College Football: Top 50 Quarterbacks of the 21st Century
We've witnessed 10 seasons of quarterback play in the 21st Century. That's right, I'm one of those people who doesn't start counting until 2001—so you could start in 2000, but not finish in 2000 to be considered.
That quarterback play has been special.
Who's the best? Tim Tebow? Sam Bradford? Colt McCoy? Vince Young?
How about Cam Newton? That was definitely one amazing season he put together at Auburn.
It's a tough call. Each one was exceptional and gave us all a reason to tune in on Saturdays during the fall.
Here's a look at the top 50 quarterbacks from 2001-2010.
50. Erik Ainge, Tennessee
1 of 50
Career Stats (2004-2007) : 8,700 yards, 72 TD, 35 INT
Erik Ainge was one of two four-star quarterbacks to arrive in Knoxville in the fall of 2004; he was joined by Brent Schaeffer, who actually started the first game that season.
Ainge eventually won out though, and Schaeffer transferred.
Ainge's career was marred by injuries, but he still got on the field and put up some great numbers under Phil Fulmer.
His best season was his senior year when he threw for 3,522 yards and 31 touchdowns, as the Volunteers finished 10-4.
49. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
2 of 50
Career Stats (2007-2009): 8,148 yards, 60 TD, 27 INT
Jimmy Clausen arrived in South Bend with a lot of hype, and he was predicting Heisman Trophies.
He had what you call a so-so career with the Irish though.
Clausen had some big games, but in the end he just didn’t live up to hoopla.
As he left, so did Charlie Weis.
48. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
3 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2009): 10,392 yards (passing), 4,361 yards (rushing), 74 TD (passing), 64 TD (rushing), 33 INT
Armanti Edwards will always be remembered as the dual-threat quarterback Michigan's defense could not stop in Lloyd Carr's final season with the Wolverines.
Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for another 62 yards and a score in the 34-32 win in Ann Arbor.
The Mountaineers won national championships in Edwards' first two seasons with the program. He is now a wide receiver in the NFL.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
47. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
4 of 50
Career Stats (2007-2010): 10,098 yards (passing), 4,112 yards (rushing), 82 TD (passing), 59 TD (rushing), 24 INT
Coming out of high school, Colin Kaepernick was more sought after as a baseball player thanks to his cannon of an arm.
But he wanted to play football, and Nevada was the only D1 program willing to offer him a scholarship. That paid off well.
Kaepernick is like Cam Newton lite; he can run and throw, but he's just not as bulky.
As of today, Kaepernick is the only quarterback in FBS history to have totaled more than 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 yards rushing in a career.
His big moment came last season in Nevada's huge 34-31 upset of Boise State that helped the Wolf Pack to a share of the WAC championship.
46. Kyle Orton, Purdue
5 of 50
Career Stats (2001-2004): 8,918 yards, 61 TD, 24 INT
During his first three seasons with Purdue, Kyle Orton was a good Big Ten quarterback.
Then his senior season he just blew up, leading the Boilermakers to the 2004 Sun Bowl, which was his fourth straight bowl game.
Orton threw for 3,090 yards and 31 touchdowns, more than double his next-best season at Purdue.
He's gone 32-30 as an NFL starter and remains with the Denver Broncos.
45. Jason Campbell, Auburn
6 of 50
Career Stats (2001-2004): 7,299 yards, 45 TD, 24 INT
Jason Campbell is another quarterback who really stepped up his game his senior season with Auburn.
After a pretty average first three seasons, Campbell completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 2,700 yards and 20 touchdowns as Auburn went undefeated.
The Tigers were denied a spot in the BCS Championship, but Campbell and his teammates defeated Virginia Tech 16-13 in the Sugar Bowl to go 13-0.
Campbell went on to be a first-round selection in the 2005 draft and is still in the NFL.
44. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
7 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2009): 12,905 yards (passing), 2,948 yards (rushing), 102 TD (passing), 47 TD (rushing), 36 INT
Say hello to the Tim Tebow of the MAC.
For four seasons, Dan LeFevour was arguably one of the more consistent quarterbacks in the nation. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards every season and no less than 21 touchdowns. He was also a serious running threat for coach Butch Jones.
LeFevour didn't get the national hype, but he was good enough to play anywhere in the country—of course, except Florida.
43. Brad Smith, Missouri
8 of 50
Career Stats (2002-2005): 8,799 yards (passing), 4,289 yards (rushing), 56 TD, 45 TD, 33 INT
Brad Smith became the first player in FBS to pass for 8,000 yards and rush for 4,000 in a career.
His best season was probably his freshman year when he threw for 2,333 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also compiling 1,029 yards on the ground.
Smith led Missouri to a 7-5 record his senior season, but more importantly the program's first bowl win in seven years with a 38-31 victory over South Carolina.
He was drafted by the Jets in 2006 and remains with the team in mostly a special teams role.
42. Jason Gesser, Washington State
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Career Stats (2000-2002): 8,104 yards, 69 TD, 33 INT
Jason Gesser is not a name that pops out to the average fan, but any Washington State fan can't forget him.
Gesser put together three outstanding seasons for the Cougars, including leading Wazzu to a Rose Bowl appearance his senior season. He also leads all Washington State quarterbacks in victories.
It's been a long time since Washington State was talking about the Rose Bowl.
Gesser led the Cougars to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2001-2002 and finished seventh in the Heisman balloting in 2002.
41. Woody Dantzler, Clemson
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Career Stats (1998-2001): 5,639 yards (passing), 2,263 yards (rushing), 36 TD (passing), 27 TD (rushing), 23 INT
Woody Dantzler helped put Rich Rodriguez on the map.
Rodriguez perfected his spread offense by using Dantzler's throwing and running abilities. Dantzler was the perfect fit, and he dazzled Clemson fans as the starter for three seasons.
Dantzler became the first player in college football history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a regular season in 2001.
Clemson had a disappointing 7-5 record in Dantzler's final season, which was also the first year after Rodriguez left.
40. Eric Crouch, Nebraska
11 of 50
Career Stats (1998-2001): 4,481 yards (passing), 3,434 yards (rushing), 29 TD (passing), 59 TD (rushing), 25 INT
Eric Crouch is remembered more for his running than throwing, but that's not a reason to bump him from this list.
Crouch won the 2001 Heisman Trophy, led the Cornhuskers to an 11-2 record and a place in the BCS Championship game. That spot in the title game did come with a little controversy though.
Nebraska lost its final regular season game 62-36 to Colorado, which cost the Cornhuskers a spot in the Big 12 title game. However, Nebraska's strength of schedule was enough to get the spot against Miami in the title game.
None of that was Crouch's fault, though.
His passing ability was always suspect, but he was a strong leader for Frank Solich.
39. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
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Career Stats (2008-2010): 6,822 yards, 40 TD, 18 INT
Blaine Gabbert was one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the nation coming out of high school in 2008. Gary Pinkel decided not to redshirt his prized recruit, and Gabbert didn't disappoint.
While he didn't play much his first season, Gabbert was the star of the team the next two years.
In his debut, he threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Illinois.
Gabbert decided to leave college with a year of eligibility remaining, and he was drafted 10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
38. Chris Leak, Florida
13 of 50
Career Stats (2003-2006): 11,213 yards, 88 TD, 42 INT
Chris Leak was another highly-touted prospect when he arrived on the Gainesville campus in 2003. Instead of redshirting, Ron Zook chose to play Leak.
He eventually took over the starting job and became Florida's quarterback the next four seasons. He did split some time with Tim Tebow in 2006 as the duo led the Gators to a BCS Championship.
Leak's performances were often criticized by the fans, but in the end he became a popular player for the Gators. At only 5'11", Leak's size worked against him, but he still had a rocket arm and solid accuracy.
37. Jake Locker, Washington
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Career Stats (2007-2010): 7,639 yards (passing), 1,783 yards (rushing), 53 TD (passing), 29 TD (rushing), 35 INT
Sometimes it seems like if Jake Locker had left after his junior year, his college legacy would be better.
But that is unfair.
Locker was injured most of his final season at Washington, and he accomplished a major goal he set, which was to lead the Huskies to a bowl victory.
Locker was never surrounded with much talent, but yet he still found a way to be a superstar. His accuracy was always a concern, but his athletic ability was what always made him special.
36. Todd Reesing, Kansas
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Career Stats (2006-2009): 11,194 yards (passing), 646 yards (rushing), 90 TD (passing), 15 TD (rushing), 33 INT
Todd Reesing's first season (his sophomore year) leading the Jayhawks was one of the best seasons in Kansas history.
Reesing threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 33 touchdowns as Kansas went 12-1 and beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl for then-coach Mark Mangino.
Reesing's numbers dipped his senior season, and he's yet to find a place in professional football.
35. Andy Dalton, TCU
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Career Stats (2007-2010): 10,314 yards (passing), 1,534 yards (rushing), 71 TD (passing), 12 TD (rushing), 30 INT
Andy Dalton was named the All-Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010. His shining moment though came in the Rose Bowl last season when he guided TCU to a 21-19 victory over Wisconsin.
Dalton had a four-year record of 42-7 and was named the MVP of three bowl games. He also set school season records in 2010 with a 66.1 completion percentage and 27 touchdown passes.
He was also accurate, throwing just six interceptions last season.
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted him this spring.
34. Mark Sanchez, USC
17 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2008): 3,965 yards, 41 TD, 16 INT
While Mark Sanchez saw action in three seasons with USC, it wasn't until his junior year that he finally took over the starting job.
He made the most of that one season, throwing for more 3,200 yards and 34 touchdowns as the Trojans finished third in the nation with a 12-1 record.
There were many who questioned Sanchez for leaving early—even his own coach Pete Carroll—but the young gunslinger has proven his worth in the NFL with the Jets.
33. Kevin Kolb, Houston
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Career Stats (2003-2006): 12,954 yards (passing), 751 yards (rushing), 85 TD (passing), 21 TD (rushing), 31 INT
Kevin Kolb earned the starting job at Houston as a freshman, the first in school history, and he delivered big time.
Kolb finished that season with 3,131 passing yards and 25 touchdowns as Houston went 7-6. After two more subpar campaigns for the team, Kolb finally led Houston to a 10-4 record his senior season. He threw for more than 3,800 yards and 30 touchdowns.
This led to him being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round in 2007.
32. Rex Grossman, Florida
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Career Stats (2000-2002): 9,164 yards, 77 TD, 36 INT
Rex Grossman didn't start the 2000 season as Florida's starter, but he earned the spot after completing 13-of-16 for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Mississippi State.
In 2001, Grossman led Florida to a 10-2 season and led the nation in passing efficiency. He also lost a close battle for the Heisman Trophy to Nebraska's Eric Crouch.
One of his best career showings in college came against LSU when he completed 22-of-32 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns in a 44-15 victory.
Grossman's junior season wasn't quite as special as his sophomore year, but he still decided to leave college early for the NFL.
31. B.J. Symons, Texas Tech
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Career Stats (2000-2003): 6,378 yards, 59 TD, 25 INT
B.J. Symons started just one season at Texas Tech, but man, did he tear up in 2003 for the Red Raiders.
Symons flourished under Mike Leach, breaking the NCAA record for passing yards in a season with 5,833 while leading Texas Tech to an 8-5 record.
He also had Big 12 records for touchdown passes (52), completions (470) and attempts (719).
Symons even tore his ACL during the season, but still continued to play.
30. Brad Banks, Iowa
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Career Stats (2001-2002): 3,155 yards (passing), 595 yards (rushing), 30 TD (passing), 7 TD (rushing), 7 INT
Brad Banks is another of the one-year wonders.
Until 2002, Banks had not contributed much to Iowa's football program. In his final season, he threw 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
He originally attended UCF after leading Glades Central High School to a Florida state championship, but transferred after one season; he didn't arrive at Iowa until 2001.
In 2002, Banks was a key player in leading the Hawkeyes to an 11-2 record and a share of the Big Ten title with Ohio State.
He was also the runner-up to Heisman winner Carson Palmer in 2002.
29. Matt Ryan, Boston College
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Career Stats (2004-2007): 9,313 yards, 56 TD, 37 INT
Matt Ryan established himself as a future NFL quarterback during his final two seasons at Boston College, finally becoming a full-time starter about mid-way through his sophomore season.
During his senior season, Ryan guided the Eagles to an 8-0 start and finished the season 11-3. He threw for more than 4,500 yards and 31 touchdowns that year.
The year before that, Ryan's Eagles went 10-3 and reached the Meineke Car Care Bowl. He finished the season with 2,942 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
He was eventually the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
28. Alex Smith, Utah
23 of 50
Career Stats (2002-2004): 5,203 yards (passing), 1,094 yards (rushing), 47 TD (passing), 15 TD (rushing), 8 INT
It's hard to imagine today that Alex Smith was selected No. 1 overall by San Francisco and Aaron Rodgers dropped 23 spots to the Green Bay Packers in the same draft.
But Smith was that good in college.
He didn't throw interceptions, and he made good decisions while starring for Urban Meyer at Utah. During his final season, the Utes went 12-0 and finished fourth in the nation after beating Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl in 2004.
Smith threw 32 touchdown passes that season, while only getting intercepted four times.
27. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
24 of 50
Career Stats (2002-2005): 8,697 yards (passing), 1,256 yards (rushing), 59 TD (passing), 17 TD (rushing), 36 INT
Jay Cutler always seemed to be the most talented quarterback in the country, but his numbers didn't justify the tag.
Of course he was playing with inferior talent at Vanderbilt, so to quote coach Bud Kilmer from Varsity Blues, "You got to be the dumbest smart kid I know."
Cutler did deliver his final season with the Commodores, as he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Of course, Vanderbilt finished 5-6.
26. Joey Harrington, Oregon
25 of 50
Career Stats (1999-2001): 6,289 yards, 53 TD, 21 INT
Who could forget "Joey Heisman?"
Harrington didn't win the Heisman, but he did have a nice career with the Ducks.
He was a three-year starter and went on to be the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions. While his NFL career was checkered, his college standing is solid.
Harrington led Oregon to the brink of the BCS Championship in 2002, but the Ducks were denied a shot and eventually thrashed Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Harrington had one of his best college games—throwing for 350 yards—that night, which created quite a stir.
The Ducks finished No. 2 to Miami, but the fans in Eugene were not happy about the slight.
25. David Greene, Georgia
26 of 50
Career Stats (2001-2004): 11,528 yards, 72 TD, 32 INT
David Greene finished his career as the all-time winningest quarterback in FBS history with 42 victories. That mark has since been passed by former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy though.
Greene earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman and never relinquished it. He led the Bulldogs to their first SEC Championship since 1982 during his second season, which included a Sugar Bowl victory over Florida State and a 13-1 record.
In his final season, Green threw 20 touchdown passes and was picked off just four times as Georgia went 10-2 and finished No. 7 in the polls.
24. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami of Ohio
27 of 50
Career Stats (2001-2003): 10,829 yards, 84 TD, 34 INT
While Ben Roethlisberger was tearing up the Mid-American Conference, he wasn't quite a household name.
In fairness, no one outside of Oxford, Ohio, knew how to pronounce his last name.
But the young Roethlisberger put up some special numbers during his first two seasons; his third and final one with Miami University was even better.
He completed close to 70 percent of his passes for 4,486 yards to go with 37 touchdowns as the Redhawks finished 13-1 for the late Terry Hoeppner. The lone loss of the season was a 21-3 setback to Iowa in the opener.
Roethlisberger has done well in the NFL, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to three Super Bowls; he has won two.
23. Matthew Stafford, Georgia
28 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2008): 7,731 yards, 51 TD, 33 INT
Matthew Stafford didn't waste any time becoming "The Man" at Georgia.
After graduating from high school early, Stafford enrolled at Georgia and earned the starting nod as a true freshman—the first Bulldog to do so since Eric Zeier in 1991.
Stafford had one of the strongest arms in the college game during his three years; at times that worked against him, as he was picked off 33 times.
His final season in Athens was his best. Stafford completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,459 yards and 25 touchdowns as the Bulldogs finished 10-3.
22. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
29 of 50
Career Stats (2003-2006): 11,762 yards, 95 TD, 39 INT
It always feels like Brady Quinn underachieved at Notre Dame, but when you take a closer look at his four seasons with the Irish, you start to appreciate his performance.
Quinn was a superstar among average talent during his run, but he made the most of it.
He also helped Charlie Weis enjoy two of his better seasons in South Bend. In 2005, Quinn led Notre Dame to a 9-3 season, a No. 9 ranking and a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Ohio State. The following season the Irish went 10-3 and faced LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
Quinn's junior season was his best. He completed nearly 65 percent of his passes and threw for 32 touchdowns.
21. Chad Henne, Michigan
30 of 50
Career Stats (2004-2008): 9,715 yards, 87 TD, 37 INT
Chad Henne became just the second true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan's storied program since Rick Leach in 1975.
He remained Michigan's starter for the next four seasons. He did miss a few games because of injury, but it was never in doubt who the top guy was.
While Henne was pretty consistent throughout his career, you could also argue his performances didn't improve much from his freshman season.
He also went 0-4 against rival Ohio State.
20. Troy Smith, Ohio State
31 of 50
Career Stats (2003-2006): 5,720 yards (passing), 1,168 yards (rushing), 54 TD (passing), 14 TD (rushing), 13 INT
While Chad Henne never found a way to beat his rival, Troy Smith was a Michigan killer. He went 3-0 against the Wolverines and went on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy.
Smith earns this lofty spot because of his intangibles. He led Ohio State to a perfect regular season in 2006, and he just found ways to win.
If you are still doubting Smith, in 2010, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN listed Smith as the Big Ten player of the decade. Not too shabby.
19. Brian Brohm, Louisville
32 of 50
Career Stats (2004-2007): 10,775 yards, 71 TD, 24 INT
Brian Brohm is probably one of the more underappreciated superstar quarterbacks from this era.
He consistently completed around 65 percent of his passes each season, and his numbers got better each year when it came to yards and touchdowns.
Brohm put up some gaudy numbers during his senior season, but it was a disappointing finish as Louisville went 6-6 in Steve Kragthorpe's first season. He was clutch the year before though; Louisville won the Big East and finished 12-1 with an Orange Bowl win over Wake Forest.
18. Aaron Rodgers, California
33 of 50
Career Stats (2004-2007): 5,469 yards, 43 TD, 13 INT
Aaron Rodgers did not muster much attention from the college scouts coming out of high school because he lacked prototypical size.
After a year of junior college though, he had grown to 6'2" and was getting more attention. He landed at Cal where he flourished under Jeff Tedford.
As a junior he led the Bears to a 10-1 season, but they didn't get invited to the Rose Bowl. Cal was ranked No. 4 in the nation, but played poorly against Texas Tech and lost the Insight Bowl.
Rodgers chose to leave after that season for the NFL, and after backing up Brett Favre for a number of years in Green Bay, he led the Packers to a Super Bowl win over Pittsburgh last season.
17. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
34 of 50
Career Stats (2005-2007): 14,193 yards (passing), 547 yards (rushing), 131 TD (passing), 15 TD (rushing), 42 INT
Colt Brennan has been labeled a system guy, but you can't deny how effective he was under June Jones at Hawaii, picking apart WAC defenses for three years.
He was exposed a bit in the 2008 Sugar Bowl when Georgia ripped apart the previously-unbeaten Warriors, 41-10. Brennan still holds 30 FBS records though, including the mark for most passing touchdowns in a single season (58 in 2006).
16. Case Keenum, Houston
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Career Stats (2007-Present): 13,586 yards (passing), 862 yards (rushing), 107 TD (passing), 20 TD (rushing), 41 INT
Because of a season-ending knee injury last season, Case Keenum is back for another season with Houston. If he returns to his 2009 form, Keenum is going to move up this list even more.
While he's not an unknown commodity, Keenum's exploits sometimes go overlooked as most of his games come against Conference USA foes.
His break-out moment came when he led Houston to an upset win at No. 5 Oklahoma State in 2009. The Cougars also upset Texas Tech and Mississippi State that season.
15. Eli Manning, Ole Miss
36 of 50
Career Stats (2000-2003): 10,119 yards, 81 TD, 35 INT
Eli Manning had the name and the pressure to go with it—but he also had the talent.
Manning attended his father's alma mater and helped revitalize the program for a few years. In his final season, Manning led the Rebels to a 10-3 record and a key 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.
Once Manning left, the program fell on hard times for a few years.
14. Carson Palmer, USC
37 of 50
Career Stats (1999-2002): 11,668 yards, 72 TD, 49 INT
When Carson Palmer arrived at USC, expectations were high.
But it wasn't until his senior season that Palmer finally lived up to the hype—and what a year it was.
That 2002 season was the start of the USC resurgence, and Palmer played a critical role. He won the Heisman and led the Trojans to a big Orange Bowl victory over Iowa.
13. Chase Daniel, Missouri
38 of 50
Career Stats (2005-2008): 12,515 yards (passing), 971 yards (rushing), 101 TD (passing), 10 TD (rushing), 41 INT
Chase Daniel's 2007 season was easily his best as he threw for 4,306 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Missouri went 8-5, 12-2 and 10-4 in his three seasons as a starter. In 2007, he had the Tigers on the brink of the BCS Championship game, but they lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, 38-17.
Daniel held nearly every school passing record when he graduated.
12. Jason White, Oklahoma
39 of 50
Career Stats (1999-2004): 7,913 yards, 81 TD, 24 INT
Jason White is probably the least gifted player on this list, but he did so much with what he had that you have to pay tribute to it.
White missed his first two seasons after blowing out a knee each season; he was granted a sixth season by the NCAA because of his medical hardships.
Battling through adversity, White led Oklahoma to back-to-back BCS Championship games, only to lose both. He was the 2003 Heisman Trophy winner after throwing for 3,846 yards and 40 touchdowns.
11. Philip Rivers, North Carolina State
40 of 50
Career Stats (2000-2003): 13,484 yards, 95 TD, 34 INT
Philip Rivers walked onto the North Carolina State campus with an arrogance that he was going to do things on the football field no one had ever seen before.
He was a special talent that helped kick off the Chuck Amato era.
After four years with the Wolfpack, Rivers owned pretty much every ACC passing record. He loved to sling the ball around the field, and that has carried over to a highly successful NFL career.
10. Ken Dorsey, Miami
41 of 50
Career Stats (1999-2002): 9,565 yards, 86 TD, 28 INT
Okay, remember how we said Jason White was lacking in physical skills?
Maybe we should have waited until we got to Ken Dorsey.
Dorsey was so good because he understood the game and what his role was with the unbelievably gifted Hurricanes. He may simply be the lucky recipient of great timing because since he left, Miami hasn't been the same.
He could easily have two BCS Championships, but Ohio State upset Miami in the 2002 BCS Championship game.
9. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
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Career Stats (2005-2008): 15,793 yards, 134 TD, 34 INT
Graham Harrell has all sorts of passing records to his name, but he should also be remembered as one of the toughest to play the position.
He had two seasons when he threw for more than 5,000 yards (5,705 in 2007, 5,111 in 2008). He also threw for 48 touchdowns in 2007 and 45 in 2008. Those are easily the best back-to-back seasons.
Harrell's numbers are helped by Mike Leach's system, but he is still one of the game's best quarterbacks.
8. Andrew Luck, Stanford
43 of 50
Career Stats (2009-Present): 5,913 yards, 45 TD, 12 INT
It's tough sometimes to put current players on these lists, especially since the entire story is not finished yet.
But anyone who has watched Andrew Luck play knows they are watching something special. It's John Elway good.
Luck could have left for the NFL after last season and still be in this spot. He should only add to his legacy in 2011 by potentially leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 championship.
7. Pat White, West Virginia
44 of 50
Career Stats (2005-2008): 6,051 yards (passing), 4,480 yards (rushing), 56 TD (passing), 47 yards (rushing), 23 INT
Pat White belongs in the top 10 because of his rare gift of running and passing.
There was a time when you could argue White was one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the country because defenses couldn’t stop him.
He also became the first quarterback to go 4-0 in bowl games, and he led WVU to two BCS bowl wins. Each time the Mountaineers were heavy underdogs, but came out on top against Georgia and Oklahoma.
White owes a great deal of his success to Rich Rodriguez’s offense and the fact that he shared a backfield with Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt.
6. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
45 of 50
Career Stats (2007-2009): 8,403 yards, 88 TD, 16 INT
Sam Bradford snagged himself a Heisman, led Oklahoma to a BCS title game and was eventually the No. 1 overall draft pick. He might be higher up the list had he not lost most of the 2009 season to injury.
Bradford was one of the more consistent quarterbacks ever, and his prowess in the NFL is even more proof of how good he really was for the Sooners.
It was just fun to watch him play on Saturdays, especially in some great Red River Rivalry games.
5. Colt McCoy, Texas
46 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2009): 13,253 yards (passing), 1,589 yards (rushing), 112 TD (passing), 20 TD (rushing), 45 INT
The only thing missing from Colt McCoy’s resume is the BCS Championship.
We’ll never know whether he could have led Texas past Alabama in the 2009 championship game, but he remains one of the best.
He holds the NCAA mark for career wins at 45, and he started for the Longhorns for four straight seasons.
McCoy was a special player.
4. Matt Leinart, USC
47 of 50
Career Stats (2003-2005): 10,693 yards, 99 TD, 23 INT
Matt Leinart may never develop into the NFL All-Pro quarterback that everyone expected, but that doesn’t take away from his achievements at USC.
Of course, none of those 2004 victories count anymore because of the whole Reggie Bush fiasco, but that was one of his finest campaigns.
Leinart completed an impressive 65.3 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also threw just six interceptions that year, went 12-0 and won the BCS Championship.
At least the Trojans can still claim the AP title.
3. Vince Young, Texas
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Career Stats (2003-2005): 6,040 yards (passing), 3,127 yards (rushing), 44 TD (passing), 37 TD (rushing), 28 INT
It took awhile for Vince Young to become the stud player that he was, but by that junior season, he was head and shoulders better than anyone else that season (including Reggie Bush).
Young's performance in the BCS Championship game that season remains the best single performance by any player in the title contest. His combination of athleticism and confidence was all Mack Brown needed to get his first championship.
2. Cam Newton, Auburn
49 of 50
Career Stats (2007-2008, 2010): 2,908 yards (passing), 1,397 yards (rushing), 30 TD (passing), 24 TD (rushing), 7 INT
This selection may create a bit of an uproar, but Cam Newton had one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback in college football history.
He was both a running and throwing threat, and when Auburn needed him to do so, he lifted the rest of the team on his broad shoulders and carried them.
Newton guided the Tigers to SEC and BCS Championships, and along the way, he helped them pull off a few close wins, including one of the greatest second-half performances ever to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
50 of 50
Career Stats (2006-2009): 9,285 yards (passing), 2,947 yards (rushing), 88 TD (passing), 57 TD (rushing), 16 INT
Not only does Tim Tebow top the list for the 21st Century, but he should be near the top of any list when discussing college quarterbacks of all time.
Love him or hate him, Tebow was one of the most successful quarterbacks in college history.
He wasn’t mechanically sound when he threw the ball, and he was more of a run-first type of quarterback, but Tebow was a true leader.
Tebow was part of two national championships, and the fact that he was so hated across the nation adds credence to his claim as the best in this century.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
