NCAAF · 1 year ago

Ranking College Football’s Top 23 First-Year Starting QBs in 2024

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

23. Arch Manning, Texas
Obviously, if Arch Manning were projected to be the starter for the rest of the year in Texas he would lead off this list. Since he only made his first start as a Longhorn this week, he's only just being added to our list now. Manning has the talent to be the next great college signal-caller, and it appears he's ready to take on this role already, even if by all accounts he won't be starting games consistently until next year.

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1. Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee)
If you watch Nico Iamaleava for a series, it's not hard to see him turning into the next big dual-threat star in college football. Iamaleava is in a perfect setting for a quarterback to thrive in at Tennessee, which should help him transition seamlessly as the starter. Don't be surprised if he's a real contender for the Heisman in his first season as the Volunteers signal-caller.

Heisman Odds: +1400

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2. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
Garrett Nussmeier is in the ideal setting for a young quarterback, meaning he's set to start at LSU in an offensive system that benefits their quarterbacks. Still, on talent alone, Nussmeier is right in the conversation as one of the best in the country. Although some of the weapons at LSU have moved onto the NFL, it's not hard to see the potential that Nussmeier brings to the table for this offense.

Heisman Odds: +1800
3. Conner Weigman (Texas A&M)
It's time for former five-star recruit Conner Weigman to line up under center. Weigman has all the tools you're looking for in a quarterback as he's set to lead Texas A&M in the SEC. With Mike Elko brought in as head coach, there's reason to be excited about the type of numbers Weigman can put up in his first-year as the Aggies starting signal-caller.

Heisman Odds: +2000
4. Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma)
Former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold is set to take the reigns with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. Arnold's arm strength and size immediately make him pop as a quarterback prospect, leading to many being bullish about the potential for the Sooners as soon as this year. Arnold is a big piece of the puzzle toward the Sooners getting back to being a relevant program in college football.

Heisman Odds: +3000
5. Aidan Chiles (Michigan State)
It's not hard to see the potential that Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles brings to the table. Chiles was a sound quarterback prospect that was brought into Michigan State from Corvallis with new head coach Jonathan Smith. It will take some time for him to adjust to the Big Ten, but there's a lot of promise with this signal-caller in East Lansing.

Heisman Odds: +20000

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6. Avery Johnson (Kansas State)
The progression we've continued to see from Avery Johnson is a big reason that he's set to start this year for Kansas State. Johnson has a powerful build and the skillset to be a dual-threat quarterback for the Wildcats. He has the ability to pop immediately in the Big 12 and be one of the conference's top quarterbacks by the end of the year.
7. Dylan Raiola (Nebraska)
The hype remains high for Dylan Raiola after he transferred from Georgia to Nebraska this offseason. The former five-star quarterback recruit is expected to line up under center for the Cornhuskers this season. Raiola has the tools to come in and be a dynamic starter in Nebraska. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts, but the talent is there for him to one day be a top quarterback in the country.
8. Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky)
Another Georgia transfer landing inside the top 10 is Brock Vandagriff. The former Bulldogs transferred to Kentucky and is expected to lead the Wildcats offense moving forward. It will be interesting to see how much being in a winning atmosphere like Georgia ultimately helps him adjust to being a starter for an SEC football team in 2024.
9. Miller Moss (USC)
It's not difficult to get excited about the potential of Miller Moss at USC. Moss looked the part of a starting signal-caller during his appearance in the Holiday Bowl last season, passing for 372 yards and six touchdowns. Even if fans should temper their expectations after just one game, it does appear the Trojans have a nice succession plan in place after Caleb Williams graduated to the NFL.
10. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
LaNorris Sellers is a name that we'll be watching closely in 2024. Sellers has the size and athleticism to be a powerful collegiate runner. There are some who question whether or not his football IQ and deep ball will play in this environment, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt before we get more tape of him with the Gamecocks in 2024.
11. Ethan Garbers (UCLA)
It's not exactly difficult to be bullish about what Ethan Garbers brings to the table at UCLA. Garbers has a solid command of the direction the Bruins want to take on offense, which we saw flashes of last year. With Garbers set to take the full reigns this time around, look for a potential breakout campaign.
12. Alex Orji (Michigan)
After winning a national title last season under JJ McCarthy, new Michigan quarterback Alex Orji has big shoes to fill. Orji has the upside to be a strong runner in the Big Ten, but there are some question marks about how he'll manage as a passer. Will the Wolverines continue to operate a run heavy environment in 2024?
13. Malachi Nelson (Boise State)
Things didn't go according to plan for Malachi Nelson at USC, and he now finds himself at Boise State. The pedigree is certainly there as a former five-star recruit, but we've continued to wait for him to step on the field and make a difference. This offense should be strong at Boise State, which leads us to being excited about how Nelson can manage in Year 1.
14. Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
There are many reasons to be excited about the potential of Sam Leavitt in this Arizona State offense under Kenny Dillingham. Leavitt has the football IQ and throwing ability to really pop as a signal-caller in 2024. It will be interesting to see how he continues to develop as a quarterback prospect in this type of a friendly passing environment.
15. Caden Veltkamp (Western Kentucky)
Caden Veltkamp is an interesting quarterback to follow in 2024. Veltkamp is set to start at Western Kentucky, and looked very capable of doing a sound job in the Famous Toastery Bowl vs. Old Dominion in 2023. It won't be a surprise is we see Veltkamp utilize his strong arm during Year 1 as a collegiate starter.
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16. Davis Warren (Michigan)
We didn't have Davis Warren projected as the top Michigan quarterback entering the 2024 campaign, but he earned the job. Warren had some wobbly moments during his debut at Michigan QB1, and it will be interesting to see how he manages with the high expectations that come with this role.
17. Conner Harrell (North Carolina)
With the injury to Max Johnson, Conner Harrell is now being thrust into a bigger role with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Harrell has the mobility and arm strength to be a difference-maker for the program moving forward. If Harrell can improve his overall accuracy, there's a lot to like about his potential as a QB1 at North Carolina.
18. Kai Horton (Tulane)
It's hard to say what the overall upside is for Kai Horton after being put in multiple difficult spots during his first appearances as a collegiate quarterback. Horton has the supporting cast to find success, but we'll need to see the consistency in order to raise him on this list. Horton should benefit from playing in the American Athletic Conference.
19. DJ Lagway (Florida)
Now it's pretty evident that if we knew DJ Lagway would end up in the starters role at this stage of the season for the Florida Gators, that we'd have had him much higher on this. Graham Mertz suffered an early injury, and Lagway has now landed in the starting quarterback chair for the Gators. The former five-star recruit has looked the part, throwing for 487 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. With the production we're seeing from Lagway in a limited sample, it's hard to see the Gators going back to Mertz when he's healthy.
20. Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati)
Brendan Sorsby is certainly not a perfect quarterback, and that's one of the reasons he hasn't found a stable home at this stage. Still, you can at least see some upside with this player, which is exactly what he's shown through the first two weeks of the regular season. Sorsby has combined to tally 681 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and no interceptions through two games. You have to at least be encouraged with the type of numbers he's brought to the table early on.
21. Danny O'Neil (San Diego State)
It's a small sample size of course, but there's at least reason to be bullish about the upside that Danny O'Neil brings to the table for San Diego State. This is going to be a big year for him in terms of learning the collegiate landscape and developing better accuracy. The splash plays have already been there at times, but we need to see more to really increase his ranking here. Regardless, this is a nice prospect.
22. Luke Kromenhoek (Florida State)
Although he's clearly not the starter yet, how long can the Florida State Seminoles continue rolling out DJ Uiagalelei and hope they'll get a different result? Luke Kromenhoek looks like a promising quarterback prospect, and although were probably still multiple weeks away from potentially seeing him, why not be early on what to be excited about with this player? Kromenhoek has real upside and should eventually give fans something to hold on to in this lost season.
23. Arch Manning, Texas
Obviously, if Arch Manning were projected to be the starter for the rest of the year in Texas he would lead off this list. Since he only made his first start as a Longhorn this week, he's only just being added to our list now. Manning has the talent to be the next great college signal-caller, and it appears he's ready to take on this role already, even if by all accounts he won't be starting games consistently until next year.

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1. Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee)
If you watch Nico Iamaleava for a series, it's not hard to see him turning into the next big dual-threat star in college football. Iamaleava is in a perfect setting for a quarterback to thrive in at Tennessee, which should help him transition seamlessly as the starter. Don't be surprised if he's a real contender for the Heisman in his first season as the Volunteers signal-caller.

Heisman Odds: +1400

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