College Football 2011: The Top 10 Quarterbacks in The Nation

With quarterbacks like Missouri's Blaine Gabbert and Auburn's Cam Newton leaving school early, who exactly are the top ten quarterbacks in the nation for next season?

Many great quarterbacks remain for next season. Even without the names of Newton, Gabbert and Ryan Mallett, many schools across the nation next year have extremely talented quarterbacks at helm.

Here are the best of the best for the 2011 season.

10. Case Keenum- Houston- Redshirt Senior

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Case Keenum #7 of the Houston Cougars is tied up by linebacker Sean Westgate #11 of the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

2010 Stats- 636 Passing Yards, 5 Passing Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions

Career Stats- 13,586 Passing Yards, 107 Passing Touchdowns, 41 Interceptions

A great quarterback and should be ranked higher, but because of one reason he isn't. His torn ACL is a concern and it will be interesting to see how he rebounds from it.

Keenum was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing most of the 2010 season.

Keenum excels at everything you would expect from a quarterback. He has a great arm and can fit a ball anywhere he wants. He had a slow start last season after having an excellent 2009 season.

Expect Keenum to get back into his rhythm.

9. Matt Barkley- USC- Junior

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans rolls out of the pocket against the Oregon Ducks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

2010 Stats- 2,791 Passing Yards, 26 Passing Touchdowns, 12 Interceptions

Career Stats- 5,526 Passing Yards, 41 Passing Touchdowns, 26 Interceptions

In his first season, Barkley was projected as the "Next great USC quarterback."

Now just a couple of years later, USC has undergone an overhaul at head coach and has been placed under NCAA sanctions.

Barkley is one of the better Pac-10 quarterbacks and rightfully so. He has great talent surrounding him every season that gives him a boost in his performance.

8. Nick Foles- Arizona- Redshirt Senior

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TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 02: Quarterback Nick Foles #8 of the Arizona Wildcats throws a pass against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on December 2, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcat

2010 Stats- 3,191 Passing Yards, 20 Passing Touchdowns, 11 Interceptions

Career Stats- 5,734 Passing Yards, 39 Touchdowns, 19 Interceptions

Nick Foles is the savior for Arizona football. He has helped turned Arizona into a dominant force in the Pac-10. 

He is a great leader for Arizona and has proven himself time and time again. Although, his accuracy needs to be tweaked just a little bit.

Regardless, he is still the top quarterback in the Pac-10.

7. Landry Jones- Oklahoma- Redshirt Junior

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw 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 Ronald M

2010 Stats- 4,718 Passing Yards, 38 Passing Touchdowns, 12 Interceptions

Career Stats- 7,916 Passing Yards, 64 Passing Touchdowns, 26 Interceptions

Jones took over last season for top draft pick, Sam Bradford. So far, he has done a great job filling in for the once-great Sooners quarterback.

He was one of the top passers in the Big 12 last season and one of the top passers in the NCAA.

Landry will surely do the same as last season, most likely, even better. He will lead Oklahoma and work on every aspect of his game. He is a great quarterback with an arm to be envied.

6. Brandon Weeden- Oklahoma State- Redshirt Junior

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Image

2010 Stats- 4,277 Passing Yards, 34 Passing Touchdowns, 13 Interceptions

Career Stats- 4,533 Passing Yards, 38 Passing Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions

Oklahoma State's pass-happy offense boosts Weeden's stats a lot.

Weeden is the top quarterback in the Big 12 and like his Oklahoma counter-part, he has done a great job replacing his former teammate Zac Robinson.

Weeden exploded this year with Biletnikoff Award recipient WR Justin Blackmon.

Gundy has done an excellent job developing Weeden, who is a top prospect in next season's NFL Draft. His numbers might take a hit with the loss of Blackmon though.

5. Kirk Cousins- Michigan State- Redshirt Senior

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans warms up during the Capitol One Bowl against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

2010 Stats- 2,825 Passing Yards, 20 Passing Touchdowns, 10 Interceptions

Career Stats- 5,815 Passing Yards, 41 Passing Touchdowns, 20 Interceptions

Kirk Cousins and Michigan State broke out last season and shocked just about everyone in the college football world.

Cousins is an outstanding quarterback (I know too much about him from watching him play against the Wolverines) and can decimate just about any defense.

He helped lead the surprising Michigan State Spartans last season and is a top quarterback in the Big Ten.

Next season, he will be a force to be reckoned with as Michigan State should have a repeat performance.

4. Ryan Lindley- San Diego State- Redshirt Senior

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Ryan Lindley #14 of the San Diego State Aztecs looks to pass the ball during the game against the UCLA Bruins at The Rose Bowl on September 5, 2009 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

2010 Stats- 3,830 Passing Yards, 28 Passing Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions

Career Stats- 9,537 Passing Yards, 67 Passing Touchdowns, 39 Interceptions

With the loss of head coach Brady Hoke, the burgeoning San Diego State program's fate is up in the air.

Lindley had a great season under Hoke and needs only a touch more work before he takes off to become one of the top quarterback prospects next season.

Lindley's 57% completion is what needs the most work. But, he plays on an up-and-coming San Diego State team that needs a little work overall.

In Lindley's last year of eligibility, he will work out all of those problems and make the Aztecs a force to be reckoned with.

3. Terrelle Pryor- Ohio State- Senior

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthe

2010 Stats- 2,772 Passing Yards, 27 Touchdowns, 11 Interceptions

Career Stats- 6,177 Passing Yards, 57 Passing Touchdowns, 26 Interceptions

As a Michigan fan, I hate to say this, but Terrelle Pryor is definitely one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.

He can scramble and he can throw, giving defenses a fit trying to contain him.

He went off against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, which helped boost his value for next season.

If he comes back to Ohio State and doesn't break his promise to stay, Pryor is a top quarterback and a top threat next season. He's big, he's mobile and he can run you over.

He will be a devastating force next season in Columbus and a top Heisman candidate.

2. Kellen Moore- Boise State- Redshirt Senior

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos warms up before playing against the Utah Utes in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State Won 26-3. (Photo by Et

2010 Stats- 3,845 Passing Yards, 35 Passing Touchdowns, 6 Interceptions

Career Stats- 10,867 Passing Yards, 99 Passing Touchdowns, 19 Interceptions

The lefty quarterback had an astounding season for a Boise State team that fell short of what they had hoped they would do.

Moore played in a less prestigious bowl than the BCS Bowl games his team was projected to be in at the beginning of the 2010 season.

He is an excellent passer and can hit just about anyone on the field.

His top receivers, Austin Pettis and Titus Young won't be there next season which could lead to a decline in Moore's numbers.

Kellen Moore is too good of a quarterback to let that happen to him though and will push through the adversity. He has the golden arm to do so.

1. Andrew Luck- Stanford- Redshirt Junior

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates after he threw a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Virginai Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miam

2010 Stats- 3,338 Passing Yards, 32 Passing Touchdowns, 8 Interceptions

Career Stats- 5,913 Passing Yards, 53 Passing Touchdowns, 12 Interceptions

Even without head coach Jim Harbaugh, Andrew Luck should still be a top quarterback next season. 

Luck possesses everything you would look for in a quarterback and certainly has the stats to prove it.

Luck and his Stanford teammates are coming off a huge season, capped off with a victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

Luck will certainly once again be the projected number one pick for next season's draft. He will ride the wave of success he has had in his first two seasons.

If he doesn't beat you with his deadly accuracy, he will beat you with his feet. He can run and he can throw, making him a deadly quarterback.