September 19, 2013
1. USC
Since 2000, no other school is worthy of the label, "Quarterback U," than the USC Trojans. Often known for their ability to develop excellent running backs, USC also has shown an impressive ability to develop quarterbacks. From 2000 to 2012, USC won two national championships, played in three National Championship Games, went to six consecutive BCS Bowl games, and posted a winning percentage of 76.2 percent.
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer led the Trojan attack from 2000 to 2002, posting a 22-14 record as the starting quarterback. USC's first two season's under Palmer's reign were lackluster and left much to be desired. In 2001, USC finished 5-7 and did not appear in a bowl game, while Palmer posted modest numbers: 2,914 passing yards, 16 TD, and 54.9 CMP%. In 2002, USC struggled to improve, but earned one more victory than the 2001 season and eventually lost to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, 10-6. The Trojans finished 6-6, and Palmer's numbers were again, modest: 2,717 passing yards, 13 TD, and 58.6 CMP%.
The 2002 season was a return to prominence for USC. Palmer led the Trojans to an 11-2 season that ended with a decisive 38-17 victory over Iowa in the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL. Palmer won the 2002 Heisman Trophy, earned 1st Team All-American honors, and passed for 3,942 yards, 33 TD, and completed 63.2% of his passes.
Palmer went on to be the #1 overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, he's started nearly every game in the NFL, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals.
Yearly College Quarterback Ranking: #9 (2000), #6 (2001), #1 (2002)
Matt Leinart
Palmer passed the reigns of the Trojan offense to Matt Leinart, a 6'5" pocket passer who led USC to back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004, and also an appearance in the National Championship Game in 2005 against Texas.
Leinart entered the 2003 season relatively unheard of, and ended the season as a known entity across the country. USC finished 12-1 and took home the AP Poll National Champion crown after beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl, 28-14. USC shared the 2003 National Champion label with LSU, the winners of the Sugar Bowl and BCS Champions. Leinart was an All-Pac-10 selection, and finished the season with 3,556 yards, 38 TD, and threw for 273.5 yards per game.
The 2004 season was filled with lopsided Trojan victories and passing assaults from the Trojan offense. Leinart led USC to an undefeated season and a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl (BCS National Championship Game). For his outstanding 2004 campaign, Leinart won the 2004 Heisman Trophy and was named a 1st Team All-American. He passed for 3,322 yards, 33 TD (6 INT), and completed 65.3% of his passes.
Leinart continued his impressive performances in 2003 and 2004 with yet another quality season in 2005. He was named a 2nd Team All-American and led USC to the Rose Bowl (BCS National Championship Game). USC lost to Texas in that game, after Vince Young slashed through the Trojan defense with ease. The Trojans recorded 12 wins and 1 loss on the season, giving Leinart a 37-2 record as a starting quarterback while at USC. In 2005, Leinart passed for 3,815 yards, 28 TD (8 INT), and completed 65.7% of his passes.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Leinart with the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Since arriving in the NFL, Leinart has struggled to show starting quarterback ability, and, consequently, he has bounced around to several teams throughout his career.
Yearly College Quarterback Ranking: #8 (2003), #1 (2004), #2 (2005)
John David Booty
Following Matt Leinart's impressive career was John David Booty's stint as USC quarterback from 2006 to 2007. Booty led USC to a pair of Rose Bowl appearances, winning both, and finished with a 22-4 record as a starting quarterback. In 2006, Booty passed for 3,347 yards and 29 TD. In 2007, Booty posted 2,361 passing yards and 23 TD, while missing some snaps due to injury. Booty's NFL career has involved several backup quarterback jobs.
Yearly College Quarterback Ranking: #8 (2006), #14 (2007)
Mark Sanchez
The USC quarterback position belonged to Mark Sanchez during the 2008 season. Sanchez led USC to yet another Rose Bowl appearance, and victory. This time, the victim of the Trojans' aerial attack was Penn State. Sanchez showed flares of brilliance in the Rose Bowl game and decided to forgo his senior season in favor of entering the NFL Draft. For the season, Sanchez finished with 3,207 passing yards and 34 TD, compared to only 10 INT.
The New York Jets selected Sanchez with the 6th overall pick. Sanchez' NFL career has been volatile, but it has included two trips to the AFC Championship Game. His future in the NFL is largely unknown as some experts project him as a backup and others project him as a starter.
Yearly College Quarterback Ranking: #16 (2007), #4 (2008)
Matt Barkley
After Sanchez left Los Angeles and USC for the NFL Draft, freshman phenom, Matt Barkley, became the starting quarterback for USC from 2009 to 2012. During his tenure as USC's quarterback, Barkley recorded 34 wins and 17 losses.
Pete Carroll coached USC in 2009, but then left for the NFL to coach the Seattle Seahawks following that season. Barkley led USC to 9-4 record that culminated in a 24-13 victory over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. Barkley put together a productive season: 2,735 passing yards, 15 TD, 14 INT.
Starting in 2010, journeyman head coach, Lane Kiffin, replaced Pete Carroll and inherited a football program that faced a 2-year bowl ban. USC finished the season with an 8-5 record, no bowl game, and Barkley tossed 26 TD, while throwing for 2,791 yards.
Barkley's 2011 campaign left fans and writers across the country with the feeling that he would be a Top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Barkley and USC finished the season with a 10-2 record, no bowl game (again; NCAA sanction), and a lot of momentum to take into 2012. Barkley decided against forgoing his senior season after throwing for 3,528 yards and 39 TD. He also completed 69.1% of his passes.
The Trojans entered 2012 ranked #1 in the country. High expectations surrounded Barkley and the rest of the program, but the team did not live up to them. USC won 7 games and lost 6 games. Barkley played through injuries throughout the season, but he did not dress against Georgia Tech in the Trojans' Sun Bowl loss. Erratic play by the defense and lethargic starts to games by the offense plagued the Trojans' season. For his senior season, Barkley threw for 3,273 yards, 36 TD (15 INT), and averaged 297.5 passing yards per game. By his career's end, Barkley was USC's all-time leader in nearly every major statistical passing category.
Barkley was selected in the 4th Round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Yearly College Quarerback Ranking: #35 (2009), #6 (2010), #3 (2011), #7 (2012)
2. Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners have been the beneficiaries of quality quarterback play since the 2000 season. From 2000 to 2012, Oklahoma won 81.6 percent of their games - a feat that wouldn't have been possible without being able to rely on competent, productive signal callers.
Josh Heupel
For this 13-season time frame, Josh Heupel was first to carry the prestigious title of "Oklahoma QB." He led the underdog Sooners to the Orange Bowl (National Championship Game) in Miami, FL against a stalwart Florida State team. Oklahoma beat Florida State, 13-2, and secured Oklahoma's first national championship title since 1985. Heupel earned 2nd Team All-American honors and passed for 3,392 yards, 20 TD, and completed 64.7% of his passes.
Heupel was selected in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Yearly Quarterback Ranking: #5 (2000)
Jason White
The next "big-name" quarterback for the Sooners was Jason White, who started at quarterback from 2003 to 2004. In 2003, White and the Sooners finished 12-2 and lost to LSU, 21-14, in the Sugar Bowl (National Championship Game) in New Orleans, LA. For the 2003 season, White threw for 3,846 yards, 40 TD (compared to only 10 INT), and averaged 274.7 yards passing per game. His stellar performance throughout the season resulted in a Heisman Trophy and 1st Team All-America accolades.
In 2004, White and the Sooners returned to the National Championship Game spotlight and faced off against a powerful USC Trojan team in the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL. Both teams were undefeated heading into the game, but USC's squad - headlined by Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and LenDale White - pummeled Oklahoma, 55-19. Oklahoma ended the season with a 12-1 record, a Big 12 championship in hand, but the distaste of a lackluster National Championship Game performance. For the 2004 season, White threw for 3,205 yards and 35 TD, while completed 65.4 percent of his passes.
White was undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft and played one season in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans.
Yearly College Quarterback Rankings: #3 (2003), #4 (2004)
Sam Bradford
After a lapse of several seasons without a highly-rated starting quarterback, Oklahoma turned the destiny of the program over to freshman quarterback, Sam Bradford, at the beginning of the 2007 season. Bradford played well and led Oklahoma to an 11-3 record, a Big 12 title, and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma lost to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl, 48-28. For the season, Bradford passed for 3,121 yards and 36 TD.
Expectations were high for the Sooners and Bradford entering the 2008 season. Neither the Sooner nor Bradford disappointed. Oklahoma went 12-2 and earned a spot in the BCS National Championship Game against the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators. Florida beat Oklahoma 24-14, giving Oklahoma its fifth consecutive defeat in a BCS game. Bradford won the 2008 Heisman Trophy and was named a 1st Team All-American. His numbers for the season: 4,720 yards, 50 TD, 8 INT, 67.9 CMP%, 180.8 QB Rating.
After an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2008, Bradford was expected to lead Oklahoma to another National Championship Game appearance. That expectation fell when Bradford suffered a shoulder injury in Oklahoma's game against BYU early on that season.
Despite his injured shoulder, Bradford was selected #1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He's started every game for St. Louis that he's been healthy enough to play in.
Yearly College Quarterback Rankings: #13 (2007), #1 (2008), #4 (2009)
Landry Jones
As a freshman in 2009, Landry Jones took over as Oklahoma's starting quarterback. Oklahoma finished 8-5 for the season, but Jones posted impressive numbers for a freshman by season's end: 3,198 yards, 26 TD, 14 INT, 58.1 CMP%.
In 2010, Oklahoma returned to the BCS party and beat Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. Jones threw for an astounding 4,718 yards and connected on 38 TD passes over the course of the season, and many draft experts were moving him up on draft boards.
Jones threw for over 4,000 yards in each of the next two season (2011 and 2012), however, he was benched in favor of quarterback Blake Bell in the 2012 season when it came to short yardage and redzone situations. By the end of his career, Jones had thrown for 16,646 yards, 123 TD, and averaged 320.1 passing yards per game.
Despite these impressive statistics and consistent production, Jones was selected in the 4th Round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yearly College Quarterback Rankings: #34 (2009), #3 (2010), #4 (2011), #12 (2012)
The remainining schools on our list are found below with player names, the years they played a prominent role on the team, and their Yearly College Quarterback Rankings
3. Florida
Rex Grossman (2000-2002): #19 (2000), #4 (2001), #3 (2002)
Chris Leak (2003-2006): #5 (2004), #5 (2005), #4 (2006)
Tim Tebow (2006-2009): #1 (2007), #2 (2008), #1 (2009)
John Brantley (2011): #23 (2011)
Jeff Driskel (2011-Present): #34 (2012)
4. Ohio State
Craig Krenzel (2002-2003): #13 (2002), #20 (2003)
Troy Smith (2005-2006): #4 (2005), #1 (2006)
Todd Boeckman (2007): #29 (2007)
Terrell Pryor (2008-2010): #19 (2008), #8 (2009), #7 (2010)
Braxton Miller (20011-Present): #40 (2011), #5 (2012)
5. Texas
Major Applewhite (2000): #12 (2000)
Chris Simms (2000-2002): #20 (2000), #14 (2001), #10 (2002)
Vince Young (2003-2005): #26 (2003), #7 (2004), #1 (2005)
Colt McCoy (2006-2009): #13 (2006), #10 (2007), #5 (2008), #2 (2009)
David Ash (2011-Present): #33 (2012)
6. Georgia
Quincy Carter (2000): #14 (2000)
David Greene (2002-2004): #12 (2002), #10 (2003), #10 (2004)
D.J. Shockley (2003-2005): #30 (2003), #12 (2005)
Matthew Stafford (2007-2008): #11 (2007), #3 (2008)
Joe Cox (2009): #42 (2009)
Aaron Murray (2010-Present): #20 (2010), #14 (2011), #6 (2012)
7. Notre Dame
Brady Quinn (2004-2006): #22 (2004), #3 (2005), #2 (2006)
Jimmy Clausen (2007-2009): #23 (2008), #5 (2009)
Dayne Crist (2010): #33 (2010)
Tommy Reese (2011-Present): #28 (2011), #44 (2012)
Everett Golson (2012-Present): #17 (2012)
8. Missouri
Brad Smith (2003-2005): #11 (2003), #14 (2004), #9 (2005)
Chase Daniel (2006-2008): #15 (2006), #4 (2007), #6 (2008)
Blaine Gabbert (2009-2010): #15 (2009), #11 (2010)
James Franklin (2011-Present): #35 (2011), #19 (2012)
9. Oregon
Joey Harrington (2000-2001): #6 (2000), #1 (2001)
Kellen Clemens (2005): #16 (2005)
Dennis Dixon (2005-2007): #33 (2005), #2 (2007)
Jeremiah Masoli (2009): #16 (2009)
Darron Thomas (2010-2011): #10 (2010), #12 (2011)
Marcus Mariota (2012-Present): #3 (2012)
10. Michigan
John Navarre (2002-2003): #14 (2002), #12 (2003)
Chad Henne (2004-2007): #13 (2004), #7 (2005), #5 (2006), #12 (2007)
Denard Robinson (2010-2012): #8 (2010), #13 (2011), #11 (2012)
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