CFB: 2021 Big 10 West Preseason Quarterback Rankings

Now it is time to break down the quarterbacks that will be likely starters for each Big 10 West school. I will rank them in order based on talent and who I think will lead their team to a successful 2021 season. Check out my other rankings for the Big 10 East quarterbacks here.

7. Brandon Peters - Illinois

Although there has been no official announcement for the Illini, I am a believer that Brandon Peters will edge out red-shirt freshman Isaiah Williams. Peters displayed his talent as he out-dueled Williams in the team’s spring game where Peters completed 12 of his 18 attempts for almost 300 yards. Peters transferred to Ilinois in 2019 from Michigan and in his 2020 season, he threw for 429 yards completing only 48.8% of his passes. With new decorated head coach Bret Bielema running the program, Peters looks to improve on his underwhelming 2020 season and make an impact for Illinois.

6. Jack Plummer - Purdue

Purdue football has one of the more intense battles as the quarterback competition in the conference. The quarterback competition will carry into summer camp and preseason for the Boilermakers but I believe that Jack Plummer will get the nod from coach Jeff Brohm. In 2020, Plummer was not originally named the starter as Aidan O’Connell assumed the role. An injury to Connell halfway through the season allowed Plummer to come in and perform. In three games he threw for over 900 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Plummer looks to keep and apply his momentum from the 2020 season to this upcoming year.

5. Ryan Hilinski - Northwestern

At number six on the list, we have Northwestern’s quarterback Ryan Hilinski who transferred into the school from South Carolina. Ryan Hilinski has all the talent to be a talented, impactful college quarterback who could really make a name for himself but we have yet to witness it. During his freshman year at South Carolina, he threw for an underwhelming 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions along with over 2,300 yards. After losing the starting job in 2020, Hilinski decided to take his talent to Northwestern. The former 4-star recruit was the second-ranked prostyle quarterback in the class of 2019. I think Hilinski has a chance to become the player he imagined under the stable program that coach Fitzgerald has created in Evanston. Having to learn a new program and the fact that Hilinski isn’t a determined starter puts him at number 6 but he has a chance to be a solid college quarterback. 

4. Spencer Petras - Iowa

Spencer Petras looks to improve on his mediocre, inconsistent season that occurred during 2020. Starting all 8 games in 2020, Petras’ experience will likely award him the starting quarterback job in 2021. After leading his team to a 6-2 victory, Petras was more of a system quarterback who relied on his team’s defense, explaining the middling numbers he put up in 2020. Throwing for 1500 yards along with 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, Petras has momentum on his side as he finished the season with two impressive victories. Petras led the Hawkeyes in beating Illinois and Wisconsin where he threw for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns in the final two games of the season. Looking to build off his end of 2020, Petras will have returning weapons around him including one of his favorite targets in Nico Ragaini that will contribute to his 2021 campaign. 

3. Graham Mertz - Wisconsin

After a hot start in 2020, Graham Mertz falls at number three on the list. Although he was unable to sustain his numbers throughout the season, Mertz threw for almost 400 yards and 7 touchdowns. Mertz was a first-year starter in 2020 during a pandemic year with few reps, Mertz was able to beat the teams that Wisconsin should always handle but struggled against the top of the conference. Mertz showed his inexperience with losses to Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa but finished out the season leading his team to a victory against Wake Forest. Returning a mostly an offensive line that is composed of mostly seniors, Mertz will be surrounded by protections. If Mertz can find his form early and sustain it, he should be able to put together a quality season.

2. Adrian Martinez- Nebraska

Adrian Martinez is ready to lead the Cornhuskers to a successful 2021 season. The senior has been the starting quarterback for Nebraska since he was a true freshman in 2018. After having an outstanding freshman year, Martinez has not lived up to expectations and will be looking to get back to being one of the conference’s elite quarterbacks. Scoring a total of 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in 2020, Martinez will want to improve on his numbers this year. Martinez can be an electrifying talent as he is a true dual-threat quarterback. He can extend plays through scrambling or he can burst out for good chunks of yards keeping defensives off balance. 

1. Tanner Morgan - Minnesota 

At number one on our list for the Big 10 West, we have Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan who is a stud. Morgan led the Big 10 in passing yards in 2019 throwing for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. After an uncanny 2020 season where Morgan threw for only 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, he will look to revert to the player he was in 2019. With Rashod Bateman gone to the NFL, Morgan will have to look to his next favorite target, Chris Autman-Bell who has 22 receptions for 430 yards in 2020. As well, a 1,000-yard rusher, Mohamed Ibrahim will be back for the 2021 campaign so Morgan will be able to use the play-action game as the pass and running game will be a threat in 2021. Morgan will look to give the Golden Gophers life again in 2021 as he looks to have a big senior season.

Writer

-By: Justin Howard