NFL Draft
12/11/24
11 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Ranking College Football Playoff Quarterbacks as Prospects
The College Football Playoff features some of the best talent in the 2025 NFL Draft and some of the more interesting quarterbacks expected who could go pro in April.
Unfortunately, this year's top quarterback prospects won't be featured in the CFP. Both Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeuer Sanders were unable to lead their teams into the playoffs despite impressive seasons from both projected first-round picks. Even Jalen Milroe and Alabama are on the outside looking in this year.
That doesn't mean there aren't any quarterback prospects worth watching in this draft. Let's rank all of the draft-eligible QBs playing in this year's College Football Playoff based on their pro potential instead of their college production.
10. Kevin Jennings, SMU 
6000, 189 pounds, Redshirt Sophomore
Just because Kevin Jennings is 10th on this list doesn't mean that he isn't talented.
Jennings has led an unlikely SMU team into the CFP thanks to some exciting dual-threat production. Along with 22 passing touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards through the air, Jennings ran for 379 yards and five scores heading into the CFP.
The two big reasons Jennings isn't higher on this list are his size and inexperience. He has fewer than 500 college pass attempts and weighs less than 190 pounds. By going back to school for at least one more year, he'll have plenty of time to develop into a more well-rounded NFL prospect.
This view of that Maddux Madsen dime 🤯@BroncoSportsFB pic.twitter.com/RFOByCDHm8
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2024
9. Maddux Madsen, Boise State
5100, 203 pounds, Redshirt Sophomore
Like Jennings, Maddux Madsen doesn't have the ideal frame for an NFL-caliber quarterback and has made fewer than 500 college pass attempts. However, he gets a slight edge over Jennings because of his efficiency as a passer.
Madsen threw just three interceptions all year, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,714 yards and 22 touchdowns. A lot of that efficiency is likely due to defenses having to plan against Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, who had one of the best seasons by a college running back this century.
Still, Madsen showed good efficiency when throwing in the intermediate area of the field, completing 60 percent of his passes between 10 and 20 yards downfield for 1,029 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Madsen isn't likely to go pro, but that efficiency is a great foundation for him to keep developing.
8. Will Howard, Ohio State 
6040, 235 pounds, Graduate Student
Will Howard is a great college quarterback and will be a likely Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, he doesn't have the tools or resume of other quarterbacks ahead of him in this draft class.
Howard developed into a star quarterback for Kansas State in four seasons before transferring to Columbus for his final college season. He's had the best statistical season of his career, averaging 9.1 yards per pass attempt with 34 total touchdowns.
His size and dual-threat ability make Howard an intriguing late-round prospect. However, he was boosted up this year by a dominant supporting cast that includes potential first-round WR Emeka Egbuka and electric freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith, not to mention a two-headed monster at running back.
Still, Howard's size, athleticism, and experience in college will give him a floor as a solid NFL backup.
Cade Klubnik has improved so much this season. The most impactful spot? His pocket presence. QB1 on a tear @ClemsonFB @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/P4oOGbvhAt
— Eric Mac Lain (@EricMacLain) November 23, 2024
7. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
6020, 210 pounds, Junior
A former No. 1 high school quarterback, Cade Klubnik, is going back home for a game in Austin, Texas, to start the College Football Playoff.
Klubnik was once viewed as a disappointment for Clemson, but the junior quarterback has made massive strides in 2024. This year, he logged 40 total touchdowns (33 passing) with just five interceptions, averaging a strong 7.5 yards per pass attempt.
What's likely unlocked Klubnik's ability as a passer is his improved pocket presence. His pressure-to-sack ratio has improved every season at Clemson, and he drastically improved throwing against the blitz this year. According to PFF, Klubnik threw 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions when being blitzed in 2024, posting a 119.5 NFL passer rating.
Klubnik still has another year of eligibility left, so there's a chance he stays one more year at Clemson to improve his draft stock. However, the development he's been able to put on tape should have scouts impressed with his body of work.
6. Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
6040, 216 pounds, Senior
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. once viewed Riley Leonard as having first-round potential. While that hasn't come to fruition, the development he's shown as a passer this year should help boost his draft stock going into April.
The biggest reason Leonard has been such a successful college quarterback is his mobility. In four seasons at Notre Dame and Duke, he's racked up 1,945 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. That's even more impressive considering college statistics count sacks against rushing.
While Leonard has improved as a passer, there's still something left to be desired. He completes just 40 percent of his passes when under pressure, and he's been too inconsistent as a deep-ball passer to get his weapons involved vertically.
Notre Dame's first-round game against Indiana will present an interesting matchup for Leonard, who, with a strong performance, could improve his draft stock.
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke has been such a fun story this year. He went from a 5-year MAC player to now firmly on the map as an early-to-mid Day 3 player.
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) November 12, 2024
His Michigan tape was a bit rough around the edges, but man is he one of the prettier bucket throwers in the class... pic.twitter.com/ue1sQXZVBp
5. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
6050, 233 pounds, Redshirt Senior
Rourke has been waiting for his chance to put on a show on the national stage. A former Canadian high school prospect, his only offer to play FBS football was for Ohio in the MAC, where his older brother had played.
The Bobcats ended up getting a steal, with Rourke earning MAC MVP honors in 2022. Now at Indiana, Rourke has led one of the most efficient offenses in college football this season, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just four interceptions.
Rourke's size and arm talent will get him onto draft boards, but it's his anticipation and ability to throw accurately with touch that makes him such an intriguing prospect. He's particularly lethal attacking the middle of the field, posting a 140.8 NFL passer rating on 53 pass attempts between the hashes 10-20 yards downfield this season.
Athleticism isn't Rourke's calling card, and he can struggle to avoid pressure from free rushers. However, for teams looking for a pro-style quarterback to play the position like a point guard, there aren't many options in this class who can sling it around the field like Rourke.
4. Quinn Ewers, Texas
6020, 210 pounds, Redshirt Junior
Things haven't gone Quinn Ewers' way in 2024, but there's still a path forward for him to lead the Texas Longhorns to a national title this season.
Ewers has been a hyped-up quarterback prospect since his high school days, and the flashes have been there for the talented Texas quarterback. His 2023 season was particularly impressive, averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt, and he's thrown 47 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions in the last two seasons.
However, injuries and decision-making have crushed Ewers' draft stock. That doesn't mean that he isn't talented, however. When he's playing his best football, Ewers can mix up velocity and touch, throw with excellent anticipation, and fit throws through tight windows, even when throwing off-script.
The flashes from Ewers show an exciting quarterback prospect who can play within structure or make plays when things turn chaotic. That talent is simply too hard to pass up or write off, even if things haven't gone his way in 2024.
This is so silly man.
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) May 1, 2024
Watch Carson Beck stare down the seam, forcing the safety to trade off WRs with the defender trying to recover.
Beck just drops it in the bucket. pic.twitter.com/ITydu0l4WU
3. Carson Beck, Georgia
6040, 220 pounds, Redshirt Senior
Much like Ewers, there's simply too much talent and a version of Carson Beck that's too dominant to write off as an NFL prospect.
The major caveat on this list is that there's a chance NFL scouts won't get to see Beck in the College Football Playoff. The Georgia quarterback's status is uncertain for the team's Sugar Bowl game, even with a first-round bye, due to a UCL injury.
However, if he plays, Beck will have a chance to right the ship on his tanking NFL Draft stock. His 2023 season showed a prospect with potential for the No. 1 overall pick, but the lack of weapons combined with Beck's attempts to force shots deep have led to a brutal season from the Georgia quarterback.
A better situation around Beck could turn things around, however. He has a prototypical frame for an NFL quarterback, along with good arm talent and enough mobility to be dangerous. The 2023 version of Beck looked every bit like an NFL-caliber starter, but there are too many question marks around him to be considered the top quarterback prospect in the CFP, even if he's healthy enough to play.
Carson Beck's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
2. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
6000, 200 pounds, Redshirt Senior
With the experience and production that Dillon Gabriel has had during his college career, it's impressive to see how much he's still developing in his one year with Dan Lanning at Oregon.
Gabriel now has more than 2,000 career pass attempts at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon. He already holds the FBS record by a solid margin with 187 total touchdowns in his college career, nine ahead of Case Keenum's previous record.
While Gabriel isn't the biggest quarterback, he's a fearless one who understands when to go for the home run ball and when to play within structure. Only 10.5 percent of his dropbacks have resulted in passes 20-plus yards downfield, but he's posting a 130.6 passer rating when going deep in 2024 with seven touchdowns, one interception, and a very impressive 20.2 yards per attempt.
The biggest change in Gabriel's development this year has been his ability to avoid sacks, with a press-to-sack ratio of just more than 10 percent. While he's always been athletic and mobile enough to make off-script plays, his decision-making when avoiding pressure has improved dramatically this year.
Gabriel's highlights and skill set bring back memories of Russell Wilson's days at Wisconsin. They're both efficient deep-ball throwers with the dual-threat ability to force defenses to stay disciplined and keep their eyes on him escaping the backfield.
There hasn't been enough serious talk about Gabriel being a top quarterback prospect in 2025, but a deep run in the College Football Playoff could help him command more attention.
Dillon Gabriel's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
WHILE THEY WERE HOLDING ONTO ALLAR'S JERSEY HE THROWS A TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/zPO3GAVmy1
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 8, 2024
1. Drew Allar, Penn State
6050, 238 pounds, Junior
It's time to start taking Drew Allar seriously as a potential first-round prospect.
There were times when it almost felt like Penn State was hiding Allar during the 2023 season, but the Nittany Lions quarterback has taken massive strides in his development this year. He's averaging 8.9 yards per pass attempt with a 69.1 completion rate, along with 27 total touchdowns and seven interceptions.
All of this production is with just one legitimate NFL-caliber weapon to throw to in Tyler Warren. Penn State lacks any serious playmaking at wide receiver, but that didn't stop Allar from making some impressive plays in the Big Ten Championship against Oregon. The box score doesn't reflect his performance, but Allar was able to step up and make some incredibly clutch plays to keep Penn State in the game.
On top of great size and arm strength, Allar can deliver with good timing, getting the ball out as his receivers get into their route stem to maximize their window to make a catch. He's also able to throw from multiple arm slots but doesn't rely on home runs as much in 2024, showing a willingness to hit the checkdown when nothing else is there.
Allar's development in maturity as a passer is a huge testament to his willingness to get better. Scouts will be impressed with his performance in the Big Ten Championship, and another game or two like that in the Playoff could solidify his status as a first-round pick.
Drew Allar's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
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