Athlon Sports took on the task of ranking the Pac-12 quarterbacks for the 2022 season. An interesting point is that seven of its 12 projected starters were acquired during the offseason by transferring from another school. It also makes such placements difficult.
Cal expects their quarterback (or quarterbacks) to perform better than Athlon ranks the Golden Bears’ signal caller at No. 11. As we all know, quarterback play often determines how successful a team will be, and it is key issues for Cal.
Athlon noted that quarterback skill is not the only variable in determining a quarterback’s success. And the Bears’ inexperience at key offensive positions is one of the issues Cal’s quarterback(s) must deal with. However, if these inexperienced players perform well, Cal’s quarterback should be successful and perform much better than his Athlon ranking.
Here’s how Athlon initiated its ranking:
Ranking quarterbacks by conference or nationally is no easy task. To help put together the rankings, there was some projection involved for 2022. This was not a ranking of quarterbacks based solely on results so far or pro potential. All factors — pure talent, supporting cast, having a clear team at the No. 1 position, past production, 2022 projection and scheme changes (just to name a few) — were considered and predicted to rank quarterbacks in the Pac-12 for 2022.
Here are the Athlon quarterback rankings with its commentary on the Cal quarterback included.
1. Caleb Williams, USC (transfer from Oklahoma)
2. Cameron Rising, Utah (2021 first-team all-Pac-12)
3. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA (2021 second-team all-Pac-12)
4. Cameron Ward, Washington State (transfer from Incarnate Word)
5. Tanner McKee, Stanford (Returning starter)
6. Jayden de Laura, Arizona (transfer from Washington State)
7. Bo Nix, Oregon (Transfer from Auburn)
8. Chance Nolan, Oregon State (Returning starter)
9. Michael Penix, Washington (transfer from Indiana)
10. Emory Jones, Arizona State (transfer from Florida)
11. Jack Plummer, Cal (Purdue transfer)
Not only does coordinator Bill Musgrove have to replace Chase Garbers, but the Golden Bears lost their leading rusher (Christopher Brooks), the top four receivers from 2021, and return just two starters along the offensive line. Needless to say, Musgrove and coach Justin Wilcox are very shifty going into the ’22 season. Plummer left the spring as the frontrunner to replace Garbers, but Kai Millner could push for the job in the fall. Plummer played in 21 games over the last four years at Purdue, throwing for 3,405 yards and 26 touchdowns to 10 picks. The Arizona native has flashed potential at times as an off-and-on starter with the Boilermakers, and the ’22 season should provide an opportunity to break into the role as a full-time starter.
12. Brandon Lewis, Colorado (Recurring Starter)
Cover photo of Jack Plummer and Kai Millner is by Andrew Madsen, KLC Fotos
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