Honorable MentionsMarcel Reed – Texas A&MWith Conner Weigman transferring to Houston, Reed gets a full offseason to prepare to be the leader of the Aggies in 2025. With the additions of Mario Craver, KC Concepcion, and Jonah Wilson, The Aggies have rebuilt their receiving corps, though not retaining Micah Hudson is a blow. Center is the only position with a slight question mark with the return of Mark Nabou Jr. from injury, but the rest of the line projects as solid to elite. Reed should have the supporting cast to become one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this year.Arch Manning – TexasRanking Arch Manning as a top 10 QB is purely based on potential and pedigree, and I can’t put him there when so many other talented QBS have shown more on the field. The Texas offense has questions outside of Manning. The offensive line only returns one starter. 5-star freshman receiver Kaliq Lockett could make an impact as a freshman, but will Ryan Wingo, and Deandre Moore Jr. be able to offset the lost of their top 3 pass catchers? Arch Manning could easily be a top 5 QB by the end of the season, but not before a down is played.Darian Mensah – DukeCompleting 65.9% of his passes for 2,723 yards, Mensah had one of the best freshman seasons down in Tulane. But with the Blue Devils essentially cutting Maalik Murphy (who went 9-3 with a 1-point OT loss to SMU) from the team and bringing in Mensah on a $8 million NIL deal, Head coach Manny Diaz believes that Mensah isn’t just better than Murphy but could become one of the best QB’s in the country.Haynes King – Georgia TechA seasoned dual-threat entering year six. King takes care of the ball and can gash defenses on the ground. The big “if” is health. If he can stay upright, the Yellow Jackets could be dangerous, especially if FIU transfer Eric Rivers steps up to replace Eric Singleton
10. DJ Lagway – FloridaThrown into the fire after Graham Mertz’s injury, Lagway flashed big-time potential. He is raw and recovering from a shoulder injury, but the talent is undeniable. If he gets enough reps in the fall and keeps progressing, he could be Florida’s next star — and save Billy Napier’s job in the process.9.Carsen Beck – MiamiOnce a projected first-rounder, Beck’s Georgia tenure ended with an injury-plagued, turnover-prone year. At Miami, he will have young speedsters in Ray Ray Joseph and Josiah Trader on the outside, A solid offensive line led by top tackle prospect Francis Mauigoa, and an easier schedule in the ACC. A bounce-back year is in the cards.8. Behren Morton – Texas TechTexas Tech’s offense ranked fifth nationally in scoring and third in passing yards under Morton. Beyond that, the senior QB has experienced talent around him that could carry the Red Raiders even further. Transfers Hunter Zambrano, Will Jados, and Howard Sampson solidifies the offensive line. Quentin Joyner comes in from USC after averaging 7.5 yards rushing per game. 5-star freshman Micah Hudson returns with Caleb Douglas and Coy Eakin to form a solid receiving trio. This could be Texas Tech’s best shot at a Big 12 title in years.7.Sawyer Robertson – BaylorHe finished seventh in QBR last season, and that’s right where he lands here. Baylor won their last six Big 12 games and brings back four offensive line starters. With a full offseason as QB1, Robertson’s ready to build on a strong 2024.6. Sam Leavitt – Arizona StateThe Sun Devils lost their heart with Cam Skattebo, and Leavitt will have to step up as the leader and commander of Kenny Dillingham’s offense. Kanye Udoh will help offset some of the Skattebo loss on the field, and the transfers of Jaren Hamilton and Jalen Moss will help the receiver room. Still, Leavitt will need to make a major leap for an Arizona State team that won’t sneak up on anyone this year.5. Garrett Nussmeier – LSUNussmeier could be at the top of the list or out of the conversation entirely by the end of the year. Nic Anderson, Barrion Brown, and Aaron Anderson create one of the most dangerous receiver trios in the country. But with four O-linemen off to the draft, including 1st-rounder Will Campbell, protection could be a real issue. Nussmeier through seven interceptions just against Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Will the O-line hold up and allow the Tigers receivers to shine? Or will Nussmeier be under fire and continue to make mistakes under pressure.4. Drew Allar – Penn StateAllar will be a first round pick in next year’s NFL draft just based on physical traits alone. Great size and arm, good mobility, and a three-year starter a top-level program. Still, Allar’s game so far feels more like a game manager than a future franchise QB. The additions of Kyron Hudson and Devante Ross on the outside, along with the loss of safety blanket Tyler Warren, should force Allar to push the ball down the field to show off more of his talent.3. Lanorris Sellers – South CarolinaThe 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year brings juice. He’s electric with the ball, and his playmaking ability keeps the Gamecocks in every game. If Nyck Harbor finally breaks out at WR, Sellers could make a legit Heisman run.2. John Mateer – OklahomaI don’t see how anyone couldn’t put Mateer in their top 5. He led the FBS in total touchdowns, along with over 3,000 yards in the air and over 800 on the ground. He made better decisions with the football down the stretch, with only one interception in his final six games. With his offensive coordinator coming with him from Washington State, Mateer should hit the ground running in 2025.
- Cade Klubnik – Clemson