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Top 10 college football quarterbacks going into 2017 spring practice

By John Buhler

October 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) looks to pass during warm-ups prior to the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) looks to pass during warm-ups prior to the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jake Browning

Quarterback, Washington Huskies

Jake Browning has already accomplished so much in two years with Chris Petersen’s Washington Huskies. Washington won the Pac-12 in 2016 and made the College Football Playoff. It was the best year in Huskies football since the Don James era in Seattle. Much of that falls on the right arm of Browning.

Though slight of build, Browning is a fiery competitor and always willing to sling it in Petersen’s Huskies offense. He’s not much of a runner, but Browning sees the field well enough in goal-line situations to punch it in if need be.

What sets him apart from his peers are his accuracy, his willingness to throw the ball down the field, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio. In two years with the Huskies, Browning has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 6,385 yards, 59 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

2017 will be his third season as a starter in Seattle. The Huskies did lose Browning’s favorite receiving target in John Ross to the NFL Draft, but they should be in good shape to contend for another Pac-12 Championship. There is a great chance that the 2017 Apple Cup will end up deciding the Pac-12 North again. Washington State looks good with Luke Falk at quarterback, too.

Until roughly Thanksgiving, Browning was on his way to earning a trip to the 2016 Heisman Trophy ceremony.  A bad game at home against USC and an up-and-down showing against Arizona State hurt his Heisman candidacy. Browning will have to play better in big games in 2017 If he does, Washington has a legitimate shot at playing for a national title.

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