As we hit the preview portion of the 2024 FCS offseason, HERO Sports will rank the top returning players by position group.
While what happens on the field and how things finish at the end of the season is what really matters, preseason rankings give fans an idea of what players and teams they should keep an eye on.
Here are the top returning quarterbacks in 2024.
These rankings are formed by a combination of on-field production, postseason accolades, PFF grades, pro potential, and the author’s opinion/FCS knowledge (watching games, knowing what system players are in, strength of opponents, etc.).
Best Returning FCS QBs
25. Richie Munoz, Weber State
24. Darius Wilson, William & Mary
23. Miles Hastings, UC Davis
22. Ryan O’Connor, Delaware
21. Aidan Sayin, Penn
20. Clifton McDowell, McNeese (transfer from Montana)
19. Kinkead Dent, UT Martin
18. Jameson Wang, Cornell
17. Aidan Bouman, South Dakota
16. Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington
Top 25 Returners
- Top 25 Returning Quarterbacks
- Top 25 Returning Linebackers
- Top 25 Returning Running Backs
- Top 25 Returning Wide Receivers
- Top 25 Returning Offensive Linemen
15. Jake Willcox, Brown
14. Pierce Holley, Eastern Illinois
13. Dean DeNobile, Lafayette
12. Kaiden Bennett, Sacramento State
11. Zach Calzada, UIW
10. Will McElvain, Central Arkansas
9. Derek Robertson, Monmouth (transfer from Maine)
8. Paxton DeLaurent, SEMO
7. Connor Watkins, Villanova
6. Chase Artopoeus, Chattanooga
5. Tommy Mellott, Montana State
4. CJ Montes, Fordham
3. Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina
After four starts as a freshman in 2022, Gonzales fully arrived on the FCS scene last fall.
Gonzales finished 204/310 passing for 2,803 yards, 28 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, plus 203 rushing yards. His injury early in the regular-season finale at VMI likely prevented WCU from making the playoffs. Gonzales’ passing efficiency of 166.4 ranked No. 3 in the FCS, trailing the two players below. PFF graded him as the No. 13 FCS quarterback, while his passing grade ranked No. 6.
The 6-foot, 195-pounder earned First Team All-Conference honors and was voted by the media as the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year.
2. Cam Miller, North Dakota State
Miller enters his fifth season of starting games for the Bison. He started the two playoff games in the 2021 spring, the final eight games in the 2021 fall, and all 30 games in 2022 and 2023.
The 6-foot-1 and 209-pounder has 6,470 career passing yards, 48 touchdowns to 15 interceptions, 1,646 yards rushing, and 36 rushing TDs.
An All-MVFC Second Team selection and Stats Perform Second Team All-American last season, Miller went 208/289 passing for 2,688 yards, 19 TDs, and four interceptions while adding 629 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. PFF had Miller as the No. 1-graded FCS QB while his 169.1 passing efficiency was No. 2 in the subdivision.
1. Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State
Gronowski won last year’s Walter Payton Award and is the back-to-back Most Outstanding Player in the FCS national championship game. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior is 37-3 as a starter with only one FCS loss as a full-game starter (2021 spring at UND). Gronowski is 13 victories away from breaking the FCS record for QB wins currently held by NDSU’s Easton Stick (49-3 career record).
Gronowski has thrown for 7,590 career yards, 70 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions along with 1,387 yards rushing and 27 scores.
Last fall, he completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,058 yards, 29 touchdowns, and five interceptions, plus 402 rushing yards and eight TDs. Gronowski had the best passing efficiency in the FCS last year (179.7) and finished as PFF’s No. 2-graded FCS quarterback. Gronowski’s honors included several All-American selections and the MVFC’s Offensive Player of the Year.
