College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 25 Quarterback Prospects

Here's the third look at our top 25 QB rankings.

This time, we've even added a couple honorable mention and sleeper types, so this list is going to be even more interesting. Whether you agree with some of the rankings or not, it should make a good debate.

We've got the classic rocket-armed and drop-back passers, along with the athletic dual-threat types and every type of QB in between. This should be a fun a read for all.

Here are my top 25 field generals for 2012.

Sleeper: Nathan Peterman

Peterman is a 6'2", 210-pound QB prospect that is committed to Tennessee—and he's a good one. 

He shows pretty good arm strength to fit the ball in tight windows, he can hit the deep wideout and attack the deep middle.

Peterman seems to read the field well and plays with good vision, showing good decision-making skills.

He can extend plays with his legs and get outside the pocket.

He does, however, need to shorten his delivery and work on his footwork to improve his overall accuracy.

Honorable Mention: Bennie Coney

Coney is a 6'3", 210-pounder that is a thickly-built QB with an impressive-looking frame.

He displays some power in his arms with electric throws and great feet.

Coney has a blank canvas and could develop into a flagship-quality QB at Cincinnati. But he will take unnecessary chances with the ball and will throw picks at  bad times.

Once he becomes a little seasoned, with his size and skill set, Coney should start and win some games for the Bearcats in a few years. 

Honorable Mention No. 2: Tommy Armstrong

Freshly committed to Nebraska, Armstrong is just out of the top 25.

The 6'2", 205-pounder is a dual-threat type that has great speed but can also stay in the pocket and deal.

Armstrong is a winner, does what he has to do keep his offense on the field and will extend a play for as long as he can. 

Whether via air or ground, Armstrong can get the job done.

25. Jeremy Liggins

Liggins shows solid field vision, touch to get air under his throws and a bit of a flare in his game.

He does have a bit of a pop-and-hitch to his delivery. But with coaching, he could be a Byron Leftwich type.

He's a huge passer at 6'4", 260 pounds who reminds me a lot of Cardale Jones.

He's a raw QB mechanically but a great athlete, and he has a high ceiling.

24. Jared Johnson

While he won't wow you with his arm strength or with his physical stature, as he stands in the 6'1", 200-pound range, Johnson is an uber-competitive and mobile QB who makes plays.

Johnson is the type that does most of his damage with a moving pocket, as he's very athletic and accurate on the run.

He can be used on boots, sprints and roll-outs to attack the edges of the pocket and make plays on the perimeter.

Headed to Baylor.

23. Tyler Cameron

At 6'3", 210 pounds, Cameron runs a 4.65 40-yard dash and has a scrambling style.

He can sit in the pocket and really make his money on the horizontal and intermediate routes, as he shows solid touch and anticipation of coverage windows.

Pledged to South Florida.

22. Jalen Overstreet

I actually like Overstreet as a QB.

He'll likely switch spots in college, but don't be shocked if he winds up at QB after all.

At 6'3", 210 pounds, Overstreet combines good arm strength, solid accuracy and a calm efficient type of overall game to make him a top-25 QB.

However, it looks like he will play safety in college.

21. Chad Voytik

The Pittsburgh commit is only 6'0", 185 pounds.

Voytik is a smallish, yet solid QB with a quick release and pocket mobility.

Voytik threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for another 436 yards and seven scores as a junior. 

20. Wes Lunt

At 6'5", 205-pounds, Lunt has the size that you look for in a college QB prospect.

His size is physically apparent, and he loves to stand in the pocket and deliver the football.

In fact, Lunt will indeed look into the shotgun barrel if he has to make a critical throw from his position in the pocket.

Committed to Oklahoma State.

19. Blake Rankin

He's no Michael Vick, but at 6'4", 195 pounds, Rankin is a tall and skinny QB with good arm strength, touch and accuracy. 

Rankin steps up in the pocket well, scans the field and can fit balls into tight windows.

He also can make throws on the run, but likely isn't going to be an elite running threat as a QB.

He's committed to Rutgers.

18. Shane Dillon

I think Dillon has a chance to sneak up this list as we move forward and look back years from now.

At 6'5", 185 pounds, Dillon has a very skinny frame that needs to fill out, but his release is very quick—which is always a great plus and something that coaches love and defenses hate.

Dillon has solid foot quickness and footwork in his climbs.

He plays with good sense, instincts and awareness in the pocket. 

Dillon's going to Colorado.

17. Cyler Miles

At 6'2", 220 pounds, Miles is a sheer playmaker and a dynamic dual-threat QB who would be a prime fit in a spread option offense—or any offense, really. 

I love his 4.45 speed, quick feet, lively arm and great creativity on the field.

Miles does need refinement in his mechanics and field vision to improve his decision making, but he's a blank canvas, which is a coach's dream.

He's a Husky.

16. Trevor Knight

At 6'2", Knight is a skinny QB, but he can deal out of the pocket with the best of them.

He will need to add some weight to sustain hits in college, though.

But with a quick release, Knight can get the ball out fast and with good velocity—and do it very accurately.

Knight can run a bit—not Cam Newton-like, but good enough.

He's sold to Oklahoma over Texas A&M.

15. Will Gross

At 6'2", 205 pounds, Gross, who has been compared to Michael Vick, has a cannon for an arm and can scan the field.

Gross makes good decisions and puts the football where he wants it to be on nearly every throw, showing solid accuracy.

If Gross gets into trouble around the pocket, he has the athletic ability and speed to escape and make long runs downfield.

14. Anthony Alford

At 6'1", 210-pounds, Alford may not even play football—he could opt for pro baseball.

But there's a lot he can do as a football player and QB.

He can hit the deep ball. He can hit the intermediate crossing route over the middle. He attacks outside the numbers and hashes. He can run for first downs and buy time.

He can—well, you get it now.

13. Greyson Lambert

Freshly committed to Virginia, Lambert can easily see over the rush.

He keeps his eyes downfield and dictates his own natural throwing lanes with his release—all thanks to him being a tall and long 6'5".

Lambert shows good arm strength and accuracy to all levels of the field.

His prep team has not thrown the ball much, but this spring they moved to more of a spread offense to fully take advantage of Lambert's skill set, and big numbers are expected.

12. Jake Rodrigues

Headed to Oregon, Rodrigues is a very, very interesting prospect.

He's similar to Cyler Miles and is 6'3", 215 pounds, dripping of athleticism.

Rodrigues has a solid arm, very nimble feet, a quick climb from center, can make throws on the run and can escape the rush.

11. Tanner Mangum

You look at Mangum on the hoof, and he seems to be an average guy.

He's 6'2", 185-pounds and you think "hmmm?". But then you see him play.

You see how he makes solid decisions, lets his skill players do their thing by delivering the football in position for them to make plays and has pretty good accuracy.

His arm strength is good enough to be a threat to all defensive levels.

BYU has him locked up.

10. Jeff Lindquist

Lindquist is 6'3", 225 pounds and is a gamer.

Lindquist has a great arm, can attack all defensive levels with some velocity, seems to stand up tall in the pocket and pays little-to-no mind to the rush.

He goes through his reads, showing a swiveling head on tape, and he can get out and run as well.

He's pledged to Washington.

9. Devin Fuller

At 6'0", 185 pounds, Fuller is fantastic athletically and nearly completed a 2,000-2,000-yard season last year.

But he may play DB or WR in college.

Fuller's a dual-threat QB who can pass and run and make plays.

His accuracy improves every time I see him, and I really think he can be an excellent Tyrod Taylor type of QB in college.

8. Bart Houston

A Wisconsin pledge, Houston is asked to take care of the football and manage the offense for De La Salle, but people know the 6'4", 200-pounder is more talented than he lets on right now.

It comes out when he is called upon to make a play, as Houston shows off a skill set of a future top-notch starting college QB.

He remains poised in the pocket and leads his huddle, and he has a strong arm and a very quick release.

7. Maty Mauk

At 6'2", 190 pounds, Mauk understands the components and intentions of the spread offense.

His stats are a prime indicator, as last year he tossed for 5,670 yards, 69 touchdowns and a 66-percent completion rate.

Those are video game numbers, folks!

He's not overly big, but Mauk has a solid arm and touch. He's very accurate, makes great pre-snap and post-snap reads and anticipates windows extremely well.

Chose Missouri earlier this summer.

6. Matt Davis

One of the headliners of the Texas A&M class, Davis is very athletic.

There are whispers emerging that he may actually play WR in college.

His speed is that good, and he is that dynamic with the football in his hands.

But the 6'1", 200-pounder will look to stay at QB and kill defenses with a strong arm, quick feet, instincts, playmaking ability and speed. 

5. Zach Kline

At 6'2", 200 pounds, Kline went to the Elite 11 camp and displayed perhaps the strongest arm in the camp, bar none.

He really whipped it around all week long.

Kline can make throws on the run and buy time with his legs.

From under center, Kline, shows very good mechanics in his climbs from the snap, and he sets up well. He delivers the football with good timing.

Kline is committed to Cal.

4. Conor Brewer

At 6'3", 190 pounds, Brewer is committed to Texas.

He has a solid arm, good accuracy and excellent intangibles.

Brewer also has great athleticism and can get out and run.

He becomes a physical player when toting the rock and is tough to bring down solo by a defender.

3. Zeke Pike

Pike, an Auburn commit, shows great touch, accuracy and solid anticipation. 

He's a big, tall and powerful 6'6", 225-pound monster QB with a cannon for an arm and great athleticism in the pocket.

He can really rifle the football around with ease, and no area of the defense is safe from his aerial assault

2. Gunner Kiel

At 6'4", 220 pounds, Kiel is Indiana's biggest recruit in program history.

He has the makeup of a classic pocket-passing QB and is the player the Hoosiers will want to build their program around.

His arm strength is above average. Combine that with pin-point accuracy, excellent field vision, decision making, pocket presence, touch, timing, anticipation, mechanics and above-average athletic ability.

1. Jameis Winston

At 6'4", 200-pounds, I have Winston, a Florida State pledge, as my No.1 QB prospect for 2012.

He may possess the best combination of skill set and high-ceiling potential in the country for signal-callers.

You can easily see on film that he has a cannon for an arm, awareness and just great all-around playmaking ability.

Winston is not just a dual-threat type because he can run. He actually can sit in the pocket and pick you apart.

It's just that when he chooses to run, he's that good at it.