The 2022 college football season is rapidly approaching. Here are 7 quarterbacks who will play with a chip on their shoulder this fall.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the “star of the show”? The famous actor or actress that reels in the major movie roles, or the upcoming television superstar who cannot go to the grocery store without being surrounded by the paparazzi.
Welcome to the life of a college football quarterback.
Okay. I may be overexaggerating a tad bit, but college football quarterbacks are subjected to an immense amount of praise or scrutiny based on their performance and their respective teams’ results.
As a result, the perception of a quarterback can be judged on a game-by-game basis. The star quarterback from the previous season can be sitting on the bench in a blink of an eye or be the center of a Heisman campaign.
The fickle nature of the position provides quarterbacks the opportunity to redeem poor play from previous seasons or earn the respect of the football world by dominating their competition.
Let’s take a dive into seven quarterbacks who have something to prove during the 2022 college football season.
Grayson McCall
Followers of the Sun-Belt conference do not need an introduction on who Grayson McCall is, but here is some background for anyone not familiar with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers’ signal-caller. McCall is the reigning back-to-back Sun Belt Player of The Year and has amassed a laundry list of accolades during his time in Conway, South Carolina. His 2020 and 2021 seasons produced: a 71% completion percentage, 5361 yards, 53 TD-6 INT, 859 rushing yards, and 11 rushing TD.
Coastal Carolina runs an offensive scheme that causes opponents fits and McCall is the perfect pilot for this operation. The system is based on a “triple-option” run game. The triple-option allows the quarterback to distribute the ball based on the defender’s reaction.
McCall flourishes by making decisive reads and limiting turnovers with elite ballhandling skills. His ability to be a threat as a passer and a runner has allowed the Chanticleers to have one of the most prolific offensive attacks in the country.
McCall’s success is undeniable, but the question remains if his playstyle translates to the NFL. Although he is draft-eligible, he decided to return to campus to prove his ability to NFL evaluators; questions persist if he can make traditional reads in a prototypical NFL passing system.
While the NFL does possess triple-option or “run-pass option” (RPO) concepts, as seen with quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), it is a rarity that NFL offenses run these concepts exclusively. Additionally, Coastal Carolina competes in a Group of 5 conference, the Sun Belt, which garners concerns if his elite play is simply due to average Division 1 competition. Not to mention he underwent off-season shoulder surgery on his throwing shoulder and was a non-participant during spring practices.
McCall will be competing to prove that he is a legitimate NFL prospect and that his surgically repaired shoulder is 100% healthy during the 2022 season. He spurned the NFL draft and potential transfer portal opportunities to play at the Power 5 level to return to Coastal Carolina. All eyes will be on Grayson McCall to lead the program to new heights this fall.
Adrian Martinez
The former Nebraska Cornhusker has taken his talents to Kansas State in hopes of being the Wildcats’ primary signal-caller. Martinez’s four seasons as the starting quarterback for Nebraska were filled with ups and downs.
He burst onto the scene his true freshman season by posting impressive numbers: 2617 passing yards, 17 TD-8 INT, 629 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per rush, and 8 rushing TD.
His subsequent seasons were marred by a losing record, turnover issues, health concerns, and a seemingly awkward fit with the offensive scheme. In a sudden turn of events during his time in Lincoln, he went from being a Heisman hopeful to questions arising about his future at the quarterback position.
Martinez decided to enter the transfer portal and chose the Wildcats as his preferred destination. Unfortunately, he underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm in November 2021, which sidelined him for contact during spring practices with Kansas State. Nonetheless, he was able to take mental reps and was an active participant in walkthroughs, non-contact periods, and footwork drills.
From an evaluation standpoint, it is evident that Martinez possesses ideal athleticism for the position and provides a unique element to an offensive system by creating plays with his legs. At Nebraska, especially during the 2021 season, his “escape-ability” was a key element in the generation of explosive plays.
On the other hand, there have been inconsistencies with his accuracy as a passer and downfield ball placement. To be fair, this is not solely an indictment on him, as there were aspects of the offense that were executed poorly and were out of his control.
The offensive system at Kansas State will provide Martinez with a heavier reliance on running the football with the use of both tight ends and fullbacks. This aggressive, physical approach to offensive play will allow him to utilize the play-action passing game to promote easier post-snap reads and get him outside the pocket to accentuate his strengths using his athleticism.
He will be looking to prove that his time at Nebraska was not indicative of his ability to consistently lead a program to success.
Most importantly, Martinez will be looking to lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship and a prestigious bowl game appearance. The criticism that he’s endured and navigated with professionalism throughout his career will hopefully end in triumph. He has all of the physical and mental tools to be successful and the 2022 season will be his time to prove it.
JT Daniels
Daniels was a 5-star recruit coming out of the prestigious Mater Dei HS in Southern California. He signed to the University of Southern California and immediately earned the starting job at the conclusion of fall camp in 2018.
He went on to have a successful true freshman season individually, but the Trojans ended the season with a losing record. The 2019 season introduced a new offensive coordinator, Graham Harrell, which sparked optimism that the program would feature a dynamic offense that would be centered around Daniels’ talent. Daniels would suffer a knee injury during the season opener and be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
He entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2020 and chose the University of Georgia as the next stop. Participating in the program during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he went 7-0 as a starter and showcased the ability he displayed out of high school and his true freshman season at USC. He experienced success at UGA, but injuries plagued his availability on the field. After the conclusion of the 2021 season at UGA, he entered the transfer portal choosing West Virginia as his next destination.
In Morgantown, Daniels is reunited with former USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell which factored into his decision to join the Mountaineers. All signs indicate that he will be the starting quarterback this fall with the hope of staying healthy for an entire season. The familiarity with Graham Harrell’s offensive philosophy should provide for a seamless transition to help the West Virginia offense light up the scoreboard.
Throughout his career, Daniels has demonstrated the fundamentals and decision-making to be effective as a starting quarterback; he understands route concepts, has good pocket presence, and throws the ball with proficient timing.
There are no doubts about his talent, but rather if he can physically withstand the rigors of a full college football season and if he can drive winning over a long period. Daniels will take the experience he garnered from USC and UGA with the hopes of showing the country he still harnesses the talent that made him a 5-star recruit.
Spencer Rattler
Rattler was a budding star for Oklahoma during the 2020 season, looking like the next superstar in the recent history of Sooner quarterbacks. His 2020 season sent shockwaves through college football earning 1st Team All-Big 12 honors, MVP of the Big 12 Championship Game, and finished with a 9-2 record.
Ratter entered the 2021 season with lofty expectations as many media outlets considered him to be an early Heisman favorite. He began the season as the starting quarterback but was replaced by quarterback Caleb Williams halfway during the season. Williams would go on to start the remainder of the season and Rattler transferred to the University of South Carolina at the conclusion of the year.
At South Carolina, Rattler will be looking to rekindle the fire that made him must-see TV during the 2020 season. He will be handed the keys to the Gamecock offense and the schemes will be centered around his strengths.
The pressure for Rattler to perform will be high, as the Gamecock fan base will be yearning for the playmaking magic he displayed in Norman; not to mention SEC defenses will be licking their chops to welcome him into the conference. Rattler is no stranger to the spotlight, as the former QB1 television star welcomes the bright lights and the opportunity to perform on a big stage.
A big year for Rattler in the SEC, leading the Gamecocks to a reputable bowl game, and playing winning football will help vault him back into the conversation of the country’s best signal-callers.
Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward may be an unrecognizable name for most college football fans. He was not highly recruited out of high school and took his talents to the FCS program Incarnate Word. It did not take long for Ward to dominate FCS competition during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He quickly rose to the level of superstar in 2020 by receiving the honor of the Jerry Rice Award (Best FCS Freshman). In 2021, he was a 2nd Team FCS All-American posting the incredible statistics of 4,648 yards, 47 TD-10 INT, and 65% completion percentage.
After the 2021 season, Ward became one of the top college football quarterbacks in the transfer portal and chose Washington State as his next destination. It was no surprise that he chose WAZZU, as his head coach at Incarnate Word accepted the offensive coordinator position in Pullman. Based on reports and highlights from spring practices, Ward looks comfortable in the offensive system and is gaining respect as a leader in the program.
Washington State fans should be excited about Ward joining the program. His film at Incarnate Word showcased his ability to spread the ball around efficiently, place the ball in tight windows, effortless pocket presence, mobility sufficient to extend plays, and confidence to make 50-50 throws. Ward is a quintessential “pitch and catch” or “volume thrower,” where the more completions he racks up the better rhythm he plays with.
Ward will look to prove that he is a Power 5 caliber quarterback, his FCS stardom was no fluke, and he can lead the Cougars to a winning record in the PAC-12 conference.
Kedon Slovis
Kedon Slovis was named PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year and shattered numerous records during his true freshman season at the University of Southern California in 2019. His 71.9% completion percentage was an NCAA freshman record, PAC-12 freshman record, USC record, and PAC-12 season record (breaking Andrew Luck’s 71.3 completion percentage). He went on to be a three-year starter at USC posting a career record of 16-10. His three-year statistical totals are impressive: 7,576 passing yards, 68.4% completion percentage, and 58 TD-24 INT.
Slovis entered the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2021 football season. He battled a slew of injuries throughout his career, did not enact the proficiency he displayed as a true freshman and was losing grip on the starting position for the future.
The University of Pittsburgh provided an opportunity for Slovis to replace NFL draft pick, Kenny Pickett, and immediately provide an experienced player to lead the offense.
Pittsburgh Panther fans are hoping to see the player that set historic records previously in his career. While there are big shoes to fill with the departure of Pickett, he will have an opportunity to carve his own legacy.
Caleb Williams
The current University of Southern California quarterback has the shortest resume on the list, as he has only played one season of college football thus far.
Williams played his true freshman season at the University of Oklahoma and replaced Spencer Rattler as the starter midway through the regular season schedule. His short period as a starter came with some thrills, such as the second-half comeback vs. the University of Texas when he was thrust into action recording 212 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 88 rushing yards, and 1 rushing touchdown.
You may be thinking: “what does Caleb Williams have to prove so early in his career?” Well, there is skepticism and mixed receptions about his decision to leave the University of Oklahoma.
Williams reunited with Lincoln Riley, the former head coach at the University of Oklahoma, this spring after entering the transfer portal. Critics have questioned if he is simply going to USC due to the lucrative NIL opportunities and if he is truly ready for the bright lights of Los Angeles. Not to mention the addition of reigning Biletnikoff award recipient, Jordan Addison, from the University of Pittsburgh was a recruiting saga for the ages.
The University of Southern California will arguably have the largest microscope placed on them during the 2022 season, as everyone has an opinion on the offseason drama that unfolded this past spring. The sample size of Williams’ play is limited, but the former 5-star recruit does not lack talent or confidence whatsoever. He possesses all of the intangibles and physical gifts to flourish.
Keep your eyes glued to the television this season when USC hits the gridiron as Williams will be expected to not only cement his legacy amongst former Trojan quarterback legends, but to out-perform the recent departures of JT Daniels, Kedon Slovis, and Jaxson Dart. Whether it is fair or not, anything short of a PAC-12 championship in South Los Angeles will be deemed a failure.