How did the SEC fare this spring at the quarterback position?

We know it was only practice, but it’s a promising start.

There’s no easy way to judge quarterbacks without a pass rush against vanilla coverages, but here’s my best stab at ranking the SEC’s quarterbacks coming out of spring practice based on what I saw — and read — over the last nine weeks:

14. Johnny McCrary, Vanderbilt

He could be the Commodores’ 2015 starter by default after Patton Robinette’s decision to quit football. As of now, he hasn’t earned the gig however in what’s a four-player race.

13. Connor Mitch, South Carolina

Mitch is the odds-on favorite to replace Dylan Thompson as the Gamecocks’ quarterback, but Steve Spurrier says the race is too close to call at this point.

12. Anthony Jennings, LSU

One of the closest races in the SEC is between Jennings and sophomore Brandon Harris. Both flourished in the spring game but have a ways to go before Cam Cameron is comfortable with either trotting out with the first-teamers.

11. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss

The arm talent’s there for the flashy transfer, but Ryan Buchanan would likely take the first snap if the season started today. Considering his knowledge of the offense however, Kelly had a solid spring.

10. Patrick Towles, Kentucky

There’s enough separation from Drew Barker to pencil in Towles as the starter, but Mark Stoops still wants more from this fourth-year junior.

9. Will Grier, Florida

The Gators have to be excited based on what they’ve seen from this redshirt freshman, a former five-star signee expected to leap Treon Harris for the starting quarterback gig.

8. Jacob Coker, Alabama

He hasn’t yet taken the position by the horns like most of us expected him to when he arrived in Tuscaloosa after Tallahassee didn’t work out.

7. Maty Mauk, Mizzou

Consistency lacked at times, but much of Mauk’s up-and-down play this spring was due to the Tigers’ inexperience at wide receiver.

6. Kyle Allen, Texas A&M

Not only has the Aggies’ leader on offense matured as a passer since a solid bowl performance, Allen will continue to get better since Kyler Murray’s expected to come in this fall and battle for playing time.

5. Brice Ramsey, Georgia

It wouldn’t be fair to mention Ramsey’s solid spring without giving kudos to his primary competitor, Faton Bauta. The two pocket passers haven’t made the decision easy for Mark Richt and new play-caller Brian Schottenheimer.

4. Jeremy Johnson, Auburn

This dual-threat doesn’t look like a first-year starter, an ideal replacement for Nick Marshall in what should be one of the Western Division’s most exciting offenses.

3. Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee

The CEO of the offense, Dobbs’ weapons were inconsistent as a unit but he stepped as a leader this spring — just what coach Butch Jones wanted from a player who could lead Tennessee back to relevancy on a national scale.

2. Brandon Allen, Arkansas

Sharp in the final scrimmage and throughout spring practice, Allen appears ready for a career year as a senior during his third consecutive campaign as the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback.

1. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

Prescott looked like a different quarterback altogether through 15 practices, a player who seems to now understand the intricacies of the position like reading coverages, glancing off safeties and cycling through his progressions. His return for a senior season meant much had to be done during the offseason to improve his draft stock at the position and Prescott appears to have out-worked many of his competitors as a more complete player.