Marcus Stokes moves up to No. 41 in CBS Sports’ QB Power Rankings

Marcus Stokes continues to move up the CBS Sports’ quarterback rankings again after falling out of the rankings a few weeks ago. Stokes moved up nine spots to No. 41 after returning to the rankings last week at No. 50.

Stokes moved all the way up to No. 24 in the power rankings, but he fell all the way out of the top 50 rankings after his performance against Tulane. In that game, Stokes threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, but he turned the ball over five times, including three interceptions. 

After the game, Huff said that Stokes took responsibility for the loss, and he called an offensive players-only meeting to make sure all the guys were on the same page. Stokes was asked about the meeting, and he said that he just wanted to make sure the cracks in the dam didn’t turn into the entire dam break. 

It appears the meeting worked, and Stokes has looked great in back-to-back games. He bounced back by throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns against East Carolina, and he added 371 yards and four touchdowns last week against Army.

He combined for three rushing touchdowns in both of those games, and he became the first quarterback in the program’s recorded history to account for five touchdowns in back-to-back games. 

Since the loss against the Green Wave, Stokes has thrown for 691 yards, seven touchdowns, no interceptions, and he’s added three touchdowns and 61 yards on the ground. Earlier this week, he was named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week.

On the season, he has thrown for 2,532 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he ranks No. 5 in passing yards and tied for first in passing touchdowns. He leads the conference in passing touchdowns, points responsible for, passing efficiency and passing yards per attempt.

He is one of 18 Group of Six quarterbacks in the rankings, and 13 of those quarterbacks are ahead of Stokes. North Texas’ Tayven Jackson, FAU’s Caden Veltkamp and Tulsa’s Baylor Hayes are all ahead of Stokes in the American Conference. 

Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson remains the top Group of Six quarterback in the country, and he dropped to No. 3 after the Beavers’ first conference loss. Atkinson has thrown for 2,977 yards, 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions, and he leads the country in passing yards and touchdowns.

Stokes will have the week off as the Tigers have an open date, and they will return to action next Thursday against South Florida.