It’s fascinating to contemplate how much of a difference two years can make.
2013 was the year of the quarterback in the SEC. The conference was oozing with talent with names like Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, A.J. McCarron and Connor Shaw. 2014 was expected to be a down year for quarterback play in the SEC, and it was, especially compared to 2013. What level of performance will we see from this position in 2015?
Despite 2014 being a down year at quarterback in the SEC, several seniors — Blake Sims, Hutson Mason, Nick Marshall and Bo Wallace — all led their teams admirably. With a lack of both senior leadership and star power at quarterback in 2015 (with one notable exception), what will the SEC quarterback crop look like this season?
Alabama
Will this be the year of Jacob Coker? Everyone expected him to win the starting job in 2014, but he was beaten by Blake Sims (who went on to have the highest QB rating in the league). Along with Coker, the Tide have two four-star recruits in David Cornwell and Cooper Bateman, along with freshman five-star prospect Blake Barnett. I would be surprised to see anyone other than Coker under center as the Tide groom Barnett to be his replacement in 2016.
Outlook: Optimistic
Arkansas
At some point last season, Brandon Allen evolved from a disaster to a competent game manager. In 2013, Allen had a TD-INT ratio of 13-10, but he improved that last season to 20-5. He settled into Bret Bielema’s system and didn’t throw a INT in his last four games. Arkansas went 3-1 in those games, losing only to No. 14 Missouri by seven. Allen must still improve his accuracy and his deep ball (the Hogs were dead last in the conference in passing plays of over 30 yards), but Razorback fans should feel much better going into 2015 than they did heading into 2014.
Outlook: Trending Up
Auburn
Auburn will lose Nick Marshall but is set up to succeed with Jeremy Johnson. He hasn’t seen that much action over the last two years, but when he has, he’s filled in well. With Marshall suspended for the first half of the 2014 opener against Arkansas, Johnson went 12 of 16 for 243 yards with 2 TD and 0 INT. In his two seasons, Johnson has a completion percentage of over 70. Don’t expect Johnson to put up those type of numbers, but Auburn is in great shape at QB for 2015.
Outlook: Solid
Florida
The Jeff Driskel era is finally over in Florida, as Treon Harris took over the reins last season. Harris helped the team win four of its last six, but he failed to complete at least 50 percent of his passes in the last four games of the season. The other question is how well he fits into Jim McElwain’s system. Another option is Will Grier, who redshirted last season after enrolling early. This battle will be decided in the fall, but I would be surprised if Grier doesn’t ultimately win the job.
Outlook: Questionable at best
Georgia
Hutson Mason was a very competent place-holder in 2014, as he finished second in the league in QB rating and had a TD-INT ratio of 21-4. Brice Ramsey looked like the replacement of choice for Mike Bobo, but with Bobo moving on to become the head coach at Colorado State, the job appears to be wide open. Georgia is as talented as anyone in league at QB, but that talent is inexperienced. Ramsey will battle four-star recruit Jacob Park and three-star recruit Faton Bauta. I see Ramsey or Park getting the job, but I also think Bauta could be a wildcard with his ability to run. New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer could keep defenses on their toes by installing a specific package for Bauta to run in certain situations.
Outlook: Talented players, but with cause for concern
Kentucky
Patrick Towles returns for the Cats and will be under center in 2015. In 2014, Towles struggled against the better teams on UK’s schedule. After starting 5-1, the schedule ramped up and Towles’s performance dropped. In the last six games, his completion percentage was 52.2, and he totaled just 4 TDs against 5 interceptions. In his second year as a starter, look for improvement, but it needs to be significant for Kentucky to take a step forward.
Outlook: Not bad, but not great
LSU
Both of the Tigers’ returning quarterbacks, Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris, struggled mightily in 2014. Jennings saw most of the snaps last season (attempting 227 passes to Harris’s 45), but the position is expected to be an open competition this spring. There are rumors of a transfer coming in (Everett Golson), but unless that happens, expect LSU to run the ball a lot in 2015. If all things stay the same, expect both Jennings and Harris to get a shot to run the team in 2015. With a year under his belt, I think Harris could get the first shot.
Outlook: Holding out for a hero
Mississippi State
At one point last season, Dak Prescott was considered by some as the best player in college football. In the Bulldogs’ tougher games, Prescott wasn’t as dynamic as he was at the beginning of the season. However, with another year under his belt, we will see the best of Prescott this upcoming season. Expect Prescott to be a Heisman contender, but will that be enough for Mississippi State to take the next step?
Outlook: Rock & Roll
Missouri
Maty Mauk is Brett Favre at his most unpredictable. One minute Mauk is hitting a receiver in stride on an off-balance throw for a 47-yard gain. The next minute he’s throwing two straight incompletions that are nowhere near the receiver. Mauk might be the most gifted and frustrating quarterback in the SEC, maybe even all of college football. Even with his inconsistencies (120.76 QB rating, 13 INTs, 53.4 % completion rate), the Tigers still went 11-3 with him at QB and 7-1 in the conference. With Mauk under center, they can beat any team in the league, but I also think they can lose to any team in the league.
Outlook: Jekyll and Hyde
Ole Miss
Gone are the days of “Good Bo” and “Bad Bo” in Oxford. Is the heir apparent Chad Kelly, who was in trouble the minute he walked onto campus? Ole Miss has other options, but Hugh Freeze brought Kelly in because he had to. Playing behind Tajh Boyd and Cole Stoudt at Clemson, Kelly rarely saw the field. If he couldn’t beat out Stoudt for the No. 2 spot at Clemson, I’m not sure how much success he will find at Ole Miss. Without a doubt, the Rebels have one of the biggest question marks at QB in the SEC.
Outlook: Shotgun Wedding
South Carolina
In 2013, when Connor Shaw left, the Gamecocks lost the heart and soul of their offense. Dylan Thompson stepped in and threw for the most yards in the SEC in 2014, but a lot of that was of necessity due to the Gamecocks trailing. South Carolina should look to another Connor in 2015, Connor Mitch, to lead the team. However, he has just six passing attempts under his belt at the college level.
Outlook: Uncertain
Tennessee
Despite his inability to win the starting job in 2014, Josh Dobbs was seen as the future for the Vols at quarterback, and he started to show it toward the end of last season. After being thrown to the wolves against Alabama, Dobbs went 4-1 down the stretch (0-1 against top-25 teams) and had a very solid outing against Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl, completing 76 percent of his passes. Dobbs has the talent to be one of the best in the SEC in 2015.
Outlook: Confident
Texas A&M
Kenny Hill looked like the truth in the 2014 season opener against South Carolina, but after losing three straight, he fell out of favor with Kevin Sumlin and is now gone. Kyle Allen stepped in and played well as a freshman in wins over Auburn and West Virginia. Expect Allen to be under center in 2015, but keep an eye on prep phenom Kyler Murray. One false step by Hill and Sumlin won’t be afraid to pull the trigger and replace him with Murray.
Outlook: Promising
Vanderbilt
The Dores have a multitude of choices at quarterback, but none of them have proven to be up to the challenge so far in their careers. Johnny McCrary, Patton Robinette and Wade Freebeck all split time last season at the position due to various reasons, and they will do battle this spring along with Shawn Stankavage. If Robinette can stay healthy, he has the advantage to start on opening day, but it’s up in the air since the Dores have hired a new offensive coordinator in Andy Ludwig.
Outlook: Grim
