Steven Johnson: Big 12 quarterback preseason power rankings
Quarterback is the most valuable position in football and who ends up being the best signal caller will have a major impact on the Big 12 title race.
Last season was filled with uncertainty with so many new starters across the league. With the exception of Heisman runner-up Max Duggan, many of those players are back for another year.
That could lead to big years for a number of offenses and a few of these signal callers could find themselves in Heisman contention in the right situation.
Here’s our preseason quarterback rankings with a little insight on who could step up if they falter:
1. Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Next up: Jason Bean
In nine games, Daniels accounted for over 2,500 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns. Through the first half of 2022, he was a Heisman contender. His injury against TCU altered the course of the Jayhawks season, showing his value. He’s the most dynamic quarterback in the conference and has a pretty good backup in Bean too.
2. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Next up: Jackson Arnold
Gabriel was fantastic in his first season in Norman and was the lone bright spot for the Sooners. The UCF transfer threw for 3,186 yards and 25 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He added another six on the ground. Arnold was a five-star at Denton Guyer and is the future of the room, but Gabriel is the present.
3. Will Howard, Kansas State
Next up: Avery Johnson
Howard changed the course of the Wildcats season when he took over for Adrian Martinez. Howard led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship and passed for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven games over the back half of the season. The strong armed quarterback has the Wildcats in position to repeat. Johnson, a true freshman, was a top-100 recruit.
4. Quinn Ewers, Texas
Next up: Maalik Murphy or Arch Manning
Ewers, a former No. 1 recruit from Southlake Carroll, had highs and lows in his freshman season, but his 369-yard performance against Washington in the Alamo Bowl could be the momentum he needs for a breakout sophomore year. He has the receivers to do so. How long will his leash be with another former No. 1 recruit in Manning and the big armed Murphy behind him?
5. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
Next up: Timmy McClain
Don’t sleep on Plumlee and the Golden Knights. Out of the four newcomers, UCF has the best chance to make noise thanks in part to Plumlee. He threw for 2,586 yards, rushed for 862 and accounted for 25 total touchdowns. He could improve on those numbers with his top receivers back.
6. Blake Shapen, Baylor
Next up: Sawyer Robertson
Shapen led the Bears to victory in the 2021 Big 12 championship game leading to anticipation for him taking over in 2022. He was solid, but left a little to be desired. The good? He completed 63% of his passes for 2,790 yards. The bad? He tossed 10 interceptions and he completed 50% or less of his passes in three games during a four-game skid to end the year. Robertson, a transfer from Mississippi State, could be turned to if Shapen struggles.
7. Chandler Morris, TCU
Next up: Josh Hoover
Maybe the most inexperienced signal caller on the list, Morris lands based on the peaks he’s flashed in limited time. He kept Baylor out of the College Football Playoff with a record-breaking performance in 2021 and beat out Max Duggan, the Heisman runner-up last season.
8. Kedon Slovis, BYU
Next up: Unclear
Slovis came on strong as a freshman at USC with over 3,200 passing yards including a 515-yard outing against UCLA. There was even buzz he would be a potential first round pick. Fast forward four years later and BYU will be Slovis’ third school after a lackluster year at Pittsburgh. Slovis threw 10 touchdowns and nine picks for the Panthers, but will get a fresh start with BYU.
9. Emory Jones, Cincinnati
Next up: Evan Prater
Jones is another quarterback at his third school after stints at Florida and Arizona State. With the Gators he accounted for over 3,400 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns, but he tossed 10 interceptions and Florida finished just 6-7 in 2021. Arizona State was just 2-6 in the games attempted a pass last season. Prater was a top-50 local recruit and could be the starter by the end of the year.
10. Tyler Shough, Texas Tech
Next up: Behren Morton
Shough won the starting job, but then got hurt in the season opener setting up a season of musical chairs at quarterback. Shough is back and if he’s healthy should provide stability at the position. The Oregon transfer found his footing at the end of the year, leading Tech to four straight wins. Morton was more than capable backup last year.
11. Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
Next up: JJ Kohl
Dekkers was third in the conference in passing last season. You would think he would be higher up, but Dekkers struggled with 13 interceptions and despite having a top-20 defense and the leading receiver in the conference Iowa State went just 4-8 with the 114th scoring offense. He’ll need to step it up or the 6’7 freshman Kohl will get his shot.
12. Donovan Smith, Houston
Next up: Lucas Coley
Smith was one of the three quarterbacks that started for Texas Tech last season. Smith was the second or third best of the bunch depending on who you ask. Smith led the Red Raiders to wins over Texas and Houston and was 2-2 as a starter. He threw eight interceptions and needs to have better ball security.
13. Garrett Greene, West Virginia
Next up: Nicco Marchial
Greene was the quarterback for the Mountaineers and flashed some talent. He rushed for 100 yards in a win over Oklahoma and threw three touchdowns against Kansas State. Let’s see how he does with a full year as a starter. He had five touchdown passes and three interceptions in limited action
14. Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State
Next up: Gunnar Gundy
The Grapevine native hasn’t taken meaningful snaps since he was still at Texas Tech in 2020. After being a backup at Michigan the last two seasons, Bowman has one more chance to lead an offense. He had good moments at Tech, particularly as a freshman in 2018, but that was a long time ago.
