QBU: Schools That Produce the Best Quarterbacks in the NFL

After embarking on the difficult task of naming which college football program produces the best wide receivers, it’s time to highlight the most important position in football: quarterback. Check out below who wins the QBU title.

The quarterback position is not like their wide receiver counterpart. Aside from two schools, there’s a lot of parity when it comes to QBU discussions. The NFL has been trending in the pass-happy direction for at least a decade now, and that’s starting to show when it comes to quarterback prospects and the schools in which they choose. There are current starters in the league that did not attend what we regard as the “blue bloods of college football”. Some programs that won’t quite make the list include Wyoming (Josh Allen), Fresno State (Derek Carr), LSU (Joe Burrow), and Texas Tech (Patrick Mahomes).

Just to establish a baseline, I’ll explain the selection process a bit. Considering how often transfers happen, especially with quarterbacks, I am requiring that each guy satisfies at least one of these stipulations: a) multiple seasons as the starter with each school -or- b) lead each team to a playoff berth. Long story short, Baker Mayfield does not count for Texas Tech, nor does Joe Burrow for Ohio State. Individual awards and team success were weighed heavily when determining the order in which to rank the following programs.

You may think you have a good idea of who the five will be, but don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Let’s dive in and see who lays claim to the title of QBU. First, a couple honorable mentions will kick things off.

Honorable Mention: North Dakota State Bison

•Carson Wentz

•Trey Lance

•Easton Stick

Carson Wentz is coming off of a solid season in Indianapolis, but after a disastrous collapse down the stretch, he was sent to Washington in exchange for draft picks. Wentz will be starting for his third franchise in as many seasons, something that nobody — especially a quarterback — wants to see happen. This is likely his last chance to convince a franchise that he’s worth building around. The Commanders have a stout roster and Wentz should be able to put together a strong bounce-back campaign.

Trey Lance is likely taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo as the San Francisco 49ers signal-caller. Assuming he wins the job, Lance’s athleticism and strong arm fits the Kyle Shanahan offense like a glove. He will have to show improvement from what he put on tape in 2021, but all the tools are present. Lance inherits a stacked roster, and if he can become a more decisive, accurate passer, the Bison will shoot up this list in no time. Shanahan succeeded with a far more limited quarterback in Garoppolo, so it’s fair to expect the offense to reach new heights in 2022.

Honorable Mention: Clemson Tigers

•Deshaun Watson

•Trevor Lawrence

I would understand if someone put Clemson as high as three or four on this list, but due to so much uncertainty with their respective situations, I cannot go any higher than honorable mention. Deshaun Watson has not thrown an NFL pass in over 12 months, and depending on how long he’s suspended for the upcoming season, it could be upwards of 24 months in-between NFL throws for Watson. The Browns themselves are ready to win now, and if Watson was in the clear, I would expect him to regain the form he had prior to the 2021 season. There are too many if’s involved for me personally.

Next up, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. Trevor Lawrence entered the collegiate ranks as one of the most accomplished quarterback prospects in the history of football. He solidified that sentiment by leading the Clemson Tigers to the College Football Playoffs in all three seasons as the starter. Lawrence arrived to Jacksonville, labeled as the savior that the rudderless franchise has been searching for. Unfortunately, the Urban Meyer fiasco lasted throughout most of the 2021 season, so it’s nearly impossible to forecast anything based off of Lawrence’s rookie season. He is now paired with a Super Bowl-winning head coach, Doug Pederson. This will be the year that Lawrence shows us what he truly is in the NFL.