Top 5 greatest college quarterbacks of all time

Countless quarterbacks have come and gone, so choosing the greatest college quarterbacks of all time is not easy. Firstly, it is difficult not to let their NFL careers, if applicable, cloud our judgment. Mainly because the greatest college quarterbacks are not necessarily the ones who are most successful in the NFL. Sure, the likes of Roger Staubach, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck who managed to maintain their high standards in pro football as well. But there are many others who can be counted among the greatest college quarterbacks who simply couldn't cut it in the NFL like Johnny Manziel. We have tried to be dispassionate and judge the greatest college quarterbacks based on their performances solely at that level and we present our list below.

The greatest college quarterbacks of all time

#5 - Tim Tebow, Florida

Tim Tebow is most recently known for being a failed tight end experiment. He is better known as a cultural icon than he is for his play on the football field. But during his college years from 2007-2009, he could definitely call himself one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time.

His record as a starter in three seasons was 35-6. He recorded 145 touchdowns in those three seasons with a quarterback passer rating of 169.7. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and finished third and fifth in 2008 and 2009 and was a consensus All-American. He won two national titles with the team and two SEC titles, one of each as a starter.

#4 - Charlie Ward, Florida State

Staying in the state of Florida, Charlie Ward is next up on our list of the greatest college quarterbacks. He was so good as the starting quarterback in his two years in college that he lost just two matches in that entire period.

He went 23-2 in two seasons, had 59 total touchdowns, and had a quarterback rating of 141.4. He was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1993 after finishing sixth in 1992 and was a consensus All-American. He won one national championship and two ACC championships in college.

The reason we did not see one of the greatest college quarterbacks in the NFL is because his talent was not limited only to football. He was selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and went on to play a decade with them as a point guard. But his prowess is still recognized by college football even today and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Danny Wuerffel of Florida Gators v Arkansas Razorbacks

The top 3 greatest all-time greatest college quarterbacks

#3 - Tommie Frazier, Nebraska

When we talk of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, no list is complete without the great Tommie Frazier. He did not win the Heisman trophy like some of his colleagues on the list. But what sets him apart as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time is his ability to stand out in championship games.

In his time playing in Nebraska, Tommie Frazier had a 35-3 record, 79 total touchdowns and a 138.1 quarterback rating. In terms of championships, he amassed two national championships and four Big Eight championships in his four years in college.

What truly makes him one of the greatest college quarterbacks is that he won the MVP in three national championship games, including one in which the Cornhuskers lost in 1993. He was a true dual-threat quarterback, scoring 36 rushing touchdowns in his college career and would have been an intriguing prospect in the NFL. Even as one of the greatest college quarterbacks ever, he never made it to pro football because of a serious blood clot in his left leg.

#2 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida

The Florida Gators have been very fortunate to have not one but two of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time playing for them. Before there was Tim Tebow, there was Danny Wuerffel, and he set all kinds of passing records while in college.

He had 10,875 passing yards, 114 touchdowns and 42 interceptions in his college career. He led the SEC in total yards in 1995 and 1996. In fact, in 1995, his first year as the sole starting quarterback, he averaged over 10 passing yards per attempt. In 1996, he won both the national championship and the Heisman Trophy. That national title sits proudly in his collection with four SEC titles.

#1 - Davey O'Brien, Texas Christian

When talking about the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, it is hard not to put the person at the top after whom the award for the best college quarterbacks is named. Davey O'Brien had a 15-4-2 record as a starter in college.

He won one national title and one SWC title and was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1938 and a consensus All-American. He recorded 24 touchdowns with an astonishing 164.3 passer rating. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 and since 1981 the award for best college quarterback has been given in his name.