Monday Morning Quarterback: Preview of Returning NCAA QBs Eligible for Next NFL Draft

UCF QB McKenzie Milton
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) 

With the event of the NFL Supplemental Draft having taken place last week (that saw cornerbacks Sam Beal selected by the Giants and Adonis Alexander to the Redskins) all remaining upperclassmen at the NCAA-level are now officially apart of the 2019 NFL Draft Class — as potential prospects to be selected next April.

Over the next month or so —leading up to the kickoff of the 2018 NCAA Football season during late August — I'll preview the different position groups, featuring a few prospects who have legitimate potential of playing at the next level.

Though I plan on following with future pieces that provide an in-depth focus on a specific group of players who identify as the elite prospects at each spot — specifically with the potential to be first and early round picks — these initial reports will serve as a broad view of a number players. Serving as a preliminary list of names for those who are "draft-eligible" to have in the back of your mind during the upcoming season of college football soon to start.

Just because a player's name is found on this list doesn't guarantee they will be called during the 2019 NFL Draft. The opposite also holds true, as a prospect whose name may go unsighted here doesn't necessarily preclude them from possibly being on an NFL roster this time next year. Certain players performance will fluctuate throughout the season, as well as some under the radar players who will emerge throughout the season as true prospects to be taken into consideration.

With that said, here is an initial look at some of the names at the quarterback position for the 2018 NCAA Season that may soon find themselves preparing for their rookie season in the NFL.

Jake Bentley, South Carolina 

The studious All-SEC Academic honoree enters his junior year at South Carolina, having graduated high school in three years. This season may be his last in the NCAA as the 6'4, 224 pound team captain enters this season with momentum as the Outback Bowl MVP in a win over Michigan. 

Jake Browning, Washington 

The 6'2, 210 pro-style QB has started in 38 of his 39 games for the Huskies. He led them to a birth in the CFB Playoff in the 2016 season when he won PAC-12 Player of the Year, throwing for a school and conference record 43 touchdowns. He threw 19 last season, but with a career high 68.5 comp %.

Ryan Finley, NC State

The transfer from Boise State will enter his sixth season of college football, having graduated in three years and on track to earn two master degrees. On the field, Finley has completed 63% of his passes, second in school history to Phillip Rivers. He also went a then-active NCAA record 339 attempts without a pick.

Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State

Following in the footsteps of Dak Prescott, the 6'5 Fitzgerald has established himself as one of the elite dual-threat options in the country. Already setting the SEC record for most 100 yard rushing games by a QB (14). Last season he rushed for 14 TDs and accounted for another 15 threw the air. 

Deondre Francois, Florida State

As a freshman Francois won ACC Rookie of the Year in 2016, throwing for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns. This season he'll transition to a new system under coach Willie Taggart with the potential to put up even better numbers. He suffered a season-ending injury against Alabama in 2017. 

Will Grier, West Virginia

The 6'2 QB began his career at Florida, having won National Player of the Year as a senior high school. In his first season for the Mountaineers last season he had the fifth highest passer efficiency rating in NCAA (162.7), throwing for 3,490 yards and 34 TDs yards in only 11 games. 

Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State

Haskins will be tasked with replacing Buckeye legend JT Barrett for good, as he did so on a few occasions last season. Entering the game against Michigan for the injured starter as Ohio State trailed it's rivals in the third quarter, the 6'4 QB finished passing 6/7 for 94 yards, leading them to a 31-20 victory. 

Justin Herbert, Oregon 

Herbert became the fastest Duck QB to reach 3,000 yards in 13 games. The athletic 6'6, 225 pound prospect missed five games due to injury last season, but returned for the final three contests passing for seven TDs and rushing for another two. For his career he's completed 65.3% of his passes.

Tyree Jackson, Buffalo

It's hard not to take notice of the 6'7, 245-pound Jackson who threw 9 TDs and averaged 341 yards passing over the final four games of the season, after returning from injury. The redshirt junior also can make plays with his legs, rushing for 596 yards and nine TDs over his first two seasons.

Daniel Jones, Duke 

The 6'5, 220 pound passer didn't have quite the success as some QBs with a limited group of offensive weapons but is one of only three returning players with 2,500 yards passing and 500 yards rushing in 2017. Jones plays in a pro system for coach David Cutcliffe — mentor to Eli and Peyton Manning. 

Brian Lewerke, Michigan State 

In his first full season starting the 6'3, 215 pound passer set the sophomore record for total offense in Spartans history (3,352) — the same program that produced NFL QBs Kirk Cousins, Drew Stanton, and Connor Cook. He had back-to-back 400 yard passing games, including a school record 445 vs Northwestern.

(Note: Also one of the returning players with 2,500 yards passing and 500 yards rushing.)

Drew Lock, Missouri

Lock broke the SEC-record with 44 passing TDs, totaling 3,964 yards which ranked first in the conference. He was fourth in the NCAA with a passer efficiency rating of 165.7 trailing Baker Mayfield and Mason Rudolph. A true Heisman candidate, he lead his team to six straights wins to end 2017 after starting 1-5. 

McKenzie Milton, Central Florida (UCF)

Milton trailed only Mayfield in passer efficiency rating (179.3) and is the only returning player who had a higher rating than Lock. He helped lead the Knights to sole undefeated season in the NCAA in 2017, passing for 4,037 yards and 37 TDs. Was AAC Offensive POY and eighth in the Heisman voting. 

Shea Patterson, Michigan 

The transfer from Ole Miss is immediately eligible for a Wolverines team that has yearned for a playmaking passer under coach Jim Harbaugh. Averaged 322.7 yards passing per game in seven contests before suffering a season-ending injury in 2017, he's completed 63.8% of his passes with 17 TDs. 

Lamar Raynard, North Carolina A&T

A dangerous 6'4 dual-threat he lead the Aggies to an undefeated season as one of the top teams in the FCS, following former teammate and current Chicago Bear RB Tarik Cohen as the MEAC Player of the Year. Raynard broke school records in passing yards (2932), touchdowns (31), and passing efficiency (161.7), where he was 6th in the country. 

Brett Rypien, Boise State

Rypien enters fourth season as starter for the Broncos with just under 10,000 yards threw the air (9,873). Ended season with 362 yards passing and 2 TDS in a bowl win over Oregon. The redshirt senior is listed on the Maxwell Award Watch List for College Player of the Year. 

Easton Stick, North Dakota State

The 6'2, 221-pound QB went 8-0 as a freshman when former Bison Carson Wentz was out with an injury. Now a senior, Stick has gone 34-3 as a starter and is a NFL Draft prospect himself. The 2-time team captain won Most Outstanding Player in the FCS National Championship over James Madison.

Jarrett Stidham, Auburn

Having last been on the field as a true freshman for Baylor in 2015, Stidham made his mark on the SEC in 2017 as the conference Newcomer of the Year. Standing 6'3, he was the only QB to beat Alabama last season, completing 75% of his 28 attempts for 237 yards plus 51 yards rushing.

Clayton Thorson, Northwestern

The 6'4, 225 senior enters his fourth year starting with 39 consecutive games under his belt. He's the program's all-time winning QB with 27 victories, providing an added dimension as a physical runner near the goal-line with 18 rushing TDs. Currently tied Wildcat career record for passing TDs with 44.

Manny Wilkins, Arizona State

One of the most prominent QBs in school history enters his redshirt senior season off a bowl performance where he threw for 352 yards, 3 TDs, 62.5% passing against an NC State team that had four defensive lineman drafted. This will be his first season under former NFL coach Herm Edwards.