2014 Quarterback Recruiting Class Reveals Some Shocking Evaluations Compared to Current NFL Success

Cover Photo: Twitter/@PanthersMax

Looking back at past college football recruiting classes almost always provides NFL fans with some interesting results. However, there may be no recent QB recruiting class more interesting than the class of 2014.

According to 247Sports, the Carolina Panthers have two of the top-3 QB recruits from 2014 between Kyle Allen and Will Grier. Allen was surprisingly the No. 1 ranked recruit, ahead of No. 2 Deshaun Watson, and Grier came in at No. 3. Reggie Bonnafon, now a running back on Carolina, was also the No. 31 ranked recruit.

Allen filled in admirably for Cam Newton last week, tossing four TDs while completing 20-of-31 attempts for 266 passing yards. Hopefully, Allen's recruiting ranking gives Panthers' fans hope that this performance was no fluke.

However, the most shocking tidbit from this list is that defending NFL MVP and Kansas City Chiefs' star QB Patrick Mahomes was just the 30th ranked QB in the country out of high school. Frankly, that seems impossible.

Mahomes plays like a maxed out create-a-player in "Madden NFL." He possesses what might be the most electric right arm in NFL history, and he can seemingly make every throw in the book with a rare knack for extending plays. Seriously, what can't the guy do?

While this list is certainly exciting for Panthers fans, Mahomes' ranking is proof that evaluating talent, particularly QBs, is always tough. But if Allen maintains his recent play, he has a chance to prove that his ranking wasn't so crazy after all.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.