Power Ranking College Football's 10 Best QB Depth Charts for 2016
It's not enough to just have one good quarterback in college football. In order to ensure sustained success in the current season and beyond, teams need multiple capable passers who can step in at a moment's notice.
With the possibility of an injury always looming, teams can't afford to be thin at this critical position. Unlike most other spots on the field where players are rotated in to maintain freshness, the starting quarterback usually plays the entire game, and if something happens to that starter, the lack of qualified replacements can lead to disaster.
Having quality depth at QB, however, can lead a team in the other direction. Remember the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes? They lost three-year starter Braxton Miller to a shoulder injury before the season, but because they had properly groomed redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, the transition was nearly seamless. And when Barrett was hurt in the regular-season finale, third-stringer Cardale Jones stepped in and led OSU to the national title as if he'd been starting all along.
Which schools are in the best condition in terms of depth at quarterback? Here's our list of the 10 best QB depth charts in college football, based on experience, performance and pedigree. Having a rock-solid No. 1 helps, but not if there's no one else behind him.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Auburn: John Franklin III, Jeremy Johnson, Tyler Queen, Sean White
BYU: Taysom Hill, Tanner Mangum
California: Ross Bowers, Chase Forrest, Zach Kline, Davis Webb
Cincinnati: Gunner Kiel, Hayden Moore
Houston: Kyle Postma, Greg Ward Jr.
Louisville: Kyle Bolin, Reggie Bonnafon, Lamar Jackson, Jawon Pass
LSU: Danny Etling, Brandon Harris
Northern Illinois: Tommy Fiedler, Ryan Graham, Drew Hare
Ole Miss: Chad Kelly, Shea Patterson
Oregon: Taylor Alie, Travis Jonsen, Jeff Lockie, Dakota Prukop
South Carolina: Brandon McIlwain, Lorenzo Nunez, Michael Scarnecchia
Virginia Tech: Jerod Evans, Dwayne Lawson, Brenden Motley
Texas: Shane Buechele, Jerrod Heard, Tyrone Swoopes
USC: Max Browne, Sam Darnold, Matt Fink, Jalen Greene
West Virginia: William Crest Jr., Skyler Howard, David Sills
Note: Names listed alphabetically, not in order of depth chart.
10. Stanford
2 of 11
Competing for starting job: Ryan Burns (Jr.), Keller Chryst (R-So.)
Notable backup: K.J. Costello (Fr.)
Kevin Hogan was the winningest quarterback in school history, a four-year starter who led Stanford to three Rose Bowl wins during his career. He didn't leave the field much during that time, but both Burns and Chryst saw action in 2015 in preparation for their battle to succeed him.
That competition continued this spring, with the pair combining for 309 yards and four touchdowns (along with one interception apiece) on 33-of-48 passing despite rainy conditions, per Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News.
With an offense that figures to be centered mostly on all-purpose star Christian McCaffrey, Stanford can ease one or the other—or even Costello, a 4-star prospect, if he wows the coaching staff after arriving in the summer—into a more pronounced role. This was somewhat the case in 2012 when Hogan took over as starter midway through the season but played a secondary role in the offense to workhorse rusher Stepfan Taylor.
9. Florida
3 of 11
Competing for starting job: Austin Appleby (Sr.), Luke Del Rio (R-So.), Feleipe Franks (Fr.)
At the very least, Florida's quarterbacks are well traveled. Whether that will translate into success this season remains to be seen.
The Gators will turn to one of three new passers in 2016, none of whom have played for the Gators in a real game. Two have represented other colleges: Appleby is a graduate transfer who started 11 games at Purdue, while Del Rio began his career at Alabama in 2013 and then appeared in three games for Oregon State in 2014.
Franks is an early enrollee, the No. 5 pro-style passer in the 2016 class who flipped from LSU in November.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Georgia
4 of 11
Competing for starting job: Jacob Eason (Fr.), Greyson Lambert (Sr.), Brice Ramsey (Jr.)
Normally, being in position to start a true freshman isn't an indication of a strong quarterback depth. But Eason isn't your normal first-year player, as he was the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2016 recruiting class, and when he made his debut with Georgia in its spring game, he didn't look like an 18-year-old.
Eason went 19-of-29 for 244 yards and two touchdowns—all in the second half, prompting many to instantly anoint him as the starter.
Thankfully, the Bulldogs won't have to rely on him alone this season because both Lambert and Ramsey have their fair share of experience. Lambert has started 21 games in his career (nine at Virginia in 2014 and 12 for Georgia last season), while Ramsey has appeared in 19 games (though some of those last year were as a punter).
A possible scenario is that both Eason and either Lambert or Ramsey could split snaps early in the season "to find out who can handle the offense and just how ready Eason is for the SEC," according to Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee.
7. Michigan State
5 of 11
Competing for starting job: Tyler O'Connor (Sr.), Damion Terry (Jr.)
Notable backups: Brian Lewerke (R-Fr.), Messiah deWeaver (Fr.)
Michigan State had the same starting quarterback for nearly every game from 2013 to 2015, as Connor Cook ran the offense, winning 36 games and a pair of Big Ten titles. But when Cook couldn't play last November in the critical clash against defending national champion Ohio State, the Spartans turned to O'Connor and Terry to hold down the fort.
That duo didn't dazzle statistically, but their poise against OSU's stout defense enabled MSU to pull off the 17-14 road upset. They also ensured that the transition from the Cook era wouldn't be that bumpy.
O'Connor appears to be the leader for the starting job, based on the fifth-year senior's play during the spring game—"he's a guy that makes people better around him," MSU quarterbacks coach Brad Salem told Sports Illustrated's Omari Sankofa—but it's not a done deal. He's appeared in 14 games the past three seasons, while Terry has 15 appearances in two years.
Lewerke and deWeaver are the future, and their play in the spring game indicates it's a bright one.
6. Michigan
6 of 11
Competing for starting job: Shane Morris (Jr.), John O'Korn (Jr.), Wilton Speight (R-So.)
Notable backups: Alex Malzone (R-Fr.), Brandon Peters (Fr.)
It's a strength-in-numbers situation for Michigan, which is deciding between three quarterbacks with varying levels of playing experience for the starting job but also has another two promising young passers lined up for the future. Don't expect them all to play in 2016, but also don't worry about the Wolverines lacking in options this season and beyond.
Morris, O'Korn and Speight each bring something different to the field with their play, though they have one thing in common: sitting out a season. O'Korn was forced to redshirt in 2015 after transferring from Houston, where he started 19 games in 2013-14. Speight redshirted his first season in 2014, and Morris took a redshirt last year after starting one game each in 2013 and 2014.
"We each have our own style, and they're good styles," O'Korn said, per MGoBlue.com's Steve Kornacki. "But whoever emerges from the group is going to do great things. The entire team, and especially our quarterback room, is going to support whoever emerges."
Malzone was part of Jim Harbaugh's first recruiting class, though he'd committed when Brady Hoke was still in charge. Peters, a 4-star prospect from the 2016 class, enrolled early but is likely to redshirt.
5. Ohio State
7 of 11
Starter: J.T. Barrett (Jr.)
Notable backups: Joe Burrow (R-Fr.), Stephen Collier (R-So.), Dwayne Haskins (Fr.)
We should know better, after how smoothly Ohio State went from one quarterback to the next (and the next) en route to the 2014 national title, that if something were to happen to Barrett this season, the Buckeyes are likely to be in good shape. Still, at this point it looks like there's a significant drop-off from the starter to his potential backups compared to two years ago.
Barrett went from virtual unknown to a Heisman contender in the course of two months as a redshirt freshman, and then last year he was forced to split time with Cardale Jones until taking over the job on a full-time basis down the stretch. There's no competition whatsoever in 2016, with all of the attention turned toward the second and third spots on the depth chart.
Per Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod, “Burrow seems to have a decisive advantage when it comes to being the next Buckeyes starting quarterback,” but he was referring to 2017 and not at some point this fall. Burrow was better than Collier during the spring, though once 4-star prospect Haskins arrives this summer, the pecking order could change.
4. Alabama
8 of 11
Competing for starting job: Blake Barnett (R-Fr.), Cooper Bateman (Jr.), David Cornwell (R-So.), Jalen Hurts (Fr.)
Should Alabama fans be concerned that it will start a new quarterback for the third consecutive season, and once again that starter is far from being identified? Not unless they think offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin's first two go-rounds with this same scenario were just flukes.
Kiffin worked magic with the Crimson Tide's passing prospects in 2014 and 2015, turning longtime backups Blake Sims and Jake Coker into stars. Those were both seniors, however, and the quartet he has to work with this time around are all juniors or younger.
But what this group lacks in terms of experience—only Bateman has played, appearing in all 15 games in 2015 including a start against Ole Miss—they make up for in ability and promise.
"The four contenders for the job are all ultra-talented," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote.
Bateman and Cornwell have each been in Alabama's system for a few years, but Barnett and Hurts signify coach Nick Saban's willingness to embrace college football's push toward mobile quarterbacks.
Hurts was rated as the third-best dual-threat passer in the 2016 class, while Barnett was the No. 2 pro-style QB in 2015 but at times was "classified as a dual threat," per Sallee.
3. Florida State
9 of 11
Starter: Sean Maguire (Sr.)
Notable backups: J.J. Cosentino (So.), Malik Henry (Fr.), Deondre Francois (R-Fr.)
In the long run, Maguire's injury in last year's Peach Bowl could be the best thing that happened to Florida State. While it caused him to miss all of spring practice while recovering from ankle surgery, it allowed the Seminoles to get a much better look at their two freshman passers.
It was Francois and Henry who took the majority of the snaps in FSU's spring game in April, combining to throw for 451 yards and four touchdowns. Francois also threw two interceptions but added a 25-yard run.
If healthy, Maguire should retain the starting job he took from Everett Golson late in 2015. His experience—which includes starting in place of a suspended Jameis Winston in the 2014 overtime win over Clemson—gives him the edge over his younger competitors. However, Francois and Henry have far more upside, and coach Jimbo Fisher won't hesitate to give one or the other a shot if Maguire struggles.
Cosentino appeared in three games last year, including in the Peach Bowl after Maguire was hurt, but he's a distant fourth on the depth chart.
2. Baylor
10 of 11
Starter: Seth Russell (Sr.)
Notable backups: Chris Johnson (Sr.), Jarrett Stidham (So.)
Quarterback depth is the farthest thing from anyone's mind at Baylor right now, but when the 2016 season comes around, the Bears can take solace in knowing they're set at that critical position. Assuming, that is, the injury issues that ravaged their passers last year don't linger.
Russell was on a record-setting pace in his first year as the starter before suffering a neck injury in October, which ended his season. He had thrown 29 touchdown passes on just 200 attempts, adding six rushing scores, in seven games.
His injury opened the door for prized recruit Stidham to perform in something other than a mop-up role, which he'd done several times before getting the starting nod. And in his brief stint in charge of the offense, Baylor continued to click, as Stidham averaged 311.3 passing yards and threw six TDs before hurting his ankle.
Both were able to participate in spring practice, though Russell was limited because of a strained pectoral muscle. He may show some rust early on, but that's where the benefit of having an experienced backup in Stidham—as well as Johnson, who has been converted to wide receiver but can still play QB, if needed—comes into play.
1. Notre Dame
11 of 11
Competing for starting job: DeShone Kizer (So.), Malik Zaire (Jr.)
Notable backup: Brandon Wimbush (R-Fr.)
Notre Dame can't go wrong with whom it chooses as its starting quarterback for 2016, since both Kizer and Zaire have shown they can win games. And since each has shown the ability to step in as a backup and excel, there's little concern about a drop-off from one to the other.
But if the Fighting Irish learned anything from Ohio State's QB competition from a year ago, it's that they need to make a decision and stick with it. No wavering or flip-flopping.
Coach Brian Kelly has acknowledged as such, per CSNChicago.com's JJ Stankevitz:
"There will be a time when I'm going to have to say, that's our quarterback, let's go with him, we're all in, and let's move forward. They are both that good. I already know that. But there will be a day, and we're going to have to say: It's time to go, he's our quarterback, everybody's behind him and we need to go, and that's who the quarterback is.
"
After Zaire broke his ankle in the first half of the Virginia game, Kizer started Notre Dame's final 11 games in 2015, finishing with 2,880 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, along with 10 rushing touchdowns. Zaire had replaced Everett Golson as the starter late in the 2014 season, led the Irish to a win over LSU in the Music City Bowl and then beat Golson out in spring practice (prompting him to transfer to Florida State).
Wimbush, a 4-star prospect from the 2015 class, is waiting in the wings just in case.
All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
