By: Brandon Carr
I have been seeing a lot of discussion amongst the people of the football community. The discussion has been about, who the best college quarterback of the last decade is. This has led to a lot of great discussions and I wanted to get in on this. Instead of choosing one I wanted to go an extra step forward and give my top 5 list. There will not be any current collegiate quarterbacks on this list (aka Trevor Lawrence).
We won’t be looking at these quarterbacks in terms of how highly touted of a prospect they were, but what will determine their ranking on my list is how successful they were at the college level, how long they sustained their success, and what did they accomplish during their tenure. Spoiler alert there will be no Joe Burrow or Cam Newton on this list because yes they were dominant but they were dominant for one season. If we were talking about single greatest seasons, both of these guys would be number 1 and number 2 on that list.
With that being said, without further ado, here are my top 5 college quarterbacks in the last 10 years….
5.) Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)
Redshirt Freshman Year: 13 games 295/434=68% 3,706 passing yards 26 passing touchdowns 9 interceptions 201 rushing attempts 1,410 rushing yards 21 rushing touchdowns (11-2 record)
Redshirt Sophomore Year: 13 games 300/429=69.9% 4,114 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 144 rushing attempts, 759 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns (8-4 record)
CAREER: 26 games 595/863=68.9% 7,820 passing yards, 63 passing touchdowns, 22 interceptions, 2,169 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns (19-6 record)
Awards: 2x First Team All-SEC (2012 and 2013), Consensus All-American (2012), Heisman Trophy Winner (2012), Heisman Trophy Finalist (2013), Davey O’Brien Award (Best QB in college football 2012), Manning Award (Best QB in the United States 2012), AP Player Of The Year (2012), SEC Offensive Player Of The Year (2012) Cotton Bowl Winner (2012) and Chick-fil-A Bowl Winner (2013)
Johnny Football might have not exactly panned out at the NFL level when he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but there is no doubt about it that Manziel put together a great two year stretch with the Aggies in 2012 and 2013.
You can argue that Manziel may have had one of the greatest freshman seasons by any college quarterback of all time. He is the only freshman to ever win the Heisman trophy and has the most rushing yards by a freshman quarterback along with the most offensive yards by a freshman quarterback in NCAA history. Manziel followed up that freshman season with his best passing season where he threw for 37 touchdowns which were the most in a season all-time by an Aggies quarterback. Manziel was a true dual-threat that was never considered the biggest player on the field, but he proved to be so dominant against SEC level competition which shows how good he was. Manziel made so many plays at the college level where you sat and wondered how he was able to escape and make that throw. Just look up his college highlights and you will see what I mean, he was the definition of a playmaker.
If he had won a national championship Manziel would have a strong chance to be the top quarterback on this list, but he was so good in his only two seasons of starting which warrants him inclusion on this list. He has always been the underdog and it was unfortunate to see his career go in the wrong direction, but he will go down as one of the best college quarterbacks we have seen this decade.
4.) Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
Freshman Year: 11 games 135/247=54.7% 1,840 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 163 rushing attempts, 960 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns (6-2 record)
Sophomore Year: 13 games 230/408=56.2% 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 260 rushing attempts, 1,571 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns (9-4 record)
Junior Year: 13 games 254/430=59.1% 3,660 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 232 rushing attempts, 1,601 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns (8-5 record)
CAREER: 38 games 619/1086=57% 9,043 passing yards, 69 passing touchdowns, 27 interceptions, 655 rushing attempts, 4,132 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns (23-11 Record)
Awards: 2x ACC Player Of The Year (2016 and 2017), 2x ACC Offensive Player Of The Year (2016 and 2017) Unanimous All American (2016), Heisman Trophy Winner (2016), Heisman Trophy Finalist (2017), AP Player Of The Year (2016), Maxwell Award (2016), Walter Camp Award (2016)
Before Lamar Jackson was tearing it up in the NFL by winning the MVP award and breaking multiple records, he was doing similar things at the college level. Jackson out of everyone on this list in my opinion is the most electrifying. Jackson’s mobility and athleticism sets himself apart from many college quarterbacks who have come before and after him. If you want to know how good Jackson is, he set 42 school records at Louisville….42!!! He only did that in 3 seasons, imagine if Jackson played his senior year, we could be talking about even more records that he could’ve broken.
Jackson may have never taken Louisville to the college football playoffs, but he was able to carry them to three straight bowl games which is impressive in its own right considering he wasn’t working with a lot at his time spent there. For the people who said that he couldn’t play quarterback in the pre-draft process are ludicrous considering what he accomplished with so little to work with. Jackson is another guy who made so many highlight worthy plays because he was just more athletic and faster than anyone on the field. Jackson is well-deserving in being this discussion and he will slot in as my 4th best quarterback of the decade.
3.) Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
*With these stats, we’re going to exclude his 2013 season with Texas Tech*
Redshirt Sophomore Year: 269/395=68.1% 3,700 passing yards 36 passing touchdowns 7 interceptions 141 rushing attempts 405 rushing yards 7 rushing touchdowns (11-2 record)
Redshirt Junior Year: 254/358=70.9% 3,965 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 78 rushing attempts, 177 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns (11-2 record)
Redshirt Senior Year: 285/404=70.5% 4,627 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 97 rushing attempts, 311 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns (12-2 record)
CAREER (Oklahoma): 808/1,157=69.8% 12,292 passing yards, 119 passing touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 316 rushing attempts, 893 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns (39-6 record)
Awards: Big-12 Offensive Freshman Of The Year (2013 at Texas Tech), 3x First Team All Big-12 (2015-2017), 2x First Team All American (2015 and 2017), 2x Big 12 Offensive Player Of The Year (2015 and 2017), AP Press Player Of The Year (2017), Heisman Trophy Winner (2017) Davey O’Brien Award (2017), Maxwell Award (2017 Best College Player), Walter Camp Award (2017 Best American College Player)
Baker Mayfield had the longest college career out of any player on this list but he made the most of it. Mayfield after being a walk-on at Texas Tech transferred to Oklahoma. After the NCAA ruled him ineligible in 2014, he opened up the 2015 season as the Sooners starting quarterback and the rest was history.
Mayfield’s first season as the starter under then-head coach Bob Stoops and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, saw him put his name on the map. He went on to have a successful first season and followed it up with two more successful seasons as the Sooners starting quarterback. Mayfield has the most touchdowns all-time at Oklahoma and considering there have been quarterbacks like Sam Bradford and Landry Jones at Oklahoma it shows how dominant Mayfield was in those three years.
Mayfield could be higher on this list but he couldn’t take Oklahoma to that next level to be in the national championship picture. Mayfield in his time at Oklahoma has played in 3 bowl games but only won 1 out of the 3 games. Mayfield in his three bowl games has totaled 894 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, along with a 65.7% completion percentage. It didn’t help that the Sooners defense didn’t perform well enough in those games but at the same time, Mayfield could’ve played better in those losses to win those games.
Mayfield’s long sustained success that he had in his college career earns him a spot on this list as Oklahoma’s second-leading passing leader in school history.
2.) Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
Freshman Year: 13 games 230/336=68.5% 2,677 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 106 rushing attempts, 752 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns (12-1 Record)
Sophomore Year: 13 games 245/386= 63.5% 3,665 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 96 rushing attempts, 715 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns (11-2 Record)
Junior Year: 15 games 304/445=68.3% 4,454 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 135 rushing attempts, 770 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns (13-2 Record)
CAREER: 779/1167=66.8% 10,796 passing yards, 105 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 337 rushing attempts, 2,237 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns (36-5 record)
Awards: 3x First Team All PAC-12 (2012-2014), PAC-12 Offensive Freshman Of The Year (2012), Unanimous All-American (2014), PAC-12 Offensive Player Of The Year (2014), Heisman Trophy Winner (2014), Davey O’Brien Award (2014), Manning Award (2014), Maxwell Award (2014), Walter Camp Award (2014), AP Player Of The Year (2014), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (2014)
What Marcus Mariota accomplished in his time at Oregon was nothing short of spectacular. Mariota holds virtually every passing record at Oregon and what he was able to do with really no NFL talent at his disposal was incredible. Mariota is a true dual-threat quarterback who excelled as a passer. Every single season of his college career Mariota improved, he didn’t get worse and dominated in his 3 seasons as the Oregon Ducks starter.
What unfortunately eluded Mariota from going down as the best college quarterback of this decade was a national championship victory. His team fell short against Ohio State in the 2015 National Championship game. That still doesn’t take anything away from what Mariota did in his career. You could say he was a product of the spread system but at the end of the day what he did isn’t something that you are going to find every day. He took that system to another level with his elite play at the position and made Oregon one of the best teams in college football during his tenure. I have no problem slotting Mariota in as my second quarterback on this list after his long and successful college career.
1.) Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
Freshman Year: 8 games 93/137=67.9% 1,466 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 63 rushing attempts, 200 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns (3-1 record as a starter)
Sophomore Year: 15 games 333/491=67.8% 4,109 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 207 rushing attempts, 1,105 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns (14-1)
Junior Year: 15 games 388/579=67% 4,593 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 165 rushing attempts, 629 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns (14-1)
CAREER: 38 games 814/1207=67.4% 10,168 passing yards, 90 passing touchdowns, 32 interceptions, 435 rushing attempts, 1,934 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns (31-3 record as a starter)
Awards: Consensus All American (2015) ACC Player Of The Year (2015 and 2016), 2nd Team All ACC (2016), 2x Heisman Trophy Award Finalist (2015 and 2016), 2x Davey O’Brien Award Winner (2015 and 2016), 2x Manning Award Winner (2015 and 2016)
Deshaun Watson in my opinion is the best college quarterback in the past decade. Out of anyone that I have in this list, he may not have a Heisman trophy to his name but Watson can say that he was a national champion. Even if Watson didn’t win the Heisman, he still was in the race for the trophy twice and in 2015 he was a runner up for the award. Watson in that 2015 season was the only quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 4,000 passing yards and rush for 1,000 yards.
Watson has been to the National Championship game twice. Both time he went against Nick Saban and Alabama. Watson may have lost their first meeting, but the second time Watson prevailed and won that game on a last-second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow. Both of those games Watson lit up the vaunted Alabama defense that has NFL talent everywhere you look. Watson in both national championship games he played combined for 825 passing yards, 7 touchdown passes and 1 interception along with 116 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Watson’s career at Clemson was one for the ages. He helped put Clemson over the top to help create the next dynasty in college football. Now Dabo Swinney has a guy in Trevor Lawrence who hopes to go down as the greatest quarterback in Clemson history, but surpassing what Deshaun Watson did for this program is going to be hard to do.
Brandon's Breakdowns 