The AAC Has Some Good QB’s Returning in 2021
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) has some talented football teams on its roster, top to bottom. Some were ranked in the Top 25 throughout the 2020 season. One team, Cincinnati, finished ranked #8 in the final AP Poll. And, there has been some top quarterback talent as well. Here are five good QB’s returning to the AAC in 2021.
The AAC Has Some Good QB’s Returning
Dillon Gabriel, 6-0, 186, Junior, UCF:
Led the FBS in passing in 2020 with 357 yards per game. Gabriel has thrown for over 3500 yards in each of his last two seasons at UCF. 2020: 3570 yards, 32 TDs, 4 INTs (413 pass attempts). He also added 2 rushing TDs. Ridder completed 60% of his passes.
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- Passed for over 400 yards three times.
- 1 game with 601 passing yards (50-49 loss to Memphis)
- 3 games over 300 yards passing.
- 2 games with 5 passing TDs
- 3 games with 4 passing TDs
- Led an offense that scored 42 points per game.
- 16-7 as the starter
- Career: 7223 yards, 61 TDs, 11 INTs
UCF will have a new head coach in 2021-former Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn.
2021 games of interest: 9/4 vs Boise State; 10/16 @ Cincinnati.
Desmond Ridder, 6-4, 212, Senior, Cincinnati:
Ridder was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and a 1st Team All-AAC selection. 30-5 as a 3-year starter. His 2020 stats:
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- 2296 yards
- 19 TDs
- 6 INTs
- 592 rushing yards
- 12 TDs
- Career: 8719 yards total offense, 79 total TDs, 20 INTs.
- The winningest quarterback in school history.
Ridder had two games of over 300 yards passing, and 2 games with three passing TDs.
He scored 4 TDs in a game vs SMU, Houston, and UCF. Ridder scored five TDs vs Memphis.
Notable 2021 games: @Indiana 9/18; @Notre Dame 10/2; vs UCF 10/16.
Michael Pratt, 6-2, 200, Sophomore, Tulane:
Pratt went 5-5 as the starter in 2020 after not playing in the first two games. His stats in 2020:
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- 1806 yards passing
- 20 TDs (most among true freshman in FBS)
- 8 INTs
- 229 yards rushing
- 8 TDs
- 4 games over 200 yards passing.
- 2 games with three passing TDs.
- Scored four TDs in the win over Memphis.
2021 games of interest: vs Oklahoma 9/4; @Ole Miss 9/18; vs Cincinnati 10/30; @UCF 11/16.
Holton Ahlers, 6-3,228, Senior, East Carolina:
His career at East Carolina: 7093 yards, 51 TDs, 22 INTs over 29 games. 2020 stats:
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- 1921 yards
- 18 TDs
- 9 INTs
- 109 yards
- 1 TD
- 4 games with 3 passing TDs
- Threw 4 TD passes in a game.
Notable 2021 games: vs Appalachian St. 9/2; vs South Carolina 9/11; @UCF 10/9; vs Cincinnati 11/27.
Clayton Tune, 6-3, 215, Senior, Houston:
Tune threw for over 300 yards in each of the first three games in 2020, throwing for 7 touchdowns and only 2 INTs. His 2020 stats:
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- 2048 yards
- 15 TDs
- 10 INTs
- 253 yards rushing
- 5 TDs
- 2 games with 3 passing TDs
- Scored 5 TDs vs USF
2021 games to watch- Texas Tech (NRG Stadium) 9/4; SMU at home 10/30; Memphis at home 11/19; vs Navy 9/25.
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Material for this article sourced from cfbstats.com and fbschedules.com.
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