25 best college quarterbacks of the 2021 season by BRAD CRAWFORD at 247 Sports 12-27-2021
2021 numbers:
23. Malik Willis, Liberty 207-of-339, 2,857 yards, 27 TDs, 12 INTs; 878 yards rushing, 13 TDs
22. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami 202 of 324, 2,931 yards, 25 TDs, 6 INTs
21. Malik Cunningham, Louisville 196 of 316, 2,734 yards passing, 18 TDs, 6 INTs; 968 yards rushing, 19 TDs
19. Sam Howell, North Carolina 205-of-327, 2,851 yards passing, 23 TDs, 9 INTs; 825 yards rushing, 11 TDs
15. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee 180-of-261, 2,567 yards, 26 TDs, 3 INTs; 561 yards rushing, 5 TDs
12. Brennan Armstrong, Virginia 327-of-501, 4,444 yards passing, 31 TDs, 10 INTs; 256 yards rushing, 9 TDs
11. Sam Hartman, Wake Forest 276-of-469, 3,924 yards passing, 36 TDs, 14 INTs; 342 yards rushing, 11 TDs
10. DEVIN LEARY, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 283-of-431, 3,433 yards, 35 TDs, 5 INTs
2. KENNY PICKETT, PITTSBURGH 334 of 497, 4,319 yards, 42 TDs, 7 INTs
25 best college quarterbacks of the 2021 season
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
#15 just beating the dead horse, Sam Howell still going pro?
This is based off the last season. Not pro prospect.
The Kenny Pickett glow up this year has me extremely cautious of him as an NFL prospect. He went from quite possibly the perfect example of a mediocre, replacement-level P5 QB through four seasons to an elite gunslinger in his super senior year with the same OC from last year, basically the exact same weapons as well. He may well have just had a true breakthrough and be a great NFL QB, but I just can't untether the first four years of Pickett from my brain.
I also think Devin Leary is pretty underrated to the average college football fan. He has a big time arm and can make all the throws.
They ran a pro-style passing scheme, and he developed into making the right reads in it. How many QB's get drafted based on potential who NEVER develop that skill? I don't think his ceiling is franchise player high, but he has a very high floor for a draft pick.
He could easily be the best QB in this draft class. I just have a weird mental block with him that just isn't computing properly in my brain.
because the last NFL QB that graduated from NC State was Mike Glennon
And he's still in the league it's bonkers.
Why was I thinking that Russ was after Glennon?
I only somewhat remember the order because Russ was waffling on football and baseball. I think the head coach basically said football only or kick rocks because he had Glennon in the bullpen. Russ took his talents to Madison, and baby Glennon got to start.
I feel kind of the opposite. It's just not the norm anymore to see a QB stick around the same program for multiple seasons and actually develop instead of transferring/being replaced by a superstar transfer.
Sure... it's cool to see for a fan/relative to current QB climate, but he didn't really "develop" in any kind of meaningful way steadily over time, he was basically the exact same player for 4 years, almost no growth, then skyrockets into the stratosphere in his 5th year.
Look at his stats. There is basically no change at all until this year.
Maybe something clicked for him. Development isn't always linear.
You are speaking my exact thoughts. I think a big part of my hang-up is that I wonder how many college qbs would look as great if they got to be a 5-year starter? Seems likely he's hit his ceiling, and remains to be seen how that translates to the NFL, whereas most QBs are taken with the idea that they have a few more levels to reach their potential.
I agree - Kenny Pickett is simply a fifth year starter Nathan Peterman and I'll gladly eat crow if I'm wrong.
we will have to rate him on the Petermeter when the time comes
Lmao - I snorted at this.
I feel the same way about Pickett and Ridder. They both were with the same HC for 4+yrs and it wasn't until years 4 or 5 that they showed elite skills. Pickett is a little better than Pederman but he will take multiple years sitting behind a NFL starter before he is ready to produce. I know this may be blasphemy on this site but I'm a big Sam Howell fan. He has the type trajectory that I want for my NFL QB. Sam came in as a true freshman (new scheme to him) and balled out.
If Pickett never throws 5 picks in one half, you owe him an apology and a Primanti meal.
Joe Burrow on line 1.
I hate Pitt but mad respect for Pickett. In this day in age of transfers, he stuck it out at Pitt and things fell into place. He's got this weird cross between AR12 and Big Ben to me. He's got that lumbering gunslinger Ben Style but also thinks he can make every single throw and has a the savvy just like AR12. I'm not saying he'll be anything close to either of these two but similarities are there. His toughness, standing in pocket and taking shots is big for me. As a WFT fan, I'd love to draft him in April.
I concur on Leary, he has tools but will be interesting to see how the NFL guys evaluate him and where he ends up getting drafted. This QB class has a ton of raw talent but hella question marks, with no clear cut Andrew Luck, Trevor Lawrence type prospect.
Good point on Pickett. I'm still not sold but would be happy with rolling the dice on him for WFT. That said, Corral > Howell > Pickett for me. Willis is a hard pass (run first, struggled when his team didn't have a massive talent advantage), and I know nothing about Leary
So Willis shoulda been a Hokie and Fu ran off Hooker. Nice!
Let's be honest, Willis wouldn't have developed into an NFL prospect under CornFu. Both of them owe Paxton Lynch millions for what he did for their careers.
Ryan Willis developed into an NFL backup this year thanks to the CornFu tutelage. It might be because of COVID times, but a Willis did develop into an NFL prospect under them
(/s?)
Malik, not Ryan.
TIC comment. I was being intentionally obtuse
Oh I agree
This is totally OT, but we always meme back to WWE.
Most people's favorite is The Rock because he spits a game. Or Stone Cold because he can chug a beer.
But, everyone overlooked HHH. Literally he took the fall in 95 when the business wasn't supposed to be exposed. He was given the low cards and bad matches.
He is the ultimate villain and anti hero. HHH isn't athletically spectacular, he can't wow you on the mic. He knows the game. Hes obsessed with self image and ego. He wants to win and will work as hard as he has to.
He made his way through the bullshit and married the boss's daughter. He played the game. This should be VT football.
Let's show them the bazooka!
Argument starter: I never liked HHH as a character.
Can't deny his success and his wrestling skill, but he bored me as the top guy.
Wait........... Where's Burmeister???
Hahaha I couldn't help it.