The level of quarterback play over the past decade or two is lightyears ahead of what it once was.
Along the way we have seen absolute masterclass performances and all-time careers, and while it is difficult to decipher who is truly the best; ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked the top 75 quarterbacks of the 2000s.
As most Stanford and college football fans alike would expect, Luck is featured on the list and is towards the top. Luck came in as the No. 18 quarterback below notable names such as Kellen Moore (Boise State), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Jameis Winston (Florida State), and Matt Leinart (USC).
Connelly explained what Luck brought to the table for the Cardinal, and how he was the start of a decade-long period of success.
In the seven seasons before Luck took over in the starting lineup, Stanford won a total of 25 games. In his three years behind center, the Cardinal won 31, peaking at 12-1 with an Orange Bowl title in 2010. His arrival in Palo Alto completely altered the trajectory of the program.
While Luck finished his college career as an all-time great for Stanford and was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, his pro career will go down as one of the biggest question marks in the history of sports. The Cardinal legend elected to retire during what should have been the prime of his career due to injuries.
The Cardinal have since been chasing the elusive success that Luck had, and new head coach Troy Taylor who is regarded as a quarterback whisperer is hopeful Stanford can return to its former glory.
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