Quarterback has always been the most important position on the football field, and having a great quarterback is almost always an indicator of having a great team.

Ranking the SEC’s individual quarterbacks was easy. Ranking the best groups of quarterbacks, however, is much tougher. Only one can play at a time, and if you’re using more than one, it’s usually a bad sign.

Teams that use “groups” of quarterbacks usually don’t have a great one; team’s that rely on just one star signal caller don’t have a “group” at all.

Nevertheless, we at SDS have never shied away from a challenge. Without further ado, here are our five best quarterback position groups from the 2014 season:

Position group rankings:
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive lines
Defensive ends
Defensive tackles
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties

5. Arkansas: The Razorbacks maintained a family-oriented group of quarterbacks in 2014 with brothers Brandon and Austin Allen, who happen to hail from Fayetteville, Arkansas where the university is located. Brandon was among the more inconsistent starters in the SEC, but his five interceptions were tied for the second-fewest in the conference. Austin did as well as any fill-in quarterback could hope, completing 50 percent of his passes with just one turnover. The Hogs quarterbacks weren’t the flashiest in the conference, but they got the job done in a resurgent season for the Arkansas program.

4. Tennessee: Justin Worley started Tennessee’s first eight games this season and struggled to find a rhythm with a young core of skill players and one of the most inconsistent offensive lines in the league. He missed UT’s final four games after suffering a season-ending injury against Alabama, and was relieved by Joshua Dobbs, who starred down the stretch as the Vols reached six wins for the first time since 2010. Worley’s numbers weren’t great, but he held his own as a starter. Dobbs was electric and showed tremendous upside for next season. Together they formed one of the better quarterback tandems in the SEC, even if an injury to Worley is what earned Dobbs his shot on the field.

3. Mississippi State: Dak Prescott was perhaps the most sensational quarterback in the SEC in 2014, earning first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and the league’s coaches. His backup, Damian Williams, wasn’t too shabby either, completing 61 percent of his passes for three touchdowns without an interception. Mullen rotated the two early in the season during a weak non-conference schedule, and Williams stepped in and commanded the offense as if he’d been the starter all season. Prescott did plenty to prove why he was the most exciting signal caller in the SEC. Together they formed one of the best 1-2 punches in the conference, and whenever Williams is able to take over the offense it’ll be in good hands.

2. Texas A&M: There wasn’t a passing offense in the SEC more explosive than Texas A&M’s was during the first half of the season. Kenny Hill set school records and let the Aggies to a 5-1 start during which they averaged more than 350 yards per game through the air. Hill was benched down the stretch due to a regression on the field and some behavioral issues off it, but freshman Kyle Allen was admirable as his replacement. His numbers weren’t nearly as impressive against some tough SEC defenses, but he learned by doing and showed improvement each week, indicating he could indeed be A&M’s quarterback of the future. The pairing of Hill and Allen gave A&M impressive depth at the quarterback spot, and both shined at times this season in Jake Spavital’s spread system.

1. Alabama: Blake Sims and Jacob Coker battled for Alabama’s starting quarterback job well into training camp last August. Sims ultimately won the job and had one of the best individual seasons of any quarterback in the SEC. Coker sat the bench and continued to learn Lane Kiffin’s offense, earning the unofficial title of the most touted backup quarterback in the conference. Sims ranked in the top 3 in the SEC in completions, completion percentage, yards and passer rating this season, and Coker completed more than 64 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions in limited action. Together, they formed the best tandem of quarterbacks in the SEC, or at least provided the best depth at the position of anyone in the conference.