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A closer look: The nation's quarterbacks
BY MIKE HUGUENIN
The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - This is our third annual ranking of the quarterback situation at each of the nation's 117 Division I-A schools. Important to remember: These rankings are a mix of talent, how the players fit in the offense, how we think the players will perform, how comfortable coaches should be with these quarterbacks in control and quality of the backup. (NOTE: (ASTERISK)_denotes a new starter.)
Team + Starter / backup + The Buzz
1. Arizona State + Andrew Walter / Sam Keller + Walter needs to bounce back from relatively mediocre `03 season.
2. USC + Matt Leinart / John David Booty + Leinart will find it hard to build on last season's stats.
3. Purdue + Kyle Orton / Brandon Kirsch + Orton at controls of what should be Big Ten's best offense.
4. California + Aaron Rodgers / Reggie Robertson + By end of season, Rodgers could be best QB in nation.
5. Oklahoma + Jason White / Paul Thompson + White trying to become 2nd player to win 2 Heismans.
6. Georgia + David Greene / D.J. Shockley + Greene should become leading passer in SEC history.
7. Clemson + Charlie Whitehurst / Will Proctor + Whitehead has great size, nice arm, good mobility.
8. Missouri + Brad Smith / Chase Patton + Smith a great athlete who must become better passer.
9. Akron + Charlie Frye / Jabari Arthur + Frye is big, mobile, has good arm and is underrated nationally.
10. Florida + Chris Leak / Gavin Dickey + Leak is only non-upperclass starter in our top 20.
11. Connecticut + Dan Orlovsky / Matt Bonislawski + NFL scouts love Orlovsky's size, experience in pro-style attack.
12. Louisville + Stefan LeFors / Brian Brohm + LeFors emerged as a force last season for Cardinals.
13. Hawaii + Timmy Chang / Jack Rolovich + Chang should become NCAA's leading career passer.
14. Florida State + Chris Rix / Wyatt Sexton + Rix has the physical tools, but still makes too many mistakes.
15. Toledo + Bruce Gradkowski / Marques Council + Gradkowski will oversee one of nation's best offenses.
16. Utah + Alex Smith / Brian Johnson + Smith, a junior, is a star on the rise.
17. Memphis + Danny Wimprine / Bobby Robison + Wimprine has nice arm - and a nice set of targets.
18. North Carolina + Damian Durant / Matt Baker + Durant is a playmaker who doesn't have enough help.
19. Cincinnati + Gino Guidugli / Dustin Grutza + Guidugli has been stuck in neutral past 2 seasons.
20. Vanderbilt + Jay Cutler / Steven Bright + Cutler a good athlete who has some running ability.
21. Texas + Vincent Young / Chance Mock + Mack Brown does not want a quarterback controversy.
22. Oregon State + Derek Anderson / Adam Rothenfluh + Anderson can be great one series, unspeakably bad the next.
23. Houston + Kevin Kolb / Kendal Briles + Kolb was ultra-productive as true freshman last season.
24. Fresno State + Paul Pinegar / Tom Brandstater + If Pinegar can stay healthy, a big season awaits.
25. Tulsa + James Kilian / Paul Smith + Kilian threw for 22 TDs and ran for 7 more last season.
26. Miami + Brock Berlin / Kyle Wright + When all is said and done, Berlin's career will be a disappointment.
27. Oregon + Kellen Clemens / Johnny DuRocher + After sharing job last season, Clemens is clear No. 1 now.
28. UAB + Darrell Hackney / Curtis Falany + Hackney a star on rise, but backups are weak.
29. Alabama + Brodie Croyle / Spencer Pennington + Croyle has cannon arm, but lacks go-to receiver.
30. Arkansas + Matt Jones / Alex Mortensen + Jones is only returning starter on offense for Hogs.
31. Virginia Tech + Bryan Randall / Sean Glennon + Randall should be solid dual threat for Hokies.
32. Illinois + Jon Beutjer / Chris Pazan + Beutjer is a 6th-year senior who can't stay healthy.
33. Marshall + Stan Hill / Graham Gochneaur + Back injury plagued Hill last season.
34. Boston College + Paul Peterson / Matt Ryan + Peterson came on strong at end of last season.
35. West Virginia + Rasheed Marshall / Charles Hales + Mountaineers need to improve their passing attack.
36. TCU + Brandon Hassell / Tye Gunn + Gunn has started but has been injury-prone.
37. Utah State + Travis Cox / Matt Crivello + Cox will have good numbers in pass-first offense.
38. Georgia Tech + Reggie Ball / Patrick Carter + Ball was OK as true freshman last season but must be better passer.
39. Texas Tech(ASTERISK) + Sonny Cumbie / Cody Hodges + New guy will have great numbers in Tech's pass-happy attack.
40. Kent State + Josh Cribbs / Antwan Smith + Cribbs an elusive runner, needs to be better passer.
41. Colorado + Joel Klatt / James Cox + QB is the least of the Buffs' problems.
42. Notre Dame + Brady Quinn / Pat Dillingham + Huge drop-off from Quinn to No. 2 guy.
43. Penn State + Zach Mills / Michael Robinson + Mills' accomplishments haven't equaled his talent level.
44. Boise State(ASTERISK) + Mike Sanford / Jared Zabransky + New guy will have good numbers in Broncos' high-tech offense.
45. Northern Illinois + Josh Haldi / Chris Carr + Haldi, a senior, backed up by talented freshman trio.
46. Texas A&M + Reggie McNeal / Stephen McGee + McNeal hasn't progressed as Aggies had hoped.
47. Auburn + Jason Campbell / Brandon Cox + Campbell working with 4th coordinator in as many seasons.
48. Northwestern + Brett Basanez / Chris Malleo + Basanez was solid as freshman, regressed as sophomore.
49. Stanford + Trent Edwards / Kyle Matter + 2 big-time recruits still looking for consistency.
50. Ohio State(ASTERISK) + Justin Zwick / Troy Smith + Zwick was one of Buckeyes' highest-profile recruits ever.
51. Wake Forest + Cory Randolph / Ben Mauk + Randolph (from Lake City) does nice job in Wake's funky attack.
52. Iowa(ASTERISK) + Drew Tate / Jason Manson + Tate is an athletic guy who gives Hawkeyes a different dimension.
53. Michigan(ASTERISK) + Matt Gutierrez / Clayton Richard + New guy will have tons of weapons at reciever.
54. LSU(ASTERISK) + Marcus Randall / JaMarcus Russell + A lot of pressure on Randall to be adequate starter.
55. Virginia(ASTERISK) + Marques Hagans / Chris Olsen + Hagans has good mobility and nice arm, but he's just 5-10.
56. Southern Miss + Dustin Almond / Damion Carter + Almond (from Orange Park) has some prime targets on the outside.
57. La.-Lafayette + Jerry Babb / Luke Sniewski + Babb, a sophomore, is a guy to keep an eye on.
58. Colorado State(ASTERISK) + Justin Holland / Joey Kearney + Holland was one of biggest recruits in school history.
59. UCLA + Drew Olson / David Koral + Olson has struggled in 2 seasons as starter.
60. Kentucky(ASTERISK) + Shane Boyd / Andre Woodson + UK fans will miss Jared Lorenzen.
61. North Texas + Scott Hall / Joey Byerly + Backup Andrew Smith died in wreck earlier this month.
62. Wisconsin(ASTERISK) + John Stocco / Tyler Donovan + Expect Badgers to pound the ball on the ground.
63. Rice(ASTERISK) + Greg Henderson / Joel Armstrong + Henderson will be able to guide run-based attack with aplomb.
64. Kansas State(ASTERISK) + Dylan Meier / Allen Webb + Both are young, but both come highly touted.
65. NC State(ASTERISK) + Jay Davis / Marcus Stone + All Davis has to do is adequately replace Philip Rivers. Good luck.
66. Temple + Walter Washington / Mike McGann + Washington (from Mainland) is a nice dual threat for Owls.
67. Tennessee(ASTERISK) + Brent Schaefer / Erik Ainge + Each is a true freshman. Yikes.
68. Rutgers + Ryan Hart / Anthony Cali + Hart (from Fort Lauderdale) leads a program on the rise.
69. New Mexico State + Buck Pierce / Paul Dombrowski + Both can run the option and throw it a bit, too.
70. Oklahoma State(ASTERISK) + Donovan Woods / Al Pena + Donovan is brother of graduated star WR Rashaun Woods.
71. BYU + John Beck / Matt Berry + Bad QB play has doomed Cougars the past 2 seasons.
72. Washington State(ASTERISK) + Josh Swogger / Alex Brink + Swogger is big kid (6-5/238) expected to produce good numbers.
73. Nebraska(ASTERISK) + Joe Dailey / Beau Davis + Welcome to the West Coast offense, Huskers.
74. Maryland(ASTERISK) + Joel Statham / Jordan Steffy + Friedgen will get the most out of his new starter.
75. Pittsburgh(ASTERISK) + Tyler Palko / Luke Getsy + Panthers should be a bit uneasy about this situation.
76. Wyoming(ASTERISK) + Corey Bramlet / J.J. Raterink + Bramlet replaces his brother, Casey, as the starter.
77. Washington(ASTERISK) + Casey Paus / Isaiah Stanback + Paus the better passer, Stanback the better runner.
78. Michigan State(ASTERISK) + Stephen Reaves / Drew Stanton + Reaves (from Tampa) wins job because Stanton is hurt.
79. San Diego State + Matt Dlugolecki / Kevin O'Connell + If Dlugolecki struggles, he'll be benched quickly.
80. Iowa State(ASTERISK) + Bret Meyer / Austin Flynn + Meyer is a touted redshirt freshman said to be a playmaker.
81. La.-Monroe + Steven Jyles / Kinsmon Lancaster + Jyles has to make do with new receiving corps.
82. Minnesota(ASTERISK) + Bryan Cupito / Adam Ernst + All Gophers need is for new QB to hand it off 45 times a game.
83. Ole Miss(ASTERISK) + Micheal Spurlock / Ethan Flatt + Athletic Spurlock has thrown 8 career passes.
84. Arizona + Kris Heavner / Ryan O'Hara + New coaching staff will open up the offense.
85. Indiana + Matt LoVecchio / Graeme McFarland + LoVecchio won't be asked to do that much in IU's offense.
86. UNLV + Kurt Nantkes / Shane Steichen + Nantkes, a senior, struggled as the starter last season.
87. South Carolina + Dondrial Pinkins / Syvelle Newton + Can either of these guys throw the ball effectively?
88. SMU + Chris Phillips / Tony Eckert + Phillips showed some talent at the end of last season.
89. Idaho + Michael Harrington / Brian Nooy + Harrington is Joey's little brother.
90. Tulane(ASTERISK) + Lester Ricard / Nick Cannon + Ricard, named the starter Wednesday, is a LSU transfer.
91. Nevada(ASTERISK) + Jeff Rowe / Travis Moore + Wolf Pack will throw it more often this season.
92. UTEP(ASTERISK) + Jordan Palmer / Omar Duarte + Jordan is brother of Carson Palmer.
93. Central Michigan(ASTERISK) + Grant Arnoldink / Kent Smith + Chips plan to throw the ball all over the lot.
94. Western Michigan(ASTERISK) + Ryan Cubit / Blayne Baggett + Cubit began his career at Rutgers.
95. Miami (Ohio)(ASTERISK) + Josh Betts / Mike Kokal + RedHawks will miss Ben Roethlisberger. A lot.
96. Bowling Green(ASTERISK) + Omar Jacobs / Van Johnson + Jacobs (from Delray Beach) is athletic guy with strong arm.
97. UCF(ASTERISK) + Steven Moffett / Brandon Sumner + QB's responsibilities have changed with new staff.
98. Duke + Mike Schneider / Chris Dapolito + Look for Blue Devils to play at least two QBs this season.
99. Air Force(ASTERISK) + Shaun Carney / Andy Gray + Carney will be 1st freshman QB to ever start opener for Falcons.
100. New Mexico(ASTERISK) + Kole McKamey / Tali Ena + McKamey, a good athlete, will hand it off a lot.
101. Mississippi State(ASTERISK) + Omarr Conner / Kyle York + Bulldogs want to throw more - but can these guys do that?
102. Navy(ASTERISK) + Aaron Polanco / Lamar Owens + Middies are going to miss departed QB Craig Candeto.
103. Baylor(ASTERISK) + Shawn Bell / Dane King + Bears' offense isn't good.
104. Louisiana Tech(ASTERISK) + Donald Allen / Matt Kubik + No QB on the roster has attempted a college pass.
105. East Carolina + James Pinkney / Desmond Robinson + ECU's new QB coach is former UF player Noah Brindise.
106. Middle Tennessee(ASTERISK) + Josh Harris / Clint Marks + MTSU will have good offense - if QB comes through.
107. Syracuse(ASTERISK) + Perry Patterson / Joe Fields + No QB on the roster has attempted a college pass.
108. Kansas(ASTERISK) + Adam Barmann / Jason Swanson + Departed QB Bill Whittemore was KU's most important player.
109. USF + Jean Julmiste / Ronnie Banks + These guys were mediocre for Bulls last season.
110. Ohio U. + Ryan Hawk / Austen Everson + After using triple option, Bobcats going to pass-happy attack.
111. Eastern Michigan(ASTERISK) + Matt Bohnet / Ken Bohnet + Matt is a transfer from Iowa.
112. Army + Zac Dahman / Reggie Nevels + Army going from spread attack to ground-based system.
113. Buffalo + P.J. Pisorik / Randall Secky + These guys threw a combined 6 TD passes last season.
114. Troy State + Aaron Leak / Carl Meadows + Leak completed 42.5 percent of his passes last season.
115. Ball State(ASTERISK) + Joey Lynch / Casey Gillin + Lynch is son of former Ball State coach.
116. San Jose State(ASTERISK) + Dale Rogers / Adam Tafralis + The 2 have combined to throw 4 college passes.
117. Arkansas State(ASTERISK) + Nick Noce / Devin Hollins + Senior starter Elliott Jacobs quit the 1st day of fall practice.
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