College football quarterback transfer portal tracker: Best players available and decisions

The Athletic has live coverage of the college football transfer portal window.

If you ask recruiting staffers across the country, they’ll tell you Matt Rhule was speaking the truth. In his end-of-season press conference last week, Nebraska’s head coach was asked about his plans for recruiting the transfer portal and decided to offer a little transparency.

“Make no mistake: A good quarterback in the portal costs $1 million to $1.5 million to $2 million right now,” Rhule told reporters.

He’s not exaggerating. Agents and reps have been shopping high-profile transfer quarterbacks around for the past few weeks with asking prices in that range. And now that Rhule has said so publicly, the price is probably going up.

“The going rate for a guy who’s going to go in Day 1 or Day 2 of the draft is $1.5 million,” said one Power 5 general manager. “This year, it might go to $2 million just because there’s less people and competition.”

The going rate in recent years for veteran transfer QBs who just want to play one more season and boost their draft stock was closer to the $500,000 to $750,000 range, he said. Blue-chip freshman transfers with big potential might’ve been worth up to $1 million. But the true NFL-caliber talent? It’s going to cost you more than that.

“That’s where I think it’s at right now,” he added, “but now all these kids are thinking they can get $1 million.”

Add in the fact that transfer quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (LSU), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) all just finished top-three in Heisman Trophy voting, and a lot of talented QBs are going to feel motivated to bet on themselves or at least enter the portal to find out where they can play and get paid.

As the 30-day winter window in which all players can enter the portal gets underway, The Athletic spoke with more than a dozen college football coaches and recruiting staffers. In return for anonymity to protect their programs’ strategic interests, we asked for their candid assessment of the key players in the transfer quarterback market — those who are already available and those whose decisions will help define this recruiting cycle.

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What we learned from the transfer portal's busiest day ever

Top available QBs

Cameron Ward, Washington State: The FCS transfer from Incarnate Word has flashed impressive talent and upside during his two seasons at Washington State, where he has thrown for 7,165 yards with 61 total touchdowns and 16 interceptions while playing in offenses that let him run the show (39.3 passes per game). This season, he ranks No. 6 in the FBS in total offense. Ward announced on Dec. 1 that he was entering the portal as a graduate transfer, but opposing coaches are split on whether he’ll ultimately go pro.

“Cam Ward is the only one who’s worth the money,” another Power 5 GM said.

Ward earns a lot of praise for his arm talent, but his time spent operating wide-open offenses has left some wondering whether perhaps he’s more of a system player who needs to pick a similar scheme if he transfers. His decision might come down to his draft feedback, though Ward is one of the players on this list who seems capable of raising his stock quite a bit with one more strong college season.

The battle for Ward is developing into a Miami vs. Florida State showdown, though it’s possible Ward could extend this process and take more visits. Wherever he goes will set off a domino effect for other QBs in the portal.

Will Howard, Kansas State: The 6-foot-5, 242-pound senior was thrown into action too early as a true freshman in 2020 but has steadily developed into a high-quality quarterback who led Kansas State to a Big 12 championship victory over TCU last season. Howard wasn’t quite as efficient this season as he was during his strong finish to 2022, but he still ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 in total offense with a career-best 2,994 total yards and 33 touchdowns with 11 turnovers.

Multiple coaches mentioned they were excited by what Howard put on tape on the road at Texas with 304 passing yards and four touchdowns in a game the Wildcats took to overtime. Others say they see him as more of a “solid” option who plays within the offense and processes well but might not have the big arm and pocket presence they’re looking for. Industry sources considered Notre Dame the frontrunner to land Howard until Leonard entered the portal. Now this recruitment appears to be more wide open, but USC is one school to watch.

“He’s really intriguing if you’re looking for a guy who you can surround with playmakers and just let him deliver the ball and not ask him to be the hero,” another Pac-12 recruiting staffer said.

DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State: The former five-star recruit went through struggles during his two seasons as Clemson’s starter but revitalized his career with a change of scenery and a pro-style offense that showed off his big arm. Uiagalelei had the best season of his career with 2,638 passing yards, 27 total TDs and seven interceptions for the No. 20 Beavers, impressing his new coaches with his leadership ability.

“It looked like it helped him a lot getting out of that scheme at Clemson,” the Pac-12 DPP said. “His arm talent and feet have always been there. His accuracy got a little better and he was a little more consistent. Liked him, just didn’t love him.”

So what’s next? Uiagalelei is back on the market but could end up deciding to enter the NFL Draft if that’s his best option. Florida State appears to be the frontrunner in this recruitment, and Uiagalelei is scheduled to visit Tallahassee this weekend, according to a program source. The Seminoles are plenty familiar with him — Uiagalelei was 2-0 against FSU at Clemson — and could use a proven veteran to keep them in CFP contention after Jordan Travis graduates.

K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas: It’s easy to see why SEC foes would like to add a sixth-year senior who has started 38 games in their conference.

Jefferson has thrown for 7,911 yards with 67 touchdowns and only 18 interceptions in his career while often carrying the Hogs on his back. He has also rushed for nearly 1,900 yards and 21 more touchdowns. At 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, no one questions his size or playmaking ability.

“I like him,” the Pac-12 DPP said. “Not a very accurate kid. He processes it pretty well, has a good feel for time and space and he really competes.” A Big Ten recruiting coordinator was a little more skeptical of his game, seeing Jefferson as “a one-read guy.” “He’s a really, really big dude who can run, but his accuracy is erratic,” the staffer said.

Maalik Murphy, Texas: The 6-foot-5, 240-pound redshirt freshman from Los Angeles started two games this year after Quinn Ewers injured his shoulder. Murphy threw for 418 yards and three touchdowns and won both starts but did have some freshman moments against Kansas State, with two interceptions in a 33-30 overtime win. Teams tried to persuade Murphy to transfer in the spring and will be calling him again now that he’s announced he’s entering the portal.

Coaches view Murphy as an intriguing talent but still a project. One Power 5 coach who scouted Murphy in high school said his camp performance for them was the second-most impressive they’ve seen in five years behind C.J. Stroud.

“We loved him,” the coach said. “He has a lot of arm talent. His velocity is super high-level. He’s a plus athlete. I think he’s a good kid. He was just so raw and inexperienced and was really only a one-year starter in high school. He’s as talented as anybody. Someone will pay him big money.”

South Carolina, Duke, Oregon State and Baylor have emerged as early contenders for Murphy’s pledge as he hurries to take official visits before the NCAA recruiting dead period begins.

Dante Moore, UCLA: The former five-star recruit had a shaky first season in college, throwing 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions and three pick sixes. At times, like against Coastal Carolina in his college debut, the 18-year-old flashed the elite arm talent that made him such a coveted prospect with great touch and feel and uncanny accuracy. “He’s so naturally talented as a passer,” one Pac-12 coach said. “He can really spin it.” There were also several times in 2023 where the young QB struggled processing under pressure and made bad decisions. By the end of the season, he appeared to lose some confidence.

This is shaping up to be an Oregon vs. Michigan battle. If Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy stays in school for 2024, they’d be fairly similar situations for Moore where he could come in, redshirt and prepare to be the starter and star in 2025.

Dequan Finn, Toledo: Finn earned MAC Player of the Year this season after leading the conference in total offense (3,220 yards, 29 total touchdowns) and guiding the Rockets to 11 wins and another trip to the MAC title game. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior has proved himself as one of the more dynamic dual-threat playmakers in the country over his 32 starts with 7,074 career passing yards, 1,840 rushing yards and 88 total TDs. League coaches have a lot of respect for Finn and how he plays with what they call “blazing” speed.

“He is so dynamic as a playmaker with his feet,” a MAC head coach said. “He can really scoot. He makes something out of nothing and extends a lot of plays. I’d say his arm is slightly above average in terms of accuracy and arm strength. He and Rourke are the two best quarterbacks in our league, and it’s not particularly close.”

Jordan McCloud, James Madison: The Sun Belt Player of the Year is entering the portal for his final season of eligibility after leading the Dukes to an 11-win season and their first FBS bowl berth. McCloud threw for 3,413 yards with 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his lone season at JMU. One Sun Belt coach praised McCloud’s ability to get out of jams with his feet (311 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) and make smart decisions. The Tampa native began his career at USF in 2019 and spent three years there and two years as a backup at Arizona before breaking out this fall.

“He’s a really good game manager,” said a Group of 5 defensive coach who faced JMU this season. “Not a very strong arm, but he’s very smart and ran their offense well. He always knew where to go with the ball.”

Cam Fancher, Marshall: The 6-foot-1, 201-pound sophomore put enough on tape over his 17 starts at Marshall to intrigue Power 5 recruiters. Fancher threw for 3,720 yards, rushed for 739 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns during his time there and led the Herd on a five-game win streak to finish the 2022 season at 9-4. He had a tougher time this season while dealing with injuries, was benched late in the year and finished with 11 interceptions, though coaches say many weren’t his fault. But that hasn’t discouraged some big-time programs from reaching out to the dual-threat talent. One Sun Belt coach said Fancher is accurate, has more than enough arm strength and offers a lot of athletic ability in the pocket to make plays. He also has two more seasons of eligibility. NC State and LSU are bringing him in on visits this week.

Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross: Sluka, a two-time Walter Payton Award finalist as one of the nation’s top FCS players, is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound former lacrosse player who intrigues a lot of coaches in need of a quarterback who can run.

The All-Patriot League playmaker got a chance to take on Boston College in September and put up 130 passing yards, 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns while nearly leading the Crusaders to an upset victory. For the second year in a row, Sluka leads all FCS quarterbacks in rushing with 1,247 yards. He’s been a 58 percent passer over his career but does have a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 59-15.

“He’s very elusive,” one FBS head coach said. “He’s extremely tough and gritty. Have a ton of respect for how he plays. He’s just an OK passer, but I think he can be a good Power 5 player.”

His Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney just landed the James Madison job, so a move to the Sun Belt would make sense for Sluka.

Names to watch

The following quarterbacks have not announced plans to enter the transfer portal but would be among the most coveted prospects at the position if they do.

Michael Pratt, Tulane: Pratt would be considered the No. 1 quarterback on the market among many Power 5 coaching staffs who’ve been hoping he’d transfer for the past year. Most expect him to enter the NFL Draft after finishing out his senior season at Tulane.

The Florida native has been superb from the moment he took over as a true freshman in 2020 and has produced more than 9,000 career passing yards and nearly 1,200 rushing yards with 115 total touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“He’d be the top guy on our board if he transfers and doesn’t go pro,” said the Pac-12 DPP. “He’s a fun player. Arm talent is pretty good. He processes the game well. He has below average mechanics and his accuracy is average, but he’s a savvy runner who evades defenders. He’s elusive in the pocket and runs through arm tackles. Makes really good decisions, has high-level anticipation, tough — there’s a lot to like with him.”

Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland: Portal speculation is nothing new for Tagovailoa. He has said he was offered $1.5 million by an unnamed SEC school to transfer after the 2022 season. Would he take a deal like that this offseason? The redshirt senior broke the Big Ten career record for passing yards (11,256) as well as the school record for passing touchdowns (76) in four seasons at Maryland and led the conference in both categories this season. He’ll soon have to decide whether he’s ready to make the leap to the NFL or whether he wants to take advantage of one extra college season.

Jayden Maiava, UNLV: Maiava led the Rebels to a 9-4 record and the Mountain West title game, their best season since the program made the move up to the FBS. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt freshman proved to be a good fit for Brennan Marion’s unique Go-Go offense. Marion raved to The Athletic about Maiava’s ability to get the Rebels into the right play and make great decisions quickly. “He’s like a great point guard out there,” Marion said. Maiava threw for 2,794 yards with 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He also ran for 261 yards and three more touchdowns.

“He’s a good quarterback for a young guy,” said one Mountain West defensive coordinator. “He throws a good ball.”

Blue-chip backups

A study by The Athletic of top-50 quarterback recruits from 2017 to 2020 found that 87 percent of signees who didn’t start a game in their first two years on campus ended up leaving the program. There are quite a few touted backups who have lost battles, haven’t played much or have been recruited over by transfers, any of whom could become available in this portal cycle.

Vandagriff and Oregon’s Ty Thompson are already in the portal, but Ohio State’s Devin Brown, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and USC’s Miller Moss seem to be in three similar situations. Personnel staffers at other schools have been keeping an eye on them in anticipation that they might be ready to make a move and earn more playing time elsewhere.

Group of 5 stars

If you develop an all-conference-caliber quarterback at the G5 level, you’re probably going to have to fight to hold onto him. Just ask Hawaii coach Timmy Chang, who went on social media to shoot down a report that his quarterback Brayden Schager was expected to transfer. (Schager ultimately entered the portal on Dec. 6.)

Power 5 schools in the market for a new QB were curious to see whether Rourke, Finn and USF’s Byrum Brown, among others, became available in December. Rourke and Finn are now officially on the market along with McCloud. There’s been lots of speculation around Maiava, but he has not entered the portal at this time. We’ll see whether a few more G5 playmakers are ready to make a move.

Brown ranked No. 7 nationally in total offense (3,823 yards, 34 total TDs) in his first season in Alex Golesh’s offense and helped guide the Bulls to bowl eligibility as a redshirt freshman. He’ll continue to put up big stats in that system, but the North Carolina native would likely have Power 5 options close to home after NC State, Duke and Wake Forest all lost quarterbacks to the portal.

Notable transfer QB commitments

Kyle McCord, Ohio State to Syracuse: The first legitimate surprise of this year’s transfer QB cycle was McCord being among the very first players to enter the portal. After waiting his turn behind C.J. Stroud, McCord won the job and looked poised for a big year. He threw for 3,170 yards with 24 TDs and six interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to an 11-0 start before another crushing loss to rival Michigan.

“We thought he was average going into our game, but he stepped up and showed he can play on the stage,” said one Big Ten defensive assistant. “He was smart with the football and gets the ball to his playmakers. He’s a chunk-play guy. Decent arm, nothing special but good enough. He runs OK but can’t run away from anyone.”

Some opposing Big Ten coaches suspect the Buckeyes can upgrade for next season.

“I thought he was talented and young. Definitely not able to do it on his own,” said another Big Ten defensive coach who faced Ohio State in the second half of the season. “You could see those around him were frustrated at times. Pro-style QB, not incredible at anything but solid. Not what they played with before him. Not the best we played in our league, for sure.”

“I think he’s still a good QB and someone is going to get a good player,” said a defensive analyst whose team faced the Buckeyes in the middle of the season. “When you blitzed him and moved the picture on him, though, he did get thrown off and panicked a bit because he doesn’t have the top-end mobility to get out of trouble. I think he’s still an upper-middle-tier quarterback in the Big Ten.”

Will Rogers, Mississippi State to Washington: The 40-game starter is one of the most experienced passers available and has thrown for 12,315 yards in his career, which ranks sixth-most among active FBS quarterbacks. Rogers was No. 1 in the SEC in passing yards per game in 2021 and 2022 while operating Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack. This season was more challenging between a new offensive system and a left shoulder injury that forced him to miss four games. Rogers threw for 1,626 yards on 60 percent passing with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. His play left some personnel staffers concerned about his arm talent.

“I think he has to play in that Leach system,” the Power 5 GM said. “He doesn’t have a strong arm, but obviously he has been productive.”

Kurtis Rourke, Ohio to Indiana: The 2022 MAC Player of the Year recovered from an ankle injury late last season to make it back in time to start this year for the Bobcats. MAC coaches told The Athletic they felt like the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Canadian was better as a junior last year before the injury but still see him as a mid-level Power 5 starter. Over the past two seasons, Rourke threw 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His competition percentage this year did drop to 64 percent from 69 percent last year.

“He’s very good,” said one MAC head coach. “He’s just an elite decision-maker. Someone will get a proven winner and a leader.”

Aidan Chiles, Oregon State to Michigan State: Few freshmen were more coveted in the transfer portal than Chiles. Staffers believe the four-star signee has the potential to be special, and he’s still only 18. Chiles regularly went in for the Beavers’ third offensive drive in games this season and was productive with his opportunities, producing 388 total yards and seven touchdowns and leading scoring drives on 11 of 17 possessions this season.

Teaming up with Jonathan Smith at Michigan State was an easy decision, one that allows him to continue developing under offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and become a program leader through the rebuilding process.

“He’s very talented,” said one Pac-12 recruiting coordinator. “Got good size and can really spin it. The ball jumps out of his hand, and he runs very well. He was really raw coming out of high school, but I think a year under (Smith) has probably really helped him.”

MJ Morris, NC State to Maryland: Morris’ announcement that he’ll enter the portal did not come as much of a surprise in Raleigh after the unusual events of this season. Morris showed promise as a freshman last year but planned to redshirt in 2023 while backing up transfer Brennan Armstrong. He was called off the bench in October and led NC State to wins in three of his four games to clinch bowl eligibility, throwing for 719 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Then he chose to give up the starting job to sit the rest of the season to preserve the redshirt, which made this departure seem inevitable. Morris will have three more seasons of eligibility.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina to NC State: His numbers are staggering. The first-ever three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year has thrown for more than 10,000 yards in college and tossed 88 touchdown passes with just 14 interceptions. He has also rushed for 18 scores. He proved himself to be one of the most efficient players in the country while operating Jamey Chadwell’s offense and has been a career 70 percent passer, but there is some skepticism about how his game might translate elsewhere.

McCall did briefly put his name in the transfer portal last year but ended up having to stay at Coastal Carolina. Now he’s back on the market as a grad transfer for his final season of eligibility and staying close to home by landing at NC State. The Pac-12 DPP said he loves how McCall competes but wasn’t quite sold on his arm talent.

“But on a scale of 1 to 10,” he said, “we had him down at a 9 for moxie.”

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami to Wisconsin: Van Dyke was a revelation for the Hurricanes in 2021, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors after throwing 25 touchdowns and six interceptions as a redshirt freshman. But the 2022 season was a mess for Miami. Van Dyke tried to adapt to a different staff, dealt with injuries and finished with just 10 touchdowns over nine games. This year, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound passer had to pivot to yet another system change. He looked more comfortable at times this season and threw for 2,703 yards with 19 touchdowns but also had 15 turnovers. Wisconsin has already brought him in for an official visit.

“He can be two different people,” one ACC head coach said. “He’s got a lot of arm talent. I think he played hurt this year and he was wildly inconsistent. Maybe he just needs a refresh.”

Riley Leonard, Duke: Notre Dame has landed its successor to Sam Hartman. Leonard and his Blue Devils burst onto the scene in 2022. He finished third in the ACC in total offense after putting up 3,666 yards with 33 total touchdowns and just six interceptions and guided Duke to a surprise nine-win campaign in coach Mike Elko’s debut season. After opening this season with a bang in a 28-7 upset of Clemson, Leonard ended up battling injuries and producing 1,454 total yards with just three passing touchdowns in seven games.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Leonard has a good frame to go with intriguing athleticism. But several coaches we spoke with weren’t as high on him as one might expect.

“We didn’t love his film,” one Pac-12 recruiting coordinator said. “He’s impressive looking, but I don’t think he can really operate your offense. You see too many ‘WTF’ throws. You can’t really win like that.”

“He’s a really good athlete playing behind a terrible O-line,” said one Big Ten GM who scouted him. “His accuracy was a little erratic. He’s a good competitor but just an average passer.”

A Pac-12 director of player personnel (DPP) was a bigger fan of Leonard and offered a comparison to Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

“We like him a lot,” the DPP said. “I’d rate his mechanics, ability to go through his progressions and accuracy about a 6 (out of 10). He does short-arm some throws and misses, but I think he makes good decisions most of the time. Throws the go-ball really well, not as comfortable throwing the post route but layers the ball in pretty naturally. He does a great job of avoiding sacks and has a good internal clock and speed and quickness to outrun linebackers. Accuracy is certainly not elite, but there’s high-level intangibles.”

Taylen Green, Boise State to Arkansas: The big 6-foot-6, 221-pound redshirt sophomore from Texas won Mountain West Freshman of the Year last season after taking over and leading his squad to the conference title game. He had a more challenging season in 2023 and was briefly benched but came back and led the Broncos to a Mountain West championship with 226 passing yards and 90 rushing yards against UNLV.

Green threw for 1,752 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season but did also rush for 436 yards and nine TDs, showcasing the athleticism that got him onto the Freaks List this summer. Green was a 43-foot-5-inch triple jumper in high school and has hit almost 23 mph on the GPS.

“He’s extremely raw as a passer and doesn’t really see coverage well but is an absolute freak athlete,” said one Mountain West defensive coach. “He can throw deep balls on the outside well, but he is a huge problem for the defense running the ball.”

Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma to Oregon: The unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection is coming off the best season of his long career with 3,660 passing yards (fifth-most in the FBS), 42 total touchdowns and six interceptions on 9.5 passing yards per attempt. The fifth-year senior powered the nation’s No. 3 scoring offense and a serious turnaround from 5-7 to 10-2 in his second season with the Sooners. The 49-game starter was high on the board for a few contenders who are seeking a more proven commodity for 2024. The Ducks have a lot of talent returning next season and were seeking an experienced leader to succeed Bo Nix and keep them in CFP contention. They quickly landed their No. 1 target.

“He is very accurate, has a really quick release and is a dangerous runner,” said one Power 5 recruiting coordinator. “He’s really football savvy and is a great college quarterback.”

Brock Vandagriff, Georgia to Kentucky: The former five-star in-state recruit joined the Bulldogs in 2021 and hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do while backing up Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore has played just 76 snaps during his three seasons in the program. He could’ve left after the spring when it was clear Beck was the guy but stayed loyal and stuck around. Now the grad transfer is ready to play.

Vandagriff has only put 21 career passing attempts on tape, but he has a “really strong arm and is very athletic,” according to one Bulldogs staffer.

Tyler Shough, Texas Tech to Louisville: It’s possible no Power 5 starter has had worse injury luck than Shough. After backing up Justin Herbert at Oregon and helping lead the Ducks to a Pac-12 title in 2020, he moved on to Texas Tech. A broken collarbone ended his 2021 season after four games. A shoulder injury forced him to sit out six games in 2022. This year, it was a season-ending broken left fibula in his fourth game.

Shough has still put a lot of good stuff on tape as a talented 6-foot-5, 230-pound passer with dual-threat capability when healthy. He only appeared in 15 games for the Red Raiders but produced 2,922 passing yards, 432 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

“He’s got all the tools in the world,” one Power 5 offensive coordinator said. “He’s just gotta stay healthy for a season.”

“I love the kid’s film when he is playing,” added the Power 5 GM.

Shough will be a seventh-year senior in 2024 and generated a lot of Power 5 interest. He’s expected to be healthy in time for spring practice and could end up being a steal who puts up big numbers in Jeff Brohm’s system.

Max Brosmer, New Hampshire to Minnesota: Brosmer is currently the leading passer in the FCS with 3,449 yards, 34 total touchdowns and five interceptions and was a finalist alongside Sluka for the Walter Payton Award. Staffers inside the New Hampshire program describe the 6-foot-2, 221-pound junior as a film junkie and great processor.

“He has great poise, great anticipation and accuracy,” said one coach who has faced Brosmer. “He was extremely smart. It was hard to catch him off guard so we had to disguise a lot and try to blitz him a good amount to get the ball out, because he was good at taking what you gave him.”

Two Power 5 personnel staffers who have studied Brosmer were more concerned about his athleticism and level of competition and were unsure whether he’s a Power 5 starter.

Max Johnson, Texas A&M to North Carolina: Johnson will head to his third school looking to replace future first-round NFL Draft pick Drake Maye. He began the season as Texas A&M’s backup quarterback but was thrust into action when starter Conner Weigman broke a bone in his foot in late September, ending his season. Johnson went 2-3 as a starter but suffered a rib injury during the Aggies’ 38-35 loss at Ole Miss on Nov. 4 that sidelined him for the rest of the year.

(Top illustration photos: James Snook, Jeff Hanisch, Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA Today)