School soccer switch quarterback tiers: Playoff hopefuls, breakout candidates and extra in 2023 season

The period of school soccer “free company” continues to take over the game as greater than 150 quarterbacks entered the switch portal upon the conclusion of the 2022 season. In the end, practically two dozen Energy 5 packages might be including a brand new beginning signal-caller from the switch portal, and some of these additions could find yourself altering the panorama this faculty soccer season. 

Excessive-profile switch quarterbacks can dramatically change fortunes, similar to Caleb Williams heading to USC final 12 months the place he led the Trojans to the Pac-12 title recreation whereas claiming the Heisman Trophy within the course of. It might probably additionally show to be idiot’s gold, like earlier Tier 1 switch Max Johnson finally solely beginning for a part of the season at Texas A&M. Generally, a diamond is discovered within the tough, like Michael Penix Jr. occurring to guide the nation in passing yards at Washington. 

Beneath is a take a look at how the switch quarterback class grades out heading into the 2023 season as we break them down into tiers. 

Tier 1: Playoff hopefuls, league title contenders

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame: With out query, Hartman is the largest QB switch of the offseason. The senior ranks because the ACC’s all-time chief in passing touchdowns after throwing 110 scores at Wake Forest, together with 77 up to now two seasons. Now, he has the potential to utterly revitalize Notre Dame’s inconsistent offense. 

The Preventing Irish gained 9 video games in 2022 regardless of coping with quarterback accidents. Notre Dame didn’t produce a 300-yard passing efficiency till the ultimate recreation of the common season en path to ending No. 98 in passing offense. Hartman instantly transforms Notre Dame into one of many high models within the nation. If the Preventing Irish can discover some dynamic large receivers, Hartman might swing the School Soccer Playoff race. 

Brennan Armstrong, NC State: Armstrong led the nation with 4,449 passing yards in 2021 after a breakout season underneath offensive coordinator Robert Anae at Virginia. Now, Armstrong reunites with Anae at NC State with an opportunity to revitalize the Wolfpack offense after the unit completed No. 105 in complete yardage. 

After exhibiting versatility as a passer and runner, Virginia tried to maintain Armstrong within the pocket. Underneath Anae, and with a gifted line group at NC State, Armstrong ought to as soon as once more be capable of get again to his recreation and push the Wolfpack into the ACC title race. 

DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State: Opposite to Armstrong, Uiagalelei was rated the worst quarterback within the ACC by passer score in 2021. He confirmed enchancment in his second season, however the former five-star finally misplaced the beginning job to freshman Cade Klubnik because the season ended. In Oregon State, Uiagalelei has discovered an ideal place to reinvigorate his profession. 

The Beavers put collectively one of many quietest 10-win campaigns in current reminiscence regardless of accidents and inconsistency on the quarterback place. Nonetheless, coach Jonathan Smith is an offensive guru who is aware of the best way to completely deploy expertise and movement to trigger mismatches. Uiagalelei is likely one of the best expertise mismatches Oregon State has had since Jacquizz Rodgers was on campus. 

Hudson Card, Purdue: The Boilermakers enter a brand new period underneath Ryan Walters, and Purdue is leaning on Graham Harrell to direct a brand new Air Raid offensive scheme. To maintain the practice on the tracks, Harrell reeled in Card, one of many high quarterbacks within the switch portal, to interchange the departed Aidan O’Connell. 

Card performed in a dynamic Air Raid-style offense at Lake Travis Excessive College in Austin, Texas, and normal himself right into a high quarterback recruit. He flashed main enhancements in three begins for the Longhorns final season, finishing 70% of his passes for 741 yards, six touchdowns and 9.3 yards per cross try. The expertise is there for Card to pop. 

Tier 2: Nationwide breakout candidates

Devin Leary, Kentucky: Leary makes a robust case for Tier 1 however settles slightly below because the Wildcats are a protracted shot to compete with Georgia for the SEC West. Earlier than an injury-plagued 2022, Leary introduced as one of the vital underrated passers in school soccer. He accomplished 66% of passes for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions in 2021. 

Undoubtedly, Leary checked out Will Levis‘ rise to high NFL Draft prospect and — appropriately — thought he might do even higher underneath comparable circumstances. Making issues higher, the Wildcats introduced again offensive coordinator Liam Coen, the architect behind Kentucky’s 10-win offense in 2021. The mixture might get Kentucky again within the nationwide dialog. 

Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh: A former Notre Dame switch, Jurkovec helped convey life to the primary 12 months of the Jeff Hafley period at Boston School with a powerful first season, however accidents have pressured Jurkovec into combating to regain that stature since. 

Pitt has discovered a brand new gear over the previous two seasons, posting back-to-back nine-win seasons for the primary time in additional than a decade. The 2021 marketing campaign featured this system’s first ACC title since becoming a member of the league. Jurkovec, a Pittsburgh native, is the right passer to attempt to rediscover the passing recreation magic that took the Panthers to the highest. 

Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin: The Badgers are present process one of the vital drastic schematic transformations in current school soccer reminiscence after coach Luke Fickell employed the versatile Phil Longo as offensive coordinator. Wisconsin seemed to the switch portal and pulled out Mordecai, who was anticipated to enter the NFL Draft after a prolonged profession at SMU and Oklahoma. 

Mordecai threw for greater than 7,000 yards and 72 touchdowns over the previous two years underneath Sonny Dykes and Rhett Lashlee. He’s a veteran decision-maker that ought to instantly compete to be one of the vital productive passers within the Huge Ten. If Fickell is ready to land the airplane, Mordecai might swing the Huge Ten West race. 

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: Anybody who says they understand how Deion Sanders’ first season will go at Colorado is mendacity, however Shedeur Sanders offers this system an advantageous beginning place. In two years at Jackson State, Sanders accomplished 68% of his passes for practically 7,000 yards, 70 touchdowns and simply 14 interceptions. 

The leap in competitors to Colorado will probably be important, however offensive coordinator Sean Lewis offers the Buffaloes a transparent offensive id. The Buffs had been additionally energetic within the switch portal, giving Sanders a couple of big-time weapons. The down-to-down consistency won’t be there in Yr 1, however the pleasure will probably be. 

Collin Schlee, UCLA: Schlee remains to be in an open quarterback competitors after transferring from Kent State; he might nonetheless lose the job to both returner Chase Garbers or famous person freshman Dante Moore. In the end, although, Schlee’s expertise taking part in for the aforementioned Lewis at Kent State offers the Bruins an enchanting choice. 

Schlee accomplished slightly below 60% of his passes for two,109 yards and 13 touchdowns, and added 492 yards speeding on 5 yards per carry. He has some similarities, profile-wise, to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who led the Bruins to a robust season in 2022. If he can enhance his accuracy, Schlee can hold UCLA in Pac-12 competition. 

Tier 3: Bringing stability to the place

Spencer Sanders, Ole Miss: Sanders limitations are identified after 4 years beginning at Oklahoma State. He struggled with turnovers via his profession, particularly in massive video games. He additionally handled accidents all through his profession, which affected his consistency by the top of his profession. 

On the identical time, Sanders carried Oklahoma State’s offense over the previous two seasons, together with a visit to the Huge 12 Championship Sport and Fiesta Bowl. Within the 5 video games with out Sanders beginning, the Cowboys averaged a pathetic 14.4 factors per recreation and went 1-4. Sanders ought to mix with working again Quinshon Judkins to supply new stability within the Ole Miss backfield. He’ll compete with fellow switch Walker Howard and incumbent Jaxson Dart for the beginning function, however Sanders’ expertise ought to give him a leg up within the competitors with just one 12 months of eligibility remaining. 

Cade McNamara, Iowa: McNamara led Michigan to a Huge Ten title in 2021, however finally misplaced the beginning job to former five-star recruit J.J. McCarthy final season. Now he will get a recent begin to attempt to lead Iowa’s offense in direction of the vaunted 25-point mark. 

McNamara emerged as a robust recreation supervisor for the Wolverines, finishing 64% of his passes for two,576 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tight ends Luke Lachey and Erick All give McNamara a handful of targets. McNamara has work to do within the spring however ought to settle the place. 

Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State: Bowman disappeared on Michigan’s depth chart, however the passer who set the Huge 12 report for single-game passing yards by a freshman remains to be inside him. Bowman threw for five,260 yards and 33 touchdowns throughout three injury-plagued seasons at Texas Tech earlier than transferring. 

Notably, Bowman threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns in his ultimate matchup towards Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State group in 2020. Gundy has studied Bowman and is aware of his upside as a passer. He’ll cool down a quarterback room that confirmed main cracks when Sanders suffered an harm. 

Tier 4: Trying to take the following step

Drew Pyne, Arizona State: Pyne stepped in for starter Tyler Buchner in reduction and confirmed flashes as a passer, finishing 65% of his passes for greater than 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. Nonetheless, he felt it finest to discover a new begin, particularly after Hartman joined this system as a switch. 

Pyne is linking up with an Arizona State employees that has confirmed its means with quarterbacks. Coach Kenny Dillingham developed Bo Nix at Auburn and Oregon, and in addition did a robust job with Jordan Travis at Florida State. The battle with Jaden Rashada and Trenton Bourget will probably be aggressive, however Pyne has a fantastic shot to make his mark. 

Donovan Smith, Houston: The abilities are off the charts for Smith, who supplied an air of chaos whereas taking part in two seasons as a key reserve. He threw for slightly below 2,700 yards and 19 touchdowns up to now two seasons, however traded it off with numerous interceptions and fumbles in key spots. 

Now, Smith is becoming a member of quarterback guru Dana Holgorsen to assist usher Houston into the Huge 12. Holgorsen has carried out nice work with quarterbacks, and just lately helped Clayton Tune grow to be one of many nation’s high passers. With a bit of luck, Smith may be his subsequent nice protege. 

Graham Mertz, Florida: Mertz was touted as essentially the most thrilling quarterback recruit in Wisconsin historical past however was by no means capable of put issues collectively in 4 years with the Badgers. Now, he will get a recent begin underneath Billy Napier at Florida. 

The Gators are in search of solutions at quarterback after Anthony Richardson opted to depart for the draft after only one season as a starter. Mertz must win the beginning job over former switch Jack Miller, however two of the highest three receivers and high tight finish are each again to ease the transition. 

Luke Altmyer, Illinois: Altmyer competed with Dart for the beginning job at Ole Miss final season however finally misplaced and was restricted to 17 complete cross makes an attempt, 13 of which got here towards Central Arkansas. In his lone main look towards Baylor within the Sugar Bowl, Altmyer threw a pair of interceptions in reduction of Matt Corral. 

Nonetheless, Altmyer now has new life at Illinois. He joins offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who helped coach Tommy DeVito and Frank Harris to among the finest seasons of their respective careers at Illinois and UTSA, respectively. From a recruiting perspective, Altmyer charges as arguably the highest passer to play in Champaign since Juice Williams. The upside is thru the roof.