Top QB Prospect for Each Top 25 Team in the Last 5 Years

This 2012 college football season should be a great one, as many storylines will impact the season from start to finish. As always, the first attention goes to the quarterbacks, as QBs get the first look on whether a squad will be hyped.

For this read, I'm going to take it back in time a bit. I'm going to look at the top QB prospect to sign with each preseason top 25 team within these past five years (recruiting cycles 2008-2012). It'll be interesting, as some of the signal callers went on to be starters, are currently starting or became busts.

Let's get going.

25. Florida: Jeff Driskel

For me, the top Gator QB prospect in the last five years has been Jeff Driskel. He was the top QB in the county in 2011 by many publications.

Driskel is in a battle for the starting job right now with another highly rated 2011 QB prospect in Jacoby Brissett. I think Driskel has a chance to win the job, but Brissett has been impressive in his own right. 

24. Notre Dame: Gunner Kiel

Now, keep in mind, this is the last five recruiting cycles, so it's from 2008 and not 2007. 2007 is the year Jimmy Clausen signed with the Irish.

However, as I could have gone with Dayne Crist in 2008, I'm going with Gunner Kiel in 2012. Kiel is the nephew of the late Blair Kiel, has already enrolled at Notre Dame and could be the starter as a true freshman. 

23. Clemson: Tajh Boyd

I'm going with Tajh Boyd for the Tigers, as he was a five-star QB in 2009. Out of Virginia, Boyd reminded me of Donovan McNabb in his prime as a prep star.

Today, Boyd is the leader for the Clemson program, one of the best QBs in the country. He even got in the Heisman conversation last year for a few weeks. He and WR Sammy Watkins should make some preseason lists. 

22. Texas: Garrett Gilbert

Longhorn recruiting fans should know that coming out of high school, David Ash was a mere three-star recruit with promise. Case McCoy wasn't too highly rated either.

Connor Brewer was a four-star prospect last cycle. Yet Garrett Gilbert was a five-star QB, but he's left for SMU after an up-and-down career in Austin.

21. Boise State: Joe Southwick

2009 brought Joe Southwick of Danville, Calif., to the Bronco program. 6'2", 185 pounds, Southwick was a competitive prospect who just wanted a shot to show he can get the job done.

Southwick figures to be the main guy to replace all-world QB Kellen Moore this coming season.

20. Virginia Tech: Ricardo Young

5'11" and just 180 pounds, Young didn't have the size of an elite prospect in 2010, but had some Russell Wilson to him. He played with solid pocket presence and had intangibles.

However, he's since transferred to New Mexico due to the emergence of Logan Thomas. 

19. Oklahoma State: J.W. Walsh

For the Pokes, 2011 brought them J.W. Walsh out of Texas. 6'2", 200 pounds, Walsh is a mobile QB that can make throws on the run and get outside the pocket.

He's got good speed, athleticism and arm strength. Walsh will contend for the job to replace Brandon Weeden this year. 

18. Wisconsin: Joe Brennan

Brennan came to Wisconsin as a top 40 QB in 2010, which is high for the Badgers, as many QBs that are elite prospects don't give them too hard of a look. Yet Brennan signed up to play in Camp Randall out of New Jersey.

He enters this year as the favorite to start and replace Russell Wilson, but Brennan will have to fend off Joel Stave.

17. Nebraska: Bubba Starling

Cody Green has left for Tulsa, as he was a four-star prospect in 2009. Jamal Turner, a four-star prospect in 2011, is now a WR.

Taylor Martinez, the starter in Lincoln now, was a three-star prospect in 2009. Yet in 2011, Bubba Starling was one of the best QBs in the country, but signed with the Kansas City Royals instead.

Can you believe that at one point Nebraska had a commitment from Blaine Gabbert?

16. Ohio State: Terrelle Pryor & Braxton Miller

Terrelle Pryor was the No. 1 overall prospect in the country in 2008, and had a ton of hype. However, he should have been made into a WR, as he lacked the delivery of a QB.

Braxton Miller was the No. 2 QB in 2011 recruiting, and started in Columbus as a true freshman. He's a good fit in Urban Meyer's offense and is the future of Buckeye football.

15. TCU: Casey Pachall

Pachall was a three-star recruit in 2009, and has been the guy to replace Andy Dalton. Pachall has a chance to be a star in his own right, and this will be a pivotal year for him to take that next step in his career.

14, Michigan: Denard Robinson

Listen, coming out of high school, it was thought Robinson would move to CB or WR. Yet Rich Rodriguez kept him at QB.

Devin Gardner was a five-star prospect in 2009 at QB, but Robinson's speed, arm strength and sheer playmaking ability has made him one of the best football players in college football. 

13. Stanford: Andrew Luck

2008 saw Stanford sign a five-star QB from Houston by the name of Andrew Luck. Luck committed to Stanford before his senior season, and has since become the best QB to enter the NFL since Peyton Manning. 

12. Kansas State: Colin Klein

Tay Bender and Justin Tuggle were considered, but I'm going with Colin Klein. He was just a two-star guy in 2008, but has worked himself into an uber-productive dual threat QB.

Klein will be in some Heisman talks this year, as his production was flat out remarkable last year in Manhattan, Ks. 

11. Arkansas: Tyler Wilson

Brandon Allen, Jim Youngblood, Jacoby Walker, Brandon Mitchell all have signed up to be Hog QBs in the last five recruiting cycles.

Heck, you can even count Ryan Mallett, as he transferred to Arkansas from Michigan. But I'm going with Tyler Wilson.

Wilson is one of the most talented QBs in the country and probably the best NFL prospect at QB in the SEC this year. Look at what he did in a recent scrimmage.

10. South Carolina: Connor Shaw

A three-star prospect in 2010, Shaw went back and forth with Stephen Garcia for the starting job in the early part of his career in Columbia. Now, Garcia is gone for good, and the Gamecocks are his team.

With such freedom and South Carolina having a chance to win the SEC East, how will Shaw fare in 2012?

9. Michigan State: Tyler O'Connor

O'Connor was one of the 25 best signal callers in the 2012 class. He has good mobility, doesn't flinch when things break down in the pocket and can make plays with his feet.

From the pocket, O'Connor shows a solid arm, flashes field vision and starter potential. He'll look to see if he can replace Kirk Cousins. 

8. Florida State: E.J. Manuel

Scout.com ranked E.J. Manuel ahead of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III in 2008. Manuel was a five-star prospect from Virginia who has since become the starer at Florida State.

I expect a huge jump in profile and production for Manuel this season in Tallahassee, Fla.

7. West Virginia: Geno Smith

Geno Smith is one the best QBs in the country today. However before becoming a star in Morgantown, he was a five-star prospect out of Florida in 2009.

Smith has a cannon for an arm, and should put up even bigger numbers in year two of Dana Holgorsen's offense.  

6. Oregon: Jake Rodrigues

Bryan Bennett was seriously considered here for my good people of Eugene, Ore. Yet Jake Rodrigues signed with Oregon last cycle and goes 6'3", 215 pounds. 

I think Rodrigues has all the tools to develop into a stud down the road for the Ducks, as he has a strong arm, athleticism and fits the offensive scheme very well.

5. Georgia: Aaron Murray

Aaron Murray was an elite QB prospect in 2009 and was in the same class as Matt Barkley. Today, Murray is the starter and leader for the Georgia and one of the best QBs in the SEC.

I wonder if his lack of height at 6'0" will hinder his draft status for the NFL?

4. Oklahoma: Landry Jones and Blake Bell

Bell was a 5-star QB in 2010 out of Kansas. He has been Landry Jones' understudy so far, but is the QB of the future for Bob Stoops.

Jones was a top-10 QB in his own right in 2008 out of New Mexico. He has since become a Heisman contender and replaced the legend of Sam Bradford quite well in Norman, Okla. He'll give it one last go in 2012. 

3. LSU: Zach Mettenberger

Zach Mettenberger should have been playing last year. He was the best QB on the Tigers' roster, and this year he will show it.

6'5", 250 pounds, Mettenberger combines a big frame with a rocket arm and natural passing skills. Look for him to establish himself as one of the better QBs in the SEC early in the season. 

2. Alabama: Philip Sims

Philip Sims was the No. 2 QB in the country in 2010, per Scout.com.  He's a 6'2" 215-pounder with a solid arm, flashes great accuracy and seems to see the field well.

However, Sims will have to wait his turn, as he lost out to A.J. McCarron in the race to replace Greg McElroy last year. 

1. USC: Matt Barkley

Easy choice here as Barkley was one of the most hyped QBs ever in recruiting history. A 2009 class QB, Barkley has gone to become a Heisman contender and likely top-five NFL Draft pick in 2013.

Could he leave USC as the best QB in school history? Perhaps the best player in school history?