Quarterbacks are always a focus. Because college football is the center of the sports world this weekend, here’s a look at 10 outstanding area quarterbacks that enjoyed success at the college ranks.
1. Braxton Miller, Ohio State University (2011-15): After leading Wayne High School to the Division I state title game as a senior in 2010, Miller went on to become one of the top players in Ohio State history.
He ranks second all-time for total offense with 8,950 yards and ranks sixth with 3,314 career rushing yards despite switching to wide receiver for his final season. Miller recently finished his second NFL season with the Houston Texans.
2. Malik Zaire, Notre Dame/Florida (2013-17): As a senior at Alter in 2012, the lefty threw for nearly 2,000 yards, ran for 1,120 yards and accounted for 33 touchdowns, and he seemed destined for the same kind of success at Notre Dame.
He was named MVP in a 31-28 defeat of LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl and won the starting job in 2015 but fractured an ankle in the second game and couldn’t unseat DeShone Kizer afterward. He transferred to Florida as a fifth-year graduate this season and appeared in four games.
3. Keith Wenning, Ball State (2010-13): A Coldwater product, Wenning finished his high school career with single-season records in touchdowns (40) and passing yards (3,629), and followed that with several high marks at Ball State.
He became the Cardinals’ career leader in passing yards (11,402), pass attempts (1,642), completions (1,035) and passing touchdowns (92). His 4,148 passing yards as a senior trails only Marshall’s Byron Leftwich and Miami’s Ben Roethlisberger in Mid-American Conference history.
4. Greg Zolman, Vanderbilt (1997-2001): Miamisburg High School's all-time passing leader with 3,199 career yards, Zolman took over as Vanderbilt's starter midway through his redshirt freshman season. By the time he was done, he ranked No. 1 in Commodores history with 7,981 yards passing, a mark that was later surpassed by Jay Cutler.
5. Bobby Hoying, Ohio State (1991-95): Ohio's fourth Mr. Football led St. Henry to a state title in 1990 as a senior and boosted that success at OSU. He left as the then all-time leader in completions (498) and touchdown passes (57) from 1992-95 and was voted to the school's all-Century Team in 2000.
6. Tommy Myers, Northwestern (1961-64): Myers set most of Troy's significant passing records, later broken by 2017 grad Hayden Kotwica, and then went on to become an All-American at Northwestern.
Myers guided the Wildcats through one of their greatest eras on the gridiron, and when he finished his career in 1964, he held 13 school passing records and shared two others. At the time of induction into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1991, he held the top single-season passing efficiency mark of 133.3, set in 1962.
7. Kirk Herbstreit, Ohio State (1988-93): Now a football analyst, Herbstreit was the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Centerville. After waiting his turn at OSU, he became the starter and co-captain in 1992 and was voted team MVP.
Herbstreit passed for 1,904 yards that season and he held the Ohio State record for pass completions in the rivalry game against Michigan with 28 passes for 271 yards in a 13–13 tie until it was broken by Troy Smith in 2006.
8. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State (2003–08): A four-year starter at St. Henry, he had 7,021 career passing yards and 64 touchdown and then went on to a rare six-year career at OSU as a grayshirt, then redshirt. He became the starter in 2007, succeeding Heisman winner Troy Smith and threw for 2,375 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Buckeyes to the BCS national Championship game.
However, the first team All-Big Ten pick was replaced by freshman Terrelle Pryor the following year.
9. Kurt Hess, Youngstown State (2010-14): Hess followed a prolific career at Chaminade Julienne with similar success at Youngstown State. The three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference quarterback made 45 career starts and became the Penguins' all-time career leader in completions (706), attempts (1,135), yards (8,925), touchdown passes (75), 200-yard passing games (24), passer rating (144.96) and total offensive yards (9,459).
10. Kevin Hoyng, University of Dayton (2003-07): The dual threat quarterback passed for 2,800 yards and ran for nearly 1,800 yards as a senior at Coldwater, then reset most of the significant passing records at UD.
A two-time captain, he holds the Flyer career records for total yardage (9,528), passing yards (8,862), and touchdown passes (59). Hoyng was the Pioneer Football League’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, leading the Dayton team that won the PFL, defeated Albany in the Gridiron Classic bowl game and won the NCAA I-AA Mid-Major national championship. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Flyers.
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