Phil Steele releases top 10 draft-eligible quarterbacks
The 2024 NFL Draft is loaded at the quarterback position with names like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye leading the way. Most have Williams as the top quarterback in the country heading into 2023 after he won the Heisman last season. However, college football reporter Phil Steele doesn’t see it that way.
Steele recently released his top-10 draft-eligible quarterbacks entering the 2023 college football season, and he has Maye at the No. 1 spot.
Steele’s list has a nice combination of proven college football stars, as well as players who have potential but have yet to put together a breakout season. Here is Phil Steele’s full list of the top 10 draft-eligible quarterbacks for 2023.
1. Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye was incredible in his first season as a starter, earning ACC Player of the Year honors. He passed for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, while also rushing for 698 yards and seven scores in 2022.
The Huntersville, North Carolina native is entering his redshirt sophomore season with the Tar Heels, and this is expected to be his final year in Chapel Hill. Most expect Williams to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Maye has the size and arm strength to potentially surpass him. Steele has him No. 1 entering the year.
2. Caleb Williams, USC
You won’t find Caleb Williams at No. 2 on many lists of the top college quarterbacks for 2023, but he is on this one. It’s a surprise based off of his record-setting 2022 season at USC, which included him winning the Heisman trophy.
In his first year playing in Lincoln Riley‘s offense, Williams set several single-season records at USC, including total offense, passing yards, total touchdowns and passing touchdowns. In 2022, Williams passed for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns. He also rushed for 382 yards and 10 scores.
3. Riley Leonard, Duke
The No. 3 quarterback on the list may be a surprise to some, but it shouldn’t be after what Leonard did last year. The rising junior was the main reason the Blue Devils were one of the biggest surprises in college football in 2022, finishing with a 9-4 record.
Leonard is a true dual-threat quarterback. He passed for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 699 yards and 13 scores last year. He could be in for another big season in 2023.
4. Quinn Ewers, Texas
It wasn’t a great first season for Ewers as the Longhorns starting quarterback. Still, it’s clear that he is incredibly talented. Ewers completed 58 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,177 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2022 after transferring in from Ohio State.
Ewers was named honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year after last season. He has a chance to take a big jump this offseason and could put up big numbers in 2023.
5. Bo Nix, Oregon
After an up-and-down career at Auburn, Nix appears to have found his perfect spot at Oregon. In his first season in Eugene, the Alabama native accounted for more than 4,100 yards of offense and 44 touchdowns. He was the only player in the country to have at least 29 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns last year. Nix also broke the Oregon school record for completion percentage, completing 71.9 percent of his passes.
The Pac-12 is loaded at quarterback with Williams and Michael Penix Jr., but Nix has proven that he is an elite signal caller, too.
6. Joe Milton, Tennessee
Milton is entering his first season as the Tennessee starting quarterback after transferring in from Michigan and playing behind Hendon Hooker. Milton has a huge arm and a lot of potential but hasn’t had many opportunities to show what he can do yet.
The senior did start last year’s Orange Bowl against Clemson with Hooker out with an injury and played well, passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Vols to a win.
7. Michael Pratt, Tulane
Pratt had an incredible 2022 season for Tulane, which ended with the Green Wave beating Williams and USC in the Cotton Bowl. The Florida native passed for 3,009 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, while also rushing for 478 yards and 10 scores as Tulane went 12-2.
Tulane should be dangerous again in 2023, thanks in large part to Pratt. The Green Wave will have another big-time game during the regular season in 2023 when they face Ole Miss.
8. Jordan Travis, Florida State
There are high expectations for Florida State entering the 2023 season and Jordan Travis is a big reason why. Travis was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback in the FBS last season after passing for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 417 yards and seven scores, while averaging better than 5 yards per carry.
Travis has a ton of playmakers to get the ball to, including receivers Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman. FSU is expected to compete for the ACC title this season and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.
9. Devin Leary, Kentucky
The NC State transfer enters the 2023 season with high expectations after missing the second half of last season with an injury. Leary was the Preseason ACC Player of the Year ahead of the 2022 season but only played in six games before being sidelined.
As a junior in 2021, Leary passed for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns. If he can put together another season like that and stay healthy, the Wildcats could be dangerous in 2023.
10. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
An under-the-radar name on this list, Reed had an excellent 2022 season, passing for 4,744 yards and 40 touchdowns. The West Florida transfer started all 14 games last season as the Hilltoppers went 9-5.
Reed was named the MVP of the New Orleans Bowl and was named second-team All-Conference USA. Austin Reed isn’t a well-known name in college football but he should be.
There are several talented quarterbacks who are draft-eligible entering the 2023 season. How these quarterbacks play this year will go a long way towards determining where they are drafted in 2024.