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Pac-12 quarterback power rankings: Does Shedeur Sanders crack the top tier?

By Josh Yourish

Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacts against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacts against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 28, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita #11 makes a pass down the field against Oregon State Beavers defensive lineman Joe Golden #95 during the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita #11 makes a pass down the field against Oregon State Beavers defensive lineman Joe Golden #95 during the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports /

Pac-12 QB rankings No. 7: Noah Fifita

  • Passing yards: 1,521
  • TD: 14 INT: 4
  • Comp: 76.2%
  • YPA: 8.0

Fifita has completely revitalized Arizona this year. Since taking over for the injured Jayden De Laura and starting against Washington, the Wildcats are 3-2 and nearly beat USC in overtime. Fifita is supremely accurate, and in the last three games, he has completed over 78% of his passes.

The reason that Fifita can have such a high completion percentage is that he has an average depth of target of 6.4 yards. He only has 18 attempts over 20 yards and connected on just six of those.

He gets the ball out quickly and is accurate, but I’m not sure how far he can take Arizona without stretching out a defense vertically. Defenses will adjust and I don’t think Fifita has a counter. At 5-foot-11 he’s like a late-career Drew Brees when his arm was shot. He has some zip and can get the ball outside the numbers, and he has some juice as a runner, but he ranks 157th out of 160 QBs in ADOT and I need more of a downfield passer.

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