College Football Analysts Predict Breakout Quarterbacks in Fourth Round of Mock Draft

OXFORD, MS – July 12, 2024 – A panel of college football analysts from The Athletic have released their fourth-round picks in a mock draft focusing on potential breakout quarterbacks poised to make significant impacts in the upcoming 2024 season. The selections highlight a mix of players with proven potential,intriguing newcomers,and those benefiting from favorable coaching situations.

The selections,detailed below,offer a glimpse into which signal-callers are generating buzz amongst national college football observers as the season approaches. This round focuses heavily on quarterbacks with opportunities to seize starting roles or build upon promising performances from the previous year.

Here’s a breakdown of the analysts’ picks:

Round 4,Pick 1: Florida RB Montrell Jordan

Analyst Manny Navarro highlighted Jordan as a “quality darkhorse bet,” especially given the departure of Trevor Etienne to the NFL. Etienne, a key component of Florida’s rushing attack, rushed for 745 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2023. Jordan, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, now has the opportunity to become the primary ball carrier for the Gators under head coach billy Napier. Navarro believes this presents a valuable opportunity for Jordan to showcase his abilities.

Round 4, Pick 2: Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons

David Ubben expressed confidence in Ole Miss head coach Lane kiffin’s track record with quarterbacks, referencing Kiffin’s success with Jake Coker at Alabama, leading them to a national championship in 2015. Simmons, a sophomore from McDonough, Georgia, demonstrated considerable potential in relief appearances for Jaxson Dart last season, completing 22 of 33 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Ubben notes Ole Miss has consistently maintained a high-powered passing offense under Kiffin, ranking no lower than 32nd nationally in yards per pass attempt and reaching the top 10 three times.

Round 4, Pick 3: Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola

Bruce Feldman pointed to the improvements in Nebraska’s receiving corps as a key factor in raiola’s potential. The Huskers addressed a significant weakness from the 2023 season by adding several wide receivers through the transfer portal, including Isaiah Neyor from Texas and Billy Kemp IV from Vanderbilt. Raiola, a true freshman from Chandler, Arizona, experienced typical growing pains in his debut season but has benefited from a full offseason working with offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who has streamlined the playbook. Holgorsen, known for his offensive prowess, previously served as head coach at Houston and West Virginia.

Round 4, Pick 4: Duke QB Darian Mensah

Stewart Mandel acknowledged a trend of selecting players with significant Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals but emphasized his genuine impression of Mensah. Mensah, a redshirt freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, impressed Mandel during Tulane’s near-upset of Kansas State in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Mandel also praised Duke head coach Manny Diaz’s successful first year with the Blue Devils, achieving a 8-5 record and a bowl victory.

Round 4, pick 5: iowa QB Mark Gronowski

Scott Dochterman highlighted Gronowski’s impressive collegiate career at South Dakota State, where he led the Jackrabbits to back-to-back FCS national championships in 2022 and 2023. Gronowski, a graduate transfer from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, amassed 10,309 passing yards, 93 touchdowns, and 37 rushing touchdowns during his time at SDSU. Dochterman suggests Gronowski’s success could translate to the Power Five level if he performs well against challenging opponents like Oregon and Penn State.

Round 4, Pick 6: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed

Ralph Russo explained his selection of Reed as a matter of principle, having previously written about Reed’s potential as an “underappreciated quarterback” in the SEC. Reed,a sophomore from Liberty,Texas,will compete with Conner Weigman for the starting role. Russo noted that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, another potential candidate, went undrafted in this mock.

Round 4, Pick 7: SMU QB Kevin Jennings

Chris Vannini emphasized Jennings’ leadership in SMU’s undefeated ACC season and subsequent College Football Playoff appearance. Jennings, a senior from Franklin, Louisiana, will be entering his first season as the undisputed starting quarterback for the Mustangs, now competing in the ACC. Vannini anticipates Jennings will benefit from having full control of the offense.This mock draft round underscores the increasing importance of quarterback play in college football and the potential for unexpected stars to emerge. The upcoming season will reveal whether these analysts’ predictions hold true