Summer Scouting: Top 5 Quarterbacks

The college football season is just around the corner. With that in mind Rory Daniels’ brings you his top 5 draft eligible prospects at each position ahead of kickoff. We also include an FCS QB to watch courtesy of resident small school expert Rebecca Rennie.

1. Spencer Rattler

Rattler is the next off the production line at ‘QBU’. Another diminutive, athletic signal-caller with a cannon for an arm. His ability to go off script and make throws from crazy platforms is a neat fit for the modern NFL. In 2021, he will need to find the correct balance between uber-confidence and arrogance. At times it can manifest itself in over-aggressiveness and ultimately mistakes.

Best Trait: Rope for an arm.

2. Sam Howell

If Rattler is difficult to contain on the horizontal plane, Howell excels vertically. Rather than escaping to the side of the pocket, one of Howell’s best traits is the ability to buy time by stepping up in the pocket. Howell can push the ball downfield but doesn’t have the juice of Rattler. He has benefited from an elite surrounding cast and number generating offense. If he turns in another stellar year in 2021, he will deserve the first round plaudits.

Best Trait: Tough in the face of pressure

3. Matt Corral

Corral could be the player that burns me in this QB class. His tape is truly a rollercoaster. Having beat out JR Plumlee for the starting job last year, he thrived in Lane Kiffin’s offense. Corral is the definition of a playmaker, almost to a fault. His combined 11 interceptions against Arkansas and LSU highlight that. If the mental side catches up with the big arm and he can temper his attacking instincts, Corral has a high ceiling.

Best Trait: Playmaking ability

4. Malik Willis

Willis is the quarterback who plays with a chip on his shoulder. Having found himself on the outside looking in at Auburn, Willis transferred to Liberty and had a breakout year in 2020. With over 2200 passing yards and just shy of 1000 rushing, Willis is a dual-threat whose tape will bring a smile to your face. There is still plenty of polish needed around the edges, but his dynamism will appeal to scouts.

Best Trait: Unpredictability

5. Carson Strong

If you are searching for a more prototypical quarterback prospect, then Nevada’s Carson Strong could be your cup of tea. At 6’4, he is the tallest prospect of this group by some margin. With that, he loses on the athleticism front, but his arm makes him a legitimate NFL prospect. He can hit targets all over the field, showing necessary touch and accuracy. With a completion rate of over 70 per cent, he has faced lesser talent but doesn’t benefit from the best protection. His season opener against Cal could be a significant watch for the scouting community.

Best Trait: Ball placement

FCS Prospect to Watch: Eric Barriere

Rebecca Rennie: While there’s not an obvious Trey Lance-level prospect this time around, there are several interesting FCS quarterbacks for 2022. A few years ago, a QB of Barriere’s size would struggle for an NFL opportunity. However, the league is more open to prospects of his stature with positive traits elsewhere in the skill set.

Barriere’s footwork is unconventional and ball placement can improve. However, the Eagles playmaker has exciting mobility and an outstanding arm. The results can often be spectacular, even if he is frustratingly inconsistent currently. The dynamic and productive quarterback is worth keeping firmly on the radar through the upcoming season.

Best Trait: Improvisation

formerly writing for the inside zone, rory will be breaking down college tape and keeping you up-to-date with all things CFB for the touchdown. an avid bengals fan, you can also find some of rory’s work at stripehype.com