College Football Predictions: Denard Robinson and Top 10 Dual-Threat QBs in 2011

Andrew Luck may be the early favorite for the Heisman, but in the college game, QBs are just as valuable for their legs as for their arms. A quarterback who can win games both in the air and on the ground is a weapon every team wants to have.

Read on for a look at the 10 best run-pass threats in the country going into 2011.

10. Jordan Jefferson, LSU

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Jordan Jefferson #9 of the Louisiana State University Tigers looks to throw a pass during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by

Jordan Jefferson’s raw numbers from 2010 suffer from splitting time with Jarrett Lee, but his talent earns him a place on this list. Though he ran for just 450 yards last year, his 83-yard scamper against Tennessee showed how dangerous he can be as a runner.

If Jefferson’s offseason work on his passing can keep him on the field more in 2011 (and help him better the 1,411 yards he posted last year through the air), he should be set up to shine next season.

9. Chris Relf, Mississippi State

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GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Chris Relf #14 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs upfield against nose tackle Lawrence March #90 of the Florida Gators October 16, 2010 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messers

Another QB whose arm is still catching up with his legs, Chris Relf was one of the keys to the Bulldogs’ 8-4 resurgence last season. His 1,789 passing yards kept defenses honest, while his 713 yards on the ground kept the MSU offense moving.

Relf has bushels of skill players returning around him, and he’ll need to play even better next season to keep Mississippi State on its upward trajectory.

8. Darron Thomas, Oregon

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 04: Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks throws a pass against the Oregon State Beavers during the 114th Civil War on December 4, 2010 at the Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

It’s tough to put up many rushing yards when you’re handing off to Heisman runner-up LaMichael James, but Darron Thomas still found time to gain 486 of his own on the ground.

Thomas orchestrated one of college football’s most dominant offenses last season, racking up 2,881 yards passing and a remarkable 30 TDs through the air.

With Oregon among the favorites to earn a spot in the national title game again next season, Thomas will have a very large spotlight on him, but if 2010 is any indication, the pressure isn’t going to faze him one bit.

7. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

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WACO, TX - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners at Floyd Casey Stadium on October 4, 2008 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Big 12 boasts some of the best quarterbacks in the country, so Robert Griffin III can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Though his Baylor Bears struggled to win games in the conference, Griffin himself lit up scoreboards in 2010.

Griffin threw for 3,501 yards last year while still running for 635. If the Bears’ defense can recover from the loss of first-round pick Phil Taylor and five other starters, Griffin could help them pull off a few upsets in 2011.

6. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: G.J. Kinne #4 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane is tackled by Brian Smith #58 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Tulsa defeated Notre Dame 28-27. (Photo by Jon

Playing at Tulsa, G.J. Kinne doesn’t get the press of most of the country’s top signal-callers, but he puts up numbers that can compete with anyone’s. Kinne’s 3,650 yards passing last year are the best of any QB on this list, and he chipped in 561 rushing yards to go with it.

Kinne will have plenty of opportunities to duke it out with other great QBs next season. The Golden Hurricane’s non-conference schedule includes Oklahoma (Landry Jones), Oklahoma State (Brandon Weeden) and Boise State (Kellen Moore).

5. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois

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ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Nathan Scheelhaase #2 of the Illinios Fighting Illini is tackled by Ray Vinopal #20 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Sh

Thrown into the Big 10 fires as a freshman, Nathan Scheelhaase responded in a big way. He passed for a solid 1,825 yards, while sparkling on the ground with 868 rushing yards.

Illinois again faces an uphill battle in a loaded conference, but don’t be surprised if Scheelhaase improves on his already impressive freshman season.

4. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois

The best QB you’ve probably never heard of, Chandler Harnish heads into his senior season as one of the Mid-America Conference’s top players. His 2,530 passing yards in 2010 were respectable enough, but it’s the 836 he added on the ground that set him apart.

Harnish will get a chance to show what he can do against elite competition in September, when the Huskies play Big 10 power Wisconsin at Soldier Field.

3. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

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

Once he completes his five-game suspension, Terrelle Pryor will step back into one of the highest-pressure situations in the country. With Ohio State again likely to contend for a BCS bowl, Pryor will have to hit the ground running as he and several other offensive stars rejoin the team in the midst of conference play.

Running is just one of Pryor’s strengths, as he piled up 754 yards on the ground last year. Add in 2,772 passing yards and he becomes one of the most balanced dual threats in the country.

2. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners beat the Cornhuskers 23-20. (Photo by

The only freshman QB to outdo Nathan Scheelhaase’s debut, Taylor Martinez kept Nebraska in the rankings even in a hotly contested Big 12. Martinez’s electrifying running (965 yards and 12 TDs last season) was the heart of the Cornhuskers’ offense in 2010, and he also chipped in 1,631 passing yards in the bargain.

Big 10 defenses will be seeing a lot of run/pass threats in 2010, and Martinez isn’t going to sneak up on anybody after his brilliant debut. Even so, expect him to have Nebraska contending throughout his sophomore season.

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 1, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images)

The winner of the dual-threat competition, by a shoelace (and then some), is the incomparable Denard Robinson. His passing is supposed to be his weak spot, but he threw for 2,570 yards and 18 TDs in 2010.

Of course, those numbers pale in comparison to the absurd 1,702 yards and 14 TDs he piled up on the ground.

If Michigan can play a bit more defense this season, Robinson should find himself in Heisman contention. He’ll certainly put up impressive numbers, but adding a bigger number in the win column would really help his cause.