2006 Unit Rankings - Quarterbacks

Preview 2006 Unit Rankings Quarterbacks

Offenses | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
Defenses | Def. Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries | Spec. Teams

1. LSU
Has one team ever had a collection of big arms like LSU owns? Ryan Perrilloux and Matt Flynn can throw, and then there's JaMarcus Russell, who can flick his wrist and put the ball anywhere in the stadium. The quarterback situation hasn't really progressed into a full-blown controversy with Russell being named the number one man when he's 100% healthy from a shoulder injury, but many Tiger fans wouldn't mind seeing Flynn get the full-time role or else take the good with the bad with Perrilloux until he gets his kinks worked out. LSU can win and win big with any of the three.

2. Ohio State
Troy Smith will forever have a place in the hearts of Buckeye fans for his performances against Michigan over the last two seasons, and now he has to lead the potent offense to a national title level. Knowing the offense, he'll put up huge numbers as both a runner and passer. Justin Zwick could start and keep the offense humming. While he doesn't have too much mobility, he's arm is strong enough to keep the passing attack moving. Todd Boeckman and Robbie Schoenhoft are nice reserves who'll need time to be groomed for next year's battle for the starting job.

3. Notre Dame
Is it crazy to get excited about the future when there's a Heisman caliber quarterback already under center? Brady Quinn will be just about everyone's preseason All-American after exploding in his first season under Charlie Weis. Now the scrutiny will be on in a year-long audition for the chance to be the number one pick in the 2007 NFL draft. As good as Quinn is, all the news this off-season was about the future after Jimmy Clausen, considered by many to be the nation's number one recruit, picked Notre Dame to stop the recruiting battle before his senior year could begin. This year, Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones were the star quarterback recruits and they'll each get a shot at the number two job. All the incoming talent means it's now or never for backups Evan Sharpley and David Wolke to show what they can do.

4. USC
So who wants to be a superstar? Is it a foregone conclusion that the starting USC quarterback will be a Heisman finalist thanks to all the talent around him? Probably, but who will it be? John David Booty appeared ready to explode in the starting role before back spasms struck this spring. Mark Sanchez has next level talent and may someday be in New York for a Heisman presentation now that he's back on the team after a sexual assault charge filed by a USC student was dropped. If Booty can't get healthy there will be a big-time panic and lots of crossed fingers hoping for Sanchez is innocent and can get back in the mix since Mike McDonald is a limited number three option compared to the other two.

5. Louisville
How will Brian Brohm respond from his torn ACL? He'll be ready for the season opener, but rust might be an issue early on. Hunter Cantwell is a strong, tough, experienced backup who can keep the offense moving if anything happens to the franchise star, but there's not much to rely on after him with Bill Ashburn needing a little bit of experience and receiver/quarterback Patrick Carter more of a pass catcher than a passer. Thanks to the tremendous receiving corps and the great backfield to take the heat off, all the quarterbacks who play this year will thrive.

6. Florida
How fast is too fast for the future to arrive? Chris Leak is the unquestionable starter for now, but Tim Tebow appears to be the chosen one to make the Urban Meyer offense sing. Watch for Leak to run the offense with Tebow getting work here and there, but all bets are off if Leak struggles at any time. However, Florida is expected to win the SEC title this season; that will be hard to do with a true freshman. With Gavin Dickey giving up football to play baseball full-time, the backup situation is Tebow, and Tebow.

7. Michigan State
The emergence of Brian Hoyer this spring as a bona fide star of the future makes a good situation fantastic. Drew Stanton is one of the nation's most talented all-around quarterbacks with the potential to blossom into one of the top high-rising prospects for the 2007 NFL draft. He has to cut down on his interceptions and must prove that last year wasn't a fluke when he was able to stay healthy for the first time in his career.

8. Iowa
Can Drew Tate close out with an All-American bang? One of the tougher competitors in college football, Tate brings the attitude to the Hawkeyes. He's efficient and experienced, and now he has to make sure he can stay healthy after missing time here and there throughout last season. Jason Manson and Jake Christensen are capable backups, but Iowa needs Tate to have any chance of becoming a Big Ten champion.

9. Hawaii
The knock on Hawaii quarterbacks was that they were all products of the system; anyone can produce in this passing offense. While that's true, the Warriors have a quarterback with the skills to play just about anywhere. Colt Brennan is a great player in a great system, and the results should be eye-popping. Tyler Graunke is a strong number two who'll see time in blowouts, while Inoke Funaki will be more of a runner if he ever sees time.

10. California
All four of the main quarterback options (Nate Longshore, Steve Levy, Kyle Reed and Joe Ayoob) got equal shot at the starting job, but there might be protests not seen since the 1960s around Berkeley if Ayoob gets the opening day call at Tennessee. He has the talent, but he struggled in his first season as a starter after taking over for Nate Longshore, who suffered a broken ankle in the season opener. Longshore is the No. 1 man after already being declared the starter in spring ball, but Levy proved he can handle the work if called upon while Reed has the skills and smarts to be an option with more practice time.
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11	California	Pac 10
12	West Virginia	Big East
13	Auburn	SEC
14	Arizona State	Pac 10
15	Stanford	Pac 10
16	Arizona	Pac 10
17	Tennessee	SEC
17	Tennessee	SEC
18	Boise State	WAC
19	Michigan	Big Ten
20	Houston	CUSA
21	Florida State	ACC
22	Miami	ACC
23	Nebraska	Big 12
24	Iowa State	Big 12
25	Georgia	SEC
26	BYU	M-West
27	Texas Tech	Big 12
28	Utah	M-West
29	Pitt	Big East
30	Wisconsin	Big Ten
31	UTEP	CUSA
32	Oregon	Pac 10
33	Georgia Tech	ACC
34	Tulsa	CUSA
35	UCLA	Pac 10
36	Northern Illinois	MAC
37	Washington State	Pac 10
38	Clemson	ACC
39	Minnesota	Big Ten
40	TCU	M-West
41	Penn State	Big Ten
42	Tulane	CUSA
43	Akron	MAC
44	San Diego State	M-West
45	New Mexico	M-West
46	UCF	CUSA
47	Air Force	M-West
48	Oregon State	Pac 10
49	Indiana	Big Ten
50	Illinois	Big Ten
51	South Carolina	SEC
52	Alabama	SEC
53	Missouri	Big 12
54	Boston College	ACC
55	Maryland	ACC
56	Colorado	Big 12
57	Virginia Tech	ACC
58	Kansas State	Big 12
59	Kentucky	SEC
60	Washington	Pac 10
61	Connecticut	Big East
62	East Carolina	CUSA
63	Arkansas	SEC
64	Marshall	CUSA
65	Mississippi	SEC
66	South Florida	Big East
67	Ball State	MAC
68	Wyoming	M-West
69	Texas A&M	Big 12
70	Virginia	ACC
71	Purdue	Big Ten
72	UNLV	M-West
73	NC State	ACC
74	Rutgers	Big East
75	Wake Forest	ACC
76	Texas	Big 12
77	North Carolina	ACC
78	Oklahoma	Big 12
79	Western Michigan	MAC
80	Colorado State	M-West
81	Memphis	CUSA
82	Toledo	MAC
83	Oklahoma State	Big 12
84	Baylor	Big 12
85	Syracuse	Big East
86	Fresno State	WAC
87	Cincinnati	Big East
88	Northwestern	Big Ten
89	Kansas	Big 12
90	Southern Miss	CUSA
91	UAB	CUSA
92	Vanderbilt	SEC
93	UL Lafayette	Sun Belt
94	FIU	Sun Belt
95	MTSU	Sun Belt
96	SMU	CUSA
97	Navy	Ind
98	Miami Univ.	MAC
99	Bowling Green	MAC
100	Duke	ACC
101	Idaho	WAC
102	Kent State	MAC
103	Mississippi State	SEC
104	Eastern Michigan	MAC
105	Central Michigan	MAC
106	Louisiana Tech	WAC
107	Utah State	WAC
108	Rice	CUSA
109	Army	Ind
110	Buffalo	MAC
111	UL Monroe	Sun Belt
112	San Jose State	WAC
113	New Mexico State	WAC
114	Ohio	MAC
115	Arkansas State	Sun Belt
116	Troy	Sun Belt
117	North Texas	Sun Belt
118	Temple	Ind
119	Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt