There's no more important position in sports than quarterback. Thus, even though we are months away from the 2025 college football season, people are already looking to try to predict which signal-callers will run the sport next season.
To understand just how much that position dominates college football, we need to look no further than the recent Heisman Trophy winners. Though in 2024, the game's top award was handed to Colorado wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, the Heisman has largely become a quarterback award.
Prior to Hunter, seven of the previous eight Heisman winners played quarterback. What's more, since the turn of the century, 20 quarterbacks have won the Heisman.
As such, there is no question that quarterbacks will play a huge role in the way the 2025 college football season plays out. For instance, the five players with the best odds to win next year's Heisman all play QB.
That's why On3 Sports has released its list of the 25 impact quarterbacks for 2025. Interestingly, Texas Tech senior Behren Morton is included on that list.
The Eastland, Texas product who was born in Lubbock checks in at No. 17 in the ranking. Other Big 12 quarterbacks on the list are Arizona State's Sam Leavitt (No. 1), TCU's Josh Hoover (No. 11), Baylor's Sawyer Robertson (No. 18), Iowa State's Rocco Becht (No. 19), and Kansas State's Avery Johnson (No. 20).
Of course, there is a huge question about Morton's health as we enter the offseason. He had major surgery on his right shoulder in December and he won't be back to a full throwing program until the summer. That means he will miss all of spring football when Tech will be installing the offensive system of new O.C. Mack Leftwich.
Even though Morton played with a less-than-100% throwing shoulder in 2024, he was still more than solid. Throwing for 3,335 yards and 27 touchdowns with only eight interceptions, he had his best season as a collegiate and led the Red Raiders to an 8-4 regular season.
Now, the Red Raiders need him to take the next step and become an elite QB on the national stage. With the investment the program has made in the 2025 season by bringing in an elite and expensive 17-man transfer class, expectations are massive for the Red Raiders.
Tech's ability to contend for a Big 12 title might largely depend on Morton and his health. That's one reason why he's included on the list of the most impactful QBs for next season.