What NHL players think of the league’s crackdown on cross-checking
Everyone has their favorite harbingers that a new NHL season is upon us. Fresh ice. Awkward player photos. Unsigned restricted free agents threatening to sit out of meaningless games. Optimism in Toronto.
Mine? The preseason penalty crackdown.
Every year, the NHL’s hockey operations department, egged on by disgruntled and aggrieved general managers, zeroes in on a rule it wants to overenforce in exhibition games and during the first month of the regular season, in order to change player behavior.
Previously, we had the crackdown on interference. The crackdown on slashing. The crackdown on faceoff violations, which Brad Marchand memorably called “an absolute joke” in the 2017-18 preseason.
For the 2021-22 season? It’s a crackdown on cross-checking.
“On cross-checking?” asked Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, rhetorically.
Yes, on cross-checking.
“I mean, I don’t think guys really think about it,” he explained to me at the NHL Player Media Tour in Chicago. “OK, maybe around the net, where you’re being a little bit aggressive. But you’re never taught to skate around the ice with two hands on the stick, cross-checking guys.”
The NHL doesn’t care about how the behavior was learned. It just wants to change the behavior — by any means necessary.
In a video shown to the Board of Governors this week that will be distributed to the teams in training camp, the NHL states that there will be “stricter enforcement” of Rule 59 on cross-checking. Specifically, the “stricter enforcement” will occur in three areas where cross-checks are delivered:
Around the boards: The example provided by the NHL included a series of cross-checks being delivered to a player as he battled for the puck in the corner, as well as a cross-check from behind that knocked down a player along the boards. Basically, a tap by a defender will be tolerated, but if he starts acting like an amateur chiropractor, it’s a penalty.
Open ice: Players are allowed to use their sticks to “push or guide” a player defensively. But it’s when that push involves excessive force that’s the problem. Among the examples given here: Connor McDavid being knocked down by a stick while driving into the opposing defensive zone. (Someone please tell Connor that’s he’s been heard and seen.)
Net front: The specific infraction here isn’t necessarily the battles in front of the goal, where offensive and defensive players can sometimes trade cross-checks as they jockey for position. Rather, the league wants to crack down on cross-checks from defensive players from the faceoff dots down to the crease, sending opponents to the ice while there’s a shot coming from the point.
Cross-checking is commonplace in the NHL. It’s actually refreshing to hear players openly discuss using the tactic, as opposed to when they talk about embellishment and say that every other player in the league dives except for them.
“I’d be lying if I said I never cross-checked guys,” said Mark Stone, the defensive ace for the Vegas Golden Knights and a four-time Selke Trophy finalist.
He told me a cross-checking crackdown could have a huge effect on the NHL.
“Cross-checking has become almost natural in the game. I cross-check. I get cross-checked. That’s just how it’s been. But if they’re trying to get rid of injuries, I can understand why they’re doing it. It’s a sensitive area. In the playoffs especially, it can get a little out of control,” he said.
Roman Josi won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman two years ago.
“Obviously, it does affect me. It’ll be an adjustment. It’s part of your game in the corners, trying to get forwards off pucks. They’re big and strong. You have to do something to get them off pucks. You give them a little cross-check in the back,” he said.
“But there has to be a line. It can be dangerous. You never want to cross-check a guy when there’s a risk for injury. So as a defenseman, we’ll have to adjust a little bit.”
Especially now that cross-checks are suddenly suspension-worthy events.
Last season, there were seven fines but only one suspension for cross-checking. In 2019-20, there were four fines and just two suspensions. That’s about to change.
The Department of Player Safety is going to scrutinize two kinds of cross-checks for potential supplemental discipline: Cross-checks away from the puck to a vulnerable area of an opponent, and cross-checks delivered the back while a player is skating towards the boards at a significant speed, causing a collision. In the case of the first, there’s an element of intent to injure. In the case of the second, the results of the plays can be accidental, but Player Safety will still ring them up for being reckless.
The players I spoke with weren’t as uniformly in agreement about suspending for cross-checks as they were about increasing the frequency of penalties for them.
Stone actually winced when I mentioned possible suspensions.
“I don’t know if it’s that dangerous. There are definitely other things I’ve like to see them crack down on as far as supplemental discipline, compared to cross-checking,” he said.
New York Islanders forward Anders Lee takes his share of cross-checks in front of an opponents’ goalie, but didn’t believe that suspensions for them were a necessity.
“I don’t think you see it enough to really need it. But Player Safety are the ones that have been focused on this. We just go out and play,” he said.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon was a little more open-minded about it. “I guess it all depends on the severity of it. The refs have a tough job in judging the severity of it,” he said.
The refs’ jobs can’t be ignored here. Whenever the NHL gets a bee in its bonnet about a rule that needs to be emphasized, it falls to the referees to not only enforce it, but act as an ambassador between hockey operations and the baffled players wondering how something that wasn’t getting called in previous seasons has now left his team shorthanded.
“A rule change is tough on the refs, too. They’ve been looking at the game and we’ve been playing that game for a long time. To change it in a quick flash … that can’t be easy,” said Lee.
It won’t be easy for a couple of months. Referees will send a conga line of cross-checkers to the penalty box. Coaches will rant, either because something that should be called wasn’t, or because something that used to not get called was. General managers will yell over the phone at Player Safety head George Parros for having their player made an example during an early-season suspension.
Then the penalties will wane. Player Safety will have set its standard. And we move on.
“I think it takes a little bit. In the preseason, it gets called to the max. And then it lessens as the season goes on,” said Lee.
I know some of my media colleagues believe that cross-checking is a scourge on the league. I think using your stick to ward off an attacker, or to create separation from a defender, is part of the game. I have zero tolerance for a zero-tolerance policy here. Everyone does it.
“Standing in front, I might appreciate it if they’re cracking down,” said Lee. “But you’re jockeying for position, I’m sure there are times when I’ll have to do it too.”
Whether it crosses into illegality is, unfortunately, a judgment call. It’s about the placement of the stick. The force behind the cross-check. And, the trickiest part: whether or not the player on the receiving end of the lumber embellished for effect.
I don’t envy the officials tasked with redrawing that line this preseason. It’s like the NHL has told them what a strike looks like, but it’s still their strike zone. But they’ll call the penalties, the players will adjust, and we’ll just ride it out until the playoffs … where we won’t have to worry about anything being called, cross-checking or otherwise.
Jersey Fouls
From the flaming tables of Buffalo:
Jersey foul? pic.twitter.com/923FTwz3d5
— TS Sabres (@tshockeypodcast) September 11, 2021
This is a Frankenjersey that combines two Nos. 26: Rasmus Dahlin of the Sabres and Devin Singletary of the Bills.
Typically, Frankenjerseys follow a Harvey Dent-like construction, with a split down the middle. This one … well this one is chaos. Obviously a Jersey Foul, but you have to respect the craft and the apparent passion for Rasmus Dahlin.
Three things from the NHL Player Media Tour
1. Jared Spurgeon is considered one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. He’s worn the crown of “analytics darling” for several seasons. So I asked him if he was aware of that status.
“I don’t really pay attention to that,” he said.
Uh-oh.
“I don’t really follow analytics or anything. Keith Ballard once told me that stats are for losers … unless you have good ones,” he said.
You’re going to break the stat geeks’ hearts, Jared.
“You can say otherwise if you want,” he said, with a laugh.
2. I watched my colleague Kevin Weekes have a long and interesting chat with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, and really liked what I heard. Doughty’s 31 years old now. He has a Norris Trophy, two Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals. The problem is that all of that was accomplished by 2016, and it’s now 2021. He no longer wants to rest on his laurels.
“Everything I’ve done has been in the past now. I’m not happy with where I’m at in my present. So I need to get back to that,” he said.
I asked Doughty about the Kings’ rebuild. About whether there’s a peek of light at the end the tunnel, as players like himself and Anze Kopitar aren’t getting any younger.
“Yeah, we’re starting to see it. We haven’t put it on ice. We’ve only put it on paper right now. But I’m looking forward to seeing it on the ice. We’re going to be way better this year. There’s no doubt in my mind,” he said, emphatically.
3. Every year at the Players Tour, the NHL’s best and brightest play the media’s reindeer games. We ask them silly questions. We have them do silly things. None sillier than Sportsnet’s bit where they have players attempt to draw their team’s logo, which gifted us this Roman Josi classic:
We challenged Roman Josi to draw the @PredsNHL logo in 60 seconds.
This is art. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/V9zECKRJAG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 16, 2021
I don’t know if that’s a Predator. Or a manatee. Or if a manatee is in fact a predator. I just know art when I see it. And I see it, Roman.
Winners and losers of the week
Winner: Columbus Blue Jackets
Winger Zac Rinaldo and assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre aren’t exactly irreplicable. Sending the player to the AHL and firing the coach because they refused to get vaccinated isn’t the team taking a monumental stand, especially given how the NHL’s protocols would impact their respective jobs.
But that doesn’t diminish the impact of president John Davidson taking this moment to say that “everything we do, we do together as a team” in a week where some significant players opted not to get vaccinated, despite the ramifications on their seasons and that of their team. True of hockey. Wish it were true outside of hockey.
Loser: Tracking the 1%
I made several calls this week chasing down names that I heard from NHL sources were among the unvaccinated. Some were inaccurate rumors. Some players had voiced concerns about the vaccine earlier this year, before getting the jab in order to play in 2021-22 without restrictions. I can’t articulate how wretched it is to have this be part of our preseason coverage, when it shouldn’t need to be after all these months. But here we are.
Winner: Kirill Kaprizov
Congrats to the most electrifying player in Minnesota Wild history, which is no small feat considering the sample size. Five years and $45 million is about right for a player of his talents. The average annual value might seem high now, given he’s only 55 games into his NHL career. But if he keeps on having “The Ovechkin Effect” on that market, it’s a deal that’s going to age well.
Loser: Future cap of the Wild
The 2023-24 Wild have seven players under contract and just $28 million in open space under the current salary cap, with Kaprizov’s salary added to the $14,743,588 in dead cap space created by the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Talk about “win now…”
Winner: Seattle Kraken
As I mentioned in my story this week, the Kraken are setting records for jersey sales. But dig this: On Fanatics retail platforms, the Kraken sold more merch on their launch day than the Vegas Golden Knights sold for the first two months combined after their merch launch in 2017. Beware the Kraken, indeed.
Loser: The Coyote Head
Outside of Phil Kessel and relocation speculation, the Kachina logo is the most notable thing about the current incarnation of the Arizona Coyotes. Your time is done, Coyote Head. Long live the Kachina.
Winner: Sibling agents
Gotta love Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes helping out their brothers in contract talks. Hughes defended Quinn from critics, telling Tim and Friends that he deserves the money he should get and that “when you play on one of the worst teams in the division and in the league that’s bound to happen.” (Speaking from experience?)
Tkachuk, meanwhile, got candid about brother Brady‘s talks with the Ottawa Senators while on Sportsnet’s “31 Thoughts” podcast. “Brady might be … he’s doing great. He might be pulling a classic Tkachuk right now. Dad held out, Matthew held out, and Brady looks like he’s on his way right now. So hopefully it can get figured out here. But it’s just a lot of fake stuff out there regarding this. They’re not too close,” he said.
Loser: The inevitable
There’s zero chance that the Hughes brothers and the Tkachuk brothers don’t all eventually play on the same team respectively. I mean, the St. Louis Blues already have nameplates ready for Matt and Brady within the next five years, right?
Puck headlines
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Enjoyed this from Arpon Basu of The Athletic on Jonathan Drouin and “an important brand of courage” after going public with his battle with anxiety. “Simply by talking about his experience publicly, by acknowledging what he went through and showing people it is possible to take a step back, to ask for help, has already made Drouin a mentor for so many, not just hockey players.”
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All’s well that ends well, but the Islanders should have listened to Butch Goring on Zdeno Chara.
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Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas on not trading away his core players: “We would have been different, and maybe that would provide some cover and appease the masses, a little bit, but we wouldn’t be better.”
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Interesting story on Bear Hughes, a Washington Capitals prospect from Idaho. “His real name: Cassius Hughes, but he’s always been Bear. In fact, he didn’t know that his name was Cassius until elementary school, when after hearing his mom call the school and tell them Cassius will be absent, asked who that was. It was him.”
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The top 15 players from the NHL prospects tournaments. “What a steal Guenther is going to end up being for Arizona.”
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A deep dive into goalie Linus Ullmark, who appears to be the man between the pipes for the Boston Bruins. “When Boston came knocking, it felt right, it just felt very right.”
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In praise of Nick Suzuki: “The fact that some pundits have penciled him in as a possible alternate for the wildly stacked Team Canada at the 2022 Olympics speaks volumes. Not only is he a legitimate first-line centre, he’s seen as having all-world potential.”
From your friends at ESPN
Victoria Matiash offers advice on how to win your fantasy league this season. “With only a handful of performers responsible for carrying the weight of several categories, your fantasy squad needs consistent play from between the pipes.”
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Jordan Reid
After only two first-round picks at quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft, the 2026 NFL draft is expected to have a lot more exciting options. Several already stand out — Cade Klubnik (Clemson), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Drew Allar (Penn State) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) jump to mind — and that doesn’t even include ballyhooed Texas sophomore Arch Manning, who has started just two college games.
While Manning might stay in college until 2027, I’m going to group him in with the top 22 draft-eligible passers below. I’ll also answer a couple of questions about NFL teams that might be taking a long look at these signal-callers. Players in each section are listed in alphabetical order.
Jump to a section:
Top names | Best of rest | Questions
Top names to know
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 238
Class: Senior
Where he excels Allar experienced a leap in his development in 2024, increasing his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5%. The big, prototypical pocket passer excelled under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, throwing for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions. His upper-tier arm strength gives him the confidence to test challenging throwing windows in intermediate areas. He also has enough mobility for his size to escape defenders in the pocket.
Where he needs work: While Allar’s completion percentage made a major leap, his ball placement was still inconsistent. He too often puts the ball on the wrong shoulder and his throws can be too high or too low on what should be easy completions. His performance against top-ranked teams has also been woefully inconsistent. Scouts will be watching him closely against Oregon (Sept. 27) and Ohio State (Nov. 1). Penn State is the top-ranked team in ESPN’s post-spring Way-Too-Early Top 25, but it will need Allar to play better in showcase games to live up to that billing.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Class: Sixth-year senior
Where he excels: Beck was regarded as a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 but had a disappointing final season at Georgia, throwing for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He now has a chance to revive his stock at Miami, which just produced the No. 1 pick in April’s draft in Cameron Ward. Beck is a rhythmic passer who plays well when he gets into an early groove. He gets the ball out in a hurry and is a true distributor who can spread the ball around the field.
Where he needs work: Beck experiences rough stretches with accuracy, especially when he isn’t sharp early. Last year’s Alabama game perfectly encapsulated Beck’s inconsistency, as he threw two interceptions while completing 47% of his first-half passes. Then, he turned it around with 339 passing yards and three touchdowns in the second half to lead a near-comeback. He was a roller coaster in 2024, but there’s a reason many evaluators had him as the QB1 entering last season. Miami’s offense has Air Raid principles, which should accent his gifts as a passer.
1:57
Carson Beck’s best plays of the season for Georgia
Take a look at Carson Beck’s best plays of 2024 for Georgia after announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal.
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Senior
Where he excels: Klubnik entered 2024 with question marks after a rough sophomore season but emerged as a star, finishing with 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes to only six interceptions. He’s able to repeat his mechanics and keep his eyes, feet and throwing motion in sync while going through his progressions. Klubnik saved his best game of the season for the first round of the College Football Playoff, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns against Texas. He should be set up for success in 2025, as Clemson returns its top three receivers. That’s a big reason why he was the No. 1 pick in my Way Too Early 2026 mock draft.
Where he needs work: Scouts around the league I’ve talked to have raised concerns about Klubnik’s arm strength and whether he can build on his 2024 success. Questions about his arm surface when he’s forced to test tight windows in underneath coverage and with his inconsistent trajectory on deep passes. Klubnik averaged only 8.56 air yards per passing attempt in 2024, ranking 58th in the FBS. He must be more assertive and willing to challenge coverage in intermediate and deep areas.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Where he excels: Leavitt was a revelation last season after transferring from Michigan State, passing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff. He’s a calm and poised passer whose 80 QBR was the 10th-best rate in the FBS. Leavitt always seems to be in control and consistently makes the correct play from the pocket. He’s at his best in play-action, as he can turn his back to the defense and reset his eyes to make throws.
Where he needs work: Leavitt has only 13 career starts, so the sample size is relatively small. He tends to be too bouncy in the pocket and needs to be more consistent in taking options that are available to him early in progressions. He’ll also face a lot more pressure this season, with star running back Cam Skattebo off to the NFL and the Sun Devils not being a sleeper team anymore after their conference title win. Leavitt will be counted on as the catalyst of Arizona State’s offense.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 222
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Where he excels: Manning has started just two college games, throwing for 583 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in those starts. He has a well-put-together frame, allowing him to avoid defenders in the pocket and bounce off tacklers in open space as a runner. Manning has a picture-perfect base and smooth delivery as a passer. He doesn’t have much experience in that department, as Texas used him primarily as a runner in 2024, but his prototypical build and physical tools were apparent on tape and give him immense potential. He will be under the tutelage of one of the country’s best QB developers in Steve Sarkisian, but Manning’s lack of experience makes him more likely to be in the 2027 draft class at the earliest.
Where he needs work: Manning has only 95 career passing attempts, so his sample size is small and more development is necessary. He had a habit of sticking to his primary read too long in his starts, leading to poor decision-making. He will need to improve his timing in getting through progressions and knowing when to move off his first read. He could also use his mobility much more on non-designed QB runs to help string together positive plays. He’ll be tested on these things early, as the Longhorns start the season at defending national champion Ohio State.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 224
Class: Redshirt junior
Where he excels: Mateer joins the Sooners after three seasons at Washington State. He broke out in 2024, finishing with 3,139 passing yards and 29 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. He’s an aggressive playmaker who has all sorts of funky releases, allowing him to reposition his body and still get the ball out effectively. He has easy arm strength and isn’t hesitant to make far-hash throws. Mateer is a fierce competitor and an extremely effective runner on scrambles and designed QB runs, rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He represents a clear upgrade for an Oklahoma offense that struggled mightily in 2024.
Where he needs work: Thanks to Washington State’s schedule, Mateer was able to get away with bad habits in the pocket that won’t fly in the SEC. He tends to be a tick slow on reads, relying on his arm power to alleviate tardiness in his progressions. The arm overconfidence also leads to him passing up easier shallow reads for more challenging deeper throws. He’ll be tested against a schedule featuring eight SEC schools and a Week 2 nonconference game against Michigan. If he passes with flying colors, Mateer could climb draft boards quickly.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 225
Class: Redshirt junior
Where he excels: Mendoza arrives at Indiana after being the hub of Cal’s offense in 2024, throwing for 3,004 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions. He has a snappy release that helps the ball come out of his hand with plenty of life. Mendoza is a precise passer who puts the ball in the proper place for his receivers, as evidenced by his FBS-best 5.1% off-target percentage last season. He is effective throwing from inside or outside the framework of the offense, ranking ninth in the FBS with a 91.1 QBR on throws outside of the pocket. He also excels at identifying and attacking advantageous one-on-one coverage situations.
Where he needs work: Mendoza’s escapability and effectiveness throwing from outside the pocket can lead to him being impatient and breaking the pocket prematurely. He needs to have more patience in letting concepts unfold, especially now that he will face upgraded defenses in the Big Ten. But Indiana’s offense is eerily similar to what he operated at Cal, giving Mendoza a chance to be a breakout candidate in 2025.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Class: Fifth-year senior
Where he excels: Nussmeier was up and down in his first season as a starter after replacing Jayden Daniels, throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett has a firm grasp of defensive structures and coverages. He has the most jaw-dropping highlight tape of any QB in the class, as he routinely delivers the ball to where his targets are supposed to be. He also has a flexible arm, which allows him to alter his arm slots while maintaining accuracy.
Where he needs work: Nussmeier’s confidence and daredevil mentality can sometimes backfire. Though he doesn’t get sacked often (his 2.9% sack percentage was the 12th lowest in the FBS), he can be careless with the ball, especially against better defenses. He had three games of two or more interceptions against ranked teams in 2024. A lot of these mistakes happen when he is flushed from the pocket, where his decision-making must improve.
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Garrett Nussmeier launches a 41-yard dime to Chris Hilton Jr. for an LSU TD
Chris Hilton Jr. catches a 41-yard throw from Garrett Nussmeier to pad the Tigers’ lead.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 242
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Where he excels: Sellers is a toolsy, explosive dual-threat passer who completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He can easily throw to every level of the field and his compact, strong frame makes him a game changer on designed QB runs. Sellers’ unique strength and vision in the pocket allows him to make plays in unfavorable situations. Many of his top highlights last season were the result of him avoiding and shaking off tacklers. His raw ability, tools, youth (he’s 20 years old) and projected ascension are selling points teams are willing to bet on early in the draft.
Where he needs work: The offense Sellers ran last season was a simplistic mixture of mesh concepts, pre-snap reads and an occasional go route. He threw 27.4% of his passes at or behind the line of scrimmage, which ranked 92nd in the FBS. Along with increasing his understanding and advancement of concepts, Sellers needs to take better care of the ball. He had 11 fumbles (six lost) last season. He also needs to make decisions quicker — his 3.06-second average time to throw was the 11th-slowest in the country.
Best of the rest
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Becht was steady as a third-year sophomore in 2024, throwing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions. The son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht has a sudden over-the-top release that fits perfectly in a Cyclones offense that primarily operates in 10 and 11 personnel sets. The 6-1, 210-pound Becht doesn’t have the physical tools of other passers in the class, but he is consistent in keeping his eyes down the field and can make tough throws with pressure in his face.
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Chiles transferred to Michigan State from Oregon State prior to the 2024 season. He passed for 2,415 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with the Spartans and has an explosive throwing release, leading to exciting flash plays when protected. But protection was a problem for the 6-3, 217-pound Chiles, who was pressured on 42.3% of his dropbacks (eighth highest in FBS). That led to a lot of turnover-worthy plays, especially early last season.
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Green enters his second season with the Razorbacks after spending his first three years at Boise State. He’s a big, dynamic dual-threat passer at 6-6, 230 pounds who had 602 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last season. He threw for 3,154 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Green’s throwing motion is a bit elongated, and he needs to work on his consistency in rhythm from the pocket.
Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Gronowski had a historic career at South Dakota State, leading the Jackrabbits to two national championships and tying for the most-ever wins (49) for an FCS starting quarterback. He flirted with entering the 2025 NFL draft and even got an invite to the combine but decided to go to Iowa, whose offense showed improvement in 2024. The 6-3, 230-pounder is a densely built passer who can also make plays with his legs.
Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh
Holstein thrived as Pitt’s starter last season after transferring from Alabama, throwing for 2,225 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions. The 6-4, 225-pound Holstein is a strong-armed passer who can push the ball down the field with ease. He needs to play with more control and improve his ball placement, as his 14.7% off-target percentage ranked 100th in the FBS.
Josh Hoover, TCU
Hoover broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2024 with 3,949 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. The 6-2, 200-pounder possesses a compact release that allows him to get the ball out in a hurry. His 25 completions on passes of 20-plus air yards were the 12th most in the FBS last season.
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Iamaleava’s offseason was eventful and ended up with him leaving Tennessee to play for the Bruins. He finished his first season as a starter with 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. The 6-6, 215-pound Iamaleava is a slender, fluid passer with the arm talent to get the ball to his desired spots, but he struggled with his touch and accuracy on deeper passes. That will be worth watching this fall, as will his adjustment from the Vols’ unconventional passing offense to a more pro-style UCLA scheme.
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How Nico Iamaleava ended up at UCLA
Check out the timeline that led to Nico Iamaleava going from Tennessee to UCLA.
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Jennings was a breakout star in his first season as a starter, throwing for 3,245 yards and 23 touchdowns with 11 interceptions while adding 354 rushing yards and five ground touchdowns. The 6-0, 189-pounder is a blur that defenses struggled to contain thanks to his mobility and decision-making as a passer. His lack of size and quickness with the ball in his hands could make Jennings a candidate to play another position in the NFL.
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
With 2,712 passing yards and a school-record 25 touchdown passes, Johnson was the engine of Kansas State’s offense last season. The thinly built 6-2, 192-pounder also ran for 605 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s equally effective throwing and running, as he rushed for 50 or more yards in seven games last season. He needs to continue to develop as a passer, having thrown 10 interceptions last season, but Johnson is one of the most dangerous dual-threat QBs in the country.
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
King is entering his third season as Georgia Tech’s starter after playing his first three seasons at Texas A&M. His passing numbers fell from 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023 to 2,114 and 14, respectively, in 2024. But the 6-3, 215-pound King took care of the ball last season (two interceptions) and was effective on designed runs, rushing for 587 yards and 11 touchdowns. He can be explosive on the ground, but King needs to unlock the next level of his passing development.
Darian Mensah, Duke
Mensah was a big transfer portal pickup for Duke, as he passed for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions for Tulane last season. The 6-3, 200-pounder throws from a balanced, strong base and has good ball placement, completing 65.9% of his passes. The third-year sophomore plays with lots of poise and control while showing strong mechanics and pocket presence. Scouts will be monitoring how well Mensah handles the step-up in competition from the AAC to the ACC.
Miller Moss, Louisville
Moss transferred to Louisville after spending four seasons at USC. He started nine games in 2024, finishing with 2,555 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The 6-1, 205-pounder has below average arm strength, so he relies heavily on anticipation in short and intermediate throws. He’s capable of buying time with his legs and creating out of structure. He steps into a good situation, as Louisville coach Jeff Brohm is one of the best QB developers in the country. Brohm helped Aidan O’Connell and Tyler Shough become NFL draft picks.
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Robertson ignited Baylor’s offense in 2024, finishing with the seventh-best QBR in the FBS (82.9). The 6-4, 220-pound Robertson is a decisive passer who understands how to attack different coverage looks. He was especially effective down the stretch, throwing for 17 touchdowns to only four interceptions during the Bears’ six-game win streak to end the regular season. Robertson will aim to build on that run in his second year as a full-time starter.
Other QBs to watch: Ty Simpson (Alabama), Conner Weigman (Houston), Maalik Murphy (Oregon State), Tommy Castellanos (Florida State), Noah Fifita (Arizona), Byrum Brown (USF), Kyron Drones (Virginia Tech), Dante Moore (Oregon), Kaidon Salter (Colorado), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Jayden Maiava (USC), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Jake Retzlaff (BYU)
Big QB questions for NFL teams
At this point, which team most needs to draft a QB to build around?
Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafting Will Howard in Round 6 this year hardly answered the Steelers’ long-term quarterback questions. The team is set to sign Aaron Rodgers, but he’ll be 42 years old in December. The Steelers currently have eight picks in 2026 (their seven selections plus Dallas’ third-rounder from the George Pickens trade) and could get up to four additional compensatory selections. Expect the Steelers to be aggressive next spring in their search for a franchise quarterback, especially since the 2026 draft will be in Pittsburgh.
Who is a sleeper team to watch at QB?
Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have two first-round picks in 2026 and could get aggressive with a trade up for Matthew Stafford‘s heir apparent. Stafford is entering his age-37 season on a reworked two-year contract, so the Rams have time to identify a signal-caller from what should be a strong 2026 crop. They could draft a passer next year and be afforded the luxury of having him learn behind Stafford for a full season.
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Chris Low
Kierston Russell, the twin sister of Alabama freshman quarterback Keelon Russell, died Wednesday, according to a statement from Tuscaloosa police officials.
Her death “at this time appears to be non-criminal in nature,” according to the police statement, which added that the family had given permission to confirm Kiersten Russell’s death to help quell media inquiries. Police said Thursday that no other information would be released at this time and asked that the privacy of the family be respected.
Keelon Russell reposted a message on his Instagram page with four emojis of a hand in a heart formation. The message read: “My deepest condolences are with you guys dearly. Losing a twin sister and daughter is a pain no one could ever imagine.”
Kierston and Keelon Russell went through high school graduation ceremonies together last month in Duncanville, Texas, and Kierston was scheduled to join her brother at Alabama in August.
Keelon enrolled at Alabama early and went through spring practice. He was a five-star prospect and ESPN’s No. 2 overall prospect.
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