As the college football campaign kicks into high gear, the spotlight often turns to high-profile quarterbacks from top-ranked teams. However, there are several talented quarterbacks at Power Four programs flying under the radar who deserve more recognition as conference play ramps up.
Below, we’ll dive into two talents that may not be household names like the players they replaced, and one electric dual-threat talent in the Big 12 that more than warrants your attention.
Miller Moss, USC
A primary pocket passer, Miller Moss has been excellent in operating the West-Coast-based Lincoln Riley attack through four games. What’s been most impressive about his success, however, is the level of production against the defenses he faced in the early portion of the campaign. After a neutral site matchup against LSU to open the year, Moss has traveled into Ann Arbor to face Michigan at the Big House, and most recently battled the historically stout Wisconsin Badgers defense in Week 5, a matchup where he threw for 308 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
For Moss, initial attention was drawn to him in USC’s bowl game to conclude the 2023 season. In a game in which starter and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams sat out, Moss tossed for 362 yards and six touchdowns, raising eyebrows around the draft industry as to just how good he could be moving into 2024.
Behind a lightning-quick release, touch to all levels, and an innate ability to identify matchups to exploit pre-snap, Moss has continued to flash week after week. And considering the lack of headlining talent within the offense away from sophomore Zachariah Branch and an intriguing RB talent Woody Marks, Moss deserves more attention in his ability to elevate those around him, as well.
A native of Los Angeles, California and a product of nearby Bishop Alemany High School, Moss doesn’t tout the athleticism of a Jalen Milroe or the game-changing arm talent of Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, but he understands how to operate an offense at a high level, plays the position with confidence and conviction, and is a prospect whose tape against high-level competition will carry weight—should he declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
The conversation surrounding Garrett Nussmeier heading into the year was about experience. Entering 2024, the LSU signal-caller had just one game as a starter under his belt. With past Heisman winners like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels hanging over Nussmeier heading into the campaign, he’s taken the offensive reins and run with them so far this fall.
Nussmeier has shown significant improvement and maturity in what remains a small sample size with arm talent that will absolutely play at the next level. He can press windows at all levels of defense, with the ability to tempo his velocity and ball placement depending on leverage and space.
Nussmeier’s poise under pressure has also stood out, with eight of his 14 touchdowns thrown this fall coming against the blitz. And while Nussmeier tends to do his damage inside the pocket, his mobility remains an underutilized weapon in the LSU offense—and really a trait that could further expand his prospect profile when projecting him into certain NFL offensive architectures. He’s not Daniels as far as the ability to make plays with his lower half, but the Lake Charles, Louisiana native can extend plays with his legs and is highly effective in escaping pressure and keeping his eyes downfield when working parallel to the line of scrimmage.
Upcoming matchups against ranked opponents in Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Alabama over the next month will paint a clear picture as to just how high Nussmeier can rise on boards as we work into the winter months.
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
If you haven’t watched any Kansas State football in the first five weeks, make sure you flip on their game against Colorado on October 12. Johnson vs. Sanders should be not only one of the better matchups on the Saturday slate but potentially a matchup of the year.
While Johnson isn’t draft-eligible until 2026 (true sophomore), he has quickly established himself as one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers at the position. His legs and scrambling ability drew much of the attention in the early portions of this fall, but his most recent performance against Oklahoma State showcased the rising ceiling for him as a pocket passer.
A former highly touted recruit who turned down much larger programs to stay home, Johnson tossed for a career-high 259 yards and three touchdowns against the Cowboys. What made it more impressive was his ability to bounce back following a two-interception game against BYU the prior week. Not everything is perfect under center, especially when projecting players to the next level, and an athlete’s ability to shake prior performances, bounce back, and lead an offense, showcases the resiliency and competitiveness that teams desire in quarterbacks.
That being said, Johnson has a ways to go in his development, with his ability inside of structure remaining under a massive microscope as he matures. However, his dual-threat ability is overwhelmingly obvious, and he’ll remain an electric athlete of note as Kansas State pushes for a Big 12 title this fall.
