NCAAF · 1 year ago

Projecting the Top 30 College Football Quarterbacks of 2024

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

30. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State
Michigan State hired head coach Jonathan Smith, and Smith brought his quarterback from Corvallis with him. Aidan Chiles is a bet on potential, as he had only 35 passing attempts last season. Still, he has the pedigree as a well-regarded recruiting prospect, and the limited sample size he displayed last season was encouraging. Chiles completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 309 yards with four touchdowns plus two scores on the ground. It will take some time for Chiles to adjust to being a starting quarterback, but there is real reason to be excited in East Lansing.

Michigan State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
1. Carson Beck - Georgia
Georgia fell short of a three-peat, but Carson Beck performed well as a first-year starter. Beck threw for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and easily would have surpassed 4,000 yards if he had been required to throw the ball late in games. Beck was briefly rumored to consider the NFL Draft before returning to Georgia for the 2024 season and is among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy (+7500).

Georgia National Title Odds: +300
2. Jaxson Dart - Ole Miss
There were significant questions about how good Jaxson Dart could be after two relatively disappointing seasons. Last season was a breakout campaign, as he threw for 3,364 yards with 23 touchdowns plus eight more scores on the ground. Ole Miss has a phenomenal group of pass-catchers surrounding Dart as he returns for 2024, and the Rebels are strong College Football Playoff contenders.

Ole Miss National Title Odds: +1500
3. Quinn Ewers - Texas
Last season showed the growth and maturity of quarterback Quinn Ewers. His evolution helped lead Texas to the Big 12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Longhorns signal-caller threw for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns. Despite missing a few games to injury, Ewers had a stellar campaign. He needs to improve his consistency and prove that he can stay healthy as he continues holding Arch Manning off on the depth chart.

Texas National Title Odds: +700
4. Dillon Gabriel - Oregon
Dillon Gabriel has been around for a long time. Next season will be his sixth season, and the Oregon Ducks will be his third team. After beginning at UCF and spending last season at Oklahoma, Gabriel entered the portal for his final season and chose to play for Dan Lanning's prolific offense in Eugene. Gabriel was terrific in 2023, completing nearly 70% of his passes and throwing for 3,660 yards. Can Gabriel match the output of former Ducks QB Bo Nix? That seems unlikely with Oregon moving to the Big Ten, but Gabriel is an excellent addition to the Ducks.

Oregon National Title Odds: +850
5. Shedeur Sanders - Colorado
No. 5 might be controversial, but Shedeur Sanders showed he could play at a high level despite the circus. Despite a weak offensive line and teams pressuring him, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The offensive line should be somewhat improved, and Colorado has playmakers for him to throw to. Sanders stepped up in competition and continued to produce.

Colorado National Title Odds: +30000
6. Noah Fifita - Arizona
The Arizona quarterback stays with the Wildcats and will be in Tuscon for new coach Brent Brennan (along with his top wide receiver). Noah Fifita took over after an injury to the starter and instantly elevated the Wildcats offense. He completed 72.4% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Fifita is only 5'11", but he will only get stronger as he gets older, and he already has an exceptional arm. Fifita will have Arizona competing for the Big 12 Championship.

Arizona National Title Odds: +15000
7. Jalen Milroe - Alabama
Jalen Milroe is not one of the ten best passers in the country. However, there are many ways to get the job done at quarterback, and Milroe is an extremely dangerous runner. He should benefit from playing under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer, and he is one of the most dynamic athletes in the sport.

Alabama National Title Odds: +1300
8. Cam Ward - Miami
Cam Ward was terrific for the Washington State Cougars and entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season. There were rumors that he was not interested in playing college football for another season, and then he declared for the NFL Draft. However, Ward changed his mind and committed to the Miami Hurricanes. Ward is an excellent dual-threat quarterback who will improve the Hurricanes' offense and make them a threat to compete for the ACC Championship.

Miami National Title Odds: +6000
9. Nico Iamaleava - Tennessee
The much-publicized Tennessee Volunteers quarterback finally started a game as Hendon Hooker stepped aside for the Cheez-It Bowl. Nico Iamaleava picked apart the Iowa Hawkeyes, and Tennessee rolled to a 35-0 victory to put the Volunteers Hype Train in full gear for 2024. Iamaleava is inexperienced, but he might be the most talented quarterback in the country this coming season.

Tennessee National Title Odds: +3000
10. Garrett Nussmeier - LSU
Garrett Nussmeier gets bonus points for playing in an LSU offensive system that helped Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy. Now, Nussmeier does not have the same electric skillset Daniels does, but he is still plenty talented. Nussmeier can sling the ball with accuracy and can dish it deep. LSU won't have quite the same skill players they had in 2023, but it will still be a good group. Nussmeier is +1800 to win the Heisman Trophy, a bit of a longshot, but his odds make it not inconceivable.

LSU National Title Odds: +1500
11. Cam Rising - Utah
It would be easy to forget about Utah quarterback Cam Rising. He sat out all of 2023, and the Utes offense sputtered for most of the campaign. Utah has moved to the Big 12, and Cam Rising is healthy and ready to play his final collegiate season. In 2022, Rising threw for 3,034 yards with 26 touchdowns, 465 yards rushing, and six more scores as Utah won the PAC-12. His completion percentage was nearly ten points higher than anyone the Utes trotted out in 2023. He’ll make an immediate impact. Utah is one of the early favorites to win the newly constituted Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff, but that will only be possible if Rising plays as he did before his injury.

Utah National Title Odds: +7000
12. Riley Leonard - Notre Dame
Riley Leonard is not a perfectly polished passer. Still, he is a dynamic playmaker who should be fully healthy and ready to deliver in South Bend as the new quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Head coach Marcus Freeman added offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to his staff, which should pay immediate dividends for Leonard’s progress. His completion percentage needs to improve, but there is no denying his potential as a runner and a playmaker when the pocket breaks down. Leonard’s first regular season game will be against his former coach at Duke as the Irish play Texas A&M in College Station on August 31. The remainder of the schedule is manageable by Notre Dame standards, and a trip to the College Football Playoff is the expectation.

Notre Dame National Title Odds: +2200
13. Brady Cook - Missouri
The Missouri Tigers had a historically strong 2023 season and won the Cotton Bowl with a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a balanced team, but one of the biggest surprises was the play of sophomore quarterback Brady Cook. Cook threw for 3,317 yards with 21 touchdowns plus eight touchdown runs as he completed 66.1% of his passes. The Tigers have a solid group of wide receivers led by star Luther Burden, and the passing attack should be explosive again in 2024. As running back Cody Schrader heads to the NFL Draft, Cook will likely be relied upon even further this coming season. Missouri avoids Georgia and Texas, and a clash on October 5 at Texas A&M will go a long way toward determining how the season goes for the Tigers and if they are College Football Playoff contenders.

Missouri National Title Odds: +3500
14. Drew Allar - Penn State
Penn State is perhaps the most predictable program in the country under James Franklin. They beat nearly everyone they should and lose almost all as underdogs. The Nittany Lions routinely finish with ten wins and as a top 15 team. For the Nittany Lions to break through and reach the next level as a program, they need Drew Allar to be one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Penn State has a new offensive coordinator, and the schedule lines up nicely for Allar to improve and play to his high school ranking. PSU does not play Oregon or Michigan; they host Ohio State in early November. The non-conference is manageable as well. Allar completed only 59.9 percent of his passes last season, which must climb in 2024.

Penn State National Title Odds: +2200
15. Jalon Daniels - Kansas
Jalon Daniels is a top-end dual-threat weapon. The issue for Daniels is whether or not he can stay healthy. He missed a portion of the 2022 campaign and was sidelined for all but three games of the 2023 season with a back injury. If Daniels plays the entirety of the 2024 season, Kansas has a real chance to win the Big 12. Daniels could play his way onto Heisman Trophy lists. Daniels is a terrific runner and an accurate passer who plays in a quarterback-friendly offense under the guidance of Lance Leipold.

Kansas National Title Odds: +20000
16. Cade Klubnik - Clemson
Cade Klubnik had an up-and-down 2023 season, his first as a full-time starter. His Clemson Tigers struggled mightily in the first half of the season, but a switch flipped in the back half of the campaign to finish 9-4. The offense was inconsistent, but Klubnik could utilize his legs more often and limit his turnovers. Clemson needs help at wide receiver and hopes a pair of five-star freshmen will help fill the void and elevate Klubnik to the next level. With experience now under his belt, 2024 should be a big step up for the junior.

Clemson National Title Odds: +3000
17. Jackson Arnold - Oklahoma
Placing Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold on a “best of” list is a bet on potential, not production. Arnold spent the 2023 season on the bench behind Dillon Gabriel. Arnold played in the Alamo Bowl as Gabriel had already announced his transfer (Oregon), and it was clear the starting job in 2024 would belong to the former five-star recruit. Arnold has a terrific arm, and the physical tools are there for him to be an elite quarterback at Oklahoma. Now, in the SEC, the Sooners have a challenging schedule in 2024, and Arnold’s ability to scan defenses and process information will be tested. Whether or not he rises to the challenge will decide how quickly the Sooners contend in their new league.

Oklahoma National Title Odds: +500
18. Garrett Greene - West Virginia
Few players nationally are as productive but underappreciated as West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene. As a junior in 2023, Greene led the FBS in big-time throw rate at 10.2% (247Sports). Despite being only 5’10” and likely weighing less than 200 pounds, Greene is a handful for defenses. He’s mobile and can make plays with his legs, and he has one of the best deep balls in college football. Greene needs to be more consistent and accurate on short and intermediate throws. This coming season, the schedule for West Virginia is manageable, and Greene should put up huge numbers as a senior.

West Virginia National Title Odds: +40000
19. Conner Weigman - Texas A&M
The time is now. If former five-star recruit Conner Weigman is going to live up to the hype and play like the elite recruit, it needs to happen in 2024. Jimbo Fisher's laborious offense perhaps shackled Weigman, and injuries have slowed him, but those reasons are now off the table. Mike Elko is in as head coach, and the Aggies are expected to run a quicker tempo attack they hope allows Weigman to flourish. Star wide receiver Evan Stewart is now in Eugene, but Texas A&M still has plenty of weapons for Weigman to work with. He must turn potential into production for Texas A&M to succeed.

Texas A&M National Title Odds: +4000
20. Grayson McCall - Coastal Carolina
After a terrific career at Coastal Carolina, Grayson McCall finally jumped to a power conference. One of the more productive players in the past few seasons, McCall took a step backward playing out of head coach Jamey Chadwell's system. He's not the biggest or most physically gifted player on this list, but McCall is accurate, and playing for Dave Doeren is an excellent fit scheme-wise. North Carolina State has plenty of weapons. KC Concepcion and the Wolfpack are a potential College Football Playoff dark horse contender if McCall can translate his production to the ACC.

North Carolina National Title Odds: +30000
21. Haynes King - Georgia Tech
Haynes King is one of the more underrated dual-threat quarterbacks in the country and enters 2024 with a chance to be one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. The rising junior threw for 2,842 yards with 27 touchdowns and added 737 yards and ten more scores. King completed 61.6% of his passes and had several long runs, showing his quickness and willingness to get physical. His biggest issue, and for the Georgia Tech offense, is turnovers. King had 16 interceptions on the season and needs to limit those costly mistakes to help the Yellow Jackets reach their full potential.

Georgia Tech 2024 Win Total: 5.5
22. Will Rogers - Washington
It has been a wild career for former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers. Rogers racked up huge numbers for the Bulldogs while slinging it around in Mike Leach’s Air Raid system. After Leach’s unexpected passing, new head coach Zach Arnett changed the offense and attempted to play a more physical pro-style brand of football. Predictably, that did not go well, and Rogers struggled with the rest of the team. During his time with Mississippi State, Rogers amassed the second-most passing yards in SEC history. He transferred to Washington, expecting to succeed Michael Penix Jr. and play for Kalen DeBoer. Of course, DeBoer took the Alabama head coaching job, and Washington hired Jedd Fisch as his replacement. After initially re-entering the transfer portal, Rogers elected to return to Washington. He will lead a completely rebuilt offense under Fisch. While Fisch is not DeBoer, he is still a very bright offensive mind and should be able to utilize Rogers to run a good unit.

Washington 2024 Win Total: 7.5
23. Will Howard - Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes moved on from quarterback Kyle McCord, letting him go to Syracuse and hitting the transfer portal in search of a quarterback they feel can help them win a national championship. Is Will Howard that player? We are going to find out. Howard is more mobile and bigger than McCord, bringing a physicality to their offense that was previously lacking at the position. He’s not the most accurate passer and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must figure out how to utilize his skillset best. Howard exceeded 60% completions only once during his four seasons as a starter, and it would be fair to question his ability to throw the ball deep with accuracy. The Buckeyes will provide him with much better weapons than he had at Kansas State, which could turn a good quarterback into a great one.

Ohio State National Title Odds: +480
24. Avery Johnson - Kansas State
One of the main reasons Will Howard is not back at Kansas State is the ascension of Avery Johnson. The rising sophomore saw his role increase as the 2023 season went on and started the bowl game, throwing for 178 yards and rushing for 71 more as Kansas State beat North Carolina State and got to feast on a giant Pop-Tart as a reward. Johnson had five passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns with no interceptions during his limited playing time in 2023. Even with limited exposure, it is clear how electric of a player he can become. Kansas State's 2024 offense will be built around his skillset, and Johnson will immediately become one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and one of the more exciting players in college football.

Kansas State National Title Odds: +6
25. Thomas Castellanos - Boston College
Boston College’s Thomas Castellanos was a significant surprise in 2023. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,248 yards with 15 touchdowns and added 1,113 yards rushing with 13 more touchdowns. Castellanos had eight games with at least 100 yards passing and 50 yards rushing during the 2023 season and emerged as a true dual-threat quarterback capable of hurting defenses. Castellanos had 156 yards on the ground against SMU, 130 against the Miami Hurricanes, 87 in a win against Syracuse, 128 at Georgia Tech, 142 at Army, and 95 in a very close loss to Florida State. Boston College now has Bill O’Brien leading the program after Jeff Hafley left for the NFL, and it will be up to O’Brien to harness the unique skillset Castellanos brings.

Boston College 2024 Win Total: 4.5
26. DJ Uiagalelei - Florida State
Former five-star recruit DJ Uiagalelei is finishing his career at Florida State after beginning at Clemson and stopping at Oregon State for the 2023 season. Uiagalelei threw for 2,638 yards with 21 touchdowns to only seven interceptions and added six rushing touchdowns. Uiagalelei is a powerful runner but lacks the ability to burst through the defense for long gains. He averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last season for the Beavers and completed only 57.1 percent of his passes. Florida State will need him to have the best season of his career if they are to challenge for the ACC Championship.

FSU National Title Odds: +2800
27. Rocco Becht - Iowa State
As a redshirt freshman, Rocco Becht showed potential to turn into a star for the Iowa State Cyclones. He completed nearly 63% of his passes and threw for 3,120 yards with 23 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Becht is not much of a runner but did add three scores on the ground. The Florida native averaged 8.5 yards per completion and got better throughout the campaign, leading many to tab Iowa State as a sleeper to win the realigned Big 12 in 2024.

Iowa State 2024 National Title Odds: +30000
28. Kyron Drones - Virginia Tech
The ACC has a few young and dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks that appear on this list, with Kyron Drones offering as much rushing potential as anyone. The Virginia Tech Hokies signal-caller ran for 818 yards with five touchdowns in 2023 and threw for 2,084 yards with 17 scores and only three interceptions. Drones has to improve his accuracy and consistency on deep and intermediate passes, as he only completed 58.2 percent of his attempts. A 1,000-yard rushing and 2,000-yard passing season is not out of the question for Drones.

Virginia Tech 2024 National Title Odds: +30000
29. DeQuan Finn - Baylor Bears
DeQuan Finn was the best quarterback in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2023 and led the Toledo Rockets to a perfect regular season in the league with 2,657 passing yards and 563 rushing yards. He had 29 total touchdowns on the season. Finn entered the transfer portal and will play for the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 as head coach Dave Aranda tries to save his job in Waco. Finn is athletic and a good passer (nearly 64% completed passes). It’s unclear how he will translate to a power conference, but the skills are there for a good season.

Baylor Bears 2024 Win Total: 5.5
30. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State
Michigan State hired head coach Jonathan Smith, and Smith brought his quarterback from Corvallis with him. Aidan Chiles is a bet on potential, as he had only 35 passing attempts last season. Still, he has the pedigree as a well-regarded recruiting prospect, and the limited sample size he displayed last season was encouraging. Chiles completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 309 yards with four touchdowns plus two scores on the ground. It will take some time for Chiles to adjust to being a starting quarterback, but there is real reason to be excited in East Lansing.

Michigan State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
1. Carson Beck - Georgia
Georgia fell short of a three-peat, but Carson Beck performed well as a first-year starter. Beck threw for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and easily would have surpassed 4,000 yards if he had been required to throw the ball late in games. Beck was briefly rumored to consider the NFL Draft before returning to Georgia for the 2024 season and is among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy (+7500).

Georgia National Title Odds: +300

Projecting the Top 30 College Football Quarterbacks of 2024

Sports Betting

Sportsbook Promos

Social Casinos