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A record six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, emphasizing the importance of teams having a quality option under center.
With the departure of a number of quality quarterbacks to the NFL and the transfer portal creating a lot of moving parts all around college football, let's take a look at the top 10 college quarterbacks heading into the 2024 season.
No. 10: Kyle McCord, Syracuse
McCord departed from the high-pressure role as the starting QB at Ohio State and transferred to an Atlantic Coast Conference school that has lived in mediocrity for the last 20 years.
McCord has proven that he has the arm to compete against the best defenses in the country after leading the Buckeyes to a 10-2 regular season, setting a record for throwing for 286 yards against a No. 4-ranked Penn State defense, throwing for 271 yards against a No. 2-ranked Michigan defense and finally throwing for 240 yards against the No.3-ranked defense of Notre Dame. He won’t have Marvin Harrison Jr. to throw to, but Syracuse has a plethora of talent for him to target.
No. 9: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Gabriel, a former quarterback for Oklahoma and UCF, has officially joined the Oregon Ducks for his last year of college football. In early December, he entered the transfer portal and now will replace Bo Nix, a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist.
In his previous season with the Sooners, Gabriel had impressive stats with 3,660 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, along with 373 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. His presence will be crucial as Oregon transitions into the Big Ten Conference. With talented teammates such as wide receiver Tez Johnson, running back Jordan James, and Texas A&M transfer wide receiver Evan Stewart, Gabriel is poised to lead the Ducks to success.
No. 8: Noah Fifita, Arizona
Despite being one of the top quarterbacks in college football, Fifita's talents have gone largely unnoticed. Standing at 5-foot-11, he was a crucial player for the Wildcats last season, with 2,869 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.
Despite his coach Jedd Fisch leaving for Washington this offseason, Fifita has chosen to stay in Tucson for the 2024 season. The team's record of 10-3 last year was capped off with a big win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl.
No. 7: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Dart thrived in Lane Kiffin's offensive system for another season, silencing any doubts about the future of the quarterback position at Ole Miss. As a junior, he threw for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns while reducing his turnovers.
He capped off the year with a stellar performance in the Peach Bowl victory over Penn State, throwing for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns. With Dart returning, as well as key players staying and new additions from the transfer portal, Ole Miss has a strong chance of contending for a playoff spot in the Southeastern Conference in 2024.
No. 6: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
After being benched early in September by Nick Saban, Milroe found motivation and stepped up his game as the season progressed. He ended with 2,834 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, along with 531 rushing yards and 12 scores.
However, Milroe has a tendency to rely too much on his legs when under pressure instead of looking for open receivers downfield. Milroe returned to Alabama for the 2024 season with new coach Kalen DeBoer and a new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan. His skills as a dual-threat player truly make him stand out.
No. 5: Quinn Ewers, Texas
At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, with his calm demeanor and impressive ability to think on his feet, Ewers shows tremendous potential as a game-changer, evading defenders and extending plays.
Ewers is coming into an interesting season. Losing five important pieces of the offense will require him to step up and prove the 2023 season wasn't a fluke.
No. 4: Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar came in with high expectations as a five-star recruit and proved himself in his first year as the starting quarterback. Despite facing pressure on a regular basis, Allar still managed to put up impressive numbers. However, the Nittany Lions didn't utilize his arm to its full potential, but that is expected to change with a new playbook.
Allar had one of the lowest turnovers rates despite having a high number of reps last season, showcasing his exceptional ball security skills. But in order for Penn State's offense, now under the guidance of a new play-caller, to reach elite levels in 2024, Allar will need to take more risks in the passing game.
No. 3: Cameron Ward, Miami
Ward has had a successful career so far, beginning at Incarnate Word in 2020 and continuing with Washington State for the last two seasons. Now, he is onto his next challenge at Miami. Throughout his time in both FCS and FBS levels, he has thrown a total of 119 touchdowns and only 30 interceptions. Despite playing for a team with a weak rushing attack (ranked No. 130 in the FBS last season), Ward managed to maintain consistent performance year-to-year with the Cougars.
He has now transferred to Miami, where the Hurricanes have a record of 12-13 over the past two seasons. If Ward can lead this team to success in the ACC, he could potentially become a first-round draft pick.
No. 2: Carson Beck, Georgia
During his first season as the starting quarterback for Georgia, Carson Beck threw for 24 touchdown passes and had a completion rate of 72.4 percent.
He nearly reached 4,000 passing yards and delivered standout performances against nationally-ranked teams like Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Despite having the opportunity to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, Beck chose to stay at Georgia for one more year, making them a top contender in the College Football Playoffs in this new expansion era. With a talented supporting cast around him, Beck is set to continue as QB1 for the 2025 season as well.
No. 1: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Despite playing behind a weak offensive line last season, Sanders showcased his talent and potential in the Power Five by throwing 27 touchdown passes in just 10 games.
Although he officially had 11 starts, he was limited to a few series in one game due to an injury. With a stronger offensive line and a successful season for Colorado, he could solidify himself as the top quarterback prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft with his arm strength and accuracy.
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