Quarterback is the most important position in sports.
Veteran leadership can be huge in this role, especially for a team hoping to bring balance and confidence to the rest of the unit. But in 2016, some of the best quarterbacks in D2 football are also some of the youngest.
Since so many have them have done so well, we thought it would be best to rank the top five. Who knows? Maybe one of these players will end up on our final All-American team, or even be named HERO of The Year.
All players listed are freshman, sophomores, and juniors.
[divider]5. Jacob Mezera (R-Soph.) Fort Hays State
Jacob Mezera has been a record-setting QB for Fort Hays in his first year as starter (Emma Henry/Fort Hays State Athletics)
| Comp.-Att. (Pct.) | Passing Yards | Passing TD | INT | Rushing Yards | Rushing TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 119-185 (64.3) | 1,461 | 10 | 2 | 41 | 2 |
Even though Mezera is just in his second season of full competition, he may have already written his name as the best quarterback Fort Hays State has ever had.
Just last week, the Orange Park, Florida native set the single-game mark for total offense, with a staggering 508 total yards against Pitt State. The young QB is also on pace to move into the all-time top five in most major single-season passing categories at FHSU.
Beyond stats, Mezera is helping the Tigers win. Before this season the Tigers had never been ranked in either the AFCA D2 Coaches Poll or the D2football.com Top 25 Poll, both officially recognized by the NCAA. They're 23rd in the D2football.com poll and have received votes in the AFCA poll. Winning is the most important thing, which is why Mezera cracks our list.
