Which CFB Conference Produces the Best First Round Quarterbacks?

The NFL draft is made up of players from all corners of the college football spectrum. Some come from power house schools. Some come from FCS schools. Some are decorated Heisman trophy winners, while others are just hoping to get discovered. The grading and acquisition of talent knows no limits to NFL scouts and general managers.

Being drafted in the first round indicates a player has a superior level of football talent that is coveted by a team. The draft pick is expected to be a franchise cornerstone and high caliber player, which is emphasized by the generous sum of money awarded to first round draftees. Some first rounders will flourish beyond expectations, while others will fail to meet them. Regardless, the top 32 picks are made up of the best talent from all college football walks of life.

Through a series of blog post, I’m going to examine which college football conferences are producing the best first round talent and the most busts to the NFL. I will break it down by position of each player drafted in the first round between 2001 to 2011.

QUARTERBACKS

Best: SEC – The Southeastern Conference has delivered the most 1^st round quarterbacks over the past decade ranging from a Super Bowl champion to, perhaps, the biggest bust in draft history. 

At the moment, Eli Manning is the most accomplished SEC quarterback with a Super Bowl ring, Super Bowl MVP, and two Pro Bowl selections. However, this season, Matthew Stafford has closed the gap on the NFL’s elite quarterbacks after passing for over 5,000 yards, 41 touchdowns, and leading the Lions back into the playoffs for the first time since the last millennium (1999).Stafford was widely considered a Pro Bowl snub for the 2011 season.

In the 2011 draft, the SEC delivered Cam Newton to the NFL and the rookie quarterback did not disappoint. After being selected #1 overall by the Panthers, Newton went on to shatter numerous NFL records including most passing yards by a rookie (only rookie in history over 4,000 yards), most touchdowns by a rookie (21 pass, 14 rush), and most passing yards in a single game by a rookie (432). With the Panthers finishing 6-10, a four game improvement from 2010, it seems they have one of the NFL's brightest young stars to lead them into the future.

While Newton’s career seems to have a promising future from a statistical standpoint, Tim Tebow’s future promise is measured by an owner’s favorite metric – wins. 

Midway through the season, Tebow took his turn at quarterback for the 1-4 Broncos and guided them to an 8-8 record, playoff berth, and then a playoff victory! While he still lacks the passing prominence of most NFL quarterbacks, Tebow has shown an uncanny ability to lead his team to victory in the 4^th quarter. Tebow’s

The success and future promise of these SEC quarterbacks has been more than enough to outweigh (by a couple of pounds) the failure of world renown NFL draft bust,  Mr. Sizzurp Sippin’ himself, JaMarcus Russell as well as the less successful careers of others selected in the first round.

Complete Draft Class: Cam Newton (2011), Tim Tebow (2010), Matthew Stafford (2009), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Jay Cutler (2006), Jason Campbell (2005), Eli Manning (2004), Rex Grossman (2003)

Worst: Big 10 – The Big 10 football conference has not had a quarterback selected in the 1^st Round of the draft since Kerry Collins was selected 5^th overall in 1995 by the upstart Carolina Panthers. In that span, every football conference, except the Sun Belt, had a quarterback selected in the 1^st round, including a FCS school (Delaware).

The lack of interest is a little mind boggling when you consider most Big 10 schools have run oriented, pro-style offenses – something the NFL scouts and general managers usually cherish. When Tulane’s football program has had more quarterbacks (2) drafted in the first round the past decade than the entire conference, it easily makes the Big 10 the worst in the first round.

It’s no wonder Gunner Kiel, the top QB recruit in 2012, switched his commitment from the Big 10 (Indiana) to the SEC (LSU).

Complete Draft Class: None

Best Overall Pick: Pac 10 – Aaron Rodgers, 24^th Overall, 2005: Rodgers has easily proven to be the best quarterback taken in the 1^st round over the past ten years. After leading the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XLV and following it up with a 15-1 regular season in 2011, the Rodgers succession plan may become a new trend across the NFL. A trend that is making Packers GM, Ted Thompson, seem more and more like a genius every day.

Worst Overall Pick: SEC – JaMarcus Russell, 1^st Overall, 2007: Russell was able to entice scouts with his raw athletic ability, which including throwing a football 60+ yards from his knees. His superman strength throwing a football turned out to be about as useful the NFL game as long drive competitors are to the PGA. Scouts seemed to forget that if you throw a pass from your knees in a game you are down and lose yardage on the play. If Russell ever finds the time to maintain his tools, which is doubtful, perhaps one day in the future he can find a niche as a Hail Mary specialist.

Other Draft Classes:

ACC: Christian Ponder (2011), Matt Ryan (2008), Philip Rivers (2004)

Big East: Michael Vick (2001)

Big12: Blaine Gabbert (2011), Sam Bradford (2010), Josh Freeman (2009), Vince Young (2006)

Pac 10: Jake Locker (2011), Mark Sanchez (2009), Matt Leinart (2006), Aaron Rodgers (2005), Carson Palmer (2003), Kyle Boller (2003), Joey Harrington (2002)

NON-AQ: Joe Flacco (2008), Brady Quinn (2007), Alex Smith (2005), Ben Roethlisberger (2004, JP Losman (2004), Byron Leftwich (2003), David Carr (2002), Patrick Ramsey (2002)

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