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Which second-team quarterbacks will flourish in the SEC this season when their number is called?
It’s difficult to discern considering half of the league hasn’t named a starting quarterback at this point, but we’ve got a pretty good idea who will handle reps with the 2s when the college football season officially kicks off in three months.
Here are the SEC’s best backup quarterbacks heading into the 2015 campaign:
5. Drew Barker, Kentucky: A player like Kelly with a similar track record, Barker’s lack of maturity may keep him from posing any real threat to Patrick Towles during his time in Lexington. The pro-style passer has a fantastic set of tools as a former top recruit and directed the Wildcats’ offense, like Towles, with fluidity during spring ball after benefiting from a redshirt season. According to play-caller Shannon Dawson, the quarterback battle is too close to call right now but my gut says he’ll go with Towles and have Mark Stoops’ blessing. Barker and his rocket arm isn’t a bad option to have in your back pocket, however. Kentucky can’t afford another second-half collapse and Barker could be the guy who ensures that doesn’t happen.
4. Kyler Murray, Texas A&M: The only true freshman on the list, the Aggies have a future star in this kid if he doesn’t sign with a MLB team after being drafted in June. The learning curve could be steep in the fast-paced SEC since we haven’t yet seen what Murray can do on a college gridiron, but his skill set is the perfect fit for Kevin Sumlin’s scheme and he’s already familiarized himself with Air Raid concepts as the facilitator of a similar spread attack over the last four years at the prep level. Ideally, the Aggies redshirt Murray this fall and let another quarterback — Connor McQueen perhaps? — handle second-team snaps behind emerging star Kyle Allen. Watching Murray develop during spring practice in 2016 should be exciting.
3. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss: Most of us media members are split on trying to read Hugh Freeze’s mind as the Rebels gear up for their first season in four years without Bo Wallace as their starting quarterback. Ryan Buchanan has been in Freeze’s system for three years and has a stronger handle on the offense compared to lead challenger Kelly, a JUCO transfer and former rapper. Since Kelly’s pre-spring off-the-field skirmish, he has obeyed team rules and further developed as a quarterback according to Freeze. He’s the more athletically-gifted passer of the two, but doesn’t strike me as a player who will be mentally ready to start against Tennessee-Martin on Sept. 5. If Buchanan’s decision-making comes into question or he can’t maneuver the offense at Freeze’s pace, insert Kelly.
2. Anthony Jennings, LSU: Cam Cameron’s incumbent under center is in the middle of a fierce competition with Brandon Harris for the starting job despite 13 career starts to his credit. Jennings might be LSU’s more game-ready option at the position, but he’s been far too inconsistent to maintain a lead and Harris has what many consider next-level talent. The offense needs a tune-up in the passing game and my guess is the Tigers will take a chance and go with the rising sophomore to start the season. Starting Harris leaves LSU with an interchangeable and experienced option on the bench.
1. Faton Bauta, Georgia: this fourth-year junior has done everything in his power to win the starting job over Brice Ramsey this spring, but if history repeats itself, the bulldogs will go with the previous year’s backup as the penciled in starter. It’s important to realize the leash on Ramsey will be short if the redshirt sophomore struggles early. Based on Bauta’s talent and knowledge of the offense in a tight competition, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him separate himself during fall camp and lead the offense against Louisiana-Monroe in the opener (both quarterbacks will play in that game, we know that). But Georgia’s coaching staff will likely go with the player who has taken more career in-game snaps and has a working relationship with the Bulldogs’ returning weapons on offense rather than a new face with immense expectations as the preseason division favorite.
