Top Five Quarterbacks for the NFL Draft

The NFL Combine is underway, and the Senior Bowl is this weekend. This, of course, means that the 2009 NFL Draft is approaching quickly. But we still have three months to predict, rank, and debate where college football’s best and brightest prospects should be drafted.

Today, College Football Fever brings you the lowdown on the top five players at the most visible (and highest-paid) position: quarterback.

Matthew Stafford, University of Georgia

The NFL Combine will only help this young stud. Stafford’s lack of decision-making opportunities during his time under Bulldog’s Head Coach Mark Richt is really the only thing working against him, but Stafford is simply too physically gifted to overlook.

Since most NFL coaches and coordinators are egomaniacs, dangle pure, unparalleled talent in their faces and they become convinced that they are able to mold young Stafford’s mind.

Stafford goes No. 11 overall to the Detroit Lions. The Lions should be a perfect for Stafford. In fact, he is already accustomed to running for his life behind an ineffective offensive line.

Stafford finished his career with the Georgia Bulldogs with his best season. After beating the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl, Stafford is now waving goodbye to alumni, students, staff and fans in Athens and saying hello to enough cash to keep him comfortable for life.

Was young Stafford’s decision upsetting to some? Yes, but in the end, he cemented his Bulldog legacy by passing for 3,459 yards, throwing 25 touchdown passes, and accumulating a quarterback rating of 153.8.

For some reason there is a lot of controversy surrounding Stafford and questions regarding his ability to succeed at the next level. But let’s be clear—Stafford is armed with an arsenal of nuclear warheads. If he can learn to push the red button, he will not only win, he will annihilate the opposition.

Mark Sanchez, University of Southern California

It can’t be easy leaving the land of sunshine, surf and tanned bikini bodies, but Mark Sanchez was somehow able to muscle his way out of Los Angeles for the prospect of playing in the NFL. And as a star at USC, Sanchez is already familiar with playing alongside NFL-caliber talent.

He has a good arm and great leadership qualities. He hasn’t been as flashy as his predecessors, but he is still solid. Sanchez’s physical ability isn’t as great as Stafford’s, but Mark is more well-rounded.

Trojans head coach Pete Carroll didn’t properly appreciate Sanchez, but NFL scouts have been nonetheless impressed with his 11-1 record in 2008. The Mission Viejo-native also boosted his NFL stock with an impressive 34-touchdown, 10-interception season.

It’s no wonder Carroll doesn’t want him to leave school early. This quarterback should be very effective at the next level.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech University

There have been only a few college football quarterbacks able to handle immense defensive pressure. Graham Harrell isn’t only of these quarterbacks, but if given enough time in the pocket, this elite quarterback from Texas Tech is a superstar.

Harrell has a very good arm, pinpoint accuracy, and an ability to win. At Texas Tech, great pocket protection equaled big wins for the Red Raiders. As a result, Harrell burst from the gates in 2008 with 45 touchdown passes and 5,111 passing yards. His passing yards were down from 5,705 in 2007 due to the fact that Head Coach Mike Leach added a run attack.

Upon joining the NFL, there will be a learning curve for Harrell. He tossed fewer touchdown passes in 2008 but still improved he improved his interception ratio with only nine. He also boosted his quarterback rating to an impressive 160.04.

Graham Harrell may not be a first-round draft pick, but some smart team is going to get a gem. Believe that.

Nate Davis, Ball State University

Despite facing lesser competition in the Mid-American Conference, the talent of Nate Davis is unmistakable. And even playing against subpar competition doesn’t necessarily result in a lack of success in the NFL—see Baltimore Raven’s rookie quarterback sensation Joe Flacco for an example.

Davis is showing to be quite a contender in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has a strong arm and great intangibles. He has the rare quality of a pocket passer’s ability to read coverage but then run with the ball when necessary.

Davis is extremely athletic, and in many ways he mirrors the Philadelphia Eagles veteran Donovan McNabb with his throwing, leadership, and scrambling abilities. He finished his collegiate career with 74 touchdowns and 9,233 passing yards as a Ball State Junior.

Josh Freeman, Kansas State University

Of all the quarterbacks available in this year’s draft, Josh Freeman is the prototype. Freeman is 6’6” 238 lb. and has a strong, highly accurate arm. And even though Kansas State provided less talent than most collegiate teams on the offensive line and at wide receiver, he was able to produce 14 rushing touchdowns, as well as 20 touchdown passes against eight interceptions in his last season at KSU.

The real upside to this quarterback is his intangibles: poise and potential to learn and improve. The physical abilities are all there, but it’s his desire to continuously improve each season that attracts the scouts.

Freeman jumped from six touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2006 to 20-8 in 2008. His progression is well documented, and coupled with his athletic ability, has become a strong selling point to NFL teams.

So there are the College Football Fever top five quarterbacks for the 2009 NFL Draft. Want to read more? Take a look at our list of the top 15 players overall and let the debate begin.

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