10. Cody Kessler, USC
USC got off to a rocky start in 2013. Head coach Lane Kiffin seemed to be a sort of cancer to the program and was ultimately fired after USC’s loss to Arizona State, which was the fifth game on USC’s schedule. Following Kiffin’s release, the team as a whole elevated their play, including Kessler. Kessler seemed more relaxed. He was able to play with a clearer mind and be the efficient pocket passer that everyone thought he was. With a full year under his belt and a handful of solid weapons at his disposal, including one of the PAC-12’s best in Nelson Agholor, Kessler should have a year that keeps USC in serious PAC-12 title contention.
9. Nick Marshall, Auburn
Just over a year ago, Marshall was a junior college quarterback after his departure from Georgia, where he was a defensive back. After the 2012 season, head coach Gus Malzahn brought in Marshall because he was the man Malzahn needed to make the offense work. Auburn’s offense is a heavy rushing attack complemented by passing as opposed to vice versa. Marshall is an outstanding athlete with a strong arm. Granted, he is still a raw passer, but as the 2013 season progressed, Marshall had shown signs of improvement. If Marshall can continue to improve his passing, he will become a star college quarterback, as if he already was not.
8. Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Miller is a special athlete, especially for the quarterback position. It sounds absurd, but Miller is as quick and agile as LeSean McCoy. At the college level, Miller’s elite athleticism lets him take advantage of small openings and mediocre athletes. He can stop on a dime, change direction, and get back to top speed all in a smooth flow of motions. Miller has made a name for himself as a running threat as he ran for over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons.
In regards to Miller’s passing ability, there have been glimpses of efficiency. For the most part, Miller is slow to read the field, has average ball placement, and displays poor footwork that often worsens his ball placement. That being said, Miller has shown that he can be a refined passer on occasion. Miller still needs to hone those skills, but at least the background is there.
7. Connor Cook, Michigan State
When Cook got playing time early in the year, he struggled and did not look any better than the quarterback that he had replaced. As the year went on, Cook got more and more accurate. In the final two games of the year (vs Ohio State and Stanford, who were both top 15 at the time), Cook had wonderful performances that ultimately lead to a BIG-10 title and a Rose Bowl trophy. In 2013, Cook was only a sophomore and at times that was apparent when looking at his mechanics. Cook tends to throw from his back foot, which could become a major issue, but at the same time it is an easy fix. Of course it is tough to project development, but if Cook has cleaned up his mechanics, he could be the second best quarterback in the conference.
6. Brett Hundley, UCLA
The PAC-12 is stacked with talented quarterbacks and Hundley is no exception. Hundley, dubbed “Hundini” for his uncanny ability to escape collapsed pockets, is an athletic quarterback that is a perfect for Noel Mazzone’s offense. Mazzone’s spread offense allows Hundley to stretch the field and attack a defense from anywhere he pleases. Now, Hundley is still mentally raw as a passer, but Mazzone’s system often allows him to simply throw instead of think, and Hundley has all the physical talent in the world. Hundley is a key reason that UCLA has had recent success and he will continue to be such.
5. Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
Keeton’s 2013 campaign was cut short by an ACL injury, but that does not take away from his talent. Keeton has a phenomenal arm. He throws with high velocity, but has the control to throw accurately. This allows Keeton to attack smaller windows than most quarterbacks can. On top of being a lethal passer, Keeton has the athleticism to escape pass rushers and pick up yards on his own. Assuming Keeton is healthy, he will prove himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation.
4. Bryce Petty, Baylor
Baylor has been one of the most explosive offenses in college football for the past few seasons, and Petty was at the helm in 2013. Petty is a stunningly accurate passer on all levels of the field. Baylor's system needs anticipation from the quarterback and Petty has that. He understand when to throw, as well as what angles or trajectories to use. Also, Petty is a Ben Roethlisberger type athlete that can scramble around and pick up yards if need be. Petty is the prototype for Baylor's spread, four veers offense and will continue to rack up touchdown after touchdown.
3. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Since his freshman year, Mariota has been the PAC-12's golden boy, and for good reason. He has been the leader of Oregon’s dominant offense for the past two years. Mariota is the best of both worlds. As a passer, Mariota is poised, accurate, and intelligent. Mariota quickly runs through his progressions, finds the open target, and fires. To compliment his passing ability, Mariota is a superb athlete that has shown that he has the raw speed to run right past closing defenders and find his way to the end zone. As if Oregon’s offense has not already been dominant the past few years, Mariota will be healthy once again and have a stunning cast around him, which will allow the offense to function at full force.
2. Jameis Winston, Florida State
Much like Johnny Manziel did in 2012, Winston took the college football community by storm in 2013. Winston was one of only two FBS quarterbacks to throw for 40 or more touchdowns in 2013 (Winston had 40). The past two Florida State quarterbacks were first round picks, but as odd as it sounds, this is the first time in a long time that Florida State has been able to have full confidence in their quarterback. Winston stands strong in the pocket, sees the field well, and has rather impressive ball placement. His windup is rather elongated, but at the collegiate level, it is not as much of an issue. Throwing motion aside, Winston is an incredible talent on an incredible team.
1. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
While the other nine players on this list are talented in their own right, Hackenberg is quite easily the best quarterback in the nation. Hackenberg was a true freshman in 2013, but when you watch him play, he evokes maturity and veteranship. His arm talent is on another level from others. Not only does he have wonderful strength, but his understanding of trajectory and changing speeds at such a young age is rare. To be fair, Hackenberg’s 2013 season had its handful of “freshman” moments, but it seemed to be Hackenberg testing the waters as opposed to simply being inept. Likewise, his lower body mechanics were suspect at times, but it was not an every down issue. Regardless of who the quarterback is, there will be struggles due to being so young, but Hackenberg is way ahead of schedule in terms of development. After a full year of play and another offseason of work, Hackenberg will soon leave the college football world in awe.
