It’s been the Year of the Running Back in college football but let’s not forget who’s king in the NFL: quarterbacks. Running backs are mostly an afterthought these days while quarterbacks are signing deals for hundreds of millions. That means NFL scouts are already drooling over the next class of passers. Here’s the top ones in college right now:
Connor Cook, Michigan State Spartans
Senior
When it comes to quarterback prospects with all of the tools to perform at the next level, it’s impossible to overlook Cook as one of the best that is out there. The Spartans’ senior passer has thrown for 2,070 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. While those numbers aren’t as big as some of the other quarterbacks on this list, they are that much more impressive when you consider the offense he leads at Michigan State. All eyes will be on Cook as he attempts to lead the Spartans to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance as his stock will only continue to rise for as long as he continues to perform at a high level for Michigan State.
Christian Hackenberg, Penn State Nittany Lions
Junior
Penn State’s junior quarterback has been compared to Troy Aikman based on his overall look and skill set and that is probably a fair comparison since he certainly has the potential to thrive at the next level. At 6’4’’, 228 pounds, Hackenberg is a big quarterback with a live arm that doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a quarterback prospect in big part because of the limitations of the offense he plays in. Hackenberg will undoubtedly get more attention once the combine rolls around. He’s been getting a ton of flak for not elevating the performance of a mediocre Penn State team but once we get into the combine and the measurables come into play, Hackenberg will be viewed as a top passer.
Cody Kessler, USC Trojans
Senior
A player that was talked about a lot heading in to this year – and rightfully so – is Kessler, who has all of the skills that NFL teams will be looking for when he enters the NFL Draft after this season. Kessler has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 2,082 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. While he isn’t the tallest passer at 6’1’’, he has the arm strength and vision to make all of the throws. Kessler’s stock may have taken a bit of a hit with USC struggling this year but he is still one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation. He has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks off the board in next year’s NFL Draft.
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Jared Goff, California Golden Bears
Junior
After leading Cal to five straight wins to open the season, Goff hit a bit of a wall with a five-interception performance in a 30-24 loss to Utah. However, the junior passer bounced back with 295 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 40-24 loss at UCLA. Despite the fact that he didn’t get the win, he had a much better performance and didn’t turn the ball over. Goff has completed 65.5% of his passes for 2,265 yards and 20 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. With excellent size, arm strength, vision and intelligence he has the potential to be a star at the next level.
Trevone Boykin, TCU Horned Frogs
Senior
A season-ending injury to Baylor quarterback Seth Russell has left Boykin as the top quarterback candidate for the Heisman trophy this season. He has all of the tools to become a star at the next level. The Dallas, Texas native has thrown for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. He has the size and athleticism to make plays with his legs as well as he has rushed for over 500 yards and an additional six scores on the ground. Boykin has all of the tools to become a first-round pick and he’s the most mobile of the bunch, which will be appealing to many. He will need to focus on improving the consistency of his throwing mechanics as the season progresses before taking that next step and becoming an NFL quarterback.
