One of the most important aspects of success at the college football level is unpredictability. If the opposing defense doesn’t know what to expect, it is that much more difficult for them to stop it. The element of the unknown is one of the biggest reasons why dual-threat quarterbacks are so successful at the college level. Opposing defenses will game plan for them but once the ball is in their hands it is that much more difficult to read and react to whether they will throw the ball or run the ball. Here is a look at the four best dual threat quarterbacks in the country right now.
Deshaun Watson
Clemson Tigers
Clemson’s star quarterback is the perfect example of how dangerous an elite dual threat quarterback can be at the college football level. Watson is the only player in FBS history to throw for more than 4,000 yards while running for an additional 1,000 yards in the same season and his production a year ago was among the biggest reasons why the Tigers won the ACC championship and make it all the way to the national title game. Watson’s 347.3 yards per game of total offense was the eight-best mark in the entire country and all eyes will be on him this year to see what he has in store for an encore with another year of experience and development on his side. Watson has the potential to top the numbers he registered a year ago and if he does that he will be the obvious betting favorite to win the Heisman trophy.
J.T. Barrett
Ohio State Buckeyes
The two-quarterback system the Buckeyes relied on a year ago clearly didn’t work in their favor, so it’s a good thing for both Barrett and the Ohio State offense that he is the clear No. 1 starter heading in to this season. Barrett spent most of last season as the second-string quarterback behind Cardale Jones, but he has recorded 5,446 yards of total offense including 1,600 rushing yards in limited snaps over 26 career games. Ohio State – as a team – looked off last season after winning the championship. Simply put, they weren’t as hungry and that effected them team-wide, even though the quarterbacks got most of the flack.
Barrett has the potential to put up monster numbers as the full-time starter in a loaded Buckeyes’ offense this year and his production will be a major determining factor in whether or not Ohio State makes it back to the playoff.
Baker Mayfield
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma’s Air Raid offense puts the focus on moving the ball through the air but Mayfield still deserves consideration on this list as one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the country. Mayfield threw for 3,700 passing yards and 36 touchdowns while competing 68-percent of his attempts a year ago but he also showed the ability to make plays with his legs when things broke down around him as he ran for 405 rushing yards with an additional seven scores on the ground. Mayfield’s ability to run doesn’t get as much attention because of the system that he is in but there is no doubt he deserves to be on this list as one of the best dual threat passers in the entire country.
Seth Russell
Baylor Bears
Russell was on pace for a monster 2015 season when a neck injury ended his year and forced him to have surgery. However, he will get his shot at redemption this year as he is back at full strength looking to make up for lost time as the star quarterback at Baylor this year. Russell threw for over 2,100 passing yards with an additional 402 rushing yards in just seven games last season and it will be interesting to see if he can regain that form in 2016. The Bears are loaded with talent at the skill positions on offense so they are bound to put up monster numbers as long as Russell performs at the level he did before he was hurt last season.
