Dak Prescott and the 10 most underrated college football quarterbacks of all time

No. 8: Underrated college football quarterbacks – Kevin Kolb, Houston

Before there was the truly under-appreciated greatness that was Case Keenum, Kevin Kolb was lighting up opposing defenses for the University of Houston, and that started for him as a freshman.

In 2003, Kolb’s first year at UH, he showed that he could truly lead the Cougars. Kolb completed 61.1 percent of his passes, threw for 3,131 yards and 25 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions, and ran for another seven scores. The Cougars, one season after going 5-7, found themselves winning seven games in 2003 and earning a trip to Hawaii for the Hawaii Bowl, thanks in large part to Kolb’s impressive performances.

But Kolb and the Cougars would struggle in 2004, Kolb’s sophomore season. The Cougars struggled their way to a 3-8 season and were embarrassed in blowouts against the likes of No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 4 Miami and No. 8 Louisville. Kolb was notably less stellar in 2004, but he was still solid, throwing for 2,766 yards and just 11 touchdowns while barely completing more than 56 percent of his passes.

Of course, that sophomore slump helped pave the way for Kolb to show an impressive amount of improvement in his junior season and to absolutely thrive, playing the best football of his career in his senior season.

In 2005, UH found its way back into a bowl game, if only by the skin of its teeth. Kolb helped Houston back to a bowl by throwing for 3,258 yards and 19 touchdowns (while also throwing a career-worst 15 interceptions) and completing 60.5 percent of his passes. Kolb’s improvements helped get Houston to the Fort Worth Bowl against the Kansas Jayhawks, but UH managed to fall short in Fort Worth.

And now on to Kolb’s stellar senior year.

During the 2006 season, Kolb appeared nearly flawless, like the best possible version of himself, on the football field. He posted career-highs with 3,809 yards, 30 touchdowns, four interceptions and completed 67.6 percent of his passes on 8.8 yards per attempt and 9.8 adjusted yards per attempt.

And with all of that success from its quarterback, it’s no shocker that Houston as a whole would also improve. Kolb helped lead Houston to a 10-win season. The Cougars, scoring seemingly on anyone and everyone thanks to their quarterback, marched their way to the Conference USA championship game where they beat Southern Miss. UH landed in the Liberty Bowl, but ended up falling short against South Carolina.

Despite the impressive amount of yards he put up or all of the touchdowns he tossed, Kolb was only able to see two winning seasons and one conference championship. He’s thrown for the 18th most passing yards in a career in FBS history, scored a combined 106 touchdowns, and ultimately helped build a foundation for Case Keenum to build upon.