The Draft "Expert" - Insanely Early 2027 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospect Rankings
- Logan Blackman
- May 15
- 58 min read
Hello everyone and welcome to the first officially official Draft "Expert" blog post for the 2027 NFL Draft! As you can probably tell by the title, in this one we will be going over my insanely early quarterback prospect rankings for the 2027 NFL Draft!
If we're being honest with ourselves here, there is no real reason for me to be doing this. I mean, the chances of this being anywhere close to accurate by the time the draft does roll around are slim to none. Hell, if we just look back at last year two of my top five stayed in college for another year with the other three not getting drafted until after the third round, with my preseason number two falling all the way to the seventh round.
Now, I should also say that this past year's quarterback class was a massive disappointment given all the hype that they had throughout the preseason. Players like Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier were still top four guys (per my rankings) when the draft rolled around, but that sentiment did not mean the same in 2026 as it did during the 2025 offseason.
Though this is bound to bite me in the ass I do view this year's draft class higher at this point then I did last year's at this same time. I'm not just saying that because last year's class was disappointing, I just think the depth of this year's is so much better. Hell, I would go as far to say that I would have ranked each of my top five from this year above my top five from last year (if looking through my preseason eyes).
With all that being said I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show and the self proclaimed Draft "Expert am proud to present to you my insanely early quarterback rankings for the 2027 NFL Draft! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
2025 Season - 296/412 3,565 yds 30 touchdowns 10 interceptions/73 carries 156 yds 2 touchdowns
6'3" 206 lbs.; 20 y/o
I can't speak for every single person out there, but prior to last season starting I really did not know what to expect from Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. I mean, the last time we saw Moore take the field as a starter was when he was splitting time with Ethan Garbers down at UCLA, a true freshman season that saw him register 11-touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing a pretty abysmal 53.5% of his passes. As one of the top recruits in the nation coming out of high school, it's safe to say Moore didn't necessarily live up to his potential during said freshman season, which lead him to transfer up to Oregon, where he would sit behind the insanely experienced Dillon Gabriel. In their first season in the Big Ten, Gabriel lead the Ducks to an undefeated regular season and a conference title, before of course getting blasted by Ohio State in the second round of the College Football Playoff. After taking care of business in the Big Ten in their first season, many (including myself) were intrigued to see how they'd fair in their second time of asking, especially with Moore taking over at quarterback. Everyone knew he had talent, but again the last time we saw him on the field was at UCLA, so how would he do this time around? Though he came out the gates firing against the likes of Montana State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Oregon State, they're not necessarily the stiffest competition, the real litmus test for Moore and the Ducks came in week five on the road against Penn State. In such a hostile atmosphere Moore thrived, throwing for 248-yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions as Oregon came away with an impressive 30-24 2OT victory. Though they lost their next game against Indiana, that Penn State performance really got people talking about Dante Moore, as he was now squarely involved in being considered as the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 draft class. Though that was the case, Moore decided to return to school for another season, despite there being the possibility that he could wind up being the second overall pick in the draft. With only 20-starts to his name you can say he may the smart decision to return to school to continue his development. That can be a dangerous decision but he bet on himself, and I respect the hell out of that. A good sized prospect with a plus arm and a good amount of athleticism, Moore is the perfect quarterback to operate Oregon's offense. He is a really quick processor and is able to get the ball out accurately and on time, doing his best work when throwing along the sideline. Arguably the best deep ball thrower in this class, Moore's arm talent mixed with his placement and aforementioned timing allows him to fit in balls to his receivers regardless of how close the opposing defender is. The ball just jumps out of his hand, whether that be from the pocket or when he's throwing on the run. Speaking of that Moore is a really solid athlete despite not posting insane rushing numbers. That being said he does not like getting hit, and will slide or duck out of bounds rather than fight for extra yards. He's kind of the anti-Jaxson Dart in that sense. He relies on his arm to beat opposing defenses, and has a good enough one to make every throw on the field. That being said he can make some ill-advised throws, as his he registered six of his 10-interceptions in five of the final seven games of the season (four in three Playoff games). There is a whole lot to like about Moore's game, and I'm excited to see how he does with another year of development under new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer (who was on the staff previously). There's a lot of quick/first reads in Oregon's offense (which could be cause for concern) but based off what I saw last year it's hard for me to say Moore is anything but the top quarterback prospect in next year's class, and I think he could very well wind up with a Heisman Trophy to his name when it's all said and done.
Wk 14 - 20/29 286 yds 1 touchdown 0 interceptions/7 carries 11 yds 1 touchdown @ Washington (26-14 W)
Dante Moore has everything you could potentially want for a franchise quarterback at the next level. Like I alluded to before Moore possesses good size mixed with quality arm talent and a good amount of athleticism, and we know he's going to protect himself when he's out in the open field, which NFL teams will most certainly like. He's the best deep ball thrower in this class and can make every single throw on the field from a solid or un-solid base, which makes him insanely dangerous when pushing the ball down the field. Oregon's quick/first read style offense may raise some flags for some out there, but I think Moore's overall talent should see him be ranked as the top quarterback in next year's draft class.
Other Key Games
Wk 5 @ no.3 Penn State
Wk 11 @ Iowa
Wk 13 v no.15 USC
2. Arch Manning, Texas
2025 Season - 248/404 3,163 yds 26 touchdowns 7 interceptions/92 carries 399 yds 10 touchdowns
6'4" 219 lbs.; 21 y/o
One of the most polarizing quarterback prospects in recent memory, I doubt there's not a single college football fan who doesn't have an opinion (good or bad) about Texas quarterback Arch Manning. If I had to guess, I would say that a vast majority of fans would consider Manning "overrated," as statistically you could say that he did not live up to the rather insane sky high expectations set for him at the beginning of the season. The dude literally has the weight of the footballing world on his shoulders, with fan and pundit alike closely monitoring his every move as not only is he the nephew to Eli and Peyton Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, he also plays for Texas, pound-for-pound one of the most disliked schools in all of college football. Like it doesn't matter if you're a fan of Oklahoma or someone like Portland State, I'm sure once upon a time you've made the "horns down" motion with your hand(s). It's a very unifying symbol across not just college football, but sports in general, so much so that articles even suggested that "horns down" could become a penalty if used by either opposing players or fans. Everyone does it, and everyone barring Texas fans love it. All of that mixed together makes again one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in recent college football memory. The thing is though that makes this somewhat frustrating from an outsiders perspective, is that Manning hasn't really done a whole lot to feed into this hype, either in a good way or a bad way. He doesn't make himself the center of attention and has rarely ever addressed the hype he's received in any capacity, he just goes out there and plays football. Prior to last season starting the hype got to a whole other level, as draft analysts were dubbing him as the top overall prospect in the 2026 draft despite only starting two games up to that point. There was no doubting Manning is a quality quarterback, but to give him that crown after just two starts made a lot of people eager to see him mess up, eager to say "I told you so" in regards to him being "overrated." I mean hell, his first start this past season came on the road against Ohio State, who would wind up having five defensive players selected inside the first two rounds of the draft, not to mention Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Caden Curry were drafted in the fifth and sixth rounds respectfully. Manning struggled across Texas' next two games against San Jose State and UTEP following their week one loss (looking really bad against UTEP) but was able to bounce back and grow as a quarterback as the season progressed. I'm not going to sit here and say he was perfect by any means, but Manning definitely showed why he should still be taken seriously as a top quarterback prospect as the season progressed. Besides having the most famous last name in football, Manning does possess a lot of traits that make him an ideal target for teams atop the draft board in 2027. At 6'4" 219 lbs., Manning possesses a great amount of athleticism that neither of his uncles had, while also boast an NFL level arm that can make every single throw on the football field. A victim of drops this past season, a whopping 8.1% of Manning's passes last year were dropped by Longhorn receivers, with some of those passes showing pinpoint accuracy. For comparison sake, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, who came out on the winning end of their week one match-up, had 2.0% of his passes dropped last season. That's a 6.1% difference, which is pretty ridiculous given that they attempted around the same number of passes (Manning attempted 13-more). He may have somewhat of an awkward throwing motion, but he is able to get the ball out quick to his receivers for them to make plays after the catch. With that he also able to make throws down the field from awkward angles, using his mobility to maneuver around the pocket before letting it go while on the move. His mobility keeps defenses honest, and he is definitely not afraid to tuck it and run when given an opening. I do think he has to improve overall on his deep ball, as he does sometimes tend to under throw them, but overall I think Manning is a much better quarterback than some in the general public think. If Texas can improve their rush attack there's no reason why Manning couldn't go ballistic in his second year in Steve Sarkisian's offense. I won't have him as QB1 at this point in time, but having him inside at least the top two is where he should be pretty consensus at this point in time. I think he has a very high ceiling and if the draft were to be today, Manning would be the first overall pick in the draft.
Wk 9 - 29/46 346 yds 3 touchdowns 1 interception/10 carries 6 yds 1 touchdown @ Mississippi State (45-38 OTW)
Manning may not have not lead Texas to a National Championship, or had a Heisman Trophy worthy season last time out, but the dude got better and better as the season progressed, really showing some of the tools many were hyping up prior to the season starting. He's got everything you could look for in a potential franchise quarterback and will be the overwhelming favorite to be selected first overall once the 2027 draft rolls around. He's a damn good quarterback and I'm excited to see how he does in his second season as the full time starter at Texas.
Other Key Games
Wk 6 @ Florida
Wk 10 v no.9 Vanderbilt
Bowl Game v no.18 Michigan
3. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State (North Texas)
2025 Season - 319/463 4,379 yds 34 touchdowns 9 interceptions/57 carries 89 yds 5 touchdowns
6'4" 211 lbs.; 20 y/o
If arm arrogance is your thing, then Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker is the quarterback for you. After watching him this past season while at North Texas, it is crazy to me to think that this dude did not start a single game of high school football, making his first start in the First Responder Bowl back in 2025 following Chandler Morris entering the transfer portal, helping the Mean Green pick up a 38-30 victory. In the win Mestemaker really announced himself to the college football world, going 26/41 for 393-yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. That performance mixed with the newfound knowledge of him never starting a high school game lead people to start paying more attention to Mestemaker, especially since he was now going to be competing for the full time starting job the following season, facing competition from Miami (FL) transfer Reese Poffenbarger. Prior to Miami, Poffenbarger put up some fantastic numbers in his second season at UAlbany, helping the Great Dane make it all the way to the FCS Semifinals before falling to South Dakota State, the eventual National Champions. In his freshman season he was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the most outstanding freshman player in the FCS. Comparing resumes didn't matter much in the end though, as Mestemaker would wind up winning the starting job on August 19th, right before the start of the 2025 season. That decision would prove to be a fantastic one from head coach Eric Morris, as Mestemaker would go on to lead the nation in passing yards and was the only quarterback to register more than 4,000+ yards (4,379) while also ranking second in passing touchdowns (34). He went through the first five games of the season without throwing an interception and only registered interceptions in four of North Texas' 14-games. That being said, out of those four games he only registered less than two interceptions once, throwing three against both no.24 USF and no.20 Tulane, with the latter coming in a 34-21 loss in the American Conference Championship game (two came off of receiver's hands). All that being said Mestemaker helped guide the Mean Green to an impressive 12-2 record, with them finding themselves in the AP top-25 for the first time since 1959, ending the longest drought for an FBS team (also ranked in the College Football Playoff poll). You couldn't have really asked for a much better season, which lead to him following the aforementioned Eric Morris to Oklahoma State in the transfer portal this offseason. From never starting a game in high school to becoming one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL draft is truly remarkable, and the dude has the overall talent to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board. A good sized prospect (6'4" 211 lbs., though could probably add more weight/muscle) with aforementioned arm talent to spare, Mestemaker can make the most ridiculous throws look easy, despite the fact that they're anything but. Despite having a somewhat wonky or awkward throwing motion, the ball gets out quick and explodes out of Mestemaker's hand whether from a clean or messy pocket, even whether he's falling back or not. It's actually crazy how accurate he can be when things break down around him, with his aforementioned quick release helping him get it out before any defender can make a play on him. Though the numbers may not necessarily show it, Mestemaker is a decent athlete who can make all of those same throws on the run, with his most impressive one coming against Wyoming where he rolled out and threw out of the back of his own end zone, showing excellent field awareness in the process. Now, all that being said he can sometimes force the issue when the pocket does break down. He thinks he can make every single throw on the field, and though he seems to be right more often than not, forcing the issue and trying to make something out of nothing can lead to some unfortunate interceptions. I think the biggest thing to watch for Mestemaker this year will be how he handles the jump up from the American Conference to the Big 12, as eight of his nine interceptions came against teams either in the top-25 or were receiving votes at the time they played. Not only that but Oklahoma State has been a very bad football team recently, winning a combined four games across the past two seasons. Now, I believe in Mestemaker and Morris, so I am fully expecting the Cowboys to be much better than they have been the past two seasons, especially since I would say they have a pretty favorable conference schedule (they do play Oregon again in non-conference play). There is a reality where Mestemaker is the first quarterback off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft, and I for one am absolutely here for it. The dude is immensely talented and I hope he continues to make his high school coaches look stupid as his career goes on.
Wk 2 - 18/33 224 yds 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions/5 carries 24 yds 0 touchdowns @ Western Michigan (33-30 OTW)
Based solely on catalog of throws, there is a very strong case to say that Mestemaker is the draft's quarterback prospect. He is such an anticipatory thrower who does an excellent job at throwing his receivers open. He's got insane arm talent that you just can't teach, and is able to fire the ball down the field with ease whether his base is stable or not. There's so much to like about his game, and I'm excited to see how he does for a new look Oklahoma State team that is trying to get back towards the top of the Big 12. If he can replicate what he did at North Texas, Mestemaker has a real shot at being taken first overall in the 2027 Draft.
Other Key Games
Wk 3 v Washington State
Wk 7 @ no.24 South Florida
Wk 13 @ Rice
4. CJ Bailey, NC State
2025 Season - 273/397 3,105 yds 25 touchdowns 9 interceptions/89 carries 215 yds 6 touchdowns
6'6" 210 lbs.; 20 y/o
Out of all the quarterback prospects available in this year's class, NC State's CJ Bailey arguably fills me with the most excitement. With one of the best toolsets in the entire class, Bailey possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism, and age profile that should get fans and scouts alike excited for this upcoming season. At just 20 years old (literally just turned 20) Bailey stands at a whopping 6'6" and weighs around 210 lbs.. Though I'm sure most out there will suggest that he continue to put on weight to deal with hits at the next level, Bailey is a very smart runner and will get down to avoid any unnecessary contact. With that, I do have no doubt that Bailey would be more than willing to put on the extra pounds, as he has gained around 20 since first coming to NC State. Despite his age, Bailey has a good amount of collegiate experience at the quarterback position, as he already has 22-starts to his name as a soon to be true junior. To put that into perspective, those 22-starts are more than recent 13th overall pick Ty Simpson, who only managed 15 throughout his four year career down at Alabama. What makes his amount of starts stand out even more is that he wasn't supposed to get those opportunities so early, but an injury to Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall opened the door for Bailey and he never looked back. With that he had a real "welcome to college football moment" for his first career start, as he lead the Wolfpack on the road out against then 21st ranked Clemson. Bailey would go on to finish his freshman season with over 2,400-passing yards with 17-touchdowns and 10-interceptions, while also picking up 279-yards on the ground with five further touchdowns there as well. Now the unquestioned starter, all eyes turned to Bailey as the Wolfpack looked to improve upon their 6-7 2024 season. In a season that saw him improve on every single statistic, Bailey helped guide them to an 8-5 record which saw them pick up wins against the likes of Virginia and then eighth ranked Georgia Tech, with the former going on to eventually lose in the conference championship game to Duke. The game against Georgia Tech though we saw Bailey at his absolute best, throwing for 340-yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown as they picked up the 48-36 home victory. Despite being a home underdog, the Wolfpack handed the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season, doing it in emphatic fashion by way of a double digit victory. That game we saw all the best that Bailey has to offer, as he was able to hit on the deep ball while also showing off his mobility both in and outside of the pocket. He's such a gifted athlete in that regard, as he's able to make defenders miss and buy time to allow his receivers to get open down the field. His height also helps him in that area, as he is able to see over most of the oncoming defenders. With that athleticism though Bailey is a pass first quarterback, and would rather push the ball down the field with his arm rather than take off and run once he breaks outside of the pocket. I mean hell, there wasn't one time this past season where he registered more than 10-carries in a game, with his most being nine which came against the likes of Virginia Tech and Notre Dame (two games they lost). He's got a plus arm and can put a lot of velocity on his throws, though he does take some heat off of the ball when throwing short or across the middle. Where he can get into trouble is when there is a free rusher coming in on him, as most of his interceptions came from him forcing it down the field to avoid the sack. His eyes also need to speed up a little bit as well, because in the same breath some of his interceptions have come because he's been late on a throw. That being said given the little amount of NFL talent around him Bailey makes so many plays for the offense. He is truly one of the most talented quarterbacks in this class and should be considered a first round prospect as things stand right now. Plus arm mixed with great size and athleticism, NC State puts a lot on his shoulders and he's been more than up to the task to this point in his career.
Wk 10 - 24/32 340 yds 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions/5 carries 34 yds 1 touchdown v no.8 Georgia Tech (48-36 W)
CJ Bailey is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in this draft class, but what makes him different than some of the other "dual threat" guys is that he's looking to pass first rather than just take off and run. He showed vast improvement from year one to year two, and I'm expecting more of that this year. If he can speed up his eyes he's got the overall talent to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in 2027.
Other Key Games
Wk 4 @ Duke
Wk 9 @ Pitt
Wk 14 v North Carolina
5. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
2025 Season - 195/293 2,741 yds 24 touchdowns 6 interceptions/41 carries 33 yds 3 touchdowns
6'3" 210 lbs.; 20 y/o
Much like a couple of other quarterbacks in this draft class, Notre Dame's CJ Carr was subject to a quarterback battle prior to the start of last season. After Duke transfer Riley Leonard lead the Fighting Irish to their first National Championship game appearance since 2012 (and their second since 1988) head coach Marcus Freeman announced that Carr and Kenny Minchey would be competing for the starting job after potential starter Steve Angeli (who served as Leonard's back-up the season prior) transferred to Syracuse. Ultimately Carr would wind up winning the job, but praise on winning the job would have to wait as the Irish fell in each of their first two games of the season. Now, those two loses were against two eventual Playoff teams in Miami (FL) and Texas A&M (with the latter making the National Championship) but Carr's overall performance in both games left some to be desired. I'm not sitting here acting like he was horrible by any stretch of the imagination, but criticism was bound to happen as Notre Dame opened both games as the higher ranked team and the overall betting favorites. I think the Miami game kind of just shocked everyone to a certain extent, mostly because of transfer quarterback Carson Beck's performance against a seemingly great Notre Dame defense. Carr would throw some pretty unfortunate interceptions in each of those games (one in each), but did show off some athleticism while leading the Irish in rush attempts and rushing touchdowns against Miami, while also buying a ton of time in the backfield before firing a ball into Micah Gilbert for a score. On that play Notre Dame would start with the ball on the Miami six yard line, only for Carr to drop all the way back to the 29 before cutting back up and finding his receiver in the end zone for the score. Though he may not be a burner, Carr does showcase some decent athleticism from time to time, despite what the overall rushing numbers may show you, though he probably needs to get better at protecting himself (and the ball when throwing it away). With that Carr possesses good pocket mobility and awareness, while also showing good footwork which is incredibly important at this stage of development. He may not be the most physically imposing quarterback (not bad size or anything), but Carr is a very smart thrower who the aforementioned Freeman called "a true problem solver." He's a very confident thrower of the football and isn't afraid to attack opposing defenses by pushing the ball down the field, attacking all areas of the field with a very good deep ball. Running more of a pro style offense, NFL teams should be able to see what all he can provide to an offense at the next level. He may not possess any typical elite traits, but he processes the game well, can make things happen with his legs when needed, and is not timid when in the pocket. It will be intriguing to see how much more is put on his plate this upcoming season as he lost both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price as well as Malachi Fields and Eli Raridon (and Will Pauling), four massive losses for Notre Dame's offense with the former two both being taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Through moments last year Carr just had to manage the game, now he's the main cog in an offense that should help the Irish get back to the College Football Playoff (or to a bowl game, if they're up to it I guess).
Wk 7 - 19/31 342 yds 2 touchdowns 1 interception/3 carries -10 yds 0 touchdowns v NC State (36-7 W)
There aren't a lot of quarterbacks in this class that I'm more excited to see this upcoming season than Notre Dame's CJ Carr. After putting together some really solid stuff last season, I'm intrigued to see how he does as the main focal point in the Irish offense. If he's able to live up to the hype, Notre Dame could very much be in and around the National Championship conversation. He can make every throw on the field and is not afraid to test the defense. He's also a much better athlete than his rushing numbers suggest, able to use his legs to his advantage in both the run and pass game. Overall I am again excited to see what Carr does this upcoming season.
Other Key Games
Wk 1 @ no.10 Miami (FL)
Wk 3 v no.16 Texas A&M
Wk 5 @ Arkansas
6. Jayden Maiava, USC
2025 Season - 265/403 3,711 yds 24 touchdowns 10 interceptions/54 carries 157 yds 6 touchdowns
6'4" 230 lbs.; 22 y/o
Maybe I'm alone in thinking this way, but I do not feel as though USC quarterback Jayden Maiava got anywhere near the love he should have gotten this past season. I mean, in his first season as the Trojans' full time starter after replacing Miller Moss midway through the 2025 season, Maiava put on some very solid performances as USC showed to be a much improved team throughout the course of the season, with Maiava finishing in the top five nationally in passing yards despite attempting the least amount of passes of any other quarterback inside the top-10. I'm not going to lie, I was not on the USC train prior to last season starting, as I felt they would still struggle to navigate the tougher and more physical Big Ten in their second season. I know many out there were high on the improvements they made to their roster, but I just had a hard time seeing it pan out positively at that point in time. In the same breath though I did not know what to really expect from Maiava, as he had a pretty up and down start to his life in Los Angeles (11-touchdowns six interceptions) after transferring in from UNLV. The thing is though he proved to be the real deal, as his chemistry with the likes of Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane really flashed throughout the season as he registered 3,711-passing yards with 24-touchdowns and 10-interceptions, while also being a decent threat with his legs when he needed to be. At 6'4" 230 lbs. Maiava possesses an insanely strong arm and is able to make every single throw on the field with relative ease. With that though he definitely needs to improve his footwork, as a lot of his throws tend to be from an unbalanced base. As impressive as that can be, that's an area he's definitely going to need to improve upon at the next level. He's an aggressive thrower of the football when it comes to push it down the field, which did lead to some ill-advised interceptions this past season. That's what you can sometimes get with strong armed quarterbacks, as they feel as though they can make every single throw on the field, and are usually looking to make something happen out of nothing. That being said he has the upmost confidence in his receivers, as there were a few times where he'd put the ball in a spot and just tell his receiver(s) to go and get it. There's going to be a lot of eyes on him this year with the aforementioned Lemon and Lane leaving for the NFL, but I believe that Maiava will improve upon his overall impressive play from a season ago and put himself right into the first/second round conversation. Again, he's a super gifted and natural thrower of the football, he just has some things to refine before taking things to the next level. If he's able to, I feel like the traits he possesses (size, arm talent, and athleticism) will make him an intriguing prospect to look out for in the 2027 draft.
Wk 12 - 23/32 254 yds 1 touchdown 0 interceptions/5 carries 11 yds 0 touchdowns v no.21 Iowa (26-21 W)
Like I stated before Jayden Maiava is a very gifted thrower of the football, and will have a decent amount of eyes on him following an overall successful first full season as USC's starting quarterback. He's definitely got some things to clean up (mostly footwork) but if he's able to get that stuff all sorted there's no reason why he couldn't be spoken about as a potential first round prospect. I'm a big fan of Maiava's overall game, and I'm excited to see how he does this coming season with a new core of receivers.
Other Key Games
Wk 7 v no.15 Michigan
Wk 11 v Northwestern
Wk 13 @ no.7 Oregon
7. Darian Mensah, Miami (FL) (Duke)
2025 Season - 334/500 3,973 yds 34 touchdowns 6 interceptions/59 carries -32 yds 1 touchdown
6'3" 205 lbs.; 21 y/o
One of my favorite quarterbacks in the country during his freshman season at Tulane, Darian Mesnah really put himself on the national map with his performances for the Duke Blue Devils this past season. Taking over for Maalik Murphy (who transferred to Oregon State), Mensah took the reigns of an offense that finished near the bottom of the conference in both total and scoring offense, helping improve upon every single major statistic as the Blue Devils ended the season with their first ACC title since 1989. I mean, the addition of Mensah turned a middle of the road passing offense into the conference's best in just one season, with Mensah registering an impressive 3,973-yards with 34-touchdowns and six interceptions, ranking second in the nation in both passing yards and touchdowns. He was on fire this past season, and had he declared for the 2025 draft I believe he could have been a potential second round pick. At the end of the day though money talks, as he took a bigger offer to transfer to Miami (FL) this offseason. Though the move was met by some criticism (by both fans and the university) it will certainly help Mensah become even more of a household name than he already is, especially after Miami made it all the way to the National Championship this past season before falling to the Indiana Hoosiers by the score 27-21. I believe Mensah is an upgrade on Carson Beck, who had himself a decent career resurgence while down in south beach as he was taken with the first pick of the third round by the Arizona Cardinals. Mensah has a chance to better that this year, and should do so despite Miami losing some key pieces on both sides of the ball this offseason. As a prospect though Mensah may not possess an absolute howitzer for an arm, but he's very precise with his passes showing very good placement and timing on his deep balls (he throws a really good fade ball). Though the overall numbers won't show it, Mensah is a good athlete and can make teams pay when utilizing his legs. With that he is very solid when rolling outside of the pocket and is able to make very accurate throws down the sideline, hitting his receivers in some pretty tight windows (mostly to his right). He's not afraid to stand in the pocket and take a hit and is at his best when working the sidelines/intermediate areas of the field. That all being said I do think his eyes need to be somewhat quicker, as a good amount of his six interceptions came after just not seeing the defender who jump the route(s). Overall though I think Mensah has a chance to make a lot of noise this season. Though I think he could have been a decently high draft pick had he come out this year, another year of development won't hurt him. He's a really good quarterback, and I'm excited to see him operate this upcoming season.
Wk 10 - 24/41 361 yds 4 touchdowns 0 interceptions/4 carries -6 yds 0 touchdowns @ Clemson (46-45 W)
Like I mentioned above, Mensah may not have a rocket for an arm or anything, but his ball placement and timing really make him one of the better prospects in this year's draft. He's a good enough athlete to make impressive throws on the run and possesses good size to stand tall in the pocket and take on hits from opposing defenders. Like I said before though his eyes do need to speed up just a tad more, and if they do he could very well wind up seeing his name in the first round conversation.
Other Key Games
Wk 6 @ Cal
Wk 8 v no.12 Georgia Tech
Wk 11 @ UConn
8. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
2025 Season - 301/391 3,610 yds 32 touchdowns 8 interceptions/42 carries -44 yds 0 touchdowns
6'1" 208 lbs.; 20 y/o
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is definitely going to be a quarterback to keep an eye on in regards to declaring for the 2027 NFL Draft. The reason I say that is because despite putting up some fantastic numbers for a team that was atop of the college football world for damn near the entire season after beating then top ranked Texas in week one, a few people out there are still trying to figure out how good Sayin actually is. The thing is a lot of that is due to factors that are completely out of his control, as the Buckeyes possessed the best receiver duo in college football (shocking, right?) with Jeremiah Smith and future fourth overall pick Carnell Tate, so how good was he really if he's throwing to them? Another factor is Ohio State's schedule, as after the aforementioned Texas game I would wager that a decent amount of fans didn't tune into another Buckeye game until "The Game" against Michigan which came at the end of November. Sure they played then 17th ranked Illinois, but based on conversations I've had no one was really concerned about Ohio State's chances in that game. Throughout the entire season Ohio State played four teams with losing records, two teams that hovered around .500, and Ohio and Grambling State, games that the average fan just won't tune in to. So again, there are a couple factors that go against Sayin when it comes to the general population, but the thing is that the dude is a very good quarterback. In his first season as the full time starter in Columbus Sayin threw for 3,610-yards with 32-touchdowns and eight interceptions, numbers that helped see him finish fourth in the Heisman Trophy race (fifth most first place votes) and register more passing yards than both Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia, the only two quarterbacks who finished above him in the voting. He also completed a whopping 77% of his passes, which saw him be one of only two quarterbacks who ranked inside the top-10 in passing yards to complete more than 70% of their passes (Carson Beck, 72.4%). The thing is though that insanely high completion percentage was not down to him just checking it down or taking the easy throw (though he did do that from time-to-time, as do all quarterbacks) as he pushed the ball down the field a good amount, as he was not afraid to test opposing defenses. Now, that could again come down to the fact that he has complete faith in his wide receivers (and rightfully so) as only 2% of his passes were dropped this past season. Essentially just put it in their area code and they'll come down with it. Though he's not the biggest prospect in this year's class standing at 6'1" and weighing 218 lbs., Sayin does possess a good arm and is again not afraid to push the ball down the field. He really grew with the season, and you could see the Ohio State coaching staff loading his plate up more and more as the season progressed. His main strength is obviously his accuracy (as alluded to before) as he is a quick processor and possesses a quick release to get the ball out fast to his receivers. His ball placement is very good as well (which links with accuracy) and he throws a very good back shoulder ball (really good at throwing outside the hash). Though he again has a good arm, he doesn't possess a cannon or anything like that, so timing and placement are insanely important to his game and he makes opposing teams pay because of it. His rushing numbers may not show it but he is a solid athlete, possessing nice pocket mobility and a natural calmness under pressure. That being said he rarely picks up gains with his legs, only posting two 10+ yard rushing performances this season (12 v Washington and 13 v Penn State). With that he rarely makes plays off script, and his size does him no real favors in that department either. Given the numbers and how good Ohio State are likely to be this upcoming season you'd think Sayin would be much higher, but for now I'm going to keep him in the back half of the top-10, and I wouldn't be surprised if/when he climbs up as the season go along.
Wk 8 - 36/42 393 yds 4 touchdowns 0 interceptions/5 carries 7 yds 0 touchdowns @ Wisconsin (34-0 W)
As I alluded to before, Sayin may not boast the physical tools of a lot of the other quarterbacks in this class possess, but the dude is such a deadly assassin when throwing the ball down the field it's crazy. Regardless of his arm strength or athletic capabilities, the dude's ball placement is damn near flawless, throwing his receivers open while also putting the ball in spots where only they can make a play on it. There's obviously going to be people out there who question Sayin's ability given the talent he has around him, but I don't know if there's a lot of other quarterbacks who could make the same pin point accurate throws that he can, regardless of who's around them. His ceil may remain a question mark, but the dude has got some serious skill.
Other Key Games
Wk 7 @ no.17 Illinois
Wk 10 v Penn State
Wk 14 @ no.15 Michigan
9. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
2025 Season - 178/293 2,437 yds 13 touchdowns 8 interceptions/149 carries 270 yds 5 touchdowns
6'3" 240 lbs.; 20 y/o
The most physically gifted quarterback in this class by a wide margin, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has everything you could possibly look for in a potential franchise quarterback at the next level. Standing at 6'3" and weighing in at 240 lbs., Sellers is an excellent athlete who has a cannon attached to his right shoulder, the only problem is that he lacks consistency when firing the ball down the field. Like most athletically gifted quarterbacks, when everything is synced up Sellers can throw the ball through the eye of a needle, the only problem is how often is everything fully synced up? He's excellent when pushing the ball down the field, but lacks consistency in those short to intermediate throws, which are the ones that should be considered "money throws" at the next level. After putting forth a really solid first season in Columbia, many (including myself) were expecting Sellers to take that next step going into the 2025 season. To say he didn't would be an understatement, as he registered less passing yards and passing touchdowns as well as rushing yards (mostly down to sacks) and rushing touchdowns while throwing more interceptions and completing a decently lower percentage of passes despite attempting six less. Now, I will say Sellers was not necessarily set up the best this past season, as there were numerous times throughout the course of the season where the opposing pass rusher was in the backfield as soon as he received the ball from the center. Another thing that hurt him was a real lack of production in the run game, as the Gamecocks boasted the third worst rush attack in the SEC. I cannot stress enough how much harder that makes life on the quarterbacks, especially when playing behind a struggling offensive line and suffering from a good amount of drops from receivers. A lot went wrong for South Carolina on the offensive side of the ball, but again Sellers still needs to find more consistency as a passer and play above the struggling players around him, as I feel he has the overall talent to do so. Now, because of the struggles around him I would say that Sellers can be caught trying to do too much, which sometimes lead to his aforementioned turnovers and lack of rushing yards, as he'd get caught trying too much in the backfield which would lead to sacks (not all the time). Smartly he decided to stay in college for another year, though I did think that he'd enter the transfer portal this past offseason. Staying in Columbia is definitely a bold (maybe even risky) move, but if Sellers is again able to find some consistency in the pass game and play within himself he could very well be one of the top quarterbacks taken in this year's draft class.
Wk 4 - 18/28 302 yds 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions/10 carries -28 yds 0 touchdowns @ no.23 Missouri (29-20 L)
I want more than anything for LaNorris Sellers to live up to his incredible potential this coming season. He's got too many tools in his tool box to be anything other than a success, and I just hope that he's again able to realize his potential. If he shows more improvement as an overall passer there is absolutely no reason why he couldn't wind up being one of the top selections in the 2027 NFL Draft (felt weird to say). He's got the size, arm talent, and athleticism to be a real problem this coming season, let's hope the rest of the Gamecocks back him up.
Other Key Games
Wk 1 v Virginia Tech
Wk 5 v Kentucky
Wk 10 @ no.7 Ole Miss
10A. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
2025 Season - 294/445 3,937 yds 22 touchdowns 3 interceptions/133 carries 527 yds 8 touchdowns
6'0" 205 lbs.; 23 y/o
One of the more intriguing stories from this past college football season was about Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. A Division II transfer from Ferris State, Chambliss was initially brought in to serve as the back-up to Austin Simmons, a former three star prospect who looked good in spurts in relief of then starter Jaxson Dart during his redshirt freshman season. Chambliss on the other hand was coming in as a two time Division II National Champion (one as a starter) as well as being named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Player of the Year in 2024 and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is essentially the Division II Heisman Trophy. Despite that impressive resume not much was expected from Chambliss, that is until Simmons suffered an ankle injury in week two against Kentucky, which saw Chambliss be named the starting quarterback in Ole Miss' following game against Arkansas. After registering an impressive 353-passing yards with one touchdown to go along with a team leading 62-rushing yards and two more touchdowns, Chambliss was given the starting position for the remainder of the season. To say he wouldn't look back would be a gross understatement, as Chambliss lit the college football world alight in his 14-starts as he finished third in the nation in passing yards while registering 22-touchdowns to just three interceptions. He also racked up 527-yards on the ground and eight touchdowns, helping Ole Miss book their first trip to the College Football Playoff while finishing eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. To put up those kind of numbers after not starting the first two games of the season is insanely impressive, and shows how locked in both Chambliss and then head coach Lane Kiffin were. Speaking of Kiffin, even after he left prior to the aforementioned Playoff to become the new head coach at LSU, Chambliss still helped the Rebels and then interim (now full time) head coach Pete Golding to an impressive win in the second round against Georgia before falling in the semifinal to Miami by the score 31-27 (they also beat Tulane 41-10 in the first round, but everyone figured that). Despite numerous reports suggesting Chambliss would either leave Ole Miss via the transfer portal (possibly joining Kiffin at LSU) or the NFL Draft where he could have probably been a second round pick, he was eventually granted a sixth year of eligibility after his first two appeals were rejected. Whether that's the smart move in the long run remains to be seen, but that shouldn't take away from what Chambliss can do on the football field. Despite being one of the smaller quarterbacks in this year's class as he's listed at 6'0" 205 lbs., Chambliss is an absolute electric factory when the ball in his hands. One of the hardest players to contain in the backfield, Chambliss became known for extending plays before delivering ropes down the field. He possesses a very strong and live arm, throwing an excellent deep ball while producing a lot of velocity despite not having the best footwork. That's an area he's definitely going to need to improve upon to make the jump to the next level, as his accuracy on short to intermediate throws can wain on him at times. With being as athletic as he is Chambliss needs to also get better at protecting himself, which seems to be a common theme amongst former Ole Miss quarterbacks. Overall though he just makes things happen as he constantly rises to the occasion, whether that be with his legs or his arm. One of the early favorites for the Heisman Trophy, if Chambliss is able to develop properly then I could very much see a reality where he shoots up the draft board. He's raw, but man is he talented.
Wk 9 - 24/44 315 yds 1 touchdown 0 interceptions/12 carries 53 yds 0 touchdowns @ no.13 Oklahoma (34-26 W)
Trinidad Chambliss was one of the harder prospects to rank throughout this entire blog post, as again he could have been a potential second round draft pick had he declared for the most recent draft. Alas he stayed in Oxford, and will open the season as one of the early Heisman Trophy favorite, and rightfully so. He's truly one of the most electrifying players in all of college football as he possesses a fantastic deep ball and can make something out of nothing with his legs. That being said he's got some things to work on before taking the step up to the next level. If he's able to do so he could be within a shout of being a potential first round draft pick, he's just that damn electric. We'll just have to wait and see.
Other Key Games
Wk 12 v Florida
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal v no.3 Georgia
College Football Playoff Semifinal v no.10 Miami (FL)
10B. Josh Hoover, Indiana (TCU)
2025 Season - 272/413 3,472 yds 29 touchdowns 13 interceptions/55 carries 4 yds 2 touchdowns
6'2" 200 lbs.; 22 y/o
I'm not going to lie I honestly struggled with this last spot quite a bit. Up until a couple weeks ago I had Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby around the top five of my rankings, which would mean that someone like Indiana's Josh Hoover or Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss would have found themselves on the outside looking in. Since the college football (and somewhat NFL Draft) world was made aware of Sorsby's apparent gambling addiction, fans and scouts alike have been scrambling throughout all of social media to figure out what is to be made of Sorsby's immediate future. As someone from the state of Iowa, a state that saw our two biggest programs hit hard by NCAA gambling probes, I really don't think Sorsby should be able to play football at the collegiate level this upcoming season. That's something that really pains me to say because I do really like Sorsby as both a player and a prospect, but if we're going to stay consistent he just can't be allowed to play. With reports going around suggesting that he'll enter the supplemental draft (with the Cleveland Browns showing interest), Texas Tech and NFL Draft people are figuring out who will take the spot left vacant by Sorsby. As I alluded to earlier I think the two prospects who may have the most to gain from this whole situation could be one of Josh Hoover or Trinidad Chambliss, as again I don't think I would have had either in the top-10 had it not been for everything that has gone on. That being said Hoover has some mighty big shoes to fill as he will be attempting to replace Fernando Mendoza, who just lead the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season that saw them take home their first conference title since 1945 and their first National Championship in school history. With that Mendoza would also receive the Heisman Trophy and would eventually become the first overall pick in the most recent draft. I really don't think there's much bigger shoes to fill than that, right? Regardless I do think Hoover is talented enough to make the loss of Mendoza not seem so great, as I do think he is one of the more talented throws of the football in this year's class. Last season at TCU Hoover started the season off like a bat out of hell, registering 11-touchdowns and two interceptions through their first three games of the season, while also entering the month of November with 22-passing touchdowns and six interceptions, registering three or more passing touchdowns in five of those eight games. The final four games though turnovers really started rearing their ugly head as Hoover would register seven interceptions to seven passing touchdowns, with four of those passing touchdowns coming in the final game of the season against Cincinnati. For his career in Fort Worth Hoover totaled 42-turnovers in 31-games, which lead TCU head coach Sonny Dykes to put him on blast following his move to Indiana. Regardless of whether you think Dykes' comments were necessary or not (they were not) Hoover can get into the habit of forcing the issue a little too much (having no run game can cause that), which is something he's definitely going to need to improve upon in Bloomington. That being said when Hoover's hot he's hot, throwing with excellent anticipation making even the hard throws seem effortless. Though he's not the biggest prospect out there, at 6'2" 200 lbs. Hoover is deadly when given time to operate. He can throw on the run and can release the ball from a multitude of different arm angles, as he's able to get the ball around opposing defenders when the pocket breaks down around him. With that he's not afraid to throw the ball down the middle of the field, working the intermediate routes as well as throwing a nice and catchable deep ball. He's able to fit balls through tight windows and shows excellent touch all over the field. Does he need to calm down on the turnovers? Yes of course, but I feel like going from TCU to Indiana will take so much pressure off of him, as he will have a run game and defense to back him up (as Curt Cignetti pointed out). He again may not be the biggest, but Hoover has an NFL level arm and possesses a good amount of athleticism and I fully expect him to take off up at Indiana.
Wk 6 - 23/33 275 yds 4 touchdowns 0 interceptions/8 carries 20 yds 1 touchdown v Colorado (35-21 W)
I am really excited to see how Josh Hoover does this upcoming season while attempting to fill the massive shoes left by Fernando Mendoza. I'm not going to sit here and say that I expect him to replicate anything close to that, but I do feel we will get the best version of Hoover this coming season. With a great rush attack and some potentially elite receivers on the outside (Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh), if Hoover can cut down on the turnovers he could be in for a truly special season. I don't know if he'll wind up in first round conversations or anything when it's all said and done, but he could be one of those prospects who boosts his preseason stocks tremendously and be worthy of that conversation.
Other Key Games
Wk 4 v SMU
Wk 8 v Baylor
Wk 14 v Cincinnati
Others
*alphabetical order
Rocco Becht, Penn State (Iowa State)
Byrum Brown, Auburn (USF)
Aidan Chiles, Northwestern (Michigan State)
Jaden Craig, TCU (Harvard)
Devon Dampier, Utah
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
DJ Lagway, Baylor (Florida)
Sam Leavitt, LSU (Arizona State)
Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
Austin Mack, Alabama
John Mateer, Oklahoma
Beau Pribula, Virginia (Missouri)
Eli Holstein, Virginia (Pitt)
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Austin Simmons, Missouri (Ole Miss)
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Conner Weigman, Houston
Demond Williams Jr., Washington
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