QB Country 2018-19 Season In Review

QB Country 2018-19 Season In Review

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It was a memorable football season for our QB Country trainees. Here are just a few highlights from all levels:

NFL & Pro
Nick Mullens burst onto the scene as the 49ers’ starting quarterback, taking over for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 9 and leading the 49ers to impressive wins over Oakland, Seattle and Denver. In his first start, Nick was 16 of 22 for 262 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in the Niners’ 34-3 victory over Oakland. His passer rating of 151.9 was the second-best in NFL history for a first-time QB. His passing yards total through his first seven games (1,995) is third most in NFL history behind only Patrick Mahomes and Cam Newton. Along the way, he faced two other QB Country trainees in Eli Manning (Giants) and AJ McCarron (Raiders). Nick’s offseason training included watching and studying Eli. He is a former Manning Passing Academy camper.

Speaking of Eli, he quietly put together one of the more impressive years of his Hall of Fame career. He had a career-best 66% completion rate, threw for 4,299 yards (fourth-highest of his career), had a career-low 1.9% interception rate, threw for 21 TDs and had a passer rating of 92.4 (best since 2015). Ask this while being under pressure all year long (taking a career-high 47 sacks). He had the best statistical game of his career, going 17-18 for 231 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over the Bucs.

The launch of the AAF has provided a new place to shine for several QB Country trainees, including Brandon Silvers (Memphis Express), Dustin Vaughan (San Antonio Commanders) and Logan Woodside (San Antonio Commanders). Woodside is starting for San Antonio and led the franchise to its first victory in his debut, going 18-36 for 255 yards.

QB Country is leading NFL Draft Prep for three quarterbacks in 2019, including Daniel Jones (Duke), Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee) and Devlin Hodges (Samford). QBC has trained 11 quarterbacks in the last seven NFL combines. Jones is widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft.

College
QB Country quarterbacks have made their mark across the college landscape, with more than 100 QBC trainees on rosters in 2018 and many excelling at the highest levels:

  • QB Country had a record nine QBs making starts in FBS Bowl games this year, with five earning MVP or Offensive Player of the Game honors.
  • Gardner Minshew (Washington State) was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and earned the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation’s top senior QB. He led FBS in passing yards per game.
  • Hodges won the 2018 Walter Payton Award for the nation’s top FCS offensive player. He set all-time FCS records for passing yards, attempts and completions.
  • At least five QB Country trainees finished the season ranked among the Top 50 FBS QBs in the following categories: Total Passing Yards, Total QBR, Passing Efficiency, Completions, Completion Percentage, Passing TDs and Total Offense.
  • Three QB Country trainees earned Player of the Year or Offensive Player of the Year honors in their conferences, including Minshew (POY Pac-12), Zac Thomas (Appalachian State/OPOY Sun Belt) and Stockstill (MVP C-USA).
  • Jake Fromm (Georgia) and Minshew were named two of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award and two of 11 finalists for the Manning Award. Both awards honor the nation’s top FBS quarterbacks.
  • QBC Trainees earned ten Manning Award Stars of the Week honors, including Fromm (1), Jones (2), Minshew (4), Malik Rosier/Miami (1), Stockstill (1) and Thomas (1).
  • Jones and Minshew earned invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl (the nation’s top showcase for NFL prospects). Jones was named Senior Bowl MVP.

High School
Over the last six years, more than 140 QB Country-trained high school quarterbacks have signed college scholarships, including a record 37 (to date) in the Class of 2019. This year’s group includes 12 FBS signees (6 Power Five) and 11 FCS signees. The total value of scholarships earned by QBC quarterbacks since 2014 is more than $17M.

Three QB Country quarterbacks earned Player of the Year/Mr. Football honors in their state. QB Country quarterbacks earned major state-level awards in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Looking Ahead
The coming year looks to be another exciting one in QB Country, with Daniel Jones preparing to begin his NFL career and players like Eli Manning, Nick Mullens and AJ McCarron looking to have even stronger seasons; a deep and talented high school class of 2020 already drawing offers from a wide range of colleges; and an ever-expanding group of college stars headlined by Power Five players like Georgia’s Jake Fromm and South Carolina’s Jake Bentley.

There’s no offseason in QB Country.