The Big Ten landed 4 quarterbacks among the top 25 signal callers entering the 2022 season, in a list compiled by 247Sports.

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, predictably, was near the top at No. 2 behind Alabama’s Bryce Young. The others were Aidan O’Connell of Purdue at No. 16, Taulia Tagovailoa of Maryland at No. 21 and Payton Thorne of Michigan State at No. 25.

By comparison, the SEC and the ACC each had 8 quarterbacks in the ranking.

...

ESPN BET is now live in 17 states

Use promo code SATURDAY to get your $250 bonus

...

Here’s how each of the QBs are described:

For Stroud, he’s coming off a 44-touchdown season with the Buckeyes, it’s no surprise that C.J. Stroud is near the top of every Heisman odds list entering his junior season at Ohio State. Ryan Day’s offense and Ohio State’s playmakers basically make this combination with Stroud a cheat code for the 2022 season. Moreover, a proven playmaker like TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield eases some of the pressure off Stroud’s shoulders and teams know they won’t be able to stack the box against the passing attack. Ohio State will also be the Big Ten favorite, which means ample opportunities in the Heisman spotlight for impact moments.

As for the Purdue QB, O’Connell coming back this season for Purdue is a major shot in the arm amid a wide-open Big Ten West Division. Iowa reached the conference title game last fall, but since Purdue brings back the best quarterback in the division, the Boilermakers might be in line to surprise and control their destiny in getting to the New Year’s Six. O’Connell is that good. He took over early last season and never looked back. Jeff Brohm’s offense really opened up with this signal caller pulling the trigger under center.

At Maryland, sans a couple multi-turnover outings, Tagovailoa was terrific last fall for a team that failed to hold up its end of the bargain defensively. He can sling it and makes chunk plays on third down often look routine. He’s in line for another great year this fall and could get Maryland beyond just bowl eligibility.

Thorne’s production this season is extremely vital to Michigan State’s success, perhaps more than any other quarterback anchoring a league squad inside the top 25, after the Spartans lost Doak Walker winner Kenneth Walker III out of the backfield.