Each day leading up to the draft, The Post will take a position-by-position look at the top players.
Remember the Quarterback Class of 1983? John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ken O’Brien (sorry Jets fans, low blow) and Dan Marino?
Fast forward to the Class of ’99: Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper?
Now jump to the Class of ’04, which gave us Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. And just two years later, the Class of ’06 delivered Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler.
Nothing not even a breathtaking college player such as Reggie Bush electrifies the draft like star-power quarterbacks. The NFL is in the midst of a honeymoon with offensive linemen, but Alan Faneca isn’t dating Gisele Bundchen, Tom Brady is.
Quarterbacks those tall, handsome, confident gunslingers are the players who make fans fanatic and draft fans into draftniks. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those drafts.
There is a good chance that only one quarterback, Boston College’s Matt Ryan, will go in the first round. After Ryan, there are several “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” types.
Louisville’s Brian Brohm is ready to run the West Coast offense. Delaware’s Joe Flacco is in the Roethlisberger mold of big, strong-armed quarterbacks. And Chad Henne was a four-year starter at Michigan, which didn’t make a lot of Wolverine fans overly happy.
Which brings us back to Ryan. There is a lot to like in the Exton, Pa., native. His intelligence and uncanny ability to make the big play are his greatest attributes.
It was Ryan who kept his poise, and his eyes downfield long enough to beat Virginia Tech and Clemson on last-minute touchdown throws. He is the kind of kid every father hopes his daughter will bring home one day. Wonder if Gisele has a sister?
Tomorrow: Running backs
TOP FIVE QUARTERBACKS
MATT RYAN, 6-4, 228,
Boston College
One of the best things to happen to Ryan was a change in the coaching staff at BC. That’s not a knock on Tom O’Brien, a standup guy who returned the Eagles to national prominence. But O’Brien was committed to the run. Jeff Jagodzinski came in from the Packers and opened up the playbook. Ryan had five receivers on most plays, and he showed great ability to go through his reads.
BRIAN BROHM, 6-2, 230, Louisville
Brohm grew up in a football family and has been a quarterback since he was in the crib. Had two very good offensive coaches in college in Bobby Petrino and Steve Kragthorpe. Tough with a capital T.
JOE FLACCO, 6-6, 236, Delaware
Began his career at Pitt before transferring to I-AA Delaware, where he was a two-year starter. Although “small” school players are making an immediate impact in the NFL, quarterback is the one position where the level of competition is an issue.
CHAD HENNE, 6-2, 230, Michigan
When given time, he can get the ball into almost any space. But when forced out of his comfort zone, your guess is as good as his. Had his most impressive performance against an athletic Florida team in the Capital One Bowl.
ANDRE WOODSON, 6-4, 229, Kentucky
Great character. He put Kentucky football on the map, which means he is not afraid of any challenge. Funky throwing motion has some scouts thinking of Akili Smith.
SLEEPER
PAUL SMITH, 6-1, 208, Tulsa
Think Chad Pennington with a stronger arm. Teammates love his work ethic and toughness. If he were two inches taller, he gets drafted, but at 6-1, he cannot scan the field. A West Coast offensive team might be interested.
OVERALL GRADE: C-