Best Returning Quarterbacks for 2022
by Charlie Krausse April 14, 2022
@coachcrewshow
@coachcrewshow
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
This year is just stocked and loaded with returning quarterbacks. Plain and simple. Predicting who wins between two opponents might be as simple as “who is at the helm” for each school. The 2022 season has a chance to produce some of the highest results in the history of college football. Bold statement, Cotton, but something that could be realistic. Which, in turn, could lead to one of the heaviest first rounds in NFL history from the volume of quarterbacks selected.
This article will scratch that surface. Who are some of the best of the best returning? What qualifies each as ‘one of the best’?
For starters, here are some household names who did NOT make the cut and where each ended up after entering the transfer portal: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina; Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh; Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma; Bo Nix, Oregon; and Grant Wells, Virginia Tech. Furthermore, here are some returning QBs who will still remain heavy impact players for their schools: Jake Haener, Fresno State; Seth Henigan, Memphis; Taulia Tagovalioa, Maryland; Devin Leary, North Carolina State; and Malik Cunningham, Louisville.
Each quarterback received a score based on a few factors and stats earned from the previous season. Components included Quarterback’s Rating + Completion Percentage + Yardage per Attempt + Touchdown + our friends at PFF, their rating.
Here are the Top 10 Returning Quarterbacks in 2022:
This article will scratch that surface. Who are some of the best of the best returning? What qualifies each as ‘one of the best’?
For starters, here are some household names who did NOT make the cut and where each ended up after entering the transfer portal: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina; Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh; Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma; Bo Nix, Oregon; and Grant Wells, Virginia Tech. Furthermore, here are some returning QBs who will still remain heavy impact players for their schools: Jake Haener, Fresno State; Seth Henigan, Memphis; Taulia Tagovalioa, Maryland; Devin Leary, North Carolina State; and Malik Cunningham, Louisville.
Each quarterback received a score based on a few factors and stats earned from the previous season. Components included Quarterback’s Rating + Completion Percentage + Yardage per Attempt + Touchdown + our friends at PFF, their rating.
Here are the Top 10 Returning Quarterbacks in 2022:
- Bryce Young, Alabama – Your 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner returns leading the Crimson Tide. In 2021, Young threw for 47 TDs and for over 4,800 yards. His PFF rating was number one at 92.2, while his quarterback rating ranked him 3rd out of all returners.
- C.J. Stroud, Ohio State – Stroud had an outstanding 2021 campaign that saw the quarterback lead his squad to one of the best bowl games in 2021, a Rose Bowl victory over Utah. Stroud tied Young as two of the highest rated quarterbacks based on PFF’s rating system last year, was 2nd in the nation in quarterback efficiency and completed over 71% of all throws.
- Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina – The Chanticleers- golden mullet led the nation in quarterback efficiency setting the NCAA record with a 207.65 rating. He was listed as a Top 5 quarterback based on PFF and completed 73% of his passes. The only question regarding McCall is will he have fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery at the same levels from his 2021 campaign.
- Aidan O’Connell, Purdue – Possibly a surprise to some, Boilermaker faithful are drinking his kool-aid. Initially in a battle with Jack Plummer, O’Connell took control of the helm in 2021 and did not look back – finishing completing over 71% of all passes for 3700 yards and 28 TDs. Additionally, finishing in the Top 10 in both QB Efficiency and PFF Rating.
- Tanner Mordecai, SMU – Those who watched the Mustangs in 2021 know what Mordecai can produce. Instant offense, just add water. Mordecai threw for 39 TDs and over 3600 yards of offense last year. As well as, finishing in both the Top 10 in QB Efficiency and PFF Rating.
- Brennan Armstrong, Virginia – The Cavaliers have themselves a true gem in Armstrong returning. As long as the southpaw is on the field, Virginia will be in every game this season. Last year, Armstrong was one of the nation’s best rated by PFF and finished the year with over 4800 yards and 47 TDs.
- Caleb Williams, USC – One of the more interesting stories last year was Freshman QB, Caleb Williams. His spark surged Oklahoma. Then, he followed his coach and is now left coast bound in USC. Williams, in less than a full season, threw for over 1900 yards and 19 TDs. With a full year expected, these numbers will only rise in 2022.
- Sam Hartman, Wake Forest – One of the best stories of 2021 came from Winston-Salem as the Wake Forest Demon Decons played for the ACC Championship before winning the Gator Bowl. Harman, was a major factor in their offensive surge, having one of the best PFF Ratings in the nation and throwing for over 4200 yards and 39 TDs. If there was one area he could improve in 2022, Hartman only completed just less than 59% of all passes last season.
- Tyler Van Dyke, Miami, Fl – Threw the ups and downs of the D’Eriq King injuries arose Tyler Van Dyke. Van Dyke is the future and the now for the Hurricanes. Completing over 62% of all passes with a 160 QB Efficiency Rating, the position is fully Van Dyke’s for 2022.
- Will Rogers, Mississippi State – When you play for a self-titled Pirate and he is one of your professors, you can not make a QB list without putting on a Mike Leach quarterback. Rogers was on of the nation’s best completing a NCAA best 73.9% of all passes for over 4700 yards and 36 TDs.
image courtesy of Alabama Football