Joel Klatt Names Top 5 College Football QBs, No. 3 Pick Turns Heads

With Week 1 of the 2024 college football season approaching, Joel Klatt has stirred up some serious debate with his top five quarterback rankings.

At No. 1, Klatt tabs Georgia and one of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites, Carson Beck, who is set to lead the Bulldogs in their quest for the program's third national title in four years under Kirby Smart. In his first season as a starter, Beck posted an impressive 72.4% completion rate, throwing for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.

Right behind him, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, fresh off a breakout year under his father, Deion Sanders, sits at No. 2. He threw for 3,230 yards passing, 27 TD passes, and just three interceptions.

But it’s Klatt’s pick at No. 3 that’s causing the most buzz—Utah’s Cam Rising. While Rising is a proven leader with 24 career starts under his belt, many expected Klatt to go with a more familiar name in the national spotlight instead of someone who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Rounding out the list is Texas’ Quinn Ewers at No. 4, who has the tools to thrive in Steve Sarkisian’s offense, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel at No. 5, a dual-threat who’s expected to put up big numbers for the Ducks and potentially push for a Heisman Trophy, entering as the betting favorite.

Klatt’s rankings have certainly turned some heads, especially with the unexpected placement of Rising, but the 2024 college football season will determine if his faith in these QBs was spot-on or misplaced.

Related: David Pollack Makes Opinion on Florida State Football Very Clear

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