Top 10 Schools That Could Be the Next "Quarterback U"

Since the BCS began, a number of Division I schools have had noteable names that have gone on to play in the NFL.

Guys like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez from USC, Tee Martin and Peyton Manning from Tennessee. Brian Griese, Tom Brady, and Chad Henne from Michigan.

There are so many schools that breed professional quarterbacks, but who is the leader in that category? Who is the best quarterback university in college football?

Regardless of professional success, there are several schools that are a breeding ground for great college quarterbacks that have great college careers. They are quarterbacks we look back on and remember their best performances.

Here are my top 10 schools that are putting out those great quarterbacks since the BCS era began.

No. 10 - Fresno State

Yes, you read this right. At No. 10 on the list is Fresno State.

The Bulldogs have been known as one of the best quarterback universities since the days of Jim Sweeney when he coached guys like Trent Dilfer and Mark Barsotti.

Since the BCS began in 1998, the name still holds true under head coach Pat Hill.

In the 2009 draft, the Broncos picked up Tom Brandstater with the first overall pick in the sixth round.

In 2006, it was Paul Pinegar that was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. Though he didn't last long and was released by the club.

One of the most famous quarterbacks to come out of Fresno is David Carr, the first overall selection of the Houston Texans in the 2002 draft. He's now a backup to Eli Manning in New York.

Last is Billy Volek, arguably one of the more underrated quarterbacks to come out of Fresno State. He was also an undrafted free agent and was signed by the Tennessee Titans in 2000 and is now a backup to Philip Rivers in San Diego.

No. 9 - Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish used to be known as one of those schools that churned out star player after star player with guys like Joe Montana and Tim Brown.

When it comes to quarterbacks, the Irish have only had two drafted since the BCS began but that number should increase to three as Jimmy Clausen declared for the 2010 draft.

Brady Quinn was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Seven years prior to Quinn being drafted, the Denver Broncos selected Jarious Jackson in the seventh round of the 2000 draft.

No. 8 - BYU

Max Hall has officially put BYU back on the Quarterback U map after a 2009 season that saw him throw for 3,560 yards and 33 touchdowns.

No doubt he'll be among the drafted quarterbacks in the upcoming 2010 draft.

But before we get to those that came before Max Hall, the Cougars could very well have another star quarterback in the midst with incoming freshman Jake Heaps.

In 2007, John Beck was drafted by the Dolphins with the eighth pick of the second round.

Before that, it was Brandon Doman drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2002 draft.

No. 7 - Tennessee

The most famous quarterback to come out of the University of Tennessee was Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, currently with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts took Manning as the first overall pick in the 1998 draft.

Another noteable names are Tee Martin, taken fifth round of the 2000 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as Erik Ainge who was taken in the fifth round of the 2008 draft by the Jets.

Though these are noteable names for Tennessee, current quarterback Jonathan Crompton could find his way into the 2011 NFL draft if he puts up the kind of performance in 2010 as he did in 2009, passing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns.

No. 6 - LSU

Unfortunately for LSU, they may well be known as the alma mater of one of the biggest quarterback flops since Ryan Leaf.

JaMarcus Russell (pictured) was first overall pick of the Oakland Raiders back in 2007 but hasn't exactly performed like the top pick. In three seasons Russell has 1,287 passing yards, 18 touchdowns to go along with 23 interceptions.

Matt Flynn was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2008 draft but has been stuck behind starter Aaron Rodgers.

Matt Mauck was taken by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2004 draft but only made one appearance in the NFL as a member of the Tennessee Titans in 2005.

No. 5 - Washington

Jake Locker is quickly becoming a household name not only around the PAC-10 but also around college football.

He could have easily declared for the NFL draft after his junior season in 2009 but will return in 2010 for his senior season and will no doubt be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL draft.

Isaiah Stanback was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2007 draft and was converted to a wide receiver. Standback made eight appearances in 2008 for the Cowboys and is now a member of the New England Patriots.

In 2004, Cody Pickett was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round making seven appearances between 2004 and 2005 but has not made an appearance in a game since that time.

Marques Tuiasosopo was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft and is still a member of the team but has not made an appearance since week 11 of the 2009 season against Miami.

Brock Huard was drafted in 1999 by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round and appeared in six games, including four starts, between 2000 and 2001 before playing for the Colts from 2002 to 2003 and was back with Seattle in 2004 but did not make an appearance.

No. 4 - Oregon

Next to current starter Jeremiah Masoli, Kellen Clemens (pictured) is one quarterback the Ducks look back on fondly, especially with all the off the field trouble that's been doing on up in Eugene.

Clemens was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2006 draft and had been the team's starter that season. But, thanks to an injury, missed most of the 2008 season. After the Jets drafted USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, Clemens was relegated to a backup role.

Dennis Dixon, another famous Oregon quarterback, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, making two appearances for the team over the last two seasons.

In 2001, A.J. Feeley was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round. Feeley has had two stints with the Eagles. First from 2001-2003 and then again from 2006-2008, making a stop in Miami as the starter from 2004-2005.

Last but not least, Akili Smith was drafted Cincinnati Bengals as the third overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, making 17 starts for the Bengals between 1999 and 2002.

No. 3 - Michigan

Is there a more famous Michigan quarterback than Super Bowl champion Tom Brady (pictured)?

Brady was a sixth round pick of the New England Patriots back in 2000, a pick the Patriots don't regret making at this point.

Brady will be going into his 11th season with New England and already has one Super Bowl championship under his belt.

John Navarre was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2004 as the first pick in the seventh round of the draft, making just two appearances with the team between 2004 and 2005.

Drew Henson was drafted in 2003 by the Houston Texans but his football career didn't last long as Henson opted to further his baseball career. Something that also didn't last long.

In 1998, it was Brian Griese that was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round, playing for four different teams in his 11 seasons.

Last, but certainly not least, is current Wolverine starter Tate Forcier. He didn't exactly have a great season, throwing 13 touchdown passes but getting intercepted 10 times. Improve this season and he could very well be drafted in 2011.

No. 2 - Georgia

Matthew Stafford (pictured) was the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. Poor guy was apparently selected to be the savior of the franchise, a lot of pressure to put on a first year guy (a la David Carr).

D.J. Shockley was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2006 draft but he has yet to make an appearance since be drafted. With Matt Ryan at the helm, don't expect that to change any time soon.

David Greene was drafted in the third round of the 2005 draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Like Shockley, Greene has yet to make an appearance in the NFL and is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Quincy Carter, a second round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 showed a lot of promise, but off the field problems derailed what could have been a bright future. Carter's best season with Dallas came in 2003 when he three for 3,305 yards and 17 touchdowns but was intercepted 21 times.

No. 1 - USC

Hate USC if you want, and I know most people outside Los Angeles probably do, but they do churn out the best quarterbacks in college football.

From Carson Palmer to Matt Leinart to Mark Sanchez, the USC Trojans are the best Quarterback U in Division I football.

The aforementioned Sanchez was drafted by the New York Jets as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft. Sanchez led the Jets to an improbable win over the heavily favored San Diego Chargers in the 2009 AFC Divisional Championship game before falling to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game.

In 2008, it was John David Booty coming out of USC and getting picked up by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the draft and is now a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Matt Leinart, arguably the second most popular quarterback to Carson Palmer, was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals as the tenth overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. He's been a backup to Kurt Warner since he was drafted but now that Warner has retired, Leinart will be the man in Arizona.

In 2005, Matt Cassel was drafted New England Patriots in the seventh round of the draft and made his presence felt in 2008 thanks to an injury to starter Tom Brady. Cassel threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns. That season allowed him to sign a big free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the 2009 season.

The aforementioned Carson Palmer is arguably the biggest name to come out of USC that isn't named Reggie Bush. He has spent all of his six seasons as the starting quarterback in Cincinnati and though he spent most of the 2008 season injured, he still came back strong in 2009.

Last but not least, Matt Barkley who came in to USC as a freshman with a ton of hype and pressure on him to be the next Mark Sanchez or Matt Leinart. Expectations that were unrealistic of the young player.

When his days at USC are done, whether that be after the 2011 or 2012 season, Barkley could be the sixth quarterback to find himself drafted into the NFL since the BCS began in 1998.