I’d like to begin this mea culpa by declaring I nailed Jayden Daniels as the best quarterback in the SEC.

Of course, other than that … pfffft.

If you thought my preseason ranking of Graham Mertz as the worst quarterback in the SEC was bad, think about this: I had Tyler Buchner as the Alabama quarterback — because why else would the Tide add a quarterback from the spring portal other than to start him?

So get in line if you’re looking to criticize my re-ranking of SEC quarterbacks after the fact. No one is more critical of me than me.

Isn’t that what coaches say, anyway?

1. Jayden Daniels, LSU (preseason rank: 1)

This wasn’t exactly a no-brainer. It wasn’t that long ago that LSU coach Brian Kelly had to tell Daniels that he needed to make tough throws. He needed to throw into tight windows and trust his receivers.

Daniels’ speed and athleticism in the run game led to all of those wow moments, but his work in the passing game was more impressive. Throwing on time and with anticipation, and throwing accurately while escaping.

A rare season worthy of the Heisman Trophy, and a quarterback whose career arc had hit an all-time low when he left Arizona State after the 2021 season. In 2 seasons at LSU, Daniels threw 57 TD passes and only 7 INTs, and added 2,019 rushing yards and 21 TDs.

A magnificent 2-year run for a guy who, 2 years ago, wouldn’t have been an NFL Draft pick. Now he’s a Day 1 pick.

2. Jalen Milroe, Alabama (preseason rank: unranked)

Just a phenomenal response from getting benched after the Texas loss (why he was benched is still a mystery).

Years from now, long after Tide coach Nick Saban retires as the greatest to ever coach a football game on any level, he’ll admit that benching Milroe was one of the worst decisions he ever made.

Since the Texas loss, Milroe has 28 TDs (10 rushing) and only 4 INTs in 10 games. All wins.

But it’s the way he has willed Alabama to maybe the most rewarding season in Saban’s storied tenure in Tuscaloosa. The big throws on the road against Texas A&M, the game management against Tennessee, the run game against LSU, playing through injury at Kentucky, 4th-and-31 at Auburn — and finally, the most valuable player of the SEC Championship Game.

3. Carson Beck, Georgia (preseason rank: 4)

Once the 2nd half of the season arrived, it was clear who was Georgia’s most consistent threat on offense.

Beck threw for 3,738 yards and 22 TDs, and completed 72% of his passes — all as a 1st-year starter. He’ll enter his senior season in 2024 as the leading Heisman Trophy candidate.

4. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (preseason rank: 3)

Had 3,362 total yards (377 rushing) and 27 TDs (7 rushing), but more important, he didn’t struggle down the stretch like he did in 2022.

In the last 5 games this season, Dart had 7 TDs and 2 INTs and Ole Miss won 4 times. In 2022, the numbers were similar, but the completion percentage and game management wasn’t — and the Rebels lost 4 of 5.

5. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (preseason rank: 8)

This rank should probably be higher. The Gamecocks had 12 offensive linemen sustain injuries, and Rattler was harassed all season (41 sacks). And he lost his best receiver (Juice Wells) in Week 3.

But there’s no denying his talent, and that he still had 19 TDs against only 8 INT was remarkable. If he’s the Missouri quarterback, the Tigers win that game against Georgia.

6. Brady Cook, Missouri (preseason rank: 13)

His numbers were up across the board, with the biggest and most pertinent: average yards per attempt.

That statistic is measured by NFL scouts with increments of tenths, and Cook went from 7.2 yards per attempt in 2022 to 9.1 in 2023. The ball went downfield, and the offense became as dangerous as any in the SEC.

Cook had 3,189 yards passing and 20 TDs (6 INTs), and is primed for huge senior season in 2023.

7. Graham Mertz, Florida (preseason rank: 14)

The ball didn’t go downfield until late in the season, and when it did, receivers were making plays and chunk plays were available.

Prior to that, it was a steady diet of high percentage dink and dunk throws that weren’t exactly threatening defenses. Mertz went from completing nearly 80% of his passes, to completing 65% in the last 5 games and the offense finally developing.

The Gators were 1-4 in those games, but not because of the offense. A horrifically bad defense was the culprit. Watch the ball go downfield more in 2024.

8. Conner Weigman, Texas A&M (preseason rank: 5)

Only a season-ending foot injury in Week 4 prevented Weigman from a breakout season — and might have cost coach Jimbo Fisher his job.

Weigman was completing nearly 70% of his passes, and had 979 yards and 8 TDs. His full season projection was 3,600 yards and 32 TDs. An elite thrower who will be a top 3 quarterback in the conference in 2023.

9. Joe Milton III, Tennessee (preseason rank: 7)

It didn’t look anything like Hendon Hooker, or Dillon Gabriel or McKenzie Milton or even Drew Lock.

The offense under coach Josh Heupel — so prolific at Tennessee in his first 2 seasons and before that at UCF (and at Missouri as OC) — wasn’t the same in 2023. Throws were either to the perimeter or deep, and 2nd-level throws were rare.

Milton had a solid season (2,813 yards, 20 TDs), but solid doesn’t translate to breakthrough wins against Alabama or Georgia, much less Florida.

10. Will Rogers, Mississippi State (preseason rank: 2)

Rogers just didn’t fit with new OC Kevin Barbay, then dealt with nagging injuries and had a disappointing season. His completion percentage dropped from a career average of 70% to 59.9.

He moves to Washington for 2024, where coach Kalen DeBoer and OC/QB coach Ryan Grubb will try to do what they did in rebuilding Michael Penix Jr.’s career.

11. AJ Swann, Vanderbilt (preseason rank: 12)

A bizarre season. Played well early, then struggled in a loss to Kentucky and was benched. Then he may or may not have been injured (depending on whom you talk to).

Bottom line: Swann has way too much talent to be wasting away as a backup at Vanderbilt (again, for whatever reason). Could wind up at South Carolina, which would give the Gamecocks another strong-armed, confident quarterback from the portal (see: Rattler).

12. Devin Leary, Kentucky (preseason rank: 6)

A strange season all around. Kentucky had elite skill players around Leary, but the offensive line was shaky and Leary missed his share of throws.

It got better in the 2nd half of the season (even though UK lost 4 of its last 6 games), but nothing close to what was envisioned when he transferred from NC State after tearing a pectoral muscle midway through the 2022 season.

The numbers were solid (2,440 yards, 23 TDs), but the impact on the program was negligible.

13. KJ Jefferson, Arkansas (preseason rank: 9)

Every measurable throwing statistic was down in 2023, in part, because of a misfit with new OC Dan Enos, who was fired late in the season.

Jefferson can still be a dangerous dual threat in the right offense, and his career numbers show that (TD/INT ratio of 67/18; with 21 rushing TDs).

14. Payton Thorne, Auburn (preseason rank: 10)

By the end of the season, he had become a legit factor in the run game. Which is interesting, considering he was a pocket passer at Michigan State — and averaged 1.6 yards per carry.

He averaged 4.2 yards per carry for Auburn and was a serviceable thrower. Auburn will bring in multiple quarterbacks from the portal and high school recruiting to compete with Thorne in 2024.