January 26, 2023
CFB InsiderTop Quarterbacks Who Will Return for Another Season
The 2022-23 Bowl Season was a thrilling ride from start to finish, with shocking upsets and incredible performances that left fans on the edge of their seats.
These electrifying moments on the field had fans cheering and sent the draft stock of many players soaring as they solidified themselves as top prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Ohio State's quarterback CJ Stroud, Georgia's defensive tackle Jalen Carter, and Alabama's quarterback Bryce Young are just a few of the players who declared for the draft.
Still, there are just as many who did not.
As a result, some fan bases will see their quarterback return for another college football season as they put off professional aspirations for a year to hone their skills and improve their draft prospects.
Here are the top 5 QBs who were draft eligible and will be returning for the 2023-24 season:
1. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
2022 stats: 362-for-554, 4,641 yards, 31 TDs, 92 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs
Transferring to Washington, he earned the position and had a phenomenal season under new coach Kalen DeBoer after being hired. With two 1,000-yard receivers back in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, the Huskies might surpass their national-leading 370 passing yards per game from this season.
2. Bo Nix, Oregon
2022 stats: 294-for-409, 3,593 yards, 29 TDs, 510 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs
Nix was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and kept the Ducks in playoff contention for the whole of the season. Nix topped all quarterbacks with 14 running touchdowns and drove Oregon's sixth-ranked offense.
3. Jordan Travis, Florida State
2022 stats: 226-for-353, 3,214 yards, 24 TDs, 417 rushing yards, 7 TDs
Travis, a dynamic runner and efficient thrower led FSU to 10 wins for the first time since 2016. His performance earned him second-team All-ACC honors, putting him in a prime position for the 2024 NFL Draft.
4. Jayden Daniels, LSU
2022 stats: 266-for-388, 2,913 yards, 17 TDs, 885 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs
Although his throwing statistics under Brian Kelly were almost identical to those of his rookie year, he nearly quadrupled his running production and led LSU to the SEC West championship. For him, his last year of college football might be his most significant and put him in a prime position for the 2024 NFL Draft.
5. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
2022 stats: 270-for-428, 3,701 yards, 38 TDs, 129 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
In five seasons at Wake Forest, Hartman established the ACC career touchdown pass record (108) and was No. 2 in career passing yards (12,967). He transferred to Notre Dame and started the 2023 season with the longest active touchdown throw streak at 30. Hartman will play behind a veteran line and a robust set of running backs at 24 years old.
It's shaping up to be another exciting year of college football, and these players will be the ones to watch as they vie for a spot in the NFL.