Tide’s Hurts is top SEC quarterback
Many SEC teams entered last season without clear quarterback leaders. A year later, familiar signal callers are bringing more stability to their schools. Take a look at how each SEC quarterback unit ranks this offseason from best to worst.
Jalen Hurts earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading Alabama to another conference championship and a spot in the national title game despite working with two different offensive coordinators the final two games of the season. Early enrollees Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones will be thrown into the mix after the program saw three of its quarterbacks transfer during the past few months.
The quarterback position has been a headache for Auburn during the past few seasons. Sean White was serviceable for the Tigers last year, but in an attempt to get more out of the offense, Gus Malzahn added Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham to the roster this offseason. Stidham’s talent makes him the favorite to win the starting job.
Jacob Eason demonstrated he has the tools to be an elite quarterback in the SEC, but inconsistent accuracy and turnovers haunted the freshman last season. His development this offseason will be crucial and he’ll be pushed in the spring after the school signed highlytouted freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, an early enrollee.
Dan Mullen has had success grooming young quarterbacks, previously developing Dak Prescott and now working with Nick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald could become one of the best overall quarterbacks in the league. The Bulldogs will have to find a reliable backup after Damian Williams and Nick Tiano transferred.
The Gators haven’t found their groove offensively under Jim McElwain, struggling to identify a strong quarterback. Luke Del Rio won the starting job last season and played six games before suffering a season-ending injury that forced him to miss spring workouts. Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks is the strongest candidate to unseat Del Rio.
Austin Allen found himself constantly COMMENTARY under pressure last season, as he was sacked 34 times, the most of any other quarterback in the SEC. The offensive line should improve, which will be critical for Allen’s durability. Ty Storey and Cole Kelley will back up Allen.
It took first-year coach Will Muschamp and his staff time to settle on their starting quarterback, going with Jake Bentley, who started seven games last season and led the team to a 4-3 record. Brandon McIlwain, considered by some to be the Gamecocks’ quarterback of the future, opted to transfer.
Danny Etling improved after Ed Orgeron took over the program four games into the 2016 season. Orgeron hired former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada during the offseason to handle the offense and quarterbacks. Canada will work with Etling, redshirt sophomore Justin McMillan and redshirt freshman Lindsey Scott Jr.
Shea Patterson was thrust into the Rebels’ starting lineup for the final three games of the 2016 season after Chad Kelly suffered an injury. The sky’s the limit for Patterson. Despite the program’s self-imposed bowl ban for 2017, he appears committed to Ole Miss.
Missouri led the SEC in total offense last season, with sophomore Drew Lock putting together a career-best season. He averaged more than 283 passing yards per game with 23 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Depth could be a concern after backup Marvin Zanders transferred to Virginia.
Sophomore Drew Barker started the first two games of the 2016 season before suffering a season-ending back injury. His replacement, junior college transfer Stephen Johnson, stepped in to lead the Wildcats to a 5-4 record and the program’s first bowl bid since 2010. Johnson will start spring as the favorite to win the starting job, with Barker and redshirt Gunnar Hoak competing for snaps.
Joshua Dobbs finished his career as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the SEC, so finding his replacement will be crucial for Butch Jones. Junior Quinten Dormady is the favorite to step up after serving as Dobbs’ backup the past two seasons, but will be challenged by highly-touted Jarrett Guarantano and Sheriron Jones.
Six different players have taken snaps at quarterback for the Aggies during the past three seasons, with Trevor Knight the latest to lead the offense. Senior Jake Hubenak, who looked good as Knight’s backup last season, will battle redshirt freshman Nick Starkel and true freshman Kellen Mond for the job this offseason.
The Commodores earned their first bowl bid under coach Derek Mason thanks, in part, to the play of Kyle Shurmur. The sophomore started all 13 games in 2016, but it was a rough season for Shurmur. He finished with more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9). Redshirt junior Shawn Stankavage and redshirt freshman Deuce Wallace will push to add depth to the roster.