Following the end of week seven, we are now past the halfway point of the college football season. In this article, we rerank my (James DeCarlo’s) top eight QBs from last off-season’s transfer portal, based on their play so far this season.
Transfer QB Leaderboard
1) Caleb Williams (USC) – Previous ranking: #1 (tied)
2022: 1971 yards 19 TD 1 INT on 63.9% throwing, 61 rush attempts for 235 yards, and 3 TDs
Caleb Williams is the easy choice as the top QB transfer, proving why he had a perfect rating as a transfer. The versatile talent currently sits at 3rd in Heisman odds for good reason (per VegasInsider). Williams has been the main factor in turning the program around, as the Trojans currently sit at 6-1 with their only loss to a strong Utah team on the road.
2) Michael Penix Jr (Washington) – Previous ranking: #23
2022: 2560 yards 20 TD 4 INT on 67.4% throwing
Although inconsistent during his stint in Indiana, Michael Penix Jr. has proven himself to be one of the best passers in the nation this season. He currently sits atop the rankings for most passing yards in the nation, thanks to him posting over 300 yards in every game. The Huskies have already surpassed their win total from last season, with much credit going to Penix.
https://twitter.com/TPortalCFB/status/1581407420899033088
More Sports News
3) Adrian Martinez (Kansas State) – Previous ranking: #8 (tied)
2022: 900 yards 4 TD 0 INT on 62.3% throwing, 91 rushes for 546 yards, and 9 TDs
Following a mediocre tenure at Nebraska, Adrian Martinez has finally found his footing in the Big 12, bolstering Kansas State into the top 25 as they currently sit at 17th. Although he doesn’t have the most impressive stats as a passer, Martinez earned his spot on the list through his ability on the ground, proving why he was a highly ranked dual-threat coming out of high school.
4) Jayden Daniels (LSU) – Previous ranking: #8 (tied)
2022: 1593 yards 10 TD 1 INT on 69.7% throwing, 90 rushes for 403 yards, and 6 TDs
Jayden Daniels would have found himself higher on the list if LSU hadn’t lost to a mediocre Auburn team where he heavily underperformed. Regardless, the LSU QB has been dangerous in both the air and ground, giving the Tigers somewhat of a chance in the SEC West.
5) Tommy Devito (Illinois) – Previous ranking: N/A
2022: 1415 yards 10 TD 1 INT on 70.4% throwing, 40 rushes for 51 yards, and 4 TDs
Tommy Devito serves as the surprise for the list, as he took a big leap this year after transferring from Syracuse, where he dealt with injuries for most of the last two seasons. The QB has led Illinois to its best start (6-1) in a long time which is the reasoning as to why he ranked so high.
https://twitter.com/CamMellor/status/1581341898395918337
6) Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) – Previous ranking: #6 (tied)
2022: 1618 yards 13 TD 1 INT on 65.1% throwing, 35 rush attempts for 163 yards, and 3 TDs
Although the Sooners have underperformed, Dillon Gabriel has shown a taste of why he was a Heisman contender at the beginning of the season.
7) Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) – Previous ranking: #3
2022: 1488 yards 11 TD 6 INT on 61.3% throwing, 53 rushes for 371 yards
Jaxson Dart makes the list mainly due to him being at the helm of a top-10 team in the country. Although he hasn’t performed to his full potential, the USC transfer has done his part in helping the Rebels remain undefeated thus far.
8) Cameron Ward (Washington State) – Previous ranking: #5
2022: 1962 yards 16 TD 8 INT on 63.2% throwing
Cameron Ward was an interesting transfer, as he came from FCS school Incarnate Word. Though adjusting to a different competition level, the Cougars quarterback has adapted well, showing why he was a 2nd team All-American at the FCS level.
https://twitter.com/PFN365/status/1580623150596952072
Falling Out of the Rankings
Quinn Ewers (Texas) – Previous ranking: #1 (tied)
This elite talent would likely be ranked if Quinn Ewers hadn’t gotten injured, as he’s shown flashes of why he earned a perfect ranking when healthy.
https://twitter.com/theqbschool/status/1580378035236311041
Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) – Previous ranking: #4
Ever since getting benched for Caleb Williams, Spencer Rattler has been rattled (pun intended). The former #1 ranked QB has yet to find his footing in the SEC.
Max Johnson (Texas A&M) – Previous ranking: #6 (tied)
The former LSU QB transferred to A&M expecting to be the full-time starter but that turned out to be false optimism. Max Johnson’s inability to take over an average QB in Haynes King is the reason for him being on this list.
Here's Max Johnson's game winning TD pass to Jaray Jenkins.
What a play. What a game. #LSU pic.twitter.com/d9fQiUEx11
— TigerDroppings (@TigerDroppings) November 28, 2021
Kedon Slovis (Pitt) – Previous ranking: #7
The USC transfer has struggled to get back to his freshman-year self when he oozed potential. Although he hasn’t played terribly, he hasn’t shown enough to earn a spot on the list.
https://twitter.com/On3sports/status/1568700484118003715
