College Football: One Improvement for Every Heisman Favorite QB in 2021

The regular season may be several months away, but college football is in full swing with spring games kicking off across the country. Among the many things fans will be watching is the continued progression of the nation's top quarterbacks.

In a post-Trevor Lawrence world, several young gunslingers will be looking to become the nation's top passer. To do so, they'll have to bring their game to another level in 2021, while leading their respective teams to even greater heights. For these Heisman favorites, improving certain facets of their game could pay huge dividends this coming season.

*Note: Quarterbacks selected based on VegasInsider's preseason Heisman odds. Statistics courtesy of Sports Reference CFB.

Spencer Rattler: Turnovers

Any critique of Rattler is going to feel like nitpicking. The star Oklahoma signal caller had a fantastic freshman year, passing for over 3,000 years and 28 touchdowns. His seven interceptions don't seem like a large amount, but five of them occurred during a span of three games, including a three-pick nightmare against Kansas State.

It must be stated that Rattler did improve significantly in this regard following a mid-game benching against Texas. In the seven games that followed, he threw for a 15:2 TD:INT ratio, and lost no fumbles after giving away five in the first four weeks. This is an encouraging sign for Sooners fans, and it shows the in-season progression of a talented young QB. Still, for an Oklahoma team with title aspirations, they can't have another disastrous performance from Rattler and expect to make the CFP.

D.J. Uiagalelei: Quick Decision Making

While Trevor Lawrence was out of action for two weeks due to COVID-19 protocols, D.J. Uiagalelei stepped in and balled out. The former five-star prospect threw for 342 yards against Boston College, only to follow it up with a history-making performance in an overtime loss against Notre Dame.

If there was one blemish in an otherwise flawless performance at South Bend, it was the two sacks and Uiagalelei's late game incompletions that proved to be the difference in OT. On a night where the Irish contained star running back Travis Etienne, D.J. had a tough time making quick passes in crunch time.

On a team like Clemson, especially against some of the lesser defenses in the ACC, Uiagalelei should have no trouble finding athletes in the open field. Being able to make swift reads will keep the opposition on their toes and keep the chains moving. As defenses learn to respect his deep-ball ability, Uiagalelei should be able to go underneath and find slot receivers and running backs who can make plays in space. While the future is certainly bright, it will be up to Uiagalelei to lead the Tigers back to the CFP in 2021.

JT Daniels: Air It Out

Even the most optimistic Georgia fan had to be floored by what they saw from J.T. Daniels in 2020. The USC transfer opened the season as the third-string quarterback in Athens behind D'Wan Mathis and Stetson Bennett, but eventually got the chance to start the team's final four games when Bennett went down with an injury. Daniels impressed, throwing for 1,231 yards and ten touchdowns and establishing himself as the starter for the Dawgs in 2021.

So, what made Daniels so effective as a starter? First, he cut down on his turnovers, tossing just two interceptions last year. The other noticeable difference was his ability to throw the ball deep. In his one full season at USC, Daniels had a mediocre average yards per attempt of 7.4. At Georgia, it jumped to 10.3 while maintaining a terrific completion percentage of 67.2.

Although we shouldn't expect Daniels to be quite so efficient next year, it seems like his arm strength was the key to unlocking the offensive potential of the Bulldogs. While UGA will miss star receiver George Pickens due to injury this season, there are still plenty of weapons at Daniels' disposal. Georgia's success will likely hinge on his newfound ability to stretch the field.

Sam Howell: Pocket Awareness

Few quarterbacks in the nation have as much pressure on them as Sam Howell. The North Carolina junior is tasked with leading the Tar Heels to new heights, and a potential CFP berth. With so much riding on his shoulders and a stellar returning cast, we should expect UNC's leader to have his best season at Chapel Hill this fall. His head coach certainly does:

One way for Howell to take his game to another level is to improve his mobility in the pocket, something even he has admitted to. Howell has averaged over three sacks per game during his two seasons in college. While much of the blame can be directed towards mediocre offensive line play, their 220 pound quarterback can't continue to stand still and take big hits.

A stellar athlete, the concern is not necessarily that Howell can't scramble for a few yards when nobody is open down field. Evading pressure includes simple acts such as throwing the ball away or dumping it off to a safety blanket, even if the play only results in a yard or two.

Subtle shifts away from defenders in the pocket, something that comes with experience and awareness, should only make UNC's Air Raid offense deadlier, as Howell will be able to buy more time for his targets to gain separation. With a potential future in the NFL ahead of him, Howell needs to make sure that he isn't punishing both his team and his body by holding onto the ball for too long.