Top 10 Returning Quarterbacks (passing yards)

With 10 of the top 52 passers from the 2014 season returning for the 2015 season, expect some gaudy passing numbers this fall. Seven were lost to graduation. 

1. Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky: After having a solid but unspectacular 2013 season under former head coach Bobby Petrino, Doughty took no prisoners in 2014 with a 4,830 yard, 49 TD season for the Hilltoppers. Doughty put up astronomical numbers with only the Louisiana Tech game being a dud for the rising senior. Doughty threw for 569 (BGSU), 593 (MTSU), 387 (Navy), 319 (UAB), 335 (FAU), 371 (ODU), 324 (UTEP), 346 (UTSA), 491 (Marshall), and 486 (CMU) to give him TEN 300+ games. Doughty threw for 3+ TDs in nine games with a total of 18 TD passes in the final three games of the season, including an FBS record eight versus Marshall. While asking him to match those numbers is nearly impossible, 4000+ yards and 35+ TD is easily possible in the Hilltopper offense. 
2. Zach Terrell, Western Michigan: Often overlooked when talking about talented small program quarterbacks, Terrell had an impressive 2014 season that ended with the rising junior throwing for 3,443 yards and 26 TDs. Terrell's passing yards were 20th highest in the FBS with the WMU quarterback throwing for 300+ three times and 3+ TDs on five occasions. Terrell's passing acumen helped WMU to two of the top 50 wide receivers in the nation in receiving yards, the only non power five conference team to accomplish that goal. 
3. Blake Frohnapfel, Massachusetts: After toiling at Marshall behind record setting Rakeem Cato, Frohnapfel took UMass by storm in 2014 with a 3,345 yard, 23 TD season that made teams stand notice that the Minutemen could be a team on the rise in 2015. Frohnapfel only played in ten games but put up 300+ yards on five occasions with 589 versus BGSU, 389 versus Miami (OH), 337 versus EMU, 438 versus Toledo, and 424 versus Ball State. With five losses by seven points or less last fall, Frohnapfel could be the quarterback that leads UMass to their first FBS bowl.
4. Nick Arbuckle, Georgia State: In an era of being able to evaluate players faster an easier than ever, Arbuckle is one of those players that continually flies under the radar. The rising senior took the starting quarterback job at Georgia State after leaving the JUCO ranks and only threw for 3,283 yards and 23 TD, the yardage ranking him 24th in the nation in 2014. Arbuckle threw for 300+ yards on five occasions with 413 (Abiline Christian), 414 (Air Force), 311 (USA), 408 (Ga. So.), and 356 (Texas St.). The senior also completed 3+ touchdown passes on five occasions for the Panthers. 
5. Fredi Knighten, Arkansas State: The true definition of a dual threat quarterback, Knighten led the Arkansas State offense with 3,277 yards in the air and 24 touchdown passes to go along with 779 yards and 11 TD. Knighten was a calming force for the Red Wolves with very few gaudy numbers (three 300+ games) but always did just enough to keep Arkansas State in the game with a chance to win at the end. With a year under his belt as a full time starter, expect Knighten to become a more explosive passer in 2015. 
6. James Knapke, Bowling Green: Knape is one of the most interesting quarterbacks to look at in the 2015 football season. As a rising junior with a 3,173 yard, 15 TD season under his belt, Knape is likely to lose his job to rising senior Matt Campbell, the starter going into the 2014 season who was lost for the season to injury. With performances that included 395 versus Indiana, 443 versus UMass, 321 versus Buffalo, 315 versus Kent State, and 368 versus South Alabama to add up for five 300+ games, it will be hard for Knape to accept waiting his turn in 2016. It will be interesting to see what Knape decides as he has already redshirted and would regain reins as a senior in 2016. 
7. Cooper Rush, Central Michigan: The rising junior Rush is coming off of his best game of his college career, a 493 yard, 7 TD game versus WKU in the Bahamas Bowl. Before the bowl game, Rush had not thrown for 300+ in any game in 2014 but had shown improvement throughout the season. Rush threw for 3+ touchdowns versus Ball State, Miami (OH), and WKU and now has 42 career passing touchdowns to go along with 5,506 career passing yards. Rush should be ableto make that next step forward but much of that will be dependent on how well the new coaching staff is able to use the junior quarterback in 2015.
8. Blake Decker, UNLV: In a season that saw moments of brilliance followed by more moments of disappointment, Decker was wildly inconsistent in 2014 but still threw for 2,886 yards and 15 TD. Decker struggled with interceptions but was impressive versus NIU (397), SDSU (346), and Fresno State (332) with his only 300+ passing games of the season. Decker threw for 3+ TDs twice with Utah State and Hawaii falling victim to those passes. Decker also showed dual threat skills with 366 yards rushing and five touchdowns. 
9. Tyler Rogers, New Mexico State: Though falling victim to a 2-10 season in 2014, Rogers showed glimpses of something special with 2,779 yards passing and 19 TD on the season. Similar to Decker for UNLV, Rogers had troubles with interceptions as he was -4 in the TD/INT gap. The rising junior threw for 300+ yards on five occasions with 324 (UTEP), 333 (UNM), 329 (Ga. So.), 404 (Texas St.), and 314 (Arkansas St.) wrapping up the occasions. Rogers also added 3+ TDs on three occasions. 
10. Tyler Jones, Texas State: Another rising junior quarterback, Jones was a solid presence for the Bobcats with 2,670 yards and 22 TD after a 1,130 yard, 8 TD season as a freshman. The biggest things Jones did to help Texas State was take care of the ball as evidenced by a +15 TD/INT gap on the season. Jones threw for 300+ yards versus Illinois (336), Georgia Southern (302), and South Alabama (300) while breaking the three touchdown barrier on two occasions. Jones could also move the ball with his feet while rushing for 544 yards and six touchdowns.