Washington State's Luke Falk returns as the leader in four different statistical categories.
Now that college football season has officially begun, teams prepare to face each other in the bulk of Week 1’s matchups. And, while college football fans across the nation have heard the hype surrounding certain returning quarterbacks this year, there are a few that fans may not realize topped the NCAA statistics leaderboards last year. These four men return in 2016 to try to top the leaderboard and lead their teams to victory.
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Justin Thomas | Georgia Tech
Passing Yards Per Completion: 17.93
While the Yellow Jackets finished 2015 with a 3-9 record, Thomas, now a redshirt senior, still posted positive statistics for his team. While starting all 12 games, the quarterback threw for 1,345 yards with 13 touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing yards with 488 yards and six rushing touchdowns. This year, with new talent stepping onto the field, Thomas looks to bring his team back to glory in 2016.
Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma
Passing Efficiency: 173.3
There is plenty of hype and information out there about Mayfield, but some don’t realize that he is the most efficient passer in the nation returning after completing 269 of 395 passes for 3,700 yards with 36 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He was selected as the 2015 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and with a year of experience on Oklahoma’s field completed, Mayfield steps up this year looking to guide his team to the College Football Playoff.
MORE: 7 things to know about Sooners QB Baker Mayfield
Patrick Mahomes | Texas Tech
Total Passing Yards: 4,653, Total Offensive Yards Per Game: 393
This junior also ranked second in completions per game, fourth in passing yards per game and sixth in passing touchdowns. He is also the youngest quarterback in NCAA history to surpass 5,000 yards of total offense in a single season, so with his many talents and overall impact on Texas Tech, he looks to bring his team up in the rankings this year.
Luke Falk | Washington State
Passing Yards Per Game: 380.5
Completion Percentage: 69.5%
Completions Per Game: 37.33
Passing Touchdowns: 38
While he began his college career as a walk on, Falk made an impression on college football last year, completing 448 of 645 passes for 4,566 yards with 38 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Walking into 2016, he has many statistical titles to defend, and now that pieces are starting to fall in place for Washington State, Falk looks to prove to the Pac-12 and college football fans everywhere that the Cougars have a powerhouse offense.
