• Tyler Van Dyke is back in business: The Miami signal-caller has been slinging it for the Hurricanes this season and has already recorded 10 big-time throws on only 75 attempts.
• Shedeur Sanders deservedly in the spotlight: Sanders ranks second to only Tyler Van Dyke in PFF passing grade after three weeks, and his 647 passing yards from passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield puts him fifth in the nation.
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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
1. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FLA.)
PFF grade: 94.0
Dropbacks: 77
Big-time throw rate: 12.3%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.4%
Remember how good Van Dyke was two years ago? Well, he’s back and better than ever. The Miami signal-caller has been slinging it for the Hurricanes this season and has already recorded 10 big-time throws on only 75 attempts. His 85.9% adjusted completion percentage is the fifth-best mark in the nation, while his 10.9 yards per pass attempt ranks ninth.
Tyler Van Dyke in the 1st half vs. Texas A&M ????
-13/17
-235 passing yards
-3 touchdowns
-0 interceptionsMiami leads 21-17 at halftime pic.twitter.com/B4arUB9o8S
— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 9, 2023
2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
PFF grade: 93.1
Dropbacks: 161
Big-time throw rate: 4.7%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 1.7%
Nothing has drawn more attention this season than Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
The 21-year-old junior threw for 510 yards in Week 1, setting the school's single-game passing record, and he eclipsed 340 passing yards in both Week 2 and 3. He ranks second to only Tyler Van Dyke in PFF passing grade after three weeks, and his 647 passing yards from passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield puts him fifth in the nation.
3. Conner Weigman, Texas A&M
PFF grade: 92.9
Dropbacks: 117
Big-time throw rate: 5.1%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.4%
It feels like Texas A&M has finally found the quarterback they’ve been looking for over the past few years. Weigman is a true sophomore who has completely elevated this offense since taking over as the starter. He has recorded an 80.6% adjusted completion percentage despite throwing 10.7 yards down the field on average, while his 147.3 passer rating on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield ranks seventh among 136 qualifying FBS passers.
4. Michael Penix Jr, Washington
PFF grade: 92.6
Dropbacks: 117
Big-time throw rate: 6.8%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 1.6%
The Washington playoff hype is real, and the Penix Heisman hype is spreading through the college football landscape. Penix has picked up right where he left off last season, throwing for over 400 yards in all three games. There’s no doubt he has one of the strongest arms in the country — he already has 833 passing yards from passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield, 51 more than the next closest quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. is just an awesome quarterback #iufb pic.twitter.com/J535cBT6pj
— Daniel Olinger (@dan_olinger) September 18, 2023
5. Darren Grainger, Georgia State
PFF grade: 92.2
Dropbacks: 89
Big-time throw rate: 5.8%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.2%
Grainger can beat teams with his arm and legs. He’s already racked up 237 rushing yards to go with his 802 passing yards. One week, Grainger breaks out for a 65-yard touchdown run. The next, he lights it up with 466 yards through the air in a performance that included two big-time throws.
T-6. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
PFF grade: 91.7
Dropbacks: 71
Big-time throw rate: 10.0%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 4.1%
No quarterback in the country looked as good as McCarthy over the first two games. However, his three turnover-worthy plays were all picked off last Saturday, leaving him with a 47.4 PFF grade for the week.
That said, his 10.0% big-time throw rate still ranks 10th among FBS signal-callers, and he boasts the highest completion percentage in the country at 82.4%. His pocket presence and confidence are night and day from a season ago.
T-6. Caleb Williams, USC
PFF grade: 91.7
Dropbacks: 79
Big-time throw rate: 9.6%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.4%
Williams is off to a great start in his quest for a second consecutive Heisman Trophy. He currently leads the nation in yards per attempt (12.4) and ranks second in adjusted completion percentage (86.4%). Better yet, he currently boasts a perfect 158.3 passer rating from a clean pocket, having gone 46-of-54 for 690 yards (12.8 yards per attempt) when he's been free from pressure.
Give me Caleb Williams in Foxborough????????????????????pic.twitter.com/nbtXkJmVwo
— Pats Kingdøm (@SakasGoat) September 18, 2023
T-6. Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
PFF grade: 91.7
Dropbacks: 79
Big-time throw rate: 8.5%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.5%
No quarterback has improved more from last season than Dart. The Ole Miss signal-caller is second in the country in both yards per attempt (12.3) and the percentage of passes thrown at or beyond the first-down marker (62.0%).
9. Riley Leonard, Duke
PFF grade: 91.2
Dropbacks: 82
Big-time throw rate: 1.4%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 0.0%
Leonard made a name for himself after leading a huge upset win against Clemson in Week 1. Although his passing stats don’t pop off the charts, he has done most of his damage on the ground. He’s already racked up over 90 rushing yards in two games and has four total touchdowns to go with zero turnovers.
Riley Leonard: got that dawg in him pic.twitter.com/5ZvaMnqJIS
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) September 18, 2023
10. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
PFF grade: 90.9
Dropbacks: 89
Big-time throw rate: 7.2%
Turnover-worthy play rate: 2.1%
Gabriel has quietly been one of the best college quarterbacks over the last five years. He’s a perfect fit in this Oklahoma offense, as he gets the ball out quickly and efficiently. Through three weeks, his 2.3-second average time to throw is the fifth-quickest mark in the nation. He is also extremely accurate, as his nation-leading 88.5% adjusted completion rate can attest.
Dillon Gabriel to Drake Stoops for the easy 4 yard TD! #Sooners pic.twitter.com/U3ds9XY9UH
— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) September 16, 2023
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