Last year, Rebels QB Chad Kelly didn’t register on our radar as a possible contender against Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott for the All-SEC first team.

But he made his statement, and it was a loud one.

In his first season at Ole Miss, Kelly completed 298 of 458 passes for 4,042 yards and 31 TDs. He also ran for 500 yards and 10 TDs.

Kelly may have settled for second team behind Prescott in 2015, but he is the man to beat in the 2016 season.

Here are the four quarterbacks who may give Kelly a run for his money this fall:

THE WILD CARD

Brandon Harris, LSU: As the 2015 season got underway, it looked like Harris — with the help of Tigers RB Leonard Fournette — would lead LSU all the way to Atlanta.

In October and November, Harris completed 106 passes for 1,602 yards and 10 TDs. But the Tigers lost three of their four games in November.

And in the team’s final November game, Harris fell apart against the Aggies. He couldn’t hit his receivers or find the holes. The Tigers won, but it wasn’t pretty.

Nonetheless, Tigers head coach Les Miles and the rest of the LSU staff have confidence in Harris for the 2016 season. And perhaps more importantly, Harris has confidence in himself, and he knows he has to keep improving in order to lead the Tigers to a winning season.

“You’re always in a quarterback battle, regardless of whether they say you’re not,” Harris said. “Every position on this field is up for grabs. It’s so competitive being at a place like this. I feel I’m in a battle every time I touch the field. But at the end of the day, you’re competing with yourself and trying to get better.”

As long as Harris keeps getting better, he has a shot at beating out Kelly at the end of the year.

THE VETERANS

Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee: Last season was Dobbs’ first as a full-time starter, and he answered the call.
He completed 205 of 344 passes for 2,291 yards and 15 TDs. He also gathered 671 yards and 11 TDs on the ground.

Dobbs only had three scholarship receivers at his disposal in the spring game, but he should have the full compliment by the time Tennessee faces Appalachian State in September.

The Vols have gone through inconsistencies when it comes to catching and holding on to passes. If his receiving corps keeps dropping the ball, his numbers will dwindle despite his best efforts.

THE NEWCOMERS

Trevor Knight, Texas A&M: Texas A&M hasn’t been having the best of luck with quarterbacks lately, but Knight just might change that in 2016.

The Oklahoma transfer didn’t see a lot of playing time last season, but in 2014, he led the Sooners to a winning season with his 179 completions for 2,300 yards and 14 TDs.

He’s an answered prayer for the Aggies.

Since arriving in College Station, Knight has repeatedly proven his worth. And in the spring game, he all but sealed the deal on the starting job over Jake Hubenak, going 25 of 36 for 282 yards and 2 TDs, one of those on the ground.

If he can stay on track — including staying focused — he could take the SEC by storm.

Brandon McIlwain, South Carolina: In his senior year at Council Rock North High School, McIlwain rocked defenders with 147 completions for 2,018 yards and 17 TDs.

Luckily for the Gamecocks, he did more of the same in the spring game, ravaging the first team defense with 19 completions for 169 yards and two TDs, plus another touchdown on the ground.

South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp has been singing McIlwain’s praises since before the newcomer even stepped foot on campus, so it’s not a surprise that he heaped more on him after the spring game.

“Brandon had a lot of command in how he directed our offense when he was on the field,” Muschamp said. “[I am] very pleased with his decision making.”

The Gamecocks got lucky in another way with McIlwain: this top baseball prospect chose football as his primary college sport.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Jacob Eason, Georgia: Eason came into Athens as the top recruit in the nation, and he certainly played like it in the Bulldogs’ spring game. Although the quarterback competition is still open, he made a strong case with 19 completions for 244 yards and a TD.

Drew Barker, Kentucky: Barker only saw action in five games last season, but he entered the 2016 spring season swinging. After completing 12 passes for 156 yards and two TDs in the spring game, Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops immediately announced Barker would be the starter in the fall.