Pros and Cons for 4-Star QB Travis Waller's Top Schools

Travis Waller is among the hottest recruits in the country right now. The 4-star quarterback hails from California, where he uses his athleticism to make plays as a passer and a runner.

Waller, who is 6'3" and 190 pounds, has solid arm strength to all levels of the field. His accuracy is above-average, plus he can elude rushers in the pocket and make plays with his legs.

Waller has seen his stock soar this spring, but he has narrowed his list down to four schools, per 247Sports. Before he announces his decision July 1, Waller will have to go through the pros and the cons of each of his finalists.

All recruiting ratings and rankings are from 247Sports' composite rankings.

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

Northwestern

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Pros

The first thing Northwestern has going for itself is its academic reputation. It would allow Waller to play competitive football while earning a prestigious degree. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is beloved by his players, plus the Wildcats have a good history of properly utilizing mobile quarterbacks.

Cons

Northwestern isn't viewed as a national powerhouse. Waller would likely win a few more games as a member of other programs among his finalists. Also, distance could play a factor.

Ohio State

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Pros

Ohio State is one of the most historic programs in all of college football. Head coach Urban Meyer is a proven winner who runs a spread-option offense that perfectly suits Waller's skills. 

The Buckeyes are loaded with talent to surround Waller with weapons, plus there's good facilities in Columbus. A large collection of fans support the team with passion, and the program is always in the national spotlight.

Cons

Waller hails from California, so he may not be a huge fan of the weather in Columbus. Also, Ohio State's campus is not close to Orange County. 

Notre Dame

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Pros

Aside from having an exceptional tradition, history and mystique, Notre Dame has several other great qualities. The Irish boast great facilities and also one of the biggest followings in all of sports.

Head coach Brian Kelly does a solid job of developing quarterbacks in South Bend, where he is 37-15 on the sideline, as per Sports-Reference.com. Notre Dame commands a ton of national attention, plays in many big games and has a fantastic academic reputation.

Cons

Like with Northwestern and Ohio State, Notre Dame's campus is not close to Waller's home in California. The weather in South Bend is nothing like in California.

Waller told the following to Adam Gorney of Rivals.com (subscription required) on June 6:

"

Definitely that's one of the top schools. I would have to put it definitely at the top. I know it's a really big program. It's actually kind of a feeder from Servite High School, a lot of people go to Notre Dame, so I know a lot already about Notre Dame. They've filled me with a lot of information and pumping me up so I'm going to take a visit out there and see how it is.

"

Alabama

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Pros

Perhaps the top all-around program in the nation is Alabama. Like him or not, Nick Saban is arguably the best coach in college football.

'Bama has a roster full of future NFL draft picks, plus it is a member of the mighty SEC. Fans are intense and passionate about their Crimson Tide, and the facilities in Tuscaloosa are exceptional. Waller would put himself in position to win a ton of football games here.

Cons

Alabama has several quarterbacks on its roster, so Waller may not see the field anytime soon. The culture in the South is very different from life in Orange County.

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 the Cleveland Browns.