College Football 2011: Quarterback Report Card For all 120 FBS Teams
It's time we take a look at the QB situation for every FBS squad in the country.
The quarterback position is the most important position on any football team, and if your favorite program doesn't have a strong field general, then chances are the team will not be as strong as it should be.
Whether your favorite program has a superstar signal-caller, a solid starter in place or an ongoing competition for the QB job, we'll grade every team's current QB position.
It's QB report day. How did your team do?
120. Idaho
1 of 120
Rob Ackey is heading into his fifth year as a head coach at Idaho, which means his program is getting settled in. Yet he needs to relace his starting QB, Nathan Enderle, who was likely his top offensive player.
Enderle tossed for over 3200 yards last year, and Brian Reader seems to be the logical replacement. Reader saw some action last year and completed nearly 60 percent of his passes, plus he is a poised senior.
Grade: B
119. Louisiana Lafayette
2 of 120
Former Mississippi State head coach Mark Hudspeth will be doing all he can to change the culture of the program at Louisiana Lafayette.
Renowned as a passing guru and for possessing a great offensive mind, Hudspeth will lead the Ragin Cajun's offense to success soon enough.
However, Hudspeth must first find a QB that he trusts.
Grade: D
118. Tulane
3 of 120
Is this the year Ryan Griffin breaks out? Bob Toledo hopes so.
Last year Griffin threw for just over 2300 yards with an average of 6.4 yards per attempt for Tulane. That needs to increase, along with his other stats in the passing offense.
Griffin is the key player that needs to have a breakthrough season for the Green Wave offense to get going.
Toledo's job could be resting on it.
Grade: C
117. Arkansas State
4 of 120
Hugh Freeze takes over the Arkansas State program and has made a couple coaching changes among his staff. Most notably, the offensive-minded coach made a change at the defensive coordinator position.
This year Freeze, as all other first-year coaches do, will have to change the culture and philosophy of the program. But Freeze has Ryan Aplin and Dwayne Frampton back, and they will light up the scoreboard.
Grade: B+
116. Wyoming
5 of 120
Like many other college teams, Wyoming operates out of a spread offense. Dave Christensen likes to toss the ball around, but Christensen will be without his former starter Austyn Carta-Samuels, who left the program.
Now Christensen must find out who will help take pressure off Alvester Alexander.
Grade: D
115. Utah State
6 of 120
Utah State comes into the 2011 season with some young talent on the roster since Gary Andersen secured the second-best recruiting class in the WAC, according to experts.
Hopefully one of those prospects is a solid QB, as former starter Diondre Borel has departed the program.
Borel didn't set the world on fire, and the three QB's vying to replace him are all unknowns.
Grade: C-
114. North Texas
7 of 120
Dan McCarney is transitioning from his job as the defensive line coach at Florida to the leader of the Mean Green. McCarney has his work cut out for him in a program that needs new blood.
He seems up for the job, as UNT had a solid spring.
Riley Dodge left the squad with his farther and former head coach of UNT, which leaves JUCO transfer Brent Osborn, Chase Baine and Derek Thompson are all vying for the starting QB job.
Grade: C
113. Ball State
8 of 120
Pete Lembo has taken over the Ball State program and has made it clear that he's looking for tough players. He has also stated that he will look to create recruiting pipelines in Chicago and Detroit going forward.
Lembo is installing a no-huddle offense at BSU, and Keith Wenning and Kelly Page will be leaned on heavily, however, neither QB hit the 55 percent completion point last season.
Grade: C-
112. Eastern Michigan
9 of 120
The looming question at EMU is whether the football staff trusts QB Alex Gillet just yet. They really protected him last season and he didn't get to throw the pigskin around much.
Gillet was asked to protect the football and manage the huddle for a 2-10 team last year.
This year, Gillet needs to show he has earned Ron English's trust, and English could benefit from opening up the offense.
Grade: C
111. Northern Illinois
10 of 120
Did former head coach Jerry Kill take NIU's offensive magic with him to Minnesota?
We will soon find out, as Dave Doeren is the new chief after coming to NIU from Wisconsin.
If Doeren can implement a system that is similar to what Kill did, then three-year starter Chandler Harnish will be fine. Harnish is a dynamic dual-threat type who threw for over 2500 yards wile rushing for over 800.
Grade: B+
110. Louisiana Monroe
11 of 120
Todd Berry will bring a good recruiting class to Louisiana Monro during the summer.
He's secured 21 recruits from Arkansas, of which the headliner is obviously talented running back Devontae McNeal, who is expected to see time as a true freshman.
The Key to Berry's season is getting the running game up to par, and if he combines a solid passing game with a better running game, Louisiana Monroe will see another jump in productivity.
QB Kolton Browning is back and he will have two good receivers on the flanks in Luther Ambrose and Tavarese Maye.
Grade: B+
109. San Jose State
12 of 120
The Spartans were once a proud program that was on track to be the next Fresno State, and against the best competition, the Spartans refused to back down.
Jordan La Secla needs to be replaced and the early favorites to take over the QB positon are Dasmen Stewart and Matt Faulkner.
Stewart saw some time last year, but didn't perform substantially well. He will need to fend off Faulkner to keep his job going into summer.
Grade: C
108. Bowling Green
13 of 120
Dave Dawson looked at his roster after a 2-10 season last year and realized that Bowling Green was getting beat due to a lack of team speed.
So he hit the trail looking for fast football players and went to Florida to sign a third of his recruiting class.
The BG offense rests on sophomore Matt Schilz. He didn't play well last year, throwing only eight touchdowns along with 14 picks. So Schilz needs to pick it up in 2011.
Grade: C
107. Kent State
14 of 120
Darrell Hazel takes over a 5-7 team in Kent State and will definitely look to install the Ohio State way of things at the KSU program.
Four of KSU's five wins were in conference play, which is encouraging.
Hazel's success is directly related to Spencer Keith's performance at QB. Keith didn't light it up last year, and Hazel must get more out of him.
Grade: C-
106. Toledo
15 of 120
Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens are battling for the starting QB job at Toledo, and Tim Beckman needs to make a decision during summer camp.
Both QBs are talented, but a two-QB system is rare, so Beckman must choose one starter.
Dantin seems to be the slight favorite but Owens will more than likely have something to say about that. This will be a tight race leading all the way up to Week 1.
Grade: B
105. Rice
16 of 120
Taylor McHargue is trying to come back from an injury he sustained in 2009 and regain his position as the starting QB for the Owls.
To do this, he will have to learn a new offensive system that is more varied than the one he was accustomed to in 2009.
McHargue is looked at as player that could come back and settle things down for Rice. If he can master the new offense well, the Owls will be well served in 2011.
Grade: C+
104. Florida Atlantic
17 of 120
Still a relatively new program, FAU is the youngest program to ever to reach a FBS bowl game, and they are still looking to branch out and make their mark in Florida.
With some ways to go before they are able to compete with the three established programs in Florida, the Owls have put on their helmets and gone to work this spring.
Led by former Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger, the Owls have embarked on a course that once again has goals of reaching a bowl game.
Jeff Van Camp is gone from FAU and he was a solid signal-caller, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. He will be replaced by David Kooi, who has extremely limited experience.
Grade: D
103. Louisiana Tech
18 of 120
Sonny Dykes is big on leadership and stability within his program. He is now the head coach at L-Tech, replacing Derek Dooley who took over at Tennessee.
Dykes still has not found a QB, and this is troubling as he enters into the second year of his tenure. He runs a spread offense and Colby Cameron,Tarik Hakmi, Taylor Burch and JUCO transfer Zack Griffith are all in the race for the starting QB job.
Grade: D
102. Central Michigan
19 of 120
For Don Enos, the spring will be as much about getting his team ready as it is breaking in his new quarterback coach Morris Reynolds, receiver's coach Taylor Stubblefield and defensive line coach, Vinson Reynolds.
The QB position is in good hands with junior Ryan Radcliff. Radcliff has solid talent and could be poised to become an elite player in 2011.
He threw for over 3300 yards last season, but needs to take care of the ball better.
Grade: B+
101. Ohio
20 of 120
Ohio has not only fallen behind Ohio State but also Cincinnati, as far as Ohio football programs go. But the Bobcats are still one of the better programs in the MAC, which is known for breeding star coaches of the future.
Fresh off a second-place finish in the East division in 2010, the Bobcats open the spring looking to top last season's record of 8-5. Former starting quarterback Boo Jackson is gone and Phil Bates, Tyler Tettleton and Kyle Snyder are all competing for the new gig.
Grade: C
100. Western Kentucky
21 of 120
Willie Taggart is in his second year as the head coach for the Hilltoppers, and this should be the year the squad makes a big jump in success. Taggart is stressing toughness, physicality and speed this spring.
Kawaun Jakes needs to step up. A 51 percent completion rate on passes is not going to cut it.
Jakes needs to use this spring and summer to work on his footwork, decision making and timing with his receivers. His play is crucial for taking the offense to new heights.
Grade: C-
99. New Mexico State
22 of 120
DeWayne Walker has been rumored to be disgruntled with the overall support of his football team and the resources available to them, but he will be on the sidelines in 2011.
Matt Christian is back at QB but he missed the final thee games of 2010, as Andrew Manley took over down the stretch.
Christian is my pick to start because he doesn't turn the ball over nearly as much as Manley does.
Grade: C
98. Akron
23 of 120
Rob Ianello had a rough first year at Akron, going 1-11 and just 1-7 in MAC play. However, he is a resilient coach who will look to show that last season's record is not a reflection of his coaching.
The Zips won their final game last year, but the offense needs to improve. With just a 4.3 yards-per-play average and a bad running game, this spring Ianello and the Zips' offensive staff are looking to showcase play-makers on offense.
Pat Nicely is a question mark at QB, and Clay Moore is coming from the JUCO ranks and hopes to win the starting job.
Grade: C-
97. Colorado State
24 of 120
Steve Fairchild needs to make a strong comeback this year after the Rams went 3-9 last year, including losing their final two games by a combined 93-10 score. He's been at CSU four years now, and the Ram faithful view him as the right man for the job.
Quarterback Pete Thomas is back, along with four starters up front. If they can protect Thomas better, a 3,000 to 3,500-yard season will easily be in reach for the talented QB, however, the team's secondary needs to mature.
Grade: B+
96. Western Michigan
25 of 120
At 6-6 last season, WMU will look to break out from a mediocre .500 record in 2011. Five of their six wins were vs. MAC rivals, which is certainly encouraging.
Jordan White and Juan Nunez must be replaced at the receiver positions, which will be difficult for Bill Cubbit. In his sixth year as head coach, Cubbit will also have to improve his secondary.
Starting QB Alex Carder is back after having a nice season in 2010. Carder tossed for over 3300 yards and had a 2:1 TD-INT ratio.
Grade: B
95. Middle Tennessee State
26 of 120
Don't let the 33-30 record in seven years at MTSU fool you, Rick Stockstill is one of the top coaches in the business, and he has had offers to take over bigger programs. He has chosen to remain at MTSU and must now find improvement in his QB play.
24 picks and a 58 percent pass completion won't cut it for MTSU's quarterback. QBs Logan Kilgore and Jeff Murphy will once again be in competition for the job.
Grade: C-
94. UNLV
27 of 120
I honestly believe Bobby Hauck is the man for the job at UNLV. He comes from Montana, which is an FCS powerhouse.
Last year was as expected a tough first year, but this should be the year we see some improvement in Sin City.
Caleb Herring has fully taken over the QB job this spring after making a good impression on the coaching staff, but Sean Riley is on his way from JUCO to challenge Herring.
Grade: C
93. Buffalo
28 of 120
Turner Gill is gone and Jeff Quinn starts the second year of his reign in Buffalo. He went 2-10 in his first season but surely will top that mark in 2011.
With one of the top offensive coaches in the country at the helm, Quinn has become a disciple of coach Brian Kelly, who brought the spread offense to Western New York.
QBs Jerry Davis and Alex Zordich will have to fight for playing time next season.
Grade: C
92. SMU
29 of 120
Southern Methodist is still known today as the school that got the death penalty. But with June Jones as their head coach, hopefully the Mustangs will start to be looked at more for their play on the field.
The offense is led by QB Kyle Padron, who will surely throw for over 4000 yards this season. Padron has gotten well in tune with June Jones' system and the pass-happy, wide open offense fits him well.
Grade: A
91. Temple
30 of 120
OK, so I may take some flack from Florida fans for saying this, but I like Steve Addazio's hiring in Philly. Addazio is a good coach and Al Golden took the Temple program to good standing.
Addazio will have the task of choosing whether to infuse his spread-option offense or leave the unit in a pro-style attack.
Mike Gerardi and Chester Stewart are the top two QB candidates, but Gerardi is my pick to win the job.
Grade: C
90. Miami of Ohio
31 of 120
Miami of Ohio has a richer tradition in football than many may think, as the RedHawks begin the first year of the Don Treadwell era. Treadwell spent his last coaching gig as the offensive chief for Mark Dantonio at Michigan State.
Treadwell must pick either Austin Boucher or Zac Dysert for his starting QB job. Dysert looked solid in a recent spring scrimmage, while Boucher struggled greatly.
Grade: C
89. UAB
32 of 120
UAB was a contrasting team last year. Their offense lit up the scoreboards, but they routinely gave up leads due to a Swiss cheese defense. Pat Shed, Bryan Ellis and four offensive line starters are back, so the offense should be good in 2011.
Ellis is solid at the QB spot and looked really good in a recent scrimmage. He went 15 for 24, for 250 yards, and scored two touchdowns despite playing just half the game. He's definitely ready for the fall.
Grade: A
88. New Mexico
33 of 120
This is the third installment of the Mike Locksley era, and last year New Mexico finished with a sorry 1-11 record.
Locksley has faced an uphill battle in New Mexico, but this is his third year as the head coach and this has to be the year his team shows significant improvement.
Both the offense and defense were horrendous last year, and tight end Lucas Reed was the best player on the team.
Locksley needs to find a QB soon!
Grade: F
87. Marshall
34 of 120
Doc Holliday is coming into the second year of his tenure after enjoying some success in his first year: he defeated teams he was supposed to beat and lost to teams he should have lost to.
Now in year two, Eddie Sullivan, AJ Graham and Cornelius Jones will all have their shots at taking over the QB spot this spring.
Grade: C
86. East Carolina
35 of 120
Ruffin McNeil took his Texas Tech mentality to East Carolina, including his high-octane offense. Coming into his second spring practice he will look to roll up his sleeves and fix the defense, which is his specialty.
In 10 of 13 games last year, the Pirates surrendered 42 or more points.
That's crazy!
His offensive line lost four starters, and he needs to mix and match his offensive front to find five solid starters this spring.
Dominique Davis is the field general and looks to have a bright future after breaking out last year.
Grade: A
85. Washington State
36 of 120
I've always kept a distant eye on the WSU program, and I'm actually rooting for Paul Wulff.
But he's on the hot seat.
WSU does a great job of evaluating players and finding diamonds in the rough, but bigger schools always steal their prospects.
Wulf has attached himself to QB Jeff Tuel and Tuel has been solid for him, throwing for over 2,700 yards.
Grade: B+
84. Iowa State
37 of 120
Paul Rhoads is 12-13 in his two seasons at Iowa State, but he enters his third year with a bit of a "giant-killer" rep around the Big 12. The Cyclones took down Texas and Texas Tech last year and nearly topped Nebraska.
Rhoads has the Cylones in a spread offense and a 4-3 scheme on defense. He needs to improve his offense and its effectiveness. Jerome Tiller will battle Steele Jantz for the right to take snaps from center this spring.
One of them needs to emerge and get the offense on track and ready to rip in the fall.
Grade: C+
83. Memphis
38 of 120
Memphis is in a similar situation as New Mexico: the Tigers wouldn't be on this list if I didn't firmly believe their head coach could turn their program around.
Larry Porter went just 1-11 last year, and many of his losses were wax jobs.
Ryan Williams, however, looks like a future star at QB and he threw for over 2000 yards as freshman, while averaging over 7.2 yards per attempt. I expect a 3000-yard season from Williams this year.
Grade: B+
82. Indiana
39 of 120
Kevin Wilson came form Norman to the Hoosier state to take over the Indiana football program. As an offensive-minded coach, he has his work cut out for him. The program hasn't had much success on the field and went 5-7 last season.
However, Wilson has filled out a great coaching staff, and the new blood may be just what the program needs. Wilson has to find a starting QB between Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker.
Grade: C
81. Duke
40 of 120
Things are on the upswing at Duke, and while they have a long, long ways to go to catch up to the basketball squad's allure. Coah Cutcliffe has Charlie Hatcher and Kelby Brown returning to the team—two cornerstone players on defense.
Sean Renfree is back at the signal-caller spot, after tossing for 3,131 yards in 2010. But Cutcliffe needs to get him to limit his turnovers this spring.
Grade: B
80. Colorado
41 of 120
This marks the start of the Jon Embree reign in Boulder, and Embree has brought Eric Bienemy back to their alma mater with him. Bienemy will call shots on offense and certainly have a key hand in the overall recruiting efforts.
What really has the Buffs' offense thinking they can surprise some people is the return of QB Tyler Hansen.
Hansen has shown he can be pretty accurate, as evidenced by a 685 completion rate. Although he doesn't take many downfield shots, Hansen will take care of the ball for Embree and Bienemy.
Grade: B
79. Houston
42 of 120
Houston could be like a poor man's Stanford this year. The Cougars have a couple questions surrounding their overall team, but are solid at QB as Case Keenum is back (like Andrew Luck is at Stanford).
Keenum got a sixth year of eligibility granted by the NCAA and is ready to man the wide passing offense yet again.
Keenum has a very strong arm and has shown good accuracy, and if his offensive line can keep him upright, then he could perhaps toss for over 5000 yards.
Grade: A
78. Vanderbilt
43 of 120
I think James Franklin is a heck of a coach and can get Vandy to a bowl game in the near future.
He inherits a 2-10 squad that only won one game in conference play last year and also ended the season losing its final seven contests.
Larry Smith figures to be the man for the Commodores' QB job. In a recent scrimmage, Smith went 16 for 26, for 233 yards and a touchdown. Rumor has it that he and receiver Jordan Matthews have built great chemistry.
Grade: C+
77. Army
44 of 120
This offseason has been a time of bliss for the Black Knights, as they are fresh off their first bowl game since 1996, beating SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The spring is now here and Army needs to replace four starting offensive linemen.
QB Trent Steelman is back to lead the triple-option attack for the Black Knights. The key to their success is their offensive line, and reports have stated that the rebuilt front has had a solid spring.
Grade: B+
76. FIU
45 of 120
Mario Cristobal is a bright coach who has a Red Bull factory worth of energy. He's a big-time recruiter and is determined to bring FIU to the forefront of Florida and college football.
The Panthers won a bowl game for the first time last year, after taking home a piece of the Sun Belt Conference title, thanks to perhaps the best returning offensive threat in the league, receiver Ty Hilton.
But Wes Carroll, the incumbent QB, needs to pass more accurately. Carroll tossed 14 picks last season, but he did show an ability to make accurate throws on crucial downs.
Grade: C
75. Sad Diego State
46 of 120
Brady Hoke left San Diego after his mama called him home and rightfully returned to Ann Arbor. But Rocky Long is no slouch of a football coach either.
Long has retooled the Aztecs staff and shaped the program more to his liking, but he will look to keep much of what Hoke was doing.
Ryan Lindley is back to toss the rock around, and he is seen as a solid NFL prospect, standing 6'4" and 220 lbs.
Look for Lindley to push the Aztecs into an upper-echelon bowl game this year.
Grade: A
74. UTEP
47 of 120
After four years off, the Miners found themselves bowling last season. But Mike Price must replace QB Trevor Vittatoe, and JUCO transfer Nick Lamaison will be among the players vying for the gig.
It seems like Mike Price has been less than impressed with what he's seen from his QB group this spring. Price has openly questioned the group's focus and work ethic.
Grade: D
73. Tulsa
48 of 120
Bill Blakenship takes over in Tulsa, entering his first spring with the program. But the Golden Hurricane are not down in the dumps, as they won 10 games last year.
G.J. Kinne is back and so is his golden arm (pun intended). Kinne is one of the better QBs in the country and is the main reason Tulsa will light up the scoreboard. Kinne has a solid command of the game and makes good decisions.
Can he throw for 4000 yards this year?
Grade: A
72. Boston College
49 of 120
BC lost to Nevada last year in its bowl game after going 7-6 in Frank Spaziani's second season. The biggest strength of the team is its defense, as Spaziani has kept a tough mentality on that side of the ball.
But BC needs better QB play in 2011 to make a move up in the ACC, and Chase Rettig will likely be the starter in 2011. Rettig needs to make the jump that people around Boston are waiting for him to make. If he does, combined with Montel Harris at running back, the Eagles have a chance in the ACC.
Grade: C+
71. Troy
50 of 120
Troy had a stellar offensive attack last year, but they have some obstacles to overcome this spring: they need to replace Jason Bruce and Jerrel Jernigan.
With that said, the Trojans are set at the QB position. Corey Robinson is a future superstar and as a freshman he tossed for over 3700 yards. A 4000-yard season and then some is expected from him in 2011.
Grade: A
70. Oregon State
51 of 120
Mike Riley enters his 11th season in Corvallis and is coming off a 5-7 record. The highlight of the 2010 season was Oregon State's defeat of USC.
But Riley has the Beavers thinking Pac 12 title this year. QB Ryan Katz will return in 2011 and he must show he can improve his play in his second year at a starter.
Katz has a strong arm, but he needs to be more accurate and make better decisions.
Grade: B
69. Illinois
52 of 120
It's hard to believe Ron Zook has been at Illinois for seven years now, and this spring will be a crucial one for Illini.
The defense was fabulous last year against the run and only gave up 3.9 yards per rush.
On offense, Mikel LeShoure needs to be replaced at running back, but Nate Scheelhaase is a star in the making at QB.
He has play-making ability and rushed for nearly 900 yards last year, however, I would like t see him get his completion percentage over 60.
Grade: B+
68. Piitsburgh
53 of 120
Todd Graham inherits a team that went 8-5 last season, and he will completely change the face of the program. Gone is the NFL mentality of the program, with a 4-3 defense and pro-style offense, and its place is a wide-open, spread passing attack and a 3-3-5/3-4 defense.
Tino Sunseri is the key to Pittsburgh success.
He played well last year, and if he continues to grows as a QB, then Pitt could score with ease in 2011.
Grade: B+
67. Texas Tech
54 of 120
After going 8-5 in his first season, Tommy Tuberville has the Red Raiders on track to compete in the Big 12. The team is led by QB Seth Doege, who, according to reports, has looked good in winter workouts.
Doege is ready to step up and be the next Texas Tech QB that puts up gaudy stats. He has incoming freshman and tight end Jace Amaro joining him, and the two should form a deadly combo this year.
Grade: B
66. Fresno State
55 of 120
After an 8-5 season, Pat Hill's Bulldogs are back for the 2011 season. Derek Carr has a buzz around his name and enters the spring as the likely starter at QB.
Hill had a good offense last year and Carr must be seamless in replacing Ryan Colburn.
Carr will see four new starters on the offensive front, so he must be keen at calling out protections. He's talented but a bit green.
Grade: C+
64. Purdue
56 of 120
Ralph Bolden, Keith Smith and Robert Marve both went down with huge injuries last year, but the Boilermakers kept trudging along.
Rob Henry stepped in for Marve, and this spring will showcase a bit of competition between the two for the QB job, but Marve should win if healthy.
Marve has been an enigma. A transfer from Miami, Marve was a big time recruit. Yet he didn't set the world on fire before he got hurt last season.
Marve has talent, but I need to find out what all the hype is about.
Grade: B
64. Hawaii
57 of 120
Hawaii took home a piece of the WAC title with Nevada and Boise State in 2010, after winning 10 games.
Greg McMackin is in his fourth year since replacing June Jones and runs most of the same plays as Jones did on each side of the ball.
Bryant Moniz returns to lead the offense but his skill positions are comprised of new players, and the biggest lost is Greg Salas. Hawaii also has to find four new offensive linemen this spring.
Moniz is a gamer that gave USC fits running and throwing last year. He's only about 5'10", but he's been solid for the Warriors.
Grade: A
63. West Virginia
58 of 120
We all know the new arrangement that Oliver Luck has put Bill Stewart in this year, but we also know that if there was one coach who could make this work smoothly, it's Stewart.
He's on his last leg as head coach in Morgantown before Dana Holgersen takes over in 2012.
But first, Holgorsen needs to install his system this spring. Wherever he goes, Holgorsen scores points. The offense needs to be tuned up after the defense carried the team for much of last season to the tune of nine wins.
Once Holgorsen installs his system and Geno Smith gets in tune, WVU has a chance to turn heads in Stewart's last go.
Grade: B
62. California
59 of 120
Going 5-7 last season, Jeff Tedford needs to decide between Beau Sweeny and Brock Mansion at QB. Tedford is one of the top pure QB coaches in football and always has prided himself on developing signal-callers.
He finds a QB almost every year in his recruiting classes and is very hands on with the offense. Sweeny and Mansion will be in a race to win the QB job for 2011.
Grade: B
61. Northwestern
60 of 120
Pat Fitzgerald quickly took his name out of the running for the Michigan job last winter. He is devoted to his alma mater and is seen as a hot coaching candidate.
Dan Persa, Mike Trumpy and Jeremy Ebert all return as QB, RB and WR respectively. The offensive line was not a strong point last season, with their youth being exposed at times, but four starters return in 201.
Protecting Persa and giving him time to find Ebert and Trumpy downfield is crucial.
Grade: A
60. Kentucky
61 of 120
The Wildcats look like a program that will be a force in the SEC in the future. At 6-7 last season, Joker Phillips has them on the right track.
Phillips has Morgan Newton at QB and Tee Martin is his wide receiver coach. Martin and Newton must mesh to make sure the passing attack is in sync for 2011.
Grade: B
59. Syracuse
62 of 120
At 12-13 and coming into his third season, Doug Marrone will lean heavily on running back Antwan Bailey this year. Bailey is one of the top running backs in the country.
Marrone has the Orange in a pro-style offense and has done a solid job of transitioning the program to his defensive and offensive sets.
The QB positon is manned by senior Ryan Nassib.
Nassib needs to raise his 56.4 percent completion rate and Marrone and his offensive magic need to be infused with Nassib for 2011.
Grade: C+
58. Air Force
63 of 120
Troy Calhoun is an outstanding coach and has the capability to be a solid coach at a major program. But every year, you hear him say he's staying at Air Force.
Asher Clark and Tim Jefferson both return in the backfield to fuel the Falcons rushing attack, with Jefferson as a great option at QB. Jefferson ran for nearly 800 yards last year and in the passing game, he averaged over nine yards per pass.
Grade: B+
57. Louisville
64 of 120
I am a firm believer in Charlie Strong. He's one of the top defensive minds in football and has the makings of a great head coach. Louisville is in good hands with Strong, and I think he will continue to pilfer talent from around Florida.
Strong went 7-6 in his first year, and Will Stein will be returning to the program. But look for true freshman Teddy Bridgewater to try and nab the starting QB spot this spring as a mid-year player.
Bridgewater is a gamer, who is a noted leader. He does what he has to do to win and will do the same in the QB race vs. Stein.
Grade: B-
56. Tennessee
65 of 120
Going 6-7 last year, year two of the Derek Dooley era in Knoxville is set to begin. The franchise player for Tennessee is sophomore QB Tyler Bray. As one of the top young QBs in the country, it helps that he has a solid stable of young receivers returning to the program at Tennessee.
But now it's time for the offensive line to work out the kinks. They were young last year, but have gotten their feet wet. If Tennessee wants to make a jump in the SEC East, this unit needs to keep Bray upright and open up holes for 1,000-yard rusher Tauren Poole.
Bray has the tools to become one of the top-tier QBs in the SEC.
Grade: A
55. Kansas
66 of 120
Turner Gill went just 3-9 in his first season at Kansas, but year two could see improvement.
It starts with the QBs. Gill has played a spread offense in Kansas, but the ball just didn't move last year.
Jordan Webb should grab a hold of the QB job. He has more talent and a higher upside than senior Quinn Mecham. Gill needs Webb to take the job and run with it, as the Jayhawks' 2011 season depends heavily on his play.
Grade: C
54. Southern Miss
67 of 120
Larry Fedora has led Southern Miss to three straight bowl games and comes into his fourth year with a 22-17 record. At 8-5 last year, the Golden Eagles won five out of eight Conference USA games.
QB Austin Davis is back, and he fits the spread offense Fedora runs so well. Davis tossed for over 3,100 yards and ran for another 500 in 2010. Look for those numbers to increase as Davis wants to add his senior campaign to the record books.
Grade: A
53. Wake Forest
68 of 120
At 3-9 last year, Jim Grobe is looking to get Wake Forest back on track in 2011. He's a solid coach, and I expect him to show his prowess this season.
Tanner Price must raise his 56 percent completion rate and make a jump in production this year.
A strong spring should do wonders for his confidence heading into the fall. If not, the Demon Deacons will have to look elsewhere. Which is not what they want to do.
Grade: C
52. Maryland
69 of 120
Ralph Friedgen is out and Randy Edsall is in for the Terps. Edsall has called this his dream job.
Edsall has Danny O'Brien, who threw for 2,500 yards in 2010, returning to the staring QB position in 2011.
Grade: B
51. Washington
70 of 120
Fresh off a revengeful bowl-game win over Nebraska, Steve Sarkisian doesn't have Jake Locker on the field anymore. Enter Keith Price and Nate Montana to fight for the QB job in Seattle.
Montana seems to be the favorite, but Sark loves competition and this competition for the QB spot will likely will carry into the start of summer camp.
No matter who wins the job, most of their Saturdays will be spent handing the ball off to RB Chris Polk, as he was one of the top runners in the country for 2011.
Grade: C
50.Minnesota
71 of 120
Jerry Kill takes over the once-proud Golden Gophers program after leaving Northern Illinois. He will bring Marquise Gray back at QB this year in light of Adam Webb's departure.
A dual-threat type, Gray could spark some upsets for the Gophers in 2011 with Kill's offense. He has a solid arm, shows good accuracy at times, can make throws on the run and attack the edges.
If pressed, Gray will make plays with his legs and keep his offense on the field.
Grade: B+
49. Baylor
72 of 120
Baylor has a very complete team.
QB Robert Griffin III is coming back, and he could be a contender for the Heisman this year. He can do just about any and everything on the field, and he is a playmaker with the ball.
Five offensive linemen return with starting experience and Griffin has much of his receiving core intact.
Can Griffin push himself into Heisman consideration in 2011? We'll be watching.
Grade: A
48. UCLA
73 of 120
Rick Neuheisel has the Bruins in a pistol offense for the second straight year and even hired pistol-offense expert Jim Mastro from Nevada.
Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince need to step up and take over the QB job. If not, the Bruins will start true freshman Brett Hundley in 2011. Brehaut has the talent to be a top-flight starter in the Pac-12, but he is playing baseball this spring.
I would like to see Brehaut win the job, but don't discount incoming freshman Brett Hundley. He's viewed as the future of UCLA football.
Grade: B-
47. UCF
74 of 120
The Golden Knights went 11-3 last year and enter the seventh year of the George O'Leary era. At 45-44 overall, O'Leary has the UCF program on the rise.
Jeff Godfrey is back at QB, but needs AJ Guyton and a few other receivers to emerge and be consistent. Godfrey was instrumental in the Golden Knights' upset over Georgia in their bowl game.
He will show improvement in 2011.
Grade: B+
46. UConn
75 of 120
Paul Pasqualoni is regarded as a heck of a teacher who really does a great job of developing players. He has a big plan for attacking the Atlantic region through recruiting and works extremely hard.
Expect him to get UConn a couple more Big East titles.
He needs to replace Zach Frazier at QB, who only completed 52 percent of his passes last year, but the other QBs on the roster have limited experience.
Grade: C
45. Ole Miss
76 of 120
Houston Nutt saw his offensive production dip substantially last year, and the Rebels finished just 4-8 with a 1-7 record in the SEC.
That's not going to cut it for Ole Miss.
Randall Mackey and Zach Stoudt will battle Nate Stanley to replace Jeremiah Masoli at QB.
Grade: C
44. Rutgers
77 of 120
Th Scarlet Knights will need their trench play to be upgraded in a major way to have a better season than the 4-8 record they finished with last year. They got pushed around upfront on both sides of the ball and this diminished their play in all aspects of their game.
Greg Schiano prides his squads on physical play, and last year's Rutgers squad didn't live up to his standards.
Tom Savage is gone and Chas Dodd takes over as the QB in Piscataway. The team needs to rally around Dodd and hit the ground running in 2011.
Grade: B
43. Virginia
78 of 120
After going 4-8 last year, this is the second year of Mike London's tenure at Virginia. The offense actually played better than the 2009 squad in his first year.
But the ACC didn't buy the upstart Cavs' potential as the conference forced Virginia to a 1-7 record. There are four players to replace Mark Verica at QB, with the top two being Mike Rocco and Mike Straus.
Rocco has taken most of the first-team snaps this spring, but neither player has looked the part.
Grade: C-
42. South Florida
79 of 120
Skip Holtz needs to get more consistency from the notoriously inconsistent BJ Daniels. Daniels has a wealth of talent, but needs to mature as a player.
Daniels needs to show he has improved his late-game, clock management skills, after making some poor decisions with the football late in games last year.
He's talented but improving his mental approach would help his game tremendously.
Grade: B+
41. Cincinnati
80 of 120
Zach Collaros looked like a player who could take Tony Pike's job in 2009, but he only had a so-so year in 2010.
He hopes to return to his old form this year and is joined in the backfield by 1,000-yard rusher Ike Pead. The offensive line only has two starters back and DJ Woods needs to replace Armin Binns as the top receiver.
Collaros has the tools to get back to that player we saw in 2009.
He is still in a spread-style system, has a running game to take pressure off of him and is good enough to elevate Woods' play on the flanks.
Grade: A
40. Arizona
81 of 120
The Wildcats started hot last year but faded down the stretch, finishing 7-6. Led by Mike Stoops, Arizona is 40-45 overall with him as the head coach.
Last year was they had a great opportunity to make a move up in the Pac-10.
As long as Nick Foles is there, the Wildcats have a chance, and at 6'5", 235 pounds, Foles is one of the smartest signal-callers in the Pac-12.
Grade: A
39. Iowa
82 of 120
Iowa had two upsets down the stretch last year—Northwestern and Minnesota—which is not typical of a Kirk Ferentz coached team.
James Vandeburg looks to be the prime guy to replace Ricky Stanzi, but will face some competition. Marcus Coker and Adam Robinson are back for the Hawkeyes and will give the new QB some relief as a rushing duo.
Vanderburg, however, will still need to make some plays when necessary. Is he ready? We'll see in the fall.
Grade: B-
38. North Carolina State
83 of 120
The Wolfpack enter the fifth year of the Tom O'Brien regime, and so far they have broken even by going 25-25.
They had a pretty good year in 2010.
For 2011, all the talk has surrounded Mike Glennon. It's time he shows why he was such a touted recruit coming out of high school as as 6'6" quarterback with a cannon for an arm.
I was a big Glennon fan during his recruiting year and now it's time we see him on the field. Russell Wilson will likely be a high pick in the baseball draft and will leave the program in the near future.
This is Glennon's time now, and I expect him to make the most of it.
Grade: B+
37. Kansas State
84 of 120
Whether you've agreed with it or not, the buzz around Bryce Brown in Manhattan is at an all-time high.
And if Brown has anything to do with it, he will create a buzz in Manhattan, New York as a Heisman candidate.
Bill Snyder came out of retirement to take over the program once again, but QB Collin Klein must step up and take over the QB position.
Snyder's teams are usually ready to compete right away, so Klein must be ready at the start of the season.
Grade: C
36. Utah
85 of 120
Ask Urban Meyer, and he will tell you that Kyle Whittingham is one of the elite coaches in America. To prove Meyer's statement, Whittingham has put up a 58-20 record in what is now his seventh year in Utah.
The Utes are moving to the Pac-12, and Whittingham will get to show off his talent in the BCS conference.
Tyler Shreeve and Jordan Wynn, however, have been struggling this spring and Wynn even missed time with an injury.
Grade: C+
35. Georgia Tech
86 of 120
Paul Johnson is 26-14 in three seasons, but last year was his first losing season with the Yellow Jackets. QB Josh Nesbitt and Anthony Allen are gone, but RBs Roddy Jones and Orwin Smth are back, with Stephen Hill back at receiver.
Tevin Washington did light up the scoreboard in limited time on the field last year, but he completed 41percent of his passes and only averaged 6.8 yards per pass. This is cause for concern.
Grade: D
34. Penn State
87 of 120
Robert Bolden and Matt McGloin were both ineffective last year and must improve for the Nittany Lions to take a step forward in 2011.
The offense is solid but not very athletic, hence they were not able to hit many targets on the second and third levels in the run game.
Derek Moye is back at receiver and Silas Redd will take over for Evan Royster. But Joe Pa needs to see if Bolden's heart is still at PSU or if McGloin is the man for the job.
Grade: B
33. Nevada
88 of 120
I don't like to hype a player who's not on the team anymore, but boy was Colin Kaepernick the business or what?
Tyler Lantrip is likely to take over the QB job at this point, but he can't possibly bear the entire offense load the way Kaepernick did.
Jim Mastro has left to perform CPR on the UCLA offense is Westwood, and his coaching prowess in the pistol system will be missed. Lantrip needs to just play within himself and try not to do too much.
Grade: B
32. North Carolina
89 of 120
Butch Davis doesn't get enough credit when top coaches are mentioned. He's been fantastic at North Carolina so far, especially under last year's circumstances..
His best job may have been last year when the Tar Heels went 8-5 and still won a bowl game, despite missing a bunch of star defensive players. But now Davis needs to replace QB TJ Yates and also has to get better play from his offensive line.
Bryn Renner looks like the leader in the locker room to take over the QB job. He went 9 of 13 for 123 yards and a touchdown in a scrimmage earlier this month.
Grade: B
31. Navy
90 of 120
Eight straight seasons with eight or more wins. The Midshipmen will put that streak on the line in 2011, and they look like a team that will be ready to match that record for a ninth straight season.
Ken Niumatalolo is an intense, fiery, passionate and most importantly, great coach. As usual he has Navy in the 3-4 defense and triple option.
After going 9-4 last year, Ricky Dobbs must be replaced by Ken Proctor, who has not thrown many passes in his career and needs to step up going into the summer.
Grade: C
30. USC
91 of 120
USC has a franchise QB in Matt Barkley. Barkley has started since his true-freshman season and goes into year three of his reign as the leader of the Trojans.
Barkley has developed a fiery side this spring, as he started to hold his offensive line and receivers accountable for their actions.
He has a chance to be put into Heisman consideration this year and could be a first-round draft pick in the NFL.
Barkley needs to do a better job of protecting the ball, but reports out of spring training claim he has improved leaps and bounds in that department.
Grade: A
29. BYU
92 of 120
Bronco Mendenhall is another underrated coach, as he has gone 56-21 since taking over in Provo.
He is now in his seventh year.
Mendenhall has a re-tooled coaching staff and noted that his team has great chemistry this year, and this could be the best defense he's had since he came to Provo.
The Cougars start and end with Jake Heaps at QB. He's a former mega-hyped recruit and played pretty well last season as a freshman. Heaps must show this spring that he is continuing to develop and is ready to take the next step.
Grade: A
28. Clemson
93 of 120
Last winter, Dabo Swinney heard some whispers that he is on the hot seat. Plus, Kyle Parker is gone for good to play baseball, and there are even rumors of Rich Rodriguez replacing Swinney in 2012.
But this spring will be about Tajh Boyd's development for the Tigers. It's time for the QB—who I felt was a top-flight prospect after watching grainy footage of him a few years back—to show why I thought so highly of him.
Word has it that Boyd has impressed Swinney this spring, and as the main QB on the roster, he has really taken a leadership role.
His time is now.
Grade: B+
27. Miami
94 of 120
The big story in the spring will be the battle for the QB job between Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris. Harris was a big-time recruit in 2008 but has not been developed. Both he and Morris must show they can take care of the ball.
Harris didn't set the world on fire in the spring game, throwing two picks.
Reportedly one was not his fault, but taking care of the football still remains a question mark for a player who has been at Miami for four years and really has not gotten any better.
Grade: C+
26. Georgia
95 of 120
Georgia's success starts and ends with Aaron Murray. He's the franchise QB for Georgia, as Barkley is for USC.
Murray has the arm strength, play-making ability and moxy to become one of the top QBs in the country. He got his feet wet in 2010 as the starter, so 2011 is expected to be a big season from him in Athens.
He lost AJ Green, but I expect Orson Charles, his high school teammate, to be more of a focal point in the passing game at TE.
Murray looks good to go for 2011.
Grade: A
25. Mississippi State
96 of 120
Dan Mullen is a top-level coach, and he may have finished off Rich Rodriguez' career at Michigan. He has gone 14-11 in two seasons for the Bulldogs and his third year should see more improvement.
An offensive-minded coach, Mullen has Chris Relf back at QB. Relf knows the whacky spread-option system that Mullen employs, and he's a dual-threat type that can move the ball through the air or on the ground.
Grade: A-
24. Florida
97 of 120
Will Muschamp isn't exactly inheriting a bare cupboard at Florida. There is some serious talent on the roster, and most of it is young as well.
Muschamp needs to get John Brantley on the same page with new offensive sheriff Charlie Weis. If not, Jeff Driskel will see more action this year. But let's not forget Brantley is a big-time talent and was a major recruit, coming out of high school.
Trey Burton and Jordan Reed have been moved to other positions, so this is Brantley's team now.
Grade: A-
23. Arizona State
98 of 120
Dennis Erickson is in his fifth year at Arizona and has gone 25-24 so far. He has the Sun Devils thinking about a Pac-12 title, after they went through some heartbreaking losses in 2010.
Nine points kept them from being 10-2 and perhaps winning a Pac-10 title in 2010, but this is a new year in the desert. Erickson will need Brock Osweiler to step up at QB since Steve Threet retired due to concussions.
Osweiler needs to come on strong early in the season.
Grade: B+
22. Texas
99 of 120
Going 5-7 is not going to fly in Austin and Mack Brown knows it. The fans know it and the Longhorns know it.
Garrett GiIlbert needs to get better and Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite are now responsible for him doing so.
If not, then Gilbert could be creeping into the town of Bustville, USA (population too many).
Chase McCoy was the star of the spring game, and David Ash is a solid prospect.
Grade: B+
21. Virginia Tech
100 of 120
The Hokies program is like the San Antonio Spurs franchise, they are the model for what a college program should be—consistent. It's tough to be consistent, but every year the Hokies are among the contenders for the ACC and are routinely in the BCS title conversation.
This year is no different as Beamer's Boys will be a preseason top-25 squad and one of the top teams in the ACC. More than likely, The Hokies will be led by Logan Thomas, as he looks to be the replacement for Tyrod Taylor.
In a recent scrimmage, Thomas went 9-16 for 214 yards and two scores.
Grade: B
20. Nebraska
101 of 120
Bo Pelini has done a great job in Lincoln so far, but the Cornhuskers have gone through the offseason with the bad taste of losing to Washington in San Diego. Pelini comes into his fourth year at Nebraska with a 30-12 mark.
The Huskers welcome spring and know that they have Taylor Martinez back. He had a rocky first year with Pelini, but the coach knows he is the top offensive player on the team.
Can Martinez make it to New York as a Heisman finalist? I think he could.
Grade: A
19. TCU
102 of 120
What I like most about Gary Patterson is the way he works and the way he teaches. He does a lot of installing and simplifies plays so his team can play smart, fast and loose.
The Horned Frogs are preparing for their move to the Big East, and this is their final go round in the Mountain West.
Casey Pachall needs to replace Andy Dalton, who will be a middle-round pick in the draft in a few weeks. Pachall will have three new receivers in the lineup for 2011 and if he spent his time learning from Dalton, he should be fine.
Grade: B
18. Auburn
103 of 120
The champs may be on the outside looking in at the top 25, but they could sneak up on people. I think the Tigers will make a bowl game this year, and Gene Chizik and his staff are a great bunch.
Obviously, the big story is who replaces Cam Newton.
And Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley will both fight with freshman Kiehl Frazier for the job. Some have said Frazier could win the job this year, while others say he will have to sit and learn.
Smart money may be on Trotter.
Grade: B
17. Missouri
104 of 120
The 2010 Mizzou squad was defensive-minded, which is not the norm for a Gary Pinkel-coached team. Pinkel is 77-49 in 10 seasons on the sidelines, and in his 11th year he will attempt to follow a 10-win 2010 season.
So they will need to replace Blaine Gabbert at QB. James Franklin, Ashton Glaser and freshman Tyler Gabbert will be vying for the gig.
Blaine Gabbert used the opportunity as a starting QB to make himself a potential No.1 overall draft pick.
Franklin is a dual-threat type and seems to be the favorite to be the starter, but I am interested to see what Tyler Gabbert can do.
Grade: B
16. Notre Dame
105 of 120
Dayne Crist has been able to practice this spring, but his knee must be brought along slowly. I think he has more talent than Tommy Rees, but the poised Rees is liked by Brian Kelly.
Kelly is using a helmet camera to teach his QBs better decision making, and to see what they see on the field. I think Crist will win the job, but Rees is a gamer on Saturdays.
Grade: B+
15. Michigan
106 of 120
Denard Robinson is back in Ann Arbor, and he was a Heisman front-runner for a portion of the 2010 season.
Brady Hoke will put Robinson in positions to make plays, while Greg Mattison is one of the top defensive minds in football—college or pro. He will fix the Michigan defense quickly, and Big Blue will be in some games late against teams they shouldn't be.
Robinson is such an extraordinary athlete that the Wolverines coaches are tying to get him to slow down his footwork to stay in sync with the receivers. Word is Robinson has adjusted well to the new offense and is looking to show off his pocket-passing skills in 2011.
Grade: A
14. Texas A&M
107 of 120
Mike Sherman has turned the program into an NFL-style operation with a West Coast-style offense and a 3-4 defense. The defense was excellent last year, allowing just 3.5 yards per rush and six yards per pass.
The Aggies roll into the spring on a six-game winning streak, led by QB Ryan Tannehill.
Sherman needs his running game to match his passing game, and he could have an explosive offense in 2011.
Grade: A
13. Michigan State
108 of 120
Kirk Cousins returns to Sparta for his third year on the job. Cousins is a solid NFL prospect that has hopes of another Big-12 title and a big statistical year for the Spartans.
At 6'3", 205 pounds, Cousins has a solid arm and can make all throws in the cold in Michigan weather. He is also a solid athlete. He passed for over 2800 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Cousins and Edwin Baker will be they keys to the 2011 Spartans offense.
Grade: A
12. South Carolina
109 of 120
Steve Spurrier finally got things going in 2010, with the Gamecocks making an appearance in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. The offense has two great players in RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffrey.
QB is where things get interesting. I'm already counting on Conor Shaw to start in 2010. It just seems Spurrier is flat out tired of Stephen Garcia's antics. Garcia is talented, but at least Spurrier knows he can count on Shaw.
Grade: B
11. Wisconsin
110 of 120
I really like Bret Bielema as a head coach, and he has gone 46-19 in five years. The Badgers will be back as prime favorite to win the Big Ten in 2011.
Jon Budmayr and Curt Phillips will compete to replace Scott Tolzien at QB. But really, since when has Wisconsin ever asked its QB to take over games?
The offense prides itself on running down your throat and beating you up for a full game.
Grade: C
10. Ohio State
111 of 120
Obviously this is Terrelle Pryor's job, but since he's been suspended for the first five games of the season, Brazton Miller will be in the mix for the starting job.
But can Joe Bauserman fend off the talented freshman to earn the right to lead the Buckeyes for five weeks? Perhaps, but Miller is the QB of the future and getting him time would be a wise choice.
When Pryor comes back, he will be the starter, but I still expect the Buckeyes to play Miller as much as Tim Tebow played with Chris Leak as a true freshman.
Grade: A
9. Stanford
112 of 120
David Shaw takes over for Jim Harbaugh, who left for the NFL's 49ers. Stanford will probably be ranked highly in the preseason polls.
They have Andrew Luck. What more can you say about the Cardinal QB?
Luck is good enough to win a handful of games himself, but this year could be a challenge for him.
He had a clean pocket last year, and this year the offensive line loses three starters. But Johnathan Martin and David DeCastro are back and they were both first-team All-Pac-10 in 2010. Luck also will be without his top-two receivers, but Chris Owusu is back.
Grade: A
8. Arkansas
113 of 120
Tyler Wilson has shown he is an elite QB, and now he's primed to lead the Hogs. Wilson is one of the main reasons the Hogs will be a favorite around the SEC, and he has the tools to lead them to an SEC title.
At 6'3", 215 pounds, WIlson has a cannon for an arm, poise, field vision and command of Bobby Petrino's offense.
He will have weapons around him with Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Knile Davis all back.
Grade: A
7. Oklahoma State
114 of 120
How many points will the Cowboys average this year? If they can replace Kendall Hunter in the running game, look out Big 12.
QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon may be the best QB-WR duo in the country, along with Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles.
Weeden threw for over 4,000 yards last year while Blackmon caught 111 passes for over 1,780 yards.
Both players coudl find themselves in the thick of the Heisman race this fall.
Grade: A
6. Florida State
115 of 120
On the field, the Noles are on their way back and this spring ushers in the E.J. Manuel era. Manuel has some experience after doing a good job of filling in for Christian Ponder.
Manuel was a big-time QB recruit coming out of high school and has all the tools to be a great college QB.
He shows good arm strength, solid accuracy, mobility and athleticism. He is a solid leader and his experience will serve him well.
Grade: A-
5. Boise State
116 of 120
At 61-5 as a head coach, Chris Petersen's name is routinely associate with jobs at bigger programs every year. Yet he remains happy at Boise State.
He will guide Kellen Moore once again this season, as Moore is one of the top QBs in the nation. Smart and accurate, Moore needs some receivers to emerge this spring, but he will be a top contender for the Heisman none the less.
Grade: A
4. LSU
117 of 120
Les Miles turned down a job at his beloved Michigan, allegedly at least, to stay at LSU. He stayed because the Tigers have a chance to win a national title this year.
The roster is loaded, and I think Zach Mettenberger beats out Jordan Jefferson as the starting QB. The Tigers were 11-2 with Jefferson, who played well down the stretch, and Jarrett Lee.
But I really think Mettenberger has more talent and poise, and will be a better fit for Steve Kragthorpe's passing game.
Grade: B
3. Oregon
118 of 120
Darron Thomas fits Chip Kelly's system perfectly. Kelly loves dual-threat QBs and Thomas is certainly that. Thomas operates the up-tempo system well in Eugene, and makes his athletic ability the focal point of his play.
He's almost always in shot gun, commands the spread offense well and understands when it's time for him to use his speed and running back-esque ability to help his offense stay on the field.
Thomas also shows good field vision and decision making, hitting receivers all over the field.
Grade: A
2. Alabama
119 of 120
The Tide can make another BCS and SEC title run this year, but they need to find a QB first. AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims each had their chance to show Coach Saban they are up to the task.
The smart money, in my opinion, is on McCarron. The 6'4", 190-pound McCarron has solid poise, commands his huddle and will protect the football. Sims is a 6'1", 220-pounder with a solid arm and great athletic ability.
Both QBs are good talents and are competing intensely for the job.
Grade: B+
1. Oklahoma
120 of 120
The Sooners will be just about everyone's preseason No.1 team. They have an elite QB, elite head coach and returning talent.
This year will feature another stellar passing attack, with Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles leading the way. Broyles tied a school record in touchdowns last season, and Jones could win the Heisman this year.
I remember when Jones was a borderline overweight high school QB from New Mexico with a strong arm and very good accuracy. Today he's the starting QB of perhaps the top team in the country. Wow.
Grade: A
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