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Top 10 college football quarterbacks: Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward on watchlist ahead of Week 2
By Andrew Buller-Russ,
2022-12-04
Who is the best quarterback in college football in 2024? The college football season has yet to kick off, but we’re already ranking the top quarterbacks in the nation. Some usual suspects return, such as Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers of Texas. But we’re also seeing a new crop of talented college football quarterbacks emerging, with a few others falling off the map.
These updated college football quarterback rankings will be refreshed each week of the 2024 NCAA football season. Here are the best college football quarterbacks in 2024 after Week 1.
A five-star recruit with a strong arm, Drew Allar should get a better chance to show off his impressive traits this season thanks to a revamped Penn State offense. Week 1 was a good start. If Allar can avoid turnovers while being more aggressive, he’ll have no issue remaining on this list all year.
Miller Moss had no trouble carving up LSU’s defense in one of the best college football games from Week 1. USC’s new quarterback may not match Caleb Williams’s ability to make off-schedule highlights, but Moss can still put together an impressive highlight reel with his arm, even if that means executing in clutch moments with the game on the line.
Tennessee quarterbacks have thrived in Josh Heupel’s offense, sending Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton to the NFL. Nico Iamaleava’s off to a strong start in his eventual ascension to the pros. The 6-foot-6 QB made it look easy against Chattanooga. If he can keep it up against stiffer competition, Iamaleava could be a top-five QB in college football.
Gabriel didn’t get a chance to showcase the running ability that led to 12 rushing touchdowns last season, but he still had a big day through the air. However, Gabriel’s results included a lot of check-downs against FCS-level competition (Idaho). He’ll need more consistent efforts against stronger competition to climb the ranks.
Cam Ward keeps taking a step up in competition, and it’s never slowed him down. Ward has a strong arm that can take advantage of Miami’s speed and has racked up 13 rushing touchdowns across the past two seasons. Ward was magnificent against Florida, and if he can keep this up, he could be talked about as a future first-round pick.
College football has been waiting on former top recruit Quinn Ewers’ breakout season since he arrived on campus at Ohio State. Ewers has delivered mixed results the past two seasons at Texas, but he still has sky-high potential. The Texas QB did his job early against Colorado State, with an efficient, yet explosive day through the air, allowing Longhorns fans to finally catch a glimpse of Arch Manning, who delivered all the fireworks.
Jaxson Dart was dominant in the 76-0 win over Furman in Week 1, where he needed just 20 completions to record 418 passing yards. That type of big-play ability will keep Ole Miss in a lot of ballgames, and while the competition won’t always make it look so easy, Dart can also keep defenders guessing thanks to his willingness to move the chains with his legs. Add it all up, and Dart can be one of college football’s best quarterbacks.
Shedeur Sanders had one of the best stat lines in college football in his season debut. But it wasn’t quite as flawless as it looked. The Colorado QB also made a questionable decision to try running up the scoreboard when the game wasn’t yet decided, allowing NDSU another chance at a win. It’s part of the learning curve, but from a talent standpoint, there are few doubts he’s one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Carson Beck is among the best quarterbacks in college football and one of the favorites to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy coming into the season. Forced to get comfortable throwing to a new cast of playmakers without Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, Beck missed a few throws early against Clemson. Yet, the Bulldogs leader remained calm and settled in while spreading the ball around to his new receivers. He’s bound to get better as the season progresses.
Jalen Milroe may not be the best pure passer in college football. But he provides constant reminders that he’s incredibly dangerous with his legs. He’ll have to be more consistent as a passer to maintain this ranking, but for now, Milroe’s dual-threat potential places him first on our list of best college football quarterbacks in 2024 after Alabama’s season opener.
Caleb is a great athlete with a 10 cent brain! Not a role model for children the way he paints his fingernails! A real classless act! Not much of a Heisman!
rwtindall
2022-10-04
No way. CJ is good, not great. They play a cupcake schedule.
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