Unusual ranking of top returning quarterbacks

[PonyPride]

Something called College Sports Network has released its list of the top 25 returning quarterbacks in the country.

Thoughts?

1. John Mateer — Oklahoma
2. Garrett Nussmeier — LSU
3. Drew Allar — Penn State
4. Josh Hoover — TCU
5. Sawyer Robertson — Baylor
6. Sam Leavitt — Arizona State
7. Cade Klubnik — Clemson
8. Maddux Madsen — Boise State
9. Haynes King — Georgia Tech
10. Darian Mensah — Duke
11. Carson Beck — Miami
12. Kevin Jennings — SMU
Although Preston Stone was expected to lead the SMU Mustangs into the ACC ahead of the season, Kevin Jennings ended up being the quarterback to lead the program back into the national spotlight. Grabbing the starting job by the horns early in the season, his steady consistency in all facets and ability to turn a game on its head with his legs took the team to the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff.
Jennings is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback whose 8.5 yards per rush attempt last fall ranks fourth among all returning quarterbacks. His 150.9 passer efficiency is third amongst returning ACC quarterbacks who had at least 150 pass attempts in 2024, and Cade Klubnik is the only returning ACC passer with a higher dropback EPA than Jennings (107.55) in 2024.
A high-level performer across the season, Jennings logged six games with a grade of 80.0 or higher. That consistency helped contribute to his 81.3 overall grade. However, he was no stranger to producing explosive displays of dominance.
The SMU quarterback logged the fifth-highest graded game in the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning a 91.8 (A-) grade. Jennings showcased his ability to perform in the face of pressure (1.45 pressured EPA per dropback), dismantled the Panthers’ defense in the final two minutes of the first half, and was unstoppable on money downs.

13. Rocco Becht — Iowa State
14. Fernando Mendoz — Indiana (formerly of Cal)
15. Luke Altmyer — Illinois
16. Parker Navarro — Ohio
17. Diego Pavia — Vanderbilt
18. Blake Horvath — Navy
19. Gio Lopez — North Carolina
20. Nico Iamaleava — UCLA
21. Taylen Green — Arkansas
22. Behren Morton — Texas Tech
23. Brendon Lewis — Memphis
24. Athan Kaliakmanis — Rutgers
25. Joey Aguilar — Tennessee


Visibly absent from the list: Arch Manning of Texas ... so take this list with a grain of salt.