Terrific Trio: Locker, Mallet, Luck, and More Form Elite 2011 NCAAF QB Group

Eric GalkoMay 30, 2010

Since that coveted 2004 draft class in which we were spoiled with Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger and perennial Pro Bowler Phillip Rivers, fans and NFL organizations have been praying for another class to emerge as that dominate.

And since then, we’ve had our fair share of what looks like some solid franchise guy. Quarterbacks such as Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Jay Cutler, and even Alex Smith look like franchise quarterbacks that their respective teams have or are trying to build around.

But three in one class? Since 2004, there’s only been one three quarterback first round in 2006, and at least one of them hasn’t quite worked out.

However, this 2011 draft class has a chance to have as many as five quarterbacks taken in the first round.

Last year, the Rams took the usual quarterback with the first pick, and the Broncos landed their franchise guy in Tim Tebow. But, even though as many as three teams found their future guy (Carolina snatched up Jimmy Clausen), many teams still need a franchise signal caller.

Buffalo, Jacksonville, Oakland, Washington, Arizona, and Minnesota all need a quarterback of the future, and the first round could be their target area.

Jake Locker from Washington is the favorite to be not only the top quarterback taken, but the likely number one overall pick. Locker was touted by some NFL personnel as a better quarterback prospect than Sam Bradford last season if Locker declared, and I agree with that evaluation. Locker is a very mobile and well-built quarterback with a strong arm. He has a little Ben Roethlisberger in him in his ability to keep the play alive, and if he can improve his pocket presence and medium to deep range accuracy, he could have a Big Ben like impact in the NFL.

One of the main foes of Locker’s first overall dreams is another well-built, strong armed quarterback in junior Ryan Mallett of Arkansas. The former Michigan, highly-touted prospect transferred after Rich Rod took over, and in year one under Bobby Petrino Mallett improved by leaps and bounds over the season. His pocket awareness and play reading ability are outstanding for a second year starter and college player. And if he can show some mobility and better touch on the out routes, he could challenge for that top spot.

Who looks to be the final competitor for the top quarterback billing in the 2011 debate? Red shirt sophomore Andrew Luck of Stanford may be a bit of a wild card. Only started for one season, Luck was an instrumental factor in Stanford’s surprising success this season. A big part of his evaluation will be to see if he can thrive without the power running game lost by now NFL running back Toby Gerhart. Luck has all the tools, but hasn’t shown them consistently over his career and still has to work on his technique. If he can improve those deficiencies, then he could really challenge with Locker and Mallett.

As for the other possible first round quarterbacks to even improve this class one step further; guys like Christian Ponder of Florida State, who has the mobility and size to be a more NFL ready version of Colt McCoy without the production in college, red shirt sophomore Blaine Gabbert of Missouri, who combines Chase Daniel’s accuracy and an NFL body, Case Keenum of Houston, who could emerge as the next Kevin Kolb, and junior Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State, who has the athleticism but hasn’t translated it to on the field passing success.

As of now, the board looks like this:
1. Jake Locker
2. Ryan Mallett (JR)
3. Andrew Luck (RS SO)
4. Christian Ponder
5. Blaine Gabbert
6. Case Keenum
7. Terrelle Pryor

But a lot could fluctuate for what could be a quarterback class like 1984 and 2004, with three possible All-Pro and Hall of Fame hopefuls.