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College football rankings: Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler and the top 20 quarterbacks of 2021

By Cody Williams

Dec 27, 2019; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2019; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carson Strong, Nevada Wolf Pack. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Carson Strong, Nevada

Carson Strong flashed his potential as an enticing young quarterback as a redshirt freshman in the 2019 season with Nevada as the passer tossed 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions with 2,335 yards in 10 games. However, he put his name firmly on the radar in the 2020 season as he emerged as a bonafide stud for the Wolf Pack in the shortened nine-game campaign.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder not only improved his completion rate by 6.7 percentage points but increased his production tremendously as he threw for 2,858 yards, 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. And again, he made those improvements while playing in one fewer game than in his first year as the starter for Nevada.

Strong is blessed with a cannon arm that he’s capable of burning defenses with. He throws a prettier deep ball than most other quarterbacks in the country (though not everyone) and his ability to do so means he’s going to put up some big numbers again. The fact that he can do that while not turning the ball over is huge for his status as well.

For fans looking at college football with the NFL in mind, Strong is a player to keep an eye on as he’s starting to get first-round buzz already. If he can better what he did in the 2020 season, there’s no reason to believe that won’t become a reality this coming April.