These are my top 10 quarterbacks for 2009:
1. Colt McCoy, Texas–Everything is set up for McCoy to make another serious run at the Heisman. There’s not much separating the top three here, but I think this will be McCoy’s year. The most accurate passer in football and a great leader.
2. Tim Tebow, Florida–A transcendant player who, due to his team’s overall strength, shouldn’t have to take control of games as much as he did the last two seasons. Continues to improve as a passer and should finally get his due in that regard.
3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma–A pure passer who thrives in his comfort zones, he may have an early adjustment period because of a new line and some inexperienced receivers. But once he gets rolling, he’ll be tough to stop.
4. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State–Another great Big 12 quarterback who flies under the radar. Runs well and passes well. Just has to beat OU or Texas to get some respect.
5. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State–Already ahead of where Vince Young was at the same stage. Has an almost effortless running style and great instincts. Should be a dominant player by midseason.
6. Daryll Clark, Penn State–Another underrated dual threat who will have to adjust to some new receivers. But he’s a legit passer and a power runner who could be a dark horse Heisman candidate.
7. Robert Griffin, Baylor–Quite possibly the best athlete to ever play quarterback. Had a fantastic freshman year and should make a big leap now that he has given up track.
8. Jevan Snead, Ole Miss–One of the best arms in college football, he might be the top pro prospect on this list.
9. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan–A super-talented dual threat QB who suffered through some injuries last year. Could be a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher again if healthy.
10. Max Hall, BYU–The latest in a long line of great Cougar quarterbacks. He’s primed for a huge senior season.
Honorable Mention:
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas–He should thrive in Petrino’s system.
Juice Williams, Illinois–Keeps improving as a passer.
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame–Has a great receiving corps catching his passes.
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada–A physical freak who should be well known after the opener against Notre Dame.
New Breakout Stars on the Scene
Aaron Corp, USC–The first dual-threat QB of the Pete Carroll Era.
Greg McElroy, Alabama–Looks to be an upgrade over John Parker Wilson.
Tate Forcier, Michigan–May end up the top freshman QB nationally.
Taylor Potts, Texas Tech–Will anyone be surprised if he has a 4,000-yard season?
Kevin Prince, UCLA–The latest Norm Chow protege should have the Bruins back in a bowl.
Leave it to me to throw out some non-BCS names, but I think you have to give consideration to several other players here. For starters, I think you have to throw a name like Case Keenum out there. First year in a new offense last year and the dude hits 67% of his passes for a 4-1 ratio AND runs for 7 TDs? Sick. I’d also throw Tim Hiller (WMU) and Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP) into conversation. Both guys are more in the dropback mold, but Vittatoe especially has a gun of an arm. Can’t forget Kellen Moore or Rusty Smith either.
As far as breakout players go, watch out for Bo Levi Mitchell at SMU and Omar Clayton at UNLV. Both should have very good numbers in 2009.
WOW. Complete Masoli snub. Not that I would put him in the Tebow realm, but not even the top ten? What gives?
cuz masoli sucks d thats what gives
I agree Masoli totally sucks, especially when he’s trucking Oklahoma St. safeties on his way to the endzone…
I would put Blaine Gabbert in the breakout group…better arm than Chase Daniel, although he won’t have Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman to throw to.
Masoli already had his break out year, so I think the list is fine with him just outside the top 10.
Once again, he’s giving you free entertainment. Stop trying to criticize him. Good luck finding as much success starting your own site
HP,
Great write-up on the 2009 QB’s!
Watch out for TV, Trevor Vittatoe this year!!!
No Case Keenum? just dumb
Case Keenum of Houston was statistically the best quarterback in the country last year, certainly the equal of McCoy and Bradford, and head and shoulders above any other name on the list (over 5,000 yards and 44 passing touchdowns, as a sophomore). Though the Cougars were only 8-5 last year and thus he wasn’t a Heisman finalist, to not even consider him one of the 20ish best quarterbacks in the country is asinine. You have a whole group of second-rate quarterbacks on your list, but the first one that made me actually laugh was Jevon Snead (of the 2700 yard, 26 TDs to 13 INTs). That’s about half a season’s work for Keenum.
The Cougars are not just a pass-happy team, they averaged 161 yards per game on the ground. To punish Keenum because the UH offense is too prolific is silly – the spread has become one of the most popular offenses in the country, and even Big 12 and SEC teams run it.
Keenum averaged 386 yards per game last year. McCoy barely reached this mark three times. Tebow never even came close. Bradford reached the mark four times. Keenum also rushed for 7 touchdowns to go with his 44 passing touchdowns, for 51 total touchdowns. Tebow had 40 total (21% less), McCoy had 45 total touchdowns (18% less), Bradford had 55 total touchdowns, AN AMAZING 4 MORE THAN KEENUM, WHICH GUARANTEED BRADFORD THE HEISMAN. But Keenum was hanging out his house getting stronger for next year.
But somehow Keenum gets off the Heisman Pundit’s list of “good quarterbacks.” What a crock of —-.
oops, McCoy had 12% fewer touchdowns than Keenum, not 18%. Sorry for the typo.
There is something wrong with the people who run this site. How is it that the Only Ohio State player to make these list at any position is the most inconsistent and unproven one? How can you leave off the likes of Heyward, Gibson Worthington, Coleman, Rolle, or any other of our defensive stand outs and give Pryor a top five position. None of our defensive players made the list what so ever? Thats laughable.