The G5 conferences (AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West and SunBelt) are loaded with quality QBs. For those who don’t keep up with football outside of the P5 conferences, this article will be a big help to you. Plus, your team could be facing one of these QBs this season, and this could serve as a scouting report of sorts. UCF QB McKenzie Milton isn’t listed because he’s expected to miss the 2019 season with an injury.
The Elite
Mason Fine – North Texas
Mason Fine is the NCAA’s active career leader in passing yards with 9,417 yards. Last season Fine threw for 3,793 yards & 27 TDs completing 64.6% of his passes. He’s one of the best QBs in CFB, not just the G5. He was a 2â recruit coming out of High School, and was vastly overlooked because of his 5’9 – 5’11ish height. North Texas & Mason Fine play @ Cal on September 14th. Cal has a great defense, so it’ll be interesting to see how he does.
Jordan Love – Utah State
One of the best QBs in college football plays his home games in Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. Love has a great arm & awareness to diagnose plays. In 2018, he threw for 3,567 yards & 32 TDs, completing 64% of his passes. He also had 7 rushing TDs. NFL Scouts are intrigued by Love, and another big season in 2019 would definitely boost his draft stock. This year I expect 36+ TD Passes from Love. The Aggies open the season @ Wake Forest.
D’eriq King – Houston
King proved last season that he’s not only one of the best QBs but one of the best athletes all of college football. He threw for 2,982 yards 36 TDs and rushed for 674 yards & 14 TDs. He missed the last 2.5 games with an injury. With him healthy in 2019, the Cougars should win 8-10 games, and he should put up similar numbers.
Cole McDonald – Hawaii
McDonald had a big breakout season last year, throwing for 3,875 yards & 36 TDs while completing 59% of his passes. He’s a dual threat QB who also added 359 yards rushing and 4 TDs. Before last season, 99% of College Football fans had no idea who he was. Now, he’s regarded as one of the best QBs in College Football. Hawaii opens the season vs Arizona. Khalil Tate vs Cole McDonald. That should be electric!
Nathan Rourke – Ohio
Rourke has been excellent for the Bobcats the last few years with over 6,000 yards of offense and 77 Total TDs. He’s quietly put together a great career at QB, while being vastly unknown to a majority of P5 fans. The Bobcats lose 7 starters on offense, so Rourke will have to carry the load in 2019. He excels at escaping the pocket and making plays. Last season, Rourke had 38 total touchdowns last season, including 15 on the ground. He’s undoubtedly the best QB in the MAC.
On the rise
Zac Thomas – Appalachian State
The reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year is back for the Mountaineers in 2019. Last season, Thomas threw for 2,039 yards 21 TDs & rushed for 504 yards 10 TDs. He almost led Appalachian State to another signature upset over Penn State but fell short in OT. He’s only a Junior, so his best days are still ahead of him. The Mountaineers travel to Chapel Hill on September 21st where Thomas will be able to showcase his talent vs another P5 opponent.
Desmond Ridder – Cincinnati
Ridder was outstanding last season as a freshman. He threw for 2,445 yards & 20 TDs while adding 583 rushing yards & 5 TDs. He’s a dual threat QB who has good awareness & vision. Last season was only the beginning of a great career for Ridder. He’s definitely on the rise. elite.
Isaiah Green – Marshall
Green was great as a freshman in 2018. He threw for 2,459 yards 15 TDs, and added 1 rushing TD. He completed 56.7% of his passes. He just needs to get more consistent & cut down on INTs. The future is bright in Huntington for Green. He was impressive with his awareness and poise, especially to be so young.
Anthony Russo – Temple
Russo made a name for himself in 2018, he threw for 2,563 yards 14 TDs & added 3 TDs on the ground. Russo was 7-3 as a starter & showed good awareness and touch. His only downside was the 14 INTs. If he cuts down on that Temple wins 8-10 games in 2019 and contends for the AAC. Remember this kids name, he’s going to be a good one.
Jack Abraham – Southern Miss
Abraham led the nation in completion percentage last season, completing 73.1% of his passes. He threw for 2,347 yards and 15 TDs while adding 1 rushing TD. He was plagued by injuries, but was still productive. His arm strength is my only concern, but he’s extremely accurate.
Big time transfers
Brandon Wimbush – UCF
Wimbush, the former Notre Dame QB, is looking to finish off his career as a starter. So he transferred to UCF. However, it’s not a guarantee that he wins the starting job because Darriel Mack Jr showed how skilled he was last season in limited action. I do expect Wimbush to win the job because of his experience & elite athleticism. He had 2,606 yards 20 TDs & 1,156 rushing yards 16 TDs in his career at Notre Dame. He’s one of the fastest and most elusive running QBs in college football. UCF returns a lot of quality receivers and running backs, so expect a HUGE year from Wimbush in 2019.
Shane Buechele – SMU
Buechele is a graduate transfer from Texas. For the Longhorns, he threw 30 TDs & threw for 4,636 yards. His completion percentage was 62.2, but he struggled with consistency at times. Buechele has some excellent WRs in James Proche & Reggie Robinson at SMU, and he should put up 25+ TD passes in 2019.
Seasoned Veterans
Kelvin Hopkins Jr – Army
Hopkins was the first player in Army history to throw & run for over 1000 yards in a single season in 2018. He’s a big reason Army went 11-2 last season. Nnot only is he a threat on the ground, he can shred you through the air as well. His ability to run the option so efficiently & spread the ball through the air makes Army a threat to every opponent. They play Michigan in Week 2 đ.
James Morgan – FIU
Morgan will slice a defense with short & intermediate throws. He completed 65.3% of his passes last season, throwing for 2,727 yards and 26 TDs. Morgan has 51 touchdown passes in his career and should add another 25-30 to that total this season.
Brady White – Memphis
White had a big season in 2018. He threw for 3,296 yards & 26 TDs, while completing 63% of his passes. With Henderson & Pollard gone at RB, he could put up even bigger numbers in 2019, as the offense will rely on him even more. Star TE Joey Magnifico and WR Damonte Coxie are back this season as well, so expect 30-34 touchdown passes from Brady White.
Shai Werts – Georgia Southern
Werts is one of the most explosive QBs running the ball in college football. Last season he rushed for 908 yards & 15 TDs. He’s also a capable passer who threw for 987 yards 10 TDs last year while avoiding throwing any INTs. His ability to run the option while being able to throw on defenses is a big reason the Eagles bounced back last season with 10 wins.
J’Mar Smith – Louisiana Tech
Smith threw for 3,160 yards & 15 TDs last season, while adding 159 yards 3 TDs on the ground. He started off strong last year, then his numbers & efficiency dropped. Expect him to bounce back this season & cut down on the interceptions. He’s entering his third year as a starter. He should notch 24+ total touchdowns.
Caleb Evans – ULM
Evans threw for 2,869 yards & 16 touchdowns last season. He added 632 rushing yards and 10 TDs on the ground. He’s thrown for over 2,800 yards in back to back seasons. If he cuts down on his INTs this year, the Warhawks will be a tough out. He’s the younger brother of former Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans.
Blake Barnett – USF
The former 5â threw for 2,710 yards & 12 TDs last season, adding 301 rushing yards and 8 TDs on the ground. He had a completion % of 61.1%, but needs to cut down on the INTs (11) in 2019 for USF to win the AAC. Expect 20+ passing TDs from Barnett this year.
Jon Wassink – WMU
Last season, Wassink threw for 1,994 yards and 16 touchdowns, while adding 6 more TDs on the ground. WMU was 6-2 before Wassink went down with an injury. Now that he’s back healthy for 2019, you should expect 30+ total touchdowns from Wassink.
Buckshot Calvert – Liberty
Buckshot threw for 3,068 yds & 21 TDs last season. He’s a gunslinger & isn’t afraid to thread the needle. He needs to cut down on his INTs (18). His #1 option at WR Antonio Gandy-Golden is back this season. You should expect 25+ TDs from Calvert in 2019. The Flames open the season at home vs Syracuse.
Armani Rogers – UNLV
Rogers was the 2017 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. But last season he only played 6 games because of an injury. He’s a dual threat QB who’s extremely elusive in open space. If he improves his completion %, the Rebels will be a tough opponent.
Young guns
Holton Ahlers – ECU
Last season as a freshman, Ahlers was 127-263 for 1,785 yards & 12 passing TDs. He also added 592 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. Ahlers is the perfect option at QB for the Spread Shotgun offense. Expect a big season from him in 2019 and an even bigger career.
Tyler Johnston III – UAB
Johnston was a big time recruit for the Blazers. Last season as a freshman he threw for 1,323 yards & 11 TDs. He also rushed for 359 yards and 4 TDs. Johnston has a cannon and his accuracy is good as well. He has a bright future ahead.
