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Ranking the 10 best small school college football QBs of all time
A lot of talented quarterbacks have played for smaller college football programs over the years. Which 10 have been the best of the bunch?
The beauty of college football is that systems can be designed around the skill set of a much wider range of quarterbacks. Some of the most innovative offenses and most prolific passers have come from smaller schools. Unlike running backs, though, which can excel in any era, we have seen a gradual progression of skill among college quarterbacks.
For the purposes of this exercise, we must first define what constitutes a "small school" player. For players from recent years, small schools are defined as those outside of the Power Five structure. During the BCS era, the delineation was marked by the Big Six which also included the Big East. Thus we can say that the Group of Five (and before that the BCS Buster leagues) are small schools.
Before that, things are a bit less clear. The current power conferences (and their antecedents, such as the Big 8 and SWC for the Big 12) are all considered large schools for the purposes of this exercise. Independent programs that are now in major conferences are also included as major schools. Notre Dame will also never be confused for a small school.
Because college football quarterbacks have naturally improved over time, I limited my focus initially to players from the 1960s onward that garnered Heisman consideration. It soon proved that, even breaking down statistics and success rates, modern players were more often than not the superior quarterbacks. Click ahead to see who we rated as the 10 best quarterbacks from small schools.
Jul 29, 2016; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks on at drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Roethlisberger
Miami of Ohio
Before he burst onto the NFL scene with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger was carving out a legend at Miami of Ohio. After a redshirt season, Roethlisberger completed 63.3 percent of his passes in each of his first two years as a starter. Both years the RedHawks went 7-5. He threw for 47 touchdown passes and 6,100 yards between 2001 and 2002.
His redshirt junior season was the point where Roethlisberger really burst onto the national scene. Completing just under 70 percent of his passes, Roethlisberger led Miami to a 12-1 regular season and the MAC title. But the RedHawks lost their season opener 21-3 at Iowa, and that loss was enough to prevent them from getting an invitation to a BCS bowl game.
Over his college career, Roethlisberger averaged 285 passing yards per game. He was drafted 11th overall by Pittsburgh in the 2004 NFL Draft. He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after going 13-0 in his first season as a starter. In his second pro season, Roethlisberger became the youngest player to quarterback a Super Bowl-winning team. He added a second Super Bowl three years later.
Daunte Culpepper
UCF
Daunte Culpepper was certainly talented enough to play for a powerhouse school. But while teams like the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators were interested in his skills, they were apprehensive about his grades. When UCF helped Culpepper get his SAT scores up through tutoring, bigger schools that needed quarterbacks came calling. Culpepper stayed loyal to the small school that invested its time and faith in him rather than jumping ship.
During Culpepper's freshman year, UCF played its last FCS season before moving up to the FBS ranks in 1996. The Knights remained independent during Culpepper's time at the school, making it impossible for UCF to win a title. Yet Culpepper still showed consistent improvement over his years with the Knights. From 1996 to 1998, Culpepper increased his passing yardage, touchdowns, and completion percentage. He also showed consistent reduction of his interceptions.
As a senior, Culpepper broke the single-season completion percentage mark set a decade and a half earlier by Steve Young at BYU. He threw for nearly 3,700 yards and 28 touchdowns while running for nearly 500 more yards and 12 more scores. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 11th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Culpepper went on play 11 seasons in the NFL. He retired having thrown for nearly 25,000 yards over his career.
Colin Kaepernick
Nevada
Forget for a moment all the questions currently surrounding Colin Kaepernick as he continues to go unsigned by an NFL team this offseason. Instead, let's focus for a moment on his four electric seasons playing in Chris Ault's Pistol formation at Nevada. Lest we forget, Kaepernick was the first FBS quarterback in history to post 10,000 passing yards and 4000 rushing yards for a career. He also helped the Wolf Pack emerge as a WAC contender.
As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Kaepernick threw 19 touchdowns against just three interceptions and led the WAC in passing yards per attempt. His completion percentage steadily increased over his career, until as a senior he completed just under 65 percent of his throws. But Kaepernick's true value was as a dual threat who was as dangerous running as passing the ball. Among all FBS quarterbacks, Kaepernick was the first in history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in three consecutive seasons.
As a senior, Kaepernick became just the second quarterback after Tim Tebow to throw 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 more in a single season. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. There he went to the Super Bowl in his second season. He then took over as the full-time starter in 2013 and led the 49ers back to the NFC Championship Game.
Tim Rattay
Louisiana Tech
Tim Rattay actually spent his first year of eligibility at Scottsdale Community College in 1996 after receiving no scholarship offers from I-A schools. He was the national leader in passing yards and touchdowns among junior college quarterbacks that year. From there he transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he immediately became the starter. In 1997, Rattay was still adjusting to the transition. Even then, the Bulldogs went 9-2 with Rattay as the starter. He completed over 61 percent of his passes for 34 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions while leading the FBS in total yards produced.
The next year, Louisiana Tech regressed to 6-6 but Rattay was even better. As a junior in 1998, he completed 68 percent of his passes, throwing for just under 5000 yards and 46 touchdowns to lead the FBS in both categories. Even with 1000 fewer passing yards in 1999, Rattay still led the FBS in that category for a second straight season.
Because Louisiana Tech was still independent at that point, he never got the chance to win a conference title. Rattay also never got to play in a bowl game. Despite missing out on those opportunities, he was nevertheless drafted in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft by San Francisco and spent eight seasons in the league with the 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Arizona Cardinals. Over his journeyman career, Rattay threw for 31 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Chad Pennington
Marshall
Chad Pennington's career at Marshall spanned their time in both the I-AA and I-A ranks. As a freshman, the Thundering Herd were forced to burn Pennington's redshirt in 1995. That year he led Marshall to the I-AA championship game, where the Herd lost to Montana 22-20. He was redshirted the following season. It was Marshall's last in I-AA, and they went out as champions. Pennington returned as starter for the 1997 season as the Herd transitioned to the MAC.
With Randy Moss still at Marshall in 1997, Pennington threw for 3,800 yards and 42 touchdowns. The Herd went 10-3 and won their first of six straight MAC championships. The following year, Pennington improved as a passer. He completed 65 percent of his throws as the Herd went 12-1. Then, as a senior, Pennington actually threw for the lowest yardage total of his FBS career while improving his efficiency and touchdown rate. During that 1999 season, Marshall challenged for a spot in the BCS. The Herd was ultimately shut out of receiving a major bowl invitation despite a perfect 13-0 record that included a season-opening upset of Clemson.
As a four-year starter, Pennington went 47-7 between his one year of I-AA play and three years in the MAC. The New York Jets drafted Pennington 18th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. There he spent eight seasons as the on-again, off-again starter before concluding his career with three seasons in Miami. Between the regular season and playoffs, Pennington threw for over 19,000 yards and 110 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Colt Brennan
Hawaii
Colt Brennan took a circuitous path to Hawaii. Originally a walk-on with the Colorado Buffaloes, he was kicked off the team in 2004 after an alleged sexual assault. He landed at Saddleback College in 2004, from which he was offered an opportunity to play at Hawaii or San Jose State. Brennan chose to play on the island for June Jones, and over his three years in Hawaii he helped the Rainbow Warriors become a BCS Buster.
Hawaii went 5-7 in 2005, Brennan's first season as the starter. Even in a down year he led the FBS with 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. That foreshadowed his breakout 2006 campaign. As a junior with the Warriors, Brennan led FBS quarterbacks as he threw for over 5,500 yards while completing 72.6 percent of his passes. He also set a single-season record for quarterbacks with 58 touchdown passes. Hawaii went 11-3, their only conference loss coming to Boise State. The following year, Hawaii got its own turn at a BCS game.
In Brennan's senior season, the Rainbow Warriors went 12-0 in the regular season to win the WAC. Brennan threw for 4,343 yards and 38 touchdowns, but fell flat against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl after Hawaii earned a BCS invitation. A sixth-round pick of Washington in the 2008 NFL Draft, Brennan spent three years in the NFL before bouncing around the CFL and Arena Football. He still holds the record for the most 400-yard passing games (20) in college football history.
Alex Smith
Utah
Alex Smith had a short but spectacular career that puts him among the best small school quarterbacks in history. He played sparingly as a freshman, attempting just four passes in 2002. Ron McBride was fired as head coach after the season, and Urban Meyer arrived in Salt Lake City. The partnership of quarterback and coach would permanently alter both men's careers. As a sophomore in Meyer's first season at Utah, Smith gained the starter role early in the year and went 9-1 as Utah won the Mountain West.
The following year Smith became the original BCS Buster quarterback, leading Utah to a perfect 2004 season. He culminated his career with a Fiesta Bowl MVP performance against Big East champion Pittsburgh. He completed 29 of his 37 passes against the Panthers for 328 yards and four touchdowns. That concluded a year where Smith threw 32 touchdowns against four interceptions and completed 67 percent of his passes.
Smith parlayed his run to the Fiesta Bowl at Utah into the the first overall draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent eight seasons in the Bay Area before being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. In 12 NFL seasons, Smith has thrown for over 29,000 yards and 169 touchdowns in 147 regular season and playoff contests.
Ty Detmer
BYU
Ty Detmer had one of the most storied careers ever enjoyed by small school quarterbacks. The 1990 Heisman Trophy winner led BYU to three straight WAC championships between 1989 and 1991. He won the award with a junior campaign that saw Detmer throw for 5,188 yards and 41 touchdowns.
He didn't land the full-time starting position until 1989, though he was the 1988 Freedom Bowl MVP after entering the game in the second half. Over his three-year span as the starter for the Cougars, Detmer went 28-9-2 as the leader of the BYU offense. Though he never led the Cougars to a national championship like his predecessor Robbie Bosco, Detmer helped keep BYU on the map with his passing exploits and his Heisman victory.
Detmer finished third in the 1991 Heisman race, failing to repeat. He was eventually drafted in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Unlike fellow BYU quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Steve Young, Detmer spent 14 years as a journeyman in the NFL. He retired in 2005 having played in just 54 professional games over his career, with 34 touchdowns and 35 interceptions.
Case Keenum
Houston
Case Keenum tops the NCAA career passing yards list. What is even more impressive is that this would remain true if you subtracted the yardage from his 2010 season that was cut short by injury. Keenum threw for over 5,000 yards in each of his last three full seasons. The NCAA granted the Houston quarterback a sixth season of eligibility after Keenum tore his ACL in the third game of what would have been his senior season.
Keenum was consistently great. When he came back for his final season in 2011, there was no certainty that he would be the same player as before. He had led the NCAA in passing yardage and touchdowns as a redshirt junior. Upon his return, Keenum replicated the feat while leading Houston to a 13-1 record. Unfortunately, that one loss came to Southern Miss in the C-USA championship game, costing Houston a chance at a BCS bowl appearance.
Keenum graduated with plenty of NCAA records but no championship. Setting his NFL career aside, he was an all-time great among FBS quarterbacks — not just those from small schools. He may have the records. But he comes up just short on this list because he never was able to take Houston to a title of any sort.
Kellen Moore
Boise State
From a pure wins and losses standpoint alone, Kellen Moore is the most successful FBS quarterback in history. From 2008 to 2011, Moore went 50-3 as the four-year starter for Boise State. He finished in the top 10 of Heisman voting each of his last three years with the Broncos. Along the way he upset Virginia Tech, Oregon State, Georgia, and Oregon in back-to-back years. Despite his diminutive stature, Moore proved the perfect leader for Chris Petersen's offense.
As a freshman, he went into Autzen Stadium for his third career game and carved up the Ducks for 386 yards and three touchdowns on the way to a 37-32 upset. He won his first 12 games before dropping the Poinsettia Bowl 17-16 to MWC champion TCU. The following year, he extended his career record to 26-1 with a perfect regular season and a revenge win over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. He finished fourth in the Heisman race that year, his best finish at the Downtown Athletic Club.
Unfortunately, Moore never got a second chance to play on a BCS stage. Losses at Nevada in 2010 and to TCU in 2011 prevented the Broncos from achieving two more perfect seasons. Moore ended his career with the most wins among college quarterbacks, but went undrafted in 2012. Despite questions about his size and strength, though, Moore has spent the past six seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
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