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College football's best pocket passers entering the 2023 season is truly subjective considering how many leading offenses actually run a pro-style, max protect-type look anymore in the tempo-based spread era. How many exactly? Very few.

Regardless, NFL evaluators pick and choose qualities they think translate to the next level and when you're blessed with arm talent, size, accuracy and a proven ability to read defenses, chances are you're going to find a place on the big board every April.

There are a few underrated starting quarterbacks this fall who could bring their respective programs to prominence, perhaps in the thick of the College Football Playoff race, as primarily pocket passers. These rankings are evenly-dispersed and based around film study, production from the pocket and completion percentage relative to scheme and difficulty.

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Continuing our summer quarterback series, here's a look at college football's 10 best pocket passers entering the new campaign and career numbers for each.

Career numbers (28 games): 577-of-923 (62.5%), 7,369 yards passing, 53 TDs, 26 INTs

You can't talk about the Pac-12's wealth of quarterback talent heading into the 2023 season without mentioning Arizona's starter, who transferred ahead of the 2022 season from Washington State. Wildcats offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll, the son of Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, relied on his quarterback to make plays from the pocket last fall and he didn't disappoint, throwing for 3,685 yards and 25 scores. Arizona does replace its top pass-catcher from a season ago in Dorian Singer (USC), so that's something to watch in 2023.

Career numbers (30 games): 568-of-944 (60.2), 6,807 yards, 62 TDs, 16 INTs

One of the most underrated quarterbacks nationally, Leary took his talents to the SEC this offseason from NC State, where he battled through a chest and shoulder injury last fall after a 35-touchdown redshirt sophomore campaign. You'll notice on film that Leary is a rhythm passer who often got hot as the game progressed during his tenure with the Wolfpack. In Liam Coen's pro-style scheme at Kentucky, Leary could have a rapid rise nationally much like Will Levis during the 2021 season.

Career numbers (48 games): 944-of-1,597 (59.1), 12,967 yards, 110 TDs, 41 INTs

A passing record-breaker at Wake Forest, Hartman plays his sixth season of college football at Notre Dame this fall where he hopes to take the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff. He's transitioning to a spread look from the Demon Deacons' interesting slow-mesh offense and should flourish as a passer. Hartman is going to have several spotlight opportunities to show what he's got against elite teams that were largely non-existent in the ACC.

Career numbers (36 games): 646-of-967 (66.8), 7,791 yards, 76 TDs, 23 INTs

Mordecai is an ideal scheme-fit signal-caller for Phil Longo's Air Raid at Wisconsin, an entirely different philosophical switch for the Badgers from what we're accustomed to seeing at the Big Ten program. Mordecai comes off consecutive noteworthy seasons at SMU and now brings his game to the Power Five ranks to headline a team capable of competing for a conference crown. While the Air Raid relies on a variety of horizontal throws and accuracy in the quick game, Mordecai's arm strength is not an issue and is lethal downfield.

Career numbers (38 games): 430-of-703 (61.2), 5,959 yards, 46 TDs, 18 INTs

Travis enters the 2023 season as one of four active players nationally with at least 5,500 career passing yards and 1,700 rushing yards, but he would be the first to tell you he'd rather air it out than risk it on the move. Travis showed impressive development last fall during his second season as the Seminoles' starter and improved his numbers across the board while playing with noticeably more confidence. What makes him unique from the pocket is that he's not a run-first signal--caller, but will take off and move the chains with ease if necessary.

Career numbers (14 games): 389-of-602 (64.5), 4,744 yards, 40 TDs, 11 INTs

Reed's a seasoned veteran in the college ranks, but played his first season at the FBS level in 2022. Prior to that, he won a Division II national championship with West Florida, where he threw for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns during the 2019 campaign. After signing a lucrative NIL deal this offseason, Reed decided to return to the Hilltoppers after exiting the transfer portal. He beat out West Virginia transfer Jarret Doege in preseason camp last fall at Western Kentucky and led his team to eight wins as one of the nation's most prolific pocket, pro-style quarterbacks.

Career numbers (35 games): 559-of-792 (70.6), 8,086 yards, 78 TDs, 8 INTs

McCall had one of the most efficient seasons of all time at the quarterback position as a junior in 2021, then followed that up with another statistically-noteworthy campaign last fall. He's back for another season, this time under the tutelage of first-year head coach Tim Beck. When the pocket collapses and there's pressure around him, McCall seems to be in full control. In his career with the Chanticleers, McCall ranks first in career pass completion percentage (70.6), first in career passing efficiency (186.8), first in career average yards per completion (14.5), first in career passing yards per game (231.03), first in career passing touchdowns (78) and first in touchdowns responsible for (95).

Career numbers (33 games): 704-of-1,130 (62.3), 8,838 yards, 60 TDs, 23 INTs

His completion percentage is not as high as some of the pocket passers in this ranking, but the degree of difficulty on many of Penix's throws deserve a closer look within the highlight package. There might not be a quarterback nationally who's better at fitting the football in tight windows where only his guy can get it. Ball placement is an obvious strength. Whether he's in the pocket on a multi-step drop or off platform, Penix's usually a split-second away from rearing back and chucking one down the middle of the field.

Career numbers (16 games): 349-of-527 (66.2), 4,410 yards, 39 TDs, 7 INTs

The sample size is relatively small on Maye, who's only been UNC's starter for one season after backing up Sam Howell as a freshman in 2021. What he has shown on tape though? Scouts have been forced to chart him as an early first-rounder in 2024, right behind top quarterback prospect Caleb Williams. Maye did much of the heavy-lifting last fall for the Tar Heels and dissected every secondary he faced as the ACC's best player. Maye's dangerous from anywhere on the field, especially with time.

Career numbers (25 games): 469-of-711 (66.0), 63 TDs, 9 INTs

Does Williams have a weakness as college football's top returning player and the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft? The experts have tried hard to find one after Williams won the Heisman last fall. From the pocket, Williams can do a little bit of everything — throwing from different arm slots, varying velocity with pinpoint precision, uncorking one to the second level to a wideout approaching the sideline. There's not a throw he can't make from the pocket.