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The Draft "Expert" - Wk 8 Quarterback Prospect Rankings

Writer: Logan BlackmanLogan Blackman
Oct 27, 202110 min read

Hello one and all and welcome back to yet another Draft "Expert" blog post! Yet again, pretty unsurprising at this point, but it's another post revolving around 2022 NFL Draft quarterback prospect rankings!


This week we will see the top five shaken up more than any time this season, we see some names drop down the list after, both in the top 10 and in the "others" category, and maybe, just maybe, a new number one quarterback! (spoiler, there probably isn't but it's fun to pretend)


So, without further ado, here is the Draft "Expert's" week EIGHT quarterback prospect rankings! Enjoy the list!

Pictured: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA; Kenny Pickett, Pitt; Carson Strong, Nevada

1. Matt Corral, Ole Miss

Wk 8 - 18/23 185 yds 1 touchdown 0 interceptions/12 carries 24 yds 1 touchdown v LSU (31-17 W)

Season - 140/207 1,913 yds 15 touchdowns 1 interception/100 carries 474 yds 9 touchdowns

  • Based off this season as a whole for Matt Corral, this was probably his most boring performance, and that was kind of expected. The entire week leading up to the LSU game, there were rumors that Corral may not play the game at all. Now, I don't know how true those rumors were, but Corral had been taking a beating all season, especially against Tennessee, so to see him sit against an injury riddled LSU defense wouldn't have surprised me (Ole Miss ran the ball really well). That being said, Corral did play and performed well again, throwing for 185 yards with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. Those 185 yards passing are the lowest amount of yards Corral has thrown since week five from last season, which saw him throw for 154 yards against this weekends opponent, Auburn. Now, Corral is a whole hell of a lot better quarterback now than when he was at that point last season, but this game will still be a tough one for him and Ole Miss, as the go on the road against the 18th ranked team in the nation. It'll be interesting to see how Corral and Ole Miss attack the Tigers this weekend, all I know is that is should be a fun one to watch.

  • Pre-Season - 8*

  • Wk 1 - 6

  • Wk 2 - 5

  • Wk 3 - 4

  • Wk 4 - 3

  • Wk 5 - 2

  • Wk 6 - 2

  • Wk 7 - 1

  • Wk 8 - 1

  • Wk 9 - @ no.18 Auburn

2. Malik Willis, Liberty

Wk 8 - 12/18 217 yds 3 touchdowns 0 interceptions/13 carries -8 yds 0 touchdowns @ North Texas (35-26 W)

Season - 121/183 1,679 yds 17 touchdowns 6 interceptions/118 carries 647 yds 9 touchdowns

  • After throwing six interceptions through two games, Malik Willis was his usual safe through the air against a pretty bad North Texas team. Throwing for 217 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, you'll take that everyday. The surprising part of this game, not only the fact Liberty was favored by 21.5 and won by nine, but the fact Willis was held to less than zero yards rushing. Negative eight to be exact. Since he's been the starter at Liberty, Willis has never rushed for less than 40 yards, and hasn't rushed for under 50 since the Syracuse game. This game shows you how important Malik Willis' legs are to Liberty's success. Yeah they won but this was a game they shouldn't have really had any real problems with. This week Willis and co. are taking on the Minutemen of UMass, a game where they're favored by 36. This is the third straight game Liberty has been favored by 20+ points, unlike the previous two though they are back at home. I think we see Willis and Liberty look like themselves this time around. UMass allows just under 500 yards per game on defense, I'm expecting Willis to put on a show Saturday.

  • Pre-Season - 3*

  • Wk 1 - 2

  • Wk 2 - 2

  • Wk 3 - 1

  • Wk 4 - 1

  • Wk 5 - 1

  • Wk 6 - 1

  • Wk 7 - 2

  • Wk 8 - 2

  • Wk 9 - v UMass

3. Carson Strong, Nevada (+1)

Wk 8 - 49/61 476 yds 4 touchdowns 1 interception/6 carries -21 yds 0 touchdowns @ Fresno State (34-32 L)

Season - 216/307 2,466 yds 20 touchdowns 4 interceptions/25 carries -101 yds 0 touchdowns

  • Despite the loss, Carson Strong arguably put together his best game of the 2021 season, throwing for 476 yards with four touchdowns and one interception, completing a very nice 80% of his passes. This game was destined to be a shootout, with both Nevada and Fresno State being very pass happy teams, it just so happens one team had to come out victorious, it just happened to be Haener's. Again, this was arguably Strong's strongest game of the season, and it seems as if he's getting better and better as the season progresses, which is exactly what you want as a quarterback who's getting ready for the NFL Draft. Through his first four games of the season, Strong had eight passing touchdowns. In his past three games, Strong has thrown 12, with six coming against a suspect (to say the least) New Mexico State defense. Though Strong has had a rough time running the ball this season, his passing game is only improving. I do hope though those rushing numbers work they way up to zero as the season goes on. This week, Nevada's got the Rebels of UNLV coming to town, and I think it should be another nice showing for not only Strong, but receiver Romeo Doubs and tight end Cole Turner, as UNLV has a bottom 10 pass defense this season.

  • Pre-Season - 5*

  • Wk 1 - 6

  • Wk 2 - 6

  • Wk 3 - 6

  • Wk 4 - 6

  • Wk 5 - 6

  • Wk 6 - 4

  • Wk 7 - 4

  • Wk 8 - 3

  • Wk 9 - v UNLV

4. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (-1)

Wk 8 - 18/30 176 yds 2 touchdowns 1 interception/5 carries 6 touchdowns 0 touchdowns @ Navy (27-20 W)

Season - 126/198 1,620 yds 15 touchdowns 3 interceptions/42 carries 124 yds 3 touchdowns

  • For how dominant Cincinnati has been this season this game should be seen as a massive disappointment. Every game Cincinnati has won this season has been decided by double digits, with their closest game coming against Notre Dame where they won by 11. This week, against a bad Navy team that can't seem to stop anyone, this week shouldn't have been any different really. If you've listened to my show long enough you know how much I love the triple option and how it can be hard to prepare for, but Cincy really shouldn't have had any issues here. I think we saw a game where Cincy over looked their opponent, which can be natural, especially with how dominant you've been this year. All being said, Cincinnati still won. Ridder didn't look that great and didn't play his best, but they still won. This week Cincy is taking on the Green Wave on the road. Hopefully they don't look past them, because this is a game Cincinnati should dominate. I'm expecting Ridder to have a very nice game.

  • Pre-Season - 4*

  • Wk 1 - 3

  • Wk 2 - 4

  • Wk 3 - 5

  • Wk 4 - 5

  • Wk 5 - 5

  • Wk 6 - 3

  • Wk 7 - 3

  • Wk 8 - 4

  • Wk 9 - @ Tulane

5. Kenny Pickett, Pitt (+1)

Wk 8 - 25/39 302 yds 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions/7 carries 15 yds 0 touchdowns v Clemson (27-17 W)

Season - 168/244 2,236 yds 23 yds 1 interception/55 carries 195 yds 3 touchdowns

  • Kenny Pickett is on the rise yet again after another very nice showing against Clemson this past weekend, throwing for over 300 yards for the fourth time in his last five games with two touchdowns and, yet again, no interceptions. It's hard to say anyone else has been a bigger surprise this season from the quarterback position than Kenny Pickett, as his previous few seasons at Pitt didn't really result in anything that spectacular. This season on the other hand, has been nothing short of spectacular. I honestly think that if he keeps up this pace, he may very well be the number one quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. Since the pre-season, for me anyways, Pickett has jumped up 11 spots, from 16 to now five. He has more touchdowns than the other quarterbacks in front of him and keeps playing well against teams that other quarterbacks on this list (namely Sam Howell) have struggled with. Like I said above, as the season continues I wouldn't be surprised to see him move up even further, and maybe staking a claim for that number one spot when it's all said and done. For now though, he'll just have to settle for five.

  • Pre-Season - 16*

  • Wk 1 - N/R

  • Wk 2 - N/R

  • Wk 3 - 9

  • Wk 4 - 9

  • Wk 5 - 7

  • Wk 6 - 6

  • Wk 7 - 6

  • Wk 8 - 5

  • Wk 9 - v Miami (FL)

6. Sam Howell, North Carolina (-1)

Wk 8 - BYE

Season - 129/211 1,851 yds 18 touchdowns 6 interceptions/96 carries 494 yds 5 touchdowns

  • I feel bad for moving Howell down a spot, especially since he and North Carolina didn't play this weekend. That being said, after seeing Pickett perform well, again, I couldn't keep Howell above him any longer. That being said, Howell has a big game coming up against Notre Dame, which could see his stock rise again, but for now, he comes in a spot lower at number six.

  • Pre-Season - 2*

  • Wk 1 - 4

  • Wk 2 - 3

  • Wk 3 - 3

  • Wk 4 - 4

  • Wk 5 - 4

  • Wk 6 - 5

  • Wk 7 - 5

  • Wk 8 - 6

  • Wk 9 - @ no.11 Notre Dame

7. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Wk 8 - 22/41 220 yds 1 touchdown 1 interception/15 carries 35 yds 1 touchdown v no.10 Oregon (34-31 L)

Season - 123/207 1,639 yds 14 touchdowns 3 interceptions/97 carries 364 yds 6 touchdowns

  • Saturday was one of DTR's tougher games this season, which saw him barely complete 50% of his passes and throw one touchdown to one interception. Not only did he have a decently rough game statistically, this game also saw him injure his throwing hand on the Bruins last offensive drive of the game. Since then, according to reports DTR has done little to anything at practice throwing wise, and has seen him wearing a wrap on said hand. Hopefully he's healthy and good to go Saturday in a tough environment against Utah. Utah is a very tough team to beat, especially at home and this season has seen them beat an Arizona State team by 24, the same team that beat UCLA 19 points early in the season. For both DTR and UCLA's sake, I hope he's healthy and ready go for Saturday, having himself a hopeful bounce back game.

  • Pre-Season - 13*

  • Wk 1 - H/M

  • Wk 2 - 10

  • Wk 3 - 7

  • Wk 4 - 7

  • Wk 5 - 8

  • Wk 6 - 8

  • Wk 7 - 7

  • Wk 8 - 8

  • Wk 9 - @ Utah

8. Tanner McKee, Stanford

Wk 8 - BYE

Season - 139/215 1,722 yds 14 touchdowns 3 interceptions/46 carries 51 yds 3 touchdowns

  • Tanner McKee and Stanford are coming off a bye week that was very much needed. The two games prior to the bye saw them lose by double digits to Arizona State and lose a tough game against Washington State, both on the road. This week though, they're back at home and taking on a Washington team that's one and two in their last three games. Hopefully McKee and co. can have a. bounce back game back at home.

  • Pre-Season - N/A*

  • Wk 1 - N/A

  • Wk 2 - N/A

  • Wk 3 - N/A

  • Wk 4 - N/A

  • Wk 5 - H/M

  • Wk 6 - 10

  • Wk 7 - 8

  • Wk 8 - 7

  • Wk 9 - v Washington

9. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State

Wk 8 - BYE

Season - 116/168 1,506 yds 6 touchdowns 3 interceptions/69 carries 401 yds 4 touchdowns

  • Much like a couple of other quarterbacks on this list, Jayden Daniels and Arizona State are coming off a bye week, with the week before seeing ASU not show up in the second half against Utah, losing 35-21. This week, ASU is taking on Washington State, the same team we mentioned above, beating Stanford 34-31. Their last game though, was a close fought match-up with BYU, a game where they lost 21-19. I think Daniels and co. should win this game, I just hope Daniels can find the end zone through the air this game, as it'd be the first time this season he's had back-to-back games with a passing touchdown.

  • Pre-Season - 9*

  • Wk 1 - 10

  • Wk 2 - 7

  • Wk 3 - 10

  • Wk 4 - 10

  • Wk 5 - 9

  • Wk 6 - 7

  • Wk 7 - 9

  • Wk 8 - 9

  • Wk 9 - v Washington State

10. Jake Haener, Fresno State

Wk 8 - 26/38 256 yds 2 touchdowns 0 interceptions/3 carries -10 yds 0 touchdowns v Nevada (34-32 W)

Season - 205/302 2,582 yds 22 touchdowns 6 interceptions/46 carries 31 yds 3 touchdowns

  • Like we mentioned before about Carson Strong, this past weekends match-up between Nevada and Fresno State was bound to be a barn burner, with both team's relying heavily on the pass game to see them through games. As you should already know, Fresno State came out victorious, with Haener putting together a nice performance, throwing for 256 yds with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Though his overall passing numbers have been down as of late, I still think he has done enough this week to keep his place in the top 10. He has more passing yards than anyone in the top 10 and more passing touchdowns than everyone except Kenny Pickett (23). That being said, Haener's spot may be in jeopardy as he and the Bulldogs take on a tough San Diego State team on the road. A team that can boast a top five defense in total yards this season. I'd like to see Haener revert back to his early to mid-season form, but this one will definitely be a tough one.

  • Pre-Season - N/A*

  • Wk 1 - N/A

  • Wk 2 - N/A

  • Wk 3 - N/A

  • Wk 4 - H/M

  • Wk 5 - H/M

  • Wk 6 - H/M

  • Wk 7 - 10

  • Wk 8 - 10

  • Wk 9 - @ no.21 San Diego State

*out of 20

Others

*in order of last name

  • Brennan Armstrong, Virginia (NEW-ish)

    • Wk 8 - 29/43 396 yds 4 touchdowns 0 interceptions/12 carries 99 yds 2 touchdowns v Georgia Tech (48-40 W)

    • Season - 239/372 3,220 yds 23 touchdowns 6 interceptions/70 carries 177 yds 5 touchdowns

  • Malik Cunningham, Louisville

    • Wk 8 - 9/17 107 yds 0 touchdowns 2 interceptions/16 carries 133 yds 3 touchdowns v Boston College (28-14 W)

    • Season - 130/205 1,684 yds 8 touchdowns 4 interceptions/92 carries 480 yds 13 touchdowns

  • Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (NEW)

    • Wk 8 - 19/28 282 yds 3 touchdowns 1 interception/12 carries 26 yds 0 touchdowns @ Alabama (52-24 L)

    • Season - 114/166 1,578 yds 17 touchdowns 2 interceptions/101 carries 416 yds 4 touchdowns

  • Will Levis, Kentucky

    • Wk 8 - BYE

    • Season - 119/177 1,326 yds 13 touchdowns 6 interceptions/50 carries 175 yds 3 touchdowns

  • Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

    • Wk 8 - 15/23 291 yds 1 touchdown 0 interceptions/8 carries -3 yds 0 touchdowns @ Appalachian State (30-27 L)

    • Season -

Thank you for taking the time to read through the list! Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, give the article a like and comment down below how you felt!


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