The SEC is returning seven quarterbacks, while four teams will field transfers, two will move up QBs already on campus, and one will start a true freshman. The final two schools, Oklahoma and Texas, are new to the league, but their QBs are also returning.
To cut a long story short, there's more unknown about this group of QBs than known. Less than half of the projected starters have taken meaningful snaps in the SEC, not to mention South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, the true freshman tasked with running the Gamecock offense this season.
On the other hand, five of the top six QBs are returners, including the ones who played for the SEC championship in 2023: Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe. Milroe isn't returning to the same system as Beck is, though. Kalen Debore is the new head coach of the Crimson Tide and brought a completely different offensive system. There's also Conner Weigman, who started last season but was injured early on.
However, despite all the unknowns, here we'll power rank all 16 QBs.
SEC QB Power Rankings: Week one
Rank | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
1 | Quinn Ewers | Texas |
2 | Carson Beck | Georgia |
3 | Jaxson Dart | Ole Miss |
4 | Brady Cook | Missouri |
5 | Jalen Milroe | Alabama |
6 | Conner Weigman | Texas A&M |
7 | Nico Iamaleave | Tennessee |
8 | Jackson Arnold | Oklahoma |
9 | Brock Vandagriff | Kentucky |
10 | Garrett Nussmeier | LSU |
11 | Payton Thorne | Auburn |
12 | Taylen Green | Arkansas |
13 | Graham Mertz | Florida |
14 | Diego Pavia | Vanderbilt |
15 | Blake Shapen | Mississippi State |
16 | LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina |
If you listen closely, you can hear the heads of every Longhorn fan reading this post growing in size. While inflating the Texas ego isn't something on the agenda, there's no denying the talent they have at QB. Last season, Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns but turned it over only six times.
Beck had 500 more yards through the air than Ewers, but he also had the best tight end in the country, Brock Bowers, who's now a Las Vegas Raider. This could certainly flip if he builds chemistry with another receiver.
The bottom of the rankings is filled with transfers, with former five-star Brock Vandagriff followed by Taylen Green, Diego Pavia, and Blake Shapen. The last ranked player is Sellers, simply because of the lack of experience.