We want to know which schools have the best collection of talent in the NFL at five different positions -- QB, RB, WR, TE and DB. Using rosters from Week 1 of the NFL season as the criteria, College Football 24/7 analysts ranked the top three schools at each position, with points assigned to each school accordingly -- three points for each first-place ranking, two for each second-place ranking and one for each third-place ranking. The points were totaled, resulting in final rankings. We continue the series today with a look at who deserves the title of Quarterback U.
Quarterback U
6. Florida State (1 point)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 3; EJ Manuel (Bills), Christian Ponder (49ers), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers).
In the pipeline: Deondre Francois.
T-4. North Carolina State (5 points)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 3; Jacoby Brissett (Patriots), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Mike Glennon (Buccaneers).
In the pipeline: Ryan Finley, Jalan McClendon.
T-4. Michigan (5 points)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 1; Chad Henne (Jaguars). Note: Tom Brady (Patriots) is serving suspension.
In the pipeline: Wilton Speight, John O'Korn.
3. Cal (7 points)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 2; Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Jared Goff (Rams).
In the pipeline: Davis Webb.
2. Michigan State (9 points)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 4; Drew Stanton (Cardinals), Brian Hoyer (Bears), Connor Cook (Raiders), Kirk Cousins (Redskins).
In the pipeline: Tyler O'Connor.
1. USC (15 points)
QBs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 4; Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Cody Kessler (Browns), Mark Sanchez (Cowboys), Matt Cassel (Titans).
In the pipeline: Sam Darnold, Max Browne.
Analyst ballots
Daniel Jeremiah: 1) USC 2) Michigan State 3) N.C. State
This was the toughest category to rank. USC and Michigan State rank at the top just because of the quantity of players at the position currently holding down roster spots. If Russell Wilson never transferred from N.C. State, it would hold down the top spot (Philip Rivers and Wilson form quite the duo).
Bucky Brooks: 1) N.C. State 2) Michigan State 3) USC
Few would expect Raleigh, N.C, to be the epicenter of quarterback play, but the successful careers of Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon and Jacoby Brissett started in Carter-Finley Stadium. Although Wilson could be excluded on this list after spending his final season at Wisconsin, the fact that he shattered most of Rivers' school passing records makes him a vital member of the squad despite losing his job to Glennon due to a desire to continue his baseball career.
Charles Davis: 1) Michigan 2) USC 3) Cal
Michigan wins because of Tom Brady (quality over quantity in this case). USC has Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel as Pro Bowlers/division champs. Aaron Rodgers alone was almost enough to put Cal in second, and Eastern Illinois with Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo nearly made it into my top 3.
Gil Brandt: 1) USC 2) Michigan State 3) N.C. State
USC has a long history of outstanding quarterbacks. West Coast schools have the benefit of good weather, which only helps in the development of QBs.
Lance Zierlein: 1) Cal 2) USC 3) Michigan State
Michigan State and USC both have four QBs in the league, so perhaps they should be considered for the top spot, but most of the players from those two teams are backup QBs at this time. While Jared Goff isn't a starter either, he was the first pick of the draft and Aaron Rodgers has been one of the best QBs in the league for some time now.
Chase Goodbread: 1) Cal 2) Michigan 3) USC
For the top spot, might as well go with one of the game's biggest stars paired with one of its promising youngsters: Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff. Carson Palmer leads USC's push into the No. 3 spot.
Chad Reuter: 1) USC 2) Michigan State 3) Florida State
Despite the movement of the college game to a spread attack, and the NFL creeping toward that sort of wide-open passing game, NFL scouts still want to see quarterbacks running a "pro-style" attack. USC, Michigan State, and Florida State have typically run that kind of offense, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
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