10 Quarterback Recruits Who Will Put Up Big Numbers in the Pac-12

The Pac-12 is widely viewed as a college football conference on the rise. Sustained institutional success, strong recruiting efforts and high-profile coaches have helped elevate the status of a 12-team group that currently includes just two sub-.500 teams. 

An incoming wave of top-tier quarterback talent should further enhance the Pac-12's national clout, as several West Coast standouts have opted to remain in the region.

California is home to eight of the country's top 15 passers in 247Sports' 2015 composite rankings, and six of them are committed to schools within the conference. 

Impressive prospects in earlier stages of their recruitment also warrant serious consideration. We review the promise of those youngsters and potential instant-impact abilities of a stacked 2015 quarterback class to project players primed to enjoy success as Pac-12 stars.

Josh Rosen (Bellflower, California)

Viewed as the golden boy of a loaded California quarterback class, Josh Rosen is the consensus No. 1 2015 passer in America. He committed to UCLA this spring, picking the Bruins from an offer sheet that also features Florida State, Texas and Michigan.

"I think we're in a good position to make some noise at UCLA for years to come," Rosen told me this summer. "Especially with some of the weapons we have on offense and the guys Coach [Jim] Mora is recruiting."

The 6'4", 205-pound St. John Bosco High School standout is a three-year starter for the powerhouse program and has compiled plenty of accomplishments. Rosen led a state title run last season, tossing for 3,200 yards and 39 touchdowns.

He's managed to carry an increased offensive load during his past two campaigns without showing carelessness with the ball. Rosen has completed 67 percent of pass attempts since the start of 2013, tallying 4,800 yards, 55 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, per MaxPreps.

St. John Bosco is 22-1 during the span. Rosen aims to cap off his high school career with a championship repeat this December before setting his sights on a potential starting role at UCLA post-Brett Hundley.

"I'd love to take snaps on opening day," Rosen told me. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to make that happen."

Brady White (Santa Clarita, California)

Hart High School star Brady White has been a varsity starter since his sophomore season. The physical and fundamental strides he's made since then vault him into elite territory as a 2015 prospect.

White, who stands 6'2", 190 pounds, has thrown for nearly 9,000 yards and 90 scores in high school, per MaxPreps. His evolution at the position led him to national Elite 11 finals this July.

"Quarterback is exactly where I wanted to be from the beginning," he told me. "I wanted to be the guy who leads the offense and has a big impact on the game. I was blessed with the ability to sling the ball at a young age, and I've worked to get better year after year. I take pride in that."

White, who sustains a 63 percent career completion rating, pledged to Arizona State in May. He spurned a lengthy list of suitors, including Cal, Oregon and Penn State.

Rated third among pro-style passers in 247Sports' composite 2015 class rankings, White was a major commitment for the Sun Devils. He's recruiting teammate and 4-star receiver Trent Irwin to join him, which would continue the partnership of an explosive duo.

White will arrive on campus with significant goals in mind.

"It's crucial for me to enroll early if I want to potentially be the starter," he said. "The competition is going to be fun. We're each going to get after it. I'm going in there swinging, and hopefully I'll earn the respect of my teammates. Starting as a freshman would be a dream come true."

Tate Martell (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Sophomore Tate Martell is the youngest member of this list, and some may view his inclusion as premature as we project future collegiate gunslingers. Fittingly, his recruitment process began far earlier than you might expect.

He committed to Washington before his eighth-grade season and attracted an enormous amount of attention for the decision.

"Looking back, it was definitely kind of crazy to be in that position," Martell told me. "I know it surprised plenty of people, but it felt like the right choice for me and my family."

He remains committed to the Huskies, though the departure of head coach Steve Sarkisian could ultimately reshape his recruitment. New Washington coach Chris Petersen has made Martell a top priority as a potential program building block.

Still, Sarkisian is pursuing a second pledge from the young passer. USC extended an offer to Martell earlier this season.

"I've always had a good relationship with Coach Sarkisian, and I appreciate that he still views me as a top prospect," Martell said. "Coach Petersen has also made it clear that I'm an important part of the future at Washington. He reached out to me pretty quickly after taking the job."

Expect several other coaches to chase Martell if he maintains his current level of success at Nevada powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School, rated the No. 1 team nationally this fall by various media outlets. He transferred in from Poway High School (California) after a solid freshman campaign.

Since taking over starting duties in August, Martell has been immensely impressive. He leads the team with 1,489 passing yards and 24 total touchdowns, per MaxPreps, and beat top 2015 quarterback Josh Rosen in a nationally televised matchup.

His 315 rushing yards on 53 carries indicate exceptional dual-threat capabilities that push Martell into the upper echelon of 2017 prospects.

Travis Waller (Anaheim, California)

Travis Waller should be in position to compete for an expansive role at Oregon upon the departure of Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Mariota.

The 6'3", 190-pound Servite High School star presents a blend of superior rushing skills and evolving passing mechanics, setting the bar high for his potential.

He chose the Ducks over Arizona, Northwestern and Notre Dame in July. The team's celebrated offensive scheme was simply too much to pass up, according to Waller.

"I think Oregon is a great fit for me and gives me a chance to do the things I do best," he told me. "I can't wait to get up there and get better."

Waller is already showing significant signs of improvement as a pocket passer. After rushing for 1,293 yards and struggling with accuracy at times in 2013, the senior is completing 62 percent of pass attempts, per MaxPreps.

He is on pace to obliterate his career-best passing marks by the end of October, though Waller remains a force in the run game. His ground production separates him from several players on this list, as he's averaging eight yards per carry with six rushing touchdowns.

Ricky Town (Ventura, California)

Ricky Town, a 5-star recruit who spent a stretch rated as the top quarterback in this cycle, initially appeared destined for an SEC career. He committed to Alabama before his junior season but altered those plans this past January.

The 6'4", 205-pound passer flipped to USC, instantly becoming the foundation of first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian's 2015 class.

Town isn't likely to encounter as clear a path to early playing time as others on this list, but there's a lot to like about his chances to succeed as a Trojan.

"I'm really excited to get to USC and do whatever I can to make something special happen there in the future," he told me. 

Town tossed 23 touchdowns as a sophomore at St. Bonaventure High School, establishing himself as one of the West Coast's top offensive prospects. He continued to develop last fall and is arguably the most polished 2015 passer in terms of upper-body mechanics.

His decision-making is solid on game film and didn't let him down at Elite 11 finals and The Opening, where he led his seven-on-seven squad to the title game.

Town doesn't take a ton of risks and is adept at gauging a defense based on pre-snap reads. 

A consistently high completion percentage can be largely credited to the preparation he puts in prior to game day. Town may need to spend some time on the sideline as an underclassman at USC, but expect him to be ready when his opportunity arrives.

Seth Green (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

We previously mentioned Southern California quarterback Travis Waller as a potential difference-maker at Oregon. Put Seth Green in the same category.

The 6'3", 210-pound prospect is a three-year starter at East Ridge High School and regarded among the premier passers in an impressive 2016 recruiting class.

Green, rated eighth nationally among dual-threat talents in 247Sports' composite rankings, works under the tutelage of former Wisconsin star quarterback Brooks Bollinger.

“He’s got exactly what you want from a quarterback from a personality standpoint,” Bollinger told Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani. “He’s really comfortable with who he is, which gives him natural confidence, but he’s not arrogant."

East Ridge head coach Mike Pendino praised his mental aptitude.

“Right now, he’ll check out of plays 10-12 times a game based on film study and what he sees on the field,” Pendino told Kirpalani. “That’s a tough thing to do, even for quarterbacks at the collegiate level. He’s really become very good at seeing defenses."

Green has gained 1,429 yards through the air this season, per the Star Tribune. He's thrown 16 touchdown passes, adding another three scores on the ground.

The Ducks landed a commitment from Green earlier this month after he considered offers from Minnesota and Michigan State.

KJ Costello (Rancho Santa Margarita, California)

Credit: 247Sports

Southern California quarterbacks are yet again prevalent in the 2016 class, and few can measure up to KJ Costello.

The 6'4", 213-pound Santa Margarita Catholic junior has been sensational this season, completing 65 percent of his passes (up from 56 percent as a sophomore).

He's already set a career high with 2,257 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns through seven games. College teams have quickly noticed his success.

Florida State, Virginia, Michigan and Tennessee offered this spring, while Stanford and Florida joined the pursuit during summer break. Despite nationwide interest, his recruitment shapes up as a Pac-12 showdown.

USC is viewed as the favorite for his services, claiming 70 percent of expert commitment predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. Stanford is listed second, holding 30 percent.

The Trojans already claimed commitments from a pair of 4-star 2015 passers, which could deter Costello from picking USC. Stanford, on the other hand, doesn't currently feature a quarterback in its 2015 class.

Ross Bowers (Bothell, Washington)

Credit: 247Sports

Despite his inclusion as an Elite 11 finalist, Ross Bowers is the most underrated quarterback in this mix. The Bothell High School senior displays a legitimate big-time arm, confidence in the huddle and above-average accuracy.

The Cal commit provided further evidence of his precision in last weekend's win over Skyline High School. Bowers completed his first 16 passes and ended up 18-of-19 for 333 yards and five touchdowns in less than three full quarters, per Josh Liebeskind of The Seattle Times.

Bowers, a 6'2", 185-pound prospect, pledged to the Golden Bears over Colorado State and Wake Forest. His exemplary anticipation and undervalued ability to escape the pass rush put him in position to vie for snaps as an underclassman in Berkeley.

"The goal is to prove myself and get better every time I go out on the field," he told me shortly after his commitment. "I'm excited to be a member of the Cal family, and I'll do anything I can to help the team improve."

Jake Browning (Folsom, California)

Jake Browning hasn't commanded the 5-star status some of his California contemporaries claim, but the Folsom High School senior is well on his way to cementing a long-lasting legacy in the talent-laden state.

He already owns several records and is now surging up national statistical leaderboards.

His record-setting career marks in California include touchdown passes (181) and passing yards (13,609), per MaxPreps. Browning is averaging 21 completions per contest through seven games this season.

Perhaps his most impressive statistical category is one with the smallest total. 

Browning, who committed to Washington in March, has thrown just two interceptions on 215 attempts in 2014. He's completing 71 percent of his passes, displaying precision that has coach Chris Petersen excited about his future in Seattle.

Browning weighed offers from Alabama, Colorado, Oklahoma State and Utah before becoming a member of the Huskies class.

Sam Darnold (San Clemente, California)

Credit: 247Sports

San Clemente High School senior Sam Darnold gave USC another intriguing quarterback in its 2015 class this summer when he joined 5-star passer Ricky Town as a Trojans commit.

The 6'4", 208-pound playmaker lost nearly his entire junior season due to a foot injury, causing him to fall behind Town and other top West Coast prospects on the recruiting path.

Thanks to quality sophomore game film and a strong summer camp circuit, he managed to land offers from USC, Oregon, Duke, Utah and Northwestern, among others.

Despite his high-profile pledge, Darnold had plenty of questions to answer this season after an abbreviated 2013 campaign.

"I've done my best to work on everything I can as a quarterback to prepare for this fall," Darnold told me this summer. "I'm trying to step my game up and see where I can go from here. You'll see cleaner mechanics. I think my decision-making is going to improve and really just understanding how to attack defenses."

Those improvements have been on full display through seven games. His production features 27 total touchdowns, 1,400 passing yards and 300 rushing yards, per MaxPreps.

Darnold's rapid progression as a proven performer creates a compelling storyline in this USC class.