Naming the best college football quarterbacks from every state.
There are over 100 quarterbacks across every FBS and FCS roster each season. The majority of those signal-callers will experience some form of success during their collegiate career, while only a select few will be good enough to take their talents to the pros. The next level is usually the NFL, though some may end up in the CFL or the AFL. But where do these great college quarterbacks come from?
Some states — California, Ohio — are obviously represented by a larger number of college quarterbacks, but that doesn’t mean those states have necessarily produced the absolute best quarterbacks to have graced the NCAA. In fact, some of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time were born in the smallest states, while others weren’t born in the USA at all.
Florida great Tim Tebow is easily one of the best signal-callers to grace an NCAA field, but he doesn’t represent the state of Florida here because he was born in the Philippines. Let’s take a tour around the country and pick the best college quarterback born in every state.
Alabama: Jameis Winston – Florida State Seminoles
The state of Alabama has produced some excellent college quarterbacks. Kenny Stabler, Pat Sullivan and Philip Rivers are three names that come to mind when thinking about Alabama-born signal-callers. However, the best quarterback born in the Yellowhammer State is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston, and it isn’t even close.
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“Famous” Jameis was born in a small town called Bessemer, which also produced the legendary running back Bo Jackson. As a senior at Hueytown High School, Winston was considered by ESPN to be the best overall quarterback recruit in the country. After receiving countless accolades during his high school career, Jameis decided to sign with Florida State as part of their 2012 recruiting class.
Winston redshirted during his first year in Tallahassee but became the starting quarterback for the 2013 season. He performed very well, leading the Seminoles to a 13-0 record and becoming the youngest player ever, and only the second freshman ever, to win the Heisman Trophy. He concluded the season by leading FSU to a 34-31 victory over Auburn in the National Championship game.
Jameis’ sophomore season was nearly a repeat of his freshman year. He once again led FSU to a 13-0 record and into the National Championship game, this time against the Oregon Ducks. He also finished sixth in the Heisman voting. Unfortunately, the Ducks crushed the Seminoles by a score of 59-20, Winston’s only loss in his entire college career.
Success seems to follow Winston at every level, as he proved during his amazing two-year stint at FSU. It’s clear no Alabama-born college quarterback tops the achievements of Jameis Winston.
Alaska: Phil Sarboe – Washington State Cougars
Alaska isn’t known for producing a lot of football players. In fact, only nine players born in the Last Frontier have taken their talents from the NCAA to the NFL. Only one of them played quarterback, but he played the position pretty well back in his days at Washington State.
Phil Sarboe was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Tacoma, Washington. He was a three-sport star for the Washington State Cougars from 1931 to 1933. Sarboe attended the school on a basketball scholarship and was also a star shortstop in baseball. However, his greatest successes came on the gridiron.
Sarboe played multiple positions for the Cougars, including quarterback. Phil was selected to several All-Coast teams and was an All-American honorable mention. He also starred in the 1934 East-West Shrine Game. Sarboe went on to play in the NFL for the Boston Redskins, Chicago Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers. He even led the NFL in passing attempts and yardage in 1935.
The pickings were slim, but the king of Alaskan college football quarterbacks is still Phil Sarboe. Only time will tell when the next great college quarterback from Alaska will emerge. Perhaps he’s being born right now.
Arizona: Rodney Peete – USC Trojans
Arizona is the birthplace of current New York Jets starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick had a pretty good career at Harvard University, where he was the Ivy League MVP in 2004. However, he isn’t the best college quarterback born in the Grand Canyon State. That distinction belongs to USC’s Rodney Peete.
Peete was born in Mesa, Arizona and attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson for his freshman, sophomore and junior years. He was named the Arizona High School Player of the Year in his final year at Sahuaro. Rodney went on to play his senior year in Overland, Kansas at Shawnee Mission South High School. He was also a talented baseball player and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1984. Despite having the opportunity to play professional baseball, Peete decided to attend the University of Southern California to play football instead.
Peete had solid sophomore and junior year campaigns, but the pinnacle of his collegiate career came in his senior season in 1988. He became the first USC player to win the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation’s best senior quarterback and he finished second to the great Barry Sanders in the Heisman Trophy voting. Peete also won both of his head-to-head matchups against Troy Aikman’s UCLA teams.
Although his career in the NFL never matched his success in college, the impact Peete had on the USC campus will never be forgotten. Rodney Peete is unquestionably the best college quarterback born in Arizona, and that could be the case for a long time.
Arkansas: Ryan Mallett – Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas has produced many college football players. As far as quarterbacks are concerned, older fans may consider Clarence McHan the best Arkansas-born gunslinger. However, despite his impressive 1953 season, when he finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, McHan isn’t the best from the Natural State. That would be current Baltimore Raven, Ryan Mallett.
Mallett was born in Batesville, Arkansas and raised in Texarkana, Texas. As a high school senior in 2006, he was ranked the second-best quarterback and fourth-best player in the nation by Rivals.com. He chose to play for Michigan, but that was only the beginning of his interesting collegiate journey.
After Mallet’s first season in Michigan, head coach Lloyd Carr retired and was replaced by Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez chose to overhaul Michigan’s offense and implemented a scheme that didn’t play to Mallett’s strengths. Mallett decided to make the move back to his home state and spent the 2008 season ineligible to play due to NCAA transfer rules.
Ryan was ultimately very successful during his two seasons in Fayetteville. He passed for at least 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in both seasons. In 2009, he led the Razorbacks to an 8-5 record and a 2010 Liberty Bowl victory. He was also named to the All-SEC second team. He had similar success in 2010 when he was once again voted to the All-SEC second team and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.
At age 28, Mallett still has a few years left in his professional career. He’s had mixed results in the NFL so far, but it’s not too late for him to have a solid career. Regardless of how critics feel about how he’s played as a pro, it’s hard to deny his place as the best college quarterback born in Arkansas.
California: Matt Leinart – USC Trojans
California is a factory when it comes to producing great college football players, and the quarterback position is no exception. Signal callers such as Troy Aikman, David Carr, Ken Dorsey, Carson Palmer, Jim Plunkett and Gino Torretta were all born in the Golden State. However, none of them experienced the same kind of success as USC legend, Matt Leinart.
In his three years as the starting quarterback for the Trojans, from 2003 to 2005, Leinart reached heights most can only dream of. In 2003, he led USC to an 11-1 record and the top ranking in the AP and coaches’ polls. The BCS system, however, ranked USC third, leaving the Trojans out of the National Championship game. Leinart led the Trojans to a Rose Bowl victory against Michigan that season and the AP National Championship. He also finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
In 2004, Leinart led the Trojans to a 12-0 record and the BCS National Championship game against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. In what should have been a competitive game, USC destroyed the Sooners by a score of 55-19 and Leinart was named Orange Bowl MVP. Prior to the game, he became the sixth USC player to win the Heisman Trophy.
In 2005, Leinart led USC to another 12-0 record and a second straight BCS title game, where they faced the Texas Longhorns. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind teammate Reggie Bush and Texas quarterback Vince Young. Despite an outstanding performance, Leinart was outdone by Young in a close 41-38 loss. It marked only the second loss Leinart suffered in his college career. His overall record was 37-2.
Leinart finished his collegiate career as USC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and completion percentage. He also ranks second behind Carson Palmer in completions and passing yardage. If there has been a better California-born college quarterback, we’ve never heard of him.
Colorado: Joe Germaine – Ohio State Buckeyes
Colorado is the birthplace of two significant college quarterbacks, both of whom, coincidentally, was born in 1975. The first of the two is former NFL Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck. He had a decent career starting at quarterback for the Boston College Eagles from 1994 to 1997. However, Hasselbeck’s pro career significantly overshadows his college career.
The second is Joe Germaine. Germaine was born in Denver, Colorado and attended Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona. He served a two-year Mormon mission before playing for Scottsdale Community College in 1995. Germaine then transferred to Ohio State, where he served as Stanley Jackson’s backup in 1996 and 1997. His first memorable moment came in the 1997 Rose Bowl when he was named the game’s MVP after completing a game-winning drive in the final minutes.
In 1998, Germaine was the full-time starting quarterback and team co-captain. He set 11 school records, throwing for 3,330 yards and 25 touchdowns. He won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award and was eventually named to Ohio State’s All-Century team in 2000.
Germaine’s pro career started off well as he won a Super Bowl ring in 1999 playing backup to Kurt Warner. Unfortunately, that was his only shining moment, and he wound up in the Arena Football League by 2004. Germaine obviously didn’t experience the same level of pro success as Hasselbeck, but his college career stands out as the best among quarterbacks from the Centennial State.
Connecticut: Dan Orlovsky – Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut has produced some elite players over the decades, including Bill Romanowski, Dwight Freeney and current Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed. However, when it comes to top college quarterbacks, the list is short. In fact, only one name truly comes to mind: former UConn star Dan Orlovsky.
Orlovsky became the starting quarterback for the Huskies during his freshman year and never looked back. After a decent sophomore season where he threw for 2,488 yards and 19 touchdowns, he really came into his own the following year. As a junior, Orlovsky ranked seventh in the nation in passing touchdowns with 33.
As a senior, Orlovsky led Connecticut to victory in the 2004 Motor City Bowl against Toledo. It was UConn’s first-ever bowl appearance and Orlovsky was named the game’s MVP. He ended his college career as the school record holder for pass completions, passing yards, touchdown passes and total yards.
Orlovsky served as the face of UConn football as he was their starting quarterback during the transition from Division I-AA to a full-fledged member of the Big East. He currently plays in the NFL as a backup for Matt Stafford on the Detroit Lions. His pro career may never match his collegiate success, but it’s safe to say that he’s the best college quarterback born in the Constitution State.
Delaware: George Chalmers – Maryland Terrapins
This was a difficult pick. Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco both impressed for the University of Delaware, but neither was born in the First State. Therefore, we’re going to turn back the clock. From 1929-31, Delaware native George Chalmers left his mark playing for the University of Maryland.
Chalmers was born in New Castle, Delaware and played three sports for Maryland. On the football squad, he played wingback in a double-wing offense, where passing was his primary role. He was one of the heroes of the 1929 season when Maryland upset Yale in a 13-13 tie. Chalmers was responsible for one of the Terrapins’ touchdowns with a pass to receiver Boze Berger.
In 1931, Chalmers led Maryland to an 8-1-1 record and was named to the All-Maryland team. He was considered to be one of the school’s triple threats due to his ability to pass, run and kick. Chalmers was also considered to be the best forward passer in the South. After graduation, he was signed by a Philadelphia-based pro team called the Frankford Legion.
Chalmers was elected to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983. He may not be the biggest name in college football, but George Chalmers has no competition as the best college quarterback born in Delaware.
Florida: Lamar Jackson, Louisville
The best quarterback in Louisville football history was slept on by the programs in the Sunshine State. Born in Pompano Beach, Florida, Jackson didn’t get the recruiting attention he was deserving of from Miami, Florida State and Florida so he went to Louisville where he put up video-game numbers for three seasons with the Cardinals.
Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 after passing for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns, including several of them of the highlight-reel variety. His running ability may only be surpassed by Michael Vick but his dual-threat abilities has no peer.
As a junior, Jackson was just as elusive and dangerous in and outside of the pocket, totaling 45 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards throwing and running. He had a great shot at winning a second Heisman Trophy but Baker Mayfield stole the award from him.
Georgia: Cam Newton – Auburn Tigers
Georgia is another football player factory. Legendary players such as Herschel Walker and Champ Bailey immediately come to mind when thinking of great college players born in Georgia. The Peach State has been the birthplace of some decent college gunslingers. Quincy Carter and Charlie Whitehurst both deserve mentions, but neither came close to reaching the heights of the state’s greatest college quarterback.
Cam Newton was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Westlake High School. He graduated as one of the best quarterbacks in the country and signed to play for the University of Florida. Newton’s days in Gainesville didn’t go well as he was arrested for stealing another student’s laptop. The incident, along with several prior charges of academic dishonesty, ultimately saw the quarterback transfer to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. In his lone season in Brenham, Newton led his team to the 2009 NJCAA National Football Championship, before moving back to the NCAA, this time with the Auburn Tigers.
In one season with the Tigers, Cam won nearly every award going: the AP College Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award, the Walter Camp Award and the Maxwell Award. He also won the coveted Heisman Trophy while leading Auburn to victory against the Oregon Ducks in the 2011 BCS National Championship game. It was truly a historic year for Newton.
Pending the completion of Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence’s career, he may supplant Newton as the best from the Peach State, but for now, he’s the owner as the best college football quarterback from Georgia.
Hawaii: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Marcus Mariota was the best quarterback from Hawaii but that was until Tua Tagovailoa came along to usurp him. Tua came off the bench as a freshman to lead Alabama to a comeback win against Georgia in overtime of the National Championship Game and etched his name in college football immortality.
After a heated competition with Jalen Hurts entering his sophomore year, Tua built on his freshman breakout performance to smash Alabama records for passing and total offense and led the Tide to the National Championship Game, albeit a loss to Clemson. If not for injury, Tua would have beat Kyler Murray for the Heisman Trophy in 2018.
Heisman and national title expectations were on Tua’s left shoulder in 2019 but an ankle injury, loss to LSU and eventually a season-ending dislocated hip derailed those expectations but he still finished in the top-10 for Heisman voting after throwing 33 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
He didn’t win a Heisman like Mariota, and he didn’t get another ring, but he’s the best from the islands.
Idaho: Jake Plummer – Arizona State Sun Devils
Idaho is the Gem State, but it’s perhaps better known for its prolific production of potatoes. What the state’s not known for is producing memorable college quarterbacks. Brock Osweiler of the Houston Texans was born in Idaho and enjoyed a good season at Arizona State. However, no Idaho-born quarterback has surpassed the achievements of Jake Plummer.
In his junior and senior seasons at Arizona State, Plummer was named to the All-Pac-10 first team. As a senior in 1996, he led the Sun Devils to an undefeated regular season, a Pac-10 championship and a bid to the Rose Bowl. As a result, Jake was named a first-team All-American and the Pac-10 Player of the Year. He also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. Plummer would eventually move on to the NFL, where he experienced more success, including a Pro Bowl season in 2005.
No other passer born in Idaho has come close to the accomplishments of Jake Plummer. This is why he’s the undisputed champion when it comes to college quarterbacks born in the Gem State.
Illinois: Donovan McNabb – Syracuse Orange
The state of Illinois, especially the Chicago area, has a rich history of great college football players. Dick Butkus and Simeon Rice are two big names that come to mind. However, the state hasn’t produced as many notable quarterbacks as you might think. Kurt Kittner was a very productive quarterback for the University of Illinois, but his accomplishments don’t top those of Donovan McNabb.
McNabb was born and raised in Chicago, where he excelled in football, basketball and track for Mount Carmel High School. Despite being recruited by many colleges, he only received scholarship offers to play quarterback from two schools: Syracuse and Nebraska. McNabb decided to play for the Syracuse Orange since he wanted to prove he was a competent pocket passer.
In his first season in college, Donovan started every game and was named the Big East Rookie of the Year in 1995. He was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year from 1996 to 1998. McNabb was selected to the All-Big East first team in all four years of his college career and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1998. He would later be named to the Syracuse All-Century team.
McNabb went on to have a very successful career in the NFL which included six Pro Bowl selections. There may never be a college quarterback born in the Prairie State that surpasses the success of Donovan McNabb.
Indiana: Bob Griese – Purdue Boilermakers
Unlike Illinois, Indiana has no shortage of great college quarterbacks. Jay Cutler, Jeff George, Rex Grossman and Rick Mirer are some good examples of Indiana-born signal callers that achieved collegiate success. However, probably none of them means more to the “Hoosier State” than Purdue’s Bob Griese.
Griese was a three-sport star for the Boilermakers and played three positions on the football team. Along with his quarterback duties, he served as a kicker and punter. There were many contests where Bob scored every single point for Purdue. He currently ranks ninth in scoring, fifth in scoring among non-kickers and fourth among kickers in school history.
Bob was a two-time All-American for Purdue and finished eighth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy race. He also finished as the runner-up to Steve Spurrier in the 1966 Heisman voting. Griese’s college career earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
Griese continued to be successful in the NFL and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Of all the great college passers that were born in Indiana, none have been better than Bob Griese.
Iowa: Steve Bartkowski – California Golden Bears
The best pro quarterback born in Iowa is clearly Kurt Warner, but his college career at Northern Iowa was nothing special. Other signal-callers born in the state such as Kyle Orton and Trent Green had better college careers, but nothing too noteworthy. This leads us to Steve Bartkowski, the best college quarterback born in the Hawkeye State.
In 1972 and 1973, Bartkowski split quarterback duties with Vince Ferragamo and put up some decent numbers. However, he had his breakout season as a senior in 1974. During that season, he led the NCAA in passing yards and completions while being a consensus All-American. He also finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.
Bartkowski would eventually become the top overall selection in the 1975 NFL Draft and enjoyed a good pro career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Steve Bartkowski is easily the best college quarterback born in Iowa, and it may stay that way for a while.
Kansas: Jim Everett – Purdue Boilermakers
Before he became a productive signal-caller for the Los Angeles Rams and his infamous altercation with Jim Rome, Jim Everett was making a name for himself at Purdue University. Everett was born in Emporia, Kansas and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he attended Eldorado High School. He led his school to its only state championship as a quarterback and safety. He would eventually sign with Purdue due to their pass-oriented offense.
Everett led the Boilermakers to the 1984 Peach Bowl, where he suffered a 27-24 loss to Virginia despite throwing for three touchdowns. That year, Everett also became the first Purdue quarterback to beat Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State in the same season.
As a senior in 1985, Everett led the NCAA in total offense with 3,589 yards and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He would then go into the NFL and became a Pro Bowl selection in 1990. He also led the league in passing touchdowns twice.
There isn’t much competition when it comes to the best Kansas-born college quarterback. The answer is Jim Everett and I strongly recommend you never call him “Chris.”
Kentucky: Tim Couch – Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky has produced some good college quarterbacks over the years. Phil Simms, Brian Brohm and Jared Lorenzen are three names that immediately come to mind. However, the king of Kentucky-born quarterbacks is Tim Couch.
Couch was born in Hyden, Kentucky and played for Leslie County High School. During his time there, he set numerous national high school records, including most pass completions, passing yards, touchdown passes and completion percentage. He was given Kentucky’s “Mr. Football” award and chose to keep his talents in-state by attending the University of Kentucky.
Couch found himself in a time-split for starting quarterback as a freshman in 1996. This would change over the next two seasons as he became entrenched as the starter for the Wildcats. He passed for at least 3,800 yards and 37 touchdowns in both his sophomore and junior seasons. In 1997, he was named to the All-SEC second team. In 1998, he became a first-team All-American, was named SEC Player of the Year and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Couch’s college success led to him being the top overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he was unable to live up the hype and now works as an analyst for Fox Sports South. Despite the disappointments of his professional career, it’s clear Tim Couch is the greatest college quarterback born in the Bluegrass State.
Louisiana: Peyton Manning – Tennessee Volunteers
Louisiana has produced several excellent college quarterbacks, including Terry Bradshaw, Eli Manning, Brock Berlin, Patrick Ramsey, Kordell Stewart and Doug Williams. However, the greatest college signal-caller born in the Pelican State is one of the greatest players to ever live: Peyton Manning.
Manning enjoyed an enormous amount of success playing for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 1994, was a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995 and a third-team All-American in 1996. As a senior, he received nearly every award you can think of. This included the Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas, Maxwell and James E. Sullivan awards. He was also the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American, though he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.
Peyton went on to become one of the best pro quarterbacks of all time. His five MVPs, two Super Bowl rings, 14 Pro Bowl selections and numerous passing records are proof of his greatness.
Peyton Manning was a true blessing to the game of football and that includes his time in college. There is no Louisiana-born signal caller that can top his achievements.
Maine: Quinton Porter – Boston College Eagles
Maine is not a major producer of elite quarterbacks, at any level. The most notable Maine-born signal-caller is former NFL and CFL player Quinton Porter.
Porter was born in Portland, Maine and graduated from Portland High School. He enjoyed a lot of success at that level and won Maine’s Gatorade Player of the Year Award as a senior. He would then accept a scholarship from Boston College, where didn’t start until his junior year.
As a redshirt senior in 2005, Quinton was named the ACC Player of the Week after a win over Virginia that saw the Eagles ranked No. 13 in the country. Unfortunately, following a bad loss to Virginia Tech, Porter was benched for current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
After graduation, Porter experienced a bit of success with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL when he led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2011. Porter was later released by the team per his request.
He didn’t have the type of football career he expected to, but Porter is still the best quarterback from his home state. One can only wonder what he might have become if he weren’t benched for Ryan in college.
Maryland: Doug Flutie – Boston College Eagles
When it comes to college quarterbacks born in Maryland, the discussion begins and ends with Doug Flutie. This isn’t meant to disrespect other passers born in the Old Line State. Flutie is simply one of the greatest college players ever.
He played for the Boston College Eagles — the only Division I-A school to recruit him — from 1981 to 1984. His best and most historic season came in 1984 when he won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award. Flutie is also known for his famous “Hail Mary” pass to Gerard Phelan against Miami for a 47-45 upset victory.
After college, Flutie went on to become one of the greatest CFL players ever by winning three Grey Cups and six Most Outstanding Player awards. He even made a return to the NFL and became the 1998 Comeback Player of the Year.
Doug Flutie is currently a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and was honored with a statue of his famous throw in 2008.
Massachusetts: Angelo Bertelli – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Massachusetts has produced a few solid college quarterbacks, including Tim Hasselbeck and Todd Collins. However, there’s a clear-cut top quarterback from the Bay State and his name is Angelo Bertelli.
Bertelli entered Notre Dame as a tailback in 1940 but was quickly noticed for his passing skills. As a sophomore, he was fully converted to quarterback after coach Frank Leahy switched to a modified T-formation offense. The switch produced immediate success and Bertelli received the nickname of “T-formation magician.”
As a senior in 1943, Bertelli had his best season and was a consensus All-American. He also won the Heisman Trophy that year and was the top overall selection in the 1944 NFL Draft. He was inducted into the College Football of the Fame in 1972.
His NFL career wasn’t as successful as his collegiate career, but there’s no question Angelo Bertelli is the greatest college passer born in Massachusetts.
Michigan: Earl Morrall – Michigan State Spartans
Michigan has a rich history of producing great college football players. Jerome Bettis, Braylon Edwards and Andre Rison are a few names that every college football fan should be familiar with. When it comes to quarterbacks, there are two significant names. The first is Craig Krenzel, who led Ohio State to the 2002 National Championship. The other is Earl Morrall, who just about gets the edge here.
Morrall was born in Muskegon, Michigan and led Muskegon High School to a state championship in 1951. He went on to play for Michigan State from 1953 to 1955. His finest year was in 1955 when he led the Spartans to a 9-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory. Earl also finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that season and was a consensus All-American.
He went on to play in the NFL and is considered by many to be the league’s greatest backup quarterback. As far as college quarterbacks born in Michigan are concerned, Morrall should also be seen as the greatest.
Minnesota: Chris Weinke – Florida State Seminoles
There are two quarterbacks born in Minnesota vying for the title of best college quarterback born in the state. One of them is Steve Walsh, who led the Miami Hurricanes to the 1987 National Championship. He also finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting the following season.
The other signal-caller born in the North Star State is Chris Weinke, whose college career was even more impressive. As a sophomore in 1998, Weinke led the Florida State Seminoles to a 9-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking. During his junior season, he led the Seminoles to their first undefeated season and second National Championship. In his senior year, he led FSU to a third straight National Championship game and won the Heisman Trophy. After his prestigious career, Weinke’s jersey was retired. He was only the second FSU quarterback to receive the honor.
His pro career wasn’t as successful as his college career, but he forged an impressive legacy in Tallahassee. Chris Weinke is the greatest college quarterback to call Minnesota his birthplace.
Mississippi: Archie Manning – Ole Miss Rebels
Before there was Peyton and Eli, there was Archie, and he was an outstanding quarterback in his own right. He was born in Drew, Mississippi and attended Drew High School, where he was a multi-sport star.
As the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels, Manning proved to be the lone superstar on the team. In the first national primetime broadcast of a college football game, the nation witnessed Archie throw for 436 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 104 yards in a close 33-32 loss to Alabama.
In 1969 and 1970, Manning was selected to the All-SEC and All-American teams. He also won the Walter Camp Trophy in 1969 while placing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that season. Archie placed third in the Heisman voting the following year. He went on to the NFL in 1971, where he achieved more success as a two-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1978. Five years after he retired, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Brett Favre is another Mississippi-born quarterback that deserves recognition, but his pro career was much better than his college one. In the end, Archie Manning was the easy choice for the best NCAA quarterback born in the Magnolia State.
Missouri: Josh Freeman – Kansas State Wildcats
Missouri is the birthplace of some great college players such as Kellen Winslow Sr., Justin Smith, Jeremy Maclin and Ezekiel Elliott. It’s also where quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Josh Freeman were born. Although Gabbert put up some impressive numbers for the Missouri Tigers, his college career wasn’t quite as impressive as Freeman’s.
Freeman was born in Kansas City, Missouri and attended Grandview High School, where he was a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com and Scout.com. He chose to attend Kansas State after decommitting from his original choice of Nebraska. In his three years lining up under center for the Wildcats, Freeman amassed 680 pass completions for 8,078 yards and 44 touchdowns. He also accumulated a school-record 8,427 total yards and became the second quarterback in Kansas State history to score at least 60 total touchdowns.
Freeman went on to the NFL, where he experienced early success for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But his career took a downward spiral in 2013 and he was released. Regardless of his current status as a free agent, Freeman should still be recognized as the best college passer born in the Show-Me State.
Montana: Ryan Leaf – Washington State Cougars
When most people hear the name Ryan Leaf, they think of one of the worst busts in NFL history. It’s an unfortunate situation for Leaf since he should also be recognized as the greatest college quarterback born in Montana.
Leaf was born in Great Falls, Montana and attended Charles M. Russell High School. He led his school to the 1992 state title and considered attending the University of Miami as a linebacker. However, he changed his mind and chose to attend Washington State as a quarterback.
Leaf played in 32 games for the Cougars and had his best season in 1997 as a junior. He led Washington State to its first-ever Pac-10 championship and to the Rose Bowl, where they eventually lost to Michigan. Leaf was voted as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year that season and placed third in the Heisman Trophy voting as a first-team All-American.
Ryan’s collegiate success saw him selected second overall in the 1998 NFL Draft after Peyton Manning. Unfortunately, his success story ended there, as injuries, bad behavior and a poor work ethic took their toll.
His story may have a sad ending, but it still doesn’t change the fact Ryan Leaf is the best college quarterback born in the Treasure State.
Nebraska: Eric Crouch – Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska is known as the Cornhusker State, so it should come as no surprise that the best college quarterback to hail from there was a Cornhusker himself. Not only is Eric Crouch the best from his state, but he’s also one of the best NCAA signal-callers in history.
Crouch was born in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Millard North High School, where he was a two-time All-American. He decided to stay in his home state for college and signed with the University of Nebraska to play quarterback . After leading the Cornhuskers to a 12-1 record in 1999 and a 10-2 record in 2000, Crouch took the nation by storm in 2001.
During his senior season, Crouch broke numerous NCAA records and school records. He became the fourth player in Division I history to pass and rush for 3,000 yards in a career. Crouch went on to win the 2001 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award along with the Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien awards. He also ended up winning the Heisman Trophy in the closest vote for the award since 1985.
Crouch didn’t realize his dream of becoming a successful pro quarterback, but his collegiate success makes up for it. No college quarterback born in Nebraska is more accomplished than him.
Nevada: David Humm – Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nevada is known for Las Vegas and very hot weather. People think of casinos and unmitigated fun when the state is mentioned. No one really thinks of good college quarterbacks who hail from the state. Some might wonder if any even exist.
One of the better college quarterbacks from Nevada was Tony Graziani. He was a four-year letterman for the Oregon Ducks, but he wasn’t as successful as the state’s best. David Humm, a two-time Super Bowl champion, takes the title of best college quarterback born in the Silver State.
Humm was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Bishop Gorman High School. After he graduated, he became a three-year letterman for the University of Nebraska. He was also a member of their 1971 National Championship team. Humm would continue to have success in his collegiate career, especially in 1974, when he was selected to the All-Big Eight team and was a second-team All-American.
Needless to say, Humm is the best college quarterback born in Nevada. Only time will tell if someone eventually surpasses him.
New Hampshire: Greg Landry – UMass Minutemen
The state of New Hampshire has not produced many college players that went on to have successful pro careers. As a matter of fact, most of them only had decent college careers. However, there is one college quarterback from the 1960s that achieved great success and should be viewed as the best quarterback born in the state.
Greg Landry was born in Nashua, New Hampshire and played quarterback for the UMass Minutemen from 1965 to 1967. He led the team to two Yankee Conference championships over the span of three years and still holds the school record for best quarterback efficiency rating. Landry also shares the single-game record for the highest completion percentage.
Landry went on to the NFL after a very successful collegiate career and experienced more success as a pro. This included his selection for the 1971 Pro Bowl and All-Pro first team. He also won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1976.
There may not be much competition, but it’s abundantly clear Greg Landry is the best college quarterback born in the Granite State.
New Jersey: Joe Theismann – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
New Jersey has been an underrated factory of great college players for decades. A few names that come to mind are Mark Ingram, Greg Olsen, Dwayne Jarrett and Ron Dayne. As far as signal-callers are concerned, names like Joe Flacco and Jim McMahon are two that come up immediately. However, neither of them can match what the great Joe Theismann did during his days at Notre Dame.
Theismann was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and grew up in South River, where he attended high school. Despite being drafted by the Minnesota Twins, Joe decided to accept a football scholarship from Notre Dame.
He became the team’s starting quarterback as a sophomore and led the Irish to a No. 5 ranking. The following season, he led Notre Dame to a 10-1 record and was named an All-American. He was also in contention for the Heisman Trophy but finished second to Stanford’s Jim Plunkett. All told, he set several school records and was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame after a good pro career.
Joe Theismann is a true legend in the world of football. It’s only fitting that he’s recognized as the greatest college quarterback to hail from the Garden State.
New Mexico: Colt McCoy – Texas Longhorns
When it comes to college quarterbacks born in New Mexico, all pale in comparison to former Texas Longhorn Colt McCoy. His career at Texas was four years of excellence that will be hard for anyone born in the Land of Enchantment to match.
McCoy was born in Hobbs, New Mexico and attended Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, Texas. He finished his high school career as the fourth greatest passer in Texas high school history. He would keep his talents in-state as he decided to play quarterback for Mack Brown and the University of Texas.
Colt’s time in Austin was a great ride, as he was the starting quarterback for the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009. His achievements over his first three seasons include being named the 2006 National Freshman of the Year and the 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up to Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford. He was a Heisman finalist again in 2009 and won numerous awards, including the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Johnny Unitas awards. McCoy was also the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Although McCoy is currently only a backup for the Washington Redskins, his college career in Texas was outstanding. He is easily the best college quarterback born in New Mexico.
New York: Vinny Testaverde – Miami Hurricanes
Two names immediately come to mind when thinking of college quarterbacks born in the Empire State. One of them is Boomer Esiason, who was a two-time honorable mention All-American in 1982 and 1983 at the University of Maryland. Esiason had a good college career, but Vinny Testaverde takes the title of New York’s best college quarterback.
Testaverde was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. He attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a year, before accepting a football scholarship to the University of Miami.
Vinny played for the Hurricanes from 1983 to 1986 and experienced his best season as a senior. During that year, he was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award. The only blemish on his 1986 campaign was the 14-10 loss to Penn State in the National Championship game. It was a disaster of a game, as Testaverde threw five interceptions.
His pro career was decent — he made two Pro Bowls — but a little disappointing for a first overall pick. That doesn’t erase the fact he is undeniably the greatest college quarterback born in New York.
North Carolina: Roman Gabriel – NC State Wolfpack
North Carolina is rich in sports history, including college football. The Tar Heel State has produced players such as Julius Peppers, Adrian Wilson and Mario Williams. It’s also the birthplace of two prominent quarterbacks in Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel. Jurgensen had a better pro career, but Gabriel was more prolific in college.
Gabriel was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and attended New Hanover High School, where he started playing football. He went on to become a star signal-caller for the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
Roman was a two-time All-American and two-time ACC Player of the Year and finished his collegiate career holding almost every NC State passing record there is. He was also an academic All-American and his jersey was retired almost immediately after his senior season.
After college, Gabriel enjoyed success at the NFL level as well, getting named to four Pro Bowl teams and receiving the 1969 MVP Award. Roman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
North Dakota: Brooks Bollinger – Wisconsin Badgers
When people think of North Dakota football, the first name that gets mentioned these days is Philadelphia Eagles rookie Carson Wentz. He was raised in the state and starred at North Dakota State before taking the NFL by storm this season. However, Wentz was actually born in North Carolina and doesn’t qualify for this “award.” Therefore, the best college quarterback born in the Peace Garden State is Wisconsin’s, Brooks Bollinger.
Bollinger was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota and attended Central High School, where he played quarterback. He went on to become a four-year starter for the Wisconsin Badgers and achieved a good level of success. Brooks was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1999 and was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Award in 2002. He graduated from Wisconsin with a 3-0 bowl game record and the school’s rushing record for quarterbacks with 1,767 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Bollinger’s pro career started in the NFL but ended in the UFL, where he was MVP in 2009. It was a semi-satisfying end to his pro career after being pretty successful in college. North Dakota doesn’t produce much when it comes to college football players, but Brooks Bollinger is the cream of their crop.
Ohio: Joe Burrow, Ohio State and LSU
Joe Burrow delivered the greatest single-season from a college quarterback with a sublime 2019 season for the LSU Tigers. Burrow transferred from Ohio State after Dwayne Haskins won the starting job and played his final two seasons with the Bayou Bengals where he put his name all over the record books.
Burrow won the Heisman as a senior after throwing an FBS-record 60 touchdowns and led LSU to an undefeated national championship season, culminating with a win over Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers.
Roger Staubach used to be the best quarterback born in Ohio but there’s no denying the Pride of the Plains, Ohio that Burrow is the rightful owner of the spot on this list. Ohio high school football has turned out some of the best college football players of all time and Burrow, although he didn’t star for his hometown program, is one of the best to ever play the game.
Oklahoma: Jason White – Oklahoma Sooners
This choice may surprise some people. After all, current Minnesota Vikings starter and former Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was born in the state. However, his overall college career pales in comparison to that of Jason White.
White was born and raised in Tuttle, Oklahoma and played quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1999 to 2004. His best seasons came in 2003 and 2004 when he had the school contending for national championships. In 2003, his outstanding play earned him several awards, including the Davey O’Brien Award and the Player of the Year title from the AP and Sporting News.
He was also a unanimous All-American that year and went on to win the Heisman Trophy. The following season, he won the Davey O’Brien Award again and finished third in the Heisman voting. He led the Sooners to consecutive BCS National Championship games during that span, losing both.
Despite his collegiate success, White went undrafted. He was eventually signed by the Tennessee Titans but decided to quit football due to weak knees. Even though he never succeeded at the next level, Jason White is the best college quarterback born in the Sooner State.
Oregon: Neil Lomax – Portland State Vikings
Oregon is the birthplace of a few special college quarterbacks. Oregon’s Joey Harrington and Oregon State’s Derek Anderson are a couple of signal-callers that come to mind. However, former NFL Pro Bowler Neil Lomax is the best representative of top college passers from the Beaver State.
Lomax had an interesting journey to stardom at Portland State University. He went from being a fifth-string freshman quarterback to an emergency starter to an NCAA superstar. By the time his collegiate career was done, Neil held 90 NCAA records, including most touchdowns in one quarter, with seven. He also finished seventh in the 1980 Heisman Trophy voting and his efforts eventually got him inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Neil went on to play in the NFL for the then-St. Louis Cardinals, where he made it to the Pro Bowl twice. Unfortunately, he had an up and down career and couldn’t match his college heroics. Despite the Heisman Trophy run by Harrington in 2001, Neil Lomax is still the best college quarterback born in Oregon.
Pennsylvania: Dan Marino – Pittsburgh Panthers
There are only two players deserving of the distinction of best college quarterback born in Pennsylvania: Notre Dame’s Joe Montana and Pittsburgh’s Dan Marino. Montana has the 1977 National Championship and a 1979 Cotton Bowl victory, when he played with hypothermia, on his resume. However, he didn’t have the same prolific career as Marino.
Dan was born and raised in Pittsburgh and attended Central Catholic High School. He became an All-American in football and was a star on the baseball diamond as well. Marino decided to play for the Pittsburgh Panthers and had a ton of success.
Marino led the 1980 team to the nation’s No. 2 ranking. The following season, he had Pitt ranked No. 1 for most of the season and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Marino’s numbers would decrease in his final year due to a coaching change, but he still finished ninth in the Heisman voting.
He went on to star in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and had a record-breaking career. Marino also won awards such as the 1983 Rookie of the Year Award and the 1984 league MVP. He’s currently an inductee in both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. Joe Montana’s college heroics will always be respected, but the title of best college quarterback born in the Keystone State belongs to Dan Marino.
Rhode Island: Joe Reed – Mississippi State Bulldogs
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, so it should come as no surprise that it’s not a great producer of top college football players. Boston College’s Will Blackmon is probably the most noteworthy name. There was also a quarterback named Joe Reed that played for Mississippi State.
Reed was born in Newport, Rhode Island and played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs from 1969 to 1970. He didn’t have a spectacular career like many of the other signal-callers on this list. However, in 1970, he finished third in the SEC for pass completions and total yards. Joe also finished fourth in passing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns.
He went on to play in the NFL for eight seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. His pro career was sub-par and he’s most famous for recording an album with the 49ers’ cheerleading squad. It was slim pickings when choosing the best college passer born in the Ocean State, but Joe Reed gets the nod.
South Carolina: Woody Dantzler – Clemson Tigers
South Carolina has produced many elite college football players. Alshon Jeffery, Jadeveon Clowney, Carlos Dunlap, A.J. Green and DeAndre Hopkins are just a few that come to mind. Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a shortage when it comes to the quarterback position. One can argue for Coastal Carolina’s Tyler Thigpen due to his dominance of their record book, but Clemson’s Woody Dantzler accomplished more and against better competition.
Dantzler was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina and attended Wilkinson High School. He went on to play for the Clemson Tigers from 1997 to 2000 and achieved great success. His best season was in 2000 when he led the Tigers to a 9-3 record. He also became the first player in NCAA history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. Dantzler’s season had him as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he never became a finalist. He currently holds 53 Clemson football records and was inducted into the school Hall of Fame in 2007.
Although the pinnacle of his pro career came in 2006, when he won an Arena Football League championship with the Chicago Rush, Woody left an indelible mark on the Clemson program. There has been no signal-caller born in South Carolina that has achieved more in college than he has.
South Dakota’s most famous landmark is Mount Rushmore. The state’s Rushmore of college football features four notable names: Dallas Clark, Jay Novacek, Chad Greenway and quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. No college quarterback born in the state has achieved more than Van Brocklin.
Norm was born in Parade, South Dakota and raised in Walnut Creek, California. He was a three-sport star for Acalanes High School before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. After the war, he decided to enroll at the University of Oregon and started at quarterback for them in 1947 and 1948. His overall record as a starter was 16-5 and his best season was in 1948. Not only was he honored as an All-American that year, but he also finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Van Brocklin achieved even greater success in the NFL, winning the 1960 MVP award and two league championships. He was also a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Norm is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Tennessee: Chad Pennington – Marshall Thundering Herd
The competition for best college quarterback born in Tennessee is a two-horse race between Bill Wade and Chad Pennington. Wade achieved great success in his days at Vanderbilt University. He was named the SEC Player of the Year in one season and was also a second-team All-American. His college career was impressive, but Pennington’s was even more noteworthy.
Pennington was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended the Webb School of Knoxville, where he was a three-sport star. He was recruited by Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga but eventually earned a scholarship offer from Marshall after attending a training camp.
Chad is best known for leading Marshall to a 13-0 record in their inaugural Division I-A season. It was the school’s third consecutive conference championship and one of the crowning achievements in program history. Pennington was also a Heisman Trophy candidate and finished fifth in the final voting. He would go on to the NFL, where he had a productive career with the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins.
Tennessee has produced amazing college players such as Reggie White, Jason Witten and Ed “Too Tall” Jones. However, when it comes to their best college signal-caller, Chad Pennington takes the crown ahead of Bill Wade.
Texas: Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M Aggies
Football is synonymous with Texas. The list of great college football players born in the state goes on for miles, and so does the list of great quarterbacks. Drew Brees, Andy Dalton, Chase Daniel, Ty Detmer, Vince Young and Davey O’Brien all had impressive college careers, but the controversial Johnny Manziel takes the prize.
Nicknamed “Johnny Football,” Manziel was born in Tyler, Texas and attended Tivy High School in Kerrville. He was a multi-sport superstar that was recruited heavily by every major program. He originally committed to Oregon but changed his commitment to Texas A&M thanks to the influence of their quarterback coach, Tom Rossley.
After redshirting during his first year on campus, Manziel became the starter in 2012 and never looked back. He broke numerous NCAA and SEC records that year, becoming the first freshman to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Johnny also became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.
Manziel’s sophomore season wasn’t as prolific, but he was still named to the All-SEC first team and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. If he decided to play his final two years for the Aggies, he likely would have set numerous career records in the NCAA and SEC. He decided to enter the NFL after two spectacular collegiate years and was a first round draft pick.
Manziel’s pro career has been overshadowed by controversy and numerous off-the-field issues. It has been a sad fall from grace given what he accomplished in college. Regardless of how anyone may feel about his behavior, there’s no denying the fact Johnny is the best NCAA quarterback born in the Lone Star State.
Utah: Steve Young – BYU Cougars
Utah has only one college quarterback worth mentioning. That quarterback’s name is Steve Young, and I’m pretty sure most people know about him because of his NFL success. However, Young was prolific long before his Super Bowl victories with the San Francisco 49ers.
Steve was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He attended Greenwich High School, where he starred in football, basketball and baseball. Despite being heavily recruited by the University of North Carolina, he decided to attend BYU, where he had to battle the record-setting Jim McMahon to become the starter.
Young’s best season came in 1983 as a senior. His performance was simply spectacular. He set several NCAA records, including one for his completion percentage of 71.3. His play helped the Cougars finish with an 11-1 record and earned him All-American honors from several organizations. He also won the Davey O’Brien Award and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Young went on to have a fantastic career in the NFL, where he won three Super Bowls, two MVP awards and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. Not only is he a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as well.
Vermont: Joe Shield – Trinity College Bantams
Vermont is right up there with Rhode Island when it comes to a shortage of good college football players. It’s a state more known for producing Winter Olympic medalists than gridiron greats. I had to dig deep on this one, but Joe Shield takes the honor.
Shield was born in Brattleboro, Vermont and attended Brattleboro High School, where he wasn’t required to throw the ball much. This changed when he decided to attend Trinity College, a Division III school. Shield became a record-setting passer for his school and the New England College division. In one season, he led all of Division III football with an efficiency rating with of 149.2. He also holds school records in pass completions, passing touchdowns and total offense.
Joe went on to the NFL, where he played in only three games for the Green Bay Packers. Despite his lack of prowess as a pro, Shield is the only quarterback born in Vermont to make it to the next level. Therefore, he’s undoubtedly the greatest college quarterback to hail from the Green Mountain State.
Virginia: Michael Vick – Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia has produced some of the best college football players we’ve ever seen, including Bruce Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Ronde Barber, Tiki Barber and DeAngelo Hall. The state also produced a pretty good college quarterback in Fran Tarkenton, who went on to a very successful pro career. However, no Virginia-born signal caller compares to Michael Vick.
Vick was born in Newport News, Virginia and achieved stardom at Warwick High School. His college choice came down to Syracuse and Virginia Tech, and he eventually chose to play for the Hokies. Coach Frank Beamer redshirted the electric athlete during his first year to give him proper time to develop. It would prove to be a wise decision.
As a redshirt freshman, Vick led the Hokies to an 11-0 record and the BCS National Championship game against Florida State. During that season, Michael led the NCAA in passing efficiency with a mark of 180.4, the third-highest of all time. He was also the Big East Rookie of the Year, the Offensive Player of the Year and the first-ever recipient of the Archie Griffin Award. Additionally, Vick finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
He went on to have a successful sophomore season, finishing sixth in the Heisman voting. After that season, Vick elected to go into the NFL and became the first African-American quarterback to be selected first overall in the draft. He was having an excellent NFL career for the Atlanta Falcons and was selected to three Pro Bowls before getting into legal troubles for his involvement in dogfighting. Vick received his fourth Pro Bowl selection in 2010 as the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Michael Vick will always be a divisive figure, but there’s no denying his greatness on the field. He is comfortably the best college quarterback born in Virginia.
Washington: John Elway – Stanford Cardinal
Washington is the birthplace of former New England Patriot and Washington State Cougar Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe had a very productive career for the Cougars and was named the 1992 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He also finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year. Despite his success, he isn’t the best NCAA passer born in the Evergreen State. The best Washington-born quarterback is actually the legendary John Elway.
Elway was born in Port Angeles, Washington and attended high school in California. He graduated from Grenada Hills High School as the top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country. After sifting through over 60 scholarship offers, John decided to play for the Stanford Cardinal from 1979 to 1982.
Although Elway never led the Cardinal to a bowl game, he was a very accomplished college athlete. He led the nation in touchdown passes in 1982 and graduated with nearly every Stanford and Pac-10 record for passing and total offense. Elway was also a consensus All-American in 1980 and 1982 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior.
John went on to achieve pro success with the Denver Broncos as a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time Super Bowl champion. He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and the pro version as well. Elway will go down in history as one of the most prolific passers we’ve ever seen.
West Virginia: Fred Wyant – West Virginia Mountaineers
When it comes to college football players born in West Virginia, the first name that comes up is the great receiver, Randy Moss. Not only did he dominate the NCAA at Marshall University, he also went on to become arguably the greatest NFL wide receiver not named Jerry Rice. After Moss, thinking of other good players is hard, and especially so for quarterbacks, but Fred Wyant stands out as the best signal-caller born in the Mountain State.
Wyant was born in Weston, West Virginia and was a three-sport star at Weston High School. He played football in college for the West Virginia Mountaineers, where he became one of the greatest quarterbacks in school history. He ranks in the school’s top 10 for total offense, passing yardage, pass attempts and touchdown passes. With Wyant under center, the Mountaineers had a 30-4 record and went to the 1954 Sugar Bowl. He was also a three-time academic All-American.
Fred didn’t have much of a pro career, as he played only one season for the Washington Redskins and then one season in the CFL. However, due to his prolific career for the Mountaineers, he deserves to be recognized as the best college quarterback born in West Virginia.
Wisconsin: Colin Kaepernick – Nevada Wolf Pack
Before he was playing in the Super Bowl for the San Francisco 49ers or taking a strong stance against social injustices, Colin Kaepernick was setting records for the Nevada Wolf Pack. He is easily the best college quarterback born in Wisconsin and the competition isn’t close.
Colin was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Turlock, California, where he was a three-sport star at Pitman High School. He passed up a very promising baseball career in order to pursue being a college quarterback for the University of Nevada.
As a freshman, Kaepernick won the 2007 WAC Freshman of the Year award, but this was only the beginning of his prolific college career. In the following season, Colin became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. He also ranked second among all NCAA quarterbacks in rushing yardage with 1,130. This led to him winning the 2008 WAC Offensive Player of the Year award. It was the first time a sophomore had won the award since the legendary Marshall Faulk of San Diego State.
In 2009, Kaepernick became the first player in NCAA history to record consecutive seasons with 2,000-plus passing yards and 1,000-plus rushing yards. He would repeat the feat for the third time as a senior in the following year and was once again named as the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. By the time he graduated, Colin was the only quarterback in Division I FBS history to record over 10,000 career passing yards and over 4,000 career rushing yards.
He went on to the NFL and had early success, playing in the Super Bowl in his second year. Unfortunately, he’s struggled since then and is currently the backup for the 49ers, though that may change if Blaine Gabbert doesn’t hold on to the job.
Wyoming: Casey Bramlet – Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming isn’t a major pipeline for good college quarterbacks. Bill Garnaas, an All-American for the University of Minnesota in 1941, is one name that comes to mind. But the distinction of the best Wyoming-born signal-caller is best reserved for Casey Bramlet.
Bramlet was born in Casper, Wyoming and attended Wheatland High School, where he starred in football, basketball and track. Although he was heavily recruited by Colorado State, he decided to play his college football for the Wyoming Cowboys. During his time in college, Casey set new school records for career passing yards, touchdown passes and pass completions. He’s also the only player in school history to pass for 3,000-plus yards in three different seasons. Additionally, Bramlet was selected to the All-Mountain West second team in 2001.
Bramlet went on to play for several teams in the NFL, but he never seemed to stick around with any for longer than a year. Despite his lack of pro success, it’s safe to view Casey Bramlet as the best and most accomplished college QB born in the Equality State.
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