Ranking the Sunbelt Quarterbacks

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# Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana

After starting '22 as the backup to Chandler Fields, Wooldridge became the team's starter prior to a road win at Marshall. However, after five starts, Wooldridge suffered a season-ending ACL tear in November and was lost for the year.

All signs point to a full recovery in time for the '23 opener by Wooldridge and a recovery to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. The California native was solid in 10 overall appearances for the Ragin' Cajuns last year, completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards and 15 touchdowns to only five picks. Wooldridge also added 188 yards and two scores on the ground.

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[RaginDave]

I think the difference between #3 and #9 in this list is very small. I know BW is starting out at #9 according to MSN, but believe me the guys in front of him, with the exception of Carter Bradley and Grayson McCall are not that much greater than Ben, when Ben is healthy.

McCall and Bradley both have a chance to either be drafted or get UDFA options in the NFL, after that we have seen that Darren Grainger who has been up and down is super talented, but is a crap shoot from one week to the other. Brin from Georgia Southern is a little of an unknown commodity, he played off and on at Tulsa due to injury, but has some real talent. I am not sold on Gunnar Watson, he has been in and out of the lineup both with injuries and being benched throughout his career, the talent is there, but I don't think the consistency is. Jordan McCloud is another completely unknown commodity, he has been on the roster at both USF and Arizona which means he has talent to play and I never count JMU out, because this team has been able to reload year after year (while at the FCS level). Texas State will probably go with Malik Hornsby who played sparingly at Arkansas, but reminds me of Malik Willis at Liberty, huge upside athletically but kind of all over the board as a passer, but tons of talent. We saw Cam Fancher from Marshall last year and I am not sold on him, but you don't need to be, Marshall will be a RUN FIRST offense and all he has to be is capable.

Burger at App will have tons of talent around him, but has only played in one game vs Robert Morris as a college player. I think he will eventually be very good, but maybe not this year. It will be about consistency for him. After injury after injury after injury at USM, they went out to the transfer portal and got two guys and Wiles is probably the guy. Wiles has not played, but was on the Clemson roster. He is a complete unknown. JT Strout will be the starter at Arkansas State, I am not sold on him nor am I sold on Butch Davis' offenses. Jiya Wright who is a RB playing QB for ULM will be a guy who can run and run well. I think he is limited on what he can do as a passer, but he will be a very talented runner, but not in the traditional elusive type, Jiya Wright from what I have seen runs like a downhill guy. Then Grant Wilson at ODU, who came with the OC from Fordham. He knows the offense that the Fordham OC will be running, but he was not the started at Fordham, which is concerning for ODU.

[moorecajun]

I think the difference between #3 and #9 in this list is very small. I know BW is starting out at #9 according to MSN, but believe me the guys in front of him, with the exception of Carter Bradley and Grayson McCall are not that much greater than Ben, when Ben is healthy.

McCall and Bradley both have a chance to either be drafted or get UDFA options in the NFL, after that we have seen that Darren Grainger who has been up and down is super talented, but is a crap shoot from one week to the other. Brin from Georgia Southern is a little of an unknown commodity, he played off and on at Tulsa due to injury, but has some real talent. I am not sold on Gunnar Watson, he has been in and out of the lineup both with injuries and being benched throughout his career, the talent is there, but I don't think the consistency is. Jordan McCloud is another completely unknown commodity, he has been on the roster at both USF and Arizona which means he has talent to play and I never count JMU out, because this team has been able to reload year after year (while at the FCS level). Texas State will probably go with Malik Hornsby who played sparingly at Arkansas, but reminds me of Malik Willis at Liberty, huge upside athletically but kind of all over the board as a passer, but tons of talent. We saw Cam Fancher from Marshall last year and I am not sold on him, but you don't need to be, Marshall will be a RUN FIRST offense and all he has to be is capable.

Burger at App will have tons of talent around him, but has only played in one game vs Robert Morris as a college player. I think he will eventually be very good, but maybe not this year. It will be about consistency for him. After injury after injury after injury at USM, they went out to the transfer portal and got two guys and Wiles is probably the guy. Wiles has not played, but was on the Clemson roster. He is a complete unknown. JT Strout will be the starter at Arkansas State, I am not sold on him nor am I sold on Butch Davis' offenses. Jiya Wright who is a RB playing QB for ULM will be a guy who can run and run well. I think he is limited on what he can do as a passer, but he will be a very talented runner, but not in the traditional elusive type, Jiya Wright from what I have seen runs like a downhill guy. Then Grant Wilson at ODU, who came with the OC from Fordham. He knows the offense that the Fordham OC will be running, but he was not the started at Fordham, which is concerning for ODU.

Nice breakdown, thanks!

[fanof71]

But can any play WR?

[R1Letterman]

How many of the other schools could have a qb2 higher on list?

[R1Letterman]

But can any play WR?

Great question!

[Louisiana84]

If I'm Ben and they vote me 9th, that's motivation.

[UL_Cajuns]

Ben is top 3. He just hasn't started as much as the others. Watch!

[R1Letterman]

And the others haven't had threads debating qb1 vs qb2

[fanof71]

Ben is top 3. He just hasn't started as much as the others. Watch!

True Dat...his sample size from last season is small compared to most listed...