B/R Recruiting CFB 200: Top Pro-Style QBs of 2017 Class
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2017. Here we present the Top Pro-Style Quarterbacks.
The success of a football program, from high school through professional ranks, is consistently correlated to its effectiveness at quarterback. A passer's performance can heighten expectations or derail ambitions as a season advances, often overshadowing other elements of a roster.
This sentiment drives college coaches to stockpile promising talent at the position on an annual basis. Even when a program possesses an elite starter behind center, focus must still shift toward the future because athletic eligibility is a ticking clock.
Whether or not your university signed a blue-chip quarterback in its past recruiting class, there is always another to be found on fields across the country. This 2017 cycle features several compelling options at quarterback, though the vast majority have already declared collegiate intentions.
We examined the latest collection of dual-threat talents earlier in B/R's CFB Recruiting 200 series, and now turn our attention to top-rated pro-style passers. This group, recognized for their skills in a traditional pocket setting, was assessed based on a criteria of arm strength, accuracy, presence, football IQ, mobility and mechanics.
Player order and star ratings based on 247Sports' composite rankings through July 26. Unless otherwise noted, player stats are courtesy of 247Sports. All quotes and observations firsthand unless otherwise noted.
9. 4-Star Sean Clifford
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 210 lbs
High School: St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Composite Ranking: No. 9 pro-style quarterback; No. 192 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Penn State
The Nittany Lions landed Sean Clifford weeks after extending an offer in his direction, adding him to the class last July. He claimed scholarships from North Carolina, Syracuse and Rutgers during the following winter but is focused on preparing for a future in Happy Valley.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Clifford hasn't produced the eye-popping statistical output of several contemporaries during his prep career, but that only provides further proof box score results aren't an overwhelming element of high school quarterback evaluation. This physically developed prospect is a natural pocket passer (10/10 presence) who stands tough under pressure and has bought into his craft behind center by developing some of the finest mechanics (15/15) we witnessed throughout the 2016 camp circuit.
His anticipation between snap and release is also a key asset, as he's able to beat defenders across the field without overwhelming velocity (17/20 arm strength). Clifford's downfield foresight results in darts delivered to receivers in stride (24/25), setting the stage for additional yardage after the catch.
Fluid drops in the pocket and a firm base below add up to create a smooth delivery over the top, and he's a viable candidate to compete for reps early in his Penn State career because of this polish. Clifford threw for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015, according to Greg Pickel of PennLive.com.
8. 4-Star Ryan Kelley
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Height/Weight: 6'3"/188 pounds
High School: Basha (Chandler, Arizona)
Composite Ranking: No. 8 pro-style quarterback; No. 191 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Arizona State
The Sun Devils have been efficient collecting impressive passers during past recruiting cycles, and Ryan Kelley should enhance a competitive environment when he enters positional drills next year. Arizona State managed to keep him on home turf with an early May commitment, though it initially seemed his only appearance in Tempe would occur on the visitor's sideline.
Kelley pledged to the Oregon Ducks during his junior campaign but backed off that decision May 3, hopping into Arizona State's class just three days later.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Though he isn't a dominant prospect in any singular category, Kelley's approach at quarterback is consistent and effortless, providing indication he can carve out a multiyear role as college starter. His range (19/20 arm strength) extends deep enough to ignite fireworks on any play, and there's persistent rhythm to intermediate efforts (23/25 accuracy) that can methodically wear down an opponent.
Like multiple members of this list, added size is an absolute must in order for him to flourish during the next four to five years while dealing with college defenders and the collisions they inflict. His mechanics (13/15) will also improve in a collegiate setting, with point of release as an area of emphasis.
Kelley's demeanor in the pocket impresses, as he remains settled while stationary in traffic, and he's also an adept improvisational athlete when forced to navigate right or left. His interception total dropped to seven last season after 16 picks as a sophomore, per MaxPreps, and he's accrued 5,714 yards and 50 touchdowns through the air since 2014.
7. 4-Star Tristan Gebbia
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 180 lbs
High School: Calabasas (Calabasas, California)
Composite Ranking: No. 7 pro-style quarterback; No. 189 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Nebraska
The Cornhuskers continued a successful recruiting run in California by securing Tristan Gebbia's commitment in April. Nebraska beat out fellow primary pursuer Ole Miss, which is where his father played college football.
Gebbia announced the decision weeks after Calabasas teammate and close friend Keyshawn Johnson (4-star receiver) joined the Cornhuskers' class.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Gebbia displays plenty of poise (10/10 presence) while operating as trigger man in a star-studded Calabasas attack that also features 5-star athlete Darnay Holmes. A prototypical pocket passer who looks far more comfortable between his offensive tackles than when forced beyond that area, he's athletic enough to avoid defenders in short space but won't scare opponents as a rushing threat (7/10 mobility).
From a physical standpoint, his frame leaves room for significant growth within a collegiate weight training system. Further development in this regard will enhance his zip on passes (18/20 strength), which is already above average, and he doesn't have difficulties locating targets in traffic.
Accuracy (23/25) is in the plus category for Gebbia, who stands to gain even more consistency in this department as he continues to fine-tune mechanics (13/15) below the waist. He's completed 64 percent of passes since his sophomore year, per MaxPreps, slashing defenses for 7,771 yards and 80 touchdowns while tossing 20 interceptions.
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6. 4-Star Chris Robison
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 192 lbs
High School: Horn (Mesquite, Texas)
Composite Ranking: No. 6 pro-style quarterback; No. 166 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Oklahoma
Big 12 programs began clamoring for Chris Robison early in his high school career, as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and TCU each extended scholarships before summer 2015. He didn't waste time selecting the Sooners, pledging to head coach Bob Stoops last June, just two weeks after receiving an offer.
He's remained a steadfast member of the class, helping Oklahoma build a top-10 talent haul in national composite class rankings.
Bleacher Report Analysis
The Sooners will add talent and personality in Robison, who has a penchant for entertaining and energizing peers with a lighthearted attitude. Locker room dynamics aside, he presents plenty of promise behind center and provided glimpses of stardom throughout Elite 11 competition.
Often overshadowed by seven-on-seven teammate and Elite 11 MVP Tua Tagovailoa at The Opening, Robison was plenty impressive in his own right while helping to spearhead the squad's run to a tournament title. He has the arm strength (20/20) to rifle passes into pinpoint locations that several other highly regarded quarterback recruits would largely avoid.
While confidence in this velocity can lead to high-risk, high-reward scenarios that create defensive opportunities, it's also what makes him such a scintillating gunslinger.
When faced with adverse in-action settings such as an interception, Robison bounces back quickly like a gamer (10/10 presence) and doesn't hesitate to attack a defensive secondary in the immediate aftermath. He's completed 61 percent of pass attempts since sophomore year, tallying 5,959 passing yards and 71 scores.
5. 4-Star QB Jack Sears
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 200 lbs
High School: San Clemente (San Clemente, California)
Composite Ranking: No. 5 pro-style quarterback; No. 157 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Duke, UCLA and USC
The lone uncommitted member remaining from an Elite 11 finals group that featured 24 quarterbacks, plenty of coaching staffs are focused on Jack Sears as the season approaches. Despite June visits to North Carolina, Texas A&M and Tennessee, his focus in now on favorites Duke, UCLA and USC, according to Tom Loy of 247Sports.
A late July offer from Florida State adds another layer of intrigue to this recruitment. Sears, considered the top-rated quarterback in talent-laden California, told B/R he expects to announce collegiate intentions before his senior season.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Sears hit the ground running upon earning the starting job at San Clemente High School after current USC quarterback Sam Darnold departed. An intensely focused athlete, his execution (20/20 football IQ) at the crux of plays sets him apart from many peers, and that extended into The Opening, where passers quickly needed to jell with unfamiliar receivers.
This anticipation combined with outstanding athleticism arguably qualifies him as a dual-threat talent (9/10 mobility). Opponents must account for his whereabouts as a rusher—evidenced by 862 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground last fall—and Sears regularly evades pressure while buying time behind the line of scrimmage.
Whether he's targeting teammates on the move or with his feet planted in the pocket, precision is a strong suit (24/25 accuracy). Sears, who was recognized for "highest football IQ" among Elite 11 competitors by event counselors, completed 71 percent of pass attempts in 2015 for 2,697 yards, 37 scores and just two interceptions.
4. 4-Star Davis Mills
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 192 lbs
High School: Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, Georgia)
Composite Ranking: No. 4 pro-style quarterback; No. 53 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 96/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Stanford
Davis Mills made a long-distance decision in March, committing to the Cardinal over several universities in the Southeast. Consistently selective in its pursuit of quarterback prospects, Stanford identified Mills as an early priority, welcomed him to campus and sealed the deal months before his junior year ended.
He also weighed offers from Georgia, Miami and Ole Miss, while Alabama and USC extended scholarships within weeks of his Cardinal commitment.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Far earlier in this cycle, B/R's college football recruiting staff heard whispers Mills would ultimately emerge as the premier prospect in a loaded collection of 2017 Peach State passers. He's done his part to support that sentiment as things have progressed, pushing eventual Elite 11 MVP Tua Tagovailoa for those honors and sitting atop the event leaderboard throughout much of finals action.
Mills is a calculative playmaker who delivers pinpoint passes in spaces only his receivers have access to downfield. Impressive when the pocket collapses, he remains poised and patient (10/10 presence) even as defenders swarm nearby, allowing receivers vital moments to gain separation.
Identified as "most likely to become a No. 1 NFL draft pick" by Elite 11 counselors, expect Mills to draw comparisons to former Stanford great Andrew Luck due to mental aptitude (20/20 football IQ) and arm talent (43/45 combined accuracy and strength). He's collected 5,088 yards and 51 touchdowns through the air since 2014.
3. 4-Star Jake Fromm
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Height/Weight: 6'2 ½", 224 lbs
High School: Houston County (Warner Robins, Georgia)
Composite Ranking: No. 3 pro-style quarterback; No. 46 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Georgia
Jake Fromm appeared poised to play elsewhere in the SEC earlier this cycle. He pledged to Alabama during an October campus visit, but that verbal pact lasted less than five months.
Former Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart lured Fromm to Georgia, gaining his commitment in March. He will join 5-star 2016 quarterback Jacob Eason—who stuck by a longstanding Bulldogs pledge following Smart's arrival—on an intriguing, young positional depth chart.
Bleacher Report Analysis
There's no confusing Fromm's love for football, as he competes with noticeable vigor that makes him a favorite among teammates. He commands respect in the huddle, does an excellent job establishing his offensive counterparts in pre-snap assessment and remains steady in the pocket (10/10 presence) while surveying options.
Fromm flashes fearless decisiveness while dictating his team's attack, stepping up with a strong base and following through with exceptional speed on pass attempts (20/20 arm strength). He can fit the football into tight spaces along the sidelines or through congested areas across the middle and is capable of connecting with a striding target 50-plus yards downfield.
His offensive line will play a key role in collegiate growth since Fromm isn't fleet outside the pocket, though lower-body thickness and general physicality will keep him upright under duress. Fromm, who doubles as a baseball standout on Houston County's state championship squad, threw for 7,728 yards, 67 scores and 11 interceptions during the past two seasons.
2. 4-Star Dylan McCaffrey
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 196 lbs
High School: Valor Christian HS (Littleton, Colorado)
Composite Ranking: No. 2 pro-style quarterback; No. 39 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Michigan
Despite significant family ties to Stanford, Dylan McCaffrey intends to play for former Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. The younger brother of 2015 Heisman Trophy finalist Christian McCaffrey and son of former standout Stanford receiver Ed McCaffrey, he also weighed opportunities at Penn State, UCLA, Nebraska and several other universities.
Bleacher Report Analysis
McCaffrey isn't the nation's top quarterback recruit, and he may not be among the top three or four passers on this list come signing day, but few prospects at the position possess more upside. Elite 11 coaches were enamored with his knowledge of offensive schemes (20/20 football IQ) and the possibility of what may lie ahead with another 30-plus pounds of mass.
Already among the most accurate throwers (24/25) in this class, McCaffrey is likely to develop a more powerful physique in Ann Arbor, which would augment his ability to reach receivers deep downfield with increased ease.
While his throws don't always come out with the same crispness as some contemporaries on this list, his ball placement is tremendous, and few rival McCaffrey's ability to put passes up high for his receivers to climb the ladder and pull down pivotal completions.
A prototypical pocket quarterback, he completed 65 percent of pass attempts in 2015 for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps. McCaffrey has thrown just 10 interceptions on 599 passes since 2014.
1. 5-Star Hunter Johnson
9 of 9Height/Weight: 6'3 ½", 201 lbs
High School: Brownsburg HS (Brownsburg, Indiana)
Composite Ranking: No. 1 pro-style quarterback; No. 21 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 96/100
Recruitment Status: Committed to Clemson
Tennessee fans enjoyed a few months of excitement after Hunter Johnson pledged to the Volunteers last August. However, the outlook altered completely in December when the Hoosier State native flipped his commitment to ACC champion Clemson, which added another passer in 4-star Chase Brice shortly afterward.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Johnson, an all-around gifted athlete whose skills are routinely slept on due to the "pro-style" label, throws the prettiest ball in this class. His combination of accuracy and power (43/45) is a direct result of firm mechanics and an authoritative approach in the pocket (10/10).
He didn't dominate during Elite 11 action, but very few quarterbacks in the competition served up a legitimate wire-to-wire performance. Johnson, who briefly excused himself from event finals in Los Angeles to return home for a state title track and field meet, hasn't established much separation atop the quarterback board but belongs in contention for No. 1 status.
Selected by Elite 11 counselors as "most likely to succeed in any offensive system," he provides Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with a compelling option in the post-Deshaun Watson era. Johnson totaled 2,545 yards and 31 scores through the air last fall.
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