The Rise of Mobile Quarterbacks in NCAA Football: A Look Ahead to the Stars of Tomorrow

The landscape of NCAA football is constantly evolving, and one of the most significant changes in recent years has been the emergence of the mobile quarterback. These dual-threat athletes, capable of both making pinpoint passes and scrambling for crucial yardage, have become increasingly vital to success at the collegiate level. As we look ahead to the upcoming seasons, several quarterbacks are poised to take the sport by storm with their exceptional abilities.

The Evolving Role of the Quarterback

No position can change a team’s fortunes quite like the quarterback. It’s often called the most difficult position to play in sports because of all that comes with it - the credit when the team wins, the blame after a loss. College quarterbacks, with their varied skill sets, unique journeys and diverse backgrounds, are a special breed. One can go from a small-town star to the big man on campus overnight. And this is the time of year when fans love to debate who the best quarterbacks are and pundits rank their top signal callers.

In gridiron football, a dual-threat quarterback is a quarterback (QB) who is adept at both passing and running with the ball. With the rise of several blitz-heavy defensive schemes and faster defensive players, the importance of a mobile quarterback has been redefined. College football teams employed option offenses earlier and more commonly than offenses in the National Football League (NFL). An option offense allows the quarterback to either hand the ball off, run it himself, or pitch it to the running back (RB). In the college game, many schools employ several plays that are designed for the quarterback to run with the ball.

Top Quarterbacks to Watch

With the transfer portal and eligibility decisions shaping rosters, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. Several talented quarterbacks are returning to college football, each with their unique skill set and potential to lead their teams to victory. Danny Kanell ranked his Top 10 returners at the position for the season.

1. Arch Manning (Texas Longhorns)

Arch Manning is listed as Kanell’s top returning quarterback. Manning underwent offseason surgery, but is already out of his walking boot ahead of March. In his first full season as the Longhorns’ starter, Manning passed for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He became a lethal threat on the ground as well, rushing for 399 yards and 10 scores.

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said on the Feb. 18 edition of ‘Get Up‘. “He won the Heisman in November. Unfortunately, he did poorly in September and October. I think they will be in the semifinals of the CFP.

2. Julian Sayin (Ohio State Buckeyes)

Julian Sayin’s first season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback was absolutely stellar. Sayin led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season record and an appearance in both the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff. The Carlsbad, Calif., native was tabbed as a Heisman Trophy finalist, having passed for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.

On3’s Ari Wasserman said on the Feb. 10 edition of Andy & Ari On3. “He throws a beautiful ball and is certainly good enough to win a national championship at Ohio State.

3. Darian Mensah (Miami Hurricanes)

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred from Duke after leading the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship last season, will enter the campaign as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Mensah was remarkable for head coach Manny Diaz and Duke in his lone season in Durham.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s accurate, he’s got an unbelievable sense, and his pocket awareness is off the charts. His off-script stuff and his on-schedule stuff is elite. He’s got the right temperament. He is an alpha and he’s got a great personality. People really gravitate to him. He’s really athletic and he’s a hard worker. He’s really smart.

4. Dante Moore (Oregon Ducks)

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was the consensus No. 2 quarterback in the NFL Draft before he surprisingly decided to return to college. In his first season as the Ducks’ starter last year, Moore passed for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Moore said when asked about what he hopes to improve on most next season. “Being around this team for two years now, of course, they heard my voice a lot this year. But I feel like when it comes to me pushing my teammates and making sure they’re at their best - I could become a better leader. When it comes to my play style, dissecting defense. Being able to be comfortable with what I see.

5. CJ Carr (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)

Although Notre Dame came up just shy of a College Football Playoff appearance, quarterback CJ Carr delivered an extremely impressive freshman campaign. Carr passed for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns with just six interceptions across 12 games. In the Irish’s two losses (No. 10 Miami and No. 16 Texas A&M), Carr totaled 514 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock told Blue and Gold last season. “It’s easy to forget he’s a first-year starter, and there’s going to be times where it doesn’t look like clockwork as much because he’s made it look like clockwork 90% of the time that he’s been out there,” “I can’t get frustrated, and we can’t get frustrated, and we have to allow him to fail, so he can learn more.

6. Josh Hoover (Indiana)

Josh Hoover has the extremely difficult task of succeeding a Heisman-winning quarterback at Indiana. Hoover has spent the past four seasons at TCU, serving in the starting role over the past three. Across 36 career games, the Heath, Tex., native boasts 9,629 passing yards and 71 touchdowns with just 33 interceptions.

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Hoover said when asked if he’s had any conversations with Mendoza. “I have a lot of respect for him as a player. He seems like a great guy. He’s done tremendous things this past season and I know he will in the future. He’s an unbelievable guy.

7. Jayden Maiava (USC)

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava returns as the longest tenured quarterback on this list. Maiava took over the starting role at USC near the end of the 2024 season and commanded that role. Across two seasons in Southern California, the Palolo, HI native has passed for 4,912 yards and 35 touchdowns with just 16 interceptions.

Riley said. “Just watching him, the player this last year vs. what he was two years ago. It’s almost like watching two completely different people. I just feel like this guy’s got a huge ceiling. I feel like he can make another jump, just like that. He was already one of the best quarterbacks in the country this year.

8. Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

Fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance, you knew Texas Tech was going to spend big to bring in a premier quarterback this offseason via the Transfer Portal. The Red Raiders brought in Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had spent the past two seasons as the Bearcats’ starting QB. In that span, Sorsby passed for 5,613 yards and 45 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell said about bringing in Sorsby. “It’s interesting in the portal, and I’ve been pretty directly involved with now three portal cycles, and there is a supply and demand factor at each position. For instance, this year, there are a lot of receivers in the portal. So, receivers didn’t bring as much money as even offensive linemen in some cases because there weren’t as many offensive linemen. This year, there were only a few elite quarterbacks that were available.

9. Sam Leavitt (LSU)

The first starting quarterback of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU is expected to be Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt. Leavitt was banged up , but led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. Across two seasons as ASU’s starter, Leavitt totaled 4,513 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He was tabbed as the No.

ESPN’s Greg McElroy said. “Lane Kiffin offenses, historically, are going to be driven by quarterback play, not just in volume, but in the way they can put stress on the opposing defense,” “Sam Leavitt’s mobility and creativity matter because modern defenses are built to kind of suffocate structure.

10. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss Rebels)

Following a prolonged legal battle, Trinidad Chambliss is now on a path to return to Ole Miss for his second season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback. He passed for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions last season. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight more scores. Chambliss passed for at least 300 yards in eight games and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

Chambliss said following Ole Miss‘ loss to Miami in the CFP Semifinal. “It’s been a great ride. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other people. Whether it’s coaches, players, people in the offices. It was just a great ride.

Quarterback Rankings and Tiers

For this exercise, we surveyed more than 40 coaches and staffers from across college football, soliciting their opinions on the quarterbacks they faced, how the QBs in their conference stack up and who the best in the country are. We relied heavily on this feedback to form the list. There was no formal point system or vote tally. We simply leaned on coaches for their expertise. The rankings and tiers are based on a combination of coaches’ perspectives, the players’ physical abilities and traits, career accomplishments to date and a projection of what may hold for them. We ranked the quarterbacks based on how they stack up at the college level, not what their NFL Draft projection will be. The quarterbacks are also ranked by conference and by their status: returning starter, transfer or new starter.

Tier 1 Quarterbacks

The lack of consensus on a clear-cut No. 1 underscored the unique quarterback year this is in college football. There’s no alpha. Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers and DJ Lagway all got No. 1 votes. But Klubnik received the most love from opposing coaches because he checks every box.

Cade Klubnik (Clemson Tigers)

A Power 4 head coach said. “He’s really solid everywhere,” “Good, accurate passer, good size, can run. … I don’t know if he’s elite at any trait, but I don’t think he has any weaknesses.”

Klubnik, a former five-star recruit, increased his production , cut down his interception rate and got Clemson back to the College Football Playoff.

A Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “I was a Cade Klubnik hater,” “He balled out last year. I was impressed with him.”

The Tigers are a trendy pick to go deep into the CFP , and Klubnik is a big reason why. Since enrolling at Clemson, Klubnik has made noticeable improvements each season and has put himself in position to be an early-round prospect in the NFL Draft. I was particularly impressed with his ability to adjust his platform and deliver with touch. He is still guilty of the occasional panic moment when he feels pressure, but Klubnik is a good-sized athlete and is becoming more and more consistent as a passer.

Garrett Nussmeier (LSU Tigers)

Nussmeier waited three years on the bench for his chance to be QB1 at LSU, but when his time arrived, he dazzled. He’s the only returning starter in the FBS who threw for 4,000-plus yards last season. His ability to laser the ball to any part of the field has won a lot of admirers.

A Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “I was up and down on him, then I watched him play (up close) and I was like ‘This f-’s pretty good,’” “He can make some great go-ball throws.”

His footwork and ability to navigate pressure, climb the pocket and still deliver the ball accurately and on time is one of Nussmeier’s best traits. He’s not immune to a head-scratching decision, and he’ll have to work through that, but he plays winning football.

An SEC assistant said. “Garrett Nussmeier’s a baller, dude.”

Nussmeier had overaggressive moments in his first season as a starter last year and needs to take better care of the football. But NFL scouts love his command of the offense and his translatable skill set. He makes pre-snap checks, quickly gets through his reads, navigates around muddy pockets and anticipates passing windows. With a former quarterback and current NFL offensive coordinator for a father (Doug Nussmeier), there isn’t much mystery how he developed his feel and football IQ for the position.

LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina Gamecocks)

Imagine you’re an SEC defensive lineman or linebacker. You have a free, clean shot at the quarterback with no blockers, no impediments between you and the target. It’s a sack, right? Not if it’s Sellers. It may instead turn into a 40-yard gain. South Carolina’s breakout star is a tank. He’s raw as a passer, but he put up respectable numbers in his first year as a starter. But his playmaking ability, even in the toughest of circumstances, is otherworldly.

A former SEC assistant said. “He’s like the size of a defensive end in that league,” “So when he decides to tuck the ball and run with it, he’s a bad matchup for people.”

Other schools thought highly of Sellers; one reportedly offered him a two-year deal for $8 million that he turned down, according to his father. This sounds hyperbolic, but Sellers might be the strongest quarterback I have ever evaluated. He isn’t a one-dimensional quarterback by any means, but his superpower is the way he creates conflict for defenses with the ball in his hands, shrugging off contact and making tacklers miss. Hopefully we see more A-to-B-to-C passing reads in the Gamecocks offense because the raw talent is there for Sellers to compete for QB1 status.

John Mateer (Oklahoma Sooners)

If you didn’t stay up late last season or tune into the CW, you might have missed one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country. The Washington State transfer accounted for nearly 4,000 combined passing and rushing yards and 44 touchdowns. He followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma, so the system continuity will benefit him and the Sooners. His speed and elusiveness jump off the tape, but he’s no slouch as a passer. Coaches we spoke with were nearly universal in their praise, and expectations are high for Mateer, even as he steps into the rugged SEC.

A Power 4 personnel director said. “He has some Baker Mayfield to his game,” “He can throw off-platform and run around back there if he needs to, but he still has really good arm talent. He’s not hesitant to throw it in tight windows.”

Mobility and moxie - Mateer has an excess of both in his game. He was a lot of fun to watch in the Washington State offense, and it will be interesting to see how he does (with the same offensive coordinator) vs. SEC competition in Norman . With his athleticism and toughness, Mateer is a true dual-threat weapon who can also rip strikes down the field.

DJ Lagway (Florida Gators)

The No. 1 QB in the recruiting class according to On3, Lagway opened eyes immediately last season, throwing for a Florida freshman record 456 yards in his first start. He started the second half of the season, and though he made his share of freshman mistakes, he showed why he was so highly regarded, capping the year with a 300-yard performance and bowl game MVP honors. He displayed elite arm talent, good mobility and poise beyond that of a typical true freshman. His size and strength helped him keep plays alive. With Lagway behind center, the future is bright in Gainesville.

A Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “If I’m starting a team right now, I’m probably taking DJ Lagway as my quarterback,”

Drew Allar (Penn State Nittany Lions)

Allar is a polarizing player. There are very credible NFL Draft analysts who view him as a potential top-five pick. Other observers are less enthusiastic: “He’s timid. He gets freaked out by pressure,” a Power 4 personnel director said. “Now, he is athletic. He can run. I know people probably make the Josh Allen comparison. I don’t think he’s that athletic, but he’s a moose. I think he’s just OK.”

The truth is not many quarterbacks possess Allar’s physical tools - the size, the great arm, the athleticism. He’s also experienced and will be surrounded by a good supporting cast and strong play caller (OC Andy Kotelnicki). Folks have soured on the former five-star because he’s been underwhelming in nearly every big game he’s started. A big athlete with a big arm, Allar checks a lot of the physical boxes for the next level. As a passer, he efficiently reads left-to-right and delivers with anticipation, although his ball placement must become more consistent . If Allar takes another jump in his development like he did last year (in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki), he could be in the mix for QB1 next April.

Sam Leavitt (Arizona State Sun Devils)

Coach Kenny Dillingham has quickly built a strong reputation for QB development. Leavitt is well on his way to becoming the latest success story. Leavitt rapidly progressed from first-time starter into the Big 12’s best quarterback by season’s end. He’s a fluid athlete who relied on that athleticism and his legs early on until he found his groove as a passer in the second half of the year. Once he did, Arizona State’s offense took off on its way to a Big 12 title and CFP appearance. Running back Cam Skattebo, the Sun Devils’ heartbeat, is gone, so Leavitt will be relied upon more, but he showed in the second half of last year he’s ready for that sort of responsibility.

“Super smart, really good processor, has traits, a real arm. He’s gonna be a stud. With his athletic instincts and steady heartbeat, Leavitt does an outstanding job navigating the chaos and finding answers. Scouts want to see him improve his timing and overall process as a passer before he is ready to face NFL defenses, but his abilities to create and take care of the football are why evaluators are optimistic about his football future.

Kevin Jennings (SMU Mustangs)

The lasting impression of Jennings at the end of - throwing three interceptions, including two pick sixes, in a CFP first-round loss at Penn State - is hard to shake. But coaches didn’t let that cloud their judgment about his talent and body of work, when he went 9-2 as SMU’s starter last year. Jennings has the arm strength to get the ball to every part of the field and is elite at creating off schedule. He needs to trim his interception total, but most of those occurred in two games (Penn State and Duke).

A Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “The kid’s a baller, a gamer, he gets it done,” “It doesn’t always look the prettiest. He’s a little herky-jerky as a thrower. He’s rail thin. But he wins games and is a great leader. Jennings is too small to be considered a high-tier draft prospect, but he’s a great, twitched-up athlete, both in the pocket and on the move, who is capable of escaping backfield trouble with ease. Though most of his best stuff comes off-script, it’s all very hard for defenses to deal with, as Jennings’ arm talent and physical explosion allow him to take full advantage of Rhett Lashlee’s veer-and-shoot-inspired attack.

Josh Hoover (TCU Horned Frogs)

If you’re looking for a traditional passer who can pick a defense apart from the pocket, Hoover fits the bill.

A Big 12 coordinator said. “He’s the most natural thrower in our league,”

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