B/R Recruiting CFB 200: Top Dual-Threat 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 Dual-Threat Quarterbacks.

College coaching staffs can solidify offensive schematics for years to come with the ideal playmaker taking snaps and orchestrating an attack. This often requires a quarterback who can do more than simply sling the ball.

Labeled "dual-threat" quarterbacks, premier passers who can also create opportunities with their rushing abilities continue to wreak havoc across the football landscape. Capable of controlling a game through the air or on the ground, these athletes are coveted on the recruiting trail.

Here's a long look at prospects who fall under this category, along with a glimpse at their respective recruiting process. These players were assessed through criteria based on accuracy, arm strength, pocket presence, football IQ, mechanics and mobility. 

Player order and star ratings based on 247Sports' composite rankings through July 19. Unless otherwise noted, player stats are courtesy of 247Sports.

6. 4-Star Sam Ehlinger

Credit: Student Sports

Height/Weight: 6'1 ½", 215 pounds

High School: Westlake (Austin, Texas)

Composite Ranking: No. 6 dual-threat quarterback; No. 153 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 92/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Texas

The local standout didn’t need to search far for his ideal collegiate fit, committing to Texas last summer. Aside from an early Longhorns offer, Sam Ehlinger also landed scholarship opportunities from schools such as Houston and Florida State.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

A highly competitive offensive leader, Ehlinger endears himself to teammates with a fiery attitude. Far from the most physically gifted athlete on this list, he’s a high-effort competitor who can muster up plenty of zip on his passes and pick apart opponents in the intermediate range.

A strong lower body helps produce more power than you might expect upon first glimpse of the Lone Star State gunslinger. He’s diligent in working through progressions and patient enough to proceed in the pocket before delivering accurate, well-timed balls (18/20).

Ehlinger exhibited excellent endurance during Elite 11 action, which didn’t take into account the rushing abilities (17/20 mobility) that allow him to escape pressure behind the line of scrimmage and occasionally carve up opponents beyond it. He enjoyed highly productive campaigns these past two years, tallying 6,133 passing yards, 2,082 rushing yards and 103 total touchdowns (70 as a junior).

5. 4-Star Lowell Narcisse

Credit: Student Sports

Height/Weight: 6'2 ½", 224 pounds

High School: Saint James (Saint James, Louisiana)

Composite Ranking: No. 5 dual-threat quarterback; No. 110 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 91/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to LSU

A longtime target among SEC rivals, Lowell Narcisse initially pledged to Auburn approximately a month before his junior year. He opted to reopen the recruitment process in January, though he continued to sustain contact with head coach Gus Malzahn’s staff afterward.

Despite flirting with a return to Auburn’s recruiting class, Narcisse elected to become part of a two-quarterback haul in Baton Rouge, where LSU is also set to sign fellow Elite 11 finalist Myles Brennan.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

Narcisse is a tremendous runner (20/20) but suffered an ACL tear last May that cost him nearly the entire 2015 season. He returned to the field in time to lead St. James on a deep playoff run, totaling 10 touchdowns without an interception during three playoff matchups, per MaxPreps.

Though Narcisse wasn’t at full capacity as a ball-carrier last fall, he told B/R at Elite 11 finals that his knee feels great and a big season should be ahead. In 2014, his tallied 1,402 yards and 18 scores on the ground.

Among the most dynamic rushers in this cycle, don’t sleep on his skills in the pocket, as Elite 11 counselors named Narcisse the “most improved passer” this summer. He’s not a field-stretcher with the deep ball yet, but there’s no doubt Narcisse is capable of delivering touchdown drives by methodically attacking mid-range seams with accuracy (17/20) and anticipation that continues to improve.

4. 4-Star Shawn Robinson

Credit: Student Sports

Height/Weight: 6'1", 213 pounds

High School: DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)

Composite Ranking: No. 4 dual-threat; No. 84 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 87/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to TCU

The Horned Frogs enjoyed a significant early achievement in this recruiting cycle by securing Shawn Robinson in June 2015. TCU beat out a wide array of interested universities, including Alabama, Baylor, Ole Miss and Texas, the latter of which presented him a scholarship prior to his sophomore season.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

Robinson, who transferred to Texas powerhouse DeSoto from Guyer High School after his junior season, will face mounted pressure to deliver a state championship this fall. We’ll be watching closely to see whether he is able to develop enhanced accuracy after a 2015 campaign in which he failed to complete 50 percent of pass attempts.

Things were still largely hit or miss for him when targeting receivers downfield during Elite 11 finals, where he was forced to focus on passing fundamentals without the ability to rely on his skills as a runner. Robinson, who rushed for 1,678 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior (18/20 mobility), is a thick athlete with a strong lower body, so bringing him down is a tough task for defenders.

His success as a collegiate quarterback will ultimately be determined by how polished he can become within the pocket. Robinson has a charged-up arm that provides velocity, so if that strength (14/15) is paired with improved precision (14/20), he should develop into a Big 12 superstar.

3. 4-Star Kellen Mond

Credit: Student Sports

Height/Weight: 6'2 ½", 201 pounds

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Composite Ranking: No. 3 dual-threat quarterback; No. 77 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 90/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Texas A&M

Kellen Mond dealt with an unorthodox recruiting process, as he initially pledged to Baylor in June 2015. However, controversy swirled around the Bears in the aftermath of a highly publicized sexual assault scandal, costing head coach Art Briles his job and ultimately leading Mond to consider alternative options.

Auburn made a hard charge after him, and many believed he would end up in a Tigers uniform. But Texas A&M ultimately convinced him College Station was the right destination in June, providing early validation for first-year offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

Mond is the latest one-and-done senior quarterback at Sunshine State heavyweight IMG Academy, following blue-chip prospects Michael O'Connor, Deondre Francois and Shea Patterson. A former standout at Reagan High School in San Antonio, he arguably offers the highest ceiling of any athlete on this list given his physical assets and room for improvement.

Mond can sling the ball with velocity (14/15) at all phases of a downfield attack, but there are some concerns about his ability to put everything together from an accuracy standpoint. As his mechanics (13/15) progress and polish, this element of his game should continue to advance and allow him to take chances downfield with increased confidence.

Capable of extending drives and capping off victories with his legs, Mond seems primed to take a leap within a uniquely loaded IMG system. He racked up 2,889 total yards and 33 total touchdowns as a junior, per MaxPreps, so expectations are immense for his first foray in Florida. 

2. 4-Star Tua Tagovailoa

Credit: Student Sports

Height/Weight: 6'1", 212 pounds

High School: St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Composite Ranking: No. 2 dual-threat quarterback; No. 61 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 97/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama

Alabama battled hard for Tua Tagovailoa in a long-distance recruitment that also heavily featured several SEC and Pac-12 programs. He visited Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Ole Miss during an Southeast swing, per Nick Abramo of Hawaii Prep World, while USC also continues to play a role in this pursuit.

The Crimson Tide are solidly the squad in front following a late-spring pledge, and it would be a surprise at this point if he alters his outlook and lands with another university on national signing day. He joins fellow Elite 11 finalist Mac Jones in a class that could finish No. 1 overall for a seventh consecutive recruiting cycle.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

No quarterback made a stronger impression this summer than Tagovailoa, who earned Elite 11 MVP and overall seven-on-seven MVP honors at The Opening. Though he entered the competition as a somewhat unknown commodity, the Hawaiian erupted in front of event staff with the highest pro-day score and tremendous success throughout seven-on-seven action.

Tagovailoa is a natural leader who drew plenty of participants into his inner circle during action at the Elite 11 and The Opening. He throws a beautiful deep ball (20/20) and rarely fails to fit throws in tight windows within any reach. His ability to adapt to a multitude of offensive philosophies (20/20 football IQ) was eye-opening in recent weeks and bodes well for his chances to flourish early in college.

Tagovailoa, who hails from the same high school as 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, completed 65 percent of pass attempts during the past two seasons for 5,515 yards, 57 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, per MaxPreps. He was also a major weapon on the ground last fall, rushing for 481 yards (6.2 per carry) and 11 scores.

1. 5-Star Tate Martell

Height/Weight: 5'10 ½", 203 pounds

High School: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Composite Ranking: No. 1 dual-threat quarterback; No. 34 overall

Bleacher Report Score: 95/100

Recruitment Status: Committed to Ohio State

Tate Martell became one of the most recognizable figures in modern-day college football recruiting by accepting a scholarship offer to Washington before his eighth-grade season. This development predictably resulted in widespread attention, and he eventually backed off that verbal pledge before joining Texas A&M’s class in August 2015.

Martell lasted nine months as a leading figure in the Aggies’ latest recruiting class until offensive staff changes altered his outlook toward Texas A&M. He decommitted in May, setting the stage for sales pitches from UCLA and Cal before Ohio State ultimately picked up his pledge last month.

 

Bleacher Report Analysis

Martell's lack of ideal height will always be counted against him at any level. However, he possesses the characteristics to flourish in a collegiate setting. His pocket presence (10/10) is well-versed and helps correlate into outstanding downfield accuracy (19/20) that puts his receivers in position to gain yards after a reception.

Martell is among the most improvisational quarterbacks we've scouted in recent cycles, capable of evading pressure and extending plays beyond the pocket or rumbling ahead for pivotal pickups (17/20 mobility). He's also an undeniable winner, having claimed consecutive state championships and placing Bishop Gorman in national title contention through two unbeaten seasons at the school.

Since emerging as starter in 2014, Martell has racked up 5,145 passing yards, 1,037 rushing yards and 86 total touchdowns while dealing with one of the nation's most difficult out-of-state schedules. He has thrown just eight interceptions along the way, winning duels against other blue-chip quarterbacks such as Stanford freshman K.J. Costello, fellow 2016 Elite 11 finalist Tommy DeVito and top-rated 2015 passer Josh Rosen.