The play at QB position in the BT for 2025 will be very interesting to watch.
Allar is the default #1 guy. He has no obvious challengers and has all the tools but still needs to get over choking in the biggest games.
I agree with those who say Raiola is way overrated. He frankly sucked in the IU game. He played like he was physically and emotionally afraid of the D. I saw him in more than a few other games otherwise and he never looked that bad again but he was certainly up & down. At no time did I see a guy who looked like the #1 QB in last years class. He's really not a pure passer, and he has very limited ability or inclination to run the ball when its there. That said, if you knew nothing of the hype you'd have to rate him as pretty good for being a starting QB as a freshman in the BT.
Underwood comes in as the newest #1 rated QB. I have to assume he will be more worthy than Raiola of that rating. That said, he's not exactly set up to succeed at Michigan with their lack of veteran receivers.
In general, I'd say he underrates some of the transfer/veteran QBs.....not only Mendoza, but also Altmyer, Gronowski, Edwards, and Aguilar. I expect all to do well.
Sayin from OSU is interesting. On the down side, only 6'1" and a good but not great athlete. On the other hand a very accurate passer with a high football IQ. Similar to Howard but 3" shorter and maybe a better pure passer.
I think he overrated Chiles, from MSU, who was sometimes excellent last year, but more often erratic and careless. On the face of things, Dante Moore from Oregon is a big ? mark. He does have the advantage of being in a great system, unlike Chiles.
Lausch from NW has guts and smarts but not much else and nobody to throw to. Singleton from Purdue is a talented wildcard who could be a big surprise, or a big flop. He might be really good in 2026 if he survives 2025. Washington from Maryland is the #5 QB in next years class, but will probably struggle this year.
I think he overrates Maiava from USC who didn't show that much last year, imo, and underrates Kaliakmanis at Rutgers, who isn't all that talented but is a big-time gamer.
Demond Williams from Washington is only 5'10" but is athletic and appears to have the "it" factor. The UW coach benched a pretty darn good QB in Matt Rogers to get him pt. He'll be decent this year and maybe better after that.
He lists Zach Pyron as Minnesota's probable starter, but RS Freshman Drake Lindsey will start. He's a 6'5" kid from Arkansas who was the PoY and state champion in that state and had 50+ TDs and 4 or 5 ints his SR year. Fleck will do a good job with him but he'll still be a bottom 1/3 BT starter this year. It's notable to me that Minnesota did not go after a big-time portal QB so they must like him for the future.
My ranking would be:
--Allar
--Mendoza
--Altmyer, Illinois
--Sayin, OSU
--Edwards, Wisconsin
--Raiola, Nebraska
--Underwood, Michigan
--Gronowski, Iowa
--Aguilar, UCLA
--Maiava, USC
--Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
--Chiles, MSU
--Williams, Washington
--Moore, Oregon
--Lindsey, Minnesota
--Singleton, Purdue
--Lausch, Northwestern
--Washington, Maryland
