When they signed out of high school, these blue chip quarterbacks were the best, the guys who were supposed to be on the NFL draft boards in 3, 4, or 5 years. The draft's consensus top four quarterback (JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Trent Edwards, and Drew Stanton) were all Top 10 pro-style quarterbacks coming out of high school. However, as you'll see as you peruse the Rivals Top 10 QB lists from 2002 and 2003, you'll see that these quarterbacks have taken a variety of paths.
2002 Rivals Top 10 Pro-Style Quarterbacks
1. Ben Olson – Went on Mormon mission after high school. Returned to the States and decided to play at UCLA; started last season before going down with injury; now locked in battle for starting job
2. Trent Edwards, Stanford – Will be 3rd quarterback taken in Saturday’s draft
3. Justin Zwick, Ohio State – Troy Smith’s backup at Ohio State; may be drafted in the 7th round or signed as a priority free agent
4. Anthony Martinez, Virginia – Bust; Subbed for the injured Matt Schaub in 2003, but dropped to fourth string in 2004 and quit the team.
5. Matt Gutierrez, Michigan – Lost job to Chad Henne because of injury and never could regain it; transferred to Idaho State; projects anywhere from 6th round to undrafted free agent
6. Drew Stanton, Michigan State – Will be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round
7. Marc Guillon, Miami – Played sparingly at Miami before transferring to Alabama; beat out for job by John Parker Wilson; left team; was not a fan of Mike Shula
8. Drew Olson, UCLA – Solid performer at UCLA; now on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and NFL Europa
9. Brandon Cox, Auburn -- After encountering personal problems early in his college career that caused him to leave the team, has become a solid starting quarterback for Auburn.
10. Joe Tereshinski, Georgia – Got starting opportunity as a senior but lost job to true freshman Matthew Stafford.
2003 Rivals Top 10 Pro-Style Quarterbacks
1. Kyle Wright, Miami – Has not lived up to potential; locked in a battle for starting job with Kirby Freeman
2. Chris Leak, Florida – Won a national title at Florida; could be drafted around the 6th round
3. Tommy Grady, Oklahoma – Transferred from Oklahoma after falling to third string; now the 2nd string quarterback at Utah
4. Clayton Richard, Michigan – 4.0 student with 1340 SAT signed with Michigan out of high school, but then took money with Chicago White Sox; playing in the minor leagues
5. Kevin McCabe, Virginia – third string in 2006 behind Jameel Sewell and Christian Olsen; graduating next year, then transferring to a small Pennsylvania school to finish out playing career.
6. JaMarcus Russell, LSU – Will be 1st player taken in draft
7. Andre Woodson, Kentucky – Rocketed to stardom after banner 2006 season at Kentucky in which he threw for 31 TDs and only 7 INTs
8. Justin Midgett, Eastern Illinois-- With Chris Leak firmly entrenched as Florida’s starter, Midgett transferred to Eastern Illinois. He’s now a backup quarterback in AF2 for the Florida Fire. Wants to become a youth minister.
9. Sam Keller, Arizona State – Nebraska’s likely starting quarterback.
10. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame -- Will be 2nd quarterback taken in NFL Draft on Saturday.