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Tebow tops list of the country’s top 20 dual-threat quarterbacks
Having a quarterback who can beat an opponent with both his arm and his legs is one of the best weapons a coach can wish for.
There are many quarterbacks around the country who have that ability, including last season’s Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
Some of the guys on this list are much more of a weapon with their arms than they are with their legs, and vice versa, but they all have the ability to keep defenses guessing with their multiple talents.
There are a few omissions that some might comment about, but read on until the end, and you’ll see that there’s a good reason why those names are omitted.
1. Tim Tebow, Florida: Well, it’s only natural to start with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who passed for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2007 and rushed for 895 yards and 23 scores on the way to being the first sophomore to win the Heisman. His biggest game of the season was at South Carolina, when he accounted for 424 yards (304 pass, 120 rush) and seven touchdowns (two pass, five rush).
2. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan: LeFevour threw for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for 1,122 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2007, becoming only the second QB in I-A history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season (Vince Young did it in 2005).
3. Pat White, West Virginia: Running back lined up behind center? Maybe so, but whatever the case may be, he’s certainly been productive, with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons on the ground and 3,506 yards and 39 touchdowns in three seasons. His passing numbers have also improved throughout his career (66.7 comp. %, 1,724 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT in 2007). Where will he land in the NFL? The smart money’s on running back or receiver, but we’ll see.
4. Chase Daniel, Missouri: Daniel ran it less in 2007 than he did in 2006, but still put up solid totals of 253 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to go with his 4,306 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air, which earned him a fourth-place finish in Heisman voting.
5. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State: Robinson is the reason why Bobby Reid is at Texas Southern now. He took over for Reid in the second game of the season and didn’t relinquish the job from there, on the way to throwing for 2,824 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushing for 847 yards and nine scores. Just like Lewis, Robinson will have to try to replicate his 2007 numbers without his #1 receiver in Adarius Bowman
6. Colt McCoy, Texas: McCoy may not be Vince Young, but he’s proven that he can make a lot happen with his feet. He had a lot of struggles through the air last season (22 TD, 18 INT last season after 29 TD and only 7 INT as a freshman), but ran for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns over the final seven games of the season.
7. Stephen McGee, Texas A&M: McGee’s passing numbers have been pretty modest (4,889 yards, 26 TD, 11 INT in three seasons), but throwing for 362 yards and three touchdowns in last season’s upset of Texas shows that he can sling it. As for his running ability, that’s undoubted (1,800 yards, 11 TD in three seasons). Will he flourish or flop with a new coach and system in place?
8. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada: Kaepernick burst onto the scene in the fifth game of last season, when he took over for the injured Nick Graziano and threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 60 yards and a score in a loss to Fresno St. From there, he would finish the year by throwing for 2,175 yards and 19 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, and rushing for 593 yards and six touchdowns.
9. Chase Clement, Rice: Over the last two seasons, Clement has thrown for 5,084 yards and 50 touchdowns and run for 1,016 yards and 12 touchdowns. Clement to (receiver Jarett) Dillard has been a potent combination over the last couple of seasons, and that will be the case once again in 2008.
10. Juice Williams, Illinois: He showed that he’s not a one-trick pony by throwing four touchdown passes in the Illini’s upset of #1 Ohio St. last November, but he still is more renowned for his running abilty (755 yards, 7 TD last season) Throwing it more may be required with Rashard Mendenhall gone, but the less times he has throw it more than 30 or 35 times, the better.
11. Matt Grothe, South Florida: In two seasons at USF, Grothe has thrown for 5,246 yards and 29 touchdowns and run for 1,496 yards and 19 touchdowns. If he could get his interceptions down (28 in two seasons), he’ll be higher on this list.
12. Jake Locker, Washington: He may or may not be Washington’s savior, but by the time his collegiate career is over, he’ll have racked up some pretty impressive numbers. Last season, Locker threw for 2,062 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. His accuracy through the air should improve this year (47.3 completion %, 15 INT), and if he can do that, it’ll do wonders for the Huskies’ hopes (and Tyrone Willingham’s job security).
13. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State: A commenter on a Rivals board alerted me to the fact that Jameel Sewell is not at Virginia for the 2008 season, so I had to replace him. Who did I replace him with? Edwards has been a terror on the I-AA (er, FCS) level in his first two seasons, throwing for 4,199 yards and 32 touchdowns, and running for 2,741 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Last season, he missed four games but still accounted for 3,536 yards and 38 touchdowns in leading the Mountaineers to their third straight national championship. How good is he? 17 of 23 for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground in ASU’s upset of Michigan.
14. Adam Weber, Minnesota: Weber was a star for a 1-11 Minnesota team as a freshman, throwing for 2,895 yards and 24 touchdowns (19 INT) and rushing for 617 yards and five touchdowns. As a result, this legacy might keep another legacy - head coach Tim Brewster’s son Clint - on the sidelines.
15. Case Keenum, Houston: Keenum proved himself to be a pretty capable replacement for Kevin Kolb last season, completing 68.5% of his passes for 2,259 yards and 14 touchdowns, and the freshman also ran for 412 yards and nine scores.
16. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech: Why is Taylor so low? I was actually going to leave him off of the list because of limited starting experience, but give him a full year as a starter, and he should skyrocket up this list. ‘T Mobile’ threw for 927 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 421 yards and six touchdowns while rotating with Sean Glennon as a freshman.
17. Corey Leonard, Arkansas State: Leonard threw for 2,235 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 547 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore for the Indians.
18. Michael Desormeaux, UL-Lafayette: Desormeaux gave ULL two 1,000 yard rushers in 2007 (RB Tyrell Fenroy was the other), as he led the Ragin’ Cajuns with 1,141 yards on the ground, with seven touchdowns. He also threw for 1,405 yards and 10 touchdowns. His continued improvement as a passer will be key to ULL’s push for a Sun Belt title and a bowl berth.
19. Chris Nickson, Vanderbilt: Nickson would be higher if injuries and subpar play hadn’t caused his numbers to drop in 2007, after a 2006 where he threw for 2,085 yards and 15 touchdowns, and ran for 694 yards and nine touchdowns after taking over for first-round pick Jay Cutler. But, if he can regain that 2006 form as a senior, it’s all the better for Vandy’s chances of breaking their bowl drought.
20. Dwight Dasher, Middle Tennessee St.: Last year as a true freshman, Dasher stepped into the starting lineup for Joe Craddock in the fourth game of the season and had an impressive run until he was injured in a win over North Texas. On the season, Dasher threw for 1,148 yards with nine scores and only three interceptions, and ran for 530 yards and three touchdowns, with most of that production coming in that six-game stretch.
One name notably absent from the list (besides Ryan Perilloux) is SMU’s Justin Willis, who’s currently suspended indefinitely. Willis threw for 4,991 yards and 51 touchdowns, and ran for 1,053 yards and six touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Mustangs, and if he can get back on the field in the fall, he could be a star under new coach June Jones.
Note: I also took Indiana’s Kellen Lewis (#5 on the list) off, as he’s currently serving a suspension as well, and his status is uncertain. That’s why I added Dasher in at #20, in case you’re wondering.
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8 comments for “Tebow tops list of the country’s top 20 dual-threat quarterbacks”
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Tebow does it in 1 year, White has done it 3 years running. Lets see Pat averages over 6 yards a carry and Tebow scores tds from inside the 5, while Pat gets em from 5o yards.
Try watching Pat before you rank him.
Not bad, but I highly doubt Pat White will be a RB in the NFL. Actually, what were you smoking when you typed that?
Eric: I’ve seen Pat White for the last three years, many, many times. I think a great deal of his talent, too…there are few players as explosive as he is. Trust me, from being a Mississippi State fan, I’d know first hand how good he is. I’d like to forget those two defeats, honestly!
Tebow and White are two completely different players, and they’re both pretty darn effective at what they do.
Don’t get offended that he’s not #1 - in the end, you and I both know that he’s a special player, and that’s really all that matters.
Joe: I don’t doubt that White could stay at QB in the NFL, because his passing ability is extremely underrated. But, it all depends on how a team thinks he fits best. I think he’s a guy that could fit anywhere and be productive, may it be at QB, RB, or even receiver.
We’ll see though!
Yes Pat has done it for 3 years running, but then tell me why Timbo had as many hards and TD’s through his passing in one season than what it took Pat all three seasons to accomplish. Yet again, both are skilled at the way they play the game. Tim wouldn’t have survived half the season against his schedule if he was built like Pat White and played the way Pat does. Both are excellent players and excell at what they do best, but you’re trying to claim that a motorcycle can replace a bulldozer at doing its job here.
Thanks for the respect for Dan at Central Michigan. He is amazing to watch and is only getting better. Most QB’s break out their junior year and Dan already has two years starting experience. We are looking forward to his “breakout” season!
Desormeaux from ULL?? Are you kidding me! He and the not-so-Ragin Cajuns can hardly win any games year-end and year-out. Little ole McNeese State kept his back good and dirty and forced a number of interceptions and a so-so night running this past season.
Desormeaux????? What about the guy from the team that beat them… Derrick Fourroux of Mcneese State… Less Rushing Yds, but much better passer and team performance..
2007 Stats:
Fourroux - 115 Rushes for 550 Yds (net), 7 TD’s
- 218 Pass Attempts, 125 Comp, 2054 Yds, 16 TD’s, 6 Int’s.
- Record 11 - 1
Desormeaux - 188 Rushes for 1141 Yds (net), 7 TD’s
- 242 Pass Attempts, 133 Comp, 1405 Yds, 10 TD’S, 10 Int’s.
- Record 3 - 8
Keenum should move up this list fast during the season. He’s special.