Top 10 Quarterbacks Returning to the FCS
- fcsuntapped
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
The quarterback is a leader of the team. He’s a guy that commands the offense and is most responsible for the wins and loss column, aside from the coaching staff. In today’s game the QB needs to be athletic and have a hunger to win at all costs. Multiple years in one system usually benefits the quarterback and with the transfer portal it’s rare for that to happen. It’s even more rare to have so many returning at the FCS level – but we’re not mad at it. Here's FCS Untapped’s Top 10 Returning QBs that competed with their team or in the FCS in 2025.
1. Beau Brungard - Youngstown State
The reigning Walter Payton Award winner is coming back to the FCS. How can he not be atop this list? Here’s a guy that has off-the-chart production with his arm and with his legs. Brungard ranked inside the top 7 in the FCS passing yards and rushing yards rankings and led the FCS with 53 total touchdowns. What’s most impressive is he’s the only quarterback with less than 3 interceptions and over 400 pass attempts. Mind-blowing.
2. Justin Lamson - Montana State
This guy could be highly considered at No. 1 just off his will to win alone. He’s a dude that you would want to build your offense around and has the most pro-potential out of this group of QBs. Lamson ranked inside the top 10 in FCS last season in passing touchdowns (T8th – 26), passing yards (10th – 3,172). With one full season in the Montana State offense, lookout for a Walter Payton Award type season for Lamson in year two as signal caller.
3. Chris Parson - Austin Peay
This QB might be a little higher up on our list than some others, but we really like the potential he has. His overall game is legit, accumulating 37 total touchdowns in 2025, plus he takes care of the football with only 5 interceptions. He’s always a threat to score in the red zone leading the Governors to the fourth-best red zone scoring percentage in all of FCS in 2025. After barely missing the playoffs last year, Parson has the ability to put the team on his back in pursuit of a playoff berth in 2026.
4. Keali'i Ah Yat - Montana
Speaking of potential, Ah Yat enters his junior season and could have easily cracked the top 3, with a strong case for number 1. If you’re looking at arm talent and passing numbers alone, he’s definitely the guy, after leading the FCS in passing yards last year. He was the only gunslinger to eclipse 4,000 passing yards and totaled 33 passing touchdowns – both are atop the active returning leader list for 2026. What kept him from being higher on this list was his interception total from last year.
5. Andrew Body - Alabama State
If you’re looking for a Walter Payton Award wildcard, this is your guy. He does so much for his team and is always a threat to score through the air or on the ground. Don’t believe us? Go check out the box score in Alabama State’s season opener against UAB last season. He tallied 20 passing touchdowns and only 1 interception in just eight games after a season-ending shoulder injury in 2025. If Body can stay healthy, the SWAC better be on notice.
6. DJ Williams - Southern Illinois
Another electric player with the ball in his hand is DJ Williams, who shocked the FCS world announcing a return to SIU for his final season. The 6-3 senior tallied 40 total touchdowns last season and had at least 200 all-purpose yards by himself in every game. He had at least one rushing and one passing touchdowns in eight of 12 games last season. Coming off his best season under center, he hopes to lead the Salukis to the playoffs in 2026.
7. Devin Farrell - Rhode Island
He wears number 7 and he finds himself number seven on our list. A third-team All-American and CAA first-team member last season, Devin Farrell is one of the best pocket passers returning to FCS. He ranked second in the FCS in passing yards, only behind the No. 4 ranked QB on our list. Farrell finished inside the top 15 in passing efficiency and has one of the best deep ball throws of all the guys on this list. Farrell has a chance to win CAA Player of the Year and lead his team to another automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
8. Ty Pennington - NAU
Another guy that has great passing numbers is Ty Pennington. Mechanically he’s one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the FCS, but fell behind in some of the statistics due to drops by the receiving corps. However, he tallied nearly 1,000 more passing yards and six more touchdowns from year one to year two at NAU. His rushing numbers took a dip last year, but he’s more than capable of picking up yards on the ground. If he continues this trend his junior year will be one to watch.
9. Chase Mason - South Dakota State
Mason finally took the reins to the Jackrabbits offense after sitting behind one of the more dominant FCS quarterbacks in Mark Gronowski but couldn’t compete for a full season missing five and a half games with a lower leg injury. He posted an 8-1 record as a starter that including a dominant winning performance over the FCS champions, Montana State, in Bozeman. If he can put together a full season at SDSU, he’s got a shot to make some noise in the NFL draft next April.
10. Hayden Johnson - Lehigh
Moxy is the word that comes to mind when thinking of Hayden Johnson. In his first full season as a starter, he tallied 2,510 yards with 18 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions and tallied First Team All-Patriot League honors. He led his team to a undefeated regular season but couldn’t get the win in a barn-burner against Villanova in the 2nd round of the FCS Playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Johnson does in a new-look Patriot League that added two playoff contenders this year.
Honorable Mentions
*Pat McQuaide - Villanova
Collin Hurst – West Georgia
Dante Reno – Yale
Jordan Cooke - Idaho State
Joshua Wood – Idaho
*seeking extra year with NCAA waiver
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