Ranking NFL Alma Mater Offensive Trios

 

Using only active NFL players, I take a look at ranking the best offensive trios using college alumni. This list takes the top QB, RB, WR from 32 different colleges.

The Best

The top two schools have veteran Pro Bowl talent at all three positions.

1 Stanford

QB Andrew Luck, RB Christian McCaffery, TE Zach Ertz

Luck returned healthy in 2018, throwing 39 touchdown passes (second most in the league). Christian McCaffery almost joined the 1000/1000 club (1,098 yards rushing, 867 yards receiving). Zach Ertz led all tight ends in catches (116), finished third in yards (1,163 yards), and third in touchdowns (8).

2 Georgia

QB Matthew Stafford, RB Todd Gurley, WR AJ Green

Matthew Stafford has been as reliable as any QB over the past decade, despite the lack of postseason success. Todd Gurley had All-Pro seasons in 2017 and 2018 but does have questions and concerns about his knee moving forward. AJ Green had an injury-shortened 2018 season, but certainly looked like himself when he was in the lineup.

3. Ohio State

QB Dwayne Haskins, RB Ezekiel Elliot, WR Mike Thomas

Hard to rank Ohio State higher than this at this time, but if Redskins rookie Dwayne Haskins lives up to his potential, this team could easily vault to #1 within a year or so as Ezekiel Elliot and Michael Thomas both rank at or near the top of their respective positions.

4. Oklahoma

QB Baker Mayfield, RB Joe Mixon, WR Sterling Shepard

You could go with Sterling Shepard, Kenny Stills, or Dede Westbrook at wide receiver. But whoever your preference is, it’s that position that holds the Sooners back from being even higher.

5. Auburn

QB Cam Newton, RB Kerryon Johnson, TE CJ Uzomah

Kerryon Johnson showed great potential as a rookie, but seemed to be held back by the coaching staff as part of a running back committee. CJ Uzomah stepped up for the Bengals with injuries derailing the guys ahead of him on the depth chart. Cam Newton had a mixed 2018 season, due largely to a shoulder issue.

6. USC

QB Sam Darnold, RB Ronald Jones, WR Juju Smith-Schuster

Sam Darnold exceeded expectations as a rookie and showed he has the potential to be the Jets franchise QB. Juju Smith-Schuster put up monster numbers (111 catches, 1,426 yards, 7 TDs) and has the potential to be even better in 2019 with Antonio Brown gone from the Steelers. Ronald Jones holds USC back from being higher after receiving limited carries behind Peyton Barber on the Bucs last year.

7. North Carolina

QB Mitchell Trubisky, RB Gio Bernard, TE Eric Ebron

Eric Ebron broke out in a huge way with a league leading (for tight ends) 13 touchdown receptions. Mitchell Trubisky helped guide the Bears to the playoffs, though credit is given more to the defense and run game than to Trubisky, who needs to improve in a few areas. Gio Bernard has become a part-time RB behind Joe Mixon, but if given the chance has shown he has potential.

8. California

QB Aaron Rodgers, RB CJ Anderson, Keenan Allen

Cal is a veteran, reliable trio. Jared Goff gets left off this list due to Rodgers’ presence. Marvin Jones and Desean Jackson are other options at WR, but obviously Keenan Allen is among the best at his position. Which CJ Anderson will show up in 2019 – the version from 2017 and the first part of 2018? Or the December/playoffs version that overtook Todd Gurley?

---

Missing a QB

Six unranked schools who have loaded of RB/WR talent, but nothing above “bad” at QB

Alabama – QB AJ McCarron, RB Mark Ingram, WR Julio Jones

Pittsburgh – QB Nathan Peterman (or Tom Savage), RB Lesean McCoy, WR Larry Fitzgerald

LSU – QB Danny Etling, RB Leonard Fournette, WR Odell Beckham Jr

LSU also has Jarvis Landry. Which school has produced the top active WR duo?

Miami – QB Brad Kaaya, RB Lamar Miller, TE David Njoku

Penn State – QB Trace McSorley, RB Saquon Barkley, WR Allen Robinson

Tennessee – QB Joshua Dobbs, RB Alvin Kamara, TE Jason Witten

Held back by lack of RB

Four schools that have great QB/WR combos, but lack RBs and are therefore unranked

Clemson – QB Deshaun Watson, RB Wayne Gallman, WR DeAndre Hopkins

Ole Miss – QB Eli Manning, RB Jordan Wilkins, WR Mike Wallace

Texas Tech – QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Deandre Washington, WR Michael Crabtree

Texas A&M – QB Ryan Tannehill, Treyveon Williams, Mike Evans

Not enough to make the cut

13 schools with notable trios, but not enough talent to make the rankings

Wisconsin – QB Russell Wilson, RB Melvin Gordon, TE Fumangelli

Michigan State – QB Kirk Cousins, RB Leveon Bell, WR Bennie Fowler

Louisville – QB Lamar Jackson, RB Bilal Powell, WR Devante Parker

Texas – QB Colt McCoy, RB D’onta Foreman, WR Marquise Goodwin

UCF – QB Blake Bortles, RB Latavius Murray, WR Tre’Quan Smith

Oregon – QB Marcus Mariota, RB Royce Freeman, TE Ed Dickson

West Virginia – QB Geno Smith, RB Wendell Smallwood, WR Tavon Austin

Oklahoma State – QB Brandon Weeden, RB Chris Carson, WR James Washington

Notre Dame – QB DeShone Kizer, RB Theo Riddick, WR Will Fuller/Golden Tate

Indiana – QB Nate Sudfeld, RB Jordan Howard/Tevin Coleman, WR Cody Latimer

Arizona State – QB Brock Osweiler, RB Kalen Ballage, WR N’Keal Harry

Louisiana Tech – QB Jeff Driskel, RB Kenneth Dixon, WR Trent Taylor

Central Michigan – QB Cooper Rush, RB Thomas Rawls, WR Antonio Brown

Florida State – QB Jameis Winston, RB Devonta Freeman, WR Kelvin Benjamin (currently out of work)

Noticeably missing – Michigan, Florida