Pro Football Focus: Ranking all 70 Power Five starting quarterbacks for 2024
Full article linked above, I put the writeups for PITT and the teams we play this year below. Fun read to get ready for the season!
TL;DR They have us playing 2 top 10 QB's but then 8 QB's ranked between 32-59.
8. Garrett Greene, West Virginia Mountaineers
Greene is perhaps the quietest superstar in college football. He led the nation in big-time throw rate last season by more than a full percentage point while also tying for the FBS lead in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Simply put: West Virginia is home to one of the best playmakers in college football. If Greene can improve his subpar accuracy, he could have a statistically massive season and the Mountaineers could be a surprise Big 12 contender.
9. Preston Stone, SMU Mustangs
Before breaking his leg in SMU’s final regular-season game, Preston Stone was one of the nation’s hottest quarterbacks in 2023. His 91.0 PFF passing grade through Week 4 trailed only
Jayden Daniels and
Bo Nix. His 8.2% big-time throw rate was also a top-five mark for the season. Assuming Stone is healthy, he leads one of the nation’s most explosive offenses as the Mustangs aim to shake up the traditional power structure of the ACC.
32. Kyle McCord, Syracuse Orange
Former Ohio State starter Kyle McCord has his limitations but took way too much criticism in Columbus last season. He lost just one game, posted a 90.3 clean-pocket grade and threw multiple touchdowns in nine of his 12 starts. He isn’t mobile, so pass protection is important with him under center. However, Syracuse, which hasn’t had a 3,000-yard passer since 2012, should be thrilled McCord is its quarterback.
33. Max Johnson, North Carolina Tar Heels
Johnson was thrown into the fire at Texas A&M last season after Conner Weigman went down with a season-ending injury. The son of Super Bowl Champion Brad Johnson posted a career-high 80.6 passing grade. Like his father, Johnson has a cannon for an arm and uses it very well when protected. He has some very nice weapons to work with, including Omarion Hampton and Bryson Nesbit, and should have a nice year in Chapel Hill.
35. Thomas Castellanos, Boston College Eagles
Castellanos’ frame and rushing ability are reminiscent of
Kyler Murray. He has explosive wheels and finished second among all quarterbacks in rushing yards and missed tackles forced. He struggled mightily as a passer in ACC play, but if Bill O’Brien can help Castellanos find consistency on that front, he could become one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football.
45. Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers
Klubnik will be under the microscope in year two as the Tigers’ starter. His first full season was a bit discouraging. He made some nice throws last season, especially in the intermediate range, but he also made at least one turnover-worthy play in all but one of his starts. As a result, he earned at least a 70.0 overall grade in just one game. Clemson’s offense will struggle again if Klubnik doesn’t significantly improve.
46. Fernando Mendoza, California Golden Bears
Mendoza was serviceable in eight starts last season but is a bit of a gunslinger. He made five big-time throws in a near-upset of USC but also had a disastrous six-turnover-worthy-play performance in the team’s bowl game versus Texas Tech. Mendoza has an incumbent advantage in the Golden Bears’ quarterback competition, but he could have a short leash with North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers looming behind him.
50. Tony Muskett, Virginia Cavaliers
After three excellent years of play at Monmouth, Muskett made six starts for the Cavaliers last season during a season repeatedly interrupted by injury. He posted a respectable 74.1 PFF overall grade when he did play and appears to have beaten out rising sophomore Anthony Colandrea for the starting gig.
52. Nate Yarnell, Pittsburgh Panthers
Yarnell has seen action in only six career games, but he’s performed reasonably well in all of them. He’s a lanky pocket passer who earned an 80.2 PFF passing grade across his three career starts. He doesn’t have a big arm, but he layers intermediate passes well and has excelled in play action when he’s been on the field. Yarnell could have a solid season if the Panthers improve their pass protection.
56. Tyler Shough, Louisville Cardinals
Former Oregon and Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough is currently the biggest question mark on a very good Louisville roster. His career has been marred by injuries, as he has never made 200 pass attempts in a single season. He’s shown flashes of potential for a long time when he is on the field, but his health and ball security could loom over the Cardinals’ chances of ACC contention.
59. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati Bearcats
Sorsby made seven starts at Indiana last season. He had a couple of good performances — against Maryland and Illinois — that resulted in 85.0-plus PFF passing grades. Otherwise, he played at a below-average level, especially in obvious passing scenarios. His strengths lie in the play-action game, where he posted a respectable 79.1 passing grade. Luckily, the Bearcats have a solid offensive line to protect him, but Sorsby needs to improve as a passer to hold down the starting job all season.
