2024's post-transfer portal top 10 returning FCS quarterbacks

The deadline for all non-grad transfers to enter the transfer portal has come and passed, and we now have a better — though still not complete —  look at what the FCS may look like in the upcoming 2024 season. With quarterback being the premier position in football, let's look at some of the top signal-callers that will return in 2024.

Who's gone

This offseason, we saw some elite FCS quarterbacks transfer to the FBS level like UAlbany's Reese Poffenbarger (Miami), Idaho's Gevani McCoy (Oregon State) and New Hampshire's Max Brosmer (Minnesota). That's a lot of star power that we could've had in the FCS in 2024. 

So, who remains in the FCS for the 2024 season post-transfer portal? Let's find out.

Tier 1 — Elite

• Mark Gronowski | South Dakota State

Mark Gronowski is the returning Walter Payton Award winner. He's unquestionably the best returning quarterback in the FCS, and is on a trajectory that could leave him as the best quarterback in FCS history if he remains at South Dakota State for his final two seasons of eligibility after he graduates in May. Gronowski has made it to the FCS title game in all three of his seasons as a starter, winning back-to-back titles in the two games where he didn't get hurt. When counting playoff stats, Gronowski is the leading returner in passing yards.

WALTER PAYTON: Top moments from South Dakota State's Mark Gronowski's Walter Payton season

Tier 2 — Championship-level

• Tommy Mellott | Montana State
• Cam Miller | North Dakota State

Tommy Mellott and Cam Miller are the two returning FCS quarterbacks not named Gronowski who have led their teams to the FCS championship.

While Mellott has often fought the injury bug, when he's healthy, he's proven to be one of the best in the FCS. He leads all returning FCS quarterbacks with 689 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Miller was the second-most efficient passer in the FCS last year. Miller and his quarterback teammate Cole Payton both ran for over 600 yards and 13 touchdowns each.

Not Listed: Clifton McDowell, who will be a tier two quarterback if he remains in the FCS after he entered the transfer portal following the FCS championship game.

2023 FCS PLAYOFF RECAP: See everything that happened in the 2023 FCS playoffs from start to finish

Tier 3 — Big-Time

• Aidan Bouman | South Dakota
• Cole Gonzalez | Western Carolina
• CJ Montes | Fordham

This trio of quarterbacks all put up big-time numbers and/or proved they were capable of big-time performances in 2023.

CJ Montes is the only returning FCS quarterback who threw for 3,000 yards in 2023. Cole Gonzalez is the leader in regular-season passing touchdowns among returning FCS quarterbacks. While Aidan Bouman isn't atop any leading categories among FCS returning quarterbacks, he's in this category after leading South Dakota to four ranked wins and the No. 3 seed in the FCS regular season and after winning an FCS playoff game.

UPSETS: A complete history of every FCS win vs. FBS teams

Tier 3 - Winners

• Chase Artopoeus | Chattanooga
• Zach Calzada | UIW
• Will McElvain | Central Arkansas
• Connor Watkins | Villanova

All of the quarterbacks in this tier have shown the ability to win their team games.

Chase Artopoeus threw for 2,672 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023 while missing Chattanooga's last three games — two in the postseason. If Artopoeus would've finished out the rest of the season, he'd likely move up a tier. Elsewhere in the tier, Zach Calzada and Will McElvain led their teams to November playoff contention before losing one key game down the stretch to miss the postseason. Yet, both quarterbacks have displayed the ability to put up big numbers during the regular season.

Villanova's Connor Watkins rounds out Tier 3. Watkins led Villanova to a playoff win and a share of the CAA title last fall. Watkins' winning helps place him at the top of this tier, but sometimes when watching a Villanova game, he can be forgotten about. Some of that may be because he played with All-CAA wide receiver Rayjoun Pringle and running back Jalen Jackson. With those two gone in 2024, Watkins could climb up the tier list.

HISTORY: Schools with the most FCS titles | 9 winningest FCS programs all-time | Championship history

Honorable Mentions — Flashes

• Kaiden Bennett | Sacramento State
• Kinkead Dent | UT Martin
• Matthew Downing | Elon
• Darius Wilson | William & Mary

The quarterbacks above have shown flashes of excellence in their careers, but need more consistency to rank inside the top 10 quarterbacks in 2024. 

Honorable Mentions — Hyped and up next

• Keali'I Ah Yat | Montana
• Walker Harris | North Carolina Central
• Carson Jones | Furman

After seeing limited action in 2023, all three of the above quarterbacks could be in for big years if they take over the starting quarterback roles at their schools full-time in 2024. If they live up to the hype, they may quickly rise into the FCS's top-10 quarterbacks.