The rushing quarterback remains a timeless staple in college football. Playcallers are constantly discovering new and innovative ways to leverage their quarterbacks’ athleticism. With an increasing number of elite athletes joining the sport, the era of the dual-threat quarterback is alive and well. But who are the best as we enter the 2025 season?
In this analysis, we will gather statistics and advanced data to evaluate the top rushing quarterbacks as the upcoming campaign approaches.
College Football’s 25 Best Rushing Quarterbacks
25) Byrum Brown, USF
This may be a projection, but if Byrum Brown can return to anywhere near his 2023 best after suffering an injury last season, he could again be one of college football’s most productive rushing quarterbacks.
Two seasons ago, the USF Bulls QB had 809 rushing yards (ranked seventh in the FBS) and 11 touchdowns, while having 4.49 yards after contact.
24) Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Nico Iamaleava has been one of the standout offseason storylines, as the SEC starter has uprooted himself and moved back home to play at the UCLA Bruins. Whichever side of the fence you land on in the off-field story, the former Tennessee Volunteer needs to show more in 2025 if he is to take the next step in his development.
One standout feature, however, is his rushing ability. The fresh UCLA quarterback ranked 22nd in college football with 1.65 EPA rushing per game in 2024 while using his legs to record 358 rushing yards and 3.91 yards after contact.
23) Quentin Hayes, Air Force
The first service academy quarterback on this list, Quentin Hayes, had 466 rushing yards and seven touchdowns from under center in 2024. He also accumulated 42 first downs and a third-down rushing conversion rate of 62.5%. His 2.17 EPA rushing per game in 2024 ranked 13th in the country in just six starts.
Likely the full-time starter heading into 2025, expect those numbers to increase dramatically in Troy Calhoun’s offense.
22) Gevani McCoy, Temple
Gevani McCoy has transferred to the Temple Owls, expecting to be the starter in 2025. The former FCS standout had 2.25 EPA rushing per game with the Oregon State Beavers last year (12th in the nation) on his way to putting up 328 yards and five touchdowns on 59 attempts, while averaging 4.33 yards before contact and 4.52 after.
Now the starter in Philadelphia, his rushing ability is expected to be further unlocked under K.C. Keeler, who will look to make the most of McCoy’s natural athleticism.
21) Brendon Lewis, Memphis
Brendon Lewis transfers from the Nevada Wolfpack to the Memphis Tigers for the 2025 season as one of the most productive rushers from under center last year.
The former three-star recruit from Texas had 775 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 157 attempts, including a career high 151 rushing yards against Oregon State, where he led the team in passing, rushing, and receiving yards.
20) Bryson Barnes, Utah State
After playing three seasons with the Utah Utes, Bryson Barnes transferred instate to the Utah State Aggies in 2024 and continued to show his ability under center, especially when using his legs. He now holds the single-season rushing record in Logan after rushing for 193 yards and one touchdown against the San Diego State Aztecs in November 2024.
Having only started three games in 2024, Barnes is now the starter for the Aggies and is expected to build on his rushing numbers, including 3.15 EPA rushing per game and a total of 530 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
19) Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Brendan Sorsby had 447 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in 2024, averaging a score on every 11.67 rushing attempts. The Cincinnati Bearcats’ passer started the season strong, leading his team to a 5-2 record. However, some rocky performances down the stretch led to the Beacats falling away in an intense Big 12 championship race.
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Nevertheless, if Sorsby can be more consistent in 2025, he has the dual-threat ability to make plays happen. The 6’3”, 228-pound quarterback averaged 4.3 yards per rush with a third-down conversion rate of 46.7% last year.
18) Matthew Sluka, James Madison
Matthew Sluka is back in college football after a high-profile departure from UNLV. He rejoins his former head coach at Holy Cross, Bob Chesney, who will be looking to unlock the dual-threat quarterbacks’ rushing potential further.
During the 2024 season, Sluka had 39 rushes for 253 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per rush while having one of the highest third-down rush conversion rates of 63.6%. Furthermore, the transfer portal addition also averaged 6.43 yards after contact and has the ability to elevate the James Madison program if he wins the starting job.
17) Hunter Watson, Sam Houston
Hunter Watson was the focal point of the Sam Houston Bearkats’ rushing attack in 2024, leading the team with 647 yards and nine touchdowns. His 39 first downs, alongside his 48.6% third-down rushing percentage, showcase the 6’3”, 210-pound quarterback’s ability to bail his team out, proven by his 1.44 EPA rushing per game.
16) Kaidon Salter, Colorado
Kaidon Salter averaged 1.56 EPA rushing per game in 2024, ranked 23rd in the country among quarterbacks. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. The former Liberty quarterback has 2,000+ rushing yards in his four seasons in Lynchburg, including 1,089 in 2023.
Now moving to Boulder to play under Deion Sanders, Salter will be looking to establish himself among the elite rushing quarterbacks in the sport, after a decline in production last season, which saw his average yards per rush fall from 6.7 to 5.1.
However, his first-down and third-down conversion percentages increased, and his yards per contact grew from 3.46 in 2023 to 4.10 in 2024.
15) Gio Lopez, North Carolina
Gio Lopez saw 45.6% of his rushing attempts go for first downs in 2024, the most in the FBS. The former South Alabama Jaguars passer only had 83 rushing attempts but made the most of his legs, running for 463 yards and seven touchdowns, including a long of 50 yards.
Now transferring to play under Bill Belichick with the North Carolina Tar Heels, he could be asked to lean more heavily on his rushing ability as the dual-threat quarterback averaged 274.7 yards of total offense in 2024.
14) Beau Pribula, Missouri
Despite being the backup with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Beau Pribula averaged 6.4 yards per rushing attempt in 2024, having 242 yards and four touchdowns on just 38 attempts. Searching for a starting spot, he now transfers to the Missouri Tigers, where his rushing threat will offer something different to Eliah Drinkwitz’s offense.
At Penn State, Pribula averaged a score every 9.5 rushing attempts and showcased elusive twitchy movement in space, as showcased by his 4.13 yards before contact.
13) Rocco Becht, Iowa State
After losing his top two receivers to the NFL, Rocco Becht may need to rely on his legs more in 2025.
Luckily, the Iowa State Cyclones quarterback showcased the ability to be dynamic with the ball in hand in crucial moments, leading all of the FBS with a third-down rushing conversion rate of 78.3%. Furthermore, Becht ranked 20th in EPA rushing per game with 1.78.
12) Taylen Green, Arkansas
Taylen Green was elusive when scrambling in his first year as a starter in 2024, having 3.62 EPA per game when moving out of the pocket. The Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback ranked 19th in the FBS with 602 rushing yards and had 3,756 all-purpose yards, just 39 shy of Ryan Mallett’s school record.
11) Colton Joseph, Old Dominion
Despite another lackluster 2024 season, which saw the Old Dominion Monarchs finish with a 5-7 record, quarterback Colton Joseph was a bright spark during his eight games as a starter. An enticing rushing threat, the former three-star recruit had 647 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging a rushing touchdown every 10.36 rushing attempts.
Meanwhile, Joseph also impressed through the air, having two games with 300+ yard passing, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt.
10) Kevin Jennings, SMU
Kevin Jennings ranked fourth in the ACC with 354 rushing yards in 2024, quickly establishing himself as the immediate future of the SMU Mustangs program.
On 101 rushing attempts, the SMU star quarterback averaged 3.9 yards per rush and displayed upper-tier athletic characteristics. Meanwhile, only three inter-conference quarterbacks threw for more yards as Jennings led SMU to an 11-win season.
9) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Sam Leavitt was one of the top quarterbacks in college football in 2024 and displayed natural creative playmaking instincts both through the air and on the ground. The Arizona State Sun Devil put up 3.38 EPA per game when scrambling last season, the most of any returning quarterback by a significant margin.
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Putting up 3.13 yards before contact and 3.46 yards after, Leavitt’s legs may be relied upon more by the Arizona State coaching staff in 2025, with Cam Skattebo leaving for the NFL.
8) Alex Orgi, UNLV
Despite not being the starting quarterback with the Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 season, Alex Orgi continued to display his rushing threat from under center, recording 0.39 EPA rushing per game, while only having 57 rushing attempts for 269 yards.
Moving West in 2025 to play under Dan Mullin with the UNLV Rebels, Orji can establish himself as one of college football’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks and will hope to put up similar numbers to 2024 starter Hajj-Malik Williams, who had 851 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
7) Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
After a high-profile spat with the NCAA, Diego Pavia appears to be back as the starting quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2025, after an extremely impressive senior year in Nashville.
The dual-threat QB was a wrecking ball as a runner in 2024, averaging 61.9 rushing yards per game, recording 801 yards (ranked ninth in the FBS) and eight touchdowns on the ground.
His 4.2 yards per rush ranked 23rd among his peers, but Pavia converted 63% of his third-down rushing attempts. Additionally, in 2023, with the New Mexico State Aggies, the former JUCO product had 1,431 rushing yards and 13 TDs, completing his resume as one of college football’s most threatening rushing quarterbacks.
6) John Mateer, Oklahoma
John Mateer joining the Oklahoma Sooners could end up being one of the top signings out of the transfer portal. Heading to Norman alongside his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, with the Washington State Cougars, the dynamo pairing is expected to bring their high-octane offensive delivery to the Sooners.
The former WSU QB can beat you in different ways. His 3,139 passing yards ranked 22nd in the FBS, while his 826 rushing yards ranked eighth. Mateer may not be the most elusive of rushing threats, but he is productive and physical. At 6’1” and 219 pounds, he averaged 4.91 yards after contact and recorded 2.44 EPA per game when rushing.
5) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers had a breakout year in 2024, having 166 rushing attempts for 674 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns passing.
The South Carolina Gamecocks’ quarterback established himself as one of the most electric players in the game in his first year as a starter and is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft heading into the new season.
The dynamic athlete is only scratching the surface of what he can become, and his rushing threat is a big reason so many scouts are buying into the hype. Sellers had a rushing long of 75 yards, using his hulking 6’3”, 242-pound frame to gather 4.34 yards after contact. He also used his legs in key moments, converting 42.9% of his third-down rushes.
4) Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Haynes King’s rushing statistics took a slight step back in 2024, but the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback has established himself as one of the top rushing quarterbacks in college football over the past two years.
The 6’3″, 215-pound redshirt senior rushed for 587 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in 2024, averaging 11.36 rushing attempts per touchdown.
In 2023, King had 4.47 rushing yards before contact, showcasing his elusive movement. However, that metric fell to 2.19 in 2024. If the Yellow Jackets’ dual-threat QB can return to his 2023 numbers, he will again be one of the top rushing threats from under center in the sport.
3) Parker Navarro, Ohio
With 1,046 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing, Parker Navarro was a key reason the Ohio State Bobcats won 11 games for the first time in program history in 2024. The Tempe, Arizona native put up 4.55 EPA rushing per game and had 49 rushing first downs and returns as a grad student in 2025.
The former UCF Knights transfer will need to be at his running best again in the fall, as he threw a conference-high 11 interceptions last year, meaning that Brian Smith will be leaning on his QB’s legs as the Bobcats attempt to win back-to-back MAC Championships.
2) Devon Dampier, Utah
Devon Dampier sat near the top of every rushing metric in 2024 with the New Mexico Lobos and transferred to the Utes ahead of the 2025 season, expecting to take another leap in his development.
The dual-threat QB will have one of the best offensive lines in the country to operate behind, meaning he can attack through the air and maximize his running threat.
Last year, the 5’10”, 198-pound athlete ranked second among returning players with 1,166 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry—the highest among all returning players with over 100 rushing attempts. He also ranked second with an average of 6.03 rushing EPA per game.
1) Blake Horvath, Navy
Blake Horvath is not only the top rushing quarterback for the 2025 college football season but also one of the best overall players in the game. The Navy Midshipmen standout ranks 70th on CSN’s list of the top returning college football players for 2025, making him one of the most exciting athletes on the field.
Standing at 6’2” and weighing 195 pounds, the senior quarterback passed for 1,353 yards and threw 13 touchdowns. However, he truly excelled when it came to running the football. Horvath led the AAC with an impressive average of 7.1 yards per carry in 2024, accumulating 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
On average, he achieved 10.29 rushes per touchdown and gained 3.95 yards after contact.
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