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It’s up for debate, but the SEC’s quarterback class of 1999 has remained standing as the most noteworthy in league history.
QB Class of 1999 notables
- Eli Manning, Ole Miss: SEC Player of the Year, 2003; Heisman finalist (Future No. 1 pick)
- Rex Grossman, Florida: SEC Player of the Year, 2001; Heisman finalist (Future first-round pick)
- Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky: Broke many of Tim Couch’s passing records (Signed as undrafted FA)
Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning holds nearly all Ole Miss passing records following a decorated career in Oxford featuring four winning seasons, highlighted by a 10-win campaign that tied a program best as a senior in 2003.
The SEC’s offensive player of the year that season, Manning took home the Unitas and Maxwell awards after finishing his college career with 10,119 yards passing and 81 TD.
Grossman exited the SEC one year prior, but left a lasting mark in the Eastern Division. He led the Gators to a conference championship as a redshirt freshman in 2000 then followed that up with an All-American bid as a sophomore.
Despite playing on three seasons, Grossman remains ranked in the Top 5 in several statistical categories including yards (9,164) and touchdown passes (77).
No other SEC trio from the same signing class has ever thrown for more than 29,000 yards or 200 touchdowns, though the headliners from 2000 — Auburn’s Jason Campbell, Tennessee’s Casey Clausen and Georgia’s David Greene came close (28,534 yards; 192 TD).
Grossman and Manning both reached Heisman finalist status, a rarity in a single class, after earning SEC Player of the Year awards during the 2001 and 2003 seasons, respectively.
Lorenzen unseated incumbent starting quarterback Dusty Bonner as a redshirt freshman and never relinquished his starting role, throwing 59 touchdown passes over his next three seasons for the Wildcats. His numbers didn’t waver despite a coaching change in 2002 as he went on to break numerous school records set previously by 1999 No. 1 pick, Tim Couch.
After throwing 77 touchdown passes in three college seasons, Grossman skipped his senior campaign in 2003 and was selected No. 22 overall by the Chicago Bears.
Manning, a three-year starter in Oxford, was picked first overall in the 2004 Draft by the San Diego Chargers and traded to the New York Giants immediately for a package of players including quarterback Philip Rivers.
Recruiting scene in 1999
Pre-2003, archived recruiting reports can be a bit hazy. Reporters weren’t on the recruiting trail documenting every minute of a coaching staff’s whereabouts and you only heard about official visits when the school released the information (rarely).
Star ratings didn’t exist at the turn of the century, only USA Today and Parade All-America teams. There was a Rivals Top 100 and PrepStar tried grouping players by position in a comprehensive ranking, but that was it.
Had Manning and Grossman been ranked, both would’ve been five-stars. Manning, a New Orleans native, was coveted by many as the brother of Peyton and son of Archie, but chose his father’s alma-mater. Grossman was Indiana’s state player of the year as a senior and was the Head Ball Coach’s top target for the Gators.
Lorenzen, likely of the three-star caliber, committed to his in-state favorite early during his senior prep season and became the faciliator of Hal Mumme as a redshirt freshman in 2000.
