College Football Live - The Most Important Position in Football

Episode Date: July 30, 2024

Host Phil Murphy is joined by Jordan Reid and Harry Lyles Jr to discuss all things quarterbacks, from Haynes King and Georgia Tech, to the best QBs joining a new squad. Plus, the crew discusses the most "pro-ready" quarterbacks to look out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We'd love to talk, business. We are sprinting out the tunnel here on college football live. Hey, forget sophomore slump. Which QBs are in line to have a breakout year two under center at their current programs. Playoff hopes hang on that question. It's also familiar faces and new places at several other premier schools. We weigh in on which quarterback could make an immediate impact despite still needing a map to get around campus. Plus, we know it's July.

The NFL draft isn't for nine months, but which QBs are most pro ready today? and who has a little something left to prove this season. College Football Live starts now. This is College Football Live, and we do not apologize for the clear QB theme today. It is the most important position in the sport. I'm Phil Murphy here in studio calling the plays for Jordan Liles and Harry Liles. But the first word is going to come from ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, who said this last week at the ACC football kickoff.

The ACC is the conference of quarterbacks. 13 enter the season with over 20 career touchdown passes and 3,500 career passing yards. Eight quarterbacks are projected to start week one in the 2024 NFL season, 25% of NFL teams. And since 2018, at least one quarterback has been drafted in the first round in five different drafts, the only conference that can state that claim. So we'll take a look at the self-build conference of quarterbacks. Cade Clubnick returns at Clemson, as does Thomas Costellanos for Boston College. But the ACC did add some big names too.

You see Cam Ward coming to Miami from Washington State, long time. Coastal Carolina QB, Grayson McCall headed to Raleigh and DJ Uiaga-Lalelay takes over in Tallahassee. Penn State has labeled itself linebacker U, Purdue, the cradle of quarterbacks. Harry Liles, what do you make of the ACC's claim as the conference of quarterbacks in 2024? You know, I know initially when everybody saw this, especially with all the labeling during ACC media days, that their first inclination was to sort of laugh about this, but I don't really hate it, to be honest with you. I mean, he mentioned a lot of the players that are currently in the NFL playing the quarterback position. You saw the list of the quarterbacks that we saw there,

both new faces and some old faces. And I would even say if you go towards the bottom of the list, or at least players that might end up on the bottom of the list of a ranking of ACC quarterbacks, I can think of a guy like Anthony Calandria at Virginia who's going to be in his second year, who was a guy that was really exciting, showed some great flashes, and could end up having a really good season. So I do think at least in terms of depth, this is the quarterback conference, actually. Well, I love that he stated his claim and he had the facts to back it up. So kudos to Jim Phillips there having a lot of giving himself a lot of credit there to the conference that he loves so much. But I still think it is the SEC this year.

The SEC is king when you're talking about producing talent, not only just quarterbacks, but just talent. in general and it is very stocked this year. I like Jalen Millrow, the quarterback of Alabama, Carson Beck of Georgia, even Jackson Dart at Ole Miss. So I think this is one of the better years for the SEC at quarterback. And I'm just going to give them the slight edge over the ACC this year. And Jordan, to your point, the ACC conference told that QBR was only ahead of the Big Ten last year amongst power conferences.

SEC was up at number one. Hey, they got a QB in Atlanta. Haynes King showed potential in his first season at Georgia Tech last year. He and He and Heidman winner, Jane Daniels, were the only two Power 5 QB with 2,500 pass yards and 700 rush yards. But before the Yellow Jacket season kicks off a month from tomorrow in Dublin, former Georgia Tech quarterback Tom Lugabill caught up with Haynes King. So you're thinking you're going to throw this on time right there.

There. And he's going to run the out, but he busts. So now I can see your hand coming away from the football right here. You end up being able to make the throw under duress. You've got some people in your face. When this left your hand, what was your thought? I knew he was going to catch nobody because it was so high and wide. Okay.

And that's kind of where you want the football if it's going outbreak and routes. You went high and wide. Only your guy can get it or you play the next down. Yes. You can catch the entire film room session tonight on ACC Road Trip, 6 p.m. Eastern on ACC network. And King, as mentioned, week zero, we'll have his hands full from the, opening whistle against the Seminoles. Jordan, how do you see that Georgia Tech offense, FSU defense matchup playing out?

Well, this definitely is the most intriguing matchup between the two units on each side of the ball just because Florida State returns a lot on defense. And I think Mark Novel has done a really good job of mixing in a homegrown talent as well as bringing in guys from the transport portal. They got some guys from the transport portal, Georgia, excuse me, from Georgia Marvin Jones Jr. Defensive Inn, who they like a lot. And then they've had a lot of other players that they like, too. but Patrick Payton, the defensive end of Florida State, is one player that I'm keeping an eye on in this match up.

He has to get pressure on Haynes King just because Haynes King did a good job to take care of the football last year, but when he did face some pressure, there was some turnover worthy play, so they have to get some pressure on him. Yeah, I think the pressure is going to be a big key, Jordan, to your point. And also you mentioned a lot of their returning faces. Mike Norvell is one of the best in all of college football at adding transfers and fitting them in where they are appropriate. However, I do think that this Georgia Tech offense is going to be a really, interesting team this year. We talk a lot about the transfer quarterback in their second year. Haynes King is one of those. And we've seen some extreme examples of how great that could be

in the cases of Joe Burrow and Jaden McDonnell, or Jaden Daniel, who Haynes King actually was one of two players, the other being Daniel, who had 2,700 passing yards, I'm sorry, 2,500 passing yards and 700 rushing yards last season. And then other examples of that last year, Bo Nix, Mike Penix. So when you look at this team and the offensive weapons that he's going to have around him as well, and Jamal Haynes at running back, as well as Eric Singleton, who had a really good year. freshman last year at wide receiver. The continuity of this Georgia Tech offense while Florida State, you know, again, still have some continuity, but new faces that need to gel. It's going to be a really interesting one in Ireland, that's for sure. It's continuity. This is not your older brother's

Georgia Tech triple option, but they can still run the ball. And the yellow jackets led the ACC with almost 204 rush yards per game last season. And while King is in year two with the rambling record, we got some big name QBs in year one at new programs. Former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord is up at Syracuse. I mentioned DGA Uwaga Lelay's return to the ACC with that layover in Corvallis. Riley Leonard moves to South Bend. Dylan Gabriel is a Heisman contender in Eugene. This list could have been longer.

We didn't want our graphic to end up looking like an eye test. Harry, which transfer QB of these or elsewhere? Are you most excited to see? For me, it's Dylan Gabriel. He is one of the toughest players that I have seen in person since doing this job. Watched him from the beginning at UCF. You saw him transfer to Oklahoma and went in last year and won the Red River rivalry, arguably when Texas was close to their peak coming off that Alabama victory,

they were underdogs in that game. He got that done. And so now to go to a place like Oregon with a coach like Dan Landing who showed the last couple of years what he does with an experienced quarterback and some of the weapons that he's going to have in Tess Johnson and Evan Stewart as well, I think that this could be a huge year for Oregon. Obviously, you want to make a splash in your first year in the Big Ten. And I don't know that there's a better quarterback that they could have with the experience that he's got than Dylan Gabriel.

Yeah, Harry, Gabriel is a really underrated pick, but I'm going to stay in the Big Ten, and I'm going to go with Ohio State's Will Howard, who comes over from Kansas State, a big quarterback at 6'5, 240 pounds. What he's going to bring to this Ohio State offense is what they did not have last year with Kyle McCord, and it's the threat of mobility. This is something that they lacked last year just because there was a lot of inconsistency with the Buckeyes passing game, and they didn't have that quarterback that they could lean on to be a threat as a runner.

Will Howard also has a good arm as well. And if you think they have a ton of weapons coming back. And then they have a two-headed monster in the backfield in Quinn Sean Jenkins as well as Trayvionne Henderson. I expect Will Howard to have a big year in that Buckeye scheme. Nine rushing touchdowns last season for Howard and 19 over his four years in Manhattan, Kansas. Meanwhile, down in Fort Worth, Texas, TCU, 5 and 7 last season, is targeting Dana Horgerson for a spot on its staff. It's year three under Sunny Dykes, year two, with O.C. Kendall Bryles. Orgerson spent time on the offensive staffs at Texas Tech, Houston, and OK State before taking head jobs at West Virginia and Houston.

The Cougars fired Holgers in November. A hornfrogs have a year to QB and Josh Hoover. Coming up, we look at other second year quarterbacks poised to make significant strides in 2024. And Jordan Reed breaks down the QB prospects to know for the 2025 NFL draft, the things on which they must improve this year before they progress to the professional ranks. Welcome back to college football live. This year features a handful of quarterbacks looking to make a leap in their second years as starter. Carson Beck is looking to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Stetson Bennett,

and lead Georgia to a national title. And Alabama's Jalen Milro will look to lead the tide back to the college football playoff. Jordan Reed and Harry Lyles here with us. Jordan, start with you. That was far from an exhaustive list. I mean, Drew Aller at Penn State, Cade Clubnick and Clemson. Of all the second year QBs, which for you is. poised to make the biggest jump year over year?

Yeah, a lot of great candidates on that list, but I'm going to go with Kairn drones of Virginia Tech. And you talk about one team that could crash the party in the ACC unexpectedly. I think it's Virginia Tech. Now, I think there's still one recruiting cycle away from being a true contender year in and year out in the ACC. But one player we're going to talk about a lot this year as Kyron Drones. And I go back to what I saw with him in the bowl game against Tulane, 176 rushing yards.

This is not just a rushing threat. he's also a really good passer as well. So leading the Hokies, I believe Kyron Jones could be a player that leads them potentially to being a contender in the ACC. Yeah, those Hokies are going to be a fun watch this year. I'm going with Jalen Milrow, which might seem kind of like a cheating pick because he finished the season strong,

but a lot of people forget he got benched after that Texas game and just had looked extremely tough. But in their last seven games, he had 15 touchdown passes, just three picks, almost 1,700 yards. He also had eight touchdowns on the ground. So, you know, it's perhaps not the best. thing to lose the greatest college football coach of all time. But if you're Jalen Milrow and you're looking around and you add Kalin DeBoer as your coach, I think that's a pretty darn good

replacement considering what we saw him do with Michael Pennix last year. And meanwhile, he is a more accurate passer and perhaps less mobile. I think that Kalin DeBore will definitely be able with his physicality, his strength and his arms, or excuse me, his speed and his arm strength, Kailen DeBore will definitely be able to get more out of Jalen Milrow this year. And that indelible moment produced in last season's eye. Iron Bowl. If that can be topped, it will be a good year in Tuscaloosa. But for a lot of these guys, progression will reveal pro potential. Jordan, for those of us with vested interest in the pro game, who are some QBs in position to parlay, I guess, a strong college season, into a spot on an NFL

roster? Yeah, this is a really fun quarterback class coming up. And not similar to last year, we don't have that true QB1 going into the season like we saw with Caleb Williams a season ago. But scouts that I talked to the true quarterback one at the top going into the season is Georgia's Carson Beck. He has the prototypical size. He has everything that you want at the position. 3,900 passing yards a season ago, 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He's decisive. He's an in-rhythm passer and has a very quick release.

His 2.3 second release time before the throw last year was tied for the fastest in the country. Now, without Ladd-McConkie, Brock Bowers, and Marcus Rosemey, Jack Saint, who were his through top weapons a season ago, he has to be a catalyst for that Bulldogs' offense this year. I'm really interested to see if he can come through and follow through with the hype. The second passer that I'm looking forward to watching this season is Colorado quarterback Chodor Sanders, who had over 3,200 passing yards a season to go, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions. He's just calm and a precise distributor. I love everything that he's able to do inside of the pocket.

A 69% completion percentage in 2023, which was the eighth best mark in the FBS. Now, he did suffer in FBS high 52 sacks. He needs to learn to get the ball out quicker. and just not taking as many chances as he did a season ago. So if he's able to improve on getting the ball out quicker, he has a chance to go in round one. Now going to Texas with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who's just a relaxed and effortless thrower.

You see plenty of the deep balls that he's able to complete down the field. 22 touchdowns and six interceptions a season to go. I really like what he was able to show in spurts, but he does need to improve the trajectory on his deep passes. He does have some that just hang in the air way too long, But we've seen what Steve Sarkesian has been able to do when we're talking about developing quarterbacks to attack by Lowell comes to mind. And we saw how the Miami Dolphins just invested in him. Quinn Ewers has a chance to turn out the same as well.

Now moving over to Notre Dame with Riley Leonard, who comes over from Duke. He only played in six games a season ago. He suffered a gruesome ankle injury back a season to go. But I love what he was able to show in those games. I was there when he played against Clemson in the season opener. and I thought was one of the best quarterback performances that I saw all season. Now, he does need to stay healthy now at Notre Dame, but the great thing for him is that he's now under LSU offensive coordinator,

Mike Denbrock, who we saw what he was able to do with Jaden Daniels. Maybe Riley Leonard could have that same type of catapult in his draft stock that we saw with Jaden Daniels that helped him become the number two overall pick this past season. Now, finishing up and going back to the SEC with quarterback Jalen Milro of Alabama, who's easily the most electrifying and exciting of this draft. You talk about A plus level athlete, but he has a really good arm as well. 34 completions of 20 plus air yards a season to go, which was the fourth highest mark in the FBS. He is an outstanding deep passer, but he needs to get better in the short-term intermediate areas.

And that's what we saw or we need to see from him this year. Now being in Kalin-Dabor's offense, he's going to get a chance to show what Michael Pennix was able to do in that offense a season to go. And I think Jalen Milrow has a chance to really help his stock this season. Yeah, Jordan. I think this is a great list. And honestly, a lot of already great players that have the potential to really skyrocket if a few things go their way. I think the two most interesting X factors here are with Carson Beck, because you mentioned the departure of a lot of his weapons that are going to be playing on Sundays this upcoming year.

If Carson can show that he has still taken another step despite that, I think that really helps him. And then with Shador Sanders, if he can really, one, eliminate some of those sacks because some of them were on him, but if also we hear about this reformed offensive line with Colorado, if they're able to do that, should work could also really skyrocket. Mark your calendars. April 24th, 2025, Lambo Field. The NFL draft opens on ESPN, just 268 days away. Far sooner, the 2024 NFL preseason kicks off Thursday with the annual pro

football Hall of Fame game. Bears fans will have to wait a little longer to see Caleb Williams. As the team announced today, he will not be playing. It's Houston, Chicago from Canton, Thursday night, 8 p.m. Eastern with a special edition of Monday night countdown at 7 Eastern. Williams was among the NFL bound QBs who left huge shoes to fill on campus. Jaden Daniels, Drake May as well. After the break, we'll discuss whose replacement is poised to step up and dazzling.

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Get tickets now. Welcome back to College Football Live. A record six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round in April. That means a record six college football teams. Got to replace a first round QB departure. Caleb Williams and Jane Daniels were the first two off the board. Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley then have new faces under center after watching the top two overall picks.

leave campus. I mean, we call it shoes to fill, but these are those special shoes. You've got to order when it's a no-brainer that the top pick from USC and you lose also a Heisman winner at LSU. Harry, who of those two programs is better positioned to have a strong season between Miller Moss and Garrett Nutsmeyer? I like Miller Moss. And, you know, we can go into their weapons and all these types of things. But for me, there's one simple reason. And it seems a reason that a lot of people have not been into as of late, and it's Lincoln Riley. Look, I know the trendy thing has been to sort of criticize him for last season,

and that's fine, but he is still the person that made Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray into Heisman Trophy winners. Jalen Hertz was a runner-up under him. Obviously, we know what he did with Caleb Williams. So if there's a coach out there that's going to be able to get the most out of whatever quarterback you put in front of him, I think Lincoln Riley is the guy, so I'm going to go with Miller-Moss. I'm actually going to go the other way with this one.

I'm going to go with Garrett Nussmeyer, just because I like the surround. founding pieces at LSU. And I know they have a lot to replace losing two first round picks and Brian Thomas Jr. And Malik neighbors, but they return who I think of the two best offensive towers, or two of the three best offensive tackles in the country in Will Campbell and also Emery Jones, Jr. And if there's one thing we know LSU is going to produce every year, it's wide receivers.

They have some guys on the perimeter that I think are ready to break out this year. Kyron Lacey is one name to keep an eye on. But we know they're going to be able to produce receivers. Silver lining for both these programs. both these guys played in bowls last season and both played well. Mack Brown did some Simone Biles gymnastics to find silver lining and trying to replace Drake May. He said at ACC media days, he prefers not having hype at QB like he had with the Patriots eventual number three overall pick. Brown hasn't said who this year's starter will be between Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and Connor Harrell.

Though Brown did say the eventual starter would need these keys once he takes over in Chapel Hill. Know the offense backwards and forwards so you can get us in the right play at the right time. Get the ball out of your hands and do not take a quarterback sack because we've had too many of those. It would be accuracy as a passer. It would be the ability to get the ball to the right guy. Don't just throw the deep ball if it's not there. Come down and get the ball to a really good player underneath. You don't get the big play every time and take care of the ball.

So those would be five of the maybe seven. things that we would ask them to do. So guys, Harry, start with you. UNC quarterback competition. You got the A&M transfer Max Johnson. You have Connor Harrell, who played in the bowl game for the Tar Heels. What do you make of this QB competition now for a team that's trying to keep up with the conference of quarterbacks in the ACC?

Yeah, they like what they've got in Connor Harrell. He was the guy that was 24 and one in high school won two state championships. Actually, has a really good relationship with the Tonga Vaila family and has trained with Tua and Talia at times before. So they really like what they see in him. I think he's Mr. Wright, but I think Max Johnson might be Mr. Right now because they also said how much they loved what they had seen out of him, obviously in the short time, that he has been with them.

But I think having a veteran there and seeing what he can do now, I think it's probably going to be the way that they go before they eventually go to Connor Harrell, who is a very talented player in his own right. Just summing up that long answer from Mack Brown. Just be stable. That's what he wants. He just wants stability with Carolina's offense. And Max Johnson isn't as talented of what they have had in years past with Sam Howell, as well as Drake May.

But we know with his experience, he's going to bring stability to the position while they do train Connor Harrow to be that guy of the future. That's what Max Johnson was able to do at Texas A&M. He was stable, even though he didn't put up those gaudy numbers, you know exactly what you're getting in him. So I think with him bringing that type of stability, that's what Mack Brown is going to want right now. Five bowl births in five seasons under Mac Brown at North Carolina. Jordan, for you, what is a barometer to define what success would be in 2024 in Chapel Hill? Well, I think you want to get to eight or nine wins. That's always what Carolina wants to do. And even though they've had early round quarterbacks in years past, and yes, I know they didn't get the results that they did want.

And I don't think they're going to be good as what they have had in years past. So I think getting in between that seven to nine win mark, I think that should be a fair target for them to get. I think that's a fair target. and honestly, whoever they decide to have it quarterback, they are going to have the benefit of having one of the best running backs in all of college football and Amarian Hampton in that backfield. That is somebody that when we were doing our pre-production meetings for the Duke's Mayo Bowl last year, was somebody that this staff was absolutely raving about.

And you obviously saw the numbers that he put up last season. He's only going to get better this year. So I think Jordan's barometer there for UNC is attainable and realistic as well. Eight or nine wins has been where North Carolina landed in three of the last. four seasons. They haven't had a double-digit win campaign since back in 2015 under Larry Fedora. But again, the ACC quarterback play, maybe the conference of quarterbacks we might poke and prod at, but the numbers are there, the proofs in the pudding. And it all comes out in the 2024 season, the most important position in the sport. We broke it down pretty deep today.

Jordan Harry, thanks so much for joining us. Come on back tomorrow, 3 p.m. Eastern for a fresh edition of College Football Live.