Constructing depth on the quarterback place in faculty soccer is nearly not possible within the switch portal period. It is uncommon {that a} high quality backup really sticks round, particularly since — in the event that they’re ok — they will go someplace that they are promised a extra speedy beginning spot. 

So high quality backup quarterbacks are a useful commodity. Groups hope they by no means want them, however it’s solely doable {that a} No. 2 quarterback may make or break a season, relying on accidents and different elements. 

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That is why it is acceptable to shine a highlight on these unheralded backups. Whether or not it is a veteran that is caught round regardless of different modifications to the quarterback room, or a younger participant that determined to switch to a greater state of affairs, this is a have a look at the highest 10 backups quarterbacks in faculty soccer. 

It must be famous that this listing is restricted to collegiate backups which have performed significant snaps earlier than. One may make a whole article primarily based across the former blue-chip prospects which can be serving as backups in 2025 whereas they wait their flip to start out. 

As such, these extremely rated No. 2s are included in a speedy hearth listing on the finish of the article. 

Michael Van Buren, LSU 

Van Buren flew beneath the radar whereas beginning eight video games as a real freshman at Mississippi State final season, however he did present some actual potential as a future SEC star. He did full simply 54.7% of his passes with seven interceptions, however these numbers are anticipated of a first-year quarterback beginning in one of the crucial aggressive conferences within the nation. 

This is how Van Buren’s numbers stack up towards Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, who performed in a comparable quantity of video games and who, after an identical pattern dimension, is already receiving some recognition is a top-10 quarterback in faculty soccer: 

So Van Buren’s acquired loads of potential. Now he is in a really perfect spot. LSU has turn into a contemporary quarterback manufacturing facility and Van Buren will get to be taught behind the potential No. 1 general choose in Garrett Nussmeier whereas taking extra time to develop with out the strain of main an offense. He is additionally a premium insurance coverage possibility. 

Matthew Caldwell, Texas 

Texas dipped into the spring portal so as to add a much-needed veteran backup behind Arch Manning, who has patiently waited on his flip as Texas’ starter. Caldwell involves Austin as a fifth-year senior that spent the 2024 season at Troy. He began the yr on Troy’s bench earlier than beginning the ultimate 5 video games. 

In his comparatively transient taking part in time, he threw for 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns whereas dashing for an additional 5 touchdowns. He guided the Trojans to a 3-2 report and, with Caldwell main the best way, Troy’s offense averaged 35.8 factors and 235.6 yards passing per sport. Caldwell, nonetheless, might need competitors for the backup job with Trey Owens again after redshirting as a freshman in 2024.

Chriss changed a struggling Donovan Smith as Houston’s starter halfway by way of the 2024 season. Usually, that will put him in a main place to keep up the function coming into 2025. However the Cougars went into the switch portal and landed former Texas A&M starter Conner Weigman, a former five-star prospect and a four-star switch in keeping with 247Sports. 

Houston did not recruit Weigman to experience the pine. Nonetheless, Weigman does deliver a regarding harm historical past to Houston, which implies that the Cougars could should depend on Chriss once more. Whereas Chriss leaves loads to be desired as a passer — he had simply 824 yards and 4 touchdowns to eight interceptions in seven begins — he is a superb runner with loads of athleticism and pace to burn. His comfortability in coach Willie Frtiz’s system is one other boon, had been Houston to name his quantity once more. 

Ashton Daniels, Auburn 

Auburn hasn’t really named a beginning quarterback, so there’s some projection right here, however it’s secure to imagine that former five-star Jackson Arnold would be the first within the sport as soon as Aug. 29 rolls round. That leaves Daniels and freshman Deuce Knight for the backup job. We’ll give Daniels an edge there because of his expertise. 

After serving as a wildcat quarterback at Stanford in 2022, he emerged because the Cardinal’s starter in 2023 and went on to start out 20 video games over the previous two seasons. In that span he threw for 3,947 yards and 21 touchdowns with 20 interceptions. Daniels can be a plus athlete, with 1,117 yards and 9 touchdowns dashing in his profession, so he may carve out a job as a change-of-pace possibility in sure formations. 

There was as soon as a time the place Van Dyke seemed like the following huge factor in faculty soccer. He was a breakout star at Miami in 2021 when he threw for two,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in simply 9 begins. However his 2022 marketing campaign was hampered by an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder and a majority of his 2023 season was impacted by a knee harm, so he by no means fairly reached the highs he set as a sophomore. 

He transferred to Wisconsin in 2024 and had his lone yr with the Badgers lower brief after three video games attributable to a torn ACL. Sturdiness is a serious concern, although that does not matter as a lot when SMU is not counting on him to seem in each sport. He is a prime tier possibility as a spot starter, had been one thing to occur to Mustangs star Kevin Jennings, and he is aware of SMU boss Rhett Lashlee, who served as Miami’s offensive coordinator from 2020-21, the place he coached Van Dyke by way of one of the best yr of his profession.  

It nonetheless is not clear precisely what route Invoice Belichick will go at quarterback in his first yr with the Tar Heels. North Carolina did take South Alabama switch Gio Lopez through the spring switch window, which appears to point that he’ll get the primary crack at beginning. 4-star freshman Bryce Baker additionally appears like the way forward for this system.

Johnson should not get misplaced within the shuffle, even when he’s recovering from a devastating leg harm. He did enter the 2024 season as North Carolina’s QB1 and, previous to that, he began 23 video games at LSU and Texas A&M. His finest yr got here in 2021 when, with the Tigers, he logged 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns passing. He additionally had 1,969 yards and 12 touchdowns in his two years with the Aggies, although he by no means performed a full season. 

It is extra a query of when, and never if, Underwood will emerge as Michigan’s starter. He is just too gifted to maintain within the pen for lengthy. Keene would possibly at the very least get an opportunity to safe his spot by way of the primary few video games, although. No matter who goes on the market first, Michigan is in a fantastic spot with its second possibility. 

Underwood was the highest prospect within the class of 2025. He is acquired a college-ready body, a dwell arm and the expertise to raise a stagnant Wolverines offense. Keene, in the meantime, brings 34 video games of beginning expertise from stops at UCF and Fresno State. He is acquired greater than 8,000 yards passing and 65 touchdowns in his profession. 

TCU is in nice fingers with Josh Hoover, particularly given his sturdiness. The Horned Frogs may do a lot worse than having Seals as a “break glass in case of emergency” possibility. Seals did not play final season — his first with TCU — however he did begin 22 video games within the SEC with Vanderbilt previous to shifting to Fort Price. 

In 2020, he grew to become simply the third SEC true freshman quarterback to start out a season opener and he went on to toss a profession finest 1,928 yards and 12 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 9 video games. Over the following few seasons, he bounced between the beginning spot and a reserve a job. Seals did surpass 1,000 yards by way of the air in 2021 and 2023.  

Few backups come as battle examined as Sims. He began 10 video games as a freshman at Georgia Tech in 2020, was an on-again, off-again starter for the Yellow Jackets over the following two years, after which transferred to Nebraska in 2023, the place he was benched after two begins. Sims turned the ball over in 11 of his 28 drives as a Nebraska QB. 

So he transferred once more and was the No. 2 possibility for a 2024 Arizona State staff that received the Massive 12 title and made it to the School Soccer Playoff. He began in Arizona State’s loss to Cincinnati final season whereas Sam Leavitt was out with harm. Sims brings worth as a veteran within the quarterback room, even in case you do not essentially wish to see him enter a sport in crunch time. 

Like just a few groups on this listing, Texas A&M is coming into the 2025 season with a younger starter — Marcel Reed — and determined to scour the switch portal for a veteran. The Aggies landed one of the crucial skilled choices out there in Zeno, who’s been round faculty soccer since 2019. He initially signed with Baylor after which transferred to UAB in 2022. 

He lastly earned an opportunity to persistently begin in 2023 and confirmed effectively by finishing 73.6% of his passes for 3,126 yards and 20 touchdowns. He held down the beginning job in 2024 however suffered a season-ending shoulder harm 4 video games into the yr. 

Former prime prospects to maintain an eye fixed one