At the top of the 2020 quarterback rankings are three five-stars in Alabama’s Bryce Young, Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei and Tennessee’s Harrison Bailey.
All three have phenomenal talent and that’s why they’re so highly-rated.
But if history is any indication, there are some three-star quarterbacks who will absolutely outplay their ranking, shine in high school and be potential first- or early-round NFL Draft picks.
It happens every year and the Rivals rankings are dotted with elite players in college or the NFL where we look back and ask ourselves, ‘What were we thinking?’
The best example: Patrick Mahomes was a three-star prospect in the 2014 class who was ranked as the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback that recruiting cycle. Deshaun Watson led the position rankings that year, but Mahomes is behind some guys who definitely didn’t pan out.
Baker Mayfield was a three-star prospect. So was Matt Ryan, Colin Kaepernick and Johnny Manziel. Heisman winners, first overall NFL Draft picks, Pro Bowlers and quarterbacks who played in the Super Bowl.
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In college football now, there is a smattering of three-star quarterbacks who absolutely should have been ranked higher such as USC’s Kedon Slovis, Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and UCF’s Dillon Gabriel.
And there will undoubtedly be three-star quarterbacks in the 2020 class who outplay their ranking and shine on the college stage and possibly in the NFL Draft.
At pro-style quarterback, the top three-star quarterbacks are Purdue’s Michael Alaimo, Vanderbilt’s Ken Seals, Missouri’s Brady Cook, Cal’s Jaden Casey and LSU’s TJ Finley.
Among the dual-threat quarterbacks, Penn State’s Micah Bowens, Texas A&M’s Haynes King, uncommitted Malik Hornsby, Oregon’s Robby Ashford and Colorado’s Brendon Lewis lead the way at three-stars.
FARRELL'S TAKE
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell to pinpoint some three-star quarterbacks in this class who could outplay their ranking and shine in the coming years?
“I did pretty well last year with this question as a picked Slovis, so we’ll see if I can do it two years in a row. And I’m going to go with King for a few reasons. He’s raw as a passer for sure and looked out of place among the all-stars at Under Armour at times and his senior season was up and down.
"However, he’s mobile and creative and Jimbo Fisher does well with quarterbacks so he will develop there after a few years of seasoning. Guys who can extend the play and keep defenses off balance are a nightmare for opposing coaches and this kid can do this. We had Kellen Mond ranked too high. Maybe we have King ranked too low.”
