PonyFans.com

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

Thoughts?

1. John Mateer ΓÇö Oklahoma
2. Garrett Nussmeier ΓÇö LSU
3. Drew Allar — Penn State
4. Josh Hoover ΓÇö TCU
5. Sawyer Robertson ΓÇö Baylor
6. Sam Leavitt ΓÇö Arizona State
7. Cade Klubnik ΓÇö Clemson
8. Maddux Madsen ΓÇö Boise State
9. Haynes King ΓÇö Georgia Tech
10. Darian Mensah ΓÇö Duke
11. Carson Beck ΓÇö Miami
12. Kevin Jennings ΓÇö 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 PanthersΓÇÖ defense in the final two minutes of the first half, and was unstoppable on money downs.

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


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

As a rule, I dislike all things UT-related and often assume that any and all Longhorns are somehow overrated, but Manning sure appears to be the real deal. At the very least, he's better than some and most of the guys on that list.

Also, Jennings is better than Hoover, Robertson and King. I don't know much about Madsen or Mensah, so I'll sit that one out, and you wouldn't be alone if you made the argument that he should be below Becht, Pavia and/or Iamaleava.

In other words, we can ignore this list.

PonyPower wrote:As a rule, I dislike all things UT-related and often assume that any and all Longhorns are somehow overrated, but Manning sure appears to be the real deal. At the very least, he's better than some and most of the guys on that list.

Also, Jennings is better than Hoover, Robertson and King. I don't know much about Madsen or Mensah, so I'll sit that one out, and you wouldn't be alone if you made the argument that he should be below Becht, Pavia and/or Iamaleava.

In other words, we can ignore this list.

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