State of South Carolina has 3 of best QBs in college football. Here’s where they rank

Three college quarterbacks from the state of South Carolina are ranked among the nation’s best.

Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall (No. 7), USC’s Spencer Rattler (No. 8) and Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei (No. 24) were ranked as three of the top 25 quarterbacks in the country heading toward the 2022 season on Monday, according to Brad Crawford of 247Sports.

McCall heads back to Conway after leading the Chanticleers to two of their most successful seasons in program history. The Indian Trail, North Carolina product completed 176 of 241 passes for 2,873 yards and 27 touchdowns to three interceptions a season ago.

He’ll headline an offense that will have to replace tight end Isaiah Likely, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens last month.

Rattler comes to South Carolina after an up-and-down career running the offense at Oklahoma. Rated a five-star prospect in the class of 2019, he was projected as a Heisman Trophy front-runner and possible No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft entering last season.

Following his benching in favor of Caleb Williams (who came in at No. 2 on the 247Sports list), Rattler transferred to South Carolina, where he’ll rejoin former OU assistant Shane Beamer and ex-Sooner running mate Austin Stogner.

“South Carolina’s hopes in Shane Beamer’s second season rests on his shoulders after he (Rattler) left Oklahoma for the SEC,” Crawford wrote. “He’s arguably the most-talented player the Gamecocks have ever signed at the position and, with that, comes pressure to make those around him better. The biggest question is his ability to ease off the accelerator a bit and avoid mistakes within the confines of what the Gamecocks want to do offensively.”

Uiagalelei is looking for a similar rebound season to Rattler, albeit in the place he began last year.

The big-armed successor to Trevor Lawrence’s throne at Clemson, Uiagalelei was erratic for the bulk of the 2021 season, completing 208 of 374 passes for 2,246 yards, while tossing 9 touchdowns to his 10 interceptions.

The Tigers lacked options at quarterback last fall, but the arrival of five-star freshman Cade Klubnik might put pressure on head coach Dabo Swinney to make a change, should Uiagalelei’s play remain up and down.

“Considering Uiagalelei is on the Heisman shortlist despite last season’s fall from grace at Clemson, he has to be inside this top 25, given his potential upside as a key piece of a national championship contending team,” Crawford wrote. “There’s a reason the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder was a five-star recruit and has been mentioned as a possible first-rounder next spring.”