“Good fellows are a dime a dozen, but an aggressive leader is priceless.”

- Army coach Red Blaik -

Best College Quarterbacks: Part 1

OK, so you’ve already decided that the Chiefs need to select a quarterback in the 2009 NFL Draft.

If that’s the case, then you should know something about the potential selections at that position for next year. Over the next three days, we’ll provide you with a look at the top 25 quarterbacks that could be available in April ‘09.

That’s could be available because this list includes the top senior and junior quarterbacks, who would all be eligible for the draft. The juniors would have to declare for the draft.

Plus, there are three sophomore quarterbacks thrown in as well. The NFL draft rules say a player must be three years removed from high school graduation to be eligible to apply for early entrance into the annual selection meeting. Thus, any sophomore who took a redshirt season would be three years removed and thus eligible. It’s very rare for any sophomores to leave early, especially quarterbacks. But just to cover all the bases, we’ve added three of them to the mix.

Today, we’ve got eight QBs. Thursday we will have eight more and then on Friday the final nine. They are listed in alphabetical order.

 

RHETT BOMAR/Sam Houston State*    SR    6-2, 216    7/2/1985

  G  GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

3

3

97

62

63.9

878

9.1

10

3

Career 

24

22

696

401

57.6

5,005

7.2

30

19

*spent freshman-redshirt season at Oklahoma

Bomar’s father is the head coach at Grand Prairie High School, where his son played quarterback and was one of the most highly recruited prep QBs in 2004. At Grand Prairie he threw for 6,097 yards and 58 TD passed and ran for 1,623 yards and 33 rushing TDs. He signed with the Sooners and two games into his redshirt season in 2005 he was OU’s starter, opening 10 games that season and winning the Holiday Bowl MVP award in the Sooners victory against Oregon. Bomar was dumped by head coach Bob Stoops when it was found he accepted money for a no-show job at a Norman car dealer. He transferred to Sam Houston and sat out the 2006 season and became the Bearkats starter last season, although he missed the final two games with a left knee injury. Bomar is a good athlete, with the ability to run away from trouble. He’s got a strong arm and has spent most of his time in a pro-style offense.

SAM BRADFORD/Oklahoma        SO-R    6-4, 218 11/8/1987

  G  GS  Att.  Comp. Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

5

5

146

106

72.6

1,665

11.4

18

3

Career 

19

19

487

343

70.4

4,786

9.9

54

11

Coming out of Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Bradford threw for 2,029 yards and 17 TD passes in his senior season (2005). He was not among the most recruited QB prospects in the country, but signed with the Sooners and sat out the 2006 season. When starting quarterback Rhett Bomar was kicked off the OU team the next season, Bradford was one of three candidates for the job. Just before the ‘07 season began, he was named the starter and ended up throwing 36 TD passes, the most in NCAA history by a freshman QB. Bradford has good size, but needs to add some weight. It’s highly unlikely he would choose to come out of school with two years remaining; but if he has another year like his freshman season, and so far he has, the NFL may be more of an option. Oklahoma runs a pro-style offense.

TOM BRANDSTATER/Fresno State    SR    6-5, 225 10/21/1984

  G  GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

5

5

133

81

60.9

1,112

8.4

8

5

Career

37

28

751

444

59.1

5,305

7.1

37

25

Brandstater made his name as a safety at Turlock High School in California. But he went to Fresno State to play quarterback, serving a redshirt season his first year in ‘04. He played sparingly as a backup in ‘05, but became Fresno’s starter in ‘06 and has remained there for three seasons. He has great size and arm strength and shows good mobility in the pocket. Not as productive as some NFL teams are looking for considering his three years as starter, with too many interceptions. Fresno’s offense has him taking snaps under center and in the spread, so that variety should help in evaluation and his transition to the pro game.

NATHAN BROWN/Central Arkansas    SR    6-2, 212 10/3/1987

  G  GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 

2008 

5

5

156

111

71.2

1,458

9.4

14

0

Career 

38

33

1048

713

68.0

9,810

9.4

83

28

Brown was barely noticed at Russellville High School in Arkansas, despite throwing for 3,385 yards and 33 TDs. He had one scholarship offer and another maybe, that one from Central Arkansas. He went with the maybe and is now a three-year starter at QB. He took a redshirt season in ‘04, but became the starter in ‘05, opening nine games. Other than injury he’s been the Central Arkansas starter ever since. Brown is a very accurate passer and seldom makes mistakes throwing the ball. He’s also mobile. Brown does not have ideal size and his arm strength is not top notch, but he has all the intangibles for the position. Some NFL teams will question the level of competition he’s faced.

HUNTER CANTWELL/Louisville        SR    6-4, 236 12/30/1985

  G GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

4

4

128

74

57.8

876

6.8

5

5

Career 

22

8

285

166

58.2

2,295

8.1

15

12

Cantwell came out of Tilgham High School in Paducah, KY, and was not heavily recruited despite throwing for 7,272 yards and 70 TDs. He led his team to a 31-8 record. Cantwell walked on at Louisville, where he was redshirted in ‘04. Over the next three seasons, he was the backup to starter Brian Brohm and made just four starts in three seasons. Cantwell has excellent size and arm strength, and has shown some mobility outside the pocket. His lack of playing time will hinder the scouts’ evaluation of him, as will what so far has been a mediocre senior season.

RUDY CARPENTER/Arizona State    SR    6-2, 222 4/15/1986

  G  GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

5

5

158

105

66.7

1,348

8.5

8

4

Career 

40

36

1116

691

61.9

9,346

8.4

73

30

Tough, gutty leader who may not start this Saturday against Southern Cal because of a left ankle injury suffered last week against California. If he does not play, it will end a streak of 36 consecutive starts. Carpenter came out of Westlake High School in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. He played there his senior season and threw for 2,705 yards and 36 TDs. The season before he played at Newbury Park High School and threw for 3,129 yards and 24 TDs. At ASU, he started the final five games of his true freshman season in ‘05 and every game since. Relies more on his brains and understanding of the offense than his arm, he’s an accurate passer and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Lacks the ideal size and arm strength, but has all the intangibles.

CHASE DANIEL/Missouri        SR    6-0, 228 10/7/1986

  G  GS  Att.  Comp.  Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

5

5

156

119

76.3

1,665

10.7

15

1

Career 

42

32

1237

828

66.9

9,845

7.9

77

24

Coming out of Carroll High School in Southlake, TX (suburban Dallas-Ft. Worth), Daniel was a two-year starter at QB with a 31-1 record and a Texas state 5-A championship. He threw for 8,298 yards and 91 TDs, while running for 2,954 yards and 39 TDs. Daniel was recruited by schools like Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Maryland and Stanford. In ‘05, he played in 10 games as a true freshman, filling in for starter Brad Smith. He’s became the starter in ‘06, throwing for 3,527 yards. In ‘07, he threw for 4,170 yards. Strong arm, good mobility, he’s run the spread offense at Mizzou. He has all the intangibles and is very intelligent. Physical size will be a liability in the NFL, especially since he’s never taken a snap under center.

NATE DAVIS/Ball State            JR    6-2, 218 5/25/1987

  G  GS  Att.  Comp. Pct.  Yards  Avg./Att.  TDs  INTs 
2008 

6

6

178

123

69.1

1,662

9.3

11

3

Career 

31

26

901

543

60.3

7,304

8.1

59

17

Davis came out of Bellaire, Ohio, just south of Wheeling, WV. At Bellaire High School, he ran the spread offense and threw for 7,348 yards and 81 TD passes and ran for 32 more touchdowns. Recruited by Illinois, Purdue, Syracuse, Louisville and Cincinnati, he picked Ball State. Davis played in 12 games and started seven as a true freshman in ‘06 and was the full-time starter for the Cardinals in ‘07. Outstanding athlete who was probably a better basketball player than quarterback, Davis is mobile, tough, heady and has a strong arm. His brother Jose Davis played for the Kansas City Brigade.

(More tomorrow, starting with Kansas State’s Josh Freeman through Colin Kaepernick of Nevada.)


18 Responses to “Best College Quarterbacks: Part 1”

  • October 8, 2008  - Colby says:

    Love this stuff Bob. You know what we want and you dish it out! Christmas come early this year.


  • October 8, 2008  - dklogue1 says:

    Thanks again for the good stuff Mr. Gretz.


  • October 8, 2008  - Blake says:

    I hope we get a new coach and I would like to see Chase Daniels in a Chiefs uniform. I dont know if he is tall enough to play in the NFL. He would get a lot of passes knocked down at the line and he is always in the shotgun but he is still very accurate, he is mobile, and he is very smart. I think he could make it in the NFL if he finds a team like Drew Brees has.


  • October 8, 2008  - B Rad says:

    Chase Daniel is a system quarterback.


  • October 8, 2008  - findthedr says:

    great report Bob!

    I like Bradford, but I want to know more about him, such as:
    1. can he make all the throws?
    2. are his #s inflated because he is throwing short (high percentage passes) to rb etc?
    3. behind that offensive line he doesnt face much pressure. How does he look under pressure?


  • October 8, 2008  - findthedr says:

    chase daniel in the 6th round or lower is fine by me. Nothing higher.


  • October 9, 2008  - redarrowhead says:

    I think Croyle is still got a shot here and either way this year’s draft isn’t a QB draft. It’s poor. Nate Davis is really the only one I’m interested in here, but I doubt he’ll be available till 2010 draft.


  • October 9, 2008  - Rich says:

    Again, Bob is the bomb. Excellent info and thanks.


  • October 9, 2008  - Lee says:

    Good timing Bob as that is what Chiefs fans are thinking about. Some of the QBs I have some interest in and will be interested to see your analysis are the QBs at Georgia, Florida, and Purdue.


  • October 9, 2008  - Harold C. says:

    Thanks Bob. I’m not someone who follows college ball very closely so this information is greatly appreciated.


  • October 9, 2008  - Mark says:

    Rather we took Chase Patton as a developmental prospect than Chase Daniel. And I like both of them a lot.


  • October 9, 2008  - Scott says:

    Ditto to Harold’s comment Bob. Great idea for a series!

    I’m not sure if you can do this because of your internal ties to the organization but here’s what I would like to see - a series about head coach and GM possibilities.

    I don’t have a true hatred for Carl, but I think I’d like to see a change there just for the sake of change. It’s time for the Chiefs to go in a new direction.

    As far as Herm - I love his drafts, but I’m losing confidence in his ability to evaluate current players and prepare for games. He just doesn’t seem to be willing/able to make the adjustments that seem so obvious to us (McIntosh for one).

    I wouldn’t mind either one staying with the organization in some capacity. I think that Carl could still be useful in one of his many roles (President possibly) but I would like to see a change at GM. I honestly wonder if the man just doesn’t have too much on his plate, covering essentially three person’s jobs.

    I would be fine with keeping Herm as a draft scout or secondary coach, but his decisions as a head coach are questionable to me. I totally agree with his youth movement, but he seems unwilling to make essential changes to better the team. If he’s still around next year I expect there are a lot of moves he’ll make in the offseason, but it seems that there are so many things he could have done already and could be doing now with the bye week that he just ignores.

    Back to the subject, I’d like to delve into the the topic of GM’s and coaches. Particularly, the widespread call for Marty and Cowher. I don’t know that either of those moves would really get us anywhere. Who else is on the horizon?

    Also, what are your evaluations of the assistant coaching staff? A lot of people have been calling for Gun’s head, but I still like him as DC. I attribute the defense’s problems more to lack of help from the offense, lack of talent at MLB, and foolish strategy with the DE’s (Move Hali back!).

    Special Teams seem to be improving somewhat, but offense is another story. I’m not ready to throw Chan under the bus yet, but I wonder if he could use a major improvement at QB and O-line coaching.

    As usual keep up the great work!

    GO CHIEFS!


  • October 9, 2008  - JohnNdallas says:

    Nice post Scott.

    Gun hasn’t forgot how to Coach a Defense, I have to ask the question again, WHO is really making most of the personal decisions on D?
    Who made the decision to keep Tim Krumrie as D-Line Coach? (imo that’s where we are having our biggest struggle on D) also that’s where there has been a substantial investment made recently.
    Who is keeping this Defense from being an attacking, aggressive style D? (Like Gun’s history has shown)
    I don’t pretend to know, but I have my suspects.
    These are some questions that I would like to see Bob address.
    He knows, or he has a very good idea of the inner workings of the Chiefs, maybe not as much as some suspect but more than a lot of folks know.
    I LOVE BOBGRETZ.COM but if his hands are tied and he can’t share some of the more sublime information, than it’s really not much different than picking up a news paper and reading it.
    I wouldn’t expect him to say anything (and in fact would be pissed if he did) that hurts the team by giving up information that could be used to game plan against us.
    I just don’t see where who is making these decisions would be damaging to any thing other than some peoples egos.
    Again I want to say I love Bob’s writing style, the way he dedicates his efforts to the history of the game and his respect for Coaches and players a-like, and I can also see his dilemma, if he does report things that embarrass the powers that be, he would no longer be exposed to such inside info.
    So, you know how Bob does “Herm Speak”, I try to do “Bob Speak”, but not knowing Bob personally, I can only speculate on trying to read between the lines.
    I also like the way Bob is willing to listen to suggestions on how to make his blog better,I certainly am no expert, (just outside looking in) I have sent him a couple of E-Mails with suggestions,
    nothing big, just small visual things I thought he could change, and by gosh the next week the change was made.

    But I do wish we could know who is really doing what, and who’s hands are tied on certain decisions.

    Any way that was along way around very little for me. LOL
    I just don’t want to see the Chiefs lose a Guy (Gun) just because he is not able to make some or most of his own decisions, if he is “The Man” than he needs to be evaluated the same as anyone else is.


  • October 9, 2008  - nthetrenches says:

    I echo everyone elses praise on your insight to what us Chiefs fans are wanting…..what’s on the horizon for next year. Every week it becomes more and more clear that this year is all about getting some sort of development out of our youth, and what could this team look like next year after the draft. I have ben checking out the mock drafts since week 1. I love Stafford out of Georgia, but I’m not sold on Tim Tebow as a game changing QB in the NFL. That being said…..Detroit could end up with him if they don’t manage to get some wins soon. I agree that Chase Daniels has all the intangibles you would want out of a QB, but he would be a project and not necessarily a starter even by year 2. None the less…..possibly worth a late round flyer. I still see the Chiefs with a top 4 pick next year, but it may not be high enough to get Stafford…..so then what? There will still be plenty of areas needing to be improved upon….namely the offensive line. I would love to have 1 more stud O-Lineman to anchor the right tackle position….but realize it will depend on where we pick, and who is there…..just like no one thought Derrick Johnson would be there for us, and the same goes for Glenn Dorsey.
    How long is this rebuilding process gonna take? Maybe Brodie surprises all of us and stays healthy the rest of the year and performs well…..that would certainly accelerate the process. Thanks again for the insight Bob


  • October 9, 2008  - Ricky-poo says:

    Well now, Mr. Gretz:

    What happened to your patience preaching? Remember it usually takes what? 40 some-odd starts to properly judge a QB? You haven’t backed off on that yet have you? This article kind of makes me think you have. You know fans are like mice following the pied-piper. You entice them with prospects then that is what they will expect. Croyle hasn’t lost you already has he? Just less than a game later!?! Yeah, he got hurt. AGAIN! But what if he comes back and plays lights out for the rest of the season? Will we be QB hunting then? Practice what you preach, mister. You don’t want to be thought of as fan chasing do you? Giving them what you think they want to hear. No, surely not you Mr. Gretz, the one who grumbles about newspaper reporters.


  • October 10, 2008  - Brett says:

    Sam Braford is the only one on that list that makes sense. He is only one with accurate throwing, pro-style offense, decent arm strength, measurables, and playing against the best competition in college who warants a 1st round draft pick.


  • October 10, 2008  - Chiefs News Chiefs Football | Chiefs Football at BobGretz.com says:

    [...] had our group of the first eight on Wednesday, our second group of eight on Thursday and today the final nine quarterbacks. They are listed in [...]


  • October 21, 2008  - Rick says:

    An excellent prospect coming out this year is David Johnson of Tulsa. Check his stats and watch the TU UCF game Sunday night. He has a rocket for an arm and is deadly accurate. I personally think he’d be a great fit at KC.


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