Category rankings: Quarterbacks
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The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the quarterbacks.
Coming Thursday: Defensive tackles
Strongest arm
Gilbert highlightsClick 5. Garrett Gilbert, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis Here to view this Link.
Can make almost any throw from any position on the field but is recovering from offseason surgery.
Savage highlightsClick 4. Tom Savage, Springfield (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara Here to view this Link.
Deep throws at the U.S. Army Junior Combine caught everyone's attention.
Mettenberger highlightsClick 3. Zach Mettenberger, Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County Here to view this Link.
Caused some sore hands on receivers at the Tuscaloosa EA Sports Elite11 competition in May.
Mossakowski highlightsClick 2. Ryan Mossakowski Frisco (Texas) Centennial Here to view this Link.
Strongest arm among those at the U.S. Army Junior Combine in San Antonio.
Barkley highlightsClick 1. Matt Barkley, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei Here to view this Link.
His 97-yard touchdown strike while being dragged down to the ground is all you need to see.
OTHERS: Drew Allen, San Antonio Alamo Heights; Raymond Cotton, Ft. Meade (Md.) High; Andrew Maxwell, Midland (Mich.) High; Aaron Murray, Tampa Plant; Tyler Russell, Meridian (Miss.) High.
Most accurate
Murray highlightsClick 5. Aaron Murray, Tampa Plant Here to view this Link.
Completed 61 percent of his passes last season and was the first invitee to the Elite11 camp in southern California next month.
Bridgford highlightsClick 4. Allan Bridgford, Mission Viejo (Calif.) High Here to view this Link.
Bob Johnson-coached recruit had two strong camp performances this summer.
Boyd highlightsClick 3. Tajh Boyd, Hampton (Va.) Phoebus Here to view this Link.
Connected on 69.3 percent of his passes and dominated his position group at the Chapel Hill Nike camp.
Rollison highlightsClick 2. Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs (Texas) High Here to view this Link.
Hit on 296 passes of 423 attempts for a completion percentage of 69.9.
Forcier highlightsClick 1. Tate Forcier, San Diego Scripps Ranch Here to view this Link.
Completed 77 percent of his passes last season and most recently won the "Golden Gun" award at the EA Sports Elite11 in Berkeley, Calif.
OTHERS: Richard Brehaut, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Los Osos; Jon Budmayr, Woodstock (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic; AJ McCarron, Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's; Joe Southwick, Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley; Jordan Wynn, Oceanside (Calif.) High.
Best scrambler
Beaver highlightsClick 5. Shavodrick Beaver, Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider Here to view this Link.
Led his team to 12-2 record, throwing for 31 TDs and rushing for 482 yards.
Luallen highlightsClick 4. Jordan Luallen, Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove Here to view this Link.
Rushed for 546 yards and 12 TDs in '07, then was Baton Rouge Nike MVP.
Cotton highlightsClick 3. Raymond Cotton, Fort Meade (Md.) High Here to view this Link.
His performance at the Tuscaloosa Nike Training Camp reminded some of a young Jason Campbell.
Scheelhaase highlightsClick 2. Nathan Scheelhaase, Kansas City Rockhurst Here to view this Link.
Led his team to the Missouri 6A title and rushed for 917 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Shepard highlightsClick 1. Russell Shepard, Houston Cypress Ridge Here to view this Link.
May be the country's most dynamic playmaker. Rushed for 1,525 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
OTHERS: Tate Forcier, San Diego Scripps Ranch; Cody Green, Dayton (Texas) High; Kevin Newsome, Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch; Casey Pachall, Brownwood (Texas) High; Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs (Texas) High.
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