better than he was two years ago,” an ACC coach said.
A defensive coordinator who faced Travis was less impressed, saying, “He’s not as good as all the hype he’s getting. I don’t think he’s even close to being the best quarterback in this league.”
Brennan Armstrong, NC State: He’s arguably the most interesting quarterback in the ACC because of the past two seasons, and what could come next. While at Virginia in 2021, Armstrong delivered the best passing season in team history, setting records for yards (4,449), touchdowns (31), completions (326) and single-game yards (554 against North Carolina). Last season, things fell apart as he had more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (7), and had his first two attempts returned for touchdowns in a loss to Pitt.
The move to NC State reunites Armstrong with coordinator Robert Anae, who served as Virginia’s offensive coordinator during his first four seasons. Anae helped Syracuse’s quarterback play as OC last season and now looks to revive his former pupil. ACC coaches acknowledge Armstrong’s talent but note the disparity in his play.
“Armstrong is really good,” an ACC coach said. “When Anae was the offensive coordinator, he looked amazing, he’s going to be a [NFL] first-rounder. Anae’s system is productive but it’s weird, so Armstrong could have a great year at NC State. But is he an NFL quarterback? No, because he can’t adjust to another system.”
Tyler Van Dyke, Miami: Like Armstrong, Van Dyke has gone through it all the last two seasons. He won ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2021, passing for 2,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Van Dyke was seen as a legitimate NFL prospect, especially if he could build on his production under new coach Mario Cristobal. But things went the other way for Miami and Van Dyke, who saw his pass yards and touchdown totals drop significantly.
ACC coaches haven’t soured on Van Dyke. They attributed his backslide more to coaching/schematic issues than anything with his game.
“There was no system,” one ACC coach said.
An ACC defensive coordinator said he expected new OC Shannon Dawson to help Van Dyke recapture his 2021 form.
“I think Rhett Lashlee did a great job with him, and then the guys [Cristobal] hired stunk,” said a coach who faced Miami. “So he’s on his third offensive coordinator in three years, which doesn’t help him at all. There’s a lot of unknowns, whether this will fit him or not. It could be worse than last year, or it could be better than Lashlee.”
Riley Leonard, Duke: His name didn’t come up much when sizing up the ACC’s loaded quarterback group of 2022, but it does now. Leonard elevated his play under new coach Mike Elko and coordinator Kevin Johns last season, passing for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 699 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
The key is whether Leonard takes another step as Duke navigates a tougher schedule this season. His familiarity with Johns and the offense, as well as several key returning players, should help his chances.
“That quarterback gives them a chance, he’s good. I don’t know what’s around him,” an ACC defensive coordinator said. “If I’m the head coach and they said, ‘Take a quarterback and it can be the kid at Florida State or Duke,’ I’m taking that kid at Duke every day.”
Phil Jurkovec, Pitt: Like others on this list, Jurkovec is making his third college stop after starting at Notre Dame before transferring to Boston College. He had a strong 2020 season with the Eagles, passing for 2,558 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, to put himself on the NFL radar. But he missed most of 2021 with injury and struggled with performance and injury last fall, completing 59.5% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Jurkovec reunites at Pitt with coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., his playcaller in 2020 and 2021 at Boston College.
“He had the one good year at BC, which surprised me,” an ACC coach said. “Last year was more in line with what I thought he would have been when he transferred. But he’ll get into that offense at Pitt and they’ll take a lot of pressure off of him, because it will be so run heavy. They’ll run bootlegs and do all the things he does well. He could put it together.”
Jack Plummer, Louisville: Quarterbacks who transfer to play for coaches they know are increasingly common. Those who reunite with the same coach after losing their starting job the first time around are rarer. But Plummer is back with Jeff Brohm, his coach at Purdue from 2018 to 2021. Plummer started for the Boilermakers in 2019 and 2020 before losing the job to Aidan O’Connell midway through the 2021 season. He put up solid numbers for Purdue in 2020 and 2021 — 1,802 yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions, 69.7% completions — before transferring to Cal.
As Cal’s starter, Plummer eclipsed 3,000 passing yards with 21 touchdowns, despite playing behind a weak offensive line.
“Big-time arm,” said a coach who will face Louisville this season. “He’s a good player and he knows the system, so that should help, especially early. They’ve got 40 new guys. You don’t know how it will mesh until you start playing.”
SEC
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina: Rattler’s fascinating college career took a positive turn in 2022, especially down the stretch as he helped South Carolina to signature wins over Tennessee and Clemson. After a shaky first two months as a Gamecock, which mirrored Rattler’s 2021 pre-benching at Oklahoma, Rattler had 1,044 pass yards and 10 touchdowns in the final three games. His performance mirrored what several SEC coaches have seen in his play.
“If he’s on, he can be a really good player, but when he’s off, man, he can be off-off,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “If he can find consistency, he can start to tap into the buzz he generated at Oklahoma. He’s got sufficient arm talent, he can make the throws, but his decision-making can really struggle.”
He returns for his second season and fifth at the college level, although he’ll be working with another new coordinator in Dowell Loggains.
“His performance had been a little volatile, but as the year went on, he settled in,” an SEC coach said. “I was impressed with his athleticism, his arm, his ability to move and how he facilitated things.”
Added an SEC defensive coordinator: “He’s ultra talented. I just didn’t think he really saw the field pre-snap or post-snap really well. I felt the game was moving very quick for him. But when you look at what they did to Clemson and Tennessee, maybe it did slow down.”
Jayden Daniels, LSU: Few transfers last year benefited more from their moves, as Daniels revived his career at LSU and became one of the nation’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. He recorded a career high in completion percentage (68.6), while recapturing his 2019-like efficiency with 17 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.
What really stood out to coaches, though, was how he lifted LSU’s run game, leading the team in carries (186), yards (885) and touchdowns (11).
“He’s hell on wheels as far as running the ball, not necessarily extending plays but scrambling,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “As good as he is, he was afraid to pull the trigger [as a passer] sometimes. There might be receivers open and he held onto the ball and just trusted his legs more than he did his arm, even though he has a really good arm. That’s probably because he’s so athletic, he’s been able to get away with it his whole life.
“If he figures that part out, Year 2 in the system, pre-snap and post-snap reads and where to go with the ball before he has his hands on the ball, it’s not going to be good [for defenses].”
The coach thought Daniels came back to LSU to run less and improve his pocket presence for the NFL. But a defensive coordinator who has faced Daniels noted: “He’s not going to go to his B-game.”
“You’re trying to win a national championship, you’re trying to win a Heisman, and you’re trying to be a first-round draft pick,” the coach added. “He’ll do whatever he needs to do.”
Joe Milton III, Tennessee: No non-returning starter generated a stronger reaction from coaches than Milton, who replaced an injured Hooker down the stretch last season and will enter the fall as the Vols’ QB1. Coaches spoke of Milton’s Paul Bunyan-like arm and frame (6-5, 235 pounds), and how impressive he looked in warmups. I heard similar things from Big Ten coaches when Milton played at Michigan.
Milton has opened seasons as the starter for both Michigan and Tennessee but couldn’t keep the job. The key is whether he can build off an encouraging finish to last season, as he earned Orange Bowl MVP honors after a 251-yard, three-touchdown effort against Clemson.
“An absolute cannon for an arm,” an SEC coach said. “There’s no vertical shot he can’t hit. He’s a little more of a pocket passer and seems to be comfortable standing back there and making throws. He’s got all the right tools you need. He can reach the far numbers; he can spray it all over the field.”
The criticism of Milton is that he doesn’t always translate his arm strength to accuracy. He completed only 55.1% of his passes in 2020 (Michigan) and 2021 (Tennessee).
“He’s the most dangerous guy,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “He’s kind of like what Anthony Richardson was [in 2022], he’s humongous. I’ve watched him in warmups in pads and I’m like, ‘I hope he does not get in.’ But now he’s up.”
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas: He enters his third year as Arkansas’ starter but his first with a new offensive coordinator in Dan Enos, a veteran playcaller in his second OC stint with the Razorbacks. Jefferson had almost identical numbers the past two seasons despite missing two games in 2022, eclipsing 67% completions both times and combining for 45 touchdowns, only nine interceptions, 15 touchdowns and 1,304 rushing yards. A defensive coordinator who has faced Jefferson said he was disappointed in the talent surrounding the Hogs QB.
At 6-3 and 247 pounds, Jefferson is a load for defenders to bring down.
“The best thing about KJ is he’s so damn strong,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “You could have him wrapped up and he’s able to get out of tackles and extend plays. I’ll be interested to see how he fits into that offense and what Enos does with him. It’s more under-center and I don’t know if that necessarily fits KJ’s game.
“But he is talented. I was hoping he’d go pro.”
Will Rogers, Mississippi State: He enters his fourth season as the SEC’s career completions leader (1,159), and Mississippi State’s career leader in passing yards (10,689) and passing touchdowns (82). Rogers has started 32 consecutive games, going back to November 2020, and is on pace to become only the third SEC quarterback with more than 100 touchdown passes. He finished ninth and third nationally in passing average the past two seasons and skillfully operated the Air Raid offense under the late Mike Leach. SEC coaches praised Rogers’ accuracy and also his ability to make the right checks in the run game, which became a bigger threat in recent years.
The question going forward is how Rogers will fare in a different offense under new playcaller Kevin Barbay, brought in by Leach’s successor, Zach Arnett.
“He was best in that scheme with Coach Leach,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “I’ll be very interested to see how he does in whatever system they use. It’s a wait-and-see for me. His accuracy is solid, decision-making at times can be questionable. The kid’s a really good college quarterback. I don’t think he’ll be able to play at the next level. I don’t think he’s got elite-level arm strength. He was smart, he knew that system, he knew where to go with the ball. That’s what made him a good player.”
Devin Leary, Kentucky: Leary entered the 2022 season as a bona fide NFL draft prospect at NC State, following 35 touchdown passes in 2021. But after a so-so start, he sustained a torn pectoral muscle against Florida State that ended his season. He transferred to Kentucky, which loses Levis but regained offensive coordinator Liam Coen from the Rams. Coen helped accelerate Levis’ development after he transferred from Penn State.
Leary, who has 62 career touchdowns and 16 interceptions on 944 pass attempts, is seeking the same type of bump this fall.
“He’ll be well-coached in a good system,” an ACC coach said. “The ball will come out quick and I think he’ll do great. Him, Liam, in that system, will be really good.”
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss: Dart is facing some pressure to retain his job after Ole Miss added Spencer Sanders, a four-year starter at Oklahoma State, and LSU transfer Walker Howard, an ESPN top 50 recruit in 2022. But Dart has logged a year under coach Lane Kiffin and had some strong moments, finishing with 2,974 pass yards and 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and 614 rushing yards.
Consistency is the key for Dart after significant variances in his game-to-game accuracy last fall.
“I thought he was a good player, and he was able to do some things with his legs, too,” an SEC coach said. “Dart does a nice job facilitating. The big thing now is if he can take over games.”
Carson Beck, Georgia: Beck entered camp as the clear frontrunner to replace Stetson Bennett after a strong spring, capped by a clean performance in the G-Day game. He also backed up Bennett last season, displaying solid accuracy in limited work with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. As ESPN’s No. 234 overall recruit in 2020, Beck hasn’t been one of Georgia’s most heralded recent quarterback recruits — although certainly more decorated than Bennett, a former walk-on.
But he has been with the program since January 2020 and has faced elite defenders in practice to prepare him for the opportunity ahead.
“He’s ultra talented,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “The one thing he won’t have that Stetson Bennett did have is a lot of experience. But from a pure NFL talent standpoint, they say he’s got all the tools.”
Big 12
Jalon Daniels, Kansas: Few quarterbacks had more impressive starts to the 2022 season than Daniels, who recorded 10 touchdown passes, four rushing touchdowns and 1,210 yards of offense in four September games. A midseason injury slowed Daniels and Kansas, but he still earned second-team All-Big 12 honors and finished with 18 passing touchdowns, seven rushing touchdowns and only four interceptions.
Coaches are impressed with Daniels’ playmaking ability, especially in coach Lance Leipold and coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense.
“He really fits what they do,” a Big 12 coach said. “He runs well enough and he throws well enough and he handles the ball and makes good decisions.”
Added a Big 12 defensive coordinator: “You’re talking about a guy who totally changed the way Kansas is thought of. Obviously, the offensive coordinator is doing a heck of a job, but his athletic ability, it just sets him apart.”
The only question with Daniels is his durability with a relatively small frame.
“The way he plays, that’s always going to be a little bit of a struggle,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said.
Will Howard, Kansas State: He’s probably your favorite Big 12 coach’s favorite Big 12 quarterback. Howard played a good chunk of the 2022 season platooning with Adrian Martinez but emerged as Kansas State’s best option down the stretch as the Wildcats won the league title. An assistant from a team that faced K-State without Howard noted, “I don’t think we beat them if he’s playing.” The 6-5, 242-pound senior has started games in each of the past three seasons but finally enters as the team’s clear-cut QB1.
Howard set a team record with six consecutive games with multiple touchdown passes last season. After throwing 10 interceptions as a true freshman in 2020, Howard has just five picks in 254 attempts the past two seasons. A Big 12 defensive coordinator said Howard looks more like the North Dakota State quarterbacks who played under K-State coach Chris Klieman.
“He’s really underrated,” a Big 12 coach said. “He’s big and powerful and runs better than people think and can really throw it.”
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma: Gabriel recorded his third 3,000-yard passing season last fall (one at OU, two at UCF) despite essentially missing two games with injury. His overall numbers were good — 3,168 pass yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, 315 rushing yards, six touchdowns — despite some occasional accuracy issues. Gabriel earned Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. He has been a touchdown machine in his career, accounting for the second most (95) in the past four years despite missing 11 games because of injury.
“He’s a good one, he’s just had a hard time staying healthy,” added a Big 12 coach. “They were struggling last year and he probably ran around a little more than he should have. He’s just not very big.”
Coaches respect Gabriel’s experience level and talent but also need to see more. One Big 12 defensive coordinator didn’t list Gabriel among his top four returning quarterbacks.
“He’s got some moxie and experience, knows when to throw to spots,” another Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “They do a good job with him.”
Quinn Ewers, Texas: Ewers is the Big 12 quarterback who generates the most intrigue entering the 2023 season. If the former ESPN No. 1 overall recruit finds a steady rhythm, Texas should finally win a league title and Ewers could climb even higher on NFL draft boards (he’s already a projected top-10 pick). Ewers needs to become more reliable after completing just 58.1% of his attempts last season. He only had two touchdown passes in his final four games.
Ewers has earned praise throughout the offseason, with one Texas source telling ESPN, “He looks and acts like a different person.”
But can he put it all together?
“You can see the talent, and I hear that he’s changed,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “I don’t think he’s where those other three [Daniels, Howard, Gabriel] are yet. Could he be? Yes. He’s got talent and he’s got a hose, but you’d have to project that one.”
Many Big 12 coaches and coordinators are taking a wait-and-see approach with Ewers, who must play well to hold off redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and true freshman Arch Manning.
“Damn man, it’s really hard to not be successful when you’ve got all those weapons around you,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “Last year, they were really solid at running back, so you don’t put a lot of pressure on your quarterback. They’re going to be finding their way a little bit. I know he’s going to get a lot of hype and all that, but I don’t think he’s as good [as other Big 12 QBs].
“I would watch for the other kid [Manning] to unseat him at some point.”
Tyler Shough, Texas Tech: How long has Shough played in college? He backed up Justin Herbert at Oregon for two seasons before helping the Ducks to a Pac-12 title in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, and then transferred. He turns 24 in September, and he’s set to enter his third season as Texas Tech’s starter. He’s had success when healthy, but has not appeared in more than seven games in a season since arriving at Texas Tech. Texas Tech went 5-0 in games he started in 2020, and is 8-1 overall.
Noting Shough’s strong finish to 2022, a Big Ten defensive assistant said he “got control of what they were doing. I think he’ll be a good player for them.”
“He’s got good arm strength, knows how to distribute the ball,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “The system is not really much different. They’ve always had the appearance of the Air Raid stuff.”
Shough has averaged 197.8 pass yards per game at Texas Tech, a number that should increase with an experienced wide receiver group around him. But he also must play well to hold off talented sophomore Behren Morton.
“He’s a little better player than people probably think he is,” a Big 12 coach said of Shough. “I would rate him a little higher than some others would.”
Chandler Morris, TCU: Despite Max Duggan’s experience before the 2022 season, Morris actually won the job entering the season and started the opener against Colorado before sustaining a sprained knee. Duggan’s play earned him a trip to the Heisman ceremony and ensured Morris wouldn’t win the job back, but Morris certainly has the ability to prevent a major dropoff on offense. Morris is the son of former Arkansas and SMU coach Chad Morris, and began his career at Oklahoma before transferring.
His major highlight came in 2021, as he had 461 passing yards and 531 total yards — the second-highest total in team history — in an upset win over Baylor. Coaches like his skill set but noted his size, just 6-foot and 195 pounds, as a potential problem. With the departure of Garrett Riley to Clemson, Morris will work with a new coordinator in Kendal Briles.
“A coach’s kid is going to be smart,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “He’s a little frail-looking, obviously got banged up last year. He looked like he was 185 or something. I don’t know if he’s put some weight on or what, but he won the job going into the season, so he can’t be too bad.”
Blake Shapen, Baylor: Shapen stood out in spring practices, winning Baylor’s starting job in each of the past two years. He had his moments during the 2022 season as the Bears’ starter, completing at least 70% of his passes in four contests and throwing multiple touchdown passes six times. But Shapen struggled with his accuracy down the stretch and had interceptions in each of his final four regular-season games with multiple picks three times.
A Big 12 coach described Shapen as “just a guy” at this point in his career.
“He was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he played some really poor games,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “I don’t know if he’s in the top tier just yet. He could potentially be. Their system helps him a little bit, but he had too much up and down.”
Notre Dame/others
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame: Hartman’s production jumped out to a lot of coaches — an ACC-record 110 touchdown passes, 21 career 300-yard passing performances, a career passing yards total of 12,967 — as did his leadership skills and maturity level.
Hartman thrived in a truly distinct offense at Wake Forest, which uses a slow mesh at the line of scrimmage and RPO concepts to flummox defenses. Although Notre Dame could incorporate some elements under first-year offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, the Irish operate from more traditional sets.
“Hartman gets all his yards in the RPOs,” a Power 5 coach said. “I can’t see Notre Dame running a bunch of RPOs. Maybe they’re going to try and blend it in, but [Wake Forest coach Dave] Clawson is the guru of that. [Hartman] can’t drop back and throw it. He can RPO you and run into the line of scrimmage with the ball in the running back’s stomach and come up and pop you. That’s easy stuff. But that’s not dropping back like Tom Brady.”
In discussing Hartman, several coaches mentioned Jamie Newman, who replaced Hartman as Wake Forest’s starter early in Hartman’s career and thrived in the same unconventional offense. Newman transferred to Georgia in early 2020, but opted out right before the season and left the program.
“I’m excited to see what [Hartman] does because I have a lot of respect for him,” said a defensive coordinator who faced Hartman in 2022. “He’s a really great quarterback. You just don’t know how that’s going to translate. Can that ‘system quarterback’ transfer to another system and be successful?”
Michael Pratt, Tulane: Pratt went through different playcallers and Tulane’s team struggles but steadily improved, setting up a breakout season for both himself and the Green Wave in 2022. He set career bests in passing yards (3,009), touchdown passes (27), rushing yards (478) and rushing touchdowns (10) — the second most by a quarterback in team history. His completion percentage jumped six points from the previous season to 63.6, and his interceptions dropped from eight to five as Tulane won the AAC and the Cotton Bowl.
The 6-3 Pratt enters his fourth season with 35 starts and 7,196 career passing yards with 68 passing touchdowns and 23 rushing touchdowns.
“Very solid,” an AAC defensive coordinator said. “Somehow they got him to stay. I thought maybe he would declare [for the NFL draft] or transfer up. He’s a big kid, very intelligent, knows where to go with the football, good arm strength, tough kid. He’s taken a lot of snaps. I think he’s an NFL guy.”
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina: McCall has been remarkably accurate and productive since 2020, never dipping below 68.8% completions, throwing between 24-27 touchdown passes and never more than three interceptions. The first player to earn Sun Belt Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons boasts 8,086 career pass yards and 95 touchdowns (78 pass, 17 rush).
He will complete an exceptional college career under a new regime with Tim Beck, whose offensive background is respected by coaches but also diverges from what was done under previous coach Jamey Chadwell. A defensive coordinator who has faced McCall attributed his success more to Chadwell’s distinct offense, saying, “He didn’t scare me in the pass game.”
“He plays the game almost like a linebacker: fiery, competitive, blue-collar,” a Sun Belt coach said. “That team runs through his personality and his play style. It’ll be interesting to see how it evolves with Beck. Beck does more wide-zone pistol. The amount that Jamey ran him a couple years ago versus last year, and he got dinged up late in the year, his ability to create a play with his legs, extend a play, that’s been a problem for defenses. I think it will be fun to watch him, like, how does he grow playing in a different style.”
Frank Harris, UTSA: Other than coach Jeff Traylor, Harris has been the most significant figure in UTSA’s rise toward national recognition and its place in the revamped AAC. Set to begin his seventh season as a Roadrunner, Harris owns just about every significant team record, including a single-season passing mark of 4,063 yards last fall, nearly 1,000 yards more than the record he set the previous campaign (3,177).
Harris has 9,356 career pass yards and 74 touchdowns, and has eclipsed 500 rushing yards in each of the past three years with 24 total rushing scores. Despite being only 6-foot, the lefthander has ripped apart defenses with efficiency (team-record 160.7 rating in 2022) and production (at least 200 pass yards in 18 of his past 20 games).
“He’s got natural instinctive competitive stuff, and he’s just really fluid,” said a coach who faced Harris in 2022. “Runs well, throws it well, handles the offense well. He’s a handful, man. I knew he wasn’t huge, but you walk up on him and he’s a smaller dude. He’s got a little bit of Kyler Murray in him, just super instinctive. It does not look like he panics, ever. He’s always calm, which is a great thing you can say about a quarterback.”
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky: Reed’s return after the brief portal stint puts Western Kentucky in position to continue its incredible passing prowess under coach Tyson Helton. After leading West Florida to a Division II national championship in 2019, Reed delivered another 40-touchdown season for WKU, and became the Hilltoppers’ second straight quarterback to lead the FBS in passing after Bailey Zappe.
Reed had four 400-yard passing performances, including 497 yards and four touchdowns in a New Orleans Bowl win against South Alabama.
“He has got a hose, an absolute cannon,” said a coach who faced WKU in 2022. “They’ve done a really nice job with him. He knows where to go with the ball, he’s quick with his throws, he’s got a good release. It’s crazy because he’s not the biggest dude, but when that ball comes out, you’re like, ‘Wow, the arm talent, it’s just different.’ He’s got juice in there. And the system serves him well. It complements his style of play.”
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio: After three relatively quiet seasons at Ohio, Rourke broke out in 2022 to win MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He completed 69.1% of his passes for 3,256 yards with 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while eclipsing 300 yards five times in 11 games. A torn ACL late in the season contributed to Rourke’s return, and the 6-5, 231-pound Canadian will once again lead coach Tim Albin’s offense for a Bobcats squad predicted to win the MAC East Division.
“He’s the real deal,” a MAC defensive coordinator said. “He’s an NFL player for sure. A top-notch thrower, can make every throw.”
Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State: He had some solid moments early in his career at Hawai’i but found a new gear last season, his first at San Jose State. Cordeiro set career highs for passing yards (3,251), passing touchdowns (23) and rushing touchdowns (9). He earned second-team all-league honors and was named preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
The 6-1, 195-pound Cordeiro is a career 59.3% passer, and must show greater efficiency against the Mountain West’s top teams. But he brings good athleticism to the position, logging 370 carries with 19 touchdowns the past three seasons.
“He’s really mobile,” a Mountain West defensive coordinator said. “He’s not a [NFL] draft guy. He’s not Jake Haener, he’s not [Hank] Bachmeier. He’s gotten better throwing the ball, and he’ll extend some drives, extend some plays on his own. That’s the problem with him.”
Seth Henigan, Memphis: He enters his third season as Memphis’ starter after a record-setting freshman performance — his 3,322 passing yards broke the team’s freshman record by more than 1,000 yards — and a 2022 season with similar numbers. If Henigan replicates his passing average this fall, he will eclipse 10,000 career yards before his senior season.
The 6-3, 210-pound Henigan had a nice bump in accuracy last fall, completing 64.1% of his attempts.
“He’s a solid kid, a coach’s kid,” an AAC defensive coordinator said of Henigan. “He doesn’t quite have the arm talent Pratt has, but he’s a tough kid, makes all the throws, really good in the RPO game. He’s more of a point guard than, ‘I’m going to rear back and sling it.'”