This is the first in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL Draft.
The quarterback position is the ultimate team need. Without a solid player at this position, a team has little chance to win. That's why 29 quarterbacks have been selected first overall since the beginning of the draft in 1936.
One important predictor for success when drafting quarterbacks is the number of games started in college -- 30-plus seems to be the magic number of starts when talking about quarterbacks selected in the first round. The most important traits for quarterbacks to have to be successful are mental quickness, accuracy and intangibles that include work habits.
Here are the top 12 senior quarterback prospects NFL scouts will be keeping a close eye on this fall.
1. Tim Tebow
College: Florida
Height/Weight: 6-3, 245
Tebow will be a third-year starter in 2009. He has thrown 67 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions in the past three years. He will have a new quarterback coach this year, Scott Loeffler, who came from the NFL. Tebow should be a top-10 pick in the 2010 draft.
2. Colt McCoy
College: Texas
Height/Weight: 6-2?, 215
McCoy completed 77 percent of his passes in 2008 for 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He has above average running ability. He is a five-year player who has gotten a lot stronger since coming to Texas. McCoy has been well coached by Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis. He will be a top-10 pick as a quarterback in the 2010 draft.
3. Dan LeFevour
College: Central Michigan
Height/Weight: 6-3, 230
LeFevour will be a four-year starter and is only the second quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards and run for 1,000 more in NCAA Div. I history (former Texas QB Vince Young was the first). He is a fifth-year player.
4. Jarrett Brown
College: West Virginia
Height/Weight: 6-2?, 228
Brown is a fifth-year player who had been in a backup role behind Pat White. He has a very strong arm and good athletic ability. He played on the Mountaineers basketball team in 2008. He is a risk/reward-type player.
5. Tim Hiller
College: Western Michigan
Height/Weight: 6-4, 230
Hiller started five games in 2005 as a true freshman. He missed the 2006 season due to injury. He is a 4.0 student and went to the same Ohio high school (Orrville) as Bob Knight. He has 76 touchdown passes in his career.
6. Zac Robinson
College: Oklahoma State
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
Robinson threw 25 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions in 2008 and set a school record for total yards in 2007. He has good accuracy and understanding of the game. He moves well.
7. Tony Pike
College: Cincinnati
Height/Weight: 6-5?, 210
Pike didn't play a lot until 2005 -- had some up-and-down games and finished the season throwing four interceptions vs. Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. He does have upside, but will need to show more consistency.
8. Isiah "Juice" Williams
College: Illinois
Height/Weight: 6-1?, 235
Williams had 3,892 total yards in 2008. He is the best quarterback in the Big Ten, but he needs to become a better passer. He had 22 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions last season.
9. John Skelton
College: Fordham
Height/Weight: 6-5, 245
Skelton has started three years in a non-scholarship program (Patriot League). He has a good arm and upside, and seems to have the ability to compete for a spot at the next level.
10. Max Hall
College: BYU
Height/Weight: 6-3?, 200
Hall had 35 touchdown passes and 3,957 passing yards in 2008. He has 61 touchdown passes over the past two years. He is a transfer from Arizona State.
11. Rusty Smith
College: Florida Atlantic
Height/Weight: 6-4, 230
Smith has thrown 62 touchdown passes in three seasons. He played in 2008 with a separated shoulder.
12. Joe Webb
College: Alabama-Birmingham
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
Webb had the athletic ability to play wide receiver in 2007, but needs to work on his passing.
The quarterback position is the ultimate team need. Without a solid player at this position, a team has little chance to win. That's why 29 quarterbacks have been selected first overall since the beginning of the draft in 1936.
One important predictor for success when drafting quarterbacks is the number of games started in college -- 30-plus seems to be the magic number of starts when talking about quarterbacks selected in the first round. The most important traits for quarterbacks to have to be successful are mental quickness, accuracy and intangibles that include work habits.
Here are the top 12 senior quarterback prospects NFL scouts will be keeping a close eye on this fall.
1. Tim Tebow
College: Florida
Height/Weight: 6-3, 245
Tebow will be a third-year starter in 2009. He has thrown 67 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions in the past three years. He will have a new quarterback coach this year, Scott Loeffler, who came from the NFL. Tebow should be a top-10 pick in the 2010 draft.
2. Colt McCoy
College: Texas
Height/Weight: 6-2?, 215
McCoy completed 77 percent of his passes in 2008 for 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He has above average running ability. He is a five-year player who has gotten a lot stronger since coming to Texas. McCoy has been well coached by Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis. He will be a top-10 pick as a quarterback in the 2010 draft.
3. Dan LeFevour
College: Central Michigan
Height/Weight: 6-3, 230
LeFevour will be a four-year starter and is only the second quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards and run for 1,000 more in NCAA Div. I history (former Texas QB Vince Young was the first). He is a fifth-year player.
4. Jarrett Brown
College: West Virginia
Height/Weight: 6-2?, 228
Brown is a fifth-year player who had been in a backup role behind Pat White. He has a very strong arm and good athletic ability. He played on the Mountaineers basketball team in 2008. He is a risk/reward-type player.
5. Tim Hiller
College: Western Michigan
Height/Weight: 6-4, 230
Hiller started five games in 2005 as a true freshman. He missed the 2006 season due to injury. He is a 4.0 student and went to the same Ohio high school (Orrville) as Bob Knight. He has 76 touchdown passes in his career.
6. Zac Robinson
College: Oklahoma State
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
Robinson threw 25 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions in 2008 and set a school record for total yards in 2007. He has good accuracy and understanding of the game. He moves well.
7. Tony Pike
College: Cincinnati
Height/Weight: 6-5?, 210
Pike didn't play a lot until 2005 -- had some up-and-down games and finished the season throwing four interceptions vs. Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. He does have upside, but will need to show more consistency.
8. Isiah "Juice" Williams
College: Illinois
Height/Weight: 6-1?, 235
Williams had 3,892 total yards in 2008. He is the best quarterback in the Big Ten, but he needs to become a better passer. He had 22 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions last season.
9. John Skelton
College: Fordham
Height/Weight: 6-5, 245
Skelton has started three years in a non-scholarship program (Patriot League). He has a good arm and upside, and seems to have the ability to compete for a spot at the next level.
10. Max Hall
College: BYU
Height/Weight: 6-3?, 200
Hall had 35 touchdown passes and 3,957 passing yards in 2008. He has 61 touchdown passes over the past two years. He is a transfer from Arizona State.
11. Rusty Smith
College: Florida Atlantic
Height/Weight: 6-4, 230
Smith has thrown 62 touchdown passes in three seasons. He played in 2008 with a separated shoulder.
12. Joe Webb
College: Alabama-Birmingham
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
Webb had the athletic ability to play wide receiver in 2007, but needs to work on his passing.
