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Athlon Sports
MAC Quarterback Rankings for 2024
By Steven Lassan,
6 hours ago
The MAC has produced its share of talented quarterbacks and high-powered offenses in recent years, but the conference enters the 2024 college football season featuring plenty of unknowns under center. Miami's Brett Gabbert is the clear No. 1 signal-caller this fall, but frontrunners in Toledo, Ohio, and Northern Illinois are breaking in new starters. With all of the transition and transfer acquisitions at quarterback, the path is wide open for a few breakout candidates to emerge in '24.
Ranking the quarterbacks by conference or nationally is no easy task. To help compile the rankings, there was some projection involved for 2024. This was not a ranking of quarterbacks only based on accomplishments so far or pro potential. All factors — pure talent, supporting cast, having a clear hold on the No. 1 position, previous production, '24 projection, and scheme changes (just to name a few) — were considered and projected to rank the quarterbacks in the MAC for 2024.
Gabbert is the clear No. 1 quarterback in the MAC for 2024, but the senior is on the mend from a serious leg injury suffered last October. At MAC media days, Miami coach Chuck Martin indicated Gabbert is close to 100 percent and the hope is for the senior to be under center by the opener against Northwestern. Injuries took a toll on Gabbert's last two seasons, as he's played in only 12 of Miami's 27 games. However, as the '21 production (2,648 yards and 26 touchdowns) showed, the Missouri native is capable of ranking among the top signal-callers in the Group of 5 conferences. Entering the '24 season, Gabbert has passed for 7,893 yards and 59 touchdowns and added 476 yards on the ground. Additionally, he's tossed only 19 picks over 952 pass attempts.
The departure of 2023 first-team All-MAC quarterback Dequan Finn as a transfer to Baylor was a huge loss for coach Jason Candle and Toledo's offense. Gleason inherits big shoes to fill in '24, but the Georgia Tech transfer has the talent and upside to keep this attack near the top of the conference. With Finn injured in '22, Gleason stepped up with 329 passing yards and two scores against Bowling Green and passed for 200 yards in a 20-14 loss to Western Michigan a week later. The Florida native worked as the team's backup last year but started the Arizona Bowl against a rugged Wyoming defense and completed 14 of 34 throws for 184 yards. And as showcased in his limited snaps, Gleason will continue to give the offense a threat to move the ball on the ground with his legs (244 yards on 55 carries at Toledo). Although the sample size is small, and Gleason still has plenty to prove, the potential within an offense that has a track record of success places the junior high among MAC quarterbacks for '24.
Bazelak is ranked here, but Bowling Green will use two quarterbacks this fall with Camden Orth (208 rushing yards last season) giving the offense a different dynamic on the ground. Bazelak landed at Bowling Green after stints at Missouri and Indiana to start his career and finished 2023 with solid totals (1,935 yards and 12 passing scores). The Ohio native threw for 319 yards in an easy win over Eastern Illinois and posted 263 through the air in an upset over Georgia Tech. Over 45 career games, Bazelak has passed for 9,305 yards and 48 touchdowns. A revamped receiving corps will be an early challenge for Bazelak and Orth, but Bowling Green also returns one of the nation's top tight ends in Harold Fannin Jr.
Eastern Michigan marks the third stop in Snyder's collegiate career. From 2019-21, Snyder saw limited time and attempted 31 passes as a reserve at Rutgers. He transferred to Buffalo prior to the '22 campaign and started 25 games over the next two seasons. The New York native was a steady presence through the air for the Bulls, completing nearly 57 percent of his passes for 5,138 yards and 31 touchdowns. Snyder also ranked fifth among MAC signal-callers last season in completions of 20-plus yards and placed second in the conference in '22 with 18 connections of 30-plus yards. After ranking 11th in the MAC in passing offense last season, look for Snyder to give Eastern Michigan's aerial attack a boost in '24.
With a good chunk of returning production back for 2024, along with the second year under coach Lance Taylor, Western Michigan could be a breakout team in the MAC this fall. Reaching that goal will require more out of the passing attack though, as the Broncos had only eight touchdowns through the air in MAC play last season. Wolff - a transfer from Old Dominion - played in eight contests (with four starts) in '23 and paced the Western Michigan passing game with 1,505 yards and eight scores. He also connected on 65.5 percent of throws and 21 passes of 20-plus yards in limited time (226 attempts). In three years of playing time at ODU (2019-22), Wolff threw for 5,578 yards and 30 scores. With a full offseason to settle into the job, Wolff's overall play in Kalamazoo should take a step forward in '24.
Emanuel Jr. is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the MAC. The Texas native played in six contests last season, completing 19 of 37 passes for 286 yards and three scores and rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns on just 50 carries. Emanuel Jr. has accumulated 716 yards on the ground (6.1 yards an attempt) with nine scores in 10 appearances over the last two years. In addition to struggling with a shoulder injury last season, Emanuel Jr. needs to be more consistent overall as a passer (just 45 career attempts and a 51 completion rate) to hold onto the job on a full-time basis. How Emanuel Jr. will be deployed this year is a mystery, as Iowa transfer Joe Labas could claim the No. 1 spot this fall or both players could see snaps at the same time.
Ohio got an early glimpse of Navarro's potential in '24 thanks to a solid performance in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Georgia Southern. The UCF transfer completed 11 of 16 attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown and added 71 rushing yards over 15 carries. The bulk of Navarro's playing time for the Bobcats took place in the bowl, as he finished '23 with 185 passing yards and three scores and 178 yards on the ground. Ohio's offensive line and receiving corps will be under construction early in the '24 season, but Navarro's work in the bowl game and overall development under coach Tim Albin has the potential to equal a breakout year this fall.
Although coach Joe Moorhead is among college football's top minds on offense, Akron has struggled to find its footing on this side of the ball over the last two seasons. The Zips finished 10th in the MAC in scoring in '22 and averaged only 16.3 points a contest last year. A torn ACL ended DJ Irons' '23 season in just the fifth game, prompting Moorhead to lean on Jeff Undercuffler Jr. and Tahj Bullock the rest of the way. Bullock - a Virginia Tech transfer - threw for 271 yards and three scores and ran for 165 yards (62 attempts) but averaged only 4.1 yards per attempt and was under 50 percent completion rate (48.5) as a passer. Last year's struggles prompted Moorhead to bring in Finley - a NC State/California transfer - to jumpstart the passing game. The Arizona native brings 15 games of experience to the MAC and has passed for 1,484 yards and seven touchdowns to nine picks in his career. If Moorhead can get the most out of Finley's arm, the Zips have a chance to show marked improvement on this side of the ball.
If coach Thomas Hammock can get steady play from one of his quarterbacks, Northern Illinois has the experience and returning talent to push for a trip to the MAC title game. With Rocky Lombardi departing, Hampton is the frontrunner but competition exists with UAPB transfer Jalen Macon, redshirt freshman Josh Holst, and junior college recruit Kenny Lueth. Hampton has 11 games of experience under his belt, including six starts since '21. As the backup to Lombardi last year, Hampton threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns but showed promise in an extended stint in '22 by throwing for 798 yards and seven scores. Hampton had a solid outing against Toledo (284 yards) in '22 but also tossed six picks in 122 attempts that year.
Kent State's offense is a work in progress under second-year coach Kenni Burns but finding a steady signal-caller would be a huge boost to a group that managed only 14.7 points a contest in '23. Three players are set to push for the starting nod this fall, with Ulatowski likely holding a slight edge over Troy transfer JD Sherrod and junior Devin Kargman. In 10 games last year, Ulatowski threw for 737 yards and seven touchdowns to only two picks. The Illinois native had his best outing against Akron (229 yards and three scores) and tossed 23 completions for 284 yards against Bowling Green on Nov. 8. The sample size was small (121 career attempts), but Ulatowski's accuracy was iffy (49.6 percent completion rate) and he also sported a 6.1 yards per attempt last year.
Semonza wasted no time making an impact as a true freshman last year by starting three of Ball State's first four games. However, after a strong showing at Kentucky (15 of 21 for 165 yards and one score), the California native was up-and-down over the next three contests and was eventually benched in favor of Kiael Kelly and Layne Hatcher. However, with Hatcher out of eligibility, and Kelly slated to play at cornerback and some special packages on offense, Semonza is back as the starter. The redshirt freshman should benefit from a full offseason to develop under coach Mike Neu but plenty of question marks remain after an uneven performance (50 of 82 for 480 yards and five interceptions) in '23.
Two-year starter Cole Snyder transferred to Eastern Michigan, leaving new coach Pete Lembo with a major question mark under center this fall. Ogbonna is a slight favorite to take the first snap for Buffalo after working as the backup to Snyder last season and receiving snaps over eight contests. In his limited action, Ogbonna - a transfer from Southeast Missouri State - completed eight of 21 passes for 87 yards and a score. While the passing game is a work in progress, Ogbonna proved to be a dangerous runner (214 yards and three scores over 51 attempts). Can Ogbonna progress as a passer enough to win the job? Or will Old Dominion transfer Jack Shields or junior Gunnar Gray show enough in fall practice to claim the No. 1 spot?
Steven Lassan is the senior college football writer and editor for AthlonSports.com. Follow him on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook .
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