Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws the ball during the UGA G-Day spring football game at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Top Five for 2024: Quarterback Edition

Author:
Luke Brumm
Publish date:
May 10, 2024

By Luke Brumm

Starting with the quarterbacks, I will be going position by position and ranking my top five players for each position. This will be a lengthy series of articles that could span a couple of weeks, so be sure to look out for more.

5. Jalon Daniels

Jalon Daniels is one of my favorite players in all of college football, although he just can't seem to stay healthy. He has had great starts to the past two seasons, only to see injuries sideline him for the remainder of the year. Hopefully, he is back and can make it through the whole year, and if he can, Kansas will be a good team. They don't have Jason Bean to back him up and produce in his absence anymore, so his health is more important this season than ever before.

Daniels first burst onto the scene in 2022 after leading Kansas to a 5-0 start and their first top-25 ranking since 2009. He accumulated 2,014 passing yards and 18 touchdowns in nine total games. However, was hurt for the last couple. I expect a breakout season from him and the Jayhawks.

Oct 8, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) gets ready before the snap against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

4. Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur moved up from FCS to FBS and transitioned very well. People are going to say he took too many sacks to avoid incompletions, or that his play didn't translate to wins, but everyone has stuff to work on. I also know Deion Sanders is getting him more help, which he desperately needed last season, especially up front.

Sanders had 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. He also added four rushing scores. I only see these numbers improving and I can see why he is getting talked about as the number one pick in next year's draft.

Shedeur Sanders talks to the TV cameras after Colorado's victory over Colorado State on September 16, 2023
© Cris Tiller / USA TODAY NETWORK

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3. Dillon Gabriel

Gabriel is heading to Oregon after transferring from Oklahoma after last season concluded. He will be the starter as Dante Moore will watch and learn. Gabriel fits in well in Eugene and I expect more success from him there. The Ducks are headed for the Big Ten, so the competition will certainly improve, but I expect him to manage it.

Gabriel put up 3,660 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in 2023. He also added nearly 400 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. His versatility will be a weapon that Dan Lanning will look to take advantage of.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Eugene, Ore.
© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

2. Quinn Ewers

This was a tough choice for me on who to put one and two, but I went with Quinn Ewers in this spot. He has had a unique career so far. He skipped his senior year of high school to join Ohio State and basically redshirt and practice for a year, just to transfer back to Texas where he originally committed. He then started the 2022 season before breaking his collarbone vs Alabama.

In 2023, he came back, beat Alabama on the road, and led the Longhorns to a Big 12 Championship and a CFP birth in 2023. While he does lose his top two receivers, Texas added Isaiah Bond out of the portal from Alabama. Ewers should improve on his 3,479 yards and 22 TDs in 2024, and I expect success from Texas in their first season in the SEC.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
© Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

1. Carson Beck

We will actually get to see Ewers vs Beck this season when Georgia travels to Austin on October 19th. This will be a huge game with conference championship and playoff implications. Carson Beck will be entering his second year as the starter after sitting behind Stetson Bennett. Beck had 3,941 yards and 24 passing touchdowns in his first year as the starter and led Georgia to a 13-1 record. They fell just short vs Nick Saban and Alabama in the SEC Championship.

Georgia returns and added talent on the offensive side, and I expect the Dawgs to come out hungry this season. Their one kryptonite was Saban, but he isn't here anymore.