The Pittsburgh Steelers’ history as a defender during the Ben Roethlisberger era is simple. Roethlisberger has been the man, but many other talented quarterbacks were hired to help during his time in Pittsburgh.
Much of the Steelers’ history since 2004 has been rooted in Roethlisberger’s success on the pitch, but that does not deny what these defenders did when they were college athletes.
In fact, a recent ESPN article ranked the top 60 college quarterbacks of the 2000s, and you know I was looking to see which Steelers quarterbacks found their place on this list. To be fair, I included only the quarterbacks who at least started a game for black and gold.
That said, take a look at the Steelers defenders who made the list, as well as their ranking, below:
53. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Years: 2014-17
Statistics: 13,618 passing yards, 63% completion rate, 92 TD, 26 INT, 17 rushed TDs
Few defenders have ever thrown a more beautiful deep ball. The Cowboys have won 10 games and finished in the AP top 20 in all three of Rudolph’s seasons as a starter. They have averaged eight wins since he left.
41. Byron Leftwich, Marshall
Years: 1998-2002
Statistics: 11,903 passing yards, 65% completion rate, 89 TD, 28 INT, 6 TD running
An old school gunslinger, Leftwich took the Thundering Herd to two conference titles and produced two lasting memories: leading a 30-point recovery over East Carolina in the 2001 GMAC Bowl and, the following year, almost leading against Akron with a broken leg .
36. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
Years: 9/12/2009
Statistics: 16,646 overtaking yards, 64% completion rate, 123 TD, 52 INT, 3 TD running
Here is a complete list of power-conference QBs that have thrown more yards than Jones:
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It was difficult to assess Jones’ constant excellence in real time, but by the time he graduated, he put together a four-year statistical curriculum that, even in the nearly decade that followed, no one has outgrown it.
26. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio)
Years: 2001-03
Statistics: 10,829 passing yards, 66% completion rate, 84 TD, 34 INT, 7 TD running
After two strong seasons, Big Ben set a timer in 2003. His Redhawks beat Northwestern by 30, averaged 47 points per game at MAC, and then defeated Louisville in the GMAC Bowl to finish 10th in the AP vote.
I’m sure many of you are wondering who is in the Top 10 on this ESPN list, so here it is. Keep in mind that this is focused solely on university production, not on the NFL’s success:
10. Robert Griffin III – Baylor
9. Marcus Mariota – Oregon
8. Lamar Jackson – Louisville
7. Kyler Murray – Oklahoma
6. Deshaun Watson – Clemson
5. Joe Burrow – Ohio State / LSU
4. Tim Tebow – Florida
3. Vince Young – Texas
2. Cam Newton – Auburn
1. Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma
Let us know your thoughts on the list above in the comments below, and stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes on black and gold as they prepare for the league’s new year, NFL Free Agency and Draft 2021 of the NFL.