College Football Recruiting 2011: Ranking The Top 50 Quarterbacks

It's the most glamorous position in all of sports: Quarterback. No matter what level—NFL, College, or high school—one of the first components we evaluate in regards to a team's success is who their quarterback is.

In recruiting, a mantra or adage for a college football program is to sign a quarterback every year. That's how important the position is. This year we have seen some extremely-talented prep field generals who surely will impact your favorite program in years to come.

Let's rank the top 50.

50. Michael Bercovici

Commitment: Arizona State

Bercovici is a quarterback who can make all the throws and has played in an offense in which he must make college and NFL type reads .He's very accurate and puts solid touch on his balls when needed. He can attack all three levels of a defense and he is consistent in his mechanics with every drop.

He'll need to work on his ball handling and selling of playaction fakes in college, as this will help him open up passing windows more. He's not Ben Rothlisberger in terms of size or strength, nor in mobility and escapability.

49. Archie Bradley

Commitment: Oklahoma

Bradley oozes potential and an ability to develop into something special. His arm strength is his top attribute as he can push the ball down field with ease and fit it into tight windows between defenders. He has a very keen pocket presence and awareness around the field. His leadership qualities are also very good, as Bradley is known for being vocal.

He's still pretty raw and will need to get some seasoning with his mechanics, ball handling and his delivery. Bradley also must learn that not every pitch should be a fastball, with touch also being an area of needed work in his game.

48. Zack Oliver

Commitment: Northwestern

Oliver is decisive in his reads and is a great decision maker. He really values taking care of the football and not making costly mistakes. He's not Michael Vick with his legs, yet he can gain yards on the run. He's very accurate and his pocket presence lets him keep a great feel for the rush.

Consistent mechanics in his drops will be needed to hone his skills in college. Oliver will also have to work on his foot quickness to be able to move quicker inside the pocket.

47. Christian Suntrup

Commitment: Boston College

Suntrup is solid with his accuracy and arm strength. His footwork within the pocket is great and allows him to go through progressions while shuffling, resetting his shoulders and moving his body to align with his next target.

Suntrup doesn't possess truly-gifted foot speed to make athletic plays on the run on a constant basis. Also, his deep ball accuracy has come into question.

46. Derrick Brown

Commitment: Utah

Brown has a solid size at 6'3", which allows to see over the rush and keep his eyes down field. He can attack the defense with his arm and does it also with good weight transfer during his throw. He's consistent in his motion, delivery and release and his athletic ability affords him to get outside the pocket to do damage.

His accuracy will need improvement as Brown can spray the ball at times. This can be corrected with hard coaching, so that he leads with his off shoulder to his target. Consistent overall play from Brown will be needed more often.

45. Jimmy Laughrea

Commitment: Boise State

Good footwork and solid size make Laughrea a top prospect, as he is also pretty accurate in his throws and a very good decision maker. He can put good touch on his balls to loft it in windows over and between defenders. He knows when to tuck it and run and when to hang in the pocket and let the play develop to hit an open man.

Sometimes his throwing motion gets sloppy and causes him to push the ball in his throws. He's played in an offense in which they read one side of the field, so his overall field vision to see the whole field in his reads will need work.

45. Bram Kohlhausen

Commitment: Houston

Kohlhausen is a player with a great work ethic and it has shown throughout his high school career. He has improved in every year he has played and his arm strength has grown into one his best attributes as a player. He's very accurate and can get some serious revolutions on his throws. He's poised in the pocket and doesn't panic at the sight of the oncoming rush and he is a player his teammates follow.

He's not the fleetest of foot and will not be a serious run threat. His speed and overall athletic ability make him surely just a pocket passer.

44. Kevin Sousa

Commitment: Wake Forest

Sousa is a big quarterback with amazing bulk at 6'4", 235 pounds. He's a dual-threat type who's equally dangerous running and throwing. He's played against good talent in Florida and has held his own, which will certainly prepare him for the college ranks.

He's raw in his mechanics and will need improve his overall decision making. Sometimes he can be too quick to pull it down and run, rather let the play develop and go through his progressions.

43. Jacob Coker

Commitment: Florida State

There was a time when Florida State lost out on a quarterback from Alabama to the Tide by the name of Brodie Croyle. This time the Noles struck gold in getting Coker, a big quarterback who will look to hone his talents in Tallahassee. Coker is 6'5", 210 pounds and is a canvas waiting to be groomed. His size allows him to see the field well and he has a solid arm to deliver the football to his receivers.

Coker will not wow you with his athletic ability and plays on the run, as he does not like to reset his feel when going through progressions and firing the ball. He needs a clean pocket at all times to do his bidding.

42. Nick SanGiacomo

Commitment: Tulane

SanGiacomo has played in a controlled, balanced type offense in which he has not been asked to do much, yet when he has been called on to make a play, he has made it. At 6'4", 195 pounds, SanGiacomo will be able see the field and deliver the ball precisely with good accuracy. He's also a deceptive athlete who can get on the edges of the pocket when needed.

He will need to improve his arm strength and bulk to hold up against being hit by college defenders. Foot quickness and consistent mechanics are also needed.

41. Philip Ealy

Commitment: Alabama

Ealy is a gamer. He's a noted winner and his multiple state championships and accolades prove it. He does what he has to to win football games. He's not easily rattled, stays poised, doesn't panic and takes care of the ball. He's accurate in all of his throws and makes very good decisions.

He's not the biggest, not the fastest, nor does he have the best arm in the country. He won't be the flashiest player or impact the wow highlights, so if that's what you're looking for than you should move on.

40. Max Shortell

Commitment: Minnesota

Jerry Kill will like working with Shortell who is under the radar and plays with a chip on shoulder. He has a very good work ethic and is a player who just wants to get better at his craft. He has plenty of talent and at 6'6", 215 pounds, Shortell can see the field with ease, go through his reads and deliver the ball on point.

As a tall athlete, Shortell has problems when he's asked to move around and reset, as he can be a bit too stationary at this point right now. His footwork will need improvement as well.

39. Cam Coffman

Commitment: Undecided

Coffman is deciding between Toledo and Arizona State, eyeing a trip to Toledo this month before signing day. He's a 6'2", 180-pound signal caller with tremendous accuracy to hit his targets on the money. He studies hard and prepares well so their are no surprises for him come game time.

Adding size, bulk and arm strength will be his biggest challenge in college so he can attack the third level of the defense more consistently.

38. Justin Worley

Commitment: Tennessee

Worley is headed to Rocky Top and coach Derek Dooley will welcome his touch and on-field leadership abilities. His accuracy is his top strength aside from his striking size on his 6'5" frame. He's decisive with his reads and delivers the ball to where his receivers can make a play.

His throwing motion, delivery and release need tightening up. Also, he will need to learn how to drop back from center while still reading the defense since he has played in shotgun most of his career.

37. Russell Bellomy

Commitment: Purdue

Bellomy will fit well into Purdue's spread-style offense as he can throw well on the run, on roll-outs and is also very mobile to get outside the pocket. He can easily gain yards with his legs and make defenders miss in the open field.

He needs to add bulk if he going to continue being a consistent runner to withstand pounding. Also, field vision is another area for improvement.

36. Johnny Manziel

Commitment: Texas A&M

Manziel has better arm strength than he's given credit for and he is also a very good athlete for the position. He can move within the pocket easily while keeping his eyes down field to make his reads. He's a good leader and also has solid touch on his throws.

His accuracy can flutter and make him spray the ball at times and he will take some bad chances with the football every so often to cause him to throw a pick or two.

35. Trevone Boykin

Commitment: TCU

Boykin played quarterback in high school and his tremendous athleticism, speed, quickness and play-making ability project him to perhaps receiver in Fort Worth. He has a solid arm, though, and could be a great dual-threat style signal caller.

He's only 6'0", which is not ideal for a quarterback (besides Drew Brees) and his decision making and ability to read the whole field is in question.

34. Gary Nova

Commitment: Rutgers

Nova has solid mechanic consistency and really good accuracy on his deep balls. He gets velocity on his throws and also knows when touch is needed. He can throw accurately to all routes at all spots on the field.

Nova has a bit of a hitch in his motion and will need to clean up his release. He needs a clean pocket to really be comfortable and also loses accuracy when throwing on the run.

33. Marcus Mariota

Commitment: Oregon

Mariota will be perfect in Oregon's offensive scheme, as the Ducks ask their quarterbacks to be mobile, accurate and have a command of the field and huddle. He does all that and more. Mariota can beat you with his arm and get out on the run to scramble with his legs.

He will need to work on his mechanics and drops to complete his game, as his footwork can lack at times since he's so athletic.

32. Brandon Allen

Commitment: Arkansas

Brandon Allen is no Kiehl Frazier, but fans of Arkansas can still be excited about their consolation prize after missing out on the prized Arkansas native.

Allen has prototypical size and has good, but not great, arm strength.

He makes up for that with an elite football IQ, solid accuracy and good decision-making.

His offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach say he's right up there with other great Arkansas quarterbacks like Frazier and Mitch Mustain. That may be a stretch, but Allen has talent.

31. Jacob Rudock

Commitment: Iowa

Rudock is a very smart quarterback who is almost like a coach on the field. He clearly knows how to make reads, go through progressions and studies a ton of tape each week in preparation for the opposing defense. He's also a very solid leader and always seems to be poised in the moment.

He will need to gain weight and bulk and keep maturing physically as he moves on to college.

30. Tony McNeal

Commitment: Clemson

McNeal is an athletic signal caller who has tremendous awareness, feel, instincts and field vision. He sees just about everything all the time. A quick decision maker, McNeal also is deadly accurate from the pocket and on the run.

He doesn't possess a big and live arm. He will need to work on his motion and release with the ball and use his legs to get more velocity into his throws.

29. Brock Berglund

Commitment: Kansas

Berglund is a game-manager type who leads the offense and lets his playmakers make plays. He makes great decisions and he can be trusted with the ball to be delivered with great accuracy. He's also a pretty sneaky runner.

He won't wow you with a cannon arm or make Cam Newton-type amazing runs, but he always finds a way to get his job done, and ultimately beat you.

28. Cole Stoudt

Commitment: Clemson

Stoudt is among the most flat-out competitive players and quarterbacks in the country this year and his ultimate desire when the lights are on is not to throw for the most yards and wheel and deal with his arm, but to win. He finds ways to win and doesn't back down from anyone.

He's 6'4", yet at just 185 pounds, he will need to add bulk and work on his mechanics. A college weight training program should improve his arm strength.

27. Cardale Jones

Commitment: Undecided

Jones is from Ohio State-pipeline Glenville, yet does not hold a Buckeye offer. That's fine, as he is wanted by Michigan, LSU, Penn State, Purdue, West Virginia, and hoard of other schools. He's 6'5", 230 pounds and has a 4.5 40 time. He's a playmaker with a hose for an arm.

He needs to work on his release and delivery and refine his mechanics.

26. DaMarcus Smith

Commitment: Louisville

Smith is an excellent all-around athlete and playmaker with the football in his hands. He has a 4.6 40 and can escape the rush and get up field to gain yards. He has put up very solid passing numbers over the years and works to hone his passing skills, release and accuracy to be the best it can be with his talents.

He will need to keep working on his mechanics and drop backs from center while also improving his field vision and decision making in college.

25. Chad Jeffries

Commitment: San Diego St.

The experts greatly differ about the value of Jeffries.

He's Rivals' No. 7 pro-style quarterback, but he only gets a two-star grade from Scout and goes unranked by their account.

Jeffries is rail thin and needs to bulk up, but he's a good prospect who can do some damage with his legs when he needs to, as well as by standing in the pocket and laying it on the line.

He's an under-the-radar guy that's staying in-state to go to a smaller school and that's probably why you won't hear too much about him.

24. Adam Pittser

Commitment: Wyoming

Pittser was an Elite 11 Quarterback Camp attendee and impressed all week during his stay at the camp. He is not shy on the field and he is a very vocal leader who can rally his teammates around him to win. He's a gamer type with great intangibles and above average arm strength and accuracy.

He's a bit under the radar and will look to go to Wyoming with a chip on his shoulder.

23. Stephen Rivers

Commitment: LSU

An athletic talent, Rivers was a star basketball and football player up until his junior year, when he switched his focus full-time to the football field and the weight room.

He is the younger brother of Philip Rivers and plays a lot like him.

He should be in line for a huge senior season and be one of the big ranking climbers throughout the year. It looks like the Tigers have a steal with this one. 

22. Kevin Hogan

Commitment: Stanford

Hogan is one of a couple solid pro-style quarterbacks on Stanford's commitment list at this point.

He's Rivals' No. 12 pro-style passer and Scout's No. 28 overall quarterback, but that's underrating him a bit.

Hogan can make all the throws you want to see from a college quarterback, but he struggles with his accuracy.

That's because his throwing motion needs to be scrapped and rebuilt.

The potential is there for this kid to be something special.

21. Corbin Berkstresser

Commitment: Missouri

The top prospect from the state of Missouri will be staying at home and playing for the Tigers in 2011.

The 3-star quarterback, ranked as the No. 13 pro-style QB by Rivals and the No. 35 QB by Scout, has the potential to climb the rankings a lot between now and the end of his senior year.

He's got a strong arm and is a good decision-maker with a pretty high ceiling. His game has developed a lot over the last couple of seasons and should only get better as he continues to figure out his strengths and weaknesses.

20. Michael Brewer

Commitment: Texas Tech

Brewer was a relatively unknown name until his junior season, when Garrett Gilbert left Lake Travis for the Texas Longhorns. 

It was then that Brewer accounted for over 5,000 total yards and 64 touchdowns while leading his team to an undefeated record. 

Brewer has emerged as one of the top dual-threat passers, but he's a pass-first quarterback and saves his legs for when the defense opens up space for him. 

With a strong summer and what should be a good senior season, Brewer has the potential to emerge as a top 10 to 15 quarterback from the 2011 class. 

19. Jacoby Brissett

Commitment: Uncommitted

One of the top dual-threat passers in the 2011 class, Brissett is ranked as the No. 22 quarterback on Scout and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback on Rivals. 

At 6'5" and 225 pounds, he's got elite size and he is one of the most athletic prospects in the country. Brissett runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has incredible arm strength to add. 

He's raw, but the potential is there. Once he figures out how to read defenses better, be a more consistent and accurate passer and play more disciplined, the sky is limit. 

He's in no hurry to trim his list of over a dozen suitors, yet Florida State could be the choice. 

18. Kendal Thompson

Commitment: Oklahoma

The left-handed gunslinger from Oklahoma is really athletic and can buy a ton of time to throw by either dancing in the pocket, breaking for the sideline or heading up field. 

He's got tremendous field vision and seems to always know where his receivers are down field. Thompson is also a very accurate short-range and mid-range passer standing still, but he tends to lose control of the ball a bit while on the run. 

Right now he plays mostly off his athleticism, but his technique passing the ball needs work, especially when it comes to his throwing motion and release.  

17. David Ash

Commitment: Texas

Another one of Texas' seemingly-endless recruiting class, Ash is Scout's No. 12 quarterback overall and Rivals No. 11 pro-style QB.

He's one of the few prospects of the 2011 class who really could step on the field tomorrow and compete.

He's a very polished passer, a smart player and a confident leader.

He'll put the ball where only his receiver can make a play for it, but it's his downfield accuracy that really impresses.

The knock on his game is that his ceiling might not be very high.

16. Everett Golson

Commitment: North Carolina

Golson is undersized for a quarterback at 5'11", but when you see him pass the ball, you tend to forget. This 4-star QB has one of the quickest releases in the country and a superbly tight spiral.

He can lock onto his target nearly anywhere on the field and nail them in the chest. The problem is he tends to hone in on his receivers and it'll be very easy for defenders at the college level to read his passes and quickly react.

There are questions about Golson's field vision because of his height, but he wouldn't be the first sub-six-foot passer to overcome that limitation.

15. Marquise Williams

Commitment: North Carolina

The second of the Tar Heels quarterbacks from the 2011 recruiting class is Marquise Williams, another dual-threat passer with a ton of upside. 

Williams is ranked as the No. 13 quarterback on Scout and the No. 12 dual-threat passer on Rivals. He compares himself to Vince Young, and while he's a long way from reaching Young's level, the comparison seems warranted. 

Williams is a strong rusher, but a pass-first quarterback with a very tight spiral and solid deep ball. He really does remind some of Young at his age, but it remains to be seen if Williams will ever live up to the comparison. 

14. Jerrard Randall

Commitment: Oregon

The 4-star quarterback with a great set of legs has an arm to match them. Randall is ranked as the No. 11 quarterback on Scout and the No. 10 dual-threat quarterback on Rivals.

He is one of the most athletic prospects at his position and he is about as mobile a passer as they come. That allows him to buy time under pressure, extend plays and make things happen.

He needs to work on his release and accuracy, but there's no denying the power of this kid's arm. Now if he can just be a more consistent passer and make better decisions, we'd really be talking. 

13. Evan Crower

Commitment: Stanford

There's some disagreement among the experts about Crower's value. Scout lists him as their No. 6 quarterback, but he's Rivals' No. 21 pro-style passer.

Crower has arguably the best throwing motion of anyone in the class, though, and can get a lot of zing on his passes in a hurry when he needs to.

He's an accurate thrower who knows when to put some touch on the ball and when to rocket it.  He lacks mobility, though, which makes him a pure pocket passer.

12. Max Wittek

Commitment: USC

Wittek is a gunslinger who will take risks to make the big plays and more times than not makes something happen on the field.

He's Rivals' No. 4 pro-style quarterback and Scout's No. 14 quarterback overall.

Not the most accurate passer, but he throws a very nice deep ball and has elite field vision.  He's a gutsy player who'll stand in the pocket under pressure to the last second to make a play.  His style could get him into trouble at the next level though.

11. Jamaal Turner

Commitment: Nebraska

Turner isn't the only star quarterback who's committed to Nebraska, but he might be the one starting down the line, depending on Bubba Starling's future. 

At 6'1" and 170 pounds, he's undersized, but that doesn't stop him from dominating his opposition.

He's got a lightning-fast release and throws a very tight spiral, but it's his ability to throw on the run and his mobility in the pocket that impresses most. 

If Starling ends up playing professional baseball, the Cornhuskers will do just fine with Turner. 

10. Cody Kessler

Commitment: USC

Kessler is Rival's No. 2 pro-style quarterback and he is the second of USC's great haul at the position.

He's got prototypical size and a high football IQ.  On the field, he makes good decisions and doesn't force passes.  However, he's also hesitant to go for the big play and often times manages the offense rather than leads it.

Scout lists him as the No. 13 quarterback, which may be undervaluing him a bit.

9. Kyle Boehm

Commitment: California

Boehm is still raw and could take some time to develop, but he's got prototypical size for the position.

While he doesn't have a lot of speed, he's a physical player who can make things happen with his legs when he needs to.

He's Rivals No. 6 pro-style quarterback and Scout's 18th overall QB.

Boehm has incredible arm strength, but needs to work on his technique and pocket awareness.

8. Bubba Starling

Commitment: Nebraska

Bubba Starling, a top 10 QB, is considering bypassing college football for baseball and might head to the pros if he's picked in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft.

Seems the baseball scouts are as excited about this kid's pitching arm as football scouts are; that's because it's one of the best in the country.

He's one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, ranked as a top 10 prospect at his position. As of now, he's the headliner of Nebraska's recruiting class and if he sticks around, he will likely be the starting quarterback in a couple of years.

7. J.W. Walsh

Commitment: Oklahoma State

Walsh is about as close to a 5-star quarterback as you can get without actually getting that fifth star. He has one of the strongest arms in the country and the beauty is it's only getting stronger as he grows older.

By the time Walsh fills out his frame and gets into a college workout program, he could have a very rare arm attached to his shoulder.

He's got a great spiral on his ball and can lay it out softly or power it into his target depending on the situation. Not many passers at the high school level have such a great touch on the ball and an understanding of how to throw it depending on positioning. 

6. Brett Hundley

Commitment: Uncommitted

Hundley is a very physical quarterback with the best footwork of any elite QB prospect. He loves to run the bootleg and at 6'4'', 220 pounds, when he gets going in space, he's difficult to bring down.

He's got a bad habit of winding up and there's a lot of work that needs to be done on his throwing motion, but that's about all there is too worry about.

He's got great instincts, can read a defense in a heartbeat and can make all the throws you want to see from a college quarterback. 

His top two schools are UCLA and Washington, with neither team holding the edge at the moment. 

5. Teddy Bridgewater

Commitment: Louisville

Teddy Bridgewater is the next great quarterback from Miami Northwestern High School, and if you had to compare him to anyone, it would be UM quarterback Jacory Harris; who was the starter at Northwestern before Bridgewater. Bridgewater was committed to The U, but switched up to Louisville—yet the Harris comparisons still persist.

They both throw an accurate ball, have great pocket presence, will stand in the face of pressure till the last second, are mobile and can throw on the run when the pocket collapses.

However, Bridgewater lacks elite arm strength and, like Harris when he was coming out of high school, is rail thin and needs to add a lot of weight to his frame.

4. Kiehl Frazier

Commitment: Auburn

Kiehl Frazier is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who could run a spread, an option, a pro-style or pretty much any offense you could dream up.

He throws the deep ball with excellent power and accuracy and he can really do some damage when he gets loose in open space.

He's a pass-first guy that will beat you with his arm first and mostly takes off when the defense allows him to, much like a Braxton Miller. He's not as big or as strong as Miller, though, and there are some technical issues with his throwing motion.

Frazier is a just a straight gamer and will lift his team onto his back and carry them to victory if he has too. That's something that can't be quantified with stats.

3. Christian LeMay

Commitment: Georgia

LeMay is one of the top quarterback prospects in the country, rated top three at his position by both Rivals and Scout. It doesn't take long for you to realize this kid is the real deal.

He's a natural winner and leader, the type of quarterback who stays calm under pressure and makes plays when it really counts. There aren't many quarterbacks with as much athleticism and throwing ability on the run.

If there's a knock on his game, it's that he tends to not feel pressure coming at times and holds the ball too casually. That usually equals turnovers, but what's great to see is that it doesn't frazzle him; he just plays through it.

2. Braxton Miller

Commitment: Ohio State

Miller is an idea dual-threat quarterback who possesses great quickness, elusive ability and a powerful arm that really puts a lot of pressure on defenses. He runs a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and can change direction on a dime.

There are very few prospects capable of dominating a defense the way he does. Miller doesn't force plays, but rather he lets his opponent choose how they're going to play him and then takes advantage of whatever they offer.

If you crowd the line of scrimmage, he'll throw over you all night. If you give him space to run, he'll burn you for a quick 15 without any hesitation.

1. Jeff Driskel

Commitment: Florida

Driskel is Rivals' and ESPN's No. 1 quarterback in 2011, but only Rivals lists him at five stars, and it's very difficult to believe that there's not a single quarterback in the class worthy of the rating.

He's described as a pure pocket passer, but he has the athleticism and speed to make plays happen with his legs when he needs to. He's got a very strong arm and is an accurate passer who can make all the throws a college quarterback needs to make.

Statistically he won't wow you, though, and that's the main reason he tends to be left behind in the quarterback discussion when, in reality, he's not far off the pace of other 5-star prospects.