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Top 10 B1G Quarterbacks for the 2017 Season

Garrett Kroeger

By Garrett Kroeger

Published:

The B1G experienced a strong a 2017. Four of the conference’s teams finished in the final Associated Press top-10. However, the quarterback play for the B1G was lackluster.

Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett was a Heisman candidate for most the year last season and Penn State’s Trace McSorley captured the national spotlight as he helped the Nittany Lions win the B1G Championship. But after that, picking the third best quarterback was a revolving door. Sometimes it would be Nebraska’s Tommy Armstrong or Michigan’s Wilton Speight or Iowa’s C.J. Beathard.

So will the quarterback play in the B1G be better in 2017? Yes, it will.

Ohio State and Purdue made coaching changes that will certainly help out their signal callers. And most of the teams have gunslingers ready to breakout.

Here’s a look at the top-10 quarterbacks in the B1G heading into the 2017 season:

10. Nathan Stanley, Iowa

2016 stats: 5-for-9, 62 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions

The passing attack for the Hawkeyes was lackluster. The Black and Gold’s passing game only produced 13 plays of 30 or more yards last season. So, new offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz will look to expand Iowa’s passing game and the sophomore Stanley is expected to lead it.

Last year as a true freshman, Stanley went from No. 4 on the depth chart to backing up starter, C.J. Beathard. The last time a freshman made that type of jump at the quarterback position at Iowa was when Drew Tate made the leap during the 2003 season.

While Stanley is projected to be the Hawkeyes’ starter in 2017, he is still spliting first-team reps with Tyler Wiegers. However, Stanley’s athletic ability and football IQ should help him win the job. And if all the playmakers around him stay healthy, which was not the case last year for Iowa, Stanley should have a good first year as a starter.

9. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State

2016 stats: 31-for-57, 381 yards, two touchdowns and one interception

Lewerke was close to taking over for incumbent starting quarterback Tyler O’Connor, until a broken leg derailed his chances. But he is now all healed and making quite an impression on the Michigan State coaching staff.

During B1G Media Days, head coach Mark Dantonio told the press that Lewerke is equipped to handling the pressure that comes with the starting quarterback position. He even compared Lewerke to former Spartans, Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. That is certainly some high praise.

Lewerke has a long ways to go to be on the same level of Cousins and Cook. However, he should be able to turn around the Michigan State and help the program retain the success it experienced a couple seasons ago.

8. Tanner Lee, Nebraska

2016 stats: N/A-sat out due to transfer rules

The 6-foot-4, 220 pound junior started 19 games while at Tulane. In those 19 games, completed 53.6 percent of his passes for 3,601 yards, 23 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. While Lee was not overly impressive with the Green Wave, he has all the tools to succeed with the Cornhuskers.

Lee has a cannon for an arm and his coaches have raved about his football IQ. All those traits were on displayed during Nebraska’s spring game.

During Nebraska’s spring game, Lee completed 13 of his 19 passes for 190 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Plus, he should of his arm strength on this throw to J.D. Spielman:

 

If Lee can cut down on the interceptions, he could end up as one of the top-5 quarterbacks in the conference at the end of the season.

7. Richard Lagow, Indiana

2016 stats: 253-for-438 (57.8 percent completion rate), 3,362 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions

Lagow had some impressive games in his first year as a starter, 276 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win over Michigan State and a 394 yard and three score performance in a win against Rutgers. However, his decision-making needs to improve in 2017. And he has worked on that this summer.

“Fundamentals were never really an issue,” Lagow told the Chicago Tribune. “My interceptions last year came from decision-making. I’ve continued to hammer those base fundamentals and making sure that’s all sound.”

While he has been working on his base fundamentals, Lagow will be working with a new coaching staff in 2017, including new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan. Both came from Tennessee.

6. Alex Horibrook, Wisconsin

2016 stats: 106-for-181 (58.6 percent completion rate), 1,262 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions

Horibrook split time with Bart Houston as the Badgers’ main signal caller. But in 2017, he should be Wisconsin’s full-time leader of the offense.

Last season, the Badgers were last in the B1G in passing attempts per game (23.1). However, this year, Wisconsin will look to replace their top two running backs from last season–Bradrick Shaw and Chris James. With that said, the Badgers will look to lean on the young quarterback as he is expected to make a leap from last year.

5. David Blough, Purdue

2016 stats: 295-for-517 (57.1 percent completion rate), 3,352 yards, 25 touchdowns and 21 interceptions

Blough led the B1G in passing attempts (517), completions (295), and passing yards per game (279.3). However, he also led the conference and the nation in interceptions (21). While Blough put up some ridiculous statistics last year, expect him to put up even more video game like numbers this season under new Purdue head coach, Jeff Brohm.

 

Brohm produced some of the best passers while he was at Western Kentucky. Brohm’s offense is different and could present other B1G some challenges.

If Blough can limit the turnovers, the Boilermakers could be a dark-horse team in the B1G.

4. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern

2016 stats: 280-for-478 (58.6 percent completion rate), 3,182 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions

Thorson made a tremendous leap in his second year as a starter. During his first season as a starter (2015), Thorson only completed 49 percent of his passes. But last year, the signal caller completed 58.6 percent of his passes.

Thorson will be critical to the Wildcats’ success, no matter what happens. However, he will be without wide receiver Austin Carr, who was probably the B1G’s best receiver last year.

Expect Thorson to continue his improvement in 2017.

3. Wilton Speight, Michigan

2016 stats: 204-for-331 (61.6 percent completion rate), 2,538 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions

Speight performed admirably in his first season as a starter. However, he suffered a shoulder injury during the Iowa which hindered his performance toward the end of the year.

While Speight led the Wolverines to 10 wins last year, there has been some talks that redshirt freshman Brandon Peters could replace him in 2017. During B1G Media Days, head coach Jim Harbaugh stated that Speight, Peters and John O’Korn were all tied for the starting quarterback position after spring practice ended.

If Speight can hold off Peters and O’Korn, he will be the first multi-year starting quarterback under Harbaugh. Speight’s ability to make plays when the pocket breaks down maybe more valuable as Michigan’s offense is relatively inexperienced heading into the 2017 season.

2. Trace McSorley, Penn State

2016 stats: 224-for-387 (57.9 percent completion rate), 3,614 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions

No quarterback in the nation improved throughout the season as much as McSorley did.

From the Minnesota game (Oct. 1) to the B1G Championship (Dec. 3), McSorley only threw two interceptions while tossing 22 touchdowns.

 

McSorley is a tradition gunslinger, think Brett Favre. He is not shy about throwing a deep ball after a turnover or off the opening kickoff.

He will have one of the nation’s best backs in Saquon Barkley and tight ends in Mike Gesicki, along with an improved offensive line to work with. Although Barkley is seen as one of the top Heisman candidates, McSorley could end up in the conversation as well.

Expect a lot of McSorley’s home-run-swing celebration this year.

1. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

2016 stats: 233-for-379 (61.5 percent completion rate), 2,555 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions

Barrett had 14 touchdown passes in the first four games of the 2016 season. But as the season progressed, Ohio State’s passing game started to deteriorate. In the final three games of the year, Barrett only threw one touchdown and three interceptions.

To fix that problem, the Buckeyes brought in Kevin Wilson as offensive coordinator.

Last season, the biggest issue for Barrett and Ohio State’s passing game was the inability to throw downfield. However, the Buckeyes have several wide receivers who are ready to breakout in 2017.

Expect the resurgence of Heisman candidate Barrett this season.

Garrett Kroeger