Week 6 SEC QB Power Rankings: A new name cracks Top 3

There was a lot to like at quarterback in the SEC for Week 5, especially from that fantastic finish in Athens.

Georgia’s Jacob Eason thought he threw his second game-winning touchdown pass in three weeks with an across-the-field laser, although Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs answered one snap later with a Hail Mary for the ages.

Unfortunately, several programs continue to have trouble at the game’s most important position. Vanderbilt and South Carolina tried multiple QBs in losing efforts. Florida and Kentucky didn’t get much production from their backups, the Gators in a nail-biting victory and the Wildcats in a lifeless defeat.

Because they get too much praise after wins and too much criticism after losses, the three QBs in the league with undefeated records are all included in this week’s Top 4. The fourth is a pleasant-surprise 4-1.

Here are my SEC quarterback rankings entering Week 6. Clearly, a top half and bottom half have been well established.

14. Kyle Shurmur/Wade Freebeck

Last week: 14

Neither Vanderbilt quarterback got much done in a 13-6 loss to Florida, combining to go 12-of-32 for 118 yards with 2 interceptions.

Shurmur got the start but departed due to injury, leaving after an anemic 9-of-25 performance for 82 yards and an INT. In relief, Freebeck wasn’t much better. He was only 3-of-7 for 36 yards, plus his pick ended Vandy’s final threat.

It’s a miracle that Ralph Webb ran for 110 yards against a vaunted Gators defense. The Commodores are comically inept throwing the ball.

13. Stephen Johnson

Last week: 13

Speaking of comically inept, Johnson couldn’t do any better than 13-of-22 for 89 yards on the road against No. 1 Alabama.

While Johnson didn’t throw any interceptions, he was sacked four times, fumbled three times and lost two of them. A 10-3 game quickly became 17-3 before halftime when Ronnie Harrison returned one of said fumbles 55 yards for a touchdown.

Johnson’s 310 yards in relief against New Mexico State in Week 3 appear to be have been an aberration. He’s thrown for 224 yards combined in two starts since.

12. Brandon McIlwain/Perry Orth

Last week: 9

South Carolina’s commitment to the freshman McIlwain only lasted a few weeks, as he was yanked in favor of the senior Orth.

McIlwain averaged 2.3 yards on his 15 attempts, which included an INT. Also, his 25 rushes the past two games have netted a grand total of 18 yards. Orth was 11-of-18 for 113 yards off the bench, but it was fruitless in a 24-13 loss to Texas A&M.

The two most effective passers for the Gamecocks, punter Sean Kelly and tight end Hayden Hurst, were 2-of-2 for 45 yards on trick plays.

11. Austin Appleby

Last week: 9

Making his second start with Luke Del Rio on the mend, it’s becoming more apparent why Appleby didn’t win the job during fall camp.

Spectacular for two quarters a week ago at Tennessee, he has failed to move the football consistently in his past three halves. He was 19-of-28 for 144 yards in an unimpressive 13-6 win at Vanderbilt, and he only got his offense into the end zone once.

Eight of Appleby’s completions were of the safety-valve variety to tight end DeAndre Goolsby. They produced only 37 yards.

10. Nick Fitzgerald

Last week: 8

Fitzgerald slid down two spots this week despite having a bye, which speaks more to what happened around the SEC while he rested.

Eighth in the conference in passer efficiency rating (128.6), he has bounced back and forth between fantastic and frustrating for Mississippi State. If he wants to improve his rating, his yards-per-attempt average (6.3) needs an uptick.

Playing host to Auburn in Week 6, Fitzgerald can enhance the Bulldogs’ hopes for bowl eligibility with a W.

9. Danny Etling

Last week: 11

Now that Les Miles and Cam Cameron are no longer calling the shots offensively in Baton Rouge, Etling might be able to spread his wings.

In a 42-7 annihilation of Missouri, which was highlighted by 418 yards rushing by LSU, the Purdue transfer was an efficient 19-of-30 for 216 yards throwing the ball. He even got his backs and tight ends involved, which was refreshing.

Etling still hasn’t taken full advantage of receivers Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural, but he’s not afraid to let it rip downfield.

8. Sean White

Last week: 10

Able to pad his stats against a cupcake, White was 14-of-17 passing for 239 yards with 2 INTs and no picks in a 58-7 whitewashing of ULM.

While John Franklin III entered the game late and dazzled with a long touchdown run followed by a long touchdown pass, White has solidified himself as QB1 on The Plains. He’s actually the third-rated passer in the league at this point.

Five TD passes in five starts is far from video-game like, but White has taken excellent care of the pigskin and only thrown 1 interception.

7. Drew Lock

Last week: 6

Lock has some gaudy statistics through five weeks, leading the league with 1,675 passing yards and 14 touchdowns through the air.

That being said, 852 of those yards and 10 of those TDs came in laughers at home against Eastern Michigan and Delaware State. In two SEC matchups, he’s thrown for only 3 scores and been intercepted 4 times.

The talent is there, as Lock is arguably the most improved QB in the conference from a year ago, but there’s still work to do.

6. Jacob Eason

Last week: 6

Once the true freshman figures it all out, chances are he’s going to top this list and stay there for quite awhile.

Eason’s overall numbers in a 34-31 loss to Tennessee don’t tell the whole story. He also keeps holding on to the ball too long, which resulted in a fumble in the end zone that was recovered for a crucial Volunteers touchdown.

Still, that 47-yard TD pass he fired with 10 seconds left to (temporarily) take the lead was an NFL throw reminiscent of Matthew Stafford.

5. Jalen Hurts

Last week: 3

Hurts hasn’t been tested in a while after a 48-0 shutout of Kent State in Week 4 and a 34-6 pasting of Kentucky in Week 5.

Another true freshman playing well beyond his years, Hurts was 20-of-33 for 262 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs vs. the Wildcats. He was on the same page with Calvin Ridley, who starred with 11 grabs for 174 yards and both of said scores.

Alabama travels to Arkansas in Week 6 and then Tennessee in Week 7. Hurts has proven to be unflappable to date, though.

4. Joshua Dobbs

Last week: 4

The Hail Mary that Dobbs threw and Jauan Jennings caught against Georgia was arguably the play of the year so far in the SEC.

Even though Tennessee keeps digging itself early holes, Dobbs continues to turn it on in the second half and carry the Volunteers to destiny. He did it to the Gators two Saturdays ago, and he did it to the Bulldogs this past weekend.

Yes, he’s been intercepted at least once in every game, but most of his 13 passing TDs and 5 rushing scores have been clutch.

3. Austin Allen

Last week: 5

The top-rated passer in the conference in terms of efficiency, Allen made quick work of Alcorn State with a 52-10 shellacking.

Despite only throwing 18 passes, Allen connected on 13 for 206 yards with a trio of scores and no turnovers. Since a 2-pick outing in Week 1, he has thrown 10 touchdowns against zero interceptions in his past four.

Ignoring the box score altogether, Allen is Joe Cool in the pocket and has no fear stepping into throws with pass rushers in his face.

2. Trevor Knight

Last week: 1

Losing his grasp on No. 1, Knight again saw too many of his attempts fall harmlessly to the turf in a 24-13 win at South Carolina.

In all five of his starts, the Oklahoma transfer has connected on somewhere between 50 and 57.5 percent of his throws. That’s a relatively low completion rate in an offense built to be as quarterback-friendly as possible.

Don’t forget about Knight’s legs, though. He ran for 84 yards and a score against the Gamecocks, his sixth rushing TD of the year.

1. Chad Kelly

Last week: 2

With a completion rate of 66.1 and a yards-per-attempt average of 9.2, Kelly is a big play waiting to happen in this Ole Miss scheme.

The Rebels might be the most dangerous two-loss team in America. The reason? Kelly and his embarrassment of riches at the skill positions. Tight end Evan Engram and all those wideouts are murder on any secondary.

With his running game actually carrying some weight in a 48-28 defeat of Memphis, Kelly’s 361 yards passing were that much tougher to defend.

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John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.