10 Best States with Top 2014 QB Recruits

The most glamorous—and scrutinized—position in all of sports, it takes a special person to play quarterback and a special state to breed several good quarterbacks in a given year.

Some states are known for producing linebackers, while other states routinely produce running backs or offensive linemen. However, the grounds have to be fertile and the water has to be just right for a state to produce a talented crop of passers at once.

A state out west known for its quarterback history is up to its old tricks. Another state in the Midwest known for its toughness actually has several good 2014 quarterback recruits, plus a few surprises are also on this list.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports and ESPNU.

Kentucky

The Bluegrass State is led by 4-star passer Drew Barker, who is from Hebron. Barker is committed to Kentucky, and the 6'4", 210-pounder shows good arm strength, solid accuracy and surprising power-running ability.

Reggie Bonnafon, a 3-star Louisville commit, will stay home and play for the Cardinals. At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Bonnafon has good athleticism to escape the rush and make throws on the run.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is home to David Cornwell, an elite 4-star quarterback who is committed to Alabama. Cornwell, who is 6'5" and 241 pounds, has NFL size and arm strength.

He displays adequate mobility, flashes the ability to scan the field to go through his progressions and can place the football to receivers with good accuracy.

Justice Hansen is a 4-star Oklahoma commit who is nearly 6'4" and 200 pounds. He has great arm strength, can pitch strikes to receivers downfield and is a deceptive threat to run.

Virginia

Caleb Henderson is the top passer in the Old Dominion. At 6'3" and 230 pounds, the 4-star recruit could be North Carolina's quarterback of the future due to his strong arm, field vision and ability to make spectacular throws.

Corwin Cutler is another good 4-star quarterback in the state, and the 6'4", 200-pounder is committed to Virginia. Travon McMillian, a 3-star dual-threat passer, is headed to Virginia Tech, where his athleticism should impress the people in Blacksburg.

South Carolina

The Palmetto State does not immediately come to mind when one thinks of quarterbacks, but that is slowly changing.

Jacob Park, a 4-star Georgia commitment, is the state's top player at the position. Park, who is 6'3" and 202 pounds, has good arm strength, flashes solid accuracy and is a "gamer."

A sleeper at the position is Shuler Bentley, a 3-star passer who is committed to Old Dominion. Bentley, who is 6'1" and 200 pounds, has good field vision and is the pilot at Byrnes (SC), which is a Southeastern powerhouse program.

Mason Rudolph is a 3-star quarterback who stands 6'4" and 210 pounds. He is committed to Oklahoma State, where he could be a good fit in the Cowboys' spread attack.

Pennsylvania

Andrew Ford, a 4-star lefty, is the top quarterback in the Keystone State. Ford, who is committed to Virginia Tech, is 6'3" and 198 pounds. He has good mechanics, plays with solid poise and is decisive with his reads.

The quarterback with the most upside is 6'4", 223-pound JJ Cosentino of Pittsburgh. The Florida State commit is a 4-star passer who could be the guy who takes over for Jameis Winston one day.

Akron may be getting a steal in Chandler Kincade of Beaver Falls. A 3-star recruit, Kincade is a 6'4", 210-pounder with deceptive arm strength to attack all three levels of the field.

Georgia

Without question, the Peach State's top quarterback is elite 4-star recruit Deshaun Watson. The Clemson commit is 6'3", 200 pounds and has great physical tools to be the next Tajh Boyd for the Tigers.

Although he is raw, Stephen Collier is a 3-star Ohio State commit with big upside. He is 6'4", 208 pounds and has outstanding athleticism for the position. Collier looks like a great fit for the Buckeyes' spread-option offense.

Brooks Barden of Cartersville has great quickness in his throwing motion, mobility and plays with a swagger. The 3-star quarterback is headed to Charlotte.

Ohio

Ohio is known more for producing tough football players who usually play close to the line of scrimmage. However, 2014 appears to be a solid year for quarterbacks in the state.

DeShone Kizer, who is committed to Notre Dame, leads the pack. The 6'5", 207-pounder can keep his eyes downfield to overlook the rush, rifle passes with good arm strength and has adequate mobility.

Michigan State plucked Chris Durkin from Ohio, and he is a 4-star passer like Kizer. At 6'4" and 210 pounds, Durkin has similar size to 3-star Illinois commit Chayce Crouch.

However, the biggest passer in the state is Adam Bertke, a 3-star quarterback from Maria Stein. Bertke, who is 6'6" and 210 pounds, is committed to Pitt. 

Texas

It is only fitting that the best quarterback in Texas is headed to, well, Texas. Jerrod Heard, a 4-star prospect from Denton, is the headliner of the Longhorns' class.

At nearly 6'3" and 190 pounds, Heard displays good arm strength, especially on intermediate throws. He makes quick decisions and can attack the edges of the line of scrimmage due to his mobility.

David Blough doesn't panic in the pocket often, as the 6'1", 180-pound 4-star Purdue pledge keeps his eyes downfield and has above-average arm strength. 

Jarrett Hildreth is a 3-star quarterback who is a pure gunslinger. The 6'3", 212-pound League City native is not afraid to take a chance at any time. Aaron Sharp, a 3-star recruit, is a 6'3", 190-pounder who will remind Kansas State fans a little of former great Michael Bishop.

However, the most intriguing quarterback in the state is Foster Sawyer, a 3-star prospect committed to TCU. At 6'5" and 215 pounds, Sayer possesses a powerful arm. 

Florida

The Sunshine State always has a wealth of talented athletes who are fast, agile and competitive. Quarterbacks can take advantage of the year-round mentality the state has toward football.

Auburn is excited about Sean White, a 4-star passer from Ft. Lauderdale. White has solid arm strength, sees the field well and the 6'2", 204-pounder flashes the ability to mentally slow the game down in his mind to stay poised in the pocket.

D.J. Gillins, a 6'3", 185-pound quarterback from Jacksonville, is committed to Wisconsin. Gillins, a 4-star prospect, has a strong arm, good athleticism and should improve with better coaching in Madison.

Michael O'Connor is a big and strong 6'4", 223-pound quarterback who is committed to Penn State. He has deceptive mobility and can deliver the football to his targets with velocity.

Zack Darlington is a 3-star dual-threat quarterback who is 6'2" and 207 pounds. He appears to be a good fit for Nebraska's offense. Other notable Florida quarterbacks include 3-star prospects Alin Edouard and Quinton Flowers. 

California

California is generally regarded as the premier state for quarterbacks. Many of the top passers in the NFL and college football hail from the Golden State, where the weather allows them to work on their craft on a constant basis.

Keller Chryst, a 5-star quarterback with a great pedigree, is the state's top passer. He is 6'4", 220 pounds and possesses a strong arm, good mechanics, accuracy and solid mobility.

Brad Kaaya, a 4-star prospect, has excellent size at 6'4" and 215 pounds. The Miami commit can get the football to receivers downfield, has a smooth stroke in his throwing motion and will scan the field to locate his second and third options.

K.J. Carta-Samuels is committed to Vanderbilt, and the 4-star passer is 6'2" and 210 pounds. Morgan Mahalak is an enigma due to his lack of experience, but the 6'3", 190-pound 4-star recruit has shown enough to make Oregon a believer.

Jalen Greene is often overlooked, but the 4-star recruit is a 6'3", 190-pound dual-threat quarterback who could start sooner than expected for Boise State. At 6'3" and 206 pounds, Brandon Dawkins is a 4-star Arizona commit who may have the strongest arm in the state. 

2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map

Do not forget to use the 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map to locate not only the country's best quarterbacks, but also other players at various positions!

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.