Projecting a real freshman sign caller’s fast affect is hardly a precise science however contemplating various elements like previous efficiency, positional depth, scheme match and program stability will help us point out which first-year quarterbacks are prepared to listen to their quantity referred to as on Saturdays sooner reasonably than later.
Final 12 months’s crop of 14 Class of 2023 Top247-ranked quarterbacks yielded a modest 11 mixed begins and 53 video games performed in 2023 because the likes of Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee), Dante Moore (UCLA), Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma), Jaden Rashada (Arizona State), and Avery Johnson (Kansas State) all began in not less than one recreation final season.
Though there is not any scarcity of title recognition with reference to final 12 months’s heralded group of passers, it is not at all times the highest-ranked prospects who take advantage of well timed affect as exemplified by two of the nation’s most under-the-radar freshmen in 2023 in Virginia’s Anthony Colandrea and Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor, who emerged as school soccer’s two best first-year quarterbacks final season. Ranked as a three-star and the No. 45 QB within the nation by 247Sports popping out of Lakewood Excessive Faculty in Saint Petersburg (Fla.), Colandrea began six video games for the Cavaliers in his rookie season, eclipsing over 300-yards passing in two of his six begins whereas additionally serving to Virginia to an upset victory over Duke. Colandrea headlined the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Staff in 2023.
An unranked prospect from East Forsyth Excessive Faculty in North Carolina, Raynor earned his first begin of 2023 for the Purple Wolves in week 4 in opposition to Southern Miss, main his workforce to a excessive scoring 44-37 victory in opposition to the Golden Eagles. Raynor grew to become the primary true freshman quarterback to begin for this system since 2001 and the one one to steer a program to a victory in his first profession begin. The Solar Belt Convention Freshman of the Yr began double digit video games as a real freshman.
With the qualifiers out of the best way, this is how we rank 5 marquee true freshmen quarterbacks by chance of seeing severe enjoying time in 2024.
UNLIKELY, BUT CRAZIER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
5. Walker White, Auburn (No. 5 QB, No. 41 general)
The Tigers will return some expertise on the quarterback place this season as Payton Thorne gears up for an additional go on the Plains, together with Hank Brown and Holden Geriner as 12 months two of the Hugh Freeze period approaches with extra expectations hooked up.
At 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds, White has the power to present Freeze and Auburn followers a style of what the longer term may maintain together with his mixture of uncooked athleticism as a runner and NFL-caliber arm expertise. Though he’ll want some refinement within the passing recreation and greater than seemingly a 12 months or two to develop, Freeze and the Tigers may choose to get the proficient true freshman acquainted rapidly by using him situationally within the operating and quick yardage conditions.
Corresponding to Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis with regard to physique, athletic upside and arm expertise, count on White to change into a family title in scouting circles in a short time as he possesses all of the bodily traits sought out within the quarterback place.
DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T WARN YOU
4. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (No. 3 QB, No. 20 general)
Ohio State has arguably essentially the most attention-grabbing quarterback room within the nation because the Buckeyes undoubtedly possess the expertise to compete for a nationwide championship in what will likely be a vital seventh season for Ryan Day in Columbus.
A former Alabama signee, Sayin entered the portal solely 9 days after he enrolled at school in Tuscaloosa, opting to swimsuit up for Day and the Buckeyes put up Nick Saban’s departure from the Crimson Tide. Though the trail to the sphere is not tremendous clear with Kansas State switch Will Howard the presumed began and former high recruit Devin Brown additionally within the room, there are some query marks, particularly after a spring interval that didn’t see Howard mild the world on hearth.
Arguably essentially the most polished passer in a trio of quarterbacks to be named five-stars final cycle, it is simple to see why Sayin may excel early in a Chip Kelly offense that gives among the best supporting casts within the nation. A well timed passer that operates with no scarcity of pocket maturity, do not be stunned if we see the California native on the massive stage before we predict. Given the strain dealing with Day, we may see him turning to Sayin on the first signal of bother. It is as much as Howard, and Brown to an extent, to maintain the true freshman at bay.
PROBABLY NOT, BUT MAYBE
3. Demond Williams, Washington (No. 19 QB)
Though he would at present need to unseat switch quarterback Will Rogers from the beginning job, the previous four-star sign caller could possibly be in place to see his justifiable share of enjoying time in Seattle this season as Jedd Fisch and the Huskies attempt to substitute Michael Penix Jr. and navigate a large roster turnover amid their first 12 months within the Huge Ten. Convincing Williams to switch from Arizona to Washington after a couple of weeks in Tucson was a giant, albeit unsurprising, roster growth for Fisch.
Shortly incomes a repute as an undersized playmaking level guard that performs the sport with elite command, Williams has drawn comparisons to former Fisch pupil and present Arizona sign caller Noah Fifita with regard to each his stature and playstyle.
At the moment listed at 5-foot-11 and 185-pounds, Williams too performs lots larger than his measurement, exhibiting a knack for maximizing recreation altering alternatives each by means of the air and on the bottom as he rushed for 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Basha Excessive Faculty in Arizona.
Also known as a “gamer” due to his aggressive nature and lack of top, Williams affords first 12 months Huskies Head Coach Jedd Fisch an attention-grabbing off-ramp to construct in the direction of the longer term if the primary half of Washington’s convention schedule proves to be too daunting.
MORE LIKELY THAN NOT
2. DJ Lagway, Florida (No. 1 QB, No. 3 general)
On paper, Billy Napier and the Gators seem like in a really snug place on the quarterback spot as Graham Mertz and his wealth of expertise return to Gainesville with hopes to construct on an encouraging first 12 months within the Swamp. That being mentioned, Lagway is just too gifted to and too vital to Napier’s future to maintain off the sphere as he enters the fray and what’s thought-about to be a make-or-break season for the Gators.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and north of 240 kilos on Florida’s spring roster, Lagway is coming off a senior season at Willis Excessive Faculty the place he set the Texas Class 6A single-season document for landing passes all whereas main this system to its greatest document in over 60 years and their first journey to the regional semifinals in virtually three many years. A confirmed winner, it is not solely the true freshman’s intangibles that ought to be famous however his dual-threat capabilities too that ought to enable Napier and his workers the creativity to make use of the five-star sign caller in a means that ought to remind most Florida followers of the Anthony Richardson period.
LIKELY – AND MAY EVEN START GAME 1
1. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska (No. 2 QB, No. 7 general)
It seems increasingly seemingly that former five-star and Nebraska legacy Dylan Raiola may emerge as Matt Rhule’s beginning quarterback this fall after placing collectively a formidable spring marketing campaign. Should you’re Rhule and Nebraska followers alike, you are in all probability asking yourselves the identical query: Why not begin the proficient freshman?
Raiola will step into an attention-grabbing scenario in his first season as hopes to kickstart a program looking for the postseason bowl bid since 2016, to not point out attempting to revitalize one among school soccer’s worst passing offenses final season. It is a tough activity however one definitely ripe with alternatives for a younger, proficient signal-caller because the Cornhuskers will host 5 of their first six opponents at residence in Lincoln, two of which embody video games in opposition to UTEP and Northern Iowa.
An enormous framed passer at 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds, Raiola’s sturdy body and physicality are undoubtedly prepared for the pains of school soccer however there is not any reply till the opener as as to whether the Cornhuskers have sufficient safety and playmaking to ease his transition into the collegiate ranks.
Prepared or not, count on a heavy dose of Dylan Raiola this season in Lincoln.
