Best College Quarterbacks: Part 3

Some Chiefs fans have already decided the team needs to grab a quarterback in the 2009 NFL Draft.

If you are one of those fans, then you should know something about the potential selections. Over three days, we have looked at the top 25 quarterbacks that could be available in April ‘09.

That’s could be available because this list includes not only the top senior quarterbacks, but junior quarterbacks who would all be eligible for selection. 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.

We 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 alphabetical order.

 

DAN LEFEVOUR/Central Michigan    JR    6-3, 228 3/19/1987

Coming out of Lisle, Illinois (western suburbs of Chicago), Lefevour threw for 2,929 yards and 24 TDs and ran for 29 touchdowns over his career at Benet Academy. He picked the Chippewas program over Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Eastern Illinois. He took a redshirt season in ‘05 then became a force in CMU’s first game in 06 and he’s been a fixture there. He threw for 3,031 yards that season and followed up in ‘07 with 3,652 yards. Lefevour also ran for 1,122 yards last season. He’s the second player in major college history to top 3,000 passing/1,000 rushing in the same season. The other was Vince Young at Texas. Good athlete, smart, accurate passer and tough, LeFevour is considered a solid second/third-round prospect coming into the ‘08 season. His numbers in ‘08 only enhance that standing.

COLT MCCOY/Texas            JR    6-3, 210 9/5/1986

Another coach’s son, McCoy played for his father at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, TX, throwing for 9,344 yards and 116 TDs. As a starter, he was 34-2. At Texas, he sat out the ‘05 season on a redshirt, but came back I n ‘06 as the starter, replacing the departed Vince Young. He’s been very good as the Longhorns starter for the last 31 games, as the team has compiled a 25-6 record. Going into Saturday’s big game against Oklahoma, he’s had a great start to his ‘08 season, completing 79 percent of his passes and 16 TDs compared to only three INTs. Athletic, smart, strong arm, mobile; there’s not a lot to dislike about McCoy. The NFL would love him to be just a bit bigger, but his 59-8 record as a high school-college starting quarterback gains a lot of attention. Coming into this season, the NFL viewed him as a late first-early second round prospect. He could go higher.

CURTIS PAINTER/Purdue        SR    6-3, 228 6/24/1985

Painter came out of Lincoln High School in Vincennes, Indiana, where he threw for 4,946 yards and 49 TD passes, while leading his team to a 28-7 record over three years. He spent the ‘04 season with a redshirt, but became the Boilermakers starter midway through the ‘05 season. Painter has been there ever since. He’s shown durability and intelligence, although sometimes his decision making has left questions in scouts’ minds. He’s thrown too many interceptions. He’s worked exclusively out of the shotgun at Purdue and that has many teams questioning how quickly he can transition with decision making in the NFL when taking the snap under center. This season has not been a good one for Painter, as he was pulled from last weekend’s game against Penn State. A strong finish would keep him among the top five senior passers.

ZAC ROBINSON/Oklahoma State    JR    6-3, 212 9/29/1986

Robinson played at Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colorado. He was a receiver and quarterback in the prep ranks, catching 39 passes for 850 yards as a senior, while also throwing for 1,475 yards and 15 TD passes, while running for 1,078 yards and eight TDs. Recruited by Kansas State, Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona State, he originally picked K-State but changed his mind to the Cowboys (his mother is an OSU grad.) After a redshirt season in ‘05, he played sparingly in ‘06. Last year, he took over as starter early in the season, throwing for 2,824 yards and running for 847 yards. Again, he doesn’t have the ideal size the NFL seeks, but he’s shown his athletic ability, strong arm and leadership ability with the Cowboys. He’s having a big ‘08 season and that’s driving him up the NFL charts for more notice than expected coming into the season. His 72 percent completion percentage and 10 TDs to 3 INTs are numbers the pros like. NFL teams will worry he’s a system quarterback.

MARK SANCHEZ/Southern Cal        JR    6-3, 225 11/11/1986

Sanchez came out of the high school quarterback factory known as Mission Viejo High School, where over two years, he threw for 4,346 yards and 45 TDs, while leading his team to a 27-1 record. He was recruited by Texas, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State, before choosing Southern Cal, where he was once a ball boy for the Trojans during Carson Palmer’s time as the starting QB. He spent the ‘05 season on a redshirt, and the ‘06 and ‘07 as the backup to starter John David Booty. Sanchez started three games in ‘07. He earned the starting job going into the ‘08 season and stayed there despite a pre-season knee injury that limited his practice time. Scouts have few questions about Sanchez’ athletic ability and decision making, but they are concerned about his lack of experience as the Trojans starter. His stock will likely be higher if he stays through the ‘09 season.

MATT STAFFORD/Georgia        JR    6-3, 236 2/7/1988

Born in Florida, Stafford spent his childhood years in Georgia and then moved with his family to Dallas, Texas, where he played at Highland Park High School. He threw for 8,927 yards and 94 TD passes and was heavily recruited by all the major national programs. He picked Georgia and as a true freshman in ‘06 he became the Bulldogs starter. It was the first time a true freshman had started for Georgia at QB since Eric Zeier in 1991. He’s now made 26 consecutive starts. Although not tall, he’s physical big and has a strong right arm. His decision making has improved over the last two seasons, which has lowered his INTs and increased his accuracy. Not known as a runner, he’s mobile in the pocket. Coming into the season, Stafford was considered the top QB prospect among the college juniors and seniors and a first-round talent.

TIM TEBOW/Florida            JR    6-3, 238 8/14/1987

Home-schooled by his missionary parents, Tebow was allowed to play football at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He made a name for himself as a runner and thrower, finishing with 9,810 passing yards and 95 TD passes, while running for 3,186 yards and 62 TDs. He picked Florida over Alabama and was used in his true freshman season in ‘06 as a runner out of the backfield. He became the Gators starting QB in ‘07 and went out and won just about every individual award in college football, including the Heisman Trophy. Tebow is the whole package at quarterback with good size, strong arm, athletic ability, good vision, leadership skills and smarts. The only question surrounding Tebow is the spread offensive system he plays in at Florida and the fact he does not take snaps from under center. It’s hard to believe he won’t be a top five pick whenever he decides to leave college football.

ISIAH ‘JUICE’ WILLIAMS/Illinois        JR    6-2, 232 11/19/1987

At birth, Williams weighed 13 pounds, 8 ounces. This big baby grew into a top-notch athlete. At Chicago Vocational Academy, he threw for 1,841 yards and 22 TDs as a senior, and ran for 1,441 yards and 17 TDs. He averaged 21.8 yards per carry. Williams picked Illinois over North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Ohio State. As a true freshman he shared the QB job, but became the starter in October and has now started 25 consecutive games. He’s a threat with his legs as well as his arm. His decision making has improved in ‘08. That’s one of the knocks against him from scouts. Coming into this season he was 22 TDs and 21 INTs. Williams has all the physical tools, but scouts say there’s no way he should enter the draft until 2010.

JOHN PARKER WILSON/Alabama    SR    6-2, 214 10/17/1985

Wilson came out of Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama, where he led the Buccaneers to a pair of state titles. He finished up with 8,170 passing yards and 78 TDs. With the Crimson Tide, Wilson played in four games of his freshman season of 05, relieving starting QB Brodie Croyle. When Croyle left for the NFL, Wilson became Alabama’s starter and has remained there for 32 consecutive games. He’s set most of the Alabama passing records over the last three years. NFL scouts view him as a mid to late-round prospect because of his size. He’s not been especially accurate as a passer for the Tide and the Alabama offense hasn’t produced many big passing plays.