Power Ranking the Top 25 College Quarterbacks and Their 2011 NFL Draft Status
This week, we'll be doing things a little differently with our top 25 quarterbacks list.
Instead of simply ranking the top 25 college quarterbacks, we'll be ranking them and providing insight into their NFL prospects.
The ranking order is based on production throughout this season, not on NFL potential. As we all know, a great college quarterback and a great NFL quarterback are two very different things.
Here's this season's top 25 college quarterbacks and their future potential in the pros.
25. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
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Garcia hasn't been great the last couple of weeks.
But despite that, he's shown enough this season to warrant being considered one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
As far as his draft potential goes, you can probably lay to rest any notions that he'll be jumping ship early and heading to the 2011 NFL Draft. He hasn't shown the type of improvement to warrant a high selection.
Garcia is still dogged by questions of his work ethic, as well as the stigma of being a Steve Spurrier quarterback. Right now he's a top-10 quarterback in the 2012 draft class, nothing more.
24. Dan Persa, Northwestern
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For as good as Persa has been this season, there's a basic limitation that will hold him back on the next level.
His height.
Generously listed at 6'1" and 205 pounds, he just doesn't have the size NFL scouts are looking for.
Add in the fact that he plays in the spread offense, doesn't have great arm strength and won't be as effective running the ball at the next level, and Persa's draft outlook begins to look pretty gloomy.
As a junior, he still has another year to improve, though.
23. Nick Foles, Arizona
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Foles was back in action against Stanford on Saturday after missing two games with a knee injury.
While the junior has been solid most of the season, the buzz surrounding his 2011 draft prospects has died down. It might be better to wait until 2012, when he would likely be one of the first quarterbacks selected.
At 6'5" and 245 points with great arm strength, a solid throwing motion and the ability to make all the throws an NFL passer has to make, Foles will be an elite option in 2012.
But he needs to work on his footwork and, most importantly, stay healthy.
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22. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
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Weeden has had some monster games this season, including a 435-yard, three-touchdown performance against Baylor last week.
But the junior hasn't really received too much attention when it comes to his draft prospects, even for 2012.
This is his first year starting, so there's definitely a chance he'll be one of the top quarterback prospects a year from now. He's got great size and good accuracy, and possibly another year with WR Justin Blackmon.
21. Bryant Moniz, Hawaii
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Moniz has shown that he can air it out in Hawaii's quarterback-friendly offense.
But so did Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan.
At 6'0" and 200 pounds, Moniz simply doesn't have the size for the NFL or the mobility to get outside of the pocket and make things happen on the move, either.
He may be a great fit at Hawaii, but scouts look at him as nothing more than a good college quarterback for Hawaii's system. Even with another year under his belt next season, Moniz is a late-round pick at best.
20. Christian Ponder, Florida State
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Ponder came into the season as a darkhorse candidate for the Heisman.
But his production has been up and down this year. Two straight losses haven't helped his case, either.
Pegged by some as a high-end, first-round draft pick in the preseason, there's not many who would still say the same now.
At 6'2", he's on the short side. There are durability concerns, as well as the fact that his accuracy and arm strength are average.
But they don't come much tougher than Ponder.
At the end of the day, he's still a top-five quarterback in the 2011 draft and will likely be selected between the second and third round.
19. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
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Cousins has been solid for MSU this season.
But his reputation as a model of consistency has hit a bit of a snag the last couple weeks, as he's struggled to produce.
Spartans fans need not worry about him bolting for the NFL early, though. He's simply not ready and wouldn't have very high prospects this year, either.
Cousins has good size and a high quarterback IQ, and will likely be a top-5 or top-10 quarterback next season if he continues to progress as a passer.
18. Andy Dalton, TCU
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Dalton has been solid for TCU all season long, leading them to yet another undefeated regular season.
But as an NFL prospect he falls into the average category. His height is listed from 6'1" to 6'3", but it's probably somewhere in between.
Either way, he's on the small side.
While he's a hard worker and a great student of the game, there are concerns that his height and delivery are a recipe for disaster at the next level. Still, he's proven to be a hard worker, and we have faith he can overcome his physical shortcomings.
Dalton is a top-10 quarterback prospect.
17. Greg McElroy, Alabama
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McElroy has been the leader of Alabama's offense for the last two years.
While he's had as much to do with the Crimson Tide's run of success as any individual player, it doesn't translate to the NFL.
He's got average size, at best, and decent arm strength. While he's an accurate thrower and a smart player with great leadership skills, it just isn't enough to convince us McElroy's pro prospects are encouraging.
We consider him a borderline top-10 or -15 quarterback who will be drafted somewhere in the middle to late rounds.
16. Russell Wilson, NC State
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Wilson has struggled with turnovers lately, with 11 interceptions in his last six games.
But he's still led NC State to a much more successful season than anyone anticipated heading into the year.
Unfortunately for Wilson, he's simply not an NFL quarterback prospect for a number of reasons.
First, at 5'11" and 201 pounds, he's going to be written off immediately by many scouts. Second, his mobility, which is his best asset at the college level, is good but not great.
That's going to really put a damper on his ability to produce at the next level.
15. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
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Gabbert is just a notch behind Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett when you're talking quarterback prospects, despite his struggles in recent weeks.
At 6'5" and 240 pounds, he has ideal size, is durable and will play through pain. He is also an excellent student, a vocal leader and a confident passer with near-elite arm strength and accuracy.
The only major knock on his game is the fact that he comes from the spread offense and doesn't really have experience under center, which is a major drawback for NFL scouts.
Still, it would be very surprising to see him slip past the second round.
14. Jake Locker, Washington
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Locker came into the year as one of the nation's top quarterbacks.
All he's done this season is make us wonder over and over again if he would have been better off entering the 2010 draft and bypassing his senior season.
With his up-and-down performance this season, there's no doubt that Locker has hurt his stock. But there's no denying he's a first-round talent.
Locker has a cannon arm, great accuracy, adequate size and a strong build. He is mobile in the pocket and can run if it's there, and is a great leader in the huddle.
13. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
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Kaepernick has been great for Nevada this season.
But the pistol offense doesn't translate to the NFL, and that above anything else will hold him back on the next level.
He's got the size for the position, but needs to bulk up his frame to avoid injuries. We see Kaepernick as a prime candidate to make a switch to receiver rather than stay at quarterback.
His short-range and long-range accuracy simply aren't NFL quality, and we question whether his arm strength is, either.
But he's athletic, moves well and has a very quick pair of feet that should get him drafted with intrigue in the middle to late rounds.
12. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
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Taylor has played great the majority of the season.
But his efforts against James Madison and Georgia Tech remind us of his drawbacks as an NFL prospect.
While he's displayed elite mobility and a willingness to work hard and be a leader on the field, Taylor has the makings of a late-round flier.
His decision-making and accuracy are simply bad. If there isn't significant improvement, he will never survive as an NFL quarterback.
Don't count out a switch to another position, though. That remains a possibility.
11. Denard Robinson, Michigan
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All we can say about Denard Robinson is we've seen this before: a great dual-threat athlete at the quarterback position who has some great intangibles, but serious drawbacks as a passer.
Robinson is neither an accurate quarterback, nor does he possess great arm strength. But there's no denying his ability to make things happen, and that can't really be quantified.
Is he the next Michael Vick? The short answer is no.
Robinson is more of the Antwaan Randle El mold.
In a couple of years, some team is going to take a chance on him and eventually try him out as a punt returner/wide receiver/wildcat quarterback/get-him-the-ball-type player.
10. Matt Barkley, USC
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Barkley has one thing going for him that is of definite interest to NFL scouts.
He's the quarterback at USC.
Considering that Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez have come before and were all top-10 picks, Barkley has a lot to live up to. But he's been solid, is only a sophomore and has the chance to be a four-year starter.
He's only 6'2", but so was Sanchez. He's got the arm and the intangibles and we have him following the other Trojan quarterbacks that came before him.
9. Darron Thomas, Oregon
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Thomas has been simply outstanding this season in leading the No. 1-ranked offense to an undefeated record and the top ranking in the BCS, though you have to give LaMichael James a huge chunk of the credit as well.
We're conflicted about his potential to translate that success to the NFL though. Thomas has only a nine-game sample to judge him by, and plays in a spread offense that's proven to be very quarterback friendly.
He's got good size, but a smallish frame. He is athletic and has good, but not great, speed, and we're not sold on his ability to make all the NFL throws, either.
He does have two more years to prove himself, though.
8. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
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Pryor is one of the most intriguing prospects in the country.
He's got a great combination of size, speed, strength and athleticism. But is he quarterback or a wide receiver in the NFL?
That's the question many are asking themselves. At 6'6" and 233 pounds, Pryor runs a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash and has the makings of a very, very difficult cover as a receiver.
But for all the scouts that see him making a position switch, there are others who believe he's a quarterback all the way.
He'll be one of the first five quarterbacks selected in the 2012 draft if he sticks around for another year, or a middle- to late-round prospect if he heads for the NFL now.
7. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
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Stanzi just doesn't get the credit he deserves as a quarterback.
He's been a model of consistency all season long, but for as good as he's been, his draft prospects aren't great.
He's got the size at 6'4" and 230 pounds. But he struggles to make his reads quickly, tends to lock onto receivers, and has shown inconsistency finding the open man on occasion.
Add in the fact that the red flag goes up when you watch his footwork and that his arm strength isn't great, and Stanzi has the makings of a late-round pick with upside.
6. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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After his monster performance against Colorado, Jones showed he's still a young quarterback in Oklahoma's loss to Texas A&M.
Still, the fact that he's only a sophomore only plays to his benefit. He's been superb this season, and has the makings of a future NFL star.
He's got all the intangibles you look for at the position, and we have the feeling he'll be in the discussion for the top overall pick of the 2013 draft.
5. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
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Griffin has been solid this season and proved he's fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered a year ago.
While that injury was tough for him, his resiliency has boosted his stock.
Like a few other dual-threat quarterbacks of the same mold, many will immediately start talking about a switch to receiver. But we're not sold on this idea.
He's got the intangibles to be a special prospect, but we have a feeling he'll be sticking around at Baylor for a while first.
4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
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Mallett is one of three quarterbacks we project being drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Not only has he been solid in his two years as Arkansas' starter, he's a near-ideal NFL prospect.
He's got the size at 6'6", the cannon attached to his arm, very good accuracy and decision-making, and a fiery competitive spirit—and he is a hard worker.
Mallett is a lock to be a top-15 to -20 pick.
3. Kellen Moore, Boise State
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Moore has been as steady as a rock this season—though he did have the second multiple-interception game of his career against Hawaii on Saturday.
But like Boise State in the polls, Moore just doesn't get the type of credit he deserves. At 6'0" and 187 pounds, however, he just doesn't have NFL size for a quarterback.
He doesn't rate out well as an NFL prospect, and his arm strength doesn't help his cause, either. He should be a late-round prospect in the 2012 class.
2. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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Luck will be the first pick of the 2011 draft; there's no doubt about it.
He grades out nearly perfectly.
Luck has the size, the arm strength and accuracy to make every throw at the NFL level. He is a Peyton Manning-like student of the game, makes incredibly fast reads, and has that sixth sense in the pocket you just can't teach.
Whoever finishes with the worst record in the NFL this season has a great consolation prize. That's all that really needs to be said.
1. Cameron Newton, Auburn
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With allegations hanging over him, Newton must have a clouded head—and his Heisman hopes this season are just as murky.
But he's still the top quarterback in the country this season. We have a feeling that, if he sticks around for one more season, he would have a shot at being the top pick in the 2012 draft.
He's got incredible size and athletic ability. Newton reminds us a lot of Vince Young, only he's even bigger.
Still, don't be surprised if Newton bolts early and ends up getting drafted somewhere between the the first and third round in 2011.
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