Big Ten Quarterback Rankings – Michigan Freshman Tops the List

The Big Ten has had an average non-conference season so far, which is to say that it hasn’t exactly been good. The league isn’t as bad as some others like the Big East and ACC, but the early results so far haven’t been encouraging.

Part of the blame lies, as always, on the quarterbacks’ shoulders. The league has seen some unlikely players step up and become reliable starters while seeing others falter in surprising ways.

Here is an early ranking of the Big Ten’s quarterbacks as league play gets going:

1. Tate Forcier, Michigan – It seems ridiculous to have a freshman this high but Forcier has been accurate, effective running the ball, and great as a leader. He has a higher completion percentage than Daryll Clark and Terrelle Pryor and has turned a 3-9 team into a winner. He could slip during Big Ten play against better opponents and is now battling a shoulder injury, however.

2. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State – The Big Ten’s pre-season Offensive Player of the Year hasn’t lived up to expectations yet, but the threat he provides running the ball can’t be discounted. He cost OSU the USC game with his poor play but should be at the top of this list at season’s end in a weak crop of Big Ten QB’s and then explode next year.

3. Daryll Clark, Penn State – Iowa has his number, which might have cost Clark the top spot in these rankings. But he’s strong, smart, and dedicated; a great leader for a young PSU team.

4. Adam Weber, Minnesota – Other than Eric Decker, Weber has few good receiving targets, but he should shine again in Big Ten play with his accuracy and craftiness around the pocket.

5. Mike Kafka, Northwestern – A big, physical QB, Kafka has put up great stats and is a running and passing threat. His 72.2 completion percentage is off-the-charts considering how little help he’s had as he has been sacked 10 times.

6. Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin – Tolzien shredded Michigan State for four touchdowns and has made a question mark position a strength for Wisconsin this year. Will he continue in league play in his first year as a starter?

7. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State – Cousins has good footwork and knows how to use a solid receiving corps that has surprisingly been prone to drops this year. He also has had a weak running game to work with. He should improve and do well as long as he holds off challenger Keith Nichol for the starting job.

8. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa – He looks the part and throws a nice ball, but he hasn’t performed up to expectations. To be fair he’s been handicapped by an offense that lost its top running back, Jewel Hampton, and has been sacked 10 times. The PSU upset has his stock looking up, though.

9. Joey Elliot, Purdue – He doesn’t have the same weapons Drew Brees had to work with at Purdue, that’s for sure but he’s been solid thus far with what he’s got.

10. Ben Chappell, Indiana – Had a nice day against Michigan, but the Wolverines’ secondary is a mess right now due to injuries.

11. Juice Williams, Illinois – It’s been an awful senior season for Williams, who hasn’t grown as expected. At this point he might be better off shifting to running back to help his NFL hopes, but that’s not likely to happen.