Which school is QB U right now?
Five places where recruits might go if their top goal is the NFL
By Brock Huard | ESPN Insider
There is often a difference between college programs that get great production out of their quarterbacks and programs that do the best job of developing QBs for the next level.
Two decades ago, the Miami Hurricanes, Brigham Young Cougars, Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies were clearly the teams most synonymous with Quarterback U (producing Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, Jim Kelly, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Mark Brunell and Bernie Kosar).
A decade ago, seemingly everyone Jeff Tedford tutored became an NFL first-round pick (Kyle Boller, Trent Dilfer, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith and Aaron Rodgers), and Steve Spurrier's prowess with passers seemed unmatched.
Today, the landscape has changed; coaches rarely stay put and the spread/zone-option scheme has changed the demands of the position, along with many of the traditional quarterback fundamentals. The emphasis of the passing game at the high school level, the vast number of passing camps and QB teachers, the boom of 7-on-7 passing leagues and the growth of strength and conditioning programs have advanced the learning curve and growth of the position.
These factors have allowed Matt Barkley to start as a ninth-grader at Mater Dei, Robert Griffin III as a freshman for the Baylor Bears and Cam Newton and Andy Dalton as rookies in the NFL. "The game has changed," says Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "I used to believe that a QB had to develop behind a veteran. That's just not the case anymore. Dalton, Newton, Matt Ryan and others are proof."
So then, which programs are the best in the nation at developing top-flight pro-ready quarterbacks right now? I asked a former coach (Mike Bellotti), a recruiting expert (Tom Luginbill) and a former NFL passer (Jesse Palmer) to weigh in. Coupled with their analysis I've put together a top-five list, in addition to looking at a few other programs that reside in the next tier.
Remember, this search for "QB U" is more about projection than it is about collegiate production. Mike Gundy, Gus Malzahn, Dana Holgorsen and Chip Kelly may be at the front of the line when it comes to innovation and quarterback execution at the collegiate level, but the top five schools that follow incubate a passer in a very demanding way on and off the field, at the line of scrimmage and have a recent track record of success that differentiates them from the pack.
Palmer puts it this way, "It's hard to find the tradition, relevance, pro style and system combination with the spread offenses becoming more and more en vogue today."
Here's our look at the programs that elite QB recruits with NFL aspirations should consider first:
<offer></offer>
1. USC Trojans
Surrounded by top-flight skill and talent, the country's No. 2 media market, ideal weather conditions to train year-round, an $85 million football facility, a staff littered with NFL know-how and experience, and an offensive-system that centers on the QB position, USC sits atop our list.
Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and Mark Sanchez have made healthy paychecks in the NFL, and Matt Barkley would have been added to that list had he decided to turn pro this offseason.
Lane Kiffin may have burned bridges in Oakland and Knoxville, but his résumé of college quarterbacks developed over the last 10 seasons is second to none, and don't minimize what he did in his one year with Jonathan Crompton (Washington Redskins) at Tennessee.
Kiffin would be the John Calipari of college football if he had to live within the one-and-done parameters. His recruiting message, like Calipari's, is very clear: If you want to compete for national titles while never losing sight of the ultimate goal of the NFL, then USC is the place for you.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide would rank at or near the top of the list of the best NFL producers at defensive back, linebacker, running back, defensive line and just about every other position group -- but my placement of them at No. 2 among QB schools may come as a bit of a surprise. However, with Greg McElroy and John Parker Wilson in the NFL, and AJ McCarron taking steps to get there, Nick Saban and Alabama can make a strong argument at quarterback too.
New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will continue the trend of up-and-coming offensive coordinators who fall in line with Saban's pro style of play. Maximizing field position, valuing the ball at all costs, accurately delivering in clutch situations -- these are all quintessential qualities needed to succeed at the pro level, and they have been requirements for Saban's passers the last decade. Two BCS championships in the last three seasons is evidence enough that the business plan works.
Much like Kiffin at USC, Saban and Calipari also share a similar coaching attribute: No matter how bright the star, the team will never be about one individual's numbers. Saban's triggermen will never have the gaudy video-game stats, just the one that ultimately matters the most: wins. In the end, that bottom line doesn't change at the next level either -- and QB recruits should continue to take notice.
3. Stanford Cardinal
The resources for a young passer are manifold on the Farm: NFL pedigree and experience on staff (Shaw's nine years and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's seven), cutting-edge training and conditioning facilities, ideal weather and climate, and a strong supporting cast that includes one of the best crop of young offensive linemen in the country.
Andrew Luck, of course, was a game-changer as well. He set the bar so incredibly high for managing formations, shifts, audibles, line-of-scrimmage mechanics and everything else he tackled at the position that Jim Harbaugh told me two years ago in a production meeting that Luck challenged him schematically "to do more, because of what he was able to absorb and handle."
The Cardinal have changed expectations for their program with back-to-back BCS bowl game appearances, and Shaw & Co. are doing less recruiting and more selecting of the top-tier, well-rounded student-athletes (including three four-star QB recruits in the last five classes, with another blue-chip already signed for 2013).
4. Missouri Tigers
Head coach Gary Pinkel and offensive coordinator David Yost do not run an offense as smashmouth as Alabama's or Stanford's, or as prototypical as USC's, but they have quietly sent their last three starting signal-callers to the NFL (Brad Smith, Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbert) and have a rising star in James Franklin, who assimilated himself nicely as a first-year starter in 2011.
In a sport of seemingly constant change, Pinkel and Yost have worked in tandem for more than a decade at Mizzou. The continuity shines most brightly at the quarterback position, where they adapt to their signal-callers' strengths, be it Smith's running ability, Gabbert's arm strength, Daniel's flair for the dramatic or Franklin's mix of scrambling and throwing skills.
Adaptability and a continuing ascension on the learning curve have been the staples in the Tigers' success at grooming passers for the NFL, and those attributes will similarly go a long way toward helping Mizzou find its footing in the SEC.
5. Washington Huskies
Steve Sarkisian can coach quarterbacks -- just ask Sanchez, Jake Locker and now Keith Price. Alongside Carroll and Kiffin at USC, Sarkisian molded Heisman Trophy winners and consecutive first-round picks. At Washington, Locker became the eighth pick in the NFL draft a year ago, and Price shattered every significant team passing record in 2011, including throwing 33 touchdowns in his first year as a starter.
The success helped the Huskies land two Elite 11 QBs (Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles) in their latest recruiting class, a feat that led Pete Carroll to call Sarkisian on signing day to ask how he landed such a haul.
The Huskies have a ways to go up front to compete for more than Rose Bowls any time soon; however, when it comes to enticing the best young QB prospects in the land, UW's tape and development speak for themselves.
When one ventures to compile a best-of list, a number of qualified and worthy suitors tend to be snubbed.
Two weeks ago, Bobby Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks would have cracked the top five here, without question. Petrino's résumé of well-groomed passers at Louisville, as well as his work with Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson, would have had the Razorbacks ahead of Stanford at No. 3; unfortunately, his transgressions have left a gaping hole to be filled in Fayetteville.
Landry Jones and the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft were once mentioned in the same breath, and although he's a defensive guy at heart, Bob Stoops has built his Oklahoma Sooners program around the arm of his star quarterbacks.
North Carolina State Wolfpack offensive coordinator Dana Bible played a major role in the development of Russell Wilson, and according to Luginbill has "Mike Glennon on the path to being a first-round pick next April."
The Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines can make valid arguments to crack the top five with a few improvements. For the Bulldogs, it comes down to whether Aaron Murray can play to the level Mark Richt believes he can, and whether the Bulldogs can hold on to the verbal commitment of Brice Ramsey, a highly touted local QB who has every major program beating down his door. Both Texas and Michigan have fought some levels of identity crisis with what they want to be offensively, but like Georgia, they can assemble enough talent to surround a passer and compete for national titles.
Five places where recruits might go if their top goal is the NFL
By Brock Huard | ESPN Insider
There is often a difference between college programs that get great production out of their quarterbacks and programs that do the best job of developing QBs for the next level.
Two decades ago, the Miami Hurricanes, Brigham Young Cougars, Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies were clearly the teams most synonymous with Quarterback U (producing Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, Jim Kelly, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Mark Brunell and Bernie Kosar).
A decade ago, seemingly everyone Jeff Tedford tutored became an NFL first-round pick (Kyle Boller, Trent Dilfer, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith and Aaron Rodgers), and Steve Spurrier's prowess with passers seemed unmatched.
Today, the landscape has changed; coaches rarely stay put and the spread/zone-option scheme has changed the demands of the position, along with many of the traditional quarterback fundamentals. The emphasis of the passing game at the high school level, the vast number of passing camps and QB teachers, the boom of 7-on-7 passing leagues and the growth of strength and conditioning programs have advanced the learning curve and growth of the position.
These factors have allowed Matt Barkley to start as a ninth-grader at Mater Dei, Robert Griffin III as a freshman for the Baylor Bears and Cam Newton and Andy Dalton as rookies in the NFL. "The game has changed," says Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "I used to believe that a QB had to develop behind a veteran. That's just not the case anymore. Dalton, Newton, Matt Ryan and others are proof."
So then, which programs are the best in the nation at developing top-flight pro-ready quarterbacks right now? I asked a former coach (Mike Bellotti), a recruiting expert (Tom Luginbill) and a former NFL passer (Jesse Palmer) to weigh in. Coupled with their analysis I've put together a top-five list, in addition to looking at a few other programs that reside in the next tier.
Remember, this search for "QB U" is more about projection than it is about collegiate production. Mike Gundy, Gus Malzahn, Dana Holgorsen and Chip Kelly may be at the front of the line when it comes to innovation and quarterback execution at the collegiate level, but the top five schools that follow incubate a passer in a very demanding way on and off the field, at the line of scrimmage and have a recent track record of success that differentiates them from the pack.
Palmer puts it this way, "It's hard to find the tradition, relevance, pro style and system combination with the spread offenses becoming more and more en vogue today."
Here's our look at the programs that elite QB recruits with NFL aspirations should consider first:
<offer></offer>
1. USC Trojans
Surrounded by top-flight skill and talent, the country's No. 2 media market, ideal weather conditions to train year-round, an $85 million football facility, a staff littered with NFL know-how and experience, and an offensive-system that centers on the QB position, USC sits atop our list.
Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and Mark Sanchez have made healthy paychecks in the NFL, and Matt Barkley would have been added to that list had he decided to turn pro this offseason.
Lane Kiffin may have burned bridges in Oakland and Knoxville, but his résumé of college quarterbacks developed over the last 10 seasons is second to none, and don't minimize what he did in his one year with Jonathan Crompton (Washington Redskins) at Tennessee.
Kiffin would be the John Calipari of college football if he had to live within the one-and-done parameters. His recruiting message, like Calipari's, is very clear: If you want to compete for national titles while never losing sight of the ultimate goal of the NFL, then USC is the place for you.
<hr style="width: 50%;">
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide would rank at or near the top of the list of the best NFL producers at defensive back, linebacker, running back, defensive line and just about every other position group -- but my placement of them at No. 2 among QB schools may come as a bit of a surprise. However, with Greg McElroy and John Parker Wilson in the NFL, and AJ McCarron taking steps to get there, Nick Saban and Alabama can make a strong argument at quarterback too.
New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will continue the trend of up-and-coming offensive coordinators who fall in line with Saban's pro style of play. Maximizing field position, valuing the ball at all costs, accurately delivering in clutch situations -- these are all quintessential qualities needed to succeed at the pro level, and they have been requirements for Saban's passers the last decade. Two BCS championships in the last three seasons is evidence enough that the business plan works.
Much like Kiffin at USC, Saban and Calipari also share a similar coaching attribute: No matter how bright the star, the team will never be about one individual's numbers. Saban's triggermen will never have the gaudy video-game stats, just the one that ultimately matters the most: wins. In the end, that bottom line doesn't change at the next level either -- and QB recruits should continue to take notice.
<hr style="width: 50%;">
3. Stanford Cardinal
The resources for a young passer are manifold on the Farm: NFL pedigree and experience on staff (Shaw's nine years and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's seven), cutting-edge training and conditioning facilities, ideal weather and climate, and a strong supporting cast that includes one of the best crop of young offensive linemen in the country.
Andrew Luck, of course, was a game-changer as well. He set the bar so incredibly high for managing formations, shifts, audibles, line-of-scrimmage mechanics and everything else he tackled at the position that Jim Harbaugh told me two years ago in a production meeting that Luck challenged him schematically "to do more, because of what he was able to absorb and handle."
The Cardinal have changed expectations for their program with back-to-back BCS bowl game appearances, and Shaw & Co. are doing less recruiting and more selecting of the top-tier, well-rounded student-athletes (including three four-star QB recruits in the last five classes, with another blue-chip already signed for 2013).
<hr style="width: 50%;">
4. Missouri Tigers
Head coach Gary Pinkel and offensive coordinator David Yost do not run an offense as smashmouth as Alabama's or Stanford's, or as prototypical as USC's, but they have quietly sent their last three starting signal-callers to the NFL (Brad Smith, Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbert) and have a rising star in James Franklin, who assimilated himself nicely as a first-year starter in 2011.
In a sport of seemingly constant change, Pinkel and Yost have worked in tandem for more than a decade at Mizzou. The continuity shines most brightly at the quarterback position, where they adapt to their signal-callers' strengths, be it Smith's running ability, Gabbert's arm strength, Daniel's flair for the dramatic or Franklin's mix of scrambling and throwing skills.
Adaptability and a continuing ascension on the learning curve have been the staples in the Tigers' success at grooming passers for the NFL, and those attributes will similarly go a long way toward helping Mizzou find its footing in the SEC.
<hr style="width: 50%;">
5. Washington Huskies
Steve Sarkisian can coach quarterbacks -- just ask Sanchez, Jake Locker and now Keith Price. Alongside Carroll and Kiffin at USC, Sarkisian molded Heisman Trophy winners and consecutive first-round picks. At Washington, Locker became the eighth pick in the NFL draft a year ago, and Price shattered every significant team passing record in 2011, including throwing 33 touchdowns in his first year as a starter.
The success helped the Huskies land two Elite 11 QBs (Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles) in their latest recruiting class, a feat that led Pete Carroll to call Sarkisian on signing day to ask how he landed such a haul.
The Huskies have a ways to go up front to compete for more than Rose Bowls any time soon; however, when it comes to enticing the best young QB prospects in the land, UW's tape and development speak for themselves.
<hr style="width: 50%;">
Honorable mentions:When one ventures to compile a best-of list, a number of qualified and worthy suitors tend to be snubbed.
Two weeks ago, Bobby Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks would have cracked the top five here, without question. Petrino's résumé of well-groomed passers at Louisville, as well as his work with Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson, would have had the Razorbacks ahead of Stanford at No. 3; unfortunately, his transgressions have left a gaping hole to be filled in Fayetteville.
Landry Jones and the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft were once mentioned in the same breath, and although he's a defensive guy at heart, Bob Stoops has built his Oklahoma Sooners program around the arm of his star quarterbacks.
North Carolina State Wolfpack offensive coordinator Dana Bible played a major role in the development of Russell Wilson, and according to Luginbill has "Mike Glennon on the path to being a first-round pick next April."
The Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines can make valid arguments to crack the top five with a few improvements. For the Bulldogs, it comes down to whether Aaron Murray can play to the level Mark Richt believes he can, and whether the Bulldogs can hold on to the verbal commitment of Brice Ramsey, a highly touted local QB who has every major program beating down his door. Both Texas and Michigan have fought some levels of identity crisis with what they want to be offensively, but like Georgia, they can assemble enough talent to surround a passer and compete for national titles.
