Ian Allan
Rushing stats can be huge with quarterbacks; that kind of production is typically worth close to twice as much as what they do through the air. And with that in mind, this current group of rookie quarterbacks looks like the best ever.
Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton each ran (not passed, but ran) for 20 TDs last year. That’s more than any of the other quarterbacks selected in the first round the last 20 years. And five other quarterbacks who should be selected in the first or second round ran for at least 4 TDs last season.
Compare that to quarterbacks selected in the first round the last 20 years; only 16 quarterbacks in those 21 drafts ran for 4-plus TDs in their final season of college ball.
Below is a list showing all 23 of these quarterbacks – the guys who’ve been selected in the first round and the seven who might be chosen in the first round this year. Also noted are how the quarterbacks of the past fared as rushers once they got in the pros.
In the following chart, only rushing stats are shown. No passing numbers are listed.
QBS WHO RAN FOR 4-PLUS TDS THEIR FINAL YEAR IN COLLEGE
Yds TD Year
1473 20 2011 Cam Newton
1206 20 2011 Colin Kaepernick
910 14 2010 Tim Tebow (rookie: 227 yards, 6 TDs)
404 14 2009 Josh Freeman (no rushing TDs in first two years)
1050 12 2006 Vince Young (rookie: 552 yards, 7 TDs)
631 10 2005 Alex Smith (2 TDs in six years)
936 9 1995 Steve McNair (3rd year: 674 yards, 8 TDs)
617 8 2001 Michael Vick (2nd year: 777 yards, 8 TDs)
438 8 1999 Donovan McNabb (2nd year: 629 yards, 6 TDs)
56 7 2002 Joey Harrington (no rushing TDs in career)
435 6 2011 Andy Dalton
385 6 2011 Jake Locker
36 6 2006 Matt Leinart (2 TDs in first three years)
-54 6 1998 Ryan Leaf (no rushing TDs in career)
438 5 1999 Daunte Culpepper (2nd-4th years: 22 TDs)
232 5 2011 Blaine Gabbert
97 5 2002 David Carr (6 TDs in first four years)
57 5 1992 Dave Brown (6 TDs in first 31 pro starts)
180 4 2011 Christian Ponder
61 4 1993 Drew Bledsoe (no rushing TDs in first seven years)
22 4 2008 Joe Flacco (3 TDs in first three years)
-74 4 2011 Ryan Mallett
-122 4 2003 Carson Palmer (2 TDs in first six years)
—Ian Allan
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