The 2022 NFL quarterback class was not as highly-touted as some may have wished. The 2021 class had five quarterbacks go in the first round, whereas Kenny Pickett was the lone quarterback in the past draft to go in the first round. With a lot of stacked talent finishing their last year of collegiate football, next year's draft is shaping up to inject the NFL with a new generation of talent. Here are the top 15 college quarterbacks going into next season.
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Best College Quarterbacks in 2022
15.) Aidan O’Connell - Purdue
2021 Stats: 315-440 (71.6%), 3,712 Yards, 28 TD, 11 INT
Aidan O'Connell began his college football career as a walk-on at Purdue in 2o17. In 2021, he was slated as the backup on the depth chart to Jake Plummer. O'Connell was able to take that starting role, and he did not let it go to waste. He put up nearly 4,000 yards and helped lead Purdue to the Music City Bowl. O'Connell elected to return to Purdue for one more season instead of declaring for last years draft.
14.) Cameron Rising - Utah
2021 Stats: 204-320 (63.8%), 2,493 Yards, 20 TD, 5 INT
Cameron Rising had some elite level accuracy for Utah last season finishing with a 84.2 QBR, which would put him in the top 10 in the country for that stat. He helped lead Utah to a Rose Bowl game against Ohio State where he ripped off a 62 yard touchdown run. With the right type of development, Cameron could be rising on draft boards across the NFL.
13.) Spencer Rattler - South Carolina
2021 Stats: 140-187 (74.9%), 1,483 Yards, 11 TD, 5 INT
There were no higher ranked quarterbacks than Spencer Rattler in the class of 2019. After a disappointing season at Oklahoma that saw him losing the starting spot, he is transferring to South Carolina. In his four years of high school football Rattler broke the Arizona passing record with over 11,000 yards. Rattler has been known to have a fiery attitude, so hopefully this change of scenery will do him well.
12.) Jake Haener - Fresno State
2021 Stats: 329-490 (67.1%), 4,096 Yards, 33 TD, 9 INT
Jake Haener originally committed to Washington, but after only seeing the field in four games he transferred to Fresno State. Haener only saw six games in 2021 for Fresno State, but suited up for 13 games last season. With the increase of playing time we've got a clearer picture of the type of production Haener is capable of producing. Haener nearly transferred again this summer but ultimately decided to stay at Fresno State.
11.) Kedon Slovis - Pittsburgh
2021 Stats: 193-297 (65%), 2,153 Yards, 11 TD, 8 INT
Kedon Slovis collegiate career has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least. In 2019 he was the backup to J.T. Daniels but stepped into the starting role after a season ending injury. He set a freshman record of 3,502 yards and 30 TDs. His 71.8% completion rate was also a freshman record. In his junior year that production saw a steep decline, as we would finish with 11 TD's and 8 INT's. Slovis is hoping to rejuvenate his football journey with a transfer to Pitt next season.
10.) Hendon Hooker - Tennessee
2021 Stats: 206-301 (68.2%), 2,945 Yards, 31 TD, 3 INT
Hendon Hooker began his collegiate football career at Virginia Tech. From 2017-2020 he only saw the field for 15 games but put up an impressive 22 TD to 7 INT ratio. He transferred to Tennessee in 2021 and soon became the starter. Hooker shows elite efficiency posting a completion rate above 65%. I expect Hooker to make a lot of noise this upcoming season.
9.) Brennan Armstrong - Virginia
2021 Stats: 326-500 (65.2%), 4,449 Yards, 31 TD, 10 INT
This past season gave us the first chance to see what Brennan Armstrong could do as a starting quarterback. After seeing the field in only 17 games his first three seasons, Armstrong started in 11 games in 2021. He was awarded the Dudley Award, which is given to the best college quarterback in the state of Virginia. Passing for nearly 4,500 yards last year put Armstrong top 5 in the country for total yards. If he can keep the production up, Brennan Armstrong may be in the NFL very soon.
8.) Dillon Gabriel - Oklahoma
2021 Stats: 70-102 (68.6%), 814 Yards, 9 TD, 3 INT
Gabriel initially played collegiate football at the University of Central Florida. He took over the starting role in 2019 and compiled a 10-3 record with a win over Marshall in the Gasparilla Bowl. Gabriel suffered a broken clavicle at the end of last season but didn't require surgery. Originally slated to transfer to UCLA, he ultimately is taking his talents to Oklahoma. It should be interesting to see if Dillon Gabriel can bring Oklahoma back to prominence.
7.) Grayson McCall - Coastal Carolina
2021 Stats: 176-241 (73%), 2,874 Yards, 27 TD, 3 INT
Grayson McCall burst into college football fame when he led Coastal Carolina to back-to-back eleven win seasons. Last season he broke the FBS record for quarterback rating, boasting a 207.6. McCall was named Sun Belt Conference player of the year in 2020 and was named to their First-team. Coastal Carolina peaked at a top 12 ranking, so there's no telling what this team is capable of this season.
6.) Devin Leary - NC State
2021 Stats: 283-431 (65.7%), 3,433 Yards, 35 TD, 5 INT
Devin Leary gears up for his fourth year playing quarterback at NC State. Last season he was coming off a broken fibula and was able to put up stunning efficiency. Completing 65% of his passes and touting a 35 TD to 5 INT ratio puts him in elite company atop college footballs best. Fully healthy and coming off the success of last season, Leary is on an upward trajectory to have a great year.
5.) Sam Hartman - Wake Forest
2021 Stats: 299-508 (58.9 %), 4,228 Yards, 39 TD, 14 INT
Sam Hartman will be entering his fifth year playing for Wake Forest. Last season he racked up 39 TD passes, good enough for 5th in the entire country. He was named to the All-ACC team last season after leading Wake Forest to an 8-0 start. If Hartman can find a way to improve his accuracy, there could be some big honors coming his way this season.
4.) Tyler Van Dyke - Miami
2021 Stats: 202-324 (62.3%), 2,931 Yards, 25 TD, 6 INT
Tyler Van Dyke took over the starting quarterback position at the University of Miami after D'Eriq King suffered a season ending injury. Van Dyke proved to play a high-IQ brand of football, not throwing a single interception in 4 of his last 6 games last season. Van Dyke currently has the fourth best odds of winning the Heisman award according to Vegas.
3.) Caleb Williams - USC
2021 Stats: 136-211 (64.5%), 1,912 Yards, 21 TD, 4 INT
Caleb Williams stepped in as the started for Oklahoma after a disappointing start for Spencer Rattler. Williams put up terrific numbers in 11 games, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and over 20 touchdowns. He transferred to USC this season where he will play under Lincoln Riley. It's not crazy to think that Williams could be hoisting the Heisman at the end of this season.
2.) C.J. Stroud - Ohio State
2021 Stats: 317-441 (71.9%), 4,435 Yards, 44 TD, 6 INT
C.J. Stroud led Ohio State to the top offense in the country last season. Stroud leads the favorites as next seasons Heisman winner with +250 odds. He helped Ohio State win the Rose Bowl last year, and it's safe to say they are favorites to make the College Football Playoffs this upcoming season. If Stroud can keep his efficiency up and Ohio State can keep winning, he may be lifting the Heisman trophy when it's all said and done.
1.) Bryce Young - Alabama
2021 Stats: 366-547 (66.9%), 4,872 Yards, 47 TD, 7 INT
Bryce Young is looking to become the first person in 47 years, and second person ever, to win the Heisman award twice. He was dazzling for Alabama last season throwing nearly 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards. Bama came one win short of winning another national championship with a loss to Georgia, so there is still plenty of unfinished business for Bryce Young and Alabama next year.