CFB Recruiting 200: Top 6 Dual-Threat Quarterbacks in Class of 2016

After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Dual-Threat Quarterbacks.

Other Positions

• Overall Top 200 
• Interior Lineman 

Collegiate defenses are challenged by dual-threat quarterbacks throughout the season, forced to game-plan against playmakers who can obliterate opponents through the air or on the ground.

The prospects in the latest wave of this category present skill sets that could keep defenders on their heels for years to come. Several are already committed to high-profile college programs, setting the stage for immense expectations.

We broke down every dual-threat quarterback rated among America's top 200 players in 247Sports' composite rankings, taking a look at key attributes and their respective recruitments. Athletes are listed in order of composite rankings and graded based on criteria including accuracy, arm strength, mobility, leadership, football IQ and pocket presence.

All prospects graded by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

6. 4-Star Woody Barrett

Credit: 247Sports

Height/Weight: 6'2"/225 lbs

High School: West Orange (Orlando, Florida)

247Sports Ranking: No. 6 dual-threat quarterback; No. 196 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Committed to Auburn on June 3, 2015

Woody Barrett becomes the latest top-flight rushing quarterback set to join forces with Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn, who called plays during Cam Newton's Heisman Trophy run.

"With Woody being 6'2", 225 pounds, he kind of reminds me of Cam Newton. He's not 6'5", but he's a bigger kid," West Orange offensive coordinator Collin Drafts told Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel. "If he wasn't a quarterback, he could play anywhere on the field. He could be a running back, he could probably be an outside linebacker."

He chose Auburn over Oregon and Alabama. The Tigers had been recruiting him since the start of his high school career.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Tigers fans should be thrilled about Barrett, because he's tailor-made for Auburn's offensive attack. His most recent high school season placed in him in spread-option situations on a regular basis, and Barrett's comfort level noticeably increased during an 11-1 campaign that featured a 62 percent completion rate, 2,300 total yards and 33 touchdowns.

His accuracy (18/20) impresses at every level downfield, particularly when it comes to putting touch on fade and seam attempts that he needs to float. His arm strength (12/15) provides enough zip to beat defenders, and it should continue to improve as he becomes more comfortable from a mechanics standpoint.

Barrett is a bullish runner (18/20 mobility) who uses his powerful lower body to break tackles, and he's speedy enough to win straight-line foot races in the open field. He does an outstanding job of setting up defenses for disaster, selling pass plays in the pocket before tucking the ball and taking off.

5. 4-Star Shane Buechele

Credit: 247Sports

Height/Weight: 6'2"/185 lbs

High School: Lamar (Arlington, Texas)

247Sports Ranking: No. 5 dual-threat quarterback; No. 188 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 92/100

Committed to Texas on Feb. 23, 2015

The Longhorns landed Shane Buechele just weeks after finalizing a 2015 recruiting class that lost 4-star quarterback Zach Gentry late. His athletic ties to the Lone Star State extend to his father, Steve Buechele, who played for the Texas Rangers.

Buechele also received scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Texas Tech, TCU, California, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

"Texas was not my favorite school growing up," he told Jimmy Isbell of TexasHSFootball.com. "I was an OU fan, but the recruiting process really opened my eyes about different schools—especially Texas. ... It's amazing to be committed to the University of Texas. No better place."

Bleacher Report Analysis

Coaches covet young passers with Buechele's level of poise, and his athletic pedigree is understood. He operates a pro-style offensive attack and stands tall in the pocket, delivering darts with consistent arm strength (14/15).

While some dual-threat quarterbacks are exceptional athletes still learning the nuances of the position, Buechele is a largely polished thrower who can fall back on his rushing abilities when necessary.

He doesn't abort pass plays at the sight of blitzing defenders, but rolls outside to buy time and set up opportunities for his receivers. His physical frame will need to develop more in order for him to withstand any significant total of collegiate runs.

Buechele completed 67 percent of his pass attempts in 2014, exuding confidence in the development of each play. He threw for 2,492 yards, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions, adding 572 yards and seven scores on the ground.

He put forth a strong performance at the Elite 11 finals, leading the race for MVP honors nearly all the way through. He showed off outstanding polish in the pocket (10/10) and constantly located correct reads.

4. 4-Star Jawon Pass

Credit: 247Sports

Height/Weight: 6'5"/220 lbs

High School: Carver (Columbus, Georgia)

247Sports Ranking: No. 4 dual-threat quarterback; No. 180 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 89/100

Committed to Louisville on July 16, 2015

Jawon Pass committed to Louisville after receiving offers from a number of schools.

Auburn and Alabama were his top SEC options, but both teams previously landed 4-star dual-threat talents. The Cardinals signed his older brother, a 2015 defensive back, in February.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Pass is among the true athletic freaks in this cycle, possessing a blend of size and elusiveness that has drawn comparisons to fellow Peach State product Cam Newton. Though he isn't a speedster, his power and penchant for creating big plays on the ground put him in rare territory as a goal-line threat (17/20 mobility).

What may ultimately separate him from Newton is his prowess in the passing game. There are still strides to make in that department for Pass, who must develop more consistent fundamentals in the pocket (8/10) and avoid throwing across his torso while on the move.

Despite those concerns, his arm itself is impressive (31/35 combined for accuracy and strength), and a breakout sophomore campaign (2,601 total yards and 34 touchdowns in 2013) offers evidence of his overall offensive explosiveness.

He's arguably the highest-ceiling prospect in this year's class and could make a leap in ranking with pocket progression as a senior. If his Elite 11 performance is any indication, Pass is putting in the work to improve.

3. 4-Star Tristen Wallace

Credit: 247Sports

Height/Weight: 6'3"/228 lbs

High School: DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)

247Sports Ranking: No. 3 dual-threat quarterback; No. 124 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 93/100

Committed to Ohio State on April 15, 2015

Tristen Wallace watched his recruitment heat up early last season despite suffering a broken ankle in September. He secured offers from Ohio State, TCU, Nebraska and UCLA before committing to Texas Tech in January.

He backed off that verbal pledge to the Red Raiders just two months later. Wallace announced his intention to play for Ohio State in April, hours before fellow 4-star Jarrett Guarantano was set to decide between the Buckeyes and two other finalists.

"Ohio State is no doubt the hardest-working university in the country right now. There's no doubt about that," Wallace told Ari Wasserman of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "That's what I want. I want a challenge. I don't want the easy route."

Bleacher Report Analysis

For some, the jury is still out on Wallace's ability to succeed behind center in college. Given his limited varsity high school snaps, further litmus tests may be required to gauge his development, but there's already a lot to like after a three-game stretch in 2014 featuring 900 total yards and 12 touchdowns.

His arm remains relatively raw but packs plenty of power (15/15). Wallace requires strides from a fundamental standpoint in the pocket, though he can launch the ball with a wrist flick, even while on the move.

No passer on this list is more dangerous in the open field than Wallace, who weaves through rushing lanes with elite acceleration (19/20 mobility). Despite a logjam at quarterback in Columbus, Wallace could quickly outshine the crowd and become Urban Meyer's latest star as an underclassman.

2. 4-Star Jarrett Guarantano

Credit: 247Sports

Height/Weight: 6'4"/194 lbs

High School: Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)

247Sports Ranking: No. 2 dual-threat quarterback; No. 106 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 95/100

Committed to Tennessee on April 15, 2015

Jarrett Guarantano pledged to the Volunteers via a Bleacher Report video, selecting Tennessee over two other finalists. He also weighed offers from Ohio State and Rutgers, where his father is a member of the university's football hall of fame.

He instantly became the linchpin for head coach Butch Jones' latest impressive prospect haul. Guarantano is also an active recruiter who has targeted several standouts to join him.

"I had a chance to become more familiar with the campus and Knoxville. What really stood out was the atmosphere," Guarantano told Bleacher Report. "I don't think there's a fanbase that cares more about their football team than at the University of Tennessee. I've never seen anything like it."

Bleacher Report Analysis

Guarantano has undergone a unique recruiting process, starting with a legacy offer from Rutgers before his freshman year. Interest continued to mount as an underclassman, and he entered his junior year with nearly 30 scholarship offers and three varsity touchdown tosses.

He stepped into a full-time starting role last fall and delivered. Guarantano had 1,288 yards and 18 scores before a wrist injury sidelined him after seven games.

Few 2016 passers can put more power (15/15) on throws than Guarantano, who balances his aerial attack with excellent rushing ability (17/20). Guarantano's accuracy (20/20) ultimately sets him apart from this pack when he's given time to operate in the pocket.

Based on what we've seen scouting live games and camps, Guarantano enters his senior season as the prospect with the most potential on this list.

1. 4-Star Feleipe Franks

Height/Weight: 6'5"/220 lbs

High School: Wakulla (Crawfordville, Florida)

247Sports Ranking: No. 1 dual-threat quarterback; No. 47 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Committed to LSU on June 1, 2014

Tigers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron snatched up Feleipe Franks shortly after his sophomore year. The commitment remains intact, and it appears LSU is even needier for quarterback depth than they were this time last summer.

"They want to win a national championship in four years," Franks told Ross Dellenger of the Advocate. "That's their expectations, try to lead your team to a national championship. That's my mindset."

Franks remains a target for the Florida Gators, while his offer sheet also includes Alabama, Clemson and Mississippi State.

Bleacher Report Analysis

Franks is a formidable athletic specimen who intends to play football and baseball in Baton Rouge. He aims to compete as a pitcher on the diamond, so it's no surprise he exhibits a rocket in the pocket (15/15 arm strength).

He hasn't been asked to fire the ball 30-plus yards downfield on a regular basis in high school, where the offense appears to operate most effectively with three-step drops and quick-hit tosses. Franks will face far more challenging attempts in college but can build on his quality accuracy (18/20) moving forward.

This is a quarterback who is content to remain in the pocket, and he could be more appropriately labeled a pro-style passer (15/20 mobility). His size and strength do make him a dangerous short-yardage rusher in the SEC, as he gained 425 yards and three scores on the ground last season.

Footwork is a point of emphasis here, but there are already promising signs of eventual collegiate success based on the way Franks finds targets and stands tall behind his offensive line. He completed 56 percent of his passes for 4,091 yards and 46 touchdowns during the past two seasons.

Recruit rankings and info courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.