Marcus Stokes moves up 11 spots in CBS Sports’ quarterback rankings

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CBS Sports’ David Cobb is updating his “College Football QB Power Rankings” every week throughout the college football season, and he continues to move Memphis’ Marcus Stokes up in the rankings every week.

Last week, even during an open date week, moved up a spot, and after his performance against Charlotte, he moved up 11 spots to No. 28. Stokes is sandwiched between a pair of Power Four quarterbacks, and he’s he’s the second-highest rated Group of Six quarterback, sitting behind Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson.

Atkinson threw for 427 yards and five touchdowns in a 30-point road win over Colorado State. The sophomore has thrown for 1,848 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions through five games for the Beavers.

In Saturday’s game, Stokes went 20-for-25 for 318 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions before Charles Huff made the decision to put in the backups in the third quarter. With the performance, Stokes was named the conference Offensive Player of the Week, and he was on the Davey O’Brien Great 8 List and the Manning Award Stars of the Week List.

Stokes has thrown for 1,371 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, and he ranks No. 16 in passing yards, No. 6 in passing touchdowns and No. 7 in quarterback rating. The Tigers lead the conference in offensive efficiency.

There were some questions earlier in the season about Stokes’ ball security after throwing a pair of interceptions against Arkansas State and an interception against Boise State, but he has now gone two straight games without an interception, and he has even limited his incompletions. 

He threw only six incomplete passes against the Skyhawks and five against the 49ers. It’s hard to tell if Stokes is improving in the offense or if it’s a product of the opponent. In those two games, the Tigers played against an FCS opponent and 0-5 Charlotte.

The Tigers’ quarterback is one of 14 Group of Six quarterbacks in the 50 quarterback power ranking. North Texas’ Tayven Jackson (No. 34) and FAU’s Caden Veltkamp (No. 46) are the only other quarterbacks from the American in the rankings.

Former Tiger JC French IV, who is the starter at Cincinnati, is at No. 44, and Boise State’s Maddux Madsen, who beat Memphis in week 2, sits at No. 42.

It will be interesting to see if Stokes can continue his impressive play in a home game on Saturday against UAB. Weather could be a factor again, but the quarterback was able to handle the rain well last week in Charlotte.

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