Top prospects in 2025 NFL Draft: Ranking top college QBs by QBR ahead of Week 4
We are currently three weeks into the 2024 college football season, and some quarterbacks are already making a strong case to be selected early in the 2025 NFL Draft, while others are falling out of the conversation. It's unlikely that the 2025 draft will see a repeat of last season's record of six quarterbacks going in the first round, but there will definitely be quarterbacks who hear their names called. The question is, who will they be?
ESPN's QBR (Total Quarterback Rating) is a tool that provides a comprehensive context for each player. It factors in elements such as down and distance to determine the efficiency and value of a play. The top 10 college passers by QBR this season, who are projected to be drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, are listed along with their national QBR ranking and their projected draft rankings according to experts, giving you a detailed insight into their performance.
Here are the top five college quarterback prospects ranked by QBR heading into Week 4 of the 2024 college football season. See how is coming off a stellar week heading into FBS play this weekend.
More: College Football Playoff bracketology: SEC, Big Ten living up to expectations
Top 10 college QB prospects ranked by QBR
No. 5: Drew Allar, Penn State (QBR: 88.6)
2024 stats: 24 of 37 passing, 420 yards, five touchdowns | 13 rushing carries for 51 yards, one touchdown
The Penn State Nittany Lions have started the season 2-0 under the leadership of junior quarterback Drew Allar. Allar put on an impressive performance in the Week 2 34-27 victory over Bowling Green, completing 13 of 20 attempts for 204 yards with two touchdowns, and also rushing for another.
No. 4: Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (QBR: 89.4)
2024 stats: 55 of 74 passing, 755 yards, seven touchdowns | 10 rushing carries for 23 yards, one touchdown
Indiana is off to a hot 3-0 start in the 2024 season. The Hoosiers shut out the UCLA Bruins in their Big Ten debut with a 42-13 win in Week 3. Indiana's quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, completed 25 of 33 attempts and passed for 307 yards and four touchdowns. He was also 9 for 9 for 128 yards on third down.
No. 3: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (QBR: 91.6)
2024 stats: 73 of 88 passing, 1,172 yards, eight touchdowns | 18 rushing carries for 54 yards, three touchdowns
Ole Miss senior quarterback Jaxson Dart is ranked ninth in the QBR rankings after receiving the SEC's weekly award for Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He earned this recognition following an outstanding performance in Ole Miss' 40-6 victory over Wake Forest in Week 2. Dart is currently leading the FBS in total offense yards per game with 408.7 and also leads the nation in passing yards with an average of 390.7 per game.
No. 2: Ethan Hampton, Northern Illinois (QBR: 94.1)
2024 stats: 28 of 39 passing, 526 yards, SIX touchdowns | six rushing carries for 29 yards
Northern Illinois stunned Notre Dame in a thrilling 16-14 game that came down to a field goal in the final minute. After a stellar performance, Quarterback Ethan Hampton finds himself in the top five in the QBR ratings, completing 10 of 19 attempts for 198 yards and one touchdown. He also set up kicker Woodill for the winning field goal.
No. 1: Cam Ward, Miami (QBR: 94.4)
2024 stats: 65 of 89 passing, 1,035 yards, 11 touchdowns | seven rushing carries for 46 yards, one touchdown
Ward transferred to Miami after spending two seasons at Washington State. His remarkable arm talent, athleticism, and solid mechanics had positioned him as a potential top-50 prospect before the season. He has continuously improved his decision-making and guided the No. 10 Hurricanes to their highest ranking in three years. In Miami's most recent win, Ward put on a dominant performance, throwing for 246 yards and five touchdowns before giving the backup quarterback some playing time in the second half during their 62-0 victory over Ball State in Week 3.
Other notable Week 3 QBs
No. 13. Gevani McCoy, Oregon State (QBR: 83.5)
2024 stats: 47 of 70 passing, 467 yards, two touchdowns | nine rushing carries for 56 yards
Despite suffering a Week 3 loss to in-state rivals Oregon, Gevani McCoy finds himself ranked around the middle of the QBR standings heading into Week 4. McCoy completed 22 of 34 passes for 172 yards.
No 23: Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State (QBR: 96.8)
2024 stats: 75 of 112 passing, 967 yards, eight touchdowns | seven rushing carries for 15 yards
Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman, who is in his seventh year of eligibility, has played a crucial role in the Cowboys' 3-0 start to the season. Bowman had a stellar performance in the 45-10 win over Tulsa, completing 24 of 31 passes for 396 yards and matching a career-high with five touchdown passes. He had previously thrown five touchdown passes in a game for Texas Tech in 2020 and again in 2018.
No 25: Tucker Gleason, Toledo (QBR: 78.8)
2024 stats: 46 of 75 passing, 662 yards, nine touchdowns | 18 rushing carries for 90 yards
Toledo is off to a great start in the 2024 season with a 3-0 record. They recently achieved a remarkable 41-17 victory over Mississippi State. The Rockets' quarterback has performed exceptionally well, ranking in the top five in this week's QBR rankings. He completed 23 of 28 attempts for 285 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed 10 times for 40 yards against the Bulldogs. This win marks Toledo's first victory over an SEC team since 2015.
No. 26: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (QBR: 77.7)
2024 stats: 79 of 94 passing, 914 yards, six touchdowns | 18 rushing carries for 26 yards, two touchdowns
Gabriel is a dual-threat quarterback who stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 204 pounds. Despite Oregon's close results at the beginning of the season, they have a 3-0 record. Gabriel has the opportunity to demonstrate his skills against Big Ten teams and bolster his case for the 2025 draft with standout performances. He makes up for his size limitations with a high football IQ, anticipation, and timing.
No. 28: Jalen Milroe, Alabama (QBR: 77.1)
2024 stats: 35 of 52 passing, 590 yards, eight touchdowns | 15 rushing carries for 57 yards
After finishing sixth in last year's Heisman Trophy voting, Alabama's junior quarterback, Jalen Milroe, enters this week's rankings at number 10. He has established himself as one of the most dynamic players in college football. In the Crimson Tide's 42-10 win over the Wisconsin Badgers last week, Milroe threw three touchdowns and ran for two more. He finished the night with 12 of 17 completed attempts for 196 yards.
No. 48: Behren Morton, Texas Tech (QBR: 64.7)
2024 stats: 79 of 119 passing, 974 yards, 10 touchdowns | eight rushing carries for one yard, one touchdown
In this week's QBR rankings, Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton secured the second spot thanks to an outstanding performance in a 66-21 victory over North Texas. Morton completed 15 of 19 attempts for 273 yards and threw four touchdowns, aiding the Red Raiders in recovering from a challenging 37-16 loss to Washington State in Week 2.
No. 54: Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (QBR: 63.1)
2024 stats: 49 of 78 passing, 443 yards | 34 rushing carries for 179 yards, four touchdowns
Notre Dame's dual-threat quarterback, Riley Leonard, continues to show development as the season progresses. Leonard was instrumental in getting the offense going in their recent 66-7 win over Purdue. This victory marked their biggest margin of victory since 2019, following a surprising Week 1 loss to Northern Illinois. Leonard completed 18 of 30 attempts for 158 yards, and he also carried the ball 11 times for 100 yards, scoring three rushing touchdowns.