Kirk Herbstreit Names His Four Quarterback 'Sleepers' For 2026
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College football witnessed Fernando Mendoza ascend to stardom last season. Kirk Herbstreit identified some candidates who can take a seismic leap in 2026.
Herbstreit ranked the game's top quarterbacks during an appearance on On3's Crain & Cane. Beyond the usual suspects, he was asked to pick some "underdiscussed" names capable of playing their way up the hierarchy.
The ESPN broadcaster started with Mendoza's replacement at Indiana before choosing a quarterback returning to his SEC squad.
"I think Josh Hoover could be that guy," Herbstreit said. "I really think that Marcel Reed, not because he’s an MBA guy, but he’s at a school where they’re just scratching the surface on who Mike Elko is going to allow them to become. He happens to have the keys to the car right now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Marcel created even more buzz than he did this year."
Meanwhile, Herbstreit is intrigued by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele after a promising freshman year at California.
"He’s a freak, man," Herbstreit said. "I think that kid’s kind of knocking on the door."
Herbstreit also expects Demond Williams Jr. to garner more attention next season.
"I really like his game at Washington," Herbstreit said. "He's a bit off the radar, but I think he’s another guy that will climb."
Herbstreit's quarterback picks to click
With Mendoza going to the NFL, Curt Cignetti snagged another new starting quarterback off the portal. Hoover transferred to Indiana after tossing 56 touchdowns in his last two seasons at TCU.
He's not exactly an under-the-radar sleeper. Hoover has the third-shortest odds (+1000) to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy on FanDuel Sportsbook behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Reed, however, is further down the Heisman ledger at +2500 odds. He steered Texas A&M to the College Football Playoff, averaging 8.4 yards per pass attempt and accounting for 31 touchdowns.
Williams completed 69.5 percent of his passes for the Huskies last season and finished his sophomore campaign on a high note, throwing four touchdowns in an LA Bowl win over Boise State. He also amassed 611 rushing yards in 2025.
Sagapolutele might best fit the sleeper mold. The 19-year-old is a +8000 Heisman long shot after commencing his college career with 3,454 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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