The 2021 quarterback draft class was billed as generational. You could find reasons to think any one of Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields or Mac Jones would lead their pro teams to glory. But they had another thing in common: With the exception of Lance, when they left school their replacement was already waiting in the wings. The top of the 2023 class is in the opposite situation: There’s little clarity on who will follow some of the draft’s top QB prospects.
There will be a raging debate about whether Will Levis is really as good as his projected draft status, but it’s pretty clear that NC State’s Devin Leary will be the guy for the Cats heading into next season. Leary had his own draft buzz around him before getting injured during the 2022 season. At BYU, Jaren Hall is heading to the NFL and he’ll likely be replaced by Kedon Slovis, who is on his third school after initially starting his career at USC. But Levis and Hall’s replacements are about the only firmly settled ones following the exits of the QBs at the top of the board.
Here’s a look at how some of college football’s other top quarterbacks may be replaced after they move on to the pro ranks.
