Our first post of this new QB ranking season features the bottom 20 QBs from around the nation. We’ve gone away from just D1 guys to give a few others a shout out as well. Look for a new post with 10-12 new faces each day until bowl season begins.
For those of you looking for a little refresher on how this works, last year we took all the starting quarterbacks in the FBS and ranked ’em through and through. If there was a starter controversy or split time, then you were out. This year we put the cap at 120, with the same, must-be-a-starter rule in place. For instance, there are about 15 FBS programs without a defined starter, or had their starter injured this season. So we rounded it out to 120 with the previously mentioned, new faces, from the non-FBS ranks.
We won’t make you wait any longer, here are our 2014 QB rankings:
120. Kevin Burke, Mount Union, SR (D3): 2014 Stats (as of 12/9): 239/364 (65.7%), 3674 yds, 42 TD, 4 INT, 468 rush yds, 9 TD
Talk about a winner, this guy is 32-1 in his 3 years as a starter with his only loss coming in the 2013 national championship Stagg Bowl. His stats aren’t bad either after transforming himself into more of a passer coming into his senior year.
Kevin Burke, University of Mount Union
He’s T-1 in passer efficiency with a much more recognizable name: Marcus Mariota, at 186.3. He’s also the defending Gagliardi Trophy winner and is a finalist once again, looking to become the first ever two-time winner.
119. John Wolford, Wake Forest, FR (Last Year: Not Ranked) 2014 stats (12/9): 214/367 (58.3%), 2037 yds, 12 TD, 14 INT
Throwing more interceptions than touchdowns is never a good sign…Mix in only three wins (Army, Gardner Webb, and VA Tech 6-3 in 2OT) that lack anything remotely impressive, and you have yourself a bottom feeder with a young quarterback. It seems it has been forever since Wake Forest has been relevant, and next year should be a make or break season for Wolford’s career and the direction of the Deamon Deacons.
118. Tyler Rogers, New Mexico State, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 268/436 (61.5%), 2779 yds, 19 TD, 23 INT
Tyler Rogers, NMSU
The sophomore spent his freshman year at Arizona Western (Community) College where he threw for 1832 yards, 14 TD, and 7 INT. Throw in 10 rushing touchdowns and his ability to keep plays alive and you have a wannabe dual threat quarterback. He does throw exceptionally well when on the run and shows Brandon Doughty-esque potential at his very best.
117. Matt Linehan, Idaho, FR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 221/378 (58.5%), 2527 yds, 11 TD, 18 INT
We were real big on Chad Chalich last year, the now sophomore backup to Matt Linehan. A shoulder injury forced Chalich to miss the last couple games last season, then was beaten out by Linehan for the starting job this year. A head scratcher to most of us here at NBSR, especially since Chalich’s only start this season resulted in Idaho’s only win (only game Linehan was hurt for)…Chalich played a very weirdly half split game with Linehan against SDSU which resulted in a close loss. Chalich goes 1 for 1 for 41 yards against GA Southern, thanks to getting the nod with 3 seconds left in the game and down by three scores. And that sums up Chalich’s season, as Linehan was the hands down starter for the entire year. Rumor mill is circling that Chalich transfers to Montana next season and we wish him the best as we hope it is indeed true. .
116. Treon Harris, Florida, FR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 50/100 (50%), 896 yds, 7 TD, 3 INT; 65 rush, 291 yds, 3 TD
Split some time this year, mostly won over the starting job as he provided the offense with a spark and some life. What we really don’t like is his 22 for 55, 40% completion rate in the last three games of the year (Florida State, Eastern Kentucky, and South Carolina).
115. Benjamin Anderson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, SR (FCS): 2014 stats (12/9): 166/313 (53.0%), 2462 yds, 17 TD, 10 INT; 187 rush, 952 yds, 7 TD
He’s been compared to RG3 the way Anderson scrambles in and out of defenses. He actually had slightly better numbers in his junior year, too. Not an NFL draft prospect at quarterback, but could make a practice squad somewhere trying to utilize that 4.5 speed at somewhere other than QB.
114. Blake Decker, UNLV, JR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 231/401 (57.6%), 2886 yds, 15 TD, 18 INT
Threw for over 4,000 yards and over 45 touchdowns in his JUCO days. Fast forward to a much different Mountain West Conference that only surrendered two wins to the Rebels.
Blake Decker, UNLV
Decker with average numbers, on a bad team, and threw for 0 TD (4 times) more than he threw for 0 INT (3 times) this season.
113. Dane Evans, Tulsa, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 256/462 (55.4%), 3102 yds, 23 TD, 17 INT, 3 rushing TD
Listen to this: in 2004, this kid won the Pee Wee football national championship, a Texas State 92-pound wrestling title, and a baseball national championship in his age group. Not that any of that matters, it’s just good to know. Anyways, he’s a classic pro-style guy running a pro-style spread offense at Tulsa. His decision-making isn’t great yet, as evidenced by his 17 picks, but it’s his first year as a full-time starter and for the most part, we like what we see from Evans. He’s a good enough athlete to move around back there, avoid sacks and even run from time to time, grabbing 3 rushing scores on the year. He’s thrown multiple INTs in 7 games this season, and in 6 of those he’s thrown more INTs than TD passes. Yes, we like the progression so far from a mop-up duty guy last year to a starter this year, but he’s got a long ways to go.
112. Ikaika Woolsley, Hawaii, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 210/416 (50.5%), 2538 yds, 13 TD, 13 INT
This sophomore is the opposite of a game-changer, in fact, the Rainbow Warriors had their 4 wins this season come in games that Woolsley had his lowest figures. I.E. A strong Hawaii running game left them a chance to win, with relying on the passing attack leading down a losing track in 2014. Throws for over 200 yards in six games (only one of those over 300) and throws for under 200 yards in 7 games this year. Good News, Bad News: McKenzie Milton, class of 2016 quarterback, just committed to Hawaii two weeks after winning a Hawaii, state championship. Tua Tagovailoa, class of 2017 quarterback, is getting offers from UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Texas Tech. Mariota has paved the way for Hawaii talent to take their talents off the island.
111. Cole Stoudt, Clemson, SR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 165/266 (62%), 1573 yds, 6 TD, 10 INT
The Columbus, Ohio native battled injuries and production this year. On a Clemson team that was supposed to be much better, the loss of Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins seemed to be more than the Tigers could handle.
110. Anthony Jennings, LSU, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 104/213 (48.8%), 1460 yds, 10 TD, 7 INT
Saw many shades of Blake Sims
A. Jennings, LSU
when watching Anthony Jennings, but the numbers were not one of them. We really dislike the total output for a guy who was under center 90% of the time. Frosh Brandon Harris should pose as a starting threat this spring.
109. Greyson Lambert, Virginia, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 154/261 (59%), 1632 yds, 10 TD, 11 INT
Too many interceptions and not enough big plays hamper Lambert’s numbers. Absolutely no rushing numbers to help him out and three games were missed due to ankle injury. The downside, sophomore backup Matt Johns threw 162 times this year and very well could contend for the QB1 position.
108. CJ Brown, Maryland, SR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 174/327 (53.2%), 2083 yds, 13 TD, 9 INT
This senior never threw for more than 300 yards or for four touchdowns in a game, in his career (33 games, 24+starts). Was an intern at Under Armour last summer, holds a communications degree and will soon have his masters in business and management…You’ll see Brown on the cover of Forbes before he’s even mentioned in a Sports Illustrated.
107. PJ Walker, Temple, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 203/381 (53.3%), 2317 yds, 13 TD, 15 INT
The sophomore has too many interceptions for our liking, but there is definitely time for him to still develop. “Led” the Owls to a win over ECU (7 for 19, 70 yards, 0TD) en route to a six win season. Has the ability to create plays as well as step up in the pocket; I predict this NJ state champ makes into our top 30 in a couple years.
106. Brandon Silvers, Troy, FR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 191/271 (70.5%), 1832 yds, 11 TD, 3 INT
Shaky starter as there were questions about him all year,
Brandon Silvers, Troy
but Silvers doesn’t make many mistakes. It feels like the coaches said if you throw an INT, we’ll bench you. So, long story short, he hasn’t thrown many. He completes 70% of his throws and is a smart kid when it comes to making reads within the offense. Good athlete as well. Will be exciting to see if Troy can knock off some big boys with Silvers under center for the next 3 years there. Who knows, maybe they’ll even open up the playbook a little for him.
105. Joe Gray, San Jose State, JR (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 210/329 (63.8%), 2305 yds, 11 TD, 9 INT
Not terrible numbers when considering Gray had 5 games in which he attempted no more than 12 passes. In five of 7 starts threw for over 300 yards, but takes over 40 attempts to do so. An athlete playing quarterback and getting by, in our opinion.
104. Tyler Murphy, Boston College, SR (52, at Florida): 2014 stats (12/9): 120/211 (56.9%), 1526 yds, 11 TD, 10 INT, 170 rush, 1079 yds, 10 TD
This guy sound familiar? He was the starter for most of the season at Florida last year, but found himself at BC this season. Not exactly a QB breeding ground, as they love their running game. Murphy’s problem has been a combination of reading defenses and looking to run first, which is exactly his curse this season at BC. Looking at his rushing numbers, you might think BC runs a triple option attack, but that’s just Murphy freestyling. He brings a lot to the table with his legs, and that could be big at the next level, or in 3 weeks when he faces off against a very different kind of QB in the immortal Christian Hackenberg.
103. Austin Grammer, Middle Tennessee State, SO (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 221/338 (65.4%), 2557 yds, 17 TD, 12 INT
Adequate and sometimes a factor in the run game. Redshirt soph is from Tuscaloosa and gets to open with them next season. Biggest opponents in 2014 were Minnesota and BYU, both were losses but Grammer actually kept the Blue Raiders in contention against the Golden Gophers. Probably won’t ever crack the top 45 of our list.
102. Cooper Rush, Central Michigan, SO (117): 2014 stats (12/9): 215/337 (63.8%), 2664 yds, 20 TD, 12 INT
Cooper Rush, C. Mich
Slowly creeping up our board, Rush is a guy who has most of the pieces required of him, just doesn’t quite know how to put them together. Seven win season is a good start. I’d love to see Cooper jump about 40 spaces next season.
101. Pete Thomas, UL-Monroe (NR): 2014 stats (12/9): 301/501 (60.1%), 3181 yds, 14 TD, 6 INT
Four stars out of high school went to Colorado State, transferred to UL-Monroe. Once upon a time was rated as the 6th best pro style QB of the class. We’re finally seeing that this year from a kid who has all the measurables (6-5, 235 lbs.). 501 pass attempts put him 5th most in the country, so why the low yards & TDs? It appears that the ULM faithful are none too happy on their forums with the short passing patterns and called check downs from this system. Maybe next year Thomas will get to sling it with an NFL team. Fairly unimpressive against the big boys that they played this year.
There’s our bottom 20 guys. Tune in tomorrow for #87-100
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