We are less than 24 hours away from Week 3 of the college football season, which means it’s time to check back in on the quarterbacks we’ve been following. After a handful of marquee matchups to open the season, the vast majority of our passers and major programs faced smaller programs to Week 2. This is common during the early stretch of the season. These games might not be as meaningful as conference games or showdowns against ranked opponents, but they can still be useful for our purpose. It can also raise concerns when a quarterback struggles. With that much in mind, let’s jump in.
Riser of the Week
John Mateer
The result: Michigan 13 – Oklahoma 24
The stats: 21-34 (61.8%), 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 Big Time Throws, 2 Turnover Worthy Plays, 9.3 ADoT, 1 sack
19 rushes, 75 yards, 3.9 ypc, 2 tds
There’s been a steady buzz building around Mateer since he transferred to Oklahoma. One of the most entertaining, albeit unconventional, quarterbacks in college football, the main question was whether the Washington State transfer’s play style would translate when facing stiffer competition. The Michigan team Mateer faced isn’t on the level as the Wolverines team that recently won the national championship, but they are still a respected blue blood in the Big Ten and came into the game ranked 15th in the country.
Let’s start with the negatives and then wash it down with the positives.
Mateer wasn’t as accurate as he was during the season, and there are a couple of throws he attempts in this game where he is lucky not to turn the ball over. (2:53)(4:03) He also had a few balls sail on him in this game, including the interception he threw in the first quarter (1:46), and a fleaflicker that could have resulted in a touchdown (5:43).
It’s easy to watch Mateer and nitpick his game and traits. He’s shorter than I typically like in a quarterback. He plays with a frenetic, backyard style. His throwing motion reminds you of a shortstop turning two, and he’s seemingly always throwing his fastball. Sometimes, when he goes on the move you have to hold your breath because you aren’t sure if he’s going to run into a massive sack or do the most insane thing you’ve ever seen. His footwork and mechanics are not what they would call teach tape for young quarterbacks.
But at the same time, that’s what makes Mateer special. Mechanically, he reminds me a ton of Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray. The ways those quarterbacks move and the systems they’ve all gone through have a lot of similarities. I don’t have a catchy name for it, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all four went to high schools with a seven-and-a-half-hour drive from each other.
Regardless, this game also proved that Mateer can produce against stiffer competition. He had some truly impressive throws attacking the seam (0:15), and soft spots in zone along the sideline (0:32, 1:17). His throw at (1;38) on this in-breakers was another favorite. Though he isn’t a guy that’s going to blow you away with his speed, Mateer is effective and seemingly surprises defenders at times with his agility. Sooner running backs got 20 carries in the game. Mateer got 19 and scored twice on the ground. The Sooner offense runs through him.
While it remains to be seen how good that Michigan team is, it’s still a good first test for Mateer. His next challenge is to do it against SEC opponents during conference play.
I don’t think Mateer is quite in the running for QB1 in April, but we’ve seen crazier things happen. This game kept the door open for that possibility, and I think has Mateer firmly in the discussion to be drafted in the mid-to-late first round with continued high performance.
Next up: @ Temple
For the rest of the article, I will chime in with some thoughts in a more of a roundtable/roundup way. I’ll sort them into categories and discuss at the bottom each category.
Heading in the right direction
Garrett Nussmeier
The result: LA Tech 7 – LSU 23
The stats: 26-41 (63.4%), 237, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3 Bbtt, 2 twp, 9.1 adot, 3 sacks
Next up: Florida
Carson Beck
The result: Bethune-Cookman 3 – Miami 45
The stats: 22-24 (91.7%), 267, 2 TD, 1 btt, 0 twp, 0 sacks
Next up: (18) Southern Florida
Fernando Mendoza
The result: Kennesaw State 9 – Indiana 56
The stats: 18-25 (72.0%), 245, 4 td, 0 btt, 0 twp, 10.0 adot, 0 sacks
3 rushes, 20 yards, 6.7 ypc
Next up: Indiana State
Summary: LSU left a ton on the field last week. Tiger pass catchers dropped four passes, but Nussemeier looked calm and in command throughout. His knee doesn’t appear to be a problem so far, including on one throw where he had to roll right out of pressure and found a guy downfield for a dart (1:38). The Tigers took more shots downfield this week, and there is still some timing to be worked on. He underthrew a ball (0:11) downfield that was tipped and ricocheted into a trailing defender for an interception.
Beck didn’t blow me away, but he did what he was supposed to do against a game against a smaller school. Miami had the better athletes on the field and Beck played a clean game.
Mendoza and his receivers still are working to get on the same page, but it was a better showing this week for the most part, even though there were still two drops. Mendoza has a cannon for an arm, and I’m eager to see him face off against tougher competition.
Nothing to see here
LaNorris Sellers
The result: South Carolina State 10 – South Carolina 38
The stats: 11-19 (57.9%), 128 yards, 1 TD, 1 btt, 0 twp, 11.0 adot, 2 sacks
6 rushes, 28 yards, 4.7 YPC, 1 fumble
Next up: Vanderbilt
Drew Allar
The result: FIU 0 – Penn State 34
The stats: 19-33 (57.6%), 200 yd, 2 td, 0 int, 0 btt,0 twp, 9.1 adot, 2 sacks
Next up: Vilanova
Summary: Weird game for South Carolina. They had two punt return touchdowns — making that three return touchdowns for South Carolina’s Vicari Swain through two weeks — and returned a fumble for a touchdown on defense.
Penn State also had another game dominated by running backs Kaytron Allen (16-144-1) and Nicholas Singleton (13-76-1). Allar wasn’t his sharpest, but he didn’t need to be. Still, it’s another typical performance for him, low on yardage, a couple of scores and no turnovers.
Bounce back games
Arch Manning
The result: San Jose State 7 – Texas 38
The stats: 19-30 (63.3%), 295, 4 TD, 1 INT, 3 btt, 3 twp, 12.0 adot, 1 sack
3 rushes 30 yd, 10.0 YPC, 1 TD, 1 fumble
Next up: UTEP
Sawyer Robertson
The result: Baylor 48 – SMU 45 (OT)
The stats: 34-50 (68.0%), 440 yds, 4 td, 0 int, 5 btt, 2 twp, 9.3 adot, 1 sack
5 rushes, 28 yds, 5.6 ypc
Next up: Samford
Summary: Arch still has a lot to work on — his interception was incredibly ugly (3:03) and erased a scoring opportunity in the red zone — but there was plenty of sizzle as Texas handled an opponent they were expected to.
I’m still not as high on Robertson as some in draft circles are, but it was a gutsy win against a good SMU team that was ranked 17th entering the game. Lots of vertical routes and throws around the line of scrimmage, so his numbers are a little juiced, in my opinion, but I thought it was a good response after looking flat and out of rhythm for much of the game against Auburn.
Intrigued but want to see more
Dante Moore
The result
klahoma State 3 – Oregon 69
The stats: 16-21 (76.2%), 266, 3 TD, 2 btt, 0 twp, 7.9 adot, 0 sacks
2 rushes, 11 yd, 5.5 YPC
Next up: @ Northwestern
Aidan Chiles
The result: Boston College 40 – Michigan State 42 (OT)
The stats: 19-29 (65.5%), 231 yards, 4 tds, 1 btt, 0 twp, 13.7 adot, 4 sacks
8 rushes, 67 yards, 8.4 ypc, 1 td
Next up: Youngstown State
Jayden Maiava
The result: Georgia Southern 20 – USC 59
The stats: 16-24 (66.7%), 412 yards, 4 tds, 1 btt, 0 twp, 11.0 adot, 0 sacks
2 rushes, 5 yards, 2.5 ypc
Next up: at Purdue
Taylen Green
The result: Arkansas State 14 – Arkansas 56
The stats: 17-26 (65.4%), 239 yards, 4 tds, 2 ints, 1 btt, 2 twp, 9.6 adot, 0 sacks
9 rushes, 151 yards, 16.8 ypc, 1 td
Next up: @ (17) Ole Miss
Summary: The Oregon game was practically over by the end of the first quarter. The Oklahoma State Cowboys aren’t necessarily a good team, but it was still stunning to see a Big 12 school with some history getting completely outclassed by the Ducks’ offense. Moore has looked sharp and has a great feel for pressure through the first two games, and I really want to see how he looks against Big 10 competition.
Aidan Chiles continues to look more and more comfortable running the Michigan State offense. He still takes too many sacks, but he won a shootout against Boston College, tossing four touchdowns and adding 67 yards and a score on the ground. Way to keep building.
Jayden Maiava is putting up the numbers you want to see in these gimme games in the schedule. He was impressive for a second straight week and will need to keep it going as the opponents get tougher.
Taylen Green is a video game character. He had one really bad interception where he didn’t see a linebacker, and another where he misplaced the ball, but the rest of his day was comical. He had several massive rushing gains as he looked like the fastest man on the field. I’m still not sure he’s a fully developed passer, but he’s at 10 passing touchdowns through two weeks after throwing 15 touchdowns in 2024. We’ll keep an eye on this situation as the Razorbacks enter SEC competition.
This week was concerning
Sam Leavitt
The result: Arizona State 20 – Mississippi State 24
The stats: 10-23 (43.5%), 82 yards, 1 TD, 2 int, 0 btt, 3 twp, 13.3 adot, 2 sacks
6 rushes, 46 yards, 7.7 ypc
Next up: Texas State
Cade Klubnik
The result: Troy 16 – Clemson 27
The stats: 18-24 (75.0%), 196 yards, 2 td, 1 int, 1 btt, 0 twp, 8.8 adot, 1 sack
4 rushes, 7 yards, 1.8 YPC
Next up: @ Georgia Tech
Nico Iamaleava
The result: UCLA 23 – UNLV 30
The stats: 31-44 (70.5%), 268 yards, 1 td, 1 int, 0 btt, 1 twp, 6.6 adot, 2 sacks
9 rushes, 69 yards, 7.7 ypc, 1 td, 1 fumble
Next up: New Mexico
Summary: Leavitt had the roughest week. Facing a Mississippi State defense that was one of the worst in the country just a year ago, the Arizona State passer looked like he started pressing when Mississippi took an early lead. While he remains an electric runner, this was truly disaster-level stuff throwing the ball. Leavitt looked lost and forced several throws. He can still turn it around, but this is the kind of tape that will have the advisory board telling him to return to school for another year.
Klubnik and Clemson are having a tough start. They’ve yet to look in rhythm and fell behind 16-0 in the third quarter before they were able to lock in and gut out a 27-16 victory. It wasn’t a particularly bad day from Klubnik, but with expectations as high as they are for this Clemson squad, it was another performance that left you concerned with how laborious the offense’s drives look at the moment.
And I’m all but ready to call it for Iamaleava for the year. He’s still oozing with physical talent, but I’d have a hard time saying he’s ready for the pros. A heavy dose of his completions were in quick underenath routes or check downs. He had two costly fumbles. I’m just not seeing it yet.
What do you think of these prospects? Have any of them moved up your big board? Let us know in the comments!
