2012 NFL Draft: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin and the Top 10 Quarterback Prospects

Danny FlynnOct 21, 2011

Right now, the 2012 quarterback class can be characterized as Andrew Luck and everybody else.

We haven’t seen a prospect as hyped up and coveted as Luck since the turn of the millennium, and while he’s still only a junior and there's no guarantee that he’ll come out at the end of the season, that hasn’t stopped everyone from handing him the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.

Yes, Luck is truly a special player, but he isn’t the only college quarterback who deserves attention.

Here’s a look at the 10 most intriguing eligible quarterbacks for the 2012 NFL draft.

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford

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It’s rare to see a returning star quarterback actually live up to the insane amount of hype that accumulates over the summer, but every now and then, a special type of player comes along and finally turns out to be as good as advertised.

Andrew Luck is that player. He is college football’s chosen one.

Luck has the absolute total package as far as skills are concerned. There’s not a desired trait that Luck doesn’t possess. The size, arm, the brains, the athleticism—he’s got it all.

While he’s already evoking comparisons to the likes of Peyton Manning and another former Stanford standout, John Elway, the NFL quarterback I feel he most closely resembles is Sam Bradford.

Even though he hasn’t faced the toughest competition, so far this season Luck has completed 71 percent of his passes for over 1,700 yards yards and thrown 18 TDs.

He’s handled the hype well and soaked up the spotlight with grace.

The No. 1 pick is his to lose, and that definitely doesn’t look like that's going to happen.

2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

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It’s rare to find a quarterback who possesses as much explosiveness as Baylor’s Robert Griffin III.

It’s even more rare to find a quarterback who can match that game-changing explosiveness with the type of arm strength that Griffin has.

Don’t make the mistake of typecasting the 6’2’’, 220-pound junior as just your average athletic dual-threat quarterback, because he’s much more than that.

He’s truly excitement personified and he's worth every penny of admission.

He doesn’t just fit into that great-athlete-playing-quarterback mold either.

Not only does the junior signal-caller have the arm strength, he’s also got the accuracy you look for in a pro quarterback

Griffin completed 67 percent of his passes in 2010 and he finished the year with a 22-8 TD-to-INT ratio.

You also have to take into account the fact that he was still recovering from a serious knee injury last season—now that he’s back to full health, he has a chance to be even better.

This year, he’s completed a staggering 78 percent of his passes for 1,950 yards and thrown 22 touchdowns.

In 2010, we watched Griffin basically single-handedly revive the Baylor football program, as he guided the Bears to their first bowl game in 16 years—the fact that he might only be getting started sounds pretty scary.

The only true concern that you can really say you have about RG3 is his size.

At just 6'2'', Griffin doesn’t possess the prototypical size you look for in a pro-style drop-back passer, but then again, Matt Barkley is the same height and nobody seems to downgrade him for it.

Sure, Griffin is still a little raw and rough around the edges, but remember, he’s only played two seasons and change in college. He’s still got a ton of room to grow and develop.

Griffin truly has all the traits you look for—the mobility, the accuracy, the arm strength and the mental makeup—to become an upper-echelon starting quarterback in the NFL some day.

Even though he didn’t enter the season in the conversation with some of the other big-name quarterback prospects, Griffin has shown the type of intriguing skills that make him a must-watch player this season.

It will be interesting to see if the budding phenom can keep the momentum going throughout the 2011 season, and if so, the question has to be asked, how high can he actually climb?

3. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

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You can say that Landry Jones benefits from playing on such a talent-laden team like Oklahoma, and you can say that his numbers are inflated because of the pass-heavy system he plays in—however, one thing you simply can’t say is that this kid doesn’t have a great deal of talent.

We saw it back when he was a heralded high school recruit in New Mexico, and we’ve seen it on full display now that he’s taken control of the Sooners offense.

Jones has the type of size and arm strength combination that just screams NFL starting quarterback.

No, he’s not in the same class as Andrew Luck, or his predecessor Sam Bradford, but he’s not far away.

Jones is a Matt Schaub-esque type of quarterback, who would fit in well with a team that likes to hurl the ball around a lot.

He doesn’t do many things that will really wow you, but he’s got the type of skill set that would fit in perfectly in today’s passer-friendly NFL.

Right now, I’d say Jones is a borderline Top 10 pick, but if he leads Oklahoma to an undefeated season and puts up comparable numbers to last year, he’s really going to solidify his stock.

4. 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 threw for over 5,500 yards and 41 TDs in his first two seasons on the job, and the scary thing is, Barkley hasn't tapped his full potential yet.

His lack of prototypical size is a bit concerning, but Barkley is a proven leader who can make all the throws and he knows exactly how to march an offense down the field during crunch time.

He’s got all the intangibles that NFL teams are looking for in a starting signal-caller.

5. Nick Foles, Arizona

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Not many quarterbacks can start off their senior season with a 2-5 record and still be considered a first-round caliber talent, but if there’s one player who you absolutely can’t blame Arizona’s slow start on, it’s Nick Foles.

Foles has actually been one of the best quarterbacks in the country, as he’s completed 71 percent of his passes for over 2,500 yards and he’s got a stellar 18-5 TD-INT ratio.

The 6’5’’, 240-pound senior is one of those quarterbacks who has dealt with bouts of unevenness throughout his career, yet his raw talent has always shown through.

Foles can make all the throws that you need to make at the next level, and if Arizona can rebound and perform better as a team, his stock should only continue to climb.

6. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

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At the midpoint of the 2010 season, Texas A&M was sitting at 3-3 and on the brink of falling completely apart.

Coach Mike Sherman knew he had to do something to save his team’s season and, more importantly, save his job, so Sherman opted to give wide receiver Ryan Tannehill the starting quarterback job and it ended up being a move that paid huge dividends for Sherman and the Aggies.

Tannehill came in and reeled off six straight wins to help save Texas A&M’s season.

The 6’4’’, 220-pound senior has had a strong start to his senior year, completing 67 percent of his passes for over 1,700 yards.

The converted wide receiver has proven to be a talented college signal-caller and he has the type of athleticism, arm strength and leadership combo that will keep scouts interested.

7. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

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Russell Wilson has taken the college football world by storm in the first half of the 2011 season, as he’s made a seamless transition to the Wisconsin offense after transferring from North Carolina State in the offseason.

Wilson has thrown for over 1,500 yards and hit 14 scoring strikes so far this year, and he’s really started to catch the eyes of scouts with his arm and his athleticism.

The only problem with trying to project the former minor league baseball player to the pro game, is that Wilson lacks the desired height for the position at just 5'11".

Wilson reminds me of a smaller, yet more athletic version of Donovan McNabb, but there’s no doubt that his lack of size will hinder him in the NFL.

Still, you have to appreciate all that Wilson’s been able to accomplish this season, and he’ll definitely get an opportunity to prove himself at the next level if he chooses to play football instead of pro baseball.

8. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

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One quarterback who has seemingly been flying under the national radar for the past few years is San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley.

Lindley opened eyes in 2010, as he threw for over 3,800 yards and led the Aztecs to a 9-4 season.

The 6’4’’, 230-pound senior has obviously missed his two top targets from last year, Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson, and he’s endured some early struggles this season, especially against the two best defenses he faced, TCU and Michigan.

Lindley’s lack of consistent accuracy has always been his one biggest knock, but he’s got an intriguing skill set.

There will be some offensive coordinator who falls for Lindley and hopes to mold him as a long-term project.

9. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

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Brandon Weeden went from being a failed baseball player to one of college football’s most impressive and productive quarterbacks.

Weeden has put up prolific passing numbers in Oklahoma State’s offense, throwing for over 4,200 yards and 34 touchdowns in his first year as a starter in 2010 and throwing for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns through six games this season.

The 6’4’’, 215-pound senior has a strong arm, puts great zip on his throws and has shown pinpoint accuracy on his deep passes.

Weeden has the potential to be a reliable backup in the NFL, but the fact that he’s already 28 years old will prevent teams from viewing him as a long-term starter.

10. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

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Kirk Cousins isn’t the type of quarterback prospect that has eye-catching physical ability, and he’s not the type of player you’re going to enjoy watching countless highlights of, but Cousins has proven to be a consistent starter who can always be counted on.

Cousins is an intangibles player first and foremost, getting by on his smarts and savvy more than his natural athleticism and arm strength.

The 6’3’’, 205-pound senior isn’t flashy, but he’s showed great accuracy throughout his career and he’s the type of game manager who would make a solid backup in the NFL.