College Football: Each FBS College Football Team's Greatest Quarterback Ever
Quarterback: It's the most glamorous position in all of sports.
College football: One of the most storied and glorified sports in the world.
Combine the two, and we've seen some pretty spectacular quarterbacks on the college level. They've come in all shapes, sizes, heights, weights and talent levels, but the great ones all separated themselves by winning and performing at high levels.
Some schools have had better overall QB play than others, and while some of the all-time greats may not be on this list due to another all-timer being from the same program, we've decided to name the greatest QB from every FBS program.
Some picks may shock you, some may be a little out of left field and some may be expected, but nonetheless, this should be fun and spark a good amount of debate.
Here. We. Go.
Note: List is in no particular order or ranking.
South Florida: Matt Grothe
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To me, Grothe was a pure gamer. He played the QB position with toughness and grit for the Bulls. At 6'0" and 205 pounds, he suffered an ACL injury toward the end of his career that may have derailed his accolades a bit.
He led the Big East in total offense during the 2008 season, averaging nearly 270 yards per contest. Grothe was a gritty QB who could attack a defense with his arm and make a few plays with his legs as well.
Clemson: Woody Dantzler
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Steve Fuller could have gone here for Clemson, but I went with Dantzler. He just made play after play, week after week, with his arm and his legs for the Tigers.
Today we use the term "dual threat" a lot in regards to various QB prospects, and Dantzler was one of the originals. The 2001 season was a huge year for him, as he became the first QB in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards while rushing for 1,000. He also chipped in 21 touchdowns and was a Heisman finalist.
Arizona: Willie Tuitama
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Tuitama takes the nod for the Wildcats. He left school with many of the big-time passing records in his backpack, including most passing yards, most passing yards in a season and most career passing touchdowns.
He was a key cog for the Wildcats' program in the middle portion of the past decade and guided Arizona to a 2008 Las Vegas Bowl win, where he was named MVP.
Today he is a QB in the Indoor Football League.
North Carolina: Darian Durant
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Durant lit it up as a freshman, capturing many UNC freshman QB records. It's amazing he finished second to Chris Rix in ACC Rookie of the Year voting. Durant was an excellent athlete who compared favorably to Dantzler.
Durant tossed for more than 400 yards in a game as a sophomore against Arizona State. He split time at the helm with another talented QB in Ronald Curry. By the time Durant left Chapel Hill, he owned 51 different offensive records. Wow.
Mississippi State: Jackie Parker
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Parker was a do-it-all player in every sense of the word. He played QB, RB, WR, DB and PK during his career. He may be one of the first recruits to ever prove the JC system works, as he played for Jones County JC before he became a Bulldog.
At 6'1", 190 pounds, he was a 27th-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 1953. However, he is viewed as a Canadian Football League legend, where Parker won numerous Grey Cups and seven total Nicklin Trophies as the MVP of the CFL West.
Rutgers: Mike McMahon
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McMahon was a bit of a trailblazer at Rutgers. I mostly know him from his days as the fringe starter for the Detroit Lions in the early part of last decade. However, he is the very first Rutgers QB to be drafted in school history, as the Lions plucked him in the fifth round in 2001.
McMahon was a solid athlete in the pocket, displayed some mobility and had a solid arm and accuracy at 6'2", 215 pounds. He was a four-year starter and currently is third in all-time passing marks for the Scarlet Knights.
UConn: Dan Orlovsky
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Now, while you may remember Orlovsky for running out of the end zone for a safety a few years back with the Lions, he's viewed differently in Storrs, Connecticut. At 6'5", 231 pounds, Orlovsky was a baller for the Huskies in college.
His best season came as a junior, when he topped out at 3,485 yards, 33 touchdowns and 14 picks. He ranked fifth in the country in passing touchdowns and had a nearly 59 percent completion rate. He was a fifth-round pick by the Lions and today is with the Texans.
Maryland: Boomer Esiason
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Esiason is a well-renowned NFL QB and commentator today, but he got his first shot at Maryland. Boomer was a QB for Bobby Ross, and former Terp head man Ralph Friedgen was his offensive coordinator.
He blazed through 17 school records before he left Maryland, including topping out at over 6,200 yards and 42 passing scores. Esiason was a two-time honorable mention selection for the All-American squad in the early 1980s and is looked at as "Mr. Terrapin."
Air Force: Beau Morgan
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I went with Morgan for the Falcons. He was the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in a season...twice. Morgan was a dual-threat QB who was equally dangerous throwing the ball as he was rushing it, as he routinely set marks for rushing yards by a QB during his tenure at Air Force.
He's only one of two players to rush and throw for 3,000 yards in his career. Morgan balled out week in and week out for the Falcons in the mid 1990s.
Minnesota: Adam Weber
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Yeah, I went with Weber for Minnesota. He came to the Gopher program as a three-time all-state selection in high school in Minnesota and pretty much played up to speed during his time at the helm.
At 6'3", 215 pounds, Weber was a solid athlete and became just the fifth QB in Big Ten history to throw for 10,000 yards. He has the most career touchdown tosses for Minnesota with 56 being his clip.
Troy: Levi Brown
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Brown was a prospect who I was really intrigued by during the 2010 NFL Draft process. I was a bit surprised he went in the seventh round. At 6'4", 225 pounds, Brown transferred into Troy from Richmond and left the Trojans with many other top passing marks.
The 2009 season was a special year for him, as he operated the shotgun-spread system the Trojans run to perfection. Brown hit the 4,200-yard mark and finished second in the country in yards. Oh, right, he also won Sun Belt Player of the Year honors.
Tulsa: Gus Frerotte
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Yeah, Frerotte was more than just that one dude who banged his head into a wall and sprained his neck. He balled out at Tulsa and finished as the school's all-time second-ranked passer with 5,480 yards and 32 touchdowns.
He tossed for over 2,800 yards as a senior, which was the most by a Tulsa signal caller in almost 30 years. But I have Frerotte here also because he handled the punting load for a time during his career at Tulsa. G.J. Kinne and T.J. Rubley are honorable mentions.
UTEP: Jordan Palmer
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Jordan is not as good as his older brother Carson, but he is still tops for UTEP. At 6'5", 235 pounds, Palmer went to UTEP and played extremely well.
His last two seasons as the Miners' starter were his best. During his junior season, Palmer threw for 29 scores en route to a GMAC Bowl appearance vs. Toledo. As a senior Palmer came back determined to increase his completion percentage, which he did by increasing it to nearly 66 percent.
San Diego State: Brian Sipe
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Sipe takes the nod for the Aztecs, as he is Mr. San Diego. He played in the Little League World Series as a kid, representing the San Diego area, and today is the QB coach at San Diego State, where he is the main tutor for Ryan Lindley.
Sipe is also well known in Cleveland, as he quarterbacked the Browns from 1974-1983 and is a member of the "Kardiac Kids," the 1980 Browns squad that loved having games go down to the wire.
Florida International: Wesley Carroll
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Carroll originally signed with Mississippi State out of high school and even started as a true freshman. He was chosen to the SEC All-Freshman squad and won the Liberty Bowl.
He transferred to FIU after the 2008 season and redshirted in 2009. This past season he played pretty well for the Panthers, tossing for nearly 2,700 yards, 16 scores and a 128.37 efficiency rating. FIU is still a very young program, but Carroll gets the nod so far.
Duke: Sonny Jurgensen
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Jurgensen was a seldom-used backup on the 1954 Duke team but really played more as a defensive back. When the 1955 year came, he started both ways at QB and DB and led the Blue Devils to a piece of the ACC title.
Jurgensen's numbers don't look good on paper, as he only finished with 1,119 yards, six touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Yet he was a leader and a gamer and even turned down a plea to join the hoops team.
Indiana: Antwaan Randle El
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Boy, was Randle El the man at Indiana or what? I remember watching him play and thinking: "Where would this team be without this guy?" Randle El made play after play, and while yes, he was a better athlete than pure QB, he still kept the Hoosiers in games and held his own against the big boys.
He was drafted by the Steelers and converted to a solid and productive receiver. The Steelers routinely, to this very day, take advantage of his former QB days by having him throw on various trick plays.
Memphis: James Earl Wright
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Wright was often called "the most dangerous back in the South" during his heyday. He played QB for the Tigers, then known as Memphis State, but really was a running back due to his tremendous playing speed and running instincts.
At 6'0", Wright was also a solid passer with his best attribute being his accuracy. Legend has it that Wright could make pinpoint passes on the edges and was at his best when throwing on the run. He goes down as the top QB in Memphis history.
Iowa State: Seneca Wallace
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Wallace is another QB on this list who hails from the JUCO ranks. He transferred to Iowa State for his junior year and became one of the best players in the history of the Big 12 Conference.
Yet his legacy will always be defined by "The Run." Only recorded as a 12-yard scamper for a touchdown, it is said that Wallace actually ran a distance of 120 yards, dodging and eluding defenders, setting up blocks and ultimately finding his way into the end zone versus Texas Tech.
New Mexico: Stoney Case
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Case came to New Mexico already as a legend, similar to how Braxton Miller is at Ohio State. He was the QB for Odessa Permian (Texas) High School, a year after the Friday Night Lights saga. A noted baseball player, he is the brother of Stormy Case.
Stoney went to New Mexico and lit it up for the Lobos in the Southwest. He and Colt McCoy are the only players in NCAA history to toss for 8,000 yards and rush for 1,000. He finished with 98 total touchdowns and was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in 1995. He made his mark professionally in the Arena Football League.
Temple: Henry Burris
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At 6'2", 220 pounds, I give Burris the honors for Temple. From Spiro, Oklahoma, Burris made the trek to Philly and left Temple with 20 career passing records in his back pocket.
Today, he is a CFL MVP and MOP. He never was given a fair shot by the NFL, but did get cups of coffee with the Bears and Packers in 2001 and 2002.
So there, Temple fans: "Smilin' Hank" is the greatest QB in school history.
Buffalo: Drew Willy
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I remember being impressed with Willy when we worked him out during my days with the Giants. At 6'3", 220 pounds, he had good size and adequate arm strength.
He started all four years in Buffalo for the Bulls and was instrumental in the MAC championship-game upset win over Ball State in 2008. He holds records in completions, yards, touchdowns, completion percentage and total offense at Buffalo.
Middle Tennessee State: Kelly Holcomb
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Holcomb is most known as the guy that gave Tim Couch a run for his money in Cleveland. Butch Davis liked Holcomb, whose best game came in a playoff game versus the Steelers. Holcomb tossed for 429 yards and three scores in that one.
Yet Holcomb's first appearance in the national spotlight came as a young freshman at MTSU. In 1991, MTSU faced Florida State, which basically was an NFL team at the time. Holcomb came in and played poised, going 20-of-28 for 188 yards.
Western Michigan: Ed Chlebek
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Chlebek (not pictured) was a star for the Broncos in the late 1950s and early 1960s. While he is known more for his coaching fame, at WMU is where began his rise in the football world.
He finished his career with 2,290 yards through the air, including 1,109 coming during his senior year. He spent time commanding the huddle for the New York Jets during their AFL days. He's coached at Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, Kent State, BC and the CFL.
Colorado State: Bradlee Van Pelt
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Van Pelt was as entertaining a quote as he was good on the field. He wasn't shy about telling you what he thought, felt or how good he thought he and his teammates were. He backed it up on the field, too.
At 6'2", 220 pounds, he was a great athlete who could scramble and buy time in the pocket for his receivers to get open. He also loved to talk trash about Colorado.
He currently plays in England and serves as an NFL analyst.
New Mexico State: Charley Johnson
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Johnson is a legend to the outlook of the NMSU program. He wore No. 33 yet played QB, and today the number is retired at NMSU. He was the Sun Bowl MVP in consecutive years and is the only player to achieve that feat in history.
Johnson, who today is a chemical engineering professor at NMSU, spent 15 seasons in the NFL and made the Broncos' ring of honor. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1963.
Akron: Charlie Frye
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OK, so I'll go on record to say that when I interned for the Browns scouting department, a high-ranking Browns personnel official asked me who I thought should start between Frye and Derek Anderson. My answer? Anderson.
But it was no slight to Frye, who was a gamer at Akron. The myth behind Frye always was that during the week leading up to the game, he'd look like he didn't belong on the field, but come the bright lights and game time, he was magic. Greatest QB in Akron history.
Western Kentucky: Willie Taggart
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While Taggart today is the head coach at WKU, his mark right now still is as a four-year starting QB. He set 11 school records during his time at the helm, as he holds the clips for rushing touchdowns, passing efficiency and points, and he is fourth in passing yards.
When he was the QB of WKU, the program was an FCS school, and Taggart was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which equates to the FCS Heisman. Today Taggart leads the Hilltoppers from the sidelines as their head coach.
Ohio: Robbie Snyder
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Upon my research findings about Snyder (not pictured), yes, he goes down as the greatest QB in Ohio history, but he may also be the toughest and most durable player in school history as well. He rarely, if ever, came off the field.
Starting in 1933, Snyder played for the Bobcats on both sides of the ball and special teams. In a string of three consecutive seasons, it is said that Snyder only missed four total minutes of action. Wow.
I'm sure there are some tough players and QBs out there in today's college game, but I doubt any of them could withstand only missing four total minutes of action for their team in three seasons.
Florida Atlantic: Rusty Smith
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We all know how young the FAU program is, but you can't use that to slight Smith. Yes, he was the first Owls player selected in the NFL Draft, but the 6'5", 230-pounder could play. He holds records at FAU for passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns and total offense.
He was the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, New Orleans Bowl MVP and Motor City Bowl MVP in his senior year. He grew to be a leader of the entire program and was drafted in the sixth round by the Titans in 2010.
Rice: Tommy Kramer
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"Two-Minute" Tommy has the top nod for Rice. He is known by that nickname for having so many late-game comebacks during his days with the Owls and especially with the Vikings.
They say in sports you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who replaced the legend, not the legend's replacement. Kramer was the marked replacement for Fran Tarkenton, as the Vikes drafted him in the first round in 1977 after Tarkenton retired. He fought frequent injuries during his tenure in Minny, but made the Pro Bowl in 1986.
Toledo: Bruce Gradkowski
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People have been enamored with Gradkowski since his days at Toledo. He has solid physical tools and a moxie to him that intrigues you. Jon Gruden was also very intrigued with Gradkowski during their stay in Tampa.
He fits the West Coast offense mold perfectly. He's solid in the mobility department and can attack the edges with his legs and make throws on the run. Gradkowski also makes good, quick decisions with the ball.
Things he showed all while at Toledo.
Kent State: Josh Cribbs
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Cribbs is another player that I had the chance to watch up close for a period when I was with the Browns. He's a natural football player, and you just need to have the ball in his hands almost every play. I clearly saw the reason why Kent State had him at QB during his days there.
Cribbs had a strong arm, stood 6'2", 215 pounds and was an excellent athlete. He could make plays with his arm or his legs and today is a great receiver and return man for the Browns. He is the best QB in Kent State history, holding numerous passing and total offense records.
San Jose State: Jeff Garcia
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For some reason Garcia has always been overlooked and somewhat not well received. I'm not sure if it is because he's barely 6'0" or he's not too physically imposing or what. But you can't sit here and say Garcia can't play football.
In his heyday, he was an athletic passer who was best served to play in a moving pocket, attack the edges and make throws on the run. He's a CFL Grey Cup MVP and four-time NFL Pro Bowler. Also, he's the top QB in SJSU history.
Louisiana Monroe: Doug Pederson
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Before Pederson became the Eagles' QB coach, he was a career journeyman backup who served mostly as the backup to Brett Favre. He is a prime student of the West Coast offense and is seen as a solid QB coach around the NFL today.
At the time ULM was known as Northeast Louisiana, and from 1988-1990, Pederson was charged with directing the offense. He led the squad in all passing categories and is the best QB it's had in school history.
Northern Illinois: Chandler Harnish
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I've written several times in various recent stories about how I think Jerry Kill will work wonders for the Minnesota offense. Kill left NIU to take over the once-proud Golden Gophers program. But there is a reason that many Husky fans aren't too concerned for their 2011 offensive outlook.
The main reason? Chandler Harnish. The 6'2", 220-pounder is back for another go at NIU and will lead the offense. In 2010 he passed for over 2,500 yards and 21 scores.
Eastern Michigan: Charlie Batch
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Batch was once viewed as a potential starting QB for the Detroit Lions in late 1990s. He was a second-round pick and seen as a QB who could be molded into a solid starter. He never became that.
Yet today Batch is viewed as one of the top backup QBs in the NFL. He played admirably last year, keeping the huddle warm for the Steelers as they awaited the return of Ben Roethlisberger.
He left EMU owning just about every major passing record in school history.
North Texas: Daniel Meager
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North Texas hasn't really been a powerhouse per se in recent times, but Meager was a solid player for the Mean Green recently. At 6'2", 200 pounds and from the Dallas area, he rewrote a couple records during his time as the starting QB for UNT.
And 2007 seemed to be his coming-out year, as he tossed for 601 yards. No, not in a season—in one game versus SMU. His 63.3 completion percentage was tops for Mean Green QBs when he left campus.
Utah State: Diondre Borel
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I had to circle around some research for USU, but I settled on Borel in the end. He was an athletic QB for the Aggies that always gave the offense a chance. He could make plays in the passing game and get first downs with his legs.
The Sporting News named him the preseason best athlete in the WAC for 2010. At 6'0", 190 pounds, he has the most rushing yards by a USU QB, is among the total offense leaders and has the QB record for fewest picks in a season with just four in 2009.
Wyoming: Casey Bramlet
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I liked Randy Welniak at first, but at the very end I gave the nod to Bramlet. At 6'4", 220 pounds, he did a solid job as the starting QB for the Cowboys. A seventh-round pick by the Bengals in 2004, he also played in NFL Europe before settling into the CFL.
Bramlet rewrote the record books for Wyoming QBs. He finished with 9,684 yards and 56 touchdowns, while completing 767 career passes. He was durable while at Wyoming, starting the final 35 games of his career and becoming the first Cowboy to pass for 3,000 yards in three separate seasons.
Arkansas State: Ryan Aplin
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Red Wolf fans, bear with me now. This pick may be a bit premature, as Aplin is just a junior, but talk to me after this season and after he leaves school, and you'll likely see it my way if you don't already.
At 6'1", 205 pounds, Aplin just gets it done, and 2010 was his breakout year. He finished the year with nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. I think this year he could approach 3,500 yards and 30 scores. He should walk out of the Sun Belt Conference with a POY trophy, either this year or as a senior.
Idaho: John Friesz
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Idaho is another school that hasn't seen much dominance on the football field in its overall history. I chose to go with Friesz as its top golden armer. Friesz came to Idaho thinking he was going to be coached by Dennis Erickson, but Erickson left for Washington State in 1986, Friesz's redshirt freshman year.
Friesz was money from the jump. As a sophomore he tossed 28 scores and was Big Sky Conference MVP. When his senior season ended, he attached 31 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards to his name. He takes the honor as the top QB in Idaho history.
Louisiana Lafayette: Jake Delhomme
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Delhomme is another player like Jeff Garcia, in the sense that they've never been looked at as long-term answers or in a favorable light. But like Garcia, Delhomme has been a warrior wherever's been.
It started at Southwestern Louisiana, A.K.A. Louisiana Lafayette. His prime target was Brandon Stokley, and he led the Ragin' Cajuns to two conference titles and an upset over Texas A&M during his senior year. He started the final 43 games of his career and left ULL as tops in passing yards and touchdowns.
Tulane: Shaun King
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King was a very effective and efficient passer during his tenure at Tulane. He QB'd the Green Wave from 1995-1998, in which he captured an undefeated season. Also in 1998, he set the mark for passer efficiency with a 183.3 clip.
He also blazed a trail as the first player to toss for 300 yards and rush for another 100 in the same game. Operating out of a then-new spread option offense, his QB coach was Rich Rodriguez.
Ball State: Nate Davis
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Davis caught magic in a bottle at Ball State and led the Cardinals to the MAC championship game in 2008. At 6'2", 225 pounds, he was seen as a solid NFL prospect and thus left after his junior season.
Davis was drafted in the fifth round by the 49ers and left Ball State with the single-season record of touchdown passes in a season with 30. As a junior he won 12 games, tossing for over 3,400 yards, 26 scores and a 164 passer efficiency rating.
David Letterman loves him.
Bowling Green: Tyler Sheehan
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Sheehan goes down as the best QB of all-time in BGSU history and was a rival of Dan LeFevour during their days in the MAC. Sheehan always felt that while he was not the running threat LeFevour was, he was a better pure passer than the CMU star.
He set new marks in yards at over 4,000 and had 375 completions on 575 attempts for the Falcons. He saw time as a true freshman in 2006, but won the job full-time in 2007. Today he plays for the Cincinnati Commandos in the CIFL.
Louisiana Tech: Terry Bradshaw
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While you may know Bradshaw more for his Fox NFL Sunday job and his days with the Steelers, he actually was a baller at Louisiana Tech in the late 1960s. During his junior year he totaled nearly 3,000 yards of offense and won nine games, including a bowl win over Akron.
His senior season was much the same, totaling over 2,000 yards of offense and winning another eight contests. Louisiana Tech was always up big in the second half during his senior year, so while Bradshaw had the same type of production, the final stats show a drop-off.
Oh, right, he's got four Super Bowl rings too.
Central Michigan: Dan LeFevour
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You wanna talk about a player who was a baller in college? Then LeFevour's name must be in the conversation. I used to watch LeFevour at CMU, and he carried those squads. He's the second player in history to top 3,000-yards passing and 1,000-yards rushing in a season.
He may be the best QB not only in CMU history, but MAC history as well. LeFevour holds records in the conference for completions, attempts, yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total offense. He has the most touchdowns in FBS history with 150 total and is the only NCAA player with 12,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards.
UNLV: Randall Cunningham
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I almost went with Jason Thomas here, but I came to my senses and stayed with Cunningham. Runnin' Randall was Michael Vick before Vick ever existed. My dad tells me stories of Cunningham and how he held his own at Santa Barbara High School versus powerhouse Long Beach Poly in the 1981 CIF Finals.
Cunningham went to Las Vegas and as a junior led the Rebels to 11 wins, which to this very day is the only time UNLV has ever won 10 games in a season. He was a one-man wrecking crew, making plays with a cannon arm, running ability, speed and amazing athleticism.
SMU: Don Meredith
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Meredith was one of the rare players who actually said no to Bear Bryant, as Bear wanted Meredith very badly to come to Texas A&M, but Meredith opted for SMU. He was a two-time All-American for the Mustangs in '58 and '59.
He led the Southwest Conference in completion percentage all three years he was the starting QB at SMU. Meredith was so good and so popular on campus that students, fans and all those alike referred to SMU as "Southern Meredith University." He is an SMU legend and Dallas Cowboys legend as well, also contributing greatly to Monday Night Football.
Turn out the lights, the party's over.
Miami of Ohio: Ben Roethlisberger
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Legend has it that the main reason Big Ben ended up at Miami of Ohio was that Ohio State wanted him to play tight end, but Ben felt he was a QB. Miami of Ohio told him it would let him play QB, and the rest is history.
At 6'5" and nearly 250 pounds, Roethlisberger was a star from the get-go. As a redshirt freshman, he tossed for over 3,100 yards, and by the time he was a senior, he totaled 4,400 yards in the passing game. His number is retired around the RedHawks program, and he also has two Super Bowl rings as the lead man for the Steelers.
UAB: Darrell Hackney
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You see Hackney run onto the field and you think: "This dude must be a fullback." Then you see him walk up to the the line of scrimmage and say: "Why's he under center?" Then you see him throw and say: "Oh, this dude's the QB!"
At 6'0" and 250 pounds, Hackney never looked the part, but he just put up the production to convince you he was a QB. He has career records at UAB in yards, touchdowns, completions and total offense, along with several single-season records.
Marshall: Byron Leftwich
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Leftwich is another QB who doesn't look the part. At 6'5", 250 pounds, he figures to be a tight end or defensive end, but he has a great arm and is a pure passer.
He was one of the best players in the country in my opinion from 2001-2002, and we all remember the image of his linemen carrying him to the line of scrimmage during the two-minute drill versus Akron when he broke his shin.
Leftwich is one of the top QBs to come out of the MAC. I could have easily gone with Chad Pennington here, but I chose Leftwich. He finished with over 12,000 yards of total offense, 89 touchdowns and a 65.1 completion percentage.
East Carolina: Jeff Blake
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Jeff Blake QB'd the East Carolina squad in the late '80s and early '90s. The Pirates were one of the most fun teams to watch as Blake led an explosive offense.
In 1991 he finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting and led the Pirates to an 11-win season. They scored a lot of points, racked up a ton of yards and made a lot plays. Blake also enjoyed a great run with the Bengals.
Washington State: Ryan Leaf
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Say what you want about how Leaf flamed out of the NFL and how he acted about doing so, but you can't knock what he did for Wazzu. At 6'5" and 240 pounds, Leaf was seen as perhaps the perfect QB prospect.
At Wazzu, all he did was appear in 32 games, average 330 yards passing as a junior and throw a then-record 33 touchdown passes. He was a Heisman finalist, Pac-10 offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American.
Drew Bledsoe is another player who could have been selected here.
Colorado: Kordell Stewart
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Stewart was one of the best overall talents and players in the country during his time in Boulder. He played strictly QB for the Buffs and made plays every Saturday, series after series. He flashed a strong arm and very quick feet.
He went on to play for the Steelers, where he burst on the NFL scene as "Slash," in which he played WR/QB/RB. He did get his shot as a full-time QB, and Stewart was productive, getting the Steelers to the AFC title game.
Houston: Andre Ware
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Ware went to Houston and took full command of the infamous Run 'N' Shoot offense the Cougars ran. In a wide-open, pass-happy attack, Ware lit up defense after defense during his heyday in the 1980s.
His best year was his junior year, when he topped out at 4,700 yards and 44 touchdown passes, setting almost 30 NCAA records. He was the first black QB to win the Heisman and went pro after his junior year in '89.
David Klingler also could have been the selection here.
Vanderbilt: Jay Cutler
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Watching Cutler play, I was shocked to learn that he did not have many scholarship offers coming out of high school. At 6'3", 230 pounds, he is a solid athlete with good mobility and a hose for an arm.
He was routinely the best player on a bad team at Vanderbilt, but kept the Commodores competitive at times in the SEC. The Broncos took him in the first round of the 2006 draft, and today he is the QB of the Bears.
He holds all of the major records for QBs at Vanderbilt.
Army: Chris Cagle
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Cagle, who was known as "Red," first played college ball for Louisiana Lafayette and then went to Army. He got secretly married, which led to a rules violation at West Point.
However, on the field Cagle was a baller. He played QB and RB and just rolled teams on the field. He was tough and gritty, sometimes even playing without a helmet or chinstrap. He made the cover of Time magazine in 1929
Navy: Roger Staubach
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Staubach's legend at Navy actually started in his sophomore season during that year's fourth game. He was thrust into the game versus Cornell to see if he could spark the Midshipmen's sputtering offense. He did, leading Navy on six scoring drives, including throwing for two touchdowns himself.
He won the Heisman and Maxwell trophies in 1963 and won nine games for Navy that season. Staubach went on to serve in Vietnam and came back to the States to only become one of the greatest NFL QBs in history with the Cowboys.
Boston College: Doug Flutie
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A symbol and outcome of determination, toughness and grit, Flutie has been magic anywhere he has played. Whether it be at BC, the CFL, NFL or wherever, Flutie has always been a winner. At 5'10" and merely 180 pounds, he just got it done from the QB spot.
Matt Ryan could have gone here, but come on—Flutie was instrumental in what may be the top college football play of all-time with his Hail Mary throw versus Miami in 1984. He left BC as the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yards and was an All-American who also got it done in the classroom.
Oregon State: Terry Baker
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Baker is the answer to many trivia questions, as he is the only athlete to ever win the Heisman and play in the Final Four in the same school year, as he balled on the gridiron for the Beavers in 1962 and also on the hardwood.
And 1962 was his top season, as he took home the Heisman.
While also playing the point guard spot on the Beavers basketball squad, Baker tossed for over 3,400 yards and 23 touchdowns. Oh, he also rushed for 1,503 yards and 15 scores during his tenure as the QB at Oregon State.
Illinois: Jeff George
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George initially settled at Purdue, but left the Boilermakers program because Leon Burnett was fired. He wanted to go to Miami, but Jimmy Johnson couldn't promise him the starting QB job when George would be eligible to play.
So George settled on Illinois and lit up competition with his cannon right arm. He is one of the best pure passers ever to play the QB spot in any era, and the ball just would explode out of his hand. Watching him throw was a thing of beauty.
Pittsburgh: Dan Marino
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I may take some flak for saying this, but I honestly think if Marino had won just one Super Bowl, he would be considered the best QB of all-time. For the record, my nod goes to John Elway.
But Marino was a star at Pitt in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as he beat hated rival West Virginia as a freshman and Georgia as a junior. I think him being a late first-round pick in the NFL Draft was a result of him not having a good senior season and his knee not being in the best shape.
But the rest is history in his days with the Dolphins.
Texas Tech: Kliff Kingsbury
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There were a slew of passers I could have anointed with top honors for the Red Raiders, but I'm going with Kingsbury. He was the signal caller for Texas Tech from 1998-2202, and he ripped defenses to shreds.
Operating out of the infamous wide-open, pass-happy Red Raiders offensive attack, Kingsbury finished his career in Lubbock with nearly 12,500 yards, 95 touchdowns and just 40 picks. He tossed for over 3,000 yards in three different seasons and set numerous Texas Tech, Big 12 and NCAA records.
Fresno State: David Carr
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Trent Dilfer was a heck of a player in his own right for the Bulldogs, but no one caught fire like Carr did. At 6'3", 230 pounds, I remember scouts saying Carr had the quickest release they'd seen since Troy Aikman.
He had a cannon for an arm, solid accuracy and was a great athlete. What happened with the Texans makes me sick to my stomach. Carr was not a bust. He became shell-shocked because the Texans never did anything to build a solid offensive line to protect him.
But he is still the best Fresno State QB of all time.
Purdue: Drew Brees
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Kyle Orton, anyone? I went with Brees here. Brees and his classmates were ranked as the worst recruiting class in the Big Ten coming out of high school, and legend has it they all decided to do something about it.
Brees, who's ultra-competitive, always played with a chip on his shoulder and still does. Barely 6'0" tall, Brees wowed everyone at Purdue with his accuracy, moxie and will to win. He may be one of the best QBs of all-time, let alone the top passer from Purdue.
Hawaii: Timmy Chang
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Hawaii has had some amazing passers in its time, but I think Chang takes the cake for the Warriors. At 6'2" and in the 210-pound range, Change lit up defenses, scoreboards and NCAA record books.
He tossed for over 17,000 yards in his career, along with 117 touchdowns, eclipsing many of Kingsbury's records. Chang also totaled over 16,900 yards of offense and has the FBS interception record at 80.
Colt Brennan also played well in his tenure at Hawaii.
West Virginia: Major Harris
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Harris is another example of how important recruiting and impressions can be for prospects. The story has it that he originally wanted to attend Pitt, but Mike Gottfried wanted to make him a defensive back. Harris was interested in only scoring touchdowns, not breaking up passes.
So he went to rival West Virginia and lit it up. He totaled over 7,300 yards of offense, including ranking eighth on the Mountaineers' rushing list with just over 2,100 yards. Keep in mind he played QB, not running back.
Pat White could have easily taken home the honors, but Harris gets the nod.
California: Aaron Rodgers
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I'm going with Rodgers over Steve Bartkowski. Rodgers' story is one of great legend. Just 5'10", 170 pounds as a high school senior, he didn't get one scholarship offer. Illinois wanted him to walk on, but Rodgers declined and went the JUCO route.
Jeff Tedford was recruiting one of Rodgers' teammates at Butte CC when he noticed the QB and gave him a scholarship to Cal. All Rodgers did was leave Berkeley with a near 64-percent completion clip, over 5,400 yards of passing and 43 touchdowns to 13 picks.
Earlier, I said you never want to be the guy who replaces a legend in sports. Rodgers is a rare occurrence of someone who did it and has a Super Bowl ring to show for it with Green Bay.
Northwestern: Brett Basanez
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Basanez takes the award for the Northwestern program as the top QB in school history. At 6'1", 210 pounds, he was a QB who just came in and rewrote the record books in Evanston.
Basanez holds many career and single-season records for the Wildcats, such as the career marks for total offense, most yards with over 10,000, attempts, completions and he tied for most touchdowns. Single-season records include much of the same along with completion percentage, passer efficiency and consecutive 300-yard games.
Kentucky: Tim Couch
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Couch was Mr. Kentucky in his heyday. He was the state's golden boy and was a celebrity before he even signed with the Wildcats. Couch was an All-American prep QB and hoops player in high school and would school defenses by tossing the pigskin and draining three-pointers.
He went on to throw Kentucky football into the national spotlight, as he led wide-open offenses inspired by Hal Mumme called the "Air Raid." Couch lit up defenses, scoreboards and record books.
The Browns took him with the No.1 overall pick in 1999.
Syracuse: Don McPherson
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I wanted to go with Donovan McNabb here, but I was advised to go with McPherson. McNabb was a little more my time, as I watched him run a hybrid option/West Coast offensive system and nearly win the Heisman in 1998.
But McPherson came before McNabb and was exciting in his own right. The 1987 season was the year he really made his mark in Orange lore, nearly winning the Heisman by finishing second but taking home the Maxwell and O'Brien awards.
Louisville: Johnny Unitas
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Yes, I kept it old school with Johnny U for the Cardinals. Sure, Chris Redman, Dave Ragone, Stefan LeFors and Brian Brohm could have been here. But Johnny U did what they did before them.
There is something about Unitas that pure football people love, as he just got the job done. He was a winner, a leader of men and a very smart QB. Some will even say he's the greatest QB of all-time.
Louisville boasts one of the better all-time QB rosters in college football, bar none.
Kansas: David Jaynes
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Kansas has always been more known for its basketball program and not football, but Jaynes (not pictured) was The Man for the Jayhawks in the 1970s. He was a deadly QB who left Kansas with just about all of the major passing records in hand.
To this very day, Jaynes still has the most career passing touchdowns for the Jayhawks, standing strong at 35. Jaynes shredded up Tennessee in 1973 for 394 yards. He also totaled over 5,100 yards through the air in his career and finished fourth in the Heisman race in 1974.
Southern Miss: Brett Favre
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What else can you say about Favre that hasn't already been said? The No. 4. The cannon arm. The aw-shucks persona. The retirements.
He's a sure-fire Hall of Famer who should have been a first-round pick to the New York Jets but instead went in the second round to the Atlanta Falcons. Favre went on to become a legend with the Packers, but he started it all as a wild-armed QB at Southern Miss in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Wake Forest: Riley Skinner
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Skinner wasn't the biggest QB in the world, and he didn't care. He loved playing at WF and got it done for the Demon Deacons. He replaced Ben Mauk and never looked back, showing timing, accuracy and grit.
He led the squad to a 10-win season as a redshirt freshman, winning the ACC title. Skinner has the school record for career touchdowns with 45 and completions with 677 and is just the second player in ACC history to hit 2,000 yards in four consecutive years.
Washington: Warren Moon
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The thing with Moon was he felt he had to stay at QB because he wasn't sure if he was athletic enough to move to another position. He was recruited by a slew of schools, but they all wanted to convert him to receiver or defensive back. Moon chose to go the JUCO route and then went to Washington, where he was solid.
Moon always played like he had to prove something, mainly by being a black QB. He wasn't initially given a fair chance by the NFL, but he went to the CFL and shredded the league to the point where the NFL was begging him to come play. He was a dominant star for the Oilers during his prime.
Baylor: Robert Griffin
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Yeah, I'm going with Griffin for the Bears. I just love the way he plays, and he surely annoys many Big 12 defensive coordinators. Griffin is an excellent all-around athlete, even participating in the hurdle events for the Bears' track team.
6'3", 215 pounds, Griffin has a solid arm, great feet and is a prime dual threat. He was the 2008 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the year and a freshman All-American. This may be a premature pick, but he will earn the right before he leaves Baylor.
UCLA: Troy AIkman
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I was very, very close to going with either Gary Beban or Cade McNown, but I selected Aikman. He transferred to Westwood from Oklahoma with the help of Barry Switzer, who wanted to see Troy thrive in a passing offense.
Aikman did and then some. He left school with the O'Brien, DC Club, UPI MVP and AFCA Coaches Choice trophies in his backpack. Aikman had a quick release, cannon arm and was a sheer natural passer. He finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1988 and was the No. 1 overall pick to the Cowboys in 1989.
UCF: Daunte Culpepper
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Culpepper was recruited by a slew of schools in his senior year of prep ball. He wanted to go to one of the Big Three Florida schools, but when he didn't pass his first SAT exam, many major schools backed off.
UCF stayed with him, even helping with tutoring and studying. When he finally gained an achieving score, Culpepper saw many of the major schools come knocking on his door again.
He spurned them all to show loyalty to UCF, where he went on to become the best QB in school history, setting various records. He was a first-round pick by the Vikings in 1999.
Ole Miss: Archie Manning
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I went with Archie over Eli here. Archie always had that "it" about him, yet it seemed like he never was on a winning team.
On the big stage, one of the very first times a college football game was broadcast in prime time, Manning was the star, as he tossed for 436 yards, three touchdowns and ran for over 100 yards vs. Alabama. His team lost. Again.
Manning became the the face of the New Orleans 'Aints during his heyday, as he was the best player on a horrible team. It was always apparent Archie was a great QB, but he never had help. Today he has seen both of his sons, Peyton and Eli, be No. 1 overall picks and win Super Bowls.
Virginia: Matt Schaub
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At Virginia, it always seemed like the Cavs weren't sure about Schaub early in his career. He split time with both Bryson Spinner and Marques Hagans and always had to prove himself. He did so in 2002 and then some.
Schaub went on to win the 2002 ACC POY and OPY awards. He took home 22 records from the Cav program, including most yards with over 7,500, completion percentage at 67 percent, 56 touchdown passes, eight 300-yard games and 716 completions.
He's the franchise QB for the Texans today, as he was traded by the Falcons in 2007.
Cincinnati: Tony Pike
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Pike always was an intriguing player for many observers, as he stood out due to his 6'6" frame. He had a solid arm at Cincinnati and commanded Brian Kelly's spread offense very well. Kelly demanded a lot out of Pike during his tenure with the Bearcats, and Pike delivered routinely.
He displayed good accuracy and at one time was regarded as a potential first-round pick in the draft. Pike got bit with the injury bug in his senior year and fell to the sixth round to the Panthers in the 2010 draft.
Iowa: Brad Banks
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Banks originally went to UCF but decided it wasn't for him after his redshirt freshman year. He went to the JUCO ranks and balled out at Hinds CC, first as a receiver and then as a QB as a sophomore.
He picked up an offer from Iowa as a QB and played in 10 games his first season for the Hawkeyes. But his senior season was sheer magic. Banks topped 2,500 yards and 26 scores, leading Iowa to an unbeaten Big Ten mark on the regular season. He was a dual-threat QB who finished second in Heisman voting in 2002 and won the AP POY award, the Davey O'Brien Award and the Big Ten MVP.
NC State: Philip Rivers
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Rivers is one of my favorite QBs to watch, college or NFL. He's the definition of a gamer, and I like the fact the fact that he's a bit cocky, has some moxie and has won wherever he's been. 6'5", 225 pounds, he has a funky delivery but is accurate, smart and a great leader.
I think he maybe should have won MVP this past year with the Chargers if they had made the playoffs. However, at NC State Rivers was money in the bank, winning MVP of every bowl game he played in and setting various passing marks.
Kansas State: Michael Bishop
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I remember in the mid to late 1990s waking up on Saturday mornings in the fall and seeing previews of some dude named "Michael Bishop." When I finally saw him play, I was amazed. Bishop was a playmaker for KSU, through and through.
He was Michael Vick before Vick came into the spotlight. Bishop could make throws from the pocket or on the run and run for first downs and touchdowns. I would even argue that he was the prime player that thrust Bill Snyder and Kansas State into the national spotlight, as KSU wasn't exactly a powerhouse before then.
Utah: Alex Smith
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Smith was an unknown QB from San Diego who was more known for being the guy who handed off to Reggie Bush than for his passing prowess. He didn't have many offers, and his uncle John L. Smith wasn't too sure about him coming to Louisville at the time.
Smith chose to go to Utah, and through hard work and also as an example of how crucial player development is, he blossomed into a national star. 6'3", 220 pounds, Smith displayed an adequate arm, mobility, accuracy and running ability in Urban Meyer's spread option offense.
Georgia Tech: Joe Hamilton
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Hamilton was not the biggest or most physically imposing QB in the world, but he was one of the best playmakers you ever watched play. That's why he goes down as the top QB in Yellow Jackets history.
About 5'10" tall, Hamilton still eclipsed records in the ACC for total offense, total touchdowns and touchdown passes. He nearly won the 1999 Heisman, finishing second to Ron Dayne. Today he is a QB for the Arena League's Orlando Predators.
Penn State: Kerry Collins
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Todd Blackledge was in consideration, as were a few others, but Collins takes the nod for the Nittany Lions, as the 6'5", 245-pounder is another top-quality pure pocket passer. He set many marks during his time at Penn State and became a high draft pick by the Panthers in 1995.
For PSU, Collins set new records for single-season passer efficiency, yards with nearly 2,700 and a 66.7 completion percentage. He finished fourth in Heisman voting and took home the O'Brien and Maxwell awards in 1994.
Nevada: Colin Kaepernick
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6'4" and 225 pounds, Kaepernick could see his name called in the first frame of the draft in a few days. I think he has the physical tools to develop into an upper-echelon starter in the NFL. Kaepernick possesses a cannon for an arm, great athleticism and solid accuracy.
He will need to transition from the pistol set at Nevada to a traditional pro-style offense, but he shows the ability to do so. At Reno, Kaepernick was a one-man wrecking crew, setting many dual-threat records in passing and rushing.
Chris Ault was sad to see him leave, as Kaepernick was as close to a one-man offense as there was.
USC: Matt Leinart
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In the years past, USC was known more for its running backs and linebackers than its QB play. But there have been some solid QBs to lead the Trojans. From current AD Pat Haden to Rodney Peete, USC has seen some solid QBs.
Carson Palmer is the most talented QB to ever don the cardinal and gold, but Matt Leinart is the best in school history. Leinart won two national titles and nearly won a third in 2005. He won a Heisman and finished among the top tier in voting the following year, when Reggie Bush won it.
Then there was the Notre Dame moment, the great Rose Bowl vs. Texas, the Rose Bowl win vs. Michigan the year before and the Orange Bowl massacre vs. Oklahoma, among a slew of other magical moments.
BYU: Ty Detmer
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At first I wanted to go with Steve Young, and then I was leaning toward Jim McMahon, but I settled on Detmer. I really could not have gone wrong with any of them, so if you disagree, just know that I did seriously consider McMahon and Young.
Detmer left BYU with 59—count 'em, 59—records attached to his name. He threw for over 15,000 yards and 121 scores. Detmer also set high marks for passer efficiency, completion percentage and total offense with over 14,600 yards.
Miami: Ken Dorsey
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Now some wanted me to go with Jacory Harris here for the Canes (they know who they are!). But in all seriousness, I think Dorsey deserves top honors for The U. He won games for the Canes and was the key instrument in that explosive band they called a team in the early 2000s.
A two-time Heisman finalist, Griffin Award winner and 2001 Maxwell winner, Dorsey led the Canes on a 34-game winning streak that ended against Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Total offense, passing yards, attempts, completions, touchdowns and wins records were all Dorsey's by the time he left Coral Gables.
Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta are also QBs that could have taken home the Miami honor.
Georgia: David Greene
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You know that song by DJ Khaled, "All I Do Is Win"? Yeah, that should be played for Greene every time he is seen around Athens. He won 42 games for the Bulldogs and left Athens as the winningest QB in D-I history. He also left school as the SEC leader in yards gained with over 11,000.
Greene didn't have a cannon arm, quick feet or a quick release. But he knew how manage an offense, where to go with the football and how to keep the Georgia offense on the field. That's why he won.
Florida: Tim Tebow
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I went with Tebow over the Ol' Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, and Danny Wuerffel. I mean, Tebow was an icon at Florida, still is and will always be. He's Mr. Florida Gator and had some magical moments in Gainesville. He won a Heisman, two national titles and countless awards as the QB of the Florida Gators.
Say what you want about Tebow's chances at being a good NFL QB, which I admit I have reservations about too, but the kid is a winner, a fighter and dedicated athlete that will do anything he can to be successful.
Arizona State: Jake Plummer
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Plummer had the hot hand in the desert for the Sun Devils. He was a phenomenon that you just loved to watch play in the 1990s. He was an athletic QB that could just make plays, make comebacks and wiggle his way out of tight spots.
Plummer was best served to play in an offense with a moving pocket, taking advantage of his athleticism and ability to hit throws on the run. He set numerous records at ASU and takes home its honor as the best QB in school history.
I liked Andrew Walter here too.
Texas: Vince Young
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Colt McCoy won more games than Young did in Austin, but I still think Young was the Longhorns' best QB in school history. He was among the first jumbo dual-threat QBs that we see so much in recruiting today.
Also, Young was a Texas celebrity before he signed with the Longhorns, as his legend dates all the way back to his Houston area high school days.
Young, in my opinion, won the national title by himself vs. USC. He totaled over 400 yards of offense rushing and passing and made plays vs. a talented and star-studded USC team.
I still do not feel he deserved the Heisman that year, as Reggie Bush was Superman in 2005 and deserved the award. However, Young balled out at Texas in his career and is the best the school has seen at the QB position.
Virginia Tech: Michael Vick
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OK, while there are still millions and perhaps billions of people who hate Vick for what he did in his dog fighting scandal, this is about Vick's football skills, which are excellent. He may be perhaps the greatest athlete to play QB in the history of the position.
Vick was amazing in Blacksburg. He was a remarkable physical specimen that had a cannon for an arm and was among the very fastest players in the country. In fact, you can make an argument that Vick may have the strongest arm and be the fastest player in the NFL.
His career numbers may not be too impressive at VaTech since he left after his sophomore season, but we all know he was special for the Hokies.
Nebraska: Tommie Frazier
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Frazier was the leader of that powerhouse '95 Big Red squad that won the second of back-to-back national titles. He was an excellent athlete that ran the option offense to perfection for Nebraska.
Tom Osborne started recruiting more speed to match up with the Big Three in Florida to give the Cornhuskers a better chance in their bowl games. Frazier came in as a prized QB recruit and left Nebraska as the top QB in school history.
He won 33 out of 36 games, two national titles and four conference rings and set marks for total offense, touchdown passes and rushing scores for a QB in a season. He's one of the greatest college football players of all time.
TCU: Sammy Baugh
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"Slingin' Sammy" goes down as the best TCU QB ever. Period. Although I must say that I did like Casey Printers, and I honestly believe Andy Dalton may end being a solid starter in the NFL, it's Baugh for the Horned Frogs.
Baugh went to TCU because he was allowed to play football, baseball and basketball. Other schools were a bit worried he might be stretched too thin. However, all he went on to do was become a two-time All-American and toss 39 career scores. He finished fourth in the Heisman race in 1936 and went on to become a legend with the Redskins.
Auburn: Pat Sullivan
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OK, for the record I have not lived on Mars for the past year. I'm fully aware of what Cameron Jerrell Newton did this past season for the Tigers. If Newton had come back for his senior season, yes, I'm sure he would have easily taken the nod.
But I'm going with Sullivan for the Tigers. He won 26 out of 33 games at Auburn and took home the Heisman in 1971. He set Auburn records at the time for total touchdowns and total offense with 71 touchdowns and a record 2,856 total yards in 1970.
6'0" and 190 pounds, Sullivan was a second-round pick by the Falcons in 1972.
Missouri: Brad Smith
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Brad Smith was Colin Kaepernick before we ever knew who Kaepernick was. Smith was the epitome of a dual-threat QB who destroyed defenses with passing and running poison. He was probably the best athlete on the field in 99 percent of the games he played in at Missouri.
He has so many "firsts" in NCAA history that he can be considered an offensive trailblazer. Chances are when you hear today that a QB is the second or third or fourth QB to rush for a certain number of yards and pass for another total, the first QB to do it was Brad Smith.
I'm not going to go over all of the records he has because they are too many to name. Smith was that ridiculous as a Tiger.
Next slide.
Notre Dame: Johnny Lujack
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I could have gone several different ways with this. From Lujack to Angelo Bertelli to Joe Montana to Joe Theismann, Notre Dame has bred some of the greatest college QBs in the history of the sport.
I chose to stick with Lujack, who seems to have his name mentioned the most when discussing top Notre Dame field generals. He has a Heisman attached to his name from the '47 season, two All-American honors and three national title rings.
Lujack is one of the true legends of college football, and it's only fitting he played at Notre Dame.
Michigan: Rick Leach
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Michigan is another school that has seen some top-flight QBs, and although Tom Brady is on track to go down as the top NFL QB of all time, I went with Leach over him for top Michigan field general. Leach played pro baseball as well.
As a star QB under Bo Schembechler, 45 of Leach's 462 passes went for touchdowns. The man was a scoring machine, becoming the first player to pass for 200 total points while running for another 200. He finished his Wolverine career with over 4,200 passing yards and 48 scores, along with over 2,100 rushing yards and 34 scores.
Texas A&M: Corey Pullig
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Aggie fans, I know I could have gone with Kevin Murray or even Reggie McNeal, but I chose Pullig. He won 33 out of 40 games, and by the time he left College Station, he had tossed for a then-school record 6,888 yards.
Pullig was durable, never missing a game out of the 40 he started, and got the job done through and through. He beat Louisville as a true freshman, and in the next week Pullig did not back down from big-time Houston QB David Klingler.
Guts. Production. Wins. Best Aggie QB in history.
Michigan State: Jeff Smoker
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Smoker was revealed to have some off the field issues with drug use, but on the field he was money in the bank. 6'3", 225 pounds, he had great size and physical tools for a college QB. He lit up the Big Ten every Saturday in the early part of last decade.
He set new records during his tenure for the Spartans with over 8,900 passing yards, 61 touchdown passes and 685 completions on 1,150 attempts. Season records included most yards, completions, passer efficiency and total offense.
He went 35-of-55 vs. Ohio State in 2003, which are both records.
South Carolina: Steve Taneyhill
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Before Steve Spurrier came to Columbia and dealt with Stephen Garcia, in the early to mid 1990s there was a Gamecock QB with the last name of Taneyhill. Many records that are in the Gamecock vaults to this day belong to Taneyhill.
He left Columbia with marks of over 8,300 yards of total offense and 62 touchdowns and went 753-of-1,245 in passing attempts and completions. Taneyhill also was popular because he wore a mullet and had a certain quirkiness to him that people loved.
Wisconsin: Ron Vander Kelen
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Talk about irony. Vander Kelen was born in Green Bay but played professionally for Minnesota. Wisconsin traditionally is more known for its running backs and great offensive linemen, as it hasn't necessarily run a spread, pass-happy offense in its history.
But Vander Kelen takes the nod for the Badgers, as he holds or held many of the passing marks around the parts of Camp Randall. His legend centers on the 1963 Rose Bowl, in which No. 2 Wisconsin shocked No. 1 USC with a fourth-quarter comeback led by Vander Kelen.
Ohio State: Troy Smith
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Many Buckeye fans point to Smith's greatest feat as beating Michigan three times as a starter. Sure, the Heisman and all the accolades are great, but Smith beat the Wolverines all three games he was in charge of the Buckeye offense.
For me, it seemed in Smith's senior year, Jim Tressel opened the usually conservative Ohio State offense because he trusted Smith so much. The Buckeyes ran many three- and four-wide sets with Smith in shotgun many times.
Smith didn't disappoint, putting up gaudy numbers and setting records en route to winning the Heisman in 2006.
Stanford: John Elway
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Well, this was a tough one. Sure, I could have taken the easy road and said Andrew Luck, but more so Jim Plunkett was amazing at Stanford. He could have gotten the nod over Elway with ease, but Elway's stats are a bit better than Plunkett's.
Plunkett won the Heisman in 1970, but Elway probably deserved the Heisman at least once from 1980-1982, the year he finished second as a senior. Elway just didn't have any help around him for the most part, similar to the story of Archie Manning's career.
He left Stanford with career marks of 9,359 yards and 77 scores. He was a consensus All-American, Pac-10 POY and was a baller on the baseball field too.
Oh, right—many say he's the greatest NFL QB of all time.
Arkansas: Bill Montgomery
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For three years from 1968-1970, Montgomery ran Arkansas. He helped the Hogs win the Southwest Conference title in 1968 and the Sugar Bowl in 1969. Montgomery also was All-Southwest Conference in 1970.
In his heyday, the Pig Sooie record books were his. Montgomery set records for just about every passing category one can fathom. From most yards in a career, most yards in a season, career touchdown passes, total offense, completion percentage, completions and attempts to a slew of others, they all were Montgomery's when he left Arkansas.
He also was the starting QB for the Razorbacks in the '69 game vs. Texas, dubbed "The Game of the Century."
Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy
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Josh Fields, Zac Robinson and potentially Brandon Weeden were seriously considered, but I went old school with Gundy, who today is the head coach of the Cowboy program. Before he ran the sidelines in Stillwater, Gundy ran the huddle for the Boys.
He left OSU as its all-time leading passer and also set many conference records in the then-Big 8 Conference. In four years at the helm, Gundy tossed for 49 scores and just about 8,000 yards and was the QB that you see handing the ball off to Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders in their college highlights.
Now the question is could he also become the greatest head coach in Cowboys history? We'll see.
Florida State: Charlie Ward
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Ward probably is the first player I remember following as a kid. He put me onto college football, as seeing him QB for the Seminoles was a wonder to watch. I think it's a bit of a shame we never got to see him try his hand in the NFL.
But at FSU, Ward was the man. He did similar things as Cam Newton did for Auburn in 2010. Ward was a dual-threat playmaker that showed off excellent athletic ability and arm strength and was just a sheer playmaker. Writing about him brings back early childhood memories.
Boise State: Kellen Moore
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Some will point to Boise State's recent rise as my decision on Moore, but I mean, come on—he has been one of the best QBs in the country since he took over for the Broncos.
He's not very big at 6'0", 190 pounds, nor very fast or uber-athletic. But Moore beats you with his mind, awareness, instincts and preparation. He watches a ton of film and has an understanding of the game that is very, very natural.
He has set Bronco marks in almost every category, and I expect him to challenge for some of the top passer efficiency marks this year yet again.
Oregon: Joey Harrington
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Yeah, I stuck with Harrington over Dan Fouts and Akili Smith, among others. Fouts set a lot of records during his tenure in Eugene, but Harrington eclipsed many of them and won 25 out of 28 games as a three-year starter for the Ducks.
I still think Oregon was robbed of playing in the BCS title game vs. Miami in 2002. Yet Harrington posted fabulous career numbers for the Ducks. He threw for a total of 6,911 passing yards along with 59 passing touchdowns. Harrington rushed for another 18 touchdowns and had over 7,100 yards of total offense.
LSU: Tommy Hodson
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Hodson blazed trails not only for LSU, but for the SEC as well in the late 1980s. He won two SEC titles for the Tigers and was the first SEC QB to pass for 8,000 yards and eclipse 60 passing touchdowns. He's just one of three players in NCAA history to toss for 2,000 yards in four straight years. He was also the first LSU player to be first team All-SEC in each of his four seasons for the Tigers.
Hodson is best remembered for his late-game heroics and touchdown pass vs. Auburn in 1988 in the contest known as the "Earthquake Game."
Hodson played six years in the NFL, mainly for the Patriots, and lives in Baton Rouge.
Alabama: Joe Namath
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Namath is best known for his days as the QB of the Jets and making the most famous guarantee in sports history. But he started his legend in Tuscaloosa under Bear Bryant from 1962-1964.
Some say that Namath is extremely overrated, but you can't knock him for being a winner. He won 29 of 33 games as a three-year starter for the Tide, and Bryant called him the best athlete he ever coached.
There have rumors of a rocky relationship between the two, stemming from Namath's laid-back persona and Bryant's stern demeanor, but it seems there was a mutual love for one another.
Namath left Tuscaloosa with over 2,700 yards passing, 25 touchdowns and another 655 rushing yards.
Oklahoma: Sam Bradford
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Jason White was considered here, among a couple others, but I went with Bradford. Bradford always struck me a player whose dream was not to play in the NFL, but to play at Oklahoma. Sure, he is giving the Rams all he's got, but I think deep down inside he's already lived his dream.
Bradford came to Norman as a 4-star QB recruit in 2006 as a backup to Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson. In 2007 he competed for the starting job with Keith Nichol and Joey Halzle. All Bradford did was light up the entire country every Saturday as a redshirt freshman.
He won the Heisman in 2008, setting a slew of Oklahoma records and being named POY and pretty much all-world. He came back for his junior year after many felt he would have been the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Bradford got hurt and missed most of the season, but the Rams took him No.1 overall in 2010, and he looks like a future All-Pro QB.
Tennessee: Peyton Manning
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Sure, he never beat Florida, and Charles Woodson edged him out for the Heisman, but for my generation, Peyton Manning may be the best QB we've seen. He's the face of the NFL and along with Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers composes the league's elite QBs.
He's the son of Archie and the brother of Eli and is the best in the family and in Vol history. Manning is a legend and icon in Knoxville. Known for his legendary work ethic, instincts, smarts, awareness, passing skills and a slew of other natural QB skills, Manning has a chance to be the very best QB of all time, college or pro.
He just needs at least one more Super Bowl ring to match his ridiculous numbers.
