For a while all 8 of the top passers returning from last season were planning to play this fall. This list doesn’t take into account QB rushing or dual-threat capabilities, rather it strictly focuses on passing. So consider this a quick reminder of the returning QBs you may be considering with your first QB selection.
List in Order of 2019 Passing Yards (Passing Yards – Yards per Game) – Players Playing this Fall Bolded
- Brady White, Memphis – 4014 – 286.7
- Brock Purdy, Iowa State – 3982 – 306.3
- Shane Buechele, SMU – 3929 – 302.2
- Chris Robison, FAU – 3701 – 264.4 (left team)
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – 3665 – 244.3
- Sam Ehlinger, Texas – 3663 – 281.8
- Dillon Gabriel, UCF – 3653 – 281.0
- Sam Howell, UNC – 3641 – 280.1
- Kedon Slovis, USC – 3502 – 291.8
- Jack Abraham, So. Miss – 3496 – 268.9
- Holton Ahlers, ECU – 3387 – 282.3
- Zach Smith, Tulsa – 3279 – 273.3
- Justin Fields, Ohio State – 3273 – 233.8
- Tanner Morgan, Minnesota – 3253 – 250.2
- Charlie Brewer, Baylor – 3161 – 225.8
- Kenny Pickett, Pitt – 3098 – 258.2
- Levi Lewis – Louisiana – 3050 – 217.9
- Ian Book, Notre Dame – 3034 – 233.4
- Layne Hatcher, Arkansas St – 2946 – 294.6
- Jayden Daniels, Arizona St – 2943 – 245.3
Some takeaways from the list:
- 7 of the top 8 return, and would be all 8 if not for Chris Robison’s departure from FAU
- 15 of the top 20 return
- Only two players on the list averaged 300+ yards per game – Brock Purdy & Shane Buechele
- For a frame of reference, #20 on the list, Jayden Daniels, was 39th in passing yards in 2019
- #19 Layne Hatcher, is in a QB battle with Logan Bonner who was injured last season
- Just missed by 2 yards – #21 would have been Kyle Trask, Florida who had 2941 yards
