Chris Simms names his top five college quarterbacks

As the college football season reaches Week 8, Chris Simms weighed in on the quarterback debate by unveiling his top five signal-callers on "NBC Sports College Countdown."

5. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

"There's not a more gifted quarterback in college football than this guy," Simms said regarding LaNorris Sellers. "Because he's so talented, I do think he takes it upon himself sometimes to make it happen... His arm is the strongest arm in college football; I think he'll be favored very highly by the NFL when it's all said and done." 

Sellers currently has 1,548 passing yards, 507 rushing yards, and 19 total touchdowns for the South Carolina Gamecocks. 

Sellers did it all for the Gamecocks in their win over No. 11 Tennessee, today accumulating 306 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, two through the ground. He delivered a five-touchdown showcase in South Carolina's 38-19 triumph over then-ranked No. 16 Florida on Oct. 10.

It's just the third time South Carolina has had consecutive ranked wins in the last ten years.

4. CJ Carr, Notre Dame

"He's surgical; he can just pick you apart," Simms said, via NBC Sports. "He's very comfortable in the pocket. He moves better than people give him credit for... The big thing is his great decision-making, seeing the field perfectly, and pinpoint accuracy." 

Carr has 19 total touchdowns so far this season, with three rushing scores, and just one interception. 

3. Darian Mensah, Miami

"He can just go through reads, pick people apart, put the ball wherever he wants," Simms said. "Throws the ball with great touch... I saw enough through my studies to go, 'Oh, it's there,' regarding Mensah's ability to step on it and throw a laser down the field."

Mensah leads the FBS this season with a completion percentage of 80.8%. Mensah, a Heisman Trophy contender, has led Miami to a 7-0 start, helping keep the Hurricanes among the nation's unbeaten teams. He has 22 touchdown passes to just one interception. 

Mensah turned in one of his best outings of the season on Saturday against Pittsburgh, completing 31 of 37 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover.

2. Trindad Chambliss, Ole Miss

"Trindad Chambliss is a phenomenal football player... The running, the playmaking ability, but the elite arm, that's really what I love," Simms said. "You could see the way the ball comes off his hand. He can spin it, he can throw from different arm angles... He's a human highlight film."

He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six of seven games this season. His 83.3 QBR ranks among the nation's top quarterbacks, placing him tied for 12th nationally via ESPN.

1. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

"This guy has a lot of Josh Allen type qualities about him; he's big, he's got a big time arm," Simms said. "Another guy where he can scramble, nothing's there, still make a play down the field. He doesn't look like it, but this is a guy that also can run for 70-yard touchdowns."

Mestemaker led the FBS in passing yards during his redshirt freshman season at North Texas with 4,379 yards. He was named American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and won the Burlsworth Trophy. 

After following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, he has emerged as one of the nation's most productive playmakers. Through the first half of the season, he's accounted for 24 total touchdowns, passed for 2,326 yards, and delivered a signature performance against Oregon on Sept. 12 with 426 total yards, including 109 on the ground.