2012 NFL Draft Prospects: The Top Quarterbacks
Just think for a second how different the first round of this year’s NFL Draft would have looked if Stanford’s Andrew Luck would have made the decision to join the party.
Luck would have almost certainly been the No. 1 overall pick and it would have completely changed the entire dynamic of draft night.
We all know that didn’t happen though, as Luck ultimately decided he had unfinished business to attend to in Palo Alto.
Now the junior QB will enter the 2011 season as the overwhelming favorite to be next year's No. 1 overall pick.
Hopefully, this whole lockout mess gets sorted out, so we can watch a few dreadful teams compete in the Luck sweepstakes. Right now, I’ve got Seattle installed as the 3/1 favorite.
Luck may hog all the attention this summer, but he’s definitely not the only quarterback prospect worth watching this season.
Here’s a look at college football’s top draft-eligible quarterbacks.
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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There’s no debating about who is the best QB in college football.
Stanford’s Andrew Luck is college football’s clear-cut No. 1 pro prospect and one of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen in nearly a decade.
Luck, the son of former NFL QB Oliver Luck, has seemingly been groomed to be the face of an NFL franchise someday and there’s very little not to like about his game.
Size, arm strength, instincts, athleticism, intangibles – Luck's got all the traits you’re looking for.
The 6’4’’ 235-pound junior threw for over 3,300 yards and 32 TDs in 2010 on his way to a runner-up finish in the Heisman voting.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he improves on those numbers and actually takes home the trophy this year.
2. Nick Foles, Arizona
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Every time it looks like Nick Foles is finally ready to reach his enormous potential, it seems like he’ll have a string of bad games that brings him all the way back to square one.
After starting the 2010 season off strong, Foles faded down the stretch after returning from a knee injury and Arizona ended up finishing the season on a dreadful five-game losing streak.
Although the 6’5’’ 245-pound senior finished the year with over 3,100 passing yards, it couldn’t hide the fact that the team had ended another season on a sour note.
It’s obvious that Foles has the talent to be an upper-echelon quarterback prospect and he's probably a more refined player than this year’s No. 10 pick, Blaine Gabbert.
If Foles wants to be considered among the elite at his position, he’s going to have to figure out a way to be consistent for a full season.
3. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
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Terrelle Pryor is one of those players who you either love or hate. There’s no in between.
Pryor, a former all-world recruit, has acquired his fair share of critics during his three years at Ohio State but it doesn’t matter whether you think he’s overrated, you simply can’t deny what he’s been able to accomplish in Columbus.
There are not many quarterbacks in college football that have Pryor’s resume. You can’t just neglect back-to-back BCS bowl game MVPs and a 23-3 overall record over the last two seasons.
Sure, the 6’6’’ 235-pound senior doesn’t have the type of arm strength you look for in an NFL quarterback, but when you’re dealing with the kind of elite athlete that Pryor is, it changes how you have to view him as a prospect.
Pryor is a better all-around quarterback at this stage than Cam Newton and Vince Young, two top five picks, were when they both entered the draft.
He may not be perfect, but Pryor is going to be one of the most intriguing and debated about prospects in next year’s class.
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4. Mike Glennon, North Carolina State
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You might want to hop on the Mike Glennon bandwagon now because by December, it’s going to be pretty packed.
Since he’s been forced to sit behind Russell Wilson for two straight seasons, Glennon hasn’t had a chance to prove himself to the college football world just yet. But that’s about to change in 2011.
The 6’6’’ 225-pound junior came to North Carolina State as one of the most coveted high school quarterbacks in the country and he’ll now get the chance to back up his recruiting reputation.
Glennon, the younger brother of former Virginia Tech QB Sean Glennon, has the size and arm strength combination that just screams future franchise quarterback.
With Glennon under center, the Wolfpack should be in contention for an ACC conference crown this year.
5. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma is likely to enter the 2011 season as the No. 1-ranked team in the country, which means QB Landry Jones will have the spotlight squarely on his shoulders.
As a sophomore, Jones led the nation with 405 completions, throwing for over 4,700 yards and 38 TDs. And he has a chance to put up even bigger numbers this season.
The 6’4’’ 220-pound junior has really improved since initially being thrown into the fire following Sam Bradford’s season-ending injury in 2009.
Jones, a former four-star recruit, may not be a No. 1 overall pick-caliber prospect like Bradford, but he’s got what it takes to develop into a first-round talent.
If Jones can lead the Sooners to the national title game, he should finish near the top of the Heisman voting and he should also solidify himself as a high draft pick.
6. Matt Barkley, USC
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USC has had a nice run of producing first-round quarterbacks in recent years with Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.
The quarterback who looks to be the next in that line is the Trojans’ current offensive sheriff, Matt Barkley.
Barkley, who came in as a freshman and snatched the starting job from Aaron Corp, is a battle-tested field general who is every bit as talented as his highly touted predecessors.
The 6’2’’ 220-pound junior has already thrown for over 5,500 yards and 41 TDs in his first two seasons on the job and the scary thing is, Barkley could be ready to have his best year yet in 2011.
7. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
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Over the last two seasons, former Razorback QB Ryan Mallett put up huge numbers in Bobby Petrino’s pass-heavy offense.
When push came to shove, though, NFL teams decided to take a pass on the big QB with the cannon arm and Mallett dropped all the way to the third round of the 2011 Draft.
Mallett’s successor, Tyler Wilson, may not put up the same type of huge numbers of his predecessor, but he could develop into a much more desirable pro prospect.
Wilson, a 6’3’’ 215-pound junior, was efficient in relief duty in 2010 and he solidified himself as a QB to watch with a dazzling performance in the Arkansas spring game.
Wilson will have plenty of help at his disposal.
He'll be surrounded with star power at the offensive skill positions with players such as running back Knile Davis and receivers Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright.
8. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
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Last season, it felt like Michigan State was one of those teams that just never quite got the respect they fully deserved.
Even though the Spartans finished the year with 11 wins and a share of the Big Ten title, you rarely ever heard too much about them.
It might be hard, however, to keep Michigan State out of the spotlight this season if QB Kirk Cousins plays up to his potential.
Cousins has continued to refine his game over the past two years, finishing the 2010 season with over 2,800 passing yards and 20 TDs.
The 6’3’’ 205-pound senior may not be the flashiest prospect on the block, but when it comes to efficiency, Cousins is right up there with the best of them.
9. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
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The Oklahoma State passing tandem of QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon obviously didn’t pay much attention to the many analysts who pegged the Cowboys to finish near the basement of the Big 12 South in 2010.
Weeden and Blackmon emerged from relative obscurity to become the two key pieces of an Oklahoma State offensive attack that ranked second in the country in passing last season.
Weeden ended the year with over 4,200 passing yards and 34 scoring strikes.
The 6’4’’ 225-pound senior will miss the playcalling of Dana Holgorsen, but if Weeden keeps slinging the ball around like he did last year, he’s sure to catch the attention of talent evaluators.
10. Geno Smith, West Virginia
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Dana Holgorsen’s arrival in Morgantown is great news for the Mountaineers, especially QB Geno Smith.
Smith, who threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 TDs in his first year as a starter last season, is the type of strong-armed signal caller who should flourish in Holgorsen’s Air Raid offense.
We got a small taste of what the future could hold when Smith threw for 388 yards and four TDs in West Virginia’s spring game.
We already knew the 6’3’’ 210-pound junior had an NFL-caliber arm. Now he’ll really get the opportunity to put it to good use this season.
11. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
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Savvy seems like a sufficient word to describe San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley.
Lindley may not be the greatest athlete, and he may not have the kind of arm strength that makes your jaw drop, but he’s the type of quarterback who comes in and gets the job done when it’s needed.
Lindley has improved his game each of the past three years and it all paid off last season when the 6’4’’ 215-pound senior led the Aztecs to just their second bowl win ever.
While he may not have NFL starter potential, Lindley is the type of mid-round quarterback prospect that will raise a few eyebrows.
12. Bryn Renner, North Carolina
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After a mediocre campaign in 2010, North Carolina not only has a shot to contend for an ACC championship this year, the Tar Heels also have what it takes to make a run at a national title as well.
It all starts with the new pair of hands under center.
QB Bryn Renner, a former four-star recruit, has all the tools necessary to become college football’s next star.
Renner should have been starting instead of T.J. Yates, but Butch Davis opted for strong senior leadership.
After a terrific showing in spring practice, the 6’3’’ 195-pound redshirt sophomore is now set up for a breakout season in 2011.
With one of the best receiver trios in America, comprised of Dwight Jones, Erik Highsmith and Jheranie Boyd, to throw to, Renner will have a great opportunity to shine in his first season as a starter.
13. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
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Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman has one man to thank for saving his job, and that’s his QB, Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill took over for the struggling Jerrod Johnson midway through last season after the Aggies had lost three straight games, and he ended up righting the ship and guiding the team to six straight victories to end the regular season.
The 6’4’’ 220-pound senior took little time to adapt after switching from wide receiver to quarterback and he proved to be a natural leader.
Don’t be surprised if Tannehill turns out to be next year’s version of Andy Dalton.
He’s the type of QB who may not have a prototypical NFL skill set, but he certainly possesses the all important winning intangible.
14. Kellen Moore, Boise State
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Kellen Moore is one of the most interesting prospects in next year's draft class.
Moore is already one of the most accomplished college quarterbacks in recent history and he’s proven to be a consistent winner in all three of his seasons as a starter. However, there’s no getting around the fact that the 6’0’’ 185 lb. senior lacks the desired size and overall skills to be an NFL starter.
Moore may be a tactician on the field and there are very few college quarterbacks who prepare and break down film like him. But he can only go so far with what he’s naturally been given.
It’s hard to see any NFL team valuing Moore as anything more than a backup.
15. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State
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Arizona State has a chance to be a true contender in the new Pac-12 conference this season and one of the major reasons why is QB Brock Osweiler.
Osweiler inherits the starting position from Steven Threet, who was forced to give up football due to concussions, although it’s likely he would have taken the job from him anyway this offseason.
The 6’8’’ 240 lb. junior put on a show in the final two games of the 2010 season, leading the Sun Devils to victories over UCLA and archrival Arizona. In those two contests, Osweiler threw for nearly 650 yards and five TDs.
If Osweiler can replicate his late season heroics in 2011, he should start to gain some national attention.
10 Other Prospects to Watch
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1. E.J. Manuel, Florida State (Junior)
2. Case Keenum, Houston (Senior)
3. Darron Thomas, Oregon (Junior)
4. Morgan Newton, Kentucky (Junior)
5. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa (Senior)
6. Aaron Murray, Georgia (R. Sophomore)
7. Robert Griffin, Baylor (Junior)
8. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois (Senior)
9. Ryan Katz, Oregon State (Junior)
10. Dominique Davis, East Carolina (Senior)
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