'Deion’s going to try to win Shedeur the Heisman': CFB coaches on 2025 QB draft class (2024)

It was hardly a surprise Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall last month. A year ago at this time, the USC star seemed to be a pretty safe bet to go with the top pick.

But the player who immediately followed him, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, wasn’t someone many touted as a top-five pick — or even as a first-rounder. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner kept blossoming in Baton Rouge and his stock shot up. His rise isn’t that uncommon. These days, it seems that every year there’s at least one quarterback who goes from being a mid-round prospect to a high first-rounder. In 2023, Florida’s Anthony Richardson went No. 4 overall. In 2021, BYU’s Zach Wilson went second overall. The year before that, LSU had another Heisman winner jump way up the board when Joe Burrow went first overall.

The 2024 quarterback crop, with Williams, Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix (four of whom The Athletic’s NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler pegged as first-rounders a year out) is considered a much stronger class than the projected 2025 batch.

The Athletic interviewed more than a dozen college coaches to gauge how the 2025 class might unfold — and who has the potential to make a big jump in 2024. In Brugler’s first 2025 mock draft, he has three QBs going in the first round — Georgia’s Carson Beck, second; Texas’ Quinn Ewers, 14th; and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, 22nd. Does that line up with what college coaches see? And who else could end up in the first round that you should keep an eye on? Here’s the intel we got over the past month from some experts.

Carson Beck, Georgia

The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder had a superb debut season as a starter. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,941 yards with a 24-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio. He ran for 116 yards and four touchdowns. He threw nine touchdowns and only one pick in five games against ranked opponents. In the red zone, he threw 15 TDs and just one INT.

“I think he’ll be the No. 1 overall pick,” said one veteran SEC defensive coordinator. “A few things really stood out to me after playing him. He runs better than you think because he doesn’t do it often and he has such a quick release. He gets rid of it fast as s—. And he’s really intelligent. He’s one of the few quarterbacks who doesn’t look to the sidelines all the time. We were showing 0 (blitz) and he got them into a little quick screen. He’s really impressive.”

“He played lights out against us,” said a DC of a top 25 team. “He’s got that prototypical first-round QB look to him. His touch on the deep ball was tremendous. I don’t think there is a better quarterback in the country right now in terms of his size, accuracy, accuracy on the deep ball. I think he throws a better deep ball than Jayden Daniels.”

Quinn Ewers, Texas

Four years ago, he was the highest-rated quarterback prospect the online recruiting services had ever evaluated. His college career started at Ohio State, but he wasn’t a factor on a team that featured C.J. Stroud, among others. Ewers returned home to Texas in 2022, where he had an impressive moment early, lighting up the Alabama defense for a quarter before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Ewers was plagued by inconsistency for the remainder of that year but matured last offseason, got into much better shape and made nice strides in 2023 — improving from 58 percent as a passer to 69 percent during Texas’ College Football Playoff run. He did have a very talented group of receivers to throw to last season with speedsters Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell and gifted tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. The Longhorns brought in more burners through the portal to go with a promising bunch of young receivers.

Still, some of the coaches who have faced him aren’t as enthusiastic as some of the recruiting analysts were.

“I’m not that high on him,” said a DB coach who played Texas last year. “Overhyped. He has a good arm, and he did have a lot of talent around him, but you just see a bunch of stuff where you wonder what he’s doing out there.”

“I think he’s just still trying to figure things out,” said a veteran Big 12 assistant. “Sark (Steve Sarkisian) does such a good job of setting things up for him, and so you’ll see times where he’ll rip it, but then there are other times, he just seems to be a little timid.”

“I’m very curious to watch him this year,” said a Big 12 defensive assistant. “The last two years he had superstars around him. There’s some ‘Oh My God!’ throws on film that he made against Alabama, but he was just so inconsistent. I think he’s about average athletically.”

“I do think he’s come a long way from 2022,” said a Big 12 DC. “There was too much of the (Patrick) Mahomes comparisons around him coming into college. He does have a good arm, but he’s not anywhere near as athletic nor the playmaker Mahomes is, or has that kind of presence. It’s kind of a strange deal because people want to talk about that, about what he was supposed to be, or they want to talk about Arch Manning behind him. But that isn’t the kid’s fault.”

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

The Buffs were the talk of the sports world for the first month of the 2023 season. A team that won only one game in 2022 and got blown out in almost all of the other 11, opened 3-0 and cracked the top 20. Colorado, with its dreadful offensive line, fizzled over the final two months and went 4-8, but Deion Sanders’ son was an impressive front man, throwing 27 TDs and just three INTs in his first FBS season. His numbers in crunch time were even sharper — 18 TDs and just one pick in the second half and overtimes, completing 72 percent of his passes. He also had an 8-to-0 TD-to-INT ratio in road games. This fall, the Buffs O-line should be improved (it honestly can’t be much worse) and it doesn’t seem like a stretch that Colorado can become a bowl team in 2024.

“He’s an NFL guy,” said one former Pac-12 head coach who faced Colorado in 2023. “Is he the first pick of the draft? I don’t know, but I think he’s a real dude. I think he throws it well. He’s accurate. I think he’s a first-round draft pick. I think Deion’s going to try to win Shedeur the Heisman. I think they’ll be good. They have good wideouts. Their O-line will be better. I think they’ll be way better and they’ll have a good year.”

“I was more impressed with Shedeur than I thought I was gonna be,” said another former Pac-12 head coach. “But I didn’t think he was as good as some of the other (Pac-12) quarterbacks we saw, like (Michael) Penix and Caleb (Williams) and (Bo) Nix. But I will say, it was hard to tell with how much pressure he was under. He got pummeled. That was as hard as it gets, but if they can keep him upright, he can make plays and extend plays. I do think it’ll be a better evaluation this year of what he can really do.”

Which quarterbacks are potential big risers?

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

The former USC quarterback had a 29-to-16 TD-to-INT ratio in his first two seasons of college football before tightening up his game in 2023, throwing 23 touchdowns and five picks in 358 attempts last season. He’s also run for more than 1,000 yards combined in the past two seasons. The Rebels look like a Playoff team with a chance to make some noise in 2024, especially if Dart can continue to elevate, particularly sharpening things up even more in hostile territory. Last season, Dart threw 16 touchdowns and just one INT at home but those numbers were seven to four away from Oxford.

“I think he’s really underrated,” said an SEC DC. “He has a lot of talent. I think his arm is excellent. He’s very streaky. His highs can be really high but his lows are really low. He’s tough as s—, almost to a fault.”

Cam Ward, Miami

He began his career at FCS Incarnate Word and put up huge numbers before transferring to Washington State in 2022. In two seasons there, he threw for more than 7,000 yards and had 48 TDs and 16 INTs. He ran for 13 touchdowns. Ward has played as much college football as any quarterback in the country, having started 44 games, passing for almost 14,000 yards and 119 touchdowns.

He was under a ton of pressure the past two seasons, getting sacked 89 times, and he’s had issues with ball security, having fumbled 46 times in his career (his team didn’t lose possession every time). The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Texan initially put his name in the NFL Draft before pulling it out and signing with Miami, where he’s generated a lot of buzz inside the program. Miami’s had a long dry spell of disappointing football for the past 20 years. There’s a lot of optimism right now about Ward’s presence and the roster Mario Cristobal has assembled.

“I think he can be a first-round guy,” said a former Pac-12 head coach. “I think people have been hard on him and obviously the turnovers and the dumb stuff (fumbling) has to stop. He wasn’t protected well. But he’s really competitive and I don’t think people give enough credit to how smart that dude is. I feel like it’s there. He can make a ton of throws. He has escapability in the pocket. I think the kid should be rising way up, especially with a weak class next year. He absolutely did the right decision coming back.”

“He’s really good when the play broke down,” said a defensive assistant. “His arm is strong but his accuracy is inconsistent. When teams got after him early, he wasn’t as sharp. But I thought he was probably the best quarterback we played last year. He was outrunning our spies. He’s running around to keep his eyes downfield. Really talented kid. Thicker in person than I thought. Looks a little linebacker-ish.”

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

After a rocky start taking over for Bryce Young in 2023, Milroe settled in as the Tide staff made some smart adjustments to suit him. Alabama then got rolling, making the CFP. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder completed 66 percent of his passes, throwing 23 TDs and six INTs. Over his last six games, he threw 10 touchdowns and one INT. He also rushed for 531 yards and 12 TDs for the season. Now, he and the Tide are transitioning to a much different system under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

From an intangibles standpoint, Milroe’s new coach has raved about him, telling The Athleticthis spring on The Audible: “Man, he’s got a huge heart. I think there are some moments during the season last year where he really both led by example and did some things where he put himself out there to pull the team together. And now he’s had an offseason where he’s continued to just keep working. He is in the building super early, by at least 4 a.m., whether it’s rehab, or just different type of work physically, or mentally.

“He’s open to re-learning. He was as quick as anyone with understanding some of the basic concepts when we were installing them because he was putting in the work. Physically, he’s got tools, both with his arm and his legs. That showed up already in the first three practices where he’s making throws down the field or with some zip from one hash to the opposite sideline. And then the mobility, whether it’s keeping plays alive, or really hitting home runs, where he escapes, or maybe even a designed quarterback run.”

“They switched to lots of half-field reads last year,” said an SEC DC. “And he played really well. He has a strong arm and definitely has got a skill set. Has speed like Jayden Daniels but with a much, much thicker build.”

“He looks like a big running back who can throw it well,” said a veteran defensive assistant in the SEC. “They figured out what he could handle and then they took off. They did not have great talent around him, but he made it go because he’s such a dynamic running threat and they got a lot better up front as the season went on. I’m curious to see how he takes to that system. Penix had a ton of experience and has great arm talent and could really see it.”

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame

The latest ACC quarterback transfer to South Bend, after Sam Hartman. But aside from both coming from private schools in North Carolina, the comparisons won’t go very far. The 6-4, 217-pound Leonard is bigger and more athletic — and not as experienced. Leonard started 21 games for Duke, completing 62 percent of his passes with 24 TD passes and 10 INT. The former Division I basketball recruit ran for 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns. His 2023 season was derailed by a high ankle sprain suffered in late September followed by a toe injury.

Said one ACC head coach: “He’s faster than you think live. Tough kid. His accuracy comes in the intermediate passing game. He’s not a downfield guy. He’s not Sam Hartman. Sam was very accurate.”

“We did study him a lot,” a Power 4 recruiting coordinator who evaluated Leonard told The Athletic. “He’s a really good athlete playing behind a terrible O-line. His accuracy was a little erratic. He’s a good competitor but just an average passer.”

“He was a shell of himself when we played him,” said an ACC DC. “He’s a muscle-thrower. I don’t think he’s an elite thrower. Can he make that jump? He has good size. He’s a winner. He’s tough as nails. People try and compare him to Hartman. Sam was a polished passer. Very accurate.”

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

Most of his 2023 was cut short by a back injury. The 6-feet, 215-pound Southern California product threw 23 TDs and five INTs in the last two seasons combined. In 2022, he ran for 419 yards and seven touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, Daniels has the talent to lead Kansas to the Playoff.

“I don’t know what the NFL will think of him because he’s been banged up a lot, but he is a really, really good college quarterback who knows how to operate their offense,” said a Big 12 defensive assistant. “His arm is good, not great, but I think he’s very, very smart, makes great decisions, and is accurate. I don’t know how fast he’ll run, but he’s quicker than you think and has excellent change of direction.”

“When he’s healthy, he’s better than (Dillon) Gabriel and is the best quarterback in the Big 12,” said a Big 12 defensive coach. “He makes some great plays. His issue is he can’t make it through a regular season. Watch him in the game against Illinois. He’s extending plays, making unbelievable throws on the run, like perfect throws. Throws with different arm angles. I think he has really good arm talent. He’s not throwing it more than 55, 60 yards but he can make all the throws you need to see. He’s great in the RPO game, great with the option. He’s probably only a 4.70 (40) guy but he has really good lateral quickness. I think he has NFL talent but it’s just, can he stay healthy?”

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

The former UCF and Oklahoma QB has had a prolific career, throwing for almost 15,000 yards. He should be an ideal fit for the Ducks system and could lead them into the national title chase. The 23-year-old lacks the size and frame the NFL wants (5-11, 200). Then again, Bryce Young went No. 1 overall two years ago, and Gabriel is about the same size.

Gabriel has thrown 125 touchdowns and only 26 INTs and run for 1,060 yards and 26 touchdowns. At Oklahoma, he threw 24 TDs and zero picks in the red zone.

“He is very accurate and has a really quick release and is a dangerous runner,” said one Power 4 recruiting coordinator. “He’s really football savvy and is a great college quarterback.”

“I thought he was really good when we were getting ready for him,” said a Big 12 defensive assistant. “He plays like a good point guard. He threw it pretty good. He played unbelievably against Texas, and while OU has some good players, he didn’t have the supporting cast that Ewers had.”

Will Howard, Ohio State

The 6-4, 242-pound 22-year-old has prototypical size and has played a lot of football. He led Kansas State to the Big 12 title two years ago. In 2023, he completed 61 percent of his passes and threw 24 TDs and 10 INTs and ran for nine more touchdowns with relatively modest skill talent around him. Assuming he wins the job, he will have much better talent around him than he’s ever had before.

“I think he’s gonna have a monster year,” said a Big 12 defensive coach. “All of a sudden, he’s going to have this great supporting cast around here. For a big guy, he is pretty athletic and can run. I don’t think he has a crazy, strong arm, but he is very accurate and very smart.”

“I think he processes the game very well,” said a Big Ten recruiting coordinator. “I can see him being a very good fit there for what they’re looking for.”

DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State

The former five-star recruit is back in the ACC after a year at Oregon State. The 6-4, 250-pound former Clemson QB completed 57 percent of his passes with 21 TDs and seven INTs. He ran for 219 yards and six touchdowns. Uiagalelei has continued progressing over the past three years, looking more comfortable in Corvallis after a bumpy tenure at Clemson. He went from 6.6 yards per attempt with the Tigers to 8.4 last year at Oregon State. At FSU, he’ll play in a QB-friendly system for Mike Norvell and should fit well in his scheme.

“I think he got better at Oregon State,” said a Big Ten recruiting coordinator who evaluated Uiagalelei. “It was getting out of that scheme at Clemson that helped him. The arm talent and the feet have always been there. The consistent accuracy is a little better than it was. We liked him. We just didn’t love him.

“He’s a huge dude with a powerful arm, but his accuracy isn’t great. The ball comes undone sometimes. He’s just been very inconsistent, but there is some talent there.”

Conner Weigman, Texas A&M

His 2023 season was over in September after a foot injury. The former five-star recruit (6-3, 215) is very intriguing. He threw eight TDs and two INTs in four games last year and has a career 16-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio. Weigman is now in his third offensive system in three years at Texas A&M.

“Man, he is very gifted and very tough,” said a Power 4 DC who has faced him. “We hit him a bunch and we affected him, but it didn’t change him. From toughness to arm strength and ability to move in and out of the pocket, he’s the most complete quarterback I’ve seen in awhile. Not saying he was the best one, but I could see in a couple of more years, he will be elite. Pretty composed kid. I really thought a lot of that guy. He’s scary.”

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

The Tigers have had two of the most recent fast-rising QBs break out late in their college careers in Baton Rouge. Nussmeier, the son of Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier (himself a former NFL QB), has been impressive when stepping in for Daniels — first in the 2022 SEC title game against Georgia and then last year in the Reliaquest Bowl against Wisconsin, where he rallied the Tigers from a 14-point second-half deficit by leading them on a 98-yard drive to produce the winning touchdown in the closing minutes.

“He was better than I thought,” said one defensive assistant who faced Nussmeier. “His accuracy was very impressive. He was putting the ball on the spot 40-50 yards downfield. I thought the ball jumped out of his hands. It gets out so quick to the perimeter. I think he can do some good things this year.”

“He has a lot of talent,” said an SEC DC. “He’s not that big, maybe 6-1, but he has legit NFL arm talent. There’s not a throw he can’t make. And he moves pretty good but he’s such a riverboat gambler. He has to learn that not every play has to go for a touchdown.”

Noah Fifita, Arizona

Entering his third season of college football, the 5-foot-11-ish, 195-pound Fifita had a dazzling debut as a starter for the Wildcats last season, scorching defenses for 10-3 Arizona. He completed 72 percent of his passes with 25 TDs and six INTs. Better still, in the second half and in overtimes, he completed 79 percent of his passes and his QB rating jumped 20 points. He completed 73 percent in the red zone with 15 TDs and only one pick. He’ll still have his go-to guy, star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, to throw to, but Jedd Fisch, who ran the offense, left for Washington. Now Fifita will be running coordinator Dino Babers’ offense, under new head coach Brent Brennan.

“He’s a flat-out beast,” said one former Pac-12 head coach. “The confidence he plays with, the way he operated within that pro-style system was phenomenal. He has a quick release, the ball comes out and has a little zip to it. I can’t say enough about him. How that translates to the next level, we’ll see.”

“It’ll be interesting,” said another former Pac-12 head coach. “Jedd does a good job of scheming guys open. He schemed s— up. Noah’s really good. I don’t know how he fits in (a new) system throwing it 60 yards downfield.”

Drew Allar, Penn State

New Nittany Lions offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is very highly thought of in coaching circles, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with what was a very suspect PSU offense. The 6-5, 245-pound Allar had some folks inside the program rave about his potential, and his numbers in his first season as a starter were more impressive than what it felt like. He threw 25 touchdowns and just two INTs, completing 60 percent of his passes. But when the competition ramped up, the Nittany Lions shriveled up. His completion percentage in four games against top-25 opponents was just 51 percent and he averaged only 5.1 yards per attempt, down from 65 percent and 7.7 yards per attempt in PSU’s other games. In the two huge games against Ohio State and Michigan, Allar completed 43 percent of his throws and averaged just 4.02 yards per attempt.

“You’d think things could click for him,” said a Big Ten DC. “He has a big arm. Huge guy and not a complete statue.”

“There’s some stuff you see on film, where you can see why people would be excited about him,” said a Big Ten defensive assistant, “but that system last year, man. It looked like they didn’t trust anyone there. I would expect them to look more comfortable and aggressive this year.”

(Top photo: Ron Chenoy, Sam Navarro, Joe Nicholson / USA Today)