Lagway, Mateer lead the QBs Texas will have to game plan for this year

Ohio State has officially named Julian Sayin their starting quarterback for this year. That gives me the opening to breakdown the QBs the Longhorn defense will see this year and how they stack up to one another. It’s an interesting group of QBs, one that is more sneaky talented than some are giving them credit for. 

1. DJ Lagway, Florida

This, to me, is maybe the most talented QB in the country. His ability to make throws 20-yards downfield look super easy and the ball explodes out of his hands. DJ Lagway, if healthy for the Texas game, will be a really hard player to stop. The bigger piece here is his health. He has really struggled with injuries throughout his young career, but when healthy, I think he is one of the best QBs in the country. 

2. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Texas fans might not like to hear this, but Oklahoma found a very good player in John Mateer. His ability to make plays off schedule and create something out of nothing is as good as you will find in the country. 29 scores through the air and another 15 on the ground last year at Washington State, only falling short statistically of Cam Ward. The jump up in competition is a real concern, but to me, Mateer is good enough to make that leap look comfortable. Mateer will likely be the single toughest QB to game plan for on this list, but all the reasons I just talked about. 

3. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Julian Sayin is the projection pick in this group. As of right now, you would have a hard time placing him here, but from watching high school tape along with the small college sample size, the talent is clear. He doesn’t have incredible arm strength, but the arm talent is about as good as you will see this year. He will be an incredibly accurate, on time QB that I think will be regarded as a top 10 QB in the country by the end of the year. The good news is Texas gets him early, but I still think this will be a tough guy to defend.

4. Taylen Green, Arkansas

Taylen Green is one of the more underrated QBs in the SEC and in the country, in my opinion. The consistency leaves some to be desired, but when you catch this guy on the wrong day, you are going to have a problem. He is definitely the most athletic guy on this list, and someone that can change the game in a hurry with his legs. I have questions about the supporting cast around him, but this guy will be one of the tougher players to gameplan for this year for Texas, right up there with John Mateer. 

5. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Marcel Reed is another that some Texas fans are a little too low on in my mind. There are steps that have to be taken throwing the football, there is no doubt about that. He has the tools to become at least a plus passer and we know he is more than just a plus athlete. He is an elite athlete that in a system that now is just set up for his capabilities, he can take that next step. Now, if Reed doesn't take a substantial step forward passing the ball this year, he and Texas A&M become much easier to defend, as we saw last year. 

6. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia does just about everything right. He is consistently on time, the ball handling is incredible in misdirection plays and plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. Him, like many others on this list, struggles to consistently throw the ball downfield, but is a plus athlete and creates off schedule. The difference here is the experience and comfortability in this offense is off the charts. I am not high on Vanderbilt in 2025, but with Diego Pavia, you will be given a shot to win.

7. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

Gunner Stockton is at seven right now, but I think he could finish this year being up right with John Mateer. The arm strength is incredible, the deep ball accuracy the same and like Pavia, plays with a chip on his shoulder at all times. A plus-athlete that is not afraid of contact in any way. There are some questions here, but when I look at Gunner Stockton, I see a true Georgia QB that can put together a really nice season this year. 

8. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State

The most forgotten QB in the conference is Blake Shapen down in Starkville. Shapen is a very experienced, smart QB that can do just enough with his legs to hurt you. The injury in 2024 made some forget how efficient this guy can be, and I think he fits into the Jeff Lebby system very nicely. Shapen isn’t the most elite athlete, he doesn’t have the biggest arm, but he has plenty of ability and knowledge to make life tough for a defense any given Saturday. 

9. Zach Calzada, Kentucky

Zach Calzada is still in college football and this year he’s taking over in Lexington. He comes in from Incarnate Word after his first two years at Texas A&M, coming off a really great year. Over 4,000 total yards, 40 total TDs at Incarnate Word and he earned another chance at an SEC starting job. This is the least physically gifted guy of the SEC QBs Texas will play, likely with the worst supporting cast around him. Calzada has a little magic in him, as we saw in 2021, but I don’t see this as a great year for Calzada. 

10. Hunter Watson, Sam Houston

Hunter Watson is one of the more interesting guys on this list, because the numbers do not pop off the page, but he is very much of a Diego Pavia type guy. A plus athlete that will run through someone and not around them. This game obviously should not be one that Texas struggles with, but Hunter Watson is someone that could escape a sack or two and make some plays with his legs. 

11. Walker Eget, San Jose State

Walker Eget goes into his second year as the starter for San Jose State and plainly put, this is a defensive and run led team. The numbers are not going to jump off the page for this guy, but should be able to put up some better numbers than he did a year ago in this offense. Again, not a game that Texas should struggle in, but unlike Hunter Watson, Eget doesn’t quite have the mobility to make Texas hurt with his legs. 

12. Skylear Locklear/Malachi Nelson, UTEP

This is the most intriguing of the group. I would’ve placed it higher if it was decided, but neither of these guys establishing themselves always gives me pause. Malachi Nelson is the guy to watch, because he was actually the #5 QB in the country in Arch Manning’s recruiting class. It’s been a tumultuous two years for him, but the talent is there and that’s why I think Texas will see Nelson on September 13th. That being said, the indecision and lack of an elite option has UTEP’s QBs taking the last spot here.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Ranking the QBs Texas Football will face on the 2025 schedule