With the 2024 FCS football season fast approaching, it's time to begin ranking the top returning players at each position. The FCS Football Central staff each submitted their rankings of the top FCS quarterbacks heading into next season. The submitted rankings were then combined to rank players by the total number of points earned.
These rankings were made using multiple factors, including footage, on-field performance, career honors, Pro Football Focus ratings and other information available to voters. Notable honorable mentions who received votes included South Dakota's Aidan Bauman, Lafayette's Dean DeNoville, UT Martin's Kinkead Dent and Eastern Illinois' Pierce Holley.
Below are the top FCS quarterbacks returning in 2024.
Bennett established himself as one of the division's best dual-threat quarterbacks last season, appearing in all 13 games for the Hornets, including 10 starts.
Despite missing time with an injury, Bennett led the Hornets to the second round of the FCS playoffs with a win over North Dakota, and Sacramento State also upset Stanford and former head coach Troy Taylor. After the upset win, Bennett was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week.
Bennett finished last season with 2,192 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes, 577 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He completed 64.3% of his passes, good for second on the team in a single season.
DeLaurent played in 16 games for the Redhawks over the past two seasons, missing the final five games of the 2023 season due to injury.
Over the past two seasons, DeLaurent has totaled 4,292 passing yards, 29 touchdown passes, 373 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
In his first season at the FCS level, DeLaurent earned Sophomore All-American and OVC All-Newcomer honors as he helped lead the Redhawks to the FCS playoffs and an OVC title in 2022.
Watkins led the Wildcats to a co-winning CAA title and a berth in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season. He has started 24 games for the Wildcats over the past two seasons.
In four seasons at Villanova, Watkins recorded 4,937 passing yards, 37 touchdown passes, 826 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns.
Watkins ranked second nationally in yards per completion and 10th in passing efficiency last season, and in 2023 he completed 152 of 269 passes for 2,681 yards and 30 total touchdowns.
Mellott established himself as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks at the FCS level. Over three seasons, Mellott recorded 3,241 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, 2,474 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.
He currently ranks seventh in program history in career rushing yards and third all-time in rushing touchdowns. Mellott led the Bobcats to the FCS National Championship Game as a freshman. He has earned All-Big Sky honors in two consecutive seasons.
Mellott is expected to take on an even bigger role next season as the Bobcats will lose Sean Chambers, who shared playing time with Mellott the past two seasons.
Altopoeus led the Mocs to their first FCS playoff appearance since 2016. Pro Football Focus ranked Altopoeus as the No. 8 quarterback in the FCS last season.
In his first season with Chattanooga, Altopoeus completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,672 yards and 20 touchdown passes.
Altopoeus missed the final three games of the 2023 season due to injury. He ranks 12th nationally in passing efficiency and in the top 20 in passing yards per game. He has a chance to lead the Mocs to their first conference title since 2015 next season.
After starting his career at Northern Iowa, McElvain enjoyed a resurgence at Central Arkansas, appearing in 22 games for the Bears after four seasons with the Panthers.
Over the past two seasons, McElvain completed 62 percent of his passes for 5,069 yards, 42 passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
McElvain was named to the All-UAC Fourth Team last season after throwing 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and set the University of Northern Iowa freshman passing record in 2019 and was named a Freshman All-American.
Montez transferred from New Mexico to Fordham University and had a breakout season with the Rams in 2023. He was named to the All-Patriot League second team and was a finalist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award.
Last season, Montez completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,000 yards, 26 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.
Montez led the Patriot League in passing yards, touchdowns and completions per game. He was named FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after leading Fordham to an upset victory over the University at Buffalo.
Gonzalez made his presence known with an outstanding sophomore season in 2023. He was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
Gonzalez completed 65 percent of his passes for 4,139 yards, 39 passing touchdowns and 350 yards rushing in his first two collegiate seasons.
Gonzalez ranked third nationally in passing efficiency and fourth in touchdown passes last season. He became the first Western Carolina University player to be named SoCon Offensive Player of the Year since 1984. His 28 touchdown passes in 2023 set a new program record for a single season.
Miller enters the 2024 season with the pressure of leading the Bison to their first FCS National Championship win since 2021. He has started 40 games for the Bison over the past four seasons.
He earned All-MVFC and Second Team All-American honors last season, finishing second in the nation in passing efficiency with more than 3,300 total yards and 32 total touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus ranked Miller No. 1 in the FCS last season. In four seasons with the Bisons, Miller totaled 6,470 passing yards, 48 touchdown passes, 1,646 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns.
Gronowski returns to South Dakota State after leading the Jackrabbits to consecutive FCS national championships, where he won the Walter Payton Award and was named MVFC Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season.
In three seasons, Gronowski recorded 7,590 passing yards, 70 touchdown passes, 1,387 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. He led the Jackrabbits to the national title game in three consecutive seasons as the starting quarterback.
Gronowski has a chance to solidify his status as the best quarterback in FCS history, needing just 13 more wins to become the winningest quarterback in FCS history.
