Marshall will face four of the Top 40 QB’s in the country during the regular season and could potentially face a 5th (Mason Fine - #5) in the C-USA Championship game.
Ohio - N. Rourke - #19
If this were ranking the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Rourke would be up there in the top five or so but he firmly sits as the MAC’s best quarterback entering 2019 and could go down in the MAC history books as one of the best to ever do it at that level. With consecutive years of elite PFF grades (86.3 in 2017, 90.6 in 2018), Rourke is every bit of the quarterback you’d expect him to be. He’s averaged 8.2 yards per attempt over the past two seasons while increasing his passing grade and completion percentage in the process and been a monster with the ball in his hands on the ground. For his career, he’s forced 72 missed tackles, gained 1,153 yards after contact and averages 8.3 yards per carry on 187 designed runs and 54 scrambles. Rourke is truly as exciting as they come this season.
Cincinnati- D. Ridder - #23
Ridder compares to Trevor Lawrence and D’Eriq King in one particular statistic at PFF, and that’s the measure of big-time throws against turnover-worthy passes. His 25 BTTs are ninth-most, just two shy of Lawrence while his six TWPs are tied with King for eight-fewest among qualified signal-callers. All this means Ridder knows when to take his shots and how to protect the football and big things are on the horizon for him and the rest of the Luke Fickell-led Bearcats.
La Tech - J. Smith - #34
Smith is an electric player with the ball in his hands and has forced 29 missed tackles on the ground over his 177 career rushing attempts while also averaging 7.1 yards per attempt through the air. His 70.6% adjusted completion percentage for his career also showcases how he takes care of the football and his 79 dropped passes only further show just how accurate he can be as well. Combine the fact that he’s improved his overall and passing grade in each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs and 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for the veteran signal-caller.
FIU - J. Morgan - #38
Morgan improved in each of his two seasons at the helm of the Bowling Green Falcons only to completely demolish his previous career-best grades in his first season with the Golden Panthers. He’s set up for his final year to be his best yet as he averaged 8.2 yards per attempt while completing nearly 65.0% of his passes last year at FIU. If he can limit turnover-worthy passes better than he did a season ago (14 TWP compared to just 7 INT), he’ll find himself in the conversation for top QB honors in the C-USA not named Mason Fine.
Just in case you were wondering, Isaiah Green was ranked 72nd.
Green was consistent, not Earth-shatteringly good in 2018, averaging 7.4 yards per attempt and a solid 71.2 overall grade in his first action. He was suspect to a little bad luck, having 10 passes intercepted but only nine turnover-worthy plays. He has some big-play potential and if he can increase his baseline, should carry the Thundering Herd well.
Ohio - N. Rourke - #19
If this were ranking the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Rourke would be up there in the top five or so but he firmly sits as the MAC’s best quarterback entering 2019 and could go down in the MAC history books as one of the best to ever do it at that level. With consecutive years of elite PFF grades (86.3 in 2017, 90.6 in 2018), Rourke is every bit of the quarterback you’d expect him to be. He’s averaged 8.2 yards per attempt over the past two seasons while increasing his passing grade and completion percentage in the process and been a monster with the ball in his hands on the ground. For his career, he’s forced 72 missed tackles, gained 1,153 yards after contact and averages 8.3 yards per carry on 187 designed runs and 54 scrambles. Rourke is truly as exciting as they come this season.
Cincinnati- D. Ridder - #23
Ridder compares to Trevor Lawrence and D’Eriq King in one particular statistic at PFF, and that’s the measure of big-time throws against turnover-worthy passes. His 25 BTTs are ninth-most, just two shy of Lawrence while his six TWPs are tied with King for eight-fewest among qualified signal-callers. All this means Ridder knows when to take his shots and how to protect the football and big things are on the horizon for him and the rest of the Luke Fickell-led Bearcats.
La Tech - J. Smith - #34
Smith is an electric player with the ball in his hands and has forced 29 missed tackles on the ground over his 177 career rushing attempts while also averaging 7.1 yards per attempt through the air. His 70.6% adjusted completion percentage for his career also showcases how he takes care of the football and his 79 dropped passes only further show just how accurate he can be as well. Combine the fact that he’s improved his overall and passing grade in each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs and 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for the veteran signal-caller.
FIU - J. Morgan - #38
Morgan improved in each of his two seasons at the helm of the Bowling Green Falcons only to completely demolish his previous career-best grades in his first season with the Golden Panthers. He’s set up for his final year to be his best yet as he averaged 8.2 yards per attempt while completing nearly 65.0% of his passes last year at FIU. If he can limit turnover-worthy passes better than he did a season ago (14 TWP compared to just 7 INT), he’ll find himself in the conversation for top QB honors in the C-USA not named Mason Fine.
Just in case you were wondering, Isaiah Green was ranked 72nd.
Green was consistent, not Earth-shatteringly good in 2018, averaging 7.4 yards per attempt and a solid 71.2 overall grade in his first action. He was suspect to a little bad luck, having 10 passes intercepted but only nine turnover-worthy plays. He has some big-play potential and if he can increase his baseline, should carry the Thundering Herd well.
