Pac-12 2014 Positional Rankings: Quarterbacks: Mariota and Hundley battle for top spot

1. Marcus Mariota Jr. Oregon

Leading Heisman candidate and candidate to be the first player taken in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota is one of the most highly-regarded quarterbacks to ever turn down declaring for the draft when he could have. He will likely be the face of the conference in 2015 and has the potential to end up being one of the top quarterbacks to ever play in the Pac-12.

2. Brett Hundley Jr. UCLA

Hundley might be the best quarterback physically in the nation and would be the top quarterback in the conference most years. This will be Hundley's year to shine with the South favorite Bruins who will be expecting him to take over games with his arms and legs.

3. Taylor Kelly Sr. Arizona State

Overshadowed by Mariota and Hundley, Kelly is a phenomenal dual threat quarterback that can take over a game as well as any quarterback in the nation (ask the Washington schools). He may not be well known around the country, but expect big things from him in his final season of college.

4. Sean Mannion Sr. Oregon State

Mannion took a major step forward in 2013, leading the conference in passing yards and passing touchdowns while greatly reducing his tendency to throw the ball to the other team. He will have to adjust to life without Brandin Cooks this season and could still benefit from being a little less wild with his passes, but don't be surprised if he ends up leading the Pac-12 in yards and touchdowns again.

5. Kevin Hogan Jr. Stanford

Hogan struggled mightily at times in 2013, particularly against USC and in the Rose Bowl, and there is a big drop off between Mannion and the rest of the conference (starting with Hogan), but he still has the potential to be a top quarterback if he can put it together. The Cardinal haven't asked to much of him yet in his career, but this might need to be the season that he steps up with a new offensive line and Tyler Gaffney graduated.

6. Connor Halliday Sr. Washington State

No one in the conference more frequently tosses the ball to the other team, but Halliday can also fill up passing yards and touchdowns along with wins, leading the way for the Cougars' turnaround in 2013. He still needs to rein in his gunslinging ways, but his ability to sling it is one of the reasons that the Cougars have taken the next step under Mike Leach.

7. Cody Kessler Jr. USC

Kessler really came on towards the end of 2013 and solidified himself as the starter for the Trojans this spring after coming into 2013 as a co-starter. If he continues to improve, he could lead the pack of Pac-12 quarterbacks after Mariota thru Mannion.

8. Jared Goff So. Cal

Another guy like that can really dink and dunk for a ton of completions and yards but is far from an elite quarterback right now, Goff could end up being an All-Pac-12 guy if the Bears start succeeding in Sonny Dykes' system but has a long ways to get there. Right now, Goff is just a solid QB doing what he needs to do in Cal's system.

9. Travis Wilson Jr. Utah

It was great news for everyone when Wilson was medically cleared to continue his football career, as the long (6'7), big-armed gunslinger is the quarterback is fun to watch with his no fear playing style and ability to run. He really needs to cut down his interceptions and if he does, he has the chance to be the quarterback that leads the Utes back to a bowl game.

10. Sefo Liufau So. Colorado

Liufau became Colorado's full-time starter half-way through 2013, and while he didn't blow anyone away, he looked like the most-legitimate true starter that the Buffs had had in quite a while and he looks to be Mike MacIntyre's quarterback for the future. He has all of the physical tools and if he can gain some more experience and start winning games, he could easily climb up the ladder of Pac-12 QBs.

11. Jesse Scroggins Sr. Arizona

Hard to make a call here now that we are passed the returning starters and the Wildcats have not wrapped up their quarterback competition, but Scroggins ran with the ones in their spring game, so that's all we can really go by. If healthy, he has the two-way skills to become another version of B.J. Denker for the Wildcats in Rich Rodriguez' offense.

12. Cyler Miles So. Washington

Another very hard to call slot since the Washington QB job is still wide open and since Miles got himself into off-season trouble and has a very shaky standing with the program, but, there isn't much else to go with here. He might not be available till a few games into the season, but right now, Miles still has the most experience and most tools of any quarterback on the Husky roster.

On the edge

Jeff Lindquist So. Washington

Anu Solomon Fr. Arizona

Connor Brewer So. Arizona

Troy Williams Fr. Washington

Jerrard Randall Jr. Arizona