With spring practice in the books and the second transfer portal window closing, it’s the perfect time to evaluate some pre-summer 2023 positional unit rankings. 



We’ll kickstart the series with quarterbacks. 



Duh. 



Notably, this is not a Top 5 QBs rankings. We’re taking into account a school’s entire QB room. So while guys like <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/michael-penix-jr-88185/">Michael Penix</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jordan-travis-66116/">Jordan Travis</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/sam-hartman-104329/">Sam Hartman</a> would all slot highly on an individual list, the options behind them don’t compare to some other QB rooms in the country. 



So, the Top 5 quarterback position groups in 2023…



<h2>1. <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/usc-trojans/">USC</a> </h2>



Lincoln Riley is considered the current quarterback whisperer for good reason — the dude just grooms and develops Heisman Trophy contenders and 1st Round QBs. 



<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/caleb-williams-17251/">Caleb Williams </a>returns as the unequivocal best quarterback in the country this fall, but the Trojans have some <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/usc-trojans/news/lincoln-riley-breaks-down-usc-backup-quarterback-battle-malachi-nelson-miller-moss-spring-football/">nice *break glass in case of emergency* depth</a> behind the reigning Heisman winner in <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/miller-moss-89771/">Miller Moss</a>, a former blue-chip recruit, and 5-star freshman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/malachi-nelson-81447/">Malachi Nelson</a>. 



<h2>2. <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/lsu-tigers/">LSU</a></h2>



If not for the brilliance of Caleb Williams, you could make a strong case that Brian Kelly has the best QB room in America with two very viable options in <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jayden-daniels-58632/">Jayden Daniels</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01OGOjdP-AhU8nWoFHWlCCxgQFnoECBEQAQ&url=https://www.on3.com/db/garrett-nussmeier-45029/&usg=AOvVaw1zI9JxkELy9ccKc6BAhi-F">Garrett Nussmeier</a>. 



Daniels continues to show growth as a passer and leader, while Nussmeier, who lit it up in the SEC Championship, would be the most sought-after transfer QB if he ever decided to enter the portal.



<h2>3. <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/">Texas</a></h2>



Steve Sarkisian has stacked a trio of blue-chippers on top of one another, building an envious QB room in Austin. 



<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/quinn-ewers-97493/">Quinn Ewers</a> grabbed the starting job by the horns this spring, but <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj2w4C80Kz-AhWekWoFHXhHB-gQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https://www.on3.com/db/maalik-murphy-81109/&usg=AOvVaw1s4ttnagZLiWwILLMpp2E7">Maalik Murphy</a> looked like one of the best backups in America entering the summer, too. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Is Transferring to Florida Football BEST for QB Maalik Murphy’s career?!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXxdhlQfY3k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Oh, and then Texas also has <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/arch-manning-7353/">Arch Manning</a> waiting in the wings as insurance, just a 5-star third-stringer with real tools and legit upside. 



<h2>4. <a href="http://www.apple.com">North Carolina</a></h2>



The Tar Heels have real boom or bust potential at QB in 2023, but that’s how highly I think of <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/drake-maye-38809/">Drake Maye’s</a> talent.



The options behind Maye aren’t all that exciting — Conner Harrell or Tad Hudson — and UNC might be screwed if Maye gets hurt, but Mack Brown has a QB1 who in most years would be viewed as the No. 1 quarterback in the country and top NFL Draft prospect. 



<h2>5. <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/oklahoma-sooners/">Oklahoma</a> </h2>



<a href="https://www.on3.com/news/if-brent-venables-is-right-that-oklahoma-will-be-on-another-planet-defensively-in-2023-then-the-sooners-could-be-next-years-tcu/">While Brent Venables’ top offseason priority is to fix the Sooners’ leaky defense</a>, Oklahoma should feel really good about its two QB options entering 2023. 



Former UCF transfer <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dillon-gabriel-37002/">Dillion Gabriel</a> is back for a second season in Norman after throwing for over 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, but the veteran is being pushed by 5-star freshman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jackson-arnold-51487/">Jackson Arnold</a>, who some consider one of the most ready-made QBs in a loaded 2023 class. Either way, Venables has two nice options entering a pivotal fall for the Sooners. 



<h2 id="h-the-best-of-the-rest">THE BEST OF THE REST</h2>



<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/georgia-bulldogs/">Georgia</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/oregon-ducks/">Oregon</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/tennessee-volunteers/">Tennessee</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ucla-bruins/">UCLA</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/ole-miss-rebels/">Ole Miss</a>



The Bulldogs don’t have much returning experience at QB, but Kirby Smart & Co.,<a href="https://www.on3.com/news/2023-spring-quarterback-battles-the-latest-intel-at-georgia-texas-ole-miss-and-elsewhere/"> seem very confident in a room</a> that includes <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/carson-beck-18711/">Carson Beck</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/brock-vandagriff-15115/">Brock Vandagriff</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/gunner-stockton-47246/">Gunner Stockton</a> — <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/why-brock-vandagriff-reportedly-staying-at-georgia-is-a-major-win-for-kirby-smart-the-bulldogs/">guys with multiple years of development in the same system</a>. 



At Oregon, the Ducks have an established QB1 in <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/bo-nix-11186/">Bo Nix</a>, who projects to be one of the best starters in the country in 2023, plus a high-upside backup in freshman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/austin-novosad-8596/">Austin Novosad</a>. The Vols have a bit more volatility at QB with <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/joe-milton-62324/">Joe Milton</a> as the presumed starter, but with Milton’s high ceiling (see: <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/anthony-richardson-6488/">Anthony Richardson</a>-esque intrigue) and On3 No. 1 overall prospect <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/nico-iamaleava-145284/">Nico Iamaleva</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/joe-milton-vs-nico-iamaleava-tennessee-doesnt-have-a-quarterback-controversy-but-one-wouldnt-hurt-the-vols-either/">most teams in the country would kill for that 1-2 tandem</a>. 



Rounding out the rest of the honorable mentions includes Chip Kelly’s 2023 QB room with the Bruins and Lane Kiffin’s <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/in-a-stroke-of-strategic-gamesmanship-lane-kiffin-has-created-a-battle-royale-for-ole-miss-starting-quarterback-job-in-2023/">three-headed battle in Oxford</a>. 



UCLA has three quarterbacks still competing for the starting spot — former Kent State starter <a href="http://www.apple.com/">Collin Schlee</a> 2022 backup <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ethan-garbers-42937/">Ethan Garbers</a> and 5-star freshman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dante-moore-29804/">Dante Moore</a>. Similarly, Ole Miss has a trio of viable options to start in the fall, with former USC 5-star <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjbn6rE1Nb8AhVWlmoFHTrhCskQFnoECBQQAQ&url=https://www.on3.com/db/jaxson-dart-58358/&usg=AOvVaw1JWGfm-3lszM4Y2KqzAA91">Jaxson Dart </a>looking to beat out LSU transfer <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/walker-howard-144227/">Walker Howard </a>and Oklahoma State veteran <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/spencer-sanders-108053/">Spencer Sanders</a>.

2023 Quarterback Unit Rankings: USC, LSU reign supreme

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2023 Quarterback Unit Rankings: USC, LSU reign supreme

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