Throughout the mid-2000s the SEC didn’t need elite quarterback play to remain the most dominant conference in America. Times are changing, though, as the league-wide struggles in 2016 can be attributed to poor play under center.

Many teams found their quarterback of the future in 2016, but circumstances forced him into service earlier than expected. After taking a few of the bumps and bruises that come along with a freshman campaign in the SEC, Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, Jake Bentley, and to a lesser degree – Shea Patterson are all returning in 2017 poised and ready.

Those four alone accounted for 7,510 passing yards and 54 touchdowns, so it’s safe to say that the future looks bright at their programs. While more prepared passers might be good for the SEC and the eyes of the viewers, it might put a hold on any plans of freshmen starting in 2017.

Due to the amount of returning starters, it’s unlikely that we see a repeat of the freshman phenoms in 2017 – but nothing is ever guaranteed in the SEC.

1. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn – No. 1 QB, No. 1 Overall (JUCO)

Highlights:

There is almost no question that Jarrett Stidham will make the largest impact of anyone on this list. The former Baylor quarterback has resurfaced at Auburn with hopes to run their spread attack, and he certainly has the tools.

The quarterback spot on The Plains has been a conundrum since Nick Marshall left in 2014. Last year didn’t do much to quell those concerns, as Gus Malzahn began the year with a three-quarterback rotation and ended it with confirmed starter Sean White breaking his arm in the Sugar Bowl.

As well as he’s played, White was never the ideal fit. When Malzhan’s attack is at its best, the quarterback is a walking mesh point capable of firing a quick slant, selling a play fake, or taking off on his own for a designed run.

Stidham brings all of that and more. During his freshman year at Baylor, he played in the first 10 games, starting the final three, before an injury knocked him out for the remainder of the season.

Stidham played in one of the most wide-open offenses in the Big 12. He passed for 1,265 yards in that limited role – just 414 fewer than White had all of last season.

But the most tantalizing part of Stidham’s game has to be his legs. Rated as the number 2 dual threat quarterback in high school, he adds a missing dimension to the Tigers’ offense.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama – No. 3 QB (No. 1 Dual), No. 32 Overall

Highlights:

The quarterback job appears to be safe in Tuscaloosa, but that small contingent of fans calling for Jalen Hurts’ job after the national championship game now have a poster boy.

Everything about Tua Tagovailoa is hard to decipher, from his name to his game to his role on Alabama’s offense. One thing is for sure: he’s very, very talented.

His highlights pour out of Hawai’i like some kind of Zapruder film for the hopeful fan, as he dances around the Aloha State making defenders look silly. In previous years, it would’ve been easy for skeptics to write off Tagovailoa because of his location and the competition level, but several things stick out that make him special.

First, his game is so natural – so effortlessly effective. His feet are light, and he rarely takes an awkward step. His drops are crisp, and his arm strength allows him to throw darts from all manner of wonky angles, especially on the run.

He brings a level of subdued swagger to the quarterback position that almost resembles an NBA player more than a future NFL talent. From the moment he walks on the field, it’s like the outcome is pre-determined and his flashy jukes and bullet passes are just mundane steps to achieving his overall goal of a victory.

Not much is certain about the Alabama offense in 2017, but the development of Tagovailoa might tell the world more about Hurts than anything. Under a new offensive coordinator, how will Hurts respond to the pressure of the talented Tagovailoa gunning for his spot?

3. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M No. 7 QB (No. 3 Dual), No. 108 Overall

Highlights:

Saturday Down South’s John Crist caught up with Kellen Mond at the Under Armour All-American Game media day, and one thing was instantly clear: Mond is as polished as they come.

Kellen Mond could finally offer stability at quarterback for Texas A&M

Mond, who graduated from the football factor at IMG Academy, has been focused on his future as a big-time college starter for a long time. As the only true freshman with a chance to win a starting job coming out of the gate, that preparation could be tested early.

Though Mond is well-versed in the clichés of being a pocket passer first, the most exciting thing he brings to the table is his mobility. Though he’s listed at 6-2, he looks and plays like he’s about 6-5, and his long, lanky strides can carry him to a first down in what seems like three steps.

While that size gives him an advantage, he lacks Tagovailoa’s smoothness in the pocket. He is a little bit jittery, and the learning curve might be steep for the A&M commit when things go off-script early in his career.

That being said, it’s easy to see his potential. His calm, commanding voice makes him a natural leader. His long, powerful arms can rifle balls downfield with ease. And the scary thing is, he’s not even close to done growing – physically or mentally.

4. Jake Fromm, Georgia – No. 4 QB (No. 3 Pro), No. 47 Overall

https://twitter.com/BassinDawg/status/826828943810555904

Highlights:

Well, this could get interesting. Georgia comes into 2017 with an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback and running back spots, as they nabbed the second-best player of any SEC team at both spots, despite already having clear-cut starters.

While common sense would dictate that Eason will be the unquestioned starter in Athens, about every quote from Fromm indicates that he doesn’t think so.

While Kirby Smart has done well enough to be sure Eason will have more talent to work with in Year 2, Smart’s biggest coaching challenge will be managing this quarterback logjam and keeping everybody happy — and in Athens.

As for Fromm, his ability to put the correct arc on the ball would be impressive for a college quarterback, let alone a high school one. Be it natural ability, practice or chemistry with his receivers, his offense at Houston County was as on-tempo as an orchestra. Sometimes the receivers wouldn’t even look for the ball, they would just extend their arms and watch it appear.

He finds himself so low on this list not because of ability, but because of opportunity. Still, it’s hard to rule out anyone as competitive and talented as Fromm.

5. Myles Brennan, LSU – No. 10 QB (No. 6 Pro), No. 145 Overall

Highlights:

In 12 years, Les Miles was never able to truly recruit in develop a quarterback at LSU. In Year 1, Ed Orgeron might have found two: Lowell Narcisse and Myles Brennan.

Brennan, in particular, has a story so uniquely Louisiana that he could be an instant hit at LSU. The Most Interesting Man in Louisiana’s tale comes complete with all the fixings: his family owns the famous Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans, his parents were athletes at Tulane, and Hurricane Katrina relocated him as a child, causing him to live on a boat for three years. Bobby Boucher isn’t real, but Brennan is about as close to Cajun folklore as one football player can be.

On the field, his stock has risen throughout the year as more and more scouts have become aware of his prowess in the pocket. From his limited tape, it’s easy to see that he’s a student of the game and that he specializes in getting each receiver the ball in the way that they prefer it.

He can hit a runner in stride, hang a ball high for a tight end on a goal line fade, or zing a soft lob to a running back on a check down, and each of these throws has its own personality.

With Matt Canada taking over at LSU, the dinosaurish ways of Cam Cameron’s old game plans will be a thing of the past. Brennan still has to beat out returning starter Danny Etling and classmate Narcisse, but he might be the face of an offensive revolution at LSU.

*All rankings via 247 Sports composite rankings