Seven Bronco Quarterbacks in Top 10

Yesterday, I trumpeted the fact that Kellen Moore of Boise State was the nation's top passer.  But he is far from the first Bronco signal-caller to be among the best.


In fact, Boise State quarterbacks are becoming nearly synonymous with the nation's top ten passers.  Since 2000, no less than seven Boise State quarterbacks have finished their respective seasons in the top ten.  Ryan Dinwiddie did it twice and would have made it three years in a row but for being injured in 2002 and not having enough games to be eligible.  Bart Hendricks was the nation's top passer back in 2000.


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2000&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


Hendricks graduated in 2000, but Boise State didn't miss a beat.  Dinwiddie finished fourth the following year in his first year as a starter:


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2001&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


As mentioned, although Dinwiddie was injured in the Arkansas game of 2002, he finished the year with an incredible 188.18 rating, far better than Iowa's Brad Banks (157.1).  And in 2003, Ryan closed out his great Bronco career by finishing fourth again:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2003&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


Jared Zabransky resumed Boise State's place in the national top 10 with a sixth-place finish in 2006:


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


Taylor Tharp took over for a season in 2007 and finished seventh:


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


Which brings us to Moore.  Kellen finished just outside the top 10 in his freshman year, but held the top spot in the nation the following season until the final week when Florida's Tim Tebow passed him with an aerial show against outmanned Cincinnati in the Fiesta Bowl.  Moore finished second in 2009:


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&rpt=IA_playerpasseff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O


The NFL may be blind, but Bronco fans know where the best quarterbacks reside!