Phil Steele picks the top 15 QB`s.

[Greenbacks]

I like Phil.....Good listen and read.

No. 15 - Wyoming

Josh Allen is such a hot name around NFL circles right now that I put him on one of my covers. He is 6-5, 233 pounds, with a huge arm. Allen suffered a broken collarbone in his first career start that ended his 2015 season, but he led Wyoming to eight wins -- its most since 2011 -- the following year. In 14 starts, he threw for 3,203 yards (56 completion percentage, 28 touchdowns, 15 interceptions) to go along with his 512 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 14 - Western Kentucky[/h]My expectation level for Mike White in 2016 was not high after he threw for 2,722 yards (51.6 percent completions, 11 touchdowns, 16 interceptions) in 15 starts at USF. However, he exceeded all my expectations upon transferring to WKU, where he threw for 4,363 yards (67.3 percent, 37 TDs, seven picks). Jeff Brohm has moved on to Purdue, but White is 6-4, 225 pounds and can throw it 70-80 yards.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 13 - Auburn[/h]This looks like a perfect fit. In 2015, Jarrett Stidham threw for 1,265 yards (69 percent completions, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions) while being thrown into the fire as a true freshman midseason at Baylor. He is a gym rat who can make all the throws, can extend plays with his feet and is accurate. He will pilot a Gus Malzahn offense that can turn QBs into stars.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 12 - Alabama[/h]Jalen Hurts started 14 games as a true freshman in 2016 and was in the Heisman mix, throwing for 2,780 yards (62.8 completion percentage, 23 touchdowns, nine interceptions) with 954 yards rushing (5.0 average). He'll improve in his second year and has exciting true freshman Tua Tagovailoa pushing him.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 11 - Penn State[/h]Trace McSorley had two fourth-quarter touchdowns in Penn State's 2015 bowl game against Georgia. He was a solid fit for Joe Moorhead's offense in 2016 and kept getting better; after averaging 227 yards in the Nittany Lions' first eight games, McSorley threw for 299 YPG in their last six, with a 17-5 TD-INT split. McSorley also set a school record with 3,614 passing yards (57.9 percent completions, 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 365 yards rushing). Penn State also has a lot of confidence in backup quarterback Tommy Stevens.

 

[Greenbacks]

No. 10 - Florida State

Deondre Francois threw for the most passing yards of any freshman last season with 3,350 (58.7 percent completions, 20 touchdowns, seven interceptions). He did so as a true freshman and despite a shaky offensive line that led to him taking a lot of hits (some late). And yet he kept getting up and playing. I like his toughness, plus he has a stronger offensive line in 2017.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 9 - UCLA[/h]Josh Rosen burst onto the scene in 2015 as a true freshman and threw for 3,670 yards (60 percent completions, 23 TDs, 11 interceptions). The Bruins switched offenses in 2016, and a shoulder injury ended Rosen's season after six starts (1,915 yards, 59.3 percent completions, 10 and 5). UCLA is 11-8 with him as the starter and 1-5 without.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 8 - South Florida[/h]Quinton Flowers is a true dual-threat QB; he rushed for 991 yards (5.2 YPC) with eight TDs in 2015, and 1,530 yards (7.7 YPC) with 18 TDs in 2016. He also passed for 2,812 yards (62.5 percent completions) in 2016 and threw 46 TD passes to just 15 INTs the past two years, proving he's not just a runner. Backup Brett Kean is not the athlete Flowers is, but he has the "it" factor and a quick release.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 7 - Washington State[/h]Luke Falk started the Cougars' final three games in 2014 (1,859 yards, 64.2 percent completions,13 touchdowns, seven interceptions), started 12 in 2015 (4,561 yards, 69.4 completion percentage, 38 TDs, eight INTs), and had 13 starts in 2016 (4,468 yards, 70 percent, 38 and 11). That is 10,888 total yards (68.8 percent) with 89 TD passes and 26 picks. Falk knows Mike Leach's offense inside and out and is an NFL prospect. Backup Tyler Hilinski is a better athlete with a slightly better arm.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 6 - Oklahoma State[/h]Mason Rudolph is now 22-6 as a starter and has thrown for 8,714 yards in three seasons. His completion percentage has gone from 57.0 to 62.3 to 63.4 and his TD-INT splits from 6-4 to 21-9 to 28-4. Rudolph is an NFL prospect at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, and is a dangerous downfield passer.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 5 - Washington[/h]Jake Browning threw for 2,955 yards (63.3 percent completions, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) as a true freshman, and was a Heisman contender last season. He was hitting 64.3 percent of his passes but injured his shoulder and completed 57 percent the last four games. Browning underwent shoulder surgery and is back to full strength after throwing 43 TD passes and just nine interceptions last season.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 4 - Ohio State[/h]In 2014, J.T. Barrett was a Heisman contender while throwing for 2,834 yards (64.6 percent, 34 and 10). But he went down with a broken ankle in November and ended up missing the rest of the season. He ultimately finished fifth in the Heisman balloting. Barrett split time at quarterback with Cardale Jones in 2015 and had his moments last year, but ended the season with just 112 YPG in the last three games. New offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson should have him back to at least that 2014 form, and the Buckeyes are well-equipped at backup QB with Joe Burrow and redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 3 - Oklahoma[/h]Baker Mayfield is mobile, but he is not an electric runner like Jackson. He is, however, very accurate and last year set the NCAA record for pass efficiency, throwing for 3,965 yards (70.9 percent completions, 40 touchdowns, eight interceptions). His numbers last season closely matched those of 2015, when he completed 68.1 percent of his throws for 3,700 yards, 36 TDs and seven interceptions. New coach Lincoln Riley will find a package for athletic backup Kyler Murray, who played nine games for Texas A&M in 2015.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 2 - Louisville[/h]Jackson had seven starts as a true freshman (1,840 yards, 54.7 percent completions, 12 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 960 rushing yards). With experience, he threw for 3,543 yards (56.2 percent, 30 TDs, nine picks) with 1,571 rushing yards (6.0 average, 21 touchdowns) and won the Heisman. What will he do with another year under his belt? The only thing keeping Jackson from No. 1 is the way he finished. In Louisville's final three games, the Cardinals went from scoring 49.6 PPG to just 19.0. Jackson threw for 215 yards per game (48 percent, three TDs, three picks) and ran for 79 per game after averaging 289 passing and 133 rushing yards in the first 10 games.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=2]No. 1 - USC[/h]Darnold made a huge difference once inserted into the lineup, as the Trojans averaged 38.6 points per game in his 10 starts. Darnold is mobile (250 rushing yards) and yet an accurate passer (67 percent completions) who threw for 295 yards per start and finished with 31 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions. He completed 33 of 53 attempts for 453 yards and five TDs in the Rose Bowl. Darnold is regarded as the top prospect in the 2018 NFL draft.

 

[DrJimmy]

Very accurate list. Might move the Penn State up a bit and Jackson down but can't argue too much.