As is the case for most seasons, the attention around quarterback prospects going into the 2014 season is primarily focused on underclassmen such as Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Brett Hundley. They have certainly earned their hype, as young as they are, but the elders of this class can not be forgotten.

Bryce Petty, Baylor

Had Petty declared for the 2014 NFL Draft, it is not unlikely that he would have been a first round pick. Petty is a surgeon on all levels of the field, most notably as a deep passer. That is not to say he is not accurate elsewhere because he certainly is, but Petty is one of the best, if not the best, deep thrower in the NCAA. His timing and anticipation is top notch, allowing him to hit passes that many at this stage of development can not. While he does have some issues, such as a mediocre internal clock and sense of pressure, Petty has more than enough passing talent to be a top notch quarterback.

Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Miller may have shown improvement as a passer, but he still has a long journey ahead of him. There were flashes of veteran passing ability and mechanics, but for the most part, he was either late to pull the trigger or simply inaccurate. Passing ability aside, Miller’s elite athleticism will keep him relevant.

To some extent, he is similar to Denard Robinson, seeing that Robinson was also a fast, agile quarterback who won more with his feet than his arm. That being said, Miller is a better passer than Robinson was. If Miller can continue to show development next season, he may become a legitimate top five quarterback prospect, but as of now, he is not.

Chuckie Keeton, Utah State

During Keeton’s sixth game of the year, against BYU, Keeton went down with a season-ending knee injury. Up to that point, Keeton was one of the most efficient and productive quarterbacks on paper, and it showed on the field. Keeton throws a lightning fast ball, allowing him to complete some passes that most are not physically capable of completing. Often, with an arm like that, many passes will “get away” and miss the intended target, but that is not the case for Keeton. He flashes wonderful ball placement, despite his vomit inducing throwing mechanics. Along with being a passing threat, Keeton is a terrifying straight line runner who also has some degree of lateral ability. Do not be surprised to see Keeton fly up rankings when he hits the field again.

Sean Mannion, Oregon State

Early in the season, Mannion appeared to be a solid quarterback that had the potential to be an average starting quarterback in the NFL. He came to fall off as the year went on, but nonetheless, he proved that all the necessary tools are there. Mannion has an efficient arm, good enough accuracy, and flashes of mental prowess that leads one to believe he may be able to return next season and play well enough to be a mid-round selection.

Devin Gardner, Michigan

There is not a bigger wild card in this senior crop than Devin Gardner. In 2012, when he was asked to take over at quarterback for the previously mentioned Denard Robinson, he looked like a raw, high potential quarterback prospect. 2013 was the “Hyde” to 2012’s “Jekyll.” Gardner looked mediocre against Notre Dame and failed to look much better throughout the year. Gardner has phenomenal arm strength and athleticism, but he still has huge strides to make as a quarterback, specifically from a mental standpoint. No prospect is a sure thing for next year, but Gardner is entirely unpredictable. In 2014, we may see Jekyll, we may see Hyde, or we may see both.

Taylor Kelly, Arizona State

In a spread offense at the collegiate level, Kelly is a serviceable quarterback, but it is doubtful that he becomes much more than that. Kelly is simply inaccurate and has not proved to be anything more than average as a decision maker. While he has the athleticism and experience to grab the attention of teams looking for a functional backup, Kelly does not have much upside. It is only the infant stages of the draft process for the 2015 NFL Draft, but Kelly, when all said and done, may not be selected unless he shows major improvement.