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Sport

James Morgan

College football’s 10 highest-graded quarterbacks in 2023

Football Carson Beck Georgia (Organization) USA TODAY Sports NFL Jayden Daniels Christian Petersen JJ McCarthy LSU Michael Penix

Good quarterback play is a constant theme for the top college football teams. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix, the two quarterbacks of the national championship game, finished the year as two of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded quarterbacks.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was college football’s best player throughout the 2023 season. Daniels won the Heisman and helped LSU have one of the best offenses in the nation.

Looking ahead to 2024, Georgia has the country’s highest-graded returning starting quarterback in Carson Beck. Beck and Georgia are ranked as the No. 1 team in may way-too-early polls ahead of the 2024 college football season.

Who are PFF’s 10 highest-graded quarterbacks from the 2023 college football season and what are their plans for 2024?

10
Caleb Williams, USC

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 90.5

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 3,633 passing yards, 41 total touchdowns, and five interceptions

9
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Detroit Free Press

PFF grade: 90.6

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 2,991 passing yards, 25 total touchdowns and four interceptions

Wolverines Wire

8
Drake Maye, North Carolina

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

PFF grade: 90.7

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions

7
Garrett Greene, West Virginia

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 91.0

2024: returning to West Virginia

Stats: 2,406 passing yards, 29 total touchdowns and four interceptions

6
Michael Penix, Washington

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 91.0

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 4,903 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions

5
Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

The Clarion-Ledger

PFF grade: 91.3

2024: returning to Ole Miss

Stats: 3,364 passing yards, 31 total touchdowns and five interceptions

4
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 91.6

2024: transferred to Oregon

Stats: 3,660 passing yards, 42 total touchdowns and six interceptions

3
Carson Beck, Georgia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 91.3

2024: returning to Georgia

Stats: 3,941 passing yards, 28 total touchdowns and six interceptions

2
Bo Nix, Oregon

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PFF grade: 93.1

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 4,508 passing yards, 51 total touchdowns, and three interceptions

1
Jayden Daniels, LSU

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

PFF grade: 94.7

2024: entering the NFL draft

Stats: 3,812 passing yards, 50 total touchdowns, and four interceptions

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