College Football 2012 Preview: The Top 5 Quarterbacks in Each BCS Conference

For the third year in a row, the most talked-about player during the college football offseason will be a West Coast quarterback.

First it was Washington’s Jake Locker in 2010. Then it was Stanford’s Andrew Luck in 2011.

Now, it will be USC senior Matt Barkley who will assume the role as college football’s biggest celebrity this summer.

Barkley is sure to be heaped with praise and admiration for the next few months leading up to the 2012 season, and the sports media will most certainly crown him as college football’s quarterback king.

While Barkley is absolutely deserving of the hype he’s going to receive this offseason, that definitely doesn’t mean that he’s the only elite quarterback in college football.

There will be plenty of talented signal-callers to keep an eye on this year, so here’s a look at the five best quarterbacks in each BCS conference for the 2012 season.

The ACC's Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech  

2. E.J. Manuel, Florida State

3. Tajh Boyd, Clemson

4. Bryn Renner, North Carolina

5. Mike Glennon, N.C. State

1. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech offense has lost RB David Wilson, who led the ACC with 1,709 rushing yards last year, its two most productive receivers—Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin—and three starting offensive linemen from last season. 

That means there are going to be a lot of new faces in the offensive huddle in Blacksburg this year, but luckily for the Hokies, their most important offensive player, QB Logan Thomas, is back to lead the way for another year. 

Taking over for the school's all-time passing leader Tyrod Taylor, Thomas had a lot of pressure to live up to in his first season as a starter in 2011. However, he came in and quickly showed the type of enormous potential he possesses with a strong sophomore campaign. 

Last year, the big, athletic dual-threat quarterback completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards, added 469 yards on the ground and accounted for 30 total touchdowns, as he led Virginia Tech to an ACC Coastal division title, a BCS bowl berth and an 11-win season. 

The 6'6'', 262-pound junior is a scary talented-type of physical specimen, and he's the kind of difference-maker that's capable of putting an entire offense on his back and leading it to success. 

Losing Wilson, Coale, Boykin and some key offensive linemen certainly hurts, but with Thomas back, Virginia Tech will still remain a legitimate contender for both a conference championship and a BCS title in 2012. 

If he has the season he's capable of, don't be surprised if you hear Logan Thomas' name enter the discussion for both the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. 

2. E.J. Manuel, Florida State

As far as natural physical ability is concerned, Florida State's E.J. Manuel ranks right up there with the best quarterbacks in college football. 

The big lingering question is, though, will Manuel finally be able to put his god-given gifts to full use in 2012?

Last year, Florida State entered the season as a top-5 ranked national title contender, and Manuel was being discussed by many as a possible Heisman dark horse.

After an early-season loss to top-ranked Oklahoma at home, however, the season unraveled for Manuel and the Seminoles, and they ended up finishing with a disappointing 9-4 record in 2011. 

Still, with so much talent returning for 2012, there's reason for excitement in Tallahassee this offseason. 

Just like last year, Florida State will once again likely enter the season ranked in the top 10 with a goal of winning an ACC championship. 

The pressure will be firmly on Manuel's shoulders to get the job done, and it will be up to the gifted 6'5'', 245-pound senior to get his team to the promised land. 

Manuel actually finished with a very respectable stat line last season—65 percent completion percentage, 2,666 passing yards, 22 total touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Now he's got to take his game to the next level and become the elite game-changer that many were forecasting him to be when he arrived at Florida State as a highly touted 5-star recruit back in 2008.

3. Tajh Boyd, Clemson

The fantastic freshman performance of Clemson WR Sammy Watkins seemed to overshadow the emergence of quarterback Tajh Boyd, who also played a major role in the Tigers' run to an ACC championship last season.

After waiting two years to get out onto the field, Boyd, who was a former heralded 5-star recruit out of Virginia, finally got the opportunity to prove that his high school hype was warranted.

The 6'1'', 230-pound junior stepped into the starting role and proved to be a perfect fit for Clemson's attacking offense, as he compiled over 4,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 38 touchdowns in 2011. 

Boyd may have struggled in late-season losses to the likes of Georgia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina and West Virginia, but when he was on his game, the Tigers' offense was almost unstoppable. 

With an explosive set of skill-position players comprised of Watkins, fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Andre Ellington returning, Boyd will have the kind of surrounding cast he needs to have Clemson right back in the chase for another ACC championship in 2012. 

4. Bryn Renner, North Carolina

The North Carolina offense has the chance to be one of the most productive and explosive units in the ACC in 2012. The Tar Heels bring back one of the country's top running backs Giovani Bernard, a potential breakout star receiver in Erik Highsmith and one of the strongest offensive lines in college football. 

The captain of the offensive ship will once again be QB Bryn Renner, who enjoyed a terrific first season as a starter in 2011. 

Last year, Renner completed 68 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and threw for 26 touchdowns, and he helped the Tar Heels' offense average 393 yards per game. 

This season, he should be able to build on that success and continue to make a name for himself around the ACC in 2012. 

The 6'3'', 215-pound junior has the type of arm strength and accuracy to put up big passing numbers this season, and with Renner back at the helm, the Tar Heels could end up being a surprise contender in the ACC in 2012. 

5. Mike Glennon, N.C. State

Mike Glennon arrived at North Carolina State as one of the top-rated quarterback prospects of the 2008 recruiting class. However, he was forced to sit on the bench for three years while Russell Wilson ran the Wolfpack offense. 

When Wilson decided to transfer to Wisconsin last offseason, that opened the door for Glennon to finally prove himself in 2011. 

The 6'6'', 232-pound senior ended up having a very impressive first campaign as a starter, completing 62 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

With a year of experience under his belt, Glennon should now have the confidence to really let loose and show off his skills in 2012. 

Glennon is the type of tall, big-armed pocket-passer that NFL teams are looking for, and if he puts together a strong final season, he could become one of the most coveted senior quarterback prospects for the 2013 NFL draft. 

The Big East’s Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

2. B.J. Daniels, South Florida

3. Tino Sunseri, Pittsburgh

4. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse

5. Munchie Legaux, Cincinnati

1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

Miami native Teddy Bridgewater always seemed like he was destined to be a Hurricane, but after coach Randy Shannon was fired, Bridgewater switched his commitment from his hometown team and pledged his services to coach Charlie Strong and Louisville.

The Cardinals couldn't have been happier to have him, and after the flashes Bridgewater showed during his freshman season last year, it seems like he's destined to become one of the biggest stars in the Big East over the next few years.

Last year, Bridgewater took over the starting job and helped lead Louisville to a share of the Big East championship, and he earned himself Big East Rookie of the Year honors for his play. The 6'3", 208-pound sophomore completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,129 yards and hit 14 touchdown passes in 2011.

The coaching staff kept the offense simple during his first year, but now that Bridgewater has shown he can handle himself, they should let him off the leash in 2012.

With running back Dominique Brown and receivers DeVante Parker, Michaelee Harris and Eli Rogers surrounding him, Bridgewater will have the type of surrounding cast he needs to guide Louisville to a Big East championship and a BCS bowl berth in 2012.

2. B.J. Daniels, South Florida

South Florida fans have been waiting for QB B.J. Daniels to put together a breakthrough-type of season ever since he orchestrated a major upset of Florida State in the first start of his career as a freshman season back in 2009. 

For whatever reason, Daniels has failed to raise his game up in the two seasons since, and he's yet to fully put all of his physical tools to good use and lead the Bulls to a Big East championship. 

After two seasons that have been marred by inconsistency, the 6'0'', 223-pound senior will now have one final opportunity to guide South Florida to a conference championship and a BCS bowl game in his swan song season. 

Last year, Daniels started off the season strong with a major upset win at Notre Dame.

He then proceeded to lead the Bulls to a hot 4-0 start. However, things quickly fell apart after that, as the team took a nosedive and lost seven of its last eight games and missed out on a bowl game. 

Five of those seven losses came by a touchdown or less, which just goes to show that the team has to learn how to toughen up in the fourth quarter and close out games more effectively this season. 

There's no doubt that Daniels and the rest of the Bulls will be eager to put last season behind them.

This year, South Florida has the type of talent on both sides of the ball to compete for a Big East championship, but it's going to ultimately be up to Daniels to finally step up and become the true leader that everyone has been waiting for him to become. 

3. Tino Sunseri, Pittsburgh

Many Pitt fans thought that the arrival of coach Todd Graham would help QB Tino Sunseri become a more consistent passer in 2011. However, Graham and Sunseri just never seemed to get on the same page, and he ended up struggling through a mediocre junior season. 

Last year, Sunseri finished sixth in the Big East with just a 124 passer rating and he only threw 10 touchdowns. 

The good news for the 6'2'', 215-pound senior is that he'll no longer have to deal with Graham, who bolted for Arizona State this offseason. Instead, he'll now have the opportunity to work with one of the best offensive minds in college football, new Panthers coach Paul Chryst. 

Sunseri will be the centerpiece of an offense that returns running back Ray Graham, who was on pace to run away with the Big East rushing title before a knee injury sidelined him for the final five games of last season. Plus, the Panthers will also have two of the best receivers in the Big East—Devin Street and Mike Shanahan—to feature in the passing game. 

Chryst is a bright offensive mind, and he should be able to come up with a scheme that accentuates Sunseri's strengths while masking his weaknesses, which means that the third-year starter could very well be in store for his best season yet in 2012. 

4. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse

After an inspiring eight-win season in 2010, it seemed like Syracuse was a team that was ready to possibly take the next step and start competing for a conference championship last season. However, after a 5-2 start, the Orange fell apart late in the year and ended up losing their final five games and missing out on the postseason. 

There was plenty of blame to go around for the team's late-season struggles, and one of the players that was forced to deal with a lot of the criticism was QB Ryan Nassib. 

While he certainly played better in the first half of the year than he did in the latter part of the season, overall, Nassib actually had a pretty strong performance in 2011, as he completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,685 yards and tossed 22 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. 

Still, it's obvious that the 6'2'', 229-pound senior is going to have to step his game up in 2012 if he wants to get Syracuse back on track this season.

5. Munchie Legaux, Cincinnati

Last season, Munchie Legaux was unexpectedly thrust into action when starter Zach Collaros went down with an injury late in the season.

While he initially struggled in losses to West Virginia and Rutgers, Legaux eventually got his feet under him after two games, and he helped lead the Bearcats to victories over both Syracuse and Connecticut, which ensured that the team earned a piece of the Big East championship in 2011. 

The game experience that Legaux gained last season should prove to be very valuable as he prepares to take the reins of the Cincinnati offense on a full-time basis this year. 

The 6'5'', 203-pound junior is a big, athletic quarterback who can move around in the pocket and keep defenses guessing all game long. 

While he still has to work on his accuracy, coverage recognition and overall decision-making, Legaux is definitely an intriguing signal-caller who could be ready to have a real breakout campaign in 2012. 

The Big Ten’s Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan

2. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

3. Braxton Miller, Ohio State

4. James Vandenberg, Iowa

5. Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan

While I still have my doubts about whether Michigan's Denard Robinson will actually be a successful quarterback in the NFL, I have no doubts about the fact that Robinson is one of the most electric and explosive playmakers in all of college football. 

Although he isn't a top-level passer, Robinson is one of the best athletes in the country, and he has made a habit of shredding defenses with his running ability over the past two seasons. 

During his two years as a starter in Ann Arbor, the 6'1'', 193-pound senior has compiled over 7,600 yards of total offense and accounted for 68 total touchdowns. 

Robinson may have struggled a bit during his transition from Rich Rodriguez's spread zone read system to Al Borges' more conventional style attack last year, but he still managed to lead the Wolverines to an 11-win season and a victory in the Sugar Bowl, which was their first BCS bowl win since 2000.

If he can cut down on his interceptions and continue to adapt to Borges' scheme, Robinson should have Michigan right in the hunt for a Big Ten championship in 2012. 

We'll find out a lot about the talented dual-threat signal-caller in his first game of the 2012 season, when Michigan heads to Arlington, Texas to battle with defending national champion Alabama. 

If he can somehow beat the Tide, it would be a great start to Robinson's Heisman campaign. 

2. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

Nebraska may have had one of the strongest rushing attacks in the country last season, as the Cornhuskers ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense. However, they didn't come close to finding the same type of success through the air in 2011, as the team could only muster up 162 passing yards per game last year. 

QB Taylor Martinez had to shoulder a lot of the blame, since he failed to take the necessary steps to become a more consistent passer in his second year as a starter. 

Martinez only completed 56 percent of his passes and averaged just 7.2 yards per attempt in 2011. That type of output just won't cut it if Nebraska truly wants to contend for a Big Ten championship. 

The athletic 6'1'', 200-pound junior did make up for his struggles in the passing game with his running ability, though, as he rushed for 874 yards and nine touchdowns last season. 

If Martinez can work on becoming a better passer this offseason to complement his running skills, he could evolve into one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the Big Ten in 2012. 

3. Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Ohio State may not be eligible for postseason play this year, but the Buckeyes will still be one of the most fascinating teams to watch, as everyone's going to be interested to see how new coach Urban Meyer fares in his first year back on the sideline.

Meyer takes over a team that was woefully disappointing last year, going just 6-7 under the watch of interim coach Luke Fickell. But the good news is the two-time national championship-winning head coach will have plenty of top-tier talent to work with in 2012.

The most intriguing storyline to follow in Columbus will be the development of QB Braxton Miller, a former highly touted 5-star recruit who was thrown into the fire early on last season after Joe Bauserman struggled mightily in a blowout loss to Miami.

After stepping in as the starter in Week 4, Miller went just 4-6 down the stretch, but he did show signs of his tremendous rushing ability, as he ran for 715 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

The athletic 6'3", 210-pound sophomore is one of the most gifted dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, and he seems to be an ideal fit for Meyer's spread offense.

With Meyer guiding him, Miller has the chance to become a star at Ohio State, but he's still got to get much better as a passer and improve as a decision-maker if he ever wants to reach his full potential.

4. James Vandenberg, Iowa

Iowa became somewhat of a forgotten team in the Big Ten last season, as the Hawkeyes were only able to muster up seven wins in 2011. However, the boys from Iowa City will be looking to get back on track and become a factor in the conference again this season. 

While there is plenty of uncertainty on offense after the transfer of RB Marcus Coker and the departures of OT Riley Reiff and WR Marvin McNutt; there will at least be stability at the quarterback position, where James Vandenberg returns. 

Last year, Vandenberg threw for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he was very erratic in losses to Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska. 

The 6'3'', 212-pound senior needs to work on his consistency this offseason, but there's no doubt that he's got all of the tools to be one of the Big Ten's most efficient quarterbacks in 2012. 

With a group of very talented pass-catchers comprised of receivers Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley and tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz coming back, Vandenberg has the type of weapons he needs to light up opposing secondaries this season. 

5. Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State

Michigan State may have a championship-caliber defense for 2012, but there are definitely some questions on offense, where the Spartans have lost quarterback Kirk Cousins and receivers Keshawn Martin, B.J. Cunningham and Keith Nichol. 

The Spartans will need to revamp their passing game this offseason if they want to make it back to the Big Ten championship game in 2012, but luckily, they've got an intriguing quarterback in Andrew Maxwell, who could be ready to have a statement season this year.

Maxwell has thrown a grand total of 51 passes since arriving in East Lansing in 2009, but the former 4-star recruit has the potential to step in and really turn some heads this season. 

No, he won't have any experienced receivers, but with one of the Big Ten's best running backs, Le'Veon Bell, lining up behind him, and one of the conference's best offensive lines in front of him, he should have plenty of help in 2012. 

Maxwell will need some time to ease into the starting job, but he's certainly got the type of talent to have Michigan State once again competing for a conference championship this season. 

The Big 12’s Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Geno Smith, West Virginia

2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

3. Collin Klein, Kansas State

4. Casey Pachall, TCU

5. Seth Doege, Texas Tech

1. Geno Smith, West Virginia

Last year, Geno Smith proved to be a perfect fit for new coach Dana Holgorsen's pass-happy offensive attack, as he racked up 4,385 passing yards, the fourth-highest total in the country, and threw 31 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions.

The 6'3'', 214-pound senior led the Mountaineers to a Big East championship and their first BCS bowl game in four years.

Obviously, his performance in the Orange Bowl against Clemson was what helped him gain the most attention and accolades. Smith helped lead West Virginia to a bowl-record 70-point performance against the Tigers, and he threw for over 400 yards and accounted for seven of his team's 10 touchdowns.

Now that the Mountaineers are moving to the Big 12 this season, Smith will have the chance to prove himself against some of the best competition that college football has to offer.

If he can step up and handle the spotlight and the pressure in 2012, he should be one of the most productive passers in the nation once again this season. 

Smith has the superior arm strength, pinpoint accuracy and overall explosive passing ability to grow into both a Heisman candidate as well as a coveted NFL quarterback prospect during his senior year. 

With speedy receivers such as Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey both returning, Smith will be the leader of what should once again be one of college football's most powerful passing attacks in 2012. 

2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

There were definitely a few teams that could be classified as "disappointing" last year, but no other team in college football deserved that label as much as Oklahoma did in 2011. 

After starting off the season as the consensus No. 1-ranked team in the nation, the Sooners failed to even make it to a BCS bowl, as they ended up finishing outside of the Top 10 with just a 10-3 record.

The team's troubles caused a bit of a backlash against QB Landry Jones, who before the season started was considered a Heisman favorite and a highly coveted NFL prospect. 

Jones may have thrown for over 4,400 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2011, but he failed to make good on the preseason hype he had garnered.

He also drew criticism from many onlookers for his struggles after WR Ryan Broyles went down for the year with an injury.

There's no denying that the 6'4'', 229-pound senior possesses immense talent, but he's going to have some work to do this season to repair his image. 

As always, though, even with the departure of Broyles, Oklahoma still has plenty of offensive firepower yet again in 2012.

Jones will have the type of deep and talented receiver corps, led by potential standout Kenny Stills, that he needs to once again put up some monster passing numbers.

More importantly, though, he'll have the opportunity to help the Sooners regain their status as one of the most dominant powerhouses in the Big 12 this season. 

3. Collin Klein, Kansas State

Before the start of last season, not even the most optimistic and loyal of Kansas State fans were expecting the Wildcats to finish with 10 wins.

QB Collin Klein gave everyone in Manhattan a pleasant surprise, though, when he became one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2011 season. 

Klein burst onto the national scene with a sensational performance, as he basically put the entire Kansas State offense on his back last year. 

The 6'5'', 226-pound dual-threat signal-caller totaled over 3,000 yards of offense and accounted for 40 of his team's 52 touchdowns, as he led the Wildcats to a surprising 10-3 record and a top-15 national ranking. 

Klein proved to be one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the country, but his passing wasn't exactly stellar, as he completed just 57 percent of his throws for 1,918 yards. 

If he can build a better rapport with his receivers and improve his overall passing skills this offseason, Klein should be able to beat opposing defenses with his arm just as much as he does with his legs in 2012. 

4. Casey Pachall, TCU

Last year, Casey Pachall was given the unenviable task of having to replace Andy Dalton, who was one of the most consistent and successful quarterbacks in college football history.

Pachall was up to the challenge, though, and he ended up leading TCU to its fourth straight double-digit win season and having a very impressive individual performance in his first season as a starter. 

The 6'5'', 216-pound junior completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,921 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011, and he didn't show any signs of being stressed out about having to live up to the precedent that Dalton had set. 

The tall Texas native will now be asked to lead the Horned Frogs into the Big 12 this season, and it should be interesting to see how he'll fare against the step up in competition in 2012. 

With running backs Matthew Tucker and Waymon James and receivers Josh Boyce, Brandon Carter and Skye Dawson all returning, Pachall will have plenty of offensive weapons to work with once again, and he should have no trouble doing some major damage to Big 12 defenses this year.

5. Seth Doege, Texas Tech

Just because Mike Leach is no longer coaching at Texas Tech, that doesn't mean the team still doesn't have an explosive passing attack. 

Last season, the Red Raiders ranked seventh in the country in passing offense, as they averaged 345 yards through the air per game. 

Much of that success can be attributed to QB Seth Doege, who was one of the most underappreciated players of the 2011 season. 

Doege completed 68 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2011, and he played a vital role in the team's shocking upset of No. 1-ranked Oklahoma, as he threw for 441 yards and four touchdowns against the Sooners. 

The 6'1'', 200-pound senior may not be the biggest or most physically gifted quarterback in the country, but he certainly knows how to beat defenses with his arm, which he proved last season 

With the dangerous receiver trio of Eric Ward, Darrin Moore and Alex Torres returning for 2012, Doege should once again be the ringleader of one of college football's most potent passing attacks. 

The Pac-12’s Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Matt Barkley, USC

2. Keith Price, Washington

3. Jeff Tuel, Washington State

4. Bryan Bennett, Oregon

5. Jordan Wynn, Utah

1. Matt Barkley, USC

Being college football's most famous cover boy and the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and become a No. 1 overall NFL draft pick may sound glamorous, but USC's Matt Barkley is about to find out that with all of those expectations comes a lot of pressure. 

Barkley could have easily justified leaving USC after his junior year, given that he was set to become a top-five pick in the 2012 NFL draft if he did. Instead, he pleased Trojans fans by announcing that he would return for one more year, as he had unfinished business to attend to in Los Angeles. 

That unfinished business includes a Heisman Trophy, a Pac-12 title as well as a BCS championship. 

Last year, the 6'2'', 220-pound senior did everything he could to deserve an invitation to New York City for the Heisman ceremony, as he completed 69 percent of his passes for over 3,500 yards and threw 39 touchdown passes while leading the Trojans to a 10-2 season. However, surprisingly, he didn't receive an invite.

He won't be overlooked this season if he can live up to his preseason hype and lead USC to a Pac-12 championship. 

Barkley has had an outstanding three-year career at USC thus far, and he'll now be looking to top it off with one more stellar season as a senior in 2012. 

It won't be easy to live up to the enormous expectations, but if there's anyone in college football that's capable of dealing with the pressure, it's Matt Barkley. 

2. Keith Price, Washington

Washington QB Keith Price wasn't exactly a highly touted national star before his performance in the Alamo Bowl against QB Robert Griffin III and Baylor.

It was Price's sensational outing against the Bears, in which he out-dueled Griffin and torched Baylor's secondary for 438 passing yards and accounted for all seven of his team's touchdowns in the wild 67-56 shootout loss, that now has everyone talking.

Last year, Price came out and lit up opponents in the team's first six games, as he helped guide Washington to a 5-1 start. However, the 6'1'', 195-pound junior faltered down the stretch when he went up against tougher defenses like Stanford's, USC's and Oregon's, and Washington finished the season on a 2-5 slide. 

Price did end the year with impressive stats, though, finishing with over 3,000 passing yards, a 33-11 touchdown-interception ratio and a 67 percent completion percentage. 

The only thing that can prevent the budding quarterback from achieving stardom this season is his supporting cast. The Huskies lost highly productive RB Chris Polk, their two top receivers, Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar, and left tackle Senio Kelemete. 

Still, with playmakers such as WR Kasen Williams and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins returning, Price should have enough firepower at the skill positions to produce a dangerous passing attack in 2012. 

Washington likely won't be good enough for Price to be in serious contention for the Heisman Trophy this season. However, he'll still have the opportunity to leave a big impression on NFL scouts, who will surely make a few trips up to the Pacific Northwest to get a good look at him in 2012.

3. Jeff Tuel, Washington State

Mike Leach's arrival in Pullman is welcome news for a program that went just 9-40 during the four-year tenure of previous coach Paul Wulff.

Leach installed his pass-heavy Air Raid-style offensive attack this spring, and it should be interesting to see how QB Jeff Tuel handles the new system in 2012. 

Tuel was limited to just three games last season due to injury, but he's now back and ready to go for the upcoming season. 

The 6'3'', 223-pound senior has the type of arm strength and arm endurance needed to flourish in Leach's high-octane passing scheme, and he'll have a great opportunity to put up some stellar stats this season. 

With one of the best offensive players in the country, WR Marquess Wilson, returning, Tuel will have the type of deadly receiving weapon he needs to really torch secondaries in 2012. 

Washington State hasn't had a winning season since 2003, but that could change if Tuel and Wilson turn out to be the kind of explosive passing combination that's as good as advertised.

4. Bryan Bennett, Oregon

Oregon may have lost the dynamic backfield duo of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James, but the Ducks still have the type of offensive ingredients to put together another dangerous attack in 2012. 

Running Backs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas are two of the most explosive players in college football, but if Oregon really wants to win its fourth straight conference championship, the team is going to need QB Bryan Bennett to emerge as a playmaker this year. 

Bennett hasn't officially won the starting job yet, but I personally think he's the best possible pick to replace Thomas and I expect him to be the one behind center this season. 

The 6'3'', 199-pound sophomore is a former 4-star recruit out of California's Crespi High School who seems to be perfectly built to thrive in Oregon's spread offense. 

As a true freshman, Bennett received limited snaps playing behind Thomas last year, but when he was out on the field, he did show off his intriguing skill set, as he averaged 8.7 yards on 23 carries and threw for 369 yards and six touchdowns in just 46 pass attempts. 

Oregon has all the pieces in place to compete for not just a Pac-12 championship, but a national championship as well in 2012. All the Ducks need is a quarterback to step in and keep the offense running smoothly. 

Bryan Bennett may turn out to be just what the team needs for its title run this season. 

5. Jordan Wynn, Utah

Utah has a chance to be one of college football's biggest surprise teams in 2012.

Although the Utes only went 4-5 in their first season of Pac-12 play last year, the team should fare much better in 2011 if QB Jordan Wynn can manage to stay healthy for a full season. 

Considering that Wynn played in just four games last year, that does still remain a big if, though. 

Wynn gained a reputation as a quarterback to watch when he helped lead Utah to a 10-win season back in 2010. However, a shoulder injury prevented him from proving himself against Pac-12 competition last season. 

The 6'2'', 202-pound junior will now enter the 2012 season looking to regain the form he showed earlier in his career, and he'll have plenty of help from receivers DeVonte Christopher and Dres Anderson.

If he can find it, Utah is a team that has the potential to really turn some heads in the Pac-12 this season. 

The SEC’s Top 5 Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Murray, Georgia

2. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee

4. A.J. McCarron, Alabama

5. James Franklin, Missouri

1. Aaron Murray, Georgia

After starting off the year 0-2 with back-to-back losses to Boise State and South Carolina, Georgia's 2011 season seemed like it was on the verge of possibly spiraling out of control. 

Thankfully for much-criticized head coach Mark Richt, QB Aaron Murray was able to rally the Bulldogs and reel off 10 straight victories to help Richt's squad win the SEC East division title and finish with its first double-digit win season since 2008.

Although the campaign ended in disappointing fashion with a blowout loss to LSU in the SEC championship game followed up by a heartbreaking triple-overtime defeat at the hands of Michigan State in the Outback Bowl, there's still a lot of reason for optimism in Athens this offseason. 

Georgia will likely enter the season ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason polls, and the Bulldogs will be tagged as the favorite to repeat as SEC East division champs this year. 

If they want to get back to Atlanta, they're going to need a big year out of Murray, who now looks ready to ascend to national stardom. 

Last year, the 6'1'', 211-pound junior matured as a player and as a leader, as he threw for over 3,100 yards and hit an SEC-best 35 touchdown passes.

Murray has continued to progress and develop into an elite-caliber quarterback over the past two years, and he now looks ready to guide Georgia into the national championship hunt while throwing his name into the Heisman discussion in 2012.  

2. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

It didn't take long for QB Tyler Wilson to prove that he was the real deal in 2011. In his first season as a starter, Wilson outperformed his predecessor Ryan Mallett, leading the Razorbacks to 11 wins and a top-five national ranking. 

The 6'3'', 220-pound senior threw for over 3,600 yards and completed 63 percent of his passes in 2011, and he proved to be a perfect fit for Bobby Petrino's offense.

Now that Petrino has been booted from Arkansas, though, Wilson and the rest of the Razorbacks will have their resilience put to the test in 2012. 

If Wilson can show that he can handle the pressure and adversity that he's sure to face in the SEC West race, and if he can step up and become a true team leader this season, he's got the type of NFL-caliber arm strength and accuracy to really wow pro scouts. 

While he may not be able to catch Matt Barkley for the No. 1 overall pick, Wilson does have what it takes to be a top-10 selection in the 2013 NFL draft.

Look for Wilson to have Arkansas right in the thick of the SEC race in 2012, even without Petrino at the helm, and don't be surprised if you start hearing serious Heisman buzz surrounding his name by the midpoint of the season.

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee

After an eye-opening freshman campaign in 2010, Tennessee's Tyler Bray seemed like he was ready to really solidify his status as one of college football's top quarterbacks last season before a broken thumb sidelined him for five crucial games during the middle of the season. 

Even though he only played in seven contests, the strong-armed 6'6'', 210-pound junior still threw for almost 2,000 yards and 17 touchdown passes. 

Bray is the type of prototypical pocket-passer that NFL scouts covet, and he has the chance to really cause some big-time buzz this season. 

With two of the best receivers in the country, Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers, both returning to Knoxville, Bray will have one of college football's best receiver tandems at his disposal in 2012. 

Bray has as much pure arm talent as any other quarterback in the nation, and he has matured into a major passing threat during his limited time out on the field. 

The talented junior's got a great chance to put up some monster passing numbers this season, and he'll have the opportunity to prove to scouts that he's one of college football's most gifted passers in 2012. 

4. A.J. McCarron, Alabama

A.J. McCarron may not have been the focal point of Alabama's offense during the team's run to a national championship last season, but it's hard not to be impressed by the level of consistency and efficiency that McCarron displayed during his first year as a starter in 2011. 

Last season, the talented former 4-star recruit stepped into the Tide's offensive huddle and played the role of game-manager to near perfection, as he completed nearly 67 percent of his passes for over 2,600 yards and threw 16 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. 

While star running back Trent Richardson and Alabama's dominant defense played the biggest roles in the team's championship season, you can certainly make the argument that if McCarron didn't play as well as he did, then the Tide wouldn't have even made it to New Orleans. 

Now with Richardson off to the NFL, and the defense having to deal with some key personnel losses, the 6'4'', 205-pound junior will be asked to become a much bigger part of the team's ultimate success in 2012. 

New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will likely let McCarron air it out and show off his passing skills more often this season, and it should be interesting to see how he handles the increased weight and pressure that will be put on his shoulders in his second year as a starter. 

5. James Franklin, Missouri

Missouri's move to the SEC East will be one of the most interesting storylines to follow in 2012. 

The Tigers will likely be without star RB Henry Josey, who is still recovering from a devastating knee injury he experienced last November and will probably have to redshirt this season.

The good news is the Missouri offense will still be led by one of the most intriguing dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, James Franklin. 

In his first season taking over for Blaine Gabbert as the starter, Franklin completed 63 percent of his passes for over 2,800 yards, added 981 yards on the ground and accounted for 36 total touchdowns. 

The highly athletic 6'2'', 225-pound junior still has to improve on getting the ball down the field more consistently, and he still has to work on his overall decision-making, but the flashes he showed in 2011 were definitely encouraging. 

Franklin will have two talented receiving weapons to work with this season in T.J. Moe and incoming 5-star freshman recruit Dorial Green-Beckham. So even though he likely won't have Josey lining up in the backfield with him, Franklin will still have the firepower he needs to have Missouri in the hunt for an East division title in 2012. 

Overall, it should be interesting to see how the dangerous dual-threat quarterback fairs against the bigger, stronger and more athletic defenses he'll face in the SEC this season. 

The Best of the Rest

Brett Nottingham, Stanford

Connor Shaw, South Carolina

Kain Colter, Northwestern

Matt Scott, Arizona 

Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois

Sean Mannion, Oregon State

Sean Renfree, Duke

Tevin Washington, Georgia Tech

Tyler Russell, Mississippi State

Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State

Zach Maynard, California

Zach Mettenberger, LSU

The Best Quarterbacks Outside of the BCS

Alex Carder, Western Michigan

Blaine Gautier, Louisiana-Lafayette

Brett Smith, Wyoming

Cody Fajardo, Nevada

Corey Robinson, Troy

Derek Carr, Fresno State

Riley Nelson, BYU

Ryan Aplin, Arkansas State

Ryan Radcliff, Central Michigan 

Terrance Owens, Toledo

Tyler Tettleton, Ohio

Zac Dysert, Miami (Ohio)