With the start of the college football season just weeks away, now is as good a time as any to unveil our preseason position rankings.
Up first, we rank the quarterbacks.
1. Clemson: Deshaun Watson just passed for 4,000 yards and rushed for another 1,000, the only quarterback in FBS history to do so. What the Tigers have behind Watson is unknown, but Watson is the conference’s best quarterback.
2. Louisville: The Heisman Trophy hype train is leaving the station for Lamar Jackson. He finished the season strong, and early reports are he’s become a much better pocket passer. If he can remain healthy and show the consistency he lacked last season, he should be a star. The Cardinals also have solid depth behind him.
3. Miami: Early 2017 draft projections place Brad Kaaya right behind Watson as the best draft-eligible quarterback. He’s a prototypical pocket passer who should thrive under the tutelage of Mark Richt, who will have a more hands-on approach with the position. The Hurricanes are unsettled behind Kaaya.
4. Florida State: Deondre Francois will start the opener and hold the job as long as he plays well. He’s yet to start a college game, but he has a lot of experience around him. Fifth-year senior Sean Maguire broke a bone in his right foot, but is expected to return in September. If that injury lingers, the Seminoles have no depth behind Francois.
5. North Carolina: Larry Fedora was quick to name Mitch Trubisky the starting quarterback. Trubisky is a better passer than Marquise Williams, but Fedora said he’s just as fast as his predecessor, too. He could have a big season, but unlike the last two years when Trubisky backed up Williams, there could be a big drop-off behind Trubisky.
6. Georgia Tech: If Justin Thomas is healthy and plays the way he did in 2014, he could end up having the best season of any ACC quarterback. However, the Yellow Jackets struggled mightily in 2015, especially when Thomas was banged up.
7. Pittsburgh: Considered a dark horse in the Coastal Division, the Panthers need Nate Peterman to remain healthy and identify a few targets in the receiving game. Chad Voytik transferred, which could put the Panthers in a bad situation if Peterman is hurt or ineffective.
8. Duke: Thomas Sirk plans to come back for the opener after an Achilles tear he suffered this winter. While Sirk was inconsistent last season, he is definitely the best option for the Blue Devils at quarterback. Parker Boehme was able to take most of the first-team snaps this spring, however, with Sirk out. That should benefit the Blue Devils if Sirk has a setback.
9. Virginia Tech: Justin Fuente doesn’t sound any closer to naming a quarterback. Brenden Motley played admirably as a backup a season ago, but Jerod Evans is familiar with the Hokies’ new coach. There is some buzz surrounding Evans, the junior-college transfer.
10. Syracuse: Eric Dungey is the favorite to start after playing well at times last season and in the spring game. He could post big numbers in Dino Babers’ new offense. Dungey missed time last season, and if it happens again, the Orange at least have backups with experience.
11. NC State: The Wolfpack brought in Ryan Finley from Boise State, reconnecting new offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz with a player he worked with at his previous stop. Finley understands the offense, which could give him a leg up over Jalan McClendon.
12. Wake Forest: After one scrimmage, the Demon Deacons still have not selected a starter between John Wolford and Kendall Hinton. Wolford is more of a passer, and Hinton is a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands. Each has shown positive signs, but one needs to emerge and take command of an offense that has struggled recently.
13. Virginia: This position has haunted the Cavaliers recently, and it’s up to Bronco Mendenhall to put a stop to the quarterback woes at Virginia. Matt Johns is the turnover-prone incumbent, but Connor Brewer and Kurt Benkert are two transfers who could win the job. Mendenhall plans to decide this week on a starter.
14. Boston College: Steve Addazio believes Darius Wade can become a quality quarterback, but he needs to beat out Kentucky transfer Patrick Towles. The Eagles have more depth at the position than a year ago, but both Wade and Towles have a lot to prove.
