Quarterback measurables matter more in college football than they ever have. Scouts argue about arm slots and release points, but height and weight still drive draft boards — a 6’5″, 240-pound passer gets graded differently than a 6’0″ scrambler with the same completion percentage. And with bowl season and the NFL Draft cycle lining up, fans are digging into roster listings like they’re box scores.
Here’s a rundown of the frames behind some of the most-watched arms in the sport heading into 2026. These are school-listed heights and weights, which tend to run a touch generous — combine measurements almost always shave an inch or a few pounds off. This isn’t a ranking of talent, just a look at how wildly different the modern college QB body type can be.
1. Athan Kaliakmanis
Image: Bobak Ha’Eri / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Rutgers starter is listed at 6’3″ and about 215 lbs — a prototypical Big Ten build without the bulk of some of his conference rivals. The Antioch, Illinois native spent three seasons at Minnesota before transferring to Piscataway ahead of 2024.
Kaliakmanis has the kind of lean, athletic frame that holds up over a full season of conference football. He’s not a pure pocket statue either — he’ll tuck it and run when the protection breaks down.
2. Arch Manning
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Texas lists Manning at 6’4″ and 225 lbs, which puts him right in the range his uncles occupied in college. Peyton was 6’5″, Eli 6’4″. The family genes are doing exactly what you’d expect.
The Isidore Newman product is a better athlete than either uncle at the same age. He’s run for multiple touchdowns in single games, something neither Peyton nor Eli did much of. That added mobility comes from a thicker lower half than the Manning name usually brings to mind.
3. Drew Allar
Image: Bobak Ha’Eri / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Penn State has listed Allar at 6’5″ and 238 lbs — one of the biggest quarterbacks in the country. The Medina, Ohio native is built closer to a tight end than a passer, and he’s used that mass on short-yardage sneaks throughout his Nittany Lions career.
That size comes with a cannon arm. Allar’s velocity has been his calling card since he was a five-star recruit in the 2022 class.
4. LaNorris Sellers
Image: Bobak Ha’Eri / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South Carolina lists Sellers at 6’3″ and 242 lbs, making him one of the heaviest starting QBs in major college football. He’s built like a linebacker and runs like one too — defenders bounce off him in the open field.
The Florence, South Carolina product broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2024, including a late touchdown run against Clemson that showed exactly what 242 pounds of momentum does to a secondary.
5. Fernando Mendoza
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Indiana’s transfer addition checks in around 6’5″ and 225 lbs. The Miami native started his career at Cal before heading to Bloomington, and that length gives him clean sightlines over interior pressure.
Mendoza was a lightly recruited high schooler who added significant size in college. His brother Alberto also plays quarterback at Cal.
6. Garrett Nussmeier
LSU’s starter is on the slimmer end at about 6’2″ and 200 lbs. Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL assistant Doug Nussmeier, and he plays with the kind of quick-trigger release you’d expect from a coach’s kid.
The weight has been the main knock from evaluators. He’s a pure pocket passer who wins with timing rather than physicality.
7. Julian Sayin
Ohio State lists Sayin at about 6’1″ and 203 lbs, which makes him one of the shorter high-profile starters in the sport. The Carlsbad, California product originally signed with Alabama, then transferred to Columbus after Nick Saban retired in January 2024.
Accuracy is his thing. Sayin has posted some of the best completion percentages in the country despite giving up three or four inches to most of his peers.
8. Taylen Green
At a listed 6’6″ and 230 lbs, the Arkansas quarterback is one of the tallest starters in the FBS. The Lewisville, Texas native played at Boise State before transferring to Fayetteville in 2024.
Green is a legitimate dual threat despite the height — he’s rushed for 500-plus yards in a season, which is rare at that size. Long strides cover ground fast.
9. Diego Pavia
Vanderbilt’s starter is listed around 6’0″ and 205 lbs — compact, thick through the chest and legs. The Albuquerque native won an NJCAA national title at New Mexico Military Institute, then starred at New Mexico State before landing in Nashville.
Pavia got extra eligibility after a 2024 legal challenge against the NCAA over how junior college seasons are counted. He upset Alabama in his first year with the Commodores.
10. Bryce Underwood
Michigan’s five-star freshman arrived listed at about 6’4″ and 225 lbs. The Belleville, Michigan product was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class and flipped from LSU to the Wolverines in a widely covered decision.
He’s already built like a junior. Underwood threw for over 11,000 yards in high school and added rushing production on top of it.
The spread here says plenty: from Sayin at 6’1″, 203 lbs to Green at 6’6″, 230 lbs, there’s no single blueprint anymore. Programs are winning with 240-pound battering rams and 200-pound surgeons in the same conference. Expect combine weigh-ins to trim a few of these listings down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the biggest quarterback on the 2026 college football list?
Penn State’s Drew Allar is the tallest at a listed 6’5″ and 238 lbs, while South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers is the heaviest at 6’3″ and 242 lbs.
How tall is Arch Manning?
Texas lists Arch Manning at 6’4″ and 225 lbs, right between his uncles — Peyton Manning at 6’5″ and Eli Manning at 6’4″.
Are these official measurements?
No. These are school-listed heights and weights, which tend to run generous. NFL Combine measurements usually shave off an inch or a few pounds.
Is this list a ranking of the best quarterbacks?
No. It’s a look at how different modern college quarterback body types are, not a ranking of talent or production.
Which quarterback has the leanest build on the list?
Rutgers starter Athan Kaliakmanis, listed at 6’3″ and about 215 lbs, has the leanest frame — a prototypical Big Ten build without the extra bulk.
Why do quarterback height and weight matter for the NFL Draft?
Scouts weigh frame heavily on draft boards — a 6’5″, 240-pound passer is graded differently than a 6’0″ scrambler with the same completion percentage.
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Last Updated: October 25, 2026 | Source: Healthy Celeb
