There are a lot of question marks moving forward at quarterback in the Big Ten. Two themes categorize most of the returning passers in the conference: inconsistency and regression. The star of the Big Ten Justin Fields is now gone, leaving the throne to whoever wants to take it. Here are the candidates to be the Big Ten’s next top quarterback, ranked for your convenience.

14. Brandon Peters, Illinois

Illinois’ offense was bad last year. The 2-6 fighting Illini only managed to scrape together a measly 20 points a game last year, good for the 2nd lowest-scoring offense in the Big Ten. Illinois has struggled mightily under the leadership of former Bears head coach and current Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, failing to put together a single winning season during his tenure.

A big area of weakness for the Fighting Illini over the past few years has been a carousel of bad quarterback play in the Prairie State. Brandon Peters has manned the position over the past two years and really struggled last season. The former Michigan Wolverine struggled to throw the ball with any accuracy, completing passes at 48.8%. With his top target, the uber-athletic Josh Imatorbhebhe, off to the NFL, first-year coach Brett Bielema certainly has his hands full.

13. Ryan Hillinski, Northwestern

Sticking with the theme of a revolving door at quarterback: here we have Northwestern. For most of the past decade, the Wildcats enjoyed stability at the quarterback position. Dan Persa manned the spot for two years, followed by successful three years careers from New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian and New York Giants quarterback Clayton Thorson. The post-Thorson years have been rocky at the position for Pat Fitzgerald’s squad.

After Aiden Smith failed to impress in 2019, the Wildcats opted to go the transfer route in Peyton Ramsey for the 2020 season. With Ramsey graduating, a new transfer arrives in former South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski. Hilinski showed some flashes in the 2019 season, throwing 11 touchdowns to 5 interceptions, but didn’t really see any game time last season. Can Hilinski make strides forward despite the year off the field, and help stabilize the Wildcats at quarterback?

12. Payton Thorne/Anthony Russo, Michigan State

Last season was a disaster for the Spartans. Under new coach Mel Tucker, the Spartans offense coasted to a conference worst 18 points per game and a 2-5 record. Michigan State hoped that Rocky Lombardi could be the successor to long-time starter Brian Lewerke, but an extremely poor season and a transfer to Northern Illinois dashed any hope of that happening.

Vying for the starting sport for the Spartans are two new fighters, both extremely different. Redshirt sophomore Payton Thorne is hoping to earn his shot at being the solution for the Spartans offensive woes, though he has relatively little experience. The little game time he had last year came with mixed results. Former Temple quarterback Anthony Russo looks to convey his vast experience into a starting role in the Big Ten. Russo has thrown nearly 900 passes in his career, with 44 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. Does Michigan take a shot on the youngster or opt for a more experienced option with a lower ceiling.

11. Noah Vedral, Rutgers

Rutgers has been the epitome of bad QB play ever since joining the Big Ten in 2014. Before this past year, the last Rutgers quarterback to finish with more touchdowns than interceptions was Chris Laviano. It has been a revolving door of atrocious quarterback play over the past 5 years. Vedral by comparison has been light years ahead of the previous signal-callers for the Scarlet Knights, but that is not saying much.

Vedral provided a bit of stability last year for Rutgers, making enough plays to give them a chance in games such as their 48-42 loss to Michigan in which he had 3 touchdowns. There was definitely an improvement in the offense as a whole While losing to teams such as Michigan, Indiana, and Penn State, Rutgers didn’t put up just a combined 6 points as they did the year before (yes, Rutgers were shut out by both Indiana and Michigan) The Scarlet Knights were able to remain a lot more competitive than they have in recent years. Vedral isn’t the best quarterback, none of his numbers jump off the page, but he’s certainly an improvement for Rutgers. 

10. Cade McNamara/J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Last year was a disaster for Michigan, and not just by regular Michigan standards. Michigan were seen to have been underachieving the past few years, winning 8-10 games in the regular season but losing in the bowl game. That was the definition of underachieving for Michigan, not being a National competitor under Harbaugh. Last season’s 2-4 finish, with one of those two wins coming in overtime against Rutgers, was an embarrassment.

What went wrong for Michigan last year cannot be pinpointed to one specific problem. Everything went wrong for Harbaugh’s Wolverine’s last year, the offense struggling to put up points against Penn State and Michigan State and the defense unable to stop anyone. One of the big problems was at quarterback. 

Quarterback Joe Milton struggled to replace Shea Patterson, struggling with accuracy, decision making, and turnovers. Once again Harbaugh is searching for his quarterback, with Milton off to battle Hendon Hooker for the Tennessee job. Former four-star recruit Cade McNamara is the best returning candidate. He looked good against Rutgers with four touchdowns, but only threw for 91 yards against Penn State. Pushing him for the starting spot is freshman J.J. McCarthy. The 5-star recruit from IMG Academy is Harbaugh’s highest-rated quarterback recruit since joining Michigan in 2015. There is uncertainty for Michigan at quarterback in 2021 but definitely a lot of potential!

9. Spencer Petras, Iowa

As a redshirt sophomore, Spencer Petras was tasked with replacing quarterback Nate Stanley. Stanley had his ups and downs, as the most middle-of-the-pack Big Ten quarterbacks do, but it was enough to not mess it up for a strong Iowa squad. Under Stanley, Iowa was a winning squad that finished as high as 15th in the final AP Poll. It seems Petras is following in the footsteps of Stanley, doing enough to help the Hawkeyes to a 6-2 record.

For Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras, the theme is wild inconsistency (get used to that theme for the rest of the Big 10 quarterbacks.) There are times he finds his checkdowns well, other times nobody knows who he is throwing at. He can struggle mightily with accuracy and decision-making while making some good plays. Iowa is a strong team, strong enough to finish as the 16th ranked team with Petras just playing ok. If he maintains his middle-of-the-pack inconsistent play, Iowa will likely remain the solid competitive team they have been. If he takes a step up in his second year as a starter, Iowa can be a tough out for any team in the country.

8. Aidan O’Connell/Jack Plummer, Purdue

Two years after four-year starter David Blough moved onto the NFL, the Boilermakers are still searching for their starting quarterback. The good thing for Purdue: they have two capable signal-callers. Last year Aidan O’Connell won the starting job and did a bang solid job for Purdue. He was a safe quarterback who could make short throws. He wouldn’t turn the ball over much, but wouldn’t make too many big-time highlight plays. When he went down three games in with an injury, sophomore Jack Plummer stepped in and showed some flashes. In three games Plummer threw eight touchdown passes and completed passes at a 71% clip. Purdue might not be a powerhouse in the Big Ten this year, but they certainly don’t have the worst quarterback in the league no matter who wins the starting job.

7. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota

A year ago it would’ve been blasphemous for Tanner Morgan to be this low. Coming off a stellar sophomore year, Morgan was one of the top returning quarterbacks in the entire country. He was expected to take the next step and join the upper echelon of college quarterbacks, but unfortunately, Morgan regressed across the board in 2020.

In a weird year that saw an unusual offseason with the addition of a new offensive coordinator, Morgan had his worst season yet. His 66% completion percentage from 2019 plummeted to 58%. In 7 games Morgan only managed to throw 7 touchdowns, a far cry from his 30 passing touchdowns the year before. Morgan’s impressive 10 yards per attempt lowered to 7.5. It was a very bad year. The good news: we’ve seen Morgan play well before. If he can return to his 2019 form Minnesota can be in for a bounceback season.

6. Adrian Martinez, Nebraska

The big story for Adrian Martinez is still: can he grow as a passer. The former four-star recruit from Fresno, California seemed on the fast track for superstardom after a stellar freshman year in which he threw for 2,617 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was efficient with the ball, and an extremely stellar runner rushing for over 600 yards and 8 touchdowns. Nebraska and the rest of the college football world are still waiting for Martinez to replicate his freshman year.

For two straight years now, Martinez has regressed as a passer. In 2019 his completion percentage tanked to 59%, a sharp dropoff from his 65% the year prior. The touchdowns went down to ten, just one more than his nine interceptions. While the completion percentage did skyrocket this year to 71%, that was only on seven yards an attempt. In seven games he only threw four touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. We know Martinez can run, he’s shown that over the past few years. If Nebraska wants to go bowling this year, Martinez needs to start getting it done with his arm once again. 

5. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland

There were two versions of Taulia Tagovailoa in his first year as a starter. The first was a rising star quarterback who can make big plays and will his team to victories. This is the player who put up 394 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Minnesota, and three touchdowns in a win over Penn State. There was also a quarterback who showed his rawness and inexperience. This is the quarterback who threw for only 94 yards and three interceptions against Northwestern and turned the ball over multiple times against Indiana. It was a weird first year for Tagovailoa, but one that leaves many excited for what he can do in 2021. If we see more of the first version of Tagovailoa, expect to see more hype.

4. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin

Graham Mertz started out the season looking like the next great Big Ten quarterback. 248 yards, five touchdowns, only one missed pass. Mertz diced the Illinois defense up in just his first college start. Then the season got really weird. Mertz battled with both COVID and a shoulder injury. With injuries and a deflated receiving core, Mertz struggled for consistency. He struggled mightily against Northwestern (the #5 defense in the country and a team nearly EVERY quarterback struggled against) and had subpar games against Indiana and Iowa. He was able to pull it back together and finish the season with solid but unspectacular performances against Minnesota and Wake Forest.

For Mertz, he has all of the potential in the world. The highly touted former four-star recruit has all the tools to be a star at the college level. Wisconsin was a team that struggled with the COVID impacted season last year. If the rest of the team can stay healthy, if the running game becomes reinvigorated by rising youngster Jalen Berger (another star Wisconsin running back from New Jersey), and if Graham Mertz can improve and show more consistency, Wisconsin can be a team to watch out for in 2021.

3. Sean Clifford, Penn State

Sean Clifford is the ultimate culmination of all the Big Ten quarterback themes. He has talent but is extremely inconsistent, especially in clutch situations. Clifford struggled all last year with turnovers, leading the Big Ten in interceptions. He also regressed from his 2019 campaign. The touchdowns were down, the yards per attempt down, and the interceptions were up. Despite falling in the same category as many of the quarterbacks listed behind him, it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day Sean Clifford still puts up good numbers in that Penn State offense.

It is easy to forget that it was Sean Clifford who finished 2nd in the conference in both touchdowns and passing yards. Clifford statically is as solid of a college quarterback as they come. The biggest problem is those darn turnovers. Clifford led the conference in interceptions with nine, that’s a pick every game. That can’t keep happening. We’ve seen him play really well before, looking on the verge of stardom in 2019 statistically speaking at least. If he can just cut down on them turnovers he will be a lot better, as will a Penn State

2. C.J. Stroud Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes once again have the opportunity to trot out an elite quarterback in 2021. Despite the position being oft-criticized, the Buckeyes have enjoyed top-tier QB play over the past three years. In his sophomore season before the draft, Dwayne Haskins threw for 50 touchdowns, playing his way to a first-round selection. Justin Fields was an immediate Heisman. Now C.J. Stroud looks to carry that same level of success for a Buckeyes team with national aspirations.

C.J. Stroud was a highly touted recruit in the 2020 class. He was the 2nd rated prospect, only trailing behind Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei. Since his commitment, he was seen as the successor to Justin Fields. The reports coming out of the Ohio State camp is that Stroud looks ready to be the next great college quarterback. He’s certainly entering the right situation to do so. At his disposal will be potential first-round wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, as well as a potential top-five tight end in Jeremy Ruckert. Both tackles are well experienced as well. It’s an extremely strong Ohio State team that Stroud is taking the reins of.

1.Michael Penix, Indiana

All the evidence needed that Michael Penix is the best quarterback in the Big Ten lies in Indiana’s game of the season candidate against Ohio State last year. 495 yards. 5 touchdowns. Penix may not be the most accurate quarterback in all of college football. He only did throw for a 56% completion percentage, when you examine his style of play it makes sense why.

Penix is a gamer who looks for the big play. He might not be the most consistent down-to-down passer, but he had an extreme knack for the big play, especially in the big moments of a game. He has a good arm and a superb ability for making plays off script out of the pocket. He can make big-time throws and put up points in a hurry. His season was cut short by an injury, but he looks ready to go for week one. Look for Penix to break out as the headliner of the Big Ten with Fields gone.

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen

The 2022 quarterback class might not be quite as talented at the top as it’s predecessor, but there is still a ton of intrigue and talent with this group. There are a ton of quarterbacks in the running to go early in the draft, some of them not even close to hitting their true ceilings even in college. With the college football season right around the corner here are the top five quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

5. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

Phil Jurkovec entering the 2020 college football season was a name almost forgotten about, despite lofty expectations out of high school. A former four-star recruit, Jurkovec was one of Notre Dame’s highest-rated quarterback recruits in recent years. After failing to find playing time stuck behind current New Orleans Saints quarterback Ian Book, Jurkovec transferred to Boston College and immediately made an impact.

The traits that made him such a highly-touted recruit were on full display in Chestnut Hill. Jurkovec is a big quarterback with an arm to match. He is tough, able to stand in the pocket and make the throw despite pressure. An advantage Jukovec has over a lot of quarterbacks is his ability to run a pro-style offense. Jurkovec has made plays under center, able to drop back and make reads. He isn’t saddled with a shotgun/RPO-heavy offense like a lot of college quarterbacks. Jurkovec needs more experience and needs to improve on a few things such as ball placement and getting the ball out quicker, but there’s a chance Jurkovec flies up draft boards by the end of the season.

4. Malik Willis, Liberty

Malik Willis has the tools to be a special quarterback in the NFL. He has the traits of your created player in a video game. He is one of the most dynamic runners since Lamar Jackson at Louisville. The Auburn transfer reached over 900 yards on the ground, finding the end zone with his legs 14 times. He uses his elite athleticism to escape pressure in the pocket, turning would-be sacks into positive yards. The former three-star recruit from Atlanta, Georgia can sling it too. He fires fastballs that would make Randy Johnson smile and can hit any throw on the field. 

When it comes to traits, Willis has some of the elite. Right now though Willis is a college quarterback with some elite NFL traits. He has a lot to work on to be a more well-rounded quarterback. Liberty doesn’t ask Willis to make many reads at all. Rarely do you see him simply drop back, make a read, and hit it. It’s a lot of one reads and RPOs, with an emphasis on using Willis’ legs. Good for helping the team win games, maybe not the best for his development. Willis can be generally accurate, but he definitely needs to work on his ball placement. Basically, Willis needs to prove that he can do traditional quarterback things. If he improves on those areas, with his insane arm talent and ability to make magic with his legs, Willis could rise up boards and be a first-round caliber player.

3. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Looking at the numbers, you can see why Sam Howell has been pegged as a 1st overall candidate early in the draft process. He’s thrown for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons as a starter, his completion percentage also rising to 68% this season. The common comparison for Howell is Baker Mayfield, and it checks out. Howell has a lively arm, able to run a Phil Longo system that features a lot of RPOs and deep shots. On deep passes, he has some of the best ball placement in college ball.

There are certain areas I’d like to see Howell improve at though. There are definitely times where you’ll see Howell lock on to his first read, forcing a throw to his primary target even if it necessarily isn’t there. I want to see him settle down a bit overall. Settling his wild nature just a tad bit and settling his feet a bit in the pocket can do wonders for him at the next level. One shortcoming that Howell will probably not be able to work on is his average athleticism. Howell isn’t going to be much of a running threat in the league but has somehow managed to become pretty good at evading rushers and extending the play. Will he be able to do so at the NFL? Overall Howell has a lot of traits that are nice but needs to refine his game more for the NFL.

2. Carson Strong, Nevada

Carson Strong is going to be the name casual football fans begin to learn over the course of the season. Playing in the Mountain West Conference, Strong has managed to fly under the college football radar: but no more. Strong was extremely impressive last year, throwing 27 touchdowns to only four interceptions. His arm is as his last name implies: Strong. A lively arm, Strong is able to throw a deep ball that just seems to keep going. He has great deep ball accuracy and is going to be able to put points up for a team in a hurry.

Strong is not a perfect prospect though. Strong is pretty much a traditional pocket passer. He doesn’t really do much out of the structure, not one to evade tackles and throw a bomb down the field. He doesn’t really possess the mobility most modern quarterback prospects do. I actually compare Carson a lot to Indianapolis Colt Jacob Eason, but a much-upgraded version. Neither are the most mobile but have big arms and can hit the deep ball. Strong is a much better decision-maker and throws a more accurate ball. Look for Strong to rise up draft boards.

1.Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

For me, Spencer Rattler is the clear QB1 in a very OK quarterback class. Out of all the 2022 candidates, Rattler is the most comparable to last year’s superb quarterback class. When you watch Rattler at his best, everything just looks easy for the #1 ranked quarterback in the class of 2019. With a flick of his wrist Rattler can send the ball flying down the field to a streaking defender. With most serious draft prospects possessing a good arm, Rattler’s still manages to stand out. When Rattler’s on his A-game, the former Elite 11 MVP is a game-changer who can make plays out of the structure in a similar way to Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. The upside is through the roof.

The big disclaimer for all those statements is “at his best.” Rattler is one of the least experienced quarterbacks vying to hear his name called early in Las Vegas. Last year was the Arizona product’s first full season as a starter, and boy did he have some kinks to work out. Turnovers were a problem early on, especially against Kansas State where Rattler threw three interceptions. He still is raw in a lot of areas. He still needs to improve on his decision-making and overall consistency. If Rattler puts it all together, he can truly be a special quarterback.

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen

The Ohio State Buckeyes have found their new quarterback. C.J. Stroud will get the start under-center to open up Ohio State’s season versus Minnesota. 

On Saturday, Ryan Day made it official as he announced that the redshirt freshman will be running the show in Columbus."We are going to name C.J. Stroud the starting quarterback for the Minnesota game," Day said.

Day talked about why Stroud has put himself in this position to win the starting job. "I thought he, over the body of work between the spring and then also through preseason, separated himself with his decision making, his leadership skills, his accuracy, and so now we’ve got to go prepare to go play a game,” Day said. “But proud of him, happy for him." 

The media was convinced that he would win the job and that he was always leading the competition due to being the back-up to Justin Fields as a true freshman. Stroud is in a unique position and has the opportunity to cement himself as one of the next dominant Ohio State quarterbacks. He was mentored by Justin Fields and he has big shoes to fill trying to replace Field’s success. 

The California native was a late bloomer, but he was regarded as one of the top recruits in the country since his junior year. Stroud won MVP honors at the Elite 11 Competition, one of the highest high school football player accomplishments. Stroud is a dual-threat quarterback, not only does he have a strong accurate arm but he is great with his legs. He proved that when he saw action against Michigan State in 2020 when he broke out for a 48-yard touchdown run. 

Luckily for Stroud, he is surrounded by people that will make him better. He has arguably two of the top 5 receivers in the nation in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Stroud has an offensive line that is coming in as the highest-graded line in the Big Ten with Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Harry Miller all returning. Stroud was ready to hear his name called and was pleased when he heard the news. 

Day said, “He was excited for sure and fired up,” Day said. “He knows that this is an opportunity and not an accomplishment.”

Writer

-By: Justin Howard