College Football: Andrew Luck and the 10 Best Returning QBs in the Country

There were many outstanding players at quarterback this season in NCAA Division I football, such as Andrew Luck, Cameron Newton, and Ryan Mallet, but only a few college players that were draft-eligible decided to remain at their universities.

In fact, a majority of the high-profile draft-eligible players have decided to forgo their senior and junior seasons to declare for the NFL and try their chances at the professional level as soon as possible.

Standford's Andrew Luck is one of the few premiere athletes in college that has decided to remain in school for another year instead of leaving early for the 2011 NFL draft.  

With some very talented QB's declaring for the NFL draft this year, take a look at the following list, which ranks the top 10 QB's that will be returning to their respective schools for the 2011 collegiate football season.

* Stats compiled from ESPN

10. Aaron Murray, Georgia Bulldogs

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Aaron Murray #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after tossing a touchdown pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Height: 6'1''

Weight: 209 pounds

Class: Freshman

2010 Season Stats: 209-342, 3049 yards, a 61.1 CMP%, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 154.48 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: AutoZone Liberty Bowl Vs. UCF(Lost 10-6)- Completed 21of 38 attempted passes for 198 yards, a 55.3 CMP%, zero touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 88.51 QB rating.

9. Landry Jones, Oklahoma Sooners

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Peters

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 219 pounds

Class: Sophomore

2010 Season Stats: 405-617, 4718 yards, a 69.4 CMP%, 38 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 146.31 QB rating 

Bowl Game Performance: Fiesta Bowl Vs. Uconn(Won 48-20)- Completed 34 of 49 passes for 429 yards, a 69.4 CMP%, three touchdowns, one interception, and a 159.05 QB rating

8. Denard Robinson, Michigan Wolverines

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Height: 6'0''

Weight: 193 pounds

Class: Sophomore

2010 Season Stats: 182-291, 2570 yards, a 62.5 CMP%, 18 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 149.58 QB rating; 256 rushing attempts for 1702 yards and 14 touchdowns

Bowl Game Performance: Gator Bowl Vs. Mississippi State(Lost 52-14)- Completed 27 of 41 attempted passes for 254 yards, a 65.9 CMP%, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 129.11 QB rating

7. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State Buckeyes

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates the Buckeyes 31-26 victory against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Pho

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 233 pounds

Class: Junior

2010 Season Stats: 210-323, 2772 yards, a 65.0 CMP%, 27 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 157.88 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Sugar Bowl Vs. Arkansas(Won 31-26)- Completed 14 of 25 attempted passes for 221 yards, a 56.0 CMP%, two touchdowns, and a 156.66 QB rating

6. Geno Smith, West Virginia Mountaineers

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Geno Smith #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers in action against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 210 pounds

Class: Sophomore

2010 Season Stats: 241-372, 2763 yards, a 64.8 CMP%, 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 144.70 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Champs Sports Bowl Vs. North Carolina State(Lost 23-7)- Completed 22 of 39 attempted passes for 196 yards, a 56.4 CMP%, one touchdown, one interception, and a 101.96 QB rating

5. Darron Thomas, Oregon Ducks

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks signals to the fans in the stands after the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. he Ducks beat the Beavers 37-20 to likely go on the BCS Championship g

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 212 pounds

Class: Sophomore

2010 Season Stats: 222-361, 2881 yards, a 61.5 CMP%, 30 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 150.97 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: BCS National Championship Vs. Auburn(Lost 22-19)- Completed 27 of 40 attempted passes for 363 yards, a 67.5 CMP%, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 150.23 QB rating

In his first year as a starter for the Oregon Ducks, Darron Thomas had quite an amazing season leading the university to a BCS National Championship appearance as a sophomore.  Thomas has a bright future ahead of him and should be one of the best quarterbacks in college football next year.  If Thomas can build off of this season, and continue to improve, there's no doubt in my mind that he will be a Heisman Trophy Candidate in 2011.

4. Bryant Moniz, Hawaii Warriors

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HONOLULU - SEPTEMBER 2: Quarterback Bryant Moniz #17 of the University of Hawaii Warriors makes a pass against the University of Southern California Trojans during first half action at Aloha Stadium September 2, 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent N

Height: 6'0''

Weight: 200 pounds

Class: Junior

2010 Season Stats: 361-555, 5040 yards, a 65.0 CMP%, 39 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and a 159.11 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Hawaii Bowl Vs. Tulsa(Lost 62-35)- Completed 24 of 47 attempted passes for 411 yards, a 51.1 CMP%, three touchdowns, four interceptions and a 128.56 QB rating

Bryant Moniz led all of Divison I college football in both total passing yards and total throwing touchdowns, and is expected to return for his senior season next year.  

3. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State Cowboys

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LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys passes during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 20, 2010 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 224 pounds

Class: Junior

2010 Season Stats: 342-511, 4277 yards, a 66.9 CMP%, 34 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 154.10 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Valero Alamo Bowl Vs. Arizona(Won 36-10)- Completed 25 of 41 attempted passes for 240 yards, a 61.0 CMP%, two touchdowns, and a 126.25 QB rating

This year, Brandon Weeden finally earned the starting quarterback position at Oklahoma State and did a magnificent job capturing the attention of many NFL scouts.  Weeden was ranked third overall in total passing yards behind Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Hawaii's Bryant Moniz.  

2. Kellen Moore, Boise State Broncos

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Chris Petersen (L) and quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos hold up a trophy as they celebrate their 26-3 victory over the Utah Utes in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2

Height: 6'0''

Weight: 187 pounds

Class: Junior

2010 Season Stats: 273-383, 3845 yards, a 71.3 CMP%, 35 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 182.63 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: MAACO Bowl Las Vegas Vs. Utah(Won 26-3)- Completed 28 of 38 passes for 339 yards, a 73.7 CMP%, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 160.72 QB rating

Throughout his three years at Boise State, Kellen Moore has earned a 38-2 record as a starting quarterback, with a 2-1 record in Bowl games and capturing three WAC Championships.  Moore possesses a ton of pure talent and will be a high pick in the 2012 NFL draft if he can continue to play as he has the past three seasons.

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford Cardinal

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates as he walks off the field after Stanford won 40-12 against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 235 pounds

Class: Junior

2010 Season Stats: 263-372, 3338 yards, a 70.7 CMP%, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 170.16 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Orange Bowl Vs. Virginia Tech(Won 40-12)- Completed 18 of 23 attempted passes for 287 yards, a 78.3 CMP%, four touchdowns, one interception, and a 231.77 CMP%

Andrew Luck is the complete package and has received the highest quarterback grade from Scout.com since Matt Ryan in 2008.  Luck could have made an immediate impact in the NFL, but decided to return to Stanford for another year in the attempt to bring home a National Championship in 2011.