B/R CFB 250: Top 15 Pro-Style Quarterbacks
Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football, regardless of NFL potential. Through interviews with B/R Experts Matt Miller, Michael Felder, Barrett Sallee and Adam Kramer, authors Brian Leigh and Brian Pedersen have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country, narrowed that list to 250 and sorted by position. Today, we present the Top 15 Pro-Style Quarterbacks.
College football continues to go through an offensive metamorphosis, with more and more emphasis on spreading the field and speeding up the tempo. These approaches have diminished the need for a traditional dropback passer, but there are still plenty of teams that execute a pro-style attack and prefer someone who is known more for his arm and command of the pocket than his ability to use his feet.
Just take a look at our list of the best pocket passers in college football today and you'll see that many of the top programs still employ this style of play.
Much has changed since our last ranking in the winter, as five of the top seven pro-style quarterbacks from the 2014 season have either graduated or turned pro. Those who returned have moved up the list, while some newcomers who either broke through late last year or are primed to do so in 2015 are getting their time in the limelight.
The following rankings are based primarily on players' skills as a college quarterback rather than how they'd fare in the NFL. Though they may be using the remainder of their time in school to develop their game for the pro level, their goals are centered on helping their teams succeed, first and foremost.
The rankings are based on a tabulation of six different categories (accuracy, arm strength, pocket presence, mobility, football IQ and leadership) and evaluations made by our writers in conjunction with Bleacher Report football experts.
Note: Any ties in overall grades were broken based on which player would give a hypothetical college all-star team the best chance to win.
15-10. Mayfield, Kiel, Rosen, Russell, Rudolph, Bercovici
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15. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Accuracy: 22/25; Arm Strength: 21/25; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 3/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 12/15
Baker Mayfield could be the key to an offensive resurgence for Oklahoma, which is switching to the Air Raid passing attack that Mayfield ran effectively at Texas Tech in 2013. He hasn't played in more than a year but possesses the precision and timing needed to succeed in this scheme.
14. Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati
Accuracy: 21/25; Arm Strength: 22/25; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 3/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 12/15
Gunner Kiel's long journey from high school star to actually playing in college took several years (and stops at multiple schools) before finally getting on the field last year with the Bearcats. He flashed a big arm and fondness for going deep but wasn't able to do it on an every-game basis.
13. Josh Rosen, UCLA
Accuracy: 21/25; Arm Strength: 22/25; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 4/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 12/15
The top-rated pro-style passer in the 2015 recruiting class, per 247Sports, Josh Rosen comes in with plenty of hype following a prep career that was frequently in the national spotlight. He's got a great shot to win UCLA's starting job this season as long as he's able to translate past success to the college level.
12. Seth Russell, Baylor
Accuracy: 21/25; Arm Strength: 22/25; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 4/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 12/15
Seth Russell is getting the keys to Baylor's offense this fall, and while he showed signs of promise in brief action last season—including a five-touchdown performance in one half—he still has work to do. Russell is more mobile than predecessor Bryce Petty, but he's still working to become more consistent.
11. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Accuracy: 20/25; Arm Strength: 23/25; Pocket Presence: 8/10; Mobility: 3/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 13/15
Mason Rudolph was set to redshirt the 2014 season before getting thrust into action in the final month, and he ran with the chance. A big-armed, 6'4” prospect, he still has to harness his strength to become a more accurate thrower.
10. Mike Bercovici, Arizona State
Accuracy: 23/25; Arm Strength: 22/25; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 3/5; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 13/15
Mike Bercovici shined in his injury-fill-in job for Taylor Kelly last season, showing a strong arm and great poise for a player who'd hardly seen action in his first three years. Now, Arizona State has constructed the offense around him with the expectation he's ready to break out.
9. Jeremy Johnson, Auburn
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B/R Expert Scouting
“He's basically got every throw in his arsenal; we've already seen that in the limited time he's played. But I think we'll see a lot more of Cam Newton in him than we've seen so far.”
—Barrett Sallee
Accuracy
Most of Jeremy Johnson's playing time the past two years has been in mop-up duty, but he has started twice and showed off the kind of pinpoint throwing precision you wouldn't expect from someone languishing on the bench.
Arm Strength
It's a gun masquerading as an arm, the kind of cannon that will transform Auburn's offense from a run-first attack to one that is just as deadly (if not more so) through the air. Just ask Arkansas, which saw him throw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in one half last season.
Pocket Presence
He hasn't really been tested yet to see how he can handle pressure, but at 6'5” and 240 pounds, he doesn't seem like the kind of player who will overreact to a collapsing pocket.
Mobility
Another place where Johnson has yet to show his mettle, but the promise is that he's got not just the wheels but the confidence to run the ball. It won't end up being the focus of his game, but it will add an important element.
Football IQ
Anointed as Auburn's unofficial offensive leader this season—including acting as the team's rep on that side at SEC media days—Johnson has represented his team well in public and displayed a keen understanding of his role and place.
Leadership
This is a skill that can only be developed by getting thrown into battle, and how he handles being someone his teammates rally around is critical to Auburn's success in 2015.
Overall
His potential is such that Johnson is deserving of higher placement on this list, but he still has to prove he can live up to expectations. Coach Gus Malzahn's early faith in him indicates this shouldn't be a problem, but the jury is still out.
8. Kevin Hogan, Stanford
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B/R Expert Scouting
“He throws more like a middle reliever than a quarterback, but I've always been intrigued by his potential. And he can throw the hell out of the ball.”
—Adam Kramer
Accuracy
Kevin Hogan had to take on more of a role in Stanford's offense this past season without a reliable workhorse running back behind him, and that translated into a solid 65.9 percent completion rate. Having a full field to work with was great, but Hogan struggled hitting targets in the red zone, which led to overall offensive struggles for the Cardinal.
Arm Strength
With a funky arm angle that borders on sidearm, Hogan doesn't get as much power behind his throws as others. But he's still able to make most of the throws by whipping it rather than doing a normal follow-through.
Pocket Presence
Hogan has been a starter for parts of three seasons, but each year, he's faced increased pressure and been sacked more often. At times last season, Hogan would try to extend plays for the perfect play instead of finding a safer option. This backfired.
Mobility
Hogan gets the absolute most out of his speed and agility, resulting in better than six yards per carry (when accounting for sack yardage) and five touchdowns in 2014. Three of those scores came in tie games.
Football IQ
Efficiency issues aside, Hogan knows the game as well as any quarterback in the country. Stanford's offense isn't complex, but it's also not vanilla, and he's always been calm and composed.
Leadership
A veteran presence on what will be a relatively young team is huge for Stanford, and Hogan's return for his final season enhances this part of his makeup even more.
Overall
It's a tough act trying to follow Andrew Luck, but Hogan has held down the position admirably and allowed Stanford's next batch of top quarterback prospects to learn the system before taking over in 2016.
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7. Kyle Allen, Texas A&M
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B/R Expert Scouting
“The light bulb went off for him (during last year's bowl game), and he's going to use that to his advantage this year. He's got a ton of weapons around him, and they've built that system around him. I think he'll be a superstar.”
—Barrett Sallee
Accuracy
The quarterback that Kyle Allen became over the final month of his true freshman season is the one that we expected to see when he arrived at Texas A&M, and that included how he hit his targets. He's got great weapons to work with, but it took him a while to realize he could put it up and let them run to a spot.
Arm Strength
The quick-strike approach of the Aggies offense calls for a mix of short, intermediate and deep passes, and Allen showed a knack for every level after some early hiccups.
Pocket Presence
Allen has learned to trust his line and focus on his reads, but he's still paying attention to what's around him and doing his best not to walk into sacks. Opposing players took him down 12 times in a little more than 200 dropbacks last season.
Mobility
Though not a dual-threat passer, Allen still needed to be able to shift around and move the pocket while waiting for his receivers to get open. He isn't particularly fast, but it's also not a liability.
Football IQ
As an early enrollee in 2014, Allen got to work within the system all spring but then had to sit back as the Kenny Hill phenomenon happened to start the season. Once Hill fell out of favor, Allen had a breaking-in period before showing why 247Sports rated him as the No. 1 pro-style passer in the 2014 class.
Leadership
Allen put a reeling A&M team on his shoulders when he took over as starter in November, righting the ship and ending a three-game losing streak with poised play and unflappable confidence.
Overall
This guy is just scratching the surface of what he can do at this level. He'll be challenged by another prized recruit, Kyler Murray, during training camp, but that will just prepare him even more for a starring role in 2015.
6. Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky
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B/R Expert Scouting
“I think he's vastly underrated and underappreciated. He certainly benefits from being in that system, but he's a guy that makes that system better, too.”
—Adam Kramer
Accuracy
Brandon Doughty tied for sixth in FBS with a 67.9 percent completion rate last year, but that's only the beginning of the story. Those he tied with and trailed all threw between 271 and 452 passes, compared to the 552 he attempted while leading the nation in touchdowns (49) and yards (4,830). He also only threw 10 interceptions, and take away a nightmare four-pick game against Louisiana Tech, and he had six in 517 throws.
Arm Strength
Doughty has some power behind his throws, but Western Kentucky's offense is predicated more on quick throws, so he uses his strength to fire it in there as swiftly as possible.
Pocket Presence
Considering Doughty has had multiple knee surgeries that robbed him of nearly two full seasons, his ability to elude tacklers and only take 19 sacks in 13 games is pretty amazing. The natural tendency to avoid further injury works in his favor here.
Mobility
Doughty is only going to move around enough not to get hit; he won't be asked to bring the ball forward unless absolutely necessary.
Football IQ
The injuries have made Doughty well aware of his limitations, so he doesn't try to overdo it. That's a testament to the maturity he's developed throughout his career as he heads into his sixth season after being granted a medical redshirt for one of his lost years.
Leadership
Doughty's teammates would run through a wall for him knowing the sacrifices he's made to get to this point. And his poised play is why the Hilltoppers are favored, according to an American Sports Network poll, to win Conference USA's East Division this year.
Overall
Doughty is playing on borrowed time, having been given this extra season in December. He's not going to waste it, and that will result in him performing at his peak on a weekly basis.
5. Brad Kaaya, Miami
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B/R Expert Scouting
“He has fascinating potential. As a true freshman, he was well beyond his years. He has the body and the arm; he has a chance to be special.”
—Adam Kramer
Accuracy
Working with a receiving corps that was pretty much all or nothing in terms of its skill set, Brad Kaaya managed to make those pass-catchers look good despite being a true freshman. His 58.5 percent completion rate might have been a lot higher had his receivers not been so susceptible to dropping the ball.
Arm Strength
He still has to grow into his body and put on more weight to make that 6'4" frame work to his advantage. For now, he's having to put everything into the throw to make it go, but in time, he should become more polished and rely on the mechanics.
Pocket Presence
It is hard to believe Kaaya hadn't arrived on Miami's campus until last summer, as he showed great poise in the pocket despite very few reps to learn the system.
Mobility
Miami's run game had no use for a mobile Kaaya in 2014 and probably won't need him to do more than avoid pressure with his feet.
Football IQ
Other first-year players had bigger seasons at quarterback, but most of them had a year to redshirt and get comfortable. Kaaya is playing ahead of schedule and showing a maturity beyond his years, all of which translates into a player who knows what he's doing.
Leadership
With a good chunk of last year's Miami team no longer around, Kaaya quickly moves from a newcomer to a veteran. He conducted himself like one in 2014 and will be asked to do so even more this fall.
Overall
The sample size is small, but Kaaya has us excited to see what he can do with more time to develop. Miami threw him into the fire last year, but he handled himself well. Now, Kaaya has much higher expectations to live up to. The results so far indicate he is up to the challenge.
4. Jared Goff, California
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B/R Expert Scouting
“His mechanics are very, very good. Super clean, good release, very accurate. The throws he makes in that system, he does them well.”
—Matt Miller
Accuracy
Jared Goff has thrived in Sonny Dykes' Air Raid offense and shown the ability to make all the necessary throws that come with this style. He's thrown more than 1,000 passes in two seasons, and while the 61 percent completion rate isn't earth-shattering, what is stellar is his scant 1.6 percent interception rate. None of his seven picks in 2014 came on third or fourth down or in the red zone.
Arm Strength
Thanks to his 6'4" frame, Goff sees over his line well and doesn't have to overthrow to get the ball to his receivers. His power is more of the fluid kind rather than sheer strength, though he does throw a very good deep ball.
Pocket Presence
Twenty-six sacks aren't very many when you consider how often Goff has to drop back, and thanks to his awareness of what's going on around him, he is able to avoid many takedowns.
Mobility
Because Cal occasionally used a two-quarterback system in 2014, bringing in freshman Luke Rubenzer to give the offense a run-throw option, Goff rarely took off by design. His mobility is meant more to avoid contact than to gain yards.
Football IQ
This isn't a system where you just step back and sling it around; it requires an understanding of the various routes being run and how long the blocking up front will hold up. Goff has never had any issues operating the offense, and he's a big reason the Golden Bears are a trendy pick to be a potential Pac-12 sleeper.
Leadership
A ridiculously bad defense has had a lot to do with it, but Goff's Cal teams have won just six games in two seasons. He has done what's expected of him to this point, but to get the Bears over the hump and into a bowl, he needs to put them on his back.
Overall
If he were to choose to stick around for all four years, Goff would challenge many career passing records. That's unlikely to happen if he has another big year, for the allure of the NFL will be too great to pass up, since Goff projects as a far better pro passer than most Air Raid graduates.
3. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
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B/R Expert Scouting
“He can sling the ball all over the place. He has great velocity; he can truly make every throw out there.”
—Matt Miller
Accuracy
Christian Hackenberg has yet to show he can complete passes at a high rate, dipping to 55.8 percent during his sophomore year. It wasn't all his fault, since he was playing behind a Swiss cheese line, but he also forced too many throws and rushed when he had the time. It's an area in which Hackenberg needs to vastly improve in order to live up to the hype he came into college with.
Arm Strength
Hackenberg has one of the strongest arms in the country, but because he hasn't learned how to use it, the results haven't been there. His technique is mechanically sound and full of power, but the inaccuracy masks this attribute.
Pocket Presence
Hackenberg didn't do himself any favors en route to taking 44 sacks in 2014, as he allowed himself to get flustered when the line wouldn't hold up for him. Rather than accept his blockers' limitations, he let it affect his play far too often.
Mobility
As the year went on and Hackenberg got hit more and more often, his ability to elude the rush also regressed. He's not going to juke anybody, but he also hasn't managed to perfect his ability to sidestep pressure.
Football IQ
Despite all of the problems he went through last season, Hackenberg remains very confident and sure of himself. This might sometimes come off as cocky, but he knows what he's doing out there. He'll now be entering the second year of James Franklin's system, and it should run much smoother thanks to his headiness.
Leadership
Frustrations aside, Hackenberg remains committed to the cause he and his teammates have undertaken. He cannot afford to let his emotions get the best of him anymore, though, especially as he sets his sights on playing at the next level, where tantrums won't fly around more experienced players.
Overall
Give him a few more seconds, some semblance of a run game and a few less bruises, and Hackenberg can be as good as anybody in college football. He has all the tools you want in a pro-style passer, but to this point, he's still waiting to show the full arsenal.
2. Cody Kessler, USC
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B/R Expert Scouting
“He's not the biggest guy, which is saying something because his deep-ball accuracy and his decision-making are really good. He's a really heady quarterback.”
—Matt Miller
Accuracy
If not for a few tipped or dropped passes, Cody Kessler might have challenged Pac-12 and national completion-percentage records last season. Throughout his career, he's shown an amazing knack for being spot-on with his throws, and even with the switch to a more downfield passing attack under head coach Steve Sarkisian in 2014, his efficiency actually rose from 65.4 to 69.7 percent.
Arm Strength
At only 6'1" and 215 pounds, he's much smaller than most traditional pro-style passers nowadays, but that lack of mass behind his throws hasn't affected his ability to launch the ball. With receivers who can fly, he has to be able to lead them and does so with ease.
Pocket Presence
Working with a mostly inexperienced line last year, Kessler took his fair share of sacks, but it could have been worse if not for his ability to sniff out pressure. His footwork is good enough to get him out of trouble and give him an extra second to complete the play.
Mobility
Kessler doesn't run much, either by choice or necessity, so it's hard to really gauge his mobility beyond some lateral movement.
Football IQ
Adapting to Sarkisian's big-play passing attack was seamless, and that's due to Kessler being able to pick up the playbook without any growing pains. He's like a student who doesn't do anything to stand out but still manages to get some of the best grades.
Leadership
Kessler's leadership was far more evident in 2013 when he had to help navigate USC through the distractions of Lane Kiffin's midseason firing, as well as constant questions about the Trojans' next coach. He's not very vocal but instead leads by example.
Overall
Quarterback at USC is one of the most high-profile positions in college football, and while there have been many major successes, there have also been notable failures. Kessler's as successful as those standouts who have come before him but without the pedigree, which actually makes him more accomplished than most of his predecessors.
1. Connor Cook, Michigan State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Cook has prototypical NFL size and has operated within a pro-style offense at Michigan State, but his ability to function with pressure in his face and struggles with accuracy against better competition remain big question marks. Cook looks the part, but his accuracy has to improve."
—Matt Miller
Accuracy
For a player who's become such an important part of his program's rise to prominence the last two years, Connor Cook doesn't complete a high percentage of his passes. His career rate is just 58.3 percent, but he has a knack for making the throws that count. Last year, he completed almost 72 percent of his attempts when Michigan State trailed by a touchdown or more, per CFBStats.com.
Arm Strength
Cook won't wow you with his arm, but when he needs to go deep or fire it into a small space, he's able to effectively. He has the ability to alternate between a soft touch and putting more zip on it, which makes anticipating his throws very difficult.
Pocket Presence
Opponents sacked Cook only 11 times in 2014, and while that's partially a product of his offensive line, it also is indicative of his awareness of his surroundings. Because he isn't apt to take off very often, he needs to rely on his vision and instincts to remain composed and complete the throw if it's still there.
Mobility
Cook could be best described as having deceptive mobility: He doesn't use it very often, but when necessary, it helps him out of a jam. Take away negative sack yards, and he averaged 4.0 on 40 rushes last season, twice scoring in the red zone and also trucking a Michigan defender.
Football IQ
Cook has developed in Michigan State's system, and he's become a student of the game in the process. His two seasons either redshirting or sitting far down the depth chart allowed him to immerse himself in the playbook, and with each start, he shows more and more awareness of his surroundings.
Leadership
Projected as a potential first-round pick by several NFL analysts had he come out after his junior year, according to Cook opted to return not just to continue developing but also to show his dedication to the Spartans program. Look for him to be a mentor to those around him in 2015.
Overall
Pro-style passers are no longer in vogue in college football, but Cook is the kind of player whom teams will continue to build that style of offense around. He won't be the only reason Michigan State contends for the Big Ten title and a playoff spot, but he'll be one of the most important pieces to such a run.
Note: All slides written by Bleacher Report featured columnist Brian Pedersen. Follow the author on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
