Michigan Football: Power Ranking Top 5 QBs Wolverines Will Battle in 2012

The Big Ten Conference lost two of its three best quarterbacks after the 2011 season: Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, who is now with the Seattle Seahawks, and Kirk Cousins, who is now with the Washington Redskins.

But the Michigan Wolverines will still have to contend with a few talented, up-and-coming signal-callers during their 2012 Big Ten and non-conference docket—with or without guys like Wilson or Cousins in the way. 

Michigan opens its season Sept. 1 against the reigning national champion Alabama Crimson Tide at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Tide's junior standout AJ McCarron is surely among the best the Michigan defense will face.

The Wolverines look for their 68th victory Oct. 20 against in-state rival Michigan State, which has junior Andrew Maxwell ready to take over for Cousins. Reports indicate that Maxwell—at least physically—could be better than his predecessor.

Which quarterbacks pose the biggest threat to Michigan this season?

Which are the best of the best the Wolverines will battle?

It's time to make that decision...

5.) Sept. 22—Everett Golson, Notre Dame

Notre Dame's piano-playing sophomore quarterback Everett Golson may not be as well known as some of the signal-callers Michigan will face this season, but he's certainly athletic enough—and creative enough —to give a second look.

He's No. 1 on Notre Dame's depth chart, but he's not guaranteed the starting job. Andrew Hendrix could land the role, too.

But, for all intents and purposes, let's say Golson is the Irish's go-to guy come game day against the Wolverines.

"Coming into fall camp, I thought it was a dream," Golson told the Chicago Tribune. "I couldn't actually fathom the idea of being the quarterback. But now it's kind of settling in: 'OK, I gotta to prepare myself. I gotta get ready.'"

Speed to burn and extremely dangerous in open space, Golson, though relatively unknown to the masses, is a player college football fans will soon find out more about—and so will Michigan on Sept. 22.

4.) Oct. 27—Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

Nebraska's Taylor Martinez isn't the scrambler that Michigan's Denard Robinson is, but he has a pair of fleet feet that can get the job done.

Due to his athleticism, Martinez will be one of the more elusive quarterbacks any Big Ten team faces this season—including Michigan, which plays the Huskers on Oct. 27 in Lincoln.

Martinez was the Big Ten's ninth-leading rusher in 2011 with 874 yards. Yes, he outran some pretty good running backs a year ago.

He threw for 160 yards per game, good for seventh-best in the Big Ten, but his obvious strengths are the two limbs than hold him upright—his legs.

Is he the poor man's Denard Robinson? There are similarities between the two. But Robinson is clearly the more explosive athlete.

Martinez didn't impress in 2011 during the Huskers' 45-17 loss to Michigan, rushing  for just 49 yards and completing just 9-of-23 pass attempts.

Nonetheless, look for the 6'1", 200-pound junior to challenge the Wolverines' defense this fall.

3.) Oct. 20—Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State

He hasn't seen but a handful of live, in-game snaps during his collegiate career, but Michigan State junior Andrew Maxwell could certainly give Michigan a headache Oct. 20 at The Big House.

What makes Maxwell dangerous?

Glad you asked.

The fact that he's taking over for Kirk Cousins, arguably the greatest Spartans quarterback, should be enough reason to take the kid seriously. He was a 4-star prospect while at Midland High (Mich.) and has patiently waited for his turn.

“I expect Andrew to go into this season where Kirk Cousins went into 2011,” Michigan State quarterback coach Dave Warner told the Detroit Free Press. “And Kirk Cousins had two years of starting under his belt. But Andrew has been through those same years, and he has learned, although not being on the field.

“He has learned through Kirk’s big plays, big decisions. And he’s learned through the mistakes as well. So we anticipate him to step in there and just continue taking the offense to the next level, hopefully.”

Maxwell has impressed other members of the Spartans coaching staff, too.

"I think his decision-making process has gotten better, his accuracy has gotten better," Spartans offensive coordinator Dan Roushar told the Free Press. "I'm gonna knock on wood here, I think it's been maybe five or six practices since he's thrown a pick. So he's making good decisions. He's making good checks at the line of scrimmage; he's showing a lot more poise and confidence.

"I thought in the (Sunday) scrimmage he threw it really well. I think he ended up 16 of 29, but I think there were about five throwaways with some pressure, got the ball out of his hand. And then there were a couple of drops. So I saw a lot of good things out of him."

Michigan State rides a four-year winning streak over the Wolverines. Look for Maxwell to do his best to make it five straight. He may be young; he may be unproven—but he's ready.

And the Wolverines better be, too.

2.) Nov. 24—Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Ohio State typically has a dangerous, athletically-gifted quarterback.

Terrelle Pryor was outstanding, and so was Troy Smith.

The Wolverines will get a taste of the Buckeyes' star sophomore Braxton Miller on Nov. 24 at The Shoe. Miller had one of his better games in 2011 during a 40-34 loss to Michigan. Then a freshman, he rushed for 100 yards and threw for 235 yards—adding two touchdowns through the air against one pick.

At 6'2", 215 pounds, Miller isn't overly imposing, but he's quite strong and hard to catch—he rushed for over 100 yards thrice in 2011.

"Braxton Miller is the most dynamic player I've ever coached," Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer told Cleveland.com in July. "I've had first-rounders all over the place. But Braxton is strong, he's 215 now, and his acceleration is just off the charts. He also has a degree of humility that you almost never see in quarterbacks at Top 10 programs."

Buckle in for the ride, folks, because it's going to be a wild one Nov. 24.

1.) Sept. 1—AJ McCarron, Alabama

AJ McCarron was surgeon-like in Alabama's 21-0 BCS title game win over Louisiana State. Then a sophomore, McCarron completed 23-of-34 passes en route to accumulating 234 yards—and he didn't throw one interception.

He'll lead the Crimson Tide on Sept. 1 against the Wolverines, who hope to build upon an 11-2 season attained under coach Brady Hoke in his first year.

A rising talent in the SEC, McCarron threw for 2,634 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011. Efficient, he ended the season with just five picks.

Tide fans believe in McCarron's ability to lead Alabama back to the Promised Land: the BCS title game. He had just one multi-interception game in 2011 and went six games before throwing another. He makes smart decisions in the pocket and doesn't overextend himself.

When playing within his limits, McCarron could absolutely be the most effective and challenging quarterback the Wolverines face all year.

McCarron has an almost brother-like relationship with his head coach, Nick Saban, who, like McCarron, has a life ruled by the gridiron.

“I just think that's how AJ is,” Saban told the Birmingham News (al.com). “He loves football. He's a perfectionist. He's a great competitor. He wants to do well. He wants to make plays. He wants to be a leader. He wants his unit to do well.

“Every play that doesn't work in practice, you can see him kicking the sand or whatever with his gestures. He always bounces back for the next play.”

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Closing Thoughts...

It's tough to say just how good Michigan State's Andrew Maxwell will be this year. He could, in essence, become an elite-level Big Ten quarterback my midseason.

Ohio State's Braxton Miller, in my mind, is the second-most athletic quarterback in the league behind Michigan's Denard Robinson. Nebraska's Taylor Martinez is right up there, too -- let's put him at "2B."

Notre Dame's Everett Golson has been raved about by fans expressing their thoughts on message boards and in forums. Putting him on the list was a tough call, but I couldn't deny his potential -- same goes for Maxwell.

The Big Ten isn't exactly packed with primetime quarterbacks this season; so forgive me for leaving out guys from Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana (along with the rest).

Other Michigan-related content...

Breaking down Michigan's preseason ranking

Michigan football: 20 bold predictions

Can Thomas Rawls replace Fitz Toussaint against Alabama?

Follow Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81