Welcome to the Thunderdome my #DFFArmy, the name’s Heady and college football signing day is FINALLY complete. Now that all of those four and five-star players have delivered their letter of intent to the college of their choice, it is time to dive into where the gunslingers of this class rank with regards to Devy leagues. Because most leagues only have three to five open roster spots, soon to be freshman quarterbacks will need to have that “it” factor to make them worthy. Lucky for you, I went out and spent the time watching their film to rank the five quarterbacks you should consider in this new 2024 class.
1. Jaxson Dart
Jaxson is by far my favorite quarterback when it comes to Devy leagues and his future pro prospects. While watching his film, it blew my mind that he was such a latecomer to the national recruiting scene. He is an electrifying talent that throws his receivers open with ease while maintaining a pocket presence that helps any coach sleep better at night. The biggest concern I have right now, from the tape I watched, is this: I caught him making off-balanced and back footed throws quite often. While Patrick Mahomes has made a name for himself by doing this, this is not a habit you want to see in a still-developing quarterback. Going to the University of Southern California is probably the best decision for his professional career. Not only does USC put quarterbacks in the league, but he will also get the coaching and mentorship from past Trojan greats needed to help turn him from the kid nobody knows about into a round one draft pick.
2. Caleb Williams
Williams’ film shows that he has gone through multiple QB camps and has received excellent coaching. The most notable thing I saw him do in his film was not the throws or the reads he made, it was the fact that he SLIDES! Finding a QB that knows how to do this proves he is a polished product and is only going to get better by going to Oklahoma. While he may sit a year or two behind Spencer Rattler, he will get to learn from one of the best quarterback coaches in the nation in Lincoln Riley. Not only does Riley get his QBs to the NFL, but they are also ready to compete for starting jobs when they get there. Ordinarily, they excel from the get-go, which for me, makes Caleb arguably the safest pick for a quarterback in Devy.
3. Ty Thompson
The only reason I don’t have this guy higher is that I noticed something interesting in his film. Despite being head and shoulders above others in talent, he is also head and shoulders above everyone else in real life standing at 6’4”. My question is why was he constantly rolling out of the pocket to make his throws? His offensive line was decent and he has the talent, as evidenced by his NFL-level throws. Don’t believe me? Go check out this clip and fast forward to the 1:30 mark. I believe he just needs to learn to trust his line and sit in the pocket. Thankfully, Oregon is quietly becoming a juggernaut in the Pac-12 and Ty will not be required to come in and start immediately. This will allow him to learn that the pocket is his friend. I see him being a late bloomer in the college ranks, making noise as a junior, and ultimately getting a shot to be an NFL starting quarterback.
4. Kyle McCord
Kyle makes this list despite the crowded quarterback room in Columbus. Why is it so crowded you ask? Because of the two men who are in charge of them. Corey Dennis and Ryan Day. They have been instrumental in developing arm talent at Ohio State and they will only make Kyle better. And that is scary. He already has one of the strongest and most accurate arms of the 2024 class, he just needs to improve his mobility in the pocket and not be a statue. Other than that, the sky is the limit for Kyle. One can only hope he has the patience and maturity to wait his turn to lead the Scarlet and Gray. Considering he received multiple offers from Ivy League schools, he probably possesses that patience, as you don’t get those offers without more than just football smarts between your ears. I know this may sound insane, but I could see this kid becoming an Andrew Luck/Peyton Manning type prospect. But, for now, he’s a Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s worthy of an NFL start, but may not be a centerpiece.
5. Tyler Buchner
Notre Dame has been a disappointment on so many levels when it comes to QBs ever since Lou Holtz and Rick Mirer left. However, in the past three years, we have seen growth in the development of Ian Book similar to that of my waistline. The reason behind Book’s growth, the no-named three-star recruit from California, into an NFL QB prospect is due to one man: Tommy Rees. Now comes Tyler to South Bend. He offers something Notre Dame has not seen since the DeShone Kizer days: a legit RPO threat who can throw dimes. The knocks against Buchner are his lackluster performance at the Elite 11 camp and the level of competition he played against in high school. Despite those two negatives, enrolling early at Notre Dame and gaining an extra semester should do Tyler wonders. Although he compares himself to Russell Wilson, I would equate him more to Marcus Mariota. The talent is there, he just needs a Scott Frost to help bring out his shine, and that’s what Tommy Rees will do.
Naturally, there are going to be the Trey Lance’s of the world who come out of nowhere and become viable NFL talent but odds are against this. If you have the space on your roster and need to draft a QB, taking one of these players is the safe play.
Until next time, come find me on Twitter @Heady_Football and become a member of the Heady Mafia or poke your nose around DFF and help us, help you.
