Ranking college football's 12 most dynamic athletes at quarterback in 2024 (2024)

South Carolina's first-year starter exiting April, LaNorris Sellers shined in mop-up duty as a true freshman playing behind Spencer Rattler and gives the Gameco*cks a run-game element at the position. An ideal dual-threatas the headliner of what's expected to be an offense with a ground attack focus, Sellers is one of South Carolina's strongest players and packs at punch at 6-3, 245 pounds. It'll be interesting to see how many hits offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains allows Sellers to take without not much depth behind him outside of Auburn transfer Robby Ashford. South Carolina's staff seemingly believes Sellers is big enough to absorb his share.

Entering his sixth season of college football in 2024, Dequan Finn was a multi-year starter at Toledo before hitting the portal and signing with Baylor this spring. He rushed for 563 yards and seven touchdowns last fall, leading the Rockets to the MAC Championship Game as the league's player of the year. Escapability is his strength. Baylor coach Dave Aranda did not name a starting quarterback after spring with Finn battling Sawyer Robertson for the job after Blake Shapen transferred to Mississippi State.

First-year Boston College coachBill O'Brienhasn't released a depth chart on offense ahead of his first season, but those close to the program assume this job belongs toThomas Castellanos, who rushed for 1,113 yards last season and threw for another 2,248 yards.Castellanos was one of a half-dozen players under center who took snaps during the spring, so there's going to be some obvious turnover there. O'Brien worked with several talented quarterbacks in the past at various levels of football, but catering to Castellanos' strengths — and letting him freelance a bit — might be the move in 2024.

One of the top transfers during the 2024 cycle, Riley Leonard battled through injuries after a breakout season during Mike Elko's inaugural 2022 year at Duke. That put him on the scene nationally. He fights to follow in Sam Hartman's transfer footsteps as leader of the Fighting Irish this season and enhance his NFL stock in the process. He has averaged just under six yards per carry over the last two seasons and has accumulated 40 touchdowns over his last 20 starts.

One ofArkansas football's all-time leading passers, KJ Jefferson dealt with poor offensive line play last fall and completed 64.2% of his passes for 2,107 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He tacked on 447 yards and two scores on the ground. Jefferson played his best ball under former Razorbacks OCKendal Brilesin 2021 and 2022. He recorded career-bests in completion percentage (68.0%), passing yards (2,636) and passing touchdowns (24) while throwing just five interceptions last season. He ran for 640 yards and nine scores. With Gus Malzahn as his new offensive guru, Jefferson's numbers should flourish at UCF.

Rarely are two programs okay with a player leaving, but the Wildcats didn't panic after multi-year starterWill Howardentered the portal (and signed with Ohio State).Avery Johnson, a freshman, showed enough in a limited role to give Kansas State's coaching staff and those around him considerable confidence that he is a difference-maker in 2024, especially after his bowl performance against NC State. He's a dual-threat playmaker who has a pass-first, run-second mentality.

The former Texas A&M signal-caller came into his own last fall atGeorgia Techwith a standout season and now has the Yellow Jackets thinking dark-horse ACC title bid ahead of the new season. The former four-star is beginning to show some of the traits that made him such a coveted prospect as a top signal-caller coming out of Longview (Texas)several years ago. IfHaynes Kinghas one fault, it's that he sometimes trust his armtoomuch.Giveaways is not what the Yellow Jackets need. However, this offense unlocked a different level of his game in 2023 after he rushed for 737 yards, nearly 700 yards more than his previous career-best total.

CanJalon Danielsstay healthy? That's the major question most everyone has for the veteran Big 12 quarterback who played in only three games last season after having a statistically-efficient 2022 campaign for the Jayhawks. At full strength, there are few better in big-time situations than Daniels on the move, but he's yet to play in 10 games during any season. Losing his OC to Penn State is something to watch, too, as the Jayhawks try and contend in the new-look Big 12.

Virginia Tech's rising star worked out with Cameron Ward and Shedeur Sanders this spring in Miami, hoping to take the next step in his development on a team returning nearly every starter this season. He rushed for 818 yards last season, including a 176-yard explosion in the bowl win over Tulane and a 135-yard performance against Boston College. At 6-2, 235 pounds, Drones often carries tacklers a couple more yards after initial contact and is especially potent on third down. Hewill be one of the ACC's best at quarterback.

The advanced analytics suggestGarrett Greeneis college football's most underrated returning quarterback in 2024 after he exploded onto the scene for the Mountaineers last season. He led theFBS ranks in big-time throws (10.2%) last fall per PFFand is rarely sacked when pressured given his mobility. It's a dangerous comp, sure, but Greene is the closet quarterback we've seen toJohnny Manzielin the Power conference ranks in several years. He is lethal on the move and can move the chains with his feet or finding guys at the second level when the secondary begins to close in.

It's hard to believe that a quarterback who set various records for an unbeaten, conference champion team last season prior to a Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon isn't in the Heisman'stop 50 playersto open 2024's odds. Most assumedKaidon Salterwould be a transfer portal casualty and likely Auburn-bound to join former Liberty coachHugh Freezethis offseason, but he decided to remain with the Flames and lead this program to a College Football Playoff berth in Jamey Chadwell's second campaign. Salter rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 scores as a third-sophom*ore, to go along with 2,876 yards through the air and 32 touchdowns.

A weight room warrior at Alabama much like Jalen Hurts was during his time in Tuscaloosa at the position, Jalen Milroe has a linebacker's build at quarterback. He has managed 11 carries of 20 yards or more the last two seasons, including a 77-yard touchdown gallop against Arkansas in 2022 that put him on the map nationally. Milroe's rushing total as a third-year player last fall paled in comparison to Heisman winner Jayden Daniels at the quarterback spot, however much of that was due to the number of sacks taken (44). If the Crimson Tide can do a better job of protecting their top quarterback and giving him more designed runs, there's a good chance he is one of the league's leaders in the category.