College Football is considered in the top 5 for most exciting sports to watch, and in this
article we will be dissecting the top 5 quarterbacks entering the 2022-23 college football
season.
Caleb Williams, USC Trojans:
Caleb Williams is a special QB, and with his talent following coach Lincoln Riley to the
Trojans, the PAC-12 is not going to be ready for this kid to break out. Being just a
freshman last year and getting the starting job after Spencer Rattler struggled to get
things going for himself, Williams stepped in and was a huge role for the Sooner
offense. Posting just under 2000 yards passing with a 64.5% completion rate, with 21
touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, the now USC quarterback is working hard and
could even be up for the Heisman trophy this year. That of course is debatable,
depending on how much of an impact he has against the PAC-12 and how good of a
season he plays after moving schools. He could have some guilt arise from abandoning
Oklahoma and just following in the footsteps of Riley, or he could be fine, as a lot of
Sooner players did the exact same thing. Williams will be a key QB to watch this year
with his downfield accuracy and also his experience playing against tough Big 12
teams.
Devin Leary, NC State Wolfpack:
It is not often that North Carolina State produces big talents, but Devin Leary is proving
himself worthy. The fifth year senior is coming off an incredible 2021 season with almost
3500 passing yards, a 66% completion rate, 35 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.
Leary was supposed to be a huge talent back in the 2020-21 season, but an injury got
in his way and ended his season. Leary then broke out of his shell in 2021 with insane
stats and good decision making. North Carolina State will be a team to reckon with in
the ACC this year, as they have a solid receiving trio returning to catch Leary’s passes.
Experience, good decision making, and a high amount of talent, Devin Leary is
definitely a QB who will shock everyone by the end of the season.
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee Volunteers:
Hooker has definitely had a strange ride coming off of what was an unusual 2021
season. Being the backup for Joe Milton last season and finally getting the starting job
at Tennessee, Hooker had big troubles with even getting playing time when he was
being tossed around at Virginia Tech the season before. The Volunteer quarterback
now has something to show, with just under 3000 total passing yards, throwing the ball
exceptionally well with a 68% completion rate and having 31 touchdown passes with
only 3 interceptions, this sixth year senior is finally looking to make his mark, and in an
extremely tough conference as well. The SEC East is now growing and with rival
Kentucky to the north, this Volunteer QB is going to have to show his toughness and
composure to even try and get past tough teams like Georgia and Kentucky.
Hooker has a lot behind him in coach Josh Heupel who enters his 2nd year and
believes in the senior talent. Hooker is definitely a QB to watch especially with good battles against Georgia and Alabama last year, he also has one of his top receivers returning to throw to as well. With expectations of entering the 2023 NFL draft, Hooker should be able to put up the stats to impress scouts to get into the league this season.
Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide:
The Heisman Trophy winner is back and ready for more action in 2022 and quite
possibly looking to make it back to back trophies. The redshirt sophomore had a
standout Heisman season with almost 5000 passing yards, a 67% completion rate, 47
touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions. Bryce Young had a tough start as a true
freshman with only throwing 22 passes and being backup to Tua Tagovailoa in 2020.
Young really broke out in 2021 and looks to make it happen the same way in 2022 as
well. Having lost big players like Jameson Williams and John Metchie to the league,
Young will have to look to transfers Jermaine Burton and Tyler Harrell to make big
plays. Bryce Young plays well under Bill O’Brien’s offense and Alabama clones talented wide receivers so we should see another great season with Young under center.
CJ Stroud, Ohio State Buckeyes:
The standout QB from Ohio State is looking for revenge, not just for placing 4th in the
Heisman race, but also revenge on the Michigan Wolverines as well. With posting over
4400 passing yards, with a 72% completion rate and having 44 touchdowns and only 6
interceptions, Stroud is looking to make it a standout season in 2022. Being better than
record holder Dwayne Haskins by about 20 yards every game this past season, Stroud lost a few receivers to the draft in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Smith-Njigba is coming back and rising talents in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are ready for their numbers to be called. Stroud and Young were flipped back and forth for the number 1 spot, but Stroud has pure athleticism and that’s not saying Bryce Young doesn’t, but Stroud is a pure talent and he has earned that number 1 spot according to analysts.
With pure QB talent entering the 2022 season, other QBs like JJ McCarthy who might
get the starting job at Michigan, is up for the question of being in the top 5 for QBs if we
can actually get a look at what he can do at the position. College football always seems
to surprise us, and with a lot of young talent across the board, it will be a fun and
exciting season.
