Former NCAA Quarterbacks in the CFL

North of the Border

Former NCAA Star QB's in the Canadian Football League

BRETT CIANCIA
August 12th, 2014

This summer, ESPN inked a deal with the Canadian Football League (CFL) making it the exclusive network for coverage, airing 17 live games in 2014. While the teams, uniforms, and style of play may be foreign, one facet of familiarity can be found at the quarterback position. CFL rosters are loaded with former NCAA star quarterbacks: conference champions, BCS Bowl winners, dual-threats and pocket passers - even a Heisman Trophy winner!

These are names that college football fans were very familiar with, guys that were stars on Saturdays but never really made the move up to Sundays. Lost in the transition are these 13 signal-callers. It's not only a "who's who" of mid-2000s NCAA football, but also a timely "where are they now" akin to a 5-year class reunion.

It is clear that Hamilton values mobility, given all three of their quarterbacks were successful dual-threats in college. LeFevour was the original Jordan Lynch in the MAC, starting 4 seasons at Central Michigan and amassing 83 total touchdowns (36 passing, 47 rushing). Masoli led Chip Kelly's offense for 2 seasons including a 2009 Pac-12 Title and Rose Bowl appearance. The veteran of the group, McGee received All-Big12 Honorable Mention in 2006 and 2007.

in 2006, Troy Smith led an undefeated Buckeye team and won the Heisman in one of the most decisive victories ever. Then the Gator defense roughed him up, and symbolically turned his career downward. After getting cut from the Baltimore Ravens, Smith has surfaced here in the CFL in Montreal.

The Edminton Fightin' RichRods feature two of his former stars, QB Pat White and RB Noel Devine. Who would have thought these former Mountaineers would end up together 2000+ miles northwest as Eskimos. If only they could face off against Big Game Bob's Sooners one more time.

2 former Mountain West standouts are present here; John Beck (BYU) is now a BC Lion, while Casey Pachall (TCU) is now an Argonaut in Toronto. The quarterbacks have graduated from the MWC, and so too have their former programs, as TCU fled for the Big 12 while BYU creates its own schedule as an independent.

As we trudge through the final month of the offseason, the 2013 re-aired games become even more repetitive and the message boards start to lose sanity; take a break and check out some 12 v. 12 CFL action - maybe you'll see some of these old familiar faces tossing the rock up north on their 110 yard fields.

North of the Border

Former NCAA Star QB's in the Canadian Football League

2014 PREVIEW
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North of the Border

Former NCAA Star QB's in the Canadian Football League

2014 PREVIEWQUICK LINKS

Privacy Policy

2014 PREVIEW
QUICK LINKS