Michael Penix Jr. Career Day keeps the Huskies QB in the hunt

Deep into the 2022 high school football season, we are seeing outstanding quarterback play from numerous signal callers across the nation. Some of the usual suspects return, like Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, but we’re also seeing a new generation of college football’s top quarterbacks emerge and a few others fall off the map.

These updated college football quarterback rankings are refreshed every week of the 2022 NCAA football season. Based on what we’ve seen so far, here are the top players in college football in 2022.

• Jaren Hall, BYU
• Will Lewis, Kentucky
• Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
• Jordan Travis, Florida State
• DJ Uiagelelei, Clemson
• Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)

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10. Stetson Bennett, Georgia (Last Week: 10)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Stetson Bennett Statistics (in 2022)	11	1	149.5	2,033	115 (5 TD)	70.7%	8.9	87.3

Not asked to win for the Bulldogs, Stetson Bennett isn’t put in the same position as many of the other quarterbacks in these NCAA rankings. Bennett does just enough to keep the chains moving, using world-class defense and a strong offensive line. Still, Bennett doesn’t hurt his team by trying risky throws, he takes what the defense gives him and that usually leads to a game day win. With a bye week, he’ll have more time to scout prospects before the game against the Florida Gators.

9. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA (LW: 8)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Statistics (in 2022)	15	2	180.6	1,510	231 (4 TDs)	74.8%	9.3	73.8

Now in his fifth season, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been playing for the UCLA Bruins since his freshman year. The 22-year-old is finally putting it all together in his last chance to show NFL scouts what he can do. DTR’s latest effort includes another efficient day, only this time it was against one of the top defenses in the country. No one expected the Bruins to go 6-0, but Thompson-Robinson has become much more efficient as a passer while minimizing mistakes. He’ll have another week to prepare for Oregon, where DTR is in position for a big day thanks to the Ducks’ poor defense.

Related: 2023 NFL Mock Draft: CJ Stroud, Bryce Young Headline Outstanding 2023 NFL Draft Class

8. Caleb Williams, USC (LW: 7)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Caleb Williams Stats (in 2022)	14	1	159.4	1,590	178 (3 TDs)	64.9%	8.5	84.5

Another QB who is just as good with his arm as he is with his feet, Caleb Williams was much better in his second season, even if it had to be in a new location. Maybe he’ll still get away with it moves coach would never advise, but maybe that’s simply a product of how unique his abilities are. Williams will have his work cut out for him, taking on the 30th-ranked defense in college football as the Trojans visit the Utah Utes.

7. Will Rogers, Mississippi State (LW: 5)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Will Rogers Stats (in 2022)	23	4	158.1	2,313	-68	71.1%	7.2	85.6

Will Rogers throws a ton of the ball, he already holds the SEC’s all-time mark. However, his throws aren’t the most productive, averaging just 7.2 yards per attempt. We knew Rogers would have a tough test against Kentucky, and he didn’t fail, but he also didn’t lead a high-scoring offense, averaging just 5.5 yards per attempt. If Rogers only managed 17 points against Kentucky, imagine how things will go against Alabama this week. Chances are it’s not good.

Related: 2022-’23 College Football Playoff: CFP Championship Odds, CFB Playoff Projections

6. Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (LW: 6)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Grayson McCall Stats (in 2022)	18	1	182.1	1,940	146 (3 TDs)	70.6%	10	82.3

Grayson McCall is the best college football quarterback you’ve never seen or heard of. He plays for Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference – not much primetime action. But the redshirt junior QB has the ability to make smart reads and is an extremely efficient passer. He may not be the most exciting QB, as he doesn’t have a big arm or electric mobility, but McCall plays the position well. He will have another week to watch film before the matchup against Marshall, who is allowing less than 20 points per game so far.

5. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (LW: 9)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Michael Penix Jr. statistics (in 2022)	20	4	153.5	2,560	32 (2 TDs)	67.4%	8.9	77.8

It’s hard to get much better than Michael Penix Jr. was during his final season in college. He is in the midst of a career season where Penix Jr. suddenly among the leaders of college football. Coming off an Arizona game that held opponents to 201 passing yards per game, Penix had a career day with 516 passing yards and five touchdowns while completing 81.8% of his passes. After an incredible day, Penix won’t be able to top his effort against Cal, but at this point, we’re just wondering if he’s capable of going a day under 300 passing yards. This did not happen at all this season.

4. Bryce Young, Alabama (LW: 4)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Bryce Young Stats (in 2022)	16	3	172.5	1,657	150 (3 TD)	67.2%	8.9	91.7

Everyone knows Bryce Young after his Heisman-winning campaign in 2021, but the Alabama QB returned to creating similar magic in his junior year. However, a shoulder injury marred what was otherwise a solid season. We saw no evidence of a sore arm against Tennessee, where Young passed for 455 yards while dancing inside the pocket to consistently make accurate passes. Young is out, but his draft stock will not be adversely affected, nor will his status in these CFB QB rankings.

3. Drake Maye, North Carolina (LW: 3)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Drake Maye Stats (in 2022)	24	3	185.1	2,283	378 (3 TDs)	70.1%	9.9	88.6

Redshirt freshman Drake Maye is poised to become a college superstar for the Tar Heels. This may be the first year Maye has seen playing time, but he is working like a seasoned senior. Maye is the only freshman on this college football quarterback ranking, but he is well deserving of his ranking. Expect to see Maye among the top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, but for now he’ll have to stick with dominant teams like Pittsburgh, as he will in Week 9.

2. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (LW: 2)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
Hendon Hooker Statistics (in 2022)	15	1	179.5	1,817	287 (3 TDs)	70%	10.7	88.9

Good luck finding another college kid who has improved his stock this year more than Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. He has a 50:3 TD to INT ratio since joining Tennessee and is coming off the biggest win of his college career. Hooker may have taken over one of college football’s best defenses, but you wouldn’t know it after his 385-yard effort in Week 7. After overwhelming Alabama’s defense, Hooker has a much easier matchup against UT-Martin.

Related: College Football Top 25 Rankings 2022: Latest Top-25 Rankings

1. CJ Stroud, Ohio State (LW: 1)

	TD	INT	QB rating	Passing yards	Rushing yards	Completion rate	YPA	PFF grade
CJ Stroud Stats (in 2022)	24	3	207.6	1,737	4	70.6%	10.9	86.3

Atop college football’s quarterback rankings, CJ Stroud is currently the best pure passer not in the NFL. He brings elite arm strength mixed with pinpoint accuracy along with superb athleticism. The junior QB is a safe first-round pick, maybe even a top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud has shown fantastic chemistry with a stellar lineup of receivers. We’re basically looking at an NFL offense. After an extra week to prepare, Stroud plays against Iowa, a team that gives up just 9.8 points per game.