2008 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... QBs

CFN 2008 Preview Unit Rankings - Quarterbacks Ranked 1 to 119

2008 CFN Unit Rankings

Quarterbacks

CFN 2008 Unit Rankings
2008 Preview | Offenses | Running Backs
Receivers | Offensive Lines | Defenses | Defensive Lines
Linebackers | Secondaries | Special Teams

1. Florida
Everything possible will be done to make sure Tim Tebow doesn't carry the ball 210 times again. While he'll still be the fearless runner he always was, the running backs should take away more of the workload and Cam Newton and John Brantley will be in the rotation more often to get some meaningful work in. Yes, there is a drop-off from a Heisman winner to two unproven backups, but the reserves can play. There's a reason they're playing for Florida.

2. Oklahoma
The one major question mark in 2007 for OU was the quarterback situation. This was considered a good enough team to win the Big 12 title, and possibly the national championship, if Paul Thompson could be replaced and if the Sooners could just find someone steady to take over. All sophomore Sam Bradford did was lead the nation in passing efficiency while completing 70% of his throws for 3,121 yards and 36 touchdowns with eight interceptions. On pure talent, Oklahoma might have the best 1-through-3 quarterbacks in the country with all three options, Bradford, Joey Halzle and freshman Landry Jones able to start and shine. It helps to have a good line to play behind, a brilliant running game to count on, and an elite receiving corps to throw to, but Bradford isn't just a cog in the system; he's a big-time player who makes it all go. 

3. West Virginia
Pat White, the two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year keeps getting better as the Mountaineers’ do-everything catalyst. As a junior, the 6-2, 185-pounder ran for a career-high 1,335 yards, threw for a career-high 1,724 yards, and accounted for 28 touchdowns. If disaster strikes and White gets injured, the staff has faith in Brown, a steady backup who has proven to be more than just a mop-up guy.

4. Missouri
Chase Daniel will once again be in the hunt for the Heisman. With the knowledge of the offense and all his experience, he's a special college player coming off a 4,306-yard, 33 touchdown season. Chase Patton is a decent No. 2 option to count on in a pinch, while Dominic Grooms has the athleticism and X factor skills to make defensive coordinators worry if he gets thrown into the mix for a few plays here and there.

5. Texas Tech
The production will once again be out of this world. Graham Harrell’s statistics are mind boggling: 72% completion rate, 5,705 yards, 48 touchdowns. Harrell is a true Heisman candidate in the same way Hawaii's Colt Brennan became the man last year, while Taylor Potts is ready to step in and shine at any time. There are interesting young prospects buried on the depth chart.

6. Kansas
After showing good promise in a rotation role as a freshman, junior Todd Reesing blew up last year with a Heisman-caliber season completing 62% of his passes for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Three of his interceptions came in the win over Kansas State and two came early in the loss to Missouri (before he caught fire); he was ultra-efficient. Reesing is a special quarterback who doesn't get the respect he deserves because he's not big and doesn't look the part of a big-time passer. He can do it all, makes great decisions, and is ultra-efficient. Kerry Meier is an excellent No. 2, and there are promising options who'll get time over the next year or two to improve. Overall, this is a terrific situation.

7. Texas
The situation is fantastic. Junior Colt McCoy is one of the best, most underappreciated quarterbacks in the country, and John Childs and Sherrod Harris are special. The passing game will be efficient, there will be good mobility, and in a league full of great quarterbacks, this could be the best overall situation in the league. McCoy followed up a shocking first year as a replacement for Vince Young by throwing for 3,303 yards and completing 65% of his passes with 22 touchdowns, but unlike his redshirt freshman season when he threw just seven interceptions, he had a problem with picks. He threw four in the loss to Kansas State, three in the comeback win over Oklahoma State, and went just three games without an interception with the offense hanging up more than 50 points in all of them. Chiles, a 6-2, 215-pound sophomore, was supposed to be the next Vince Young with tremendous running skills and a next-level arm, and while he's a talent who can step in and produce, he's going to have to wait his turn behind McCoy.

8. Georgia
Matthew Stafford might turn out to be the best NFL quarterback Georgia has turned out in decades, and now he's about to turn his game up a notch. At least that's the hope. He has all the tools, a great line to work behind, a terrific running game to take the pressure off, and an improved receiving corps. In other words, it's all there for him to rock. Joe Cox is a nice No. 2, and with other strong prospects waiting in the wings, this is a good situation

9. Clemson
In his first year as the starter, 6-4, 220-pound senior Cullen Harper went from a complete unknown to the first Clemson quarterback in almost a quarter-century to lead the ACC in passing efficiency. In under a year Clemson has turned a blinking question mark into an ideal situation. In Harper, the Tigers now have a steady veteran with a future in the pros. In star-in-waiting, Willie Korn, last year’s top recruit, they’ve got a brilliant young talent who can use the next five months as a stepping stone before taking over the job in 2009.

10. Purdue
The passing game was among the best in the nation last year, and now it'll have to be more efficient with Painter needing to use all his experience to make everyone around him better. He doesn't have last year's receiving corps to work with, but if he can make quicker decisions and better reads, that might not matter. Joey Elliott is a good backup and Justin Siller, the star of last year's recruiting class with size, 4.7 speed, and a good arm, is a strong No. 3.

11	BYU
12	Arizona State
13	Central Michigan
14	New Mexico State
15	Ohio State
16	Texas A&M
17	USC
18	Navy
19	Utah
20	South Florida
21	Oklahoma State
22	Virginia Tech
23	Louisville
24	Arizona
25	Minnesota
26	Washington
27	Ball State
28	Indiana
29	Illinois
30	Florida Atlantic
31	Northwestern
32	Michigan State
33	Nebraska
34	Notre Dame
35	California
36	Kansas State
37	Boston College
38	Rutgers
39	Wisconsin
40	Pitt
41	Tennessee
42	Connecticut
43	Oregon
44	Fresno State
45	Penn State
46	UCLA
47	Alabama
48	Wake Forest
49	Florida State
50	Colorado
51	New Mexico
52	Nevada
53	Ole Miss
54	Tulsa
55	Arkansas State
56	Iowa
57	Bowling Green
58	Houston
59	Duke
60	Hawaii
61	Rice
62	Boise State
63	Miami
64	LSU
65	Virginia
66	Auburn
67	Oregon State
68	Georgia Tech
69	Maryland
70	Arkansas
71	Kentucky
72	TCU
73	Washington State
74	North Carolina
75	Syracuse
76	South Carolina
77	UTEP
78	Toledo
79	SMU
80	Baylor
81	Michigan
82	Mississippi State
83	Kent State
84	Colorado State
85	Iowa State
86	Northern Illinois
87	Air Force
88	Louisiana Tech
89	Wyoming
90	Cincinnati
91	Vanderbilt
92	Stanford
93	Miami Univ.
94	Western Michigan
95	Buffalo
96	East Carolina
97	Middle Tennessee
98	North Texas
99	Eastern Michigan
100	NC State
101	San Diego State
102	UNLV
103	UCF
104	Ohio
105	Troy
106	Memphis
107	San Jose State
108	Temple
109	UAB
110	Southern Miss
111	Idaho
112	Marshall
113	Akron
114	UL Lafayette
115	UL Monroe
116	Tulane
117	Army
118	FIU
119	Utah State