10 College Football QBs Poised to Break Out in 2015
Who is next season’s version of this year’s TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin?
Boykin went from averaging 100 passing yards per game last season to 309 this year, No. 7 in the FBS. His passer rating improved from 122.01 to 146.63, and his record as the starter skyrocketed from 3-4 to 11-1.
If that weren’t enough, he came out of nowhere to finish No. 4 in the Heisman voting, ahead of Florida State’s Jameis Winston, Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Baylor’s Bryce Petty.
Though the possibilities are endless, and many of these guys still need to win the starting job, here are a handful of quarterbacks who could make a similar run in 2015.
Keep in mind that it will take more than a 5-star rating to get it done. Potential candidates will also need solid pass-blockers and talented receivers who can consistently catch the ball.
Seth Russell, Baylor
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The heir apparent to the passing throne at Baylor, Seth Russell has played in relief of Bryce Petty for the last two seasons and is set to get his shot in 2015.
Russell went 48-of-85 in eight games this season, racking up 804 yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception. Included was a full start against FCS Northwestern State when Russell threw for 438 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-6 rout.
Returning with Russell and the No. 5-ranked passing offense are Petty’s top two targets from this season: sophomore Corey Coleman (No. 8 in the FBS in yards per game with 107.7) and freshman KD Cannon (No. 64 with 69.4).
Also due back are four starters from an offensive line that ranked No. 29 in sacks allowed.
Russell will be a junior in 2015. He came to Baylor as a 3-star, dual-threat prospect from Garland, Texas.
Sefo Liufau, Colorado
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After starting the final eight games of the 2013 season, Colorado’s Sefo Liufau solidified his starting job this year, racking up 3,200 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.
Liufau led an offense that ranked No. 19 in passing and featured wide receiver Nelson Spruce, No. 4 in the nation in touchdowns (12) and No. 14 in yards per game (99.8). Not only is Spruce expected back in 2015, but so are two more of the Buffs’ top five receivers from this season.
Remember, this is an offense that improved from a No. 99 rank in passing yards in 2012 to No. 47 in 2013 and then all the way to No. 19 this year. If everyone stays healthy, Colorado’s aerial attack could explode in 2015.
Liufau was a 3-star, pro-style prospect in 2013, hailing from Tacoma, Washington.
Zach Terrell, Western Michigan
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Flying way under the radar, Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell is fresh off leading his team to an 8-4 finish this season.
Terrell posted a passer rating of 167.02 in 2014, a mark that earns him the No. 5 rank in the nation. Only USC’s Cody Kessler, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota were better.
Back on campus with Terrell in 2015 are his top two targets: Corey Davis (No. 5 in the nation in yards per game with 112) and Daniel Braverman (No. 39 with 76). What's more, all but one starter is due back on the O-line, a unit that finished the year ranked No. 37 in sacks allowed.
Terrell will be a junior next season. He was a 2-star prospect in 2012, hailing from Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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Malik Zaire, Notre Dame
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Another guy who has to cement the starting job before breaking out, Malik Zaire should be the leading candidate to replace Everett Golson under center at Notre Dame in 2015.
Zaire’s first collegiate snaps came in the finale at USC this season. He went 9-of-20 for 170 yards late in the 49-14 blowout loss.
What bodes well for Zaire is the return of top receiver William Fuller and four of the top five targets from 2014. Fuller averaged 86.4 yards per game as a sophomore, earning him the No. 23 rank in the FBS. Also expected back is the bulk of a young offensive line, a unit that hopefully can improve with experience.
Zaire was a 4-star, dual-threat prospect in 2013 from Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio.
Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati
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After much anticipation, 2014 was finally the season that Gunner Kiel became a starting quarterback in college football.
Kiel didn’t disappoint, finishing No. 9 in touchdowns (30), No. 16 in passer rating (150.79) and No. 29 in passing yards per game (250.8). Even more importantly, he led Cincinnati to a 9-3 finish and a share of the American Athletic Conference crown.
Next season lines up well for Kiel, who ought to continue to soar. Expected back on campus are all eight of his top targets from this year, seven seniors and one junior. This amounts to a 100 percent return rate of what was the No. 13 passing offense in 2014.
Kiel was a highly touted, 5-star recruit in 2012, hailing from Columbus, Indiana. He originally committed to LSU, signed with Notre Dame and then wound up at Cincinnati. Rivals had him as the No. 1-rated pro-style quarterback.
Dane Evans, Tulsa
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For Tulsa’s Dane Evans, all of the stars are aligning for a stellar junior season in 2015.
First, he’s a guy who finished this season ranked No. 26 in yards per game (258.5)—despite leading a team that won only two games.
Next, he’s got his top five receivers joining him, including the No. 1 guy, Keevan Lucas, the No. 12 receiver in college football (101.6 yards per game). The majority of the offensive line is also due back.
Last but far from least is Tulsa’s new head coach, Philip Montgomery, fresh off a seven-year stint on Art Briles’ staff at Baylor. This included serving as the offensive coordinator and play-caller for the past four seasons.
Montgomery, who led the top scoring offense in college football the last two years, will have a wealth of talent and experience during his first season at Tulsa, making a point- and yard-explosion realistic.
Evans came to Tulsa in 2012 as a 3-star, pro-style prospect from Sanger, Texas.
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
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If Clemson’s Deshaun Watson could have stayed healthy, 2014 would have been his breakout season.
Instead, Watson participated in eight games, going 93-of-137 for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Had he played a complete season, his passer rating of 188.57 would have been the best mark in the nation, edging Oregon’s Marcus Mariota at 186.33.
Back with Watson in 2015 are a pair of talented young receivers: current junior Mike Williams (No. 38 in yards per game with 76.5) and sophomore Artavis Scott (No. 56 with 70.9).
If Watson doesn't hit any speed bumps injury-wise and Clemson’s defense continues its blistering pace, look for Clemson to be a playoff contender and Watson to be in the Heisman race.
Watson will be a sophomore in 2015. He came to Clemson as a 5-star prospect from Gainesville, Georgia. Rivals had him as the No. 1 dual-threat signal-caller in 2014.
Luke Falk, Washington State
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The nation got a glimpse of the future of Washington State football late this season when freshman Luke Falk took over for an injured Connor Halliday.
Falk averaged a whopping 443 yards per game and three scores in four starts, making the transition from senior leader to untested freshman look almost seamless. That is, minus the four picks Falk threw in the loss to Arizona State.
In 2015, Falk will be the top candidate to become the starter for Mike Leach’s fourth campaign in Pullman. Don't forget, the Cougars have been ranked in the top 10 in passing yards every season of the Leach era. This makes whoever wins the starting job a potential breakout player.
What hurts Falk is the loss of the top two receivers to graduation; what helps is the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 guys are all returning, primed for their turn as the go-to guy.
Beyond that, Washington State’s entire offensive line is due back next season.
Falk signed with the Cougars in 2013 as a 2-star, pro-style prospect from Logan, Utah.
Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
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Though Patrick Mahomes will have to convince Kliff Kingsbury that he’s the right man for the job, he looked sharp at the end of the season, gaining confidence among fans.
Mahomes started the final three games of the year in relief of injured starter Davis Webb, going 80-of-141 for 1,319 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. Though two of the games resulted in losses, those were to Oklahoma and No. 7 Baylor by a total of 14 points.
Back next season are four of the top five receivers from this year, including No. 1 target Jakeem Grant, who ranks No. 36 in yards per game (78.2). Also expected back are four members of an O-line that finished ranked No. 13 nationally in sacks allowed.
Mahomes will be a sophomore in 2015. He signed on with Tech in 2014 as a 3-star, dual-threat prospect from Whitehouse, Texas.
Mike Bercovici, Arizona State
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Though Taylor Kelly reclaimed the starting job after missing three games due to injury earlier this season, don’t forget what backup Mike Bercovici did in relief.
Bercovici averaged 414 yards per game and threw nine touchdowns in the 2-1 run, taking on the likes of UCLA, USC and Stanford. His performance was impressive enough to raise the question: Should he start in place of a healthy Kelly?
With Kelly graduating, Bercovici, who still has a year of eligibility remaining, should get the nod for the starting job. What could help him succeed in 2015 is the potential return of receiver Jaelen Strong, who racked up 1,062 yards (No. 17) as a junior. But that’s only if he opts to stay out of the draft.
Even if Strong leaves, the Sun Devils will welcome back the No. 2 through No. 7 targets, including running back D.J. Foster, who caught 59 passes for 646 yards and three scores in addition to being a 1,000-yard rusher.
Bercovici was a 3-star, pro-style prospect in 2011, hailing from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California.
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