Top 15 College Quarterbacks

SI Staff | Oct 19, 2006

Top 15 College Quarterbacks /

Top 15 College Quarterbacks

Chase Daniel

Missouri was supposed to be lost without four-year starter Brad Smith, but the Tigers are off to a 6-1 start, thanks in large part to their sophomore signal-caller. Daniel has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,741 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's also run for 200 yards and three scores.

Dennis Dixon

Filling in for an injured Kellen Clemens at the end of last season, Dixon showed flashes of greatness, especially in a three-touchdown performance against archrival Oregon State. This season it has all come together for the leader of the 5-1 Ducks. A true dual-threat QB, Dixon has passed for 1,439 and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 228 yards and two scores.

Kevin Kolb

Kolb has started every game of his career, and he has really come into his own this season. Through seven games, Kolb has thrown for 2,095 yards and 16 touchdowns to just one interception. A bit raw, Kolb draws many comparisons to a young Brett Favre.

Chase Holbrook

Coming out of high school, the 6-5, 235-pounder was only recruited by I-A schools as a tight end, so Hal Mumme landed him at I-AA Southeastern Louisiana. When Mumme took the New Mexico State job, Holbrook followed and now he leads the nation in passing yards per game (403.6).

Colt Brennan

A high school teammate of Matt Leinart, Brennan flourishes in June Jones' four-receiver, Run-and-Shoot offense. The 6- 3, 195-pounder has thrown for 1,625 yards and 19 touchdowns to just two interceptions ... in his last four games. He leads the nation in total passing yards (2,271).

John Beck

Beck is the next great QB in a long line of talented signal-callers at BYU that has included Steve Young, Jim McMahon and Ty Detmer. Beck, who has thrown for 1,560 yards and 13 touchdowns to just two picks, sparks an explosive offense that averages 33.5 points and 430 yards for the 4-2 Cougars.

Chris Leak

Freshman Tim Tebow has become a Gator-fan favorite behind center, but Florida's senior quarterback is no slouch. The four-year starter has thrown for 9,774 yards and 80 touchdowns over his career.

Chad Henne

After an encouraging freshman year, Henne caught a lot of flak during his sophomore campaign (when Michigan stumbled to a 7-5 mark). But the 6-2, 223-pounder is throwing the ball better than ever. Henne's always had a big arm, but this season he has showcased pinpoint accuracy. At this point, it's hard to say who is more important to Michigan's success: stud RB Mike Hart or Henne.

Nate Longshore

The beginning of Longshore's career was far from easy. First, he broke his leg in Cal's 2005 opener, ending his season. Then he managed just 85 yards passing with an interception before being pulled from Cal's 2006 opener, a blowout loss to Tennessee. But since the embarrassment in Knoxville, Longshore has compiled 1,501 yards and 17 touchdowns in six straight Cal wins.

Pat White

In college football there aren't many people as fast as West Virginia RB Steve Slaton ... except maybe his backfield-mate White. He runs Rich Rodriguez's spread option offense to perfection. Against Syracuse, White carried the ball 15 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns and completed 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards.

Tyler Palko

The undersized (6-1) but heavily recruited slinger has been at the helm for three years at Pitt. In this, his second year in coach Dave Wannstedt's pro-style system, the gritty lefty has really flourished and adeptly leads the nation in passing efficiency (187.3), throwing 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

Brian Brohm

As the nation's top QB coming out of high school in 2004, Brohm could have gone anywhere, but he chose his hometown team. In his first season, he was Conference USA Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, he was Big East Offensive Player of the Year. After missing two games this season with a thumb injury, Brohm returned to pass for 324 yards and a touchdown (as well as one interception) in a win over Cincinnati.

Erik Ainge

Under the guidance of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, Ainge has taken his game to a new level. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder kicked off the year with a 291-yard, four-touchdown performance against Cal and has been a steady leader for resurgent Tennessee ever since.

Brady Quinn

The top-rated passer when it comes to the 2007 NFL Draft, Quinn suffered a forgettable, three interception outing in a bad loss to Michigan and fell off the Heisman watch. But since that point, Quinn's led the Irish to three easy wins, throwing for 867 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one pick. And he's creeping right back into the Heisman race.

Troy Smith

One of the nation's most potent dual-threat quarterbacks last season (2,282 yards passing, 611 rushing), Smith has changed his tune this season and stayed in the pocket. But the change hasn't treated Smith too badly: He's thrown 17 touchdowns to just two interceptions, leading No. 1 Ohio State to a 7-0 start and establishing himself as the leading Heisman candidate.

Published Oct 19, 2006

SI STAFF