Ranking the top 10 college football quarterbacks playing in 2020 (We miss Justin Fields)

No. 3 quarterback in college football: Brock Purdy, Iowa State

Playing in 10 games as a freshman with Iowa State in the 2018 season, Brock Purdy got a ton of people excited about what was to come as he threw for over 2,000 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions along with over 300 yards rushing and five more touchdowns. That had people talking about him as a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate entering his sophomore season.

While that didn’t come to fruition, Purdy was nonetheless impressive in his first full season at the helm of the Cyclones offense. He finished the 2019 campaign throwing for 3,982 yards, 27 touchdowns and only nine picks while also rushing for eight scores as well. Asked to lead an offense that lost their two best skill position players and most of the O-line from 2018, Purdy stepped up.

Purdy has proven that he’s a quality college quarterback but the 2020 season in the Big 12 will be about him taking that next step forward. While he may not have a David Montgomery or Hakeem Butler in the offense still, he has more experience around him to go with his own growth. Now he needs to be a more sure-armed leader who makes fewer mistakes and more plays.

We know that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is one of the best in the business and his development of Purdy is another testament to that. But for the Cyclones to make waves in the loaded Big 12 this season, they’ll need their quarterback to submit the best season of his college career. The good news is that he is surely capable with another step forward in his development.