The most hyped QB prospects in college football history.
Grant Hughes
Waves of elite high schooltalent have washed up on college football's shores since the turn of the millennium, including schools of blue-chip quarterbacks. Using theAll-Time Football Players recruiting rankings, we ranked the 20 highest-rated quarterback prospects in the modern recruiting era (since 2000). The list features five current players, including Texas' Arch Manning and Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava.
Longhorns starting quarterback Quinn Ewers joins Manning on this list. The duo were both the top-rated overall prospects in their respective classes and are the only top-20 quarterback prospects of all time to play on the same team. Oregon's Dante Moore and Florida State's DJ Uiagalelei also made this list, speaking to the amount of passing talent that's suiting up for the 2024 season.
Manning, IamaleavaandMooreall hail from the class of 2023. It's the only class to put three players on this list and is likely to go down as one of the greatest of all time. The class of 2018 has a case with two of the top-rated of all-time, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.
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Here are the 20 highest-rated quarterback recruits of the modern recruiting era, ranked:
20. Ryan Mallett, Michigan
Class: 2007
Regarded by many asArkansas' greatest quarterback of all time, the late Ryan Mallett started his career at Michigan before embarking on a record-setting career in Fayetteville.After oneyearin Ann Arbor, Mallett transferred to Arkansas, and after sitting out a year due to NCAA policy, he landed the team's starting job. Mallett quickly flourished as a passer, throwing for at least 3,600 yards ineach ofhis two seasons with the Razorbacks and earning second-team All-SEC honors at the end of both campaigns.
19. Ben Olson, BYU
Class: 2002
Ben Olson signed with BYU, redshirtedandleft for Canada on a two-year mission trip with the LDS Church.When he returned, he transferred to UCLA and started five games inthe2006season.He was injured in his fifth start after throwing for 822 yards that season and had to sit out the remainder of theyear. Olson was named the starter again in 2007 but got knocked out after seven games. He didn't play in his senior season (2008) due to a broken foot and ended his career with 1,873 passing yards and 12 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 14 games.
18. Dante Moore, UCLA
Class: 2023
Dante Mooreratedas the No. 3 quarterback prospect in the historic class of 2023 and bolted from UCLA to Oregon this offseason, rating as the No. 10 prospect in the transfer portal. Moore completed 53.5% of his passes for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions as a freshman last season and hasbeen tabbedas abounce-back candidatewith the Ducks. He hasan opportunity to refine his skills in a backup role as part of one ofcollege football's top quarterback rooms, and that developmental process should allow him to become a premier starter for the 2025 season.
17. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee
Class: 2023
Nico Iamaleava is the highest-rated quarterback to commit to Tennesseein the modern recruiting era.He saw extended action in the Volunteers' 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl and turned heads, completing 12-of-19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 27 yards and three scores. Iamaleava had one ofcollege football's top spring passing performances. He completed 7-of-9 passes for 96 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass toChas Nimrod.
16. Rhett Bomar, Oklahoma
Class: 2004
Rhett Bomar replaced Heisman Trophy winnerJason Whiteas Oklahoma's starting quarterback in 2005 and threw for 2,018 yards and10touchdowns with10interceptions. He led the Sooners to a victory against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl and was namedthe game'sMVP. That would be the highlight of his FBS career. He was dismissed from the team for impermissible benefits and resurfaced at Sam Houston State. He threw for 3,355 yards and 27 touchdowns against 13 interceptions as a senior and left as the Bearkats' all-time leading passer.
15. Kyle Wright, Miami
Class: 2003
Kyle Wright played sparingly as a freshman with the Hurricanes and had his best collegiate season as a sophom*ore in 2005, completing 58.6% of his passes for 2,403 yards and 18 touchdowns with10interceptions. His touchdown passes led the ACC. Wright was tabbed a breakout candidate in 2006 but disappointed, tossing seven touchdowns to eight interceptions in nine games. Security had to restrain Wright's father during a notorious incident when fans booed the Miami quarterback during a loss to Virginia Tech that season. Wright threw 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a senior in 2007.
14. DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson
Class: 2020
DJ Uiagalelei is on his third team after committing to Clemson in the class of 2020. Florida State tabbed Uiagalelei to replace Jordan Travis after a renaissance season at Oregon State lastyear, where he threw for 2,638 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. It was an impressive return to form for the No. 2 overall prospect. He threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9) in his final season at Clemson and will have an opportunity to face his former team when the Tigers make the trip to Tallahassee this fall.
13. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
Class: 2001
Brodie Croyle helped keep the Alabama program afloat in the yearsprior toNick Saban. He played in 12 games as a freshman on a Crimson Tide team that finished 10-3. He threw for 2,303 yards and 16 touchdowns against 13 interceptions as Alabama finished 4-9 during Mike Shula's firstyearon the job and played just three games as a junior before tearing his ACL. His 2,499 passing yards in 2005 was the highest single-season total in Alabama's school historyat the time. He led the Crimson Tide to a victory in the2006 Cotton Bowl Classicthatyearand was named the game's offensive MVP.
12. Russell Shepard, LSU
Class: 2009
Russell Shepard chose LSU over Texas, Florida, Michigan and USC in theclass of2009 because he believed it was the best spot for him to continue playing quarterback.He ultimately lost the starting gig, never attempted a passandplayed running back and receiver for the Tigers.He caught 52 passes for 572 yardsand rushedfor 733 yards during his careerandscored10total touchdowns.Hewas picked upby the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and enjoyed a seven-year pro career before retiring in 2020.
11. Mark Sanchez, USC
Class: 2005
Sanchez sat his first three seasons at USC behind Matt Leinart and John David Booty. He was named the starter for his final season in 2008 and didn't disappoint. He completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,207 yards and 34 touchdowns with10interceptions. His touchdowns were the second-most in program history behind Leinart. He led the Trojans to a 12-1 record and drilled Penn State in the Rose Bowl to end his career in Los Angeles.
10. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
Class: 2007
Jimmy Clausen arrived at his commitment announcement in a stretch Hummer and threw for 1,254 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions as a true freshman in 2007. He improved as a sophom*ore, completing 60.9% of his passes for 3,172 yards and 25 touchdowns with 17 interceptionsandhelped the Fighting Irish snap theirNCAA-record nine-game bowl losing streak in the Hawaii Bowl. He finished his senior season with 3,722 yards passing and 28 touchdowns with four interceptions, leading Notre Dame to a 6-6 record.
9. Matt Barkley, USC
Class: 2009
Matt Barkleywas the first true freshman to start at quarterback in USC history in 2009 and was considered a Heisman candidate entering the 2012 season after throwing for 3,528 yards and 39 touchdowns in 2011. He had USC at No. 1 in the preseason polls that season, but the Trojans suffered a loss to Stanford in Week 3 and unraveled towards the end of the season. UCLA's Anthony Barr smashed Barkley in the penultimate game of the regular season, separating his shoulder and ending his college career.
8. Arch Manning, Texas
Class: 2023
Arch Manning arrived atTexasas the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2023 and is the highest-rated prospect to commit to the Longhorns out of high school in the modern recruiting era. He threw just five balls as a true freshman and completed two for 30 yards. Hebacked up the hypeduring Texas' spring game this offseason, completing 19-of-26 pass attempts for 355 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard bombon his first pass attempt.
7. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
Class: 2008
Terrelle Pryorstarted three seasons at Ohio State and finished his Buckeyes career with 6,177 passing yards, 57 touchdownsand26 interceptions. He also ran for 2,164 yards and 17 touchdowns in Jim Tressel's offense. He started his career as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and ended it as the 2010 Rose Bowl MVP.His best season came as a junior in 2010. He completed 65.0% of his passes for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He rushed 135 times for 754 yards and four scores.
6. Brock Berlin, Florida
Class: 2000
Berlin spent the first two seasonsof his careerat Florida, where he played sparingly behind incumbent Rex Grossman. Berlin transferred to Miami after his sophom*ore season and threw for 5,099 yards and 34 touchdowns against 23 interceptions during his two seasons with the Hurricanes. He was undefeated against Miami's rivals, Florida (2–0) and Florida State (3-0).That success did not translate to the pro ranks, though, as Berlin went undrafted and played in just two career NFL games.
5. Quinn Ewers, Ohio State
Class: 2021
Ewers was the top overall prospect in the class of 2021 when he signed with Ohio State. After just one season with the Buckeyes, though, he transferred to Texas, returning to the state where he starred at Southlake Carroll High School and won the Longhorns' starting job for the 2022 season. He showed flashes of his potential, completing 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions, though he struggled with consistency.Ewers took his game to another level in 2023, ranking among the Heisman Trophy favorites for much of theyearand leading the Longhorns to their first College Football Playoff appearance.
4. Vince Young, Texas
Class: 2002
Young is widely regarded as one of thebest college playersof all time, regardless of position. Heis tiedas the highest-ranked prospect to ever sign with Texas and more than lived up to the hype, earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in his first season with the program. It was the 2005 campaign that cemented his legacy, though. His heroic performance in the BCS Championship against USC, in which he totaled 467 yards of total offense in a win against USC, capped a year in which he finished runner-up for the Heisman while winning the Davey O'Brien, MaxwellandManning Awards.
3. Bryce Young, Alabama
Class: 2020
Bryce Young is the second-highest-rated player to enroll at Alabama in the modern recruiting era, trailing offensive tackle Andre Smith (2006). He set numerous records with the Crimson Tide, including a school record for most passing yards in a single game (559), and won several player of theYearawards in 2021, including theHeisman Trophy.He passed for 4,872 yards, 47 passing touchdownswithseven interceptions in 15 games that season.Young is the only quarterback in Alabama history to throw for 3,000+ yards in twoseasons.
2. Justin Fields, Georgia
Class: 2018
Justin Fields played behind Jake Fromm as a five-star freshman at Georgia. He successfully filed a waiver with the NCAA to be immediately eligible at Ohio State and assumed the starting position in 2019. He helped the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance during his first seasonand gotback to the final four theyearafter that, this time falling to Alabama in the national championship game. Over two seasons in Columbus, the decorated dual-threat racked up 78 total touchdowns.
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Class: 2018
Lawrence isone ofthe best quarterback prospects to ever pass through the high school ranks. He wasboththe top player overall and top signal-caller in the class of 2018, and his impact was felt immediately at Clemson.Hestarted as a freshman for the Tigers and led them to a win in the College Football Playoff National Championship. In three years, he passed for over 10,000 yards with 108 total touchdowns, 90 of which came through the air, while earning two first-team All-ACC selections and one first-team All-America honor.
