Projecting the SEC’s 14 starting quarterbacks for the 2015 season ahead of spring practice and eight months away from the openers is a nearly impossible task. We’ll try anyway:

ALABAMA, Jacob Coker (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 95
Strengths: Arm strength; Experience
Competitors at the position: Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman

Bottom line: This former Florida State transfer lost last year’s battle to Blake Sims, a surprise to most who followed Lane Kiffin’s offense from spring ball to fall practice. Coker did receive vital playing time as Alabama’s second-teamer and played well in spots. The Crimson Tide believe they have their quarterback of the future in incoming five-star Blake Barnett, but he’s still a season or two away from being a serious contender for playing time.

ARKANSAS, Brandon Allen (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 90
Strengths: Experience
Competitors at the position: Austin Allen

Bottom line: Few teams have the luxury of welcoming back a multi-year starter as a senior, but the Razorbacks feel confident Allen is the guy who can lead this offense toward the top of the SEC West. He’s not blessed athletically, but Allen makes the right play, knows the correct read and showed expansive improvement between his sophomore and junior campaigns.

AUBURN, Jeremy Johnson (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 95
Strengths: Size, Arm strength, Accuracy
Competitors at the position: Sean White

Bottom line: Johnson has served as Nick Marshall’s primary backup each of the last two seasons and has fared well when he’s played (73 percent completion rate, nine touchdowns) but Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee hasn’t named him the starter for 2015. White’s a redshirt freshman and Johnson’s top challenger.

FLORIDA, Treon Harris (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 50
Strengths: Mobility, Toughness
Competitors at the position: Will Grier

Bottom line: Which quarterback is Jim McElwain going to utilize to run his fast-paced offense? What Harris lacks in arm strength, he makes up for in grit despite his size. Grier lacks experience, but is the prototypical spread offense passer who can sling it. This spring practice battle should be one of the SEC’s most intriguing.

GEORGIA, Brice Ramsey (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 75
Strengths: Size, Experience
Competitors at the position: Jacob Park, Faton Bauta

Bottom line: As Hutson Mason’s primary backup, Ramsey completed 61.5 percent of his passes in limited action and gave Georgia a downfield threat — an element Mason didn’t possess. His skillset fits well into new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s scheme. Park has the strongest arm of the three players in competition and showed flashes of tremendous skill as the Bulldogs’ scout team quarterback last season.

KENTUCKY, Patrick Towles (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 60
Strengths: Size, Physicality
Competitors at the position: Drew Barker, Reese Phillips

Bottom line: Towles hit a midseason wall last fall following a stellar performance during a loss to Mississippi State and the coaching staff isn’t sure if he will ever regain that level of confidence. Barker is waiting on his opportunity, but off the field issues have stunted his development and he’s likely a transfer candidate if he doesn’t win the job this fall.

LSU, Brandon Harris (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 50
Strengths: Mobility
Competitors at the position: Anthony Jennings

Bottom line: Jennings is the incumbent starter, but we’re taking a guess here and going with Harris, a rising sophomore who gives Cam Cameron’s offense an added dimension as a running threat. Jennings was too inconsistent a season ago and at times, handcuffed the Tigers (especially on third down). LSU was one of the SEC’s prime candidates hoping for a transfer (Braxton Miller or Everett Golson), but it doesn’t appear the Tigers will get their wish.

MISSISSIPPI, Chad Kelly (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 50
Strengths: Field Vision
Competitors at the position: DeVante Kincade

Bottom line: Kelly appears to be the Rebels’ ‘win-now’ option under center if he stays on the team by the start of fall practice. Troubled has followed him throughout his career and coach Hugh Freeze is hoping his latest brush with the law is his last.

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Dak Prescott (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 100
Strengths: Mobility, Playmaker
Competitors at the position: None

Bottom line: The easiest ‘battle’ to call, Prescott’s decision to return to Starkville for his senior season is the best news Dan Mullen could’ve received this offseason. He is the Bulldogs’ offense now that Josh Robinson is gone along with slot receiver Jameon Lewis. It’ll be tough to eclipse this season’s brilliant campaign, but Prescott didn’t come back to be average.

MISSOURI, Maty Mauk (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 100
Strengths: Mobility, Experience
Competitors at the position: Eddie Printz

Bottom line: Mauk’s style of play is often questioned as unorthodox, but the experienced passer makes plays and most importantly, wins games. Much will be put on his shoulders this season for the two-time defending Eastern Division champs and he seems to have the mental toughness to deal with it. Accuracy has always been an issue however, an element of his game he must improve tremendously to have a future as an NFL quarterback in two years.

SOUTH CAROLINA, Connor Mitch (challenger)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 65
Strengths: Arm strength
Competitors at the position: Perry Orth, Michael Scarnecchia, Lorenzo Nunez

Bottom line: The Gamecocks have eight months to find a quarterback to replace fifth-year senior and single-season record holder Dylan Thompson, but as of now, it’s tough to label anyone a front-runner. Mitch, a former four-star prospect out of Raleigh, N.C., is entering his third season in Steve Spurrier’s offense and saw limited snaps last fall. He doesn’t have the mobility of say, incoming freshman Lorenzo Nunez, but the potential is there for Mitch from the pocket.

TENNESSEE, Joshua Dobbs (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 100
Strengths: Decision-making, Mobility
Competitors at the position: Nathan Peterman

Bottom line: One of the league’s most dynamic returning players at the position, Dobbs is the key to Tennessee’s chances in the East on a team that should be fine defensively. Dobbs emerged as a dual-threat playmaker after subbing in for Justin Worley last fall and accounted for 17 total touchdowns in six games (four wins).

TEXAS A&M, Kyle Allen (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 90
Strengths: Experience
Competitors at the position: Kyler Murray

Bottom line: With Kenny Hill on the way out of College Station, Texas A&M’s offense belongs to Kyle Allen — unless incoming true freshman Kyler Murray can learn the Aggies’ Air Raid concepts in less than a month during fall practice. Allen’s confidence level is rising after a well-played second half of the 2014 season.

VANDERBILT, Johnny McCrary (incumbent)

Percentage chance he’ll start in the opener: 60
Strengths: Attitude
Competitors at the position: Patton Robinette, Wade Freebeck

Bottom line: Following Stephen Rivers’ recent transfer, the Vanderbilt quarterback competition is down to three players this spring and McCrary, who will be a third-year sophomore, gives the Commodores the best chance to win considering his athletic ability. Thrown into the fire midseason last fall, McCrary finished with nine touchdown passes on a shaky offense. With a new play-caller, Vanderbilt’s offense should be better.