Saturday Down South's Top 20 SEC quarterbacks since 2000, Part II: 10-6
It’s a quarterback world. The rest of the us are just living in it. If you don’t have a QB, then you don’t have a football team.
The SEC has done well at the game’s most important position since the turn of the 21st century, producing a trio of Heisman Trophy winners and eight starters who will forever be national champions. None of the other conferences have done better.
Everybody loves a quality list — they can always be debated endlessly — although ranking the league’s Top 20 QBs from the last 17-plus seasons is no easy task. A few (Kentucky’s Jared Lorenzen) enjoyed individual success but failed to win enough games, while some others (Alabama’s Greg McElroy) captured titles but didn’t put up big numbers.
There’s no perfect system, of course. There wasn’t any sort of specific criteria that I adhered to, like the amount of games won or touchdowns thrown. Seasons with double-digit victories and sensational TD-to-INT ratios certainly help, though.
Without further ado, here’s Part II of my list counting down Nos. 10-6. Feel free to agree or (more likely) disagree as you see fit.
10. Connor Shaw, South Carolina (2010-13)
Prior to his arrival, the Gamecocks had won 10 games exactly once in program history, way back in 1984. But with Shaw as the starter from 2011-13, they won 11 three seasons in a row. It was the most successful run that the team had ever put together, including two victories in the Capital One Bowl and another in the Outback Bowl.
Even if Shaw was labeled as more of a game manager than a playmaker, he was a 65.5-percent passer for his career with a sparkling touchdown-to-interception ratio of 56-to-16. As a senior in 2013, he threw 24 TDs against only 1 INT.
While he wasn’t selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Shaw started one game as a rookie for the Cleveland Browns and has also spent some time with the Chicago Bears.
9. Rex Grossman, Florida (2000-02)
It was another Gators signal caller, Tim Tebow in 2007, who became the first sophomore to be handed the Heisman Trophy. However, Grossman probably should’ve broken that barrier six years earlier. In 2001, he led the country in passer efficiency rating and was a consensus first-team All-American yet finished second in the race to Nebraska field general Eric Crouch.
He was less effective throughout his junior campaign, maybe due to the departure of coach Steve Spurrier, but Grossman is still tied for ninth all time in the SEC with 77 career touchdown passes. His rating of 170.8 in 2001 is 11th best in conference history.
Grossman left Gainesville a season early for the 2003 NFL Draft, was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears and started Super Bowl XLI.

Credit: University of Florida Athletics
8. David Greene, Georgia (2001-04)
Although he never put up eye-popping numbers for the Bulldogs, Greene was a model of consistency during his tenure between the hedges. After redshirting out of high school, he was a four-year starter and averaged 2,882 yards passing per season. His 11,528 career yards through the air was an all-time SEC record at the time.
But what Greene did most of all was win, which he did better than any quarterback the game had ever seen. With 42 victories as a starter, he eclipsed Tennessee’s Peyton Manning and held the standard until Colt McCoy of Texas passed him in 2009.
A third-round choice of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2005 NFL Draft, Greene was also a member of the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts.
7. Eli Manning, Ole Miss (2000-03)
While older brother carved his own path with the Volunteers, younger brother followed in father’s footsteps with the Rebels and rewrote the record book. Manning has more passing attempts (1,363), completions (829), yards (10,119) and touchdowns (81) than any QB who ever suited up in Oxford. All four figures are Top 8 in SEC lore, too.
Following three straight 7-win seasons, Manning directed Mississippi to a 10-3 mark in 2003 that included a 31-0 shellacking of rival Mississippi State and a triumph over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. The Rebs hadn’t won double-digit games since 1971.
Taken No. 1 in the 2004 NFL Draft, Manning has two Super Bowls rings with the New York Giants and is a possible Hall of Famer.
6. Aaron Murray, Georgia (2010-13)
Statistically, he’s the most prolific passer to ever play in the SEC. Like the aforementioned Greene, he started for four seasons after redshirting his first year in Athens. For his career, Murray completed 921 passes, threw for 13,166 yards and fired 121 touchdowns. Each total is No. 1 in conference annals by a relatively wide margin.
Also like Greene, he was a steady performer. Murray never threw for less than 3,049 yards or 24 TDs, maxing out with 3,893 and 36 as a junior in 2012. That year, he was but a tipped pass away from upsetting eventual national champion Alabama for the league title.
A fifth-rounder of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2014 NFL Draft, Murray also earned a paycheck from the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams organizations.
RELATED: Part I: 20-11 | Part III: 5-1
It’s a complete rip-off that Murray isn’t top-5. I’d rather have him on my team for 4 years as a consistently great QB than a one or two-season wonder.
“You know who should be higher? The guy from my team!” — every fan ever
You said it yourself–“Statistically, he’s the most prolific passer to ever play in the SEC.” Yes I’m a fan of UGA but I try to remain as objective as I can in debates. Please, name someone else in the SEC from the last 50 years to throw for 3k+ yards in all 4 seasons he started? All-time, maybe? You see, nobody else on this list was nearly as consistent as he was. Yeah, Manziel or Newton may have done better for a season or two. You could legitimately argue, and I would agree, that Tebow may be the greatest college QB of all time. But to leave out someone who destroyed SEC passing records out of the top 5? It’s just unheard of.
Why would you want the same qb for four years if he didn’t even win a conference championship. I’ll take a guy for one year if he can lead me to a title. I’ll find someone else for the next season.
To Georgia fans, I bet it is. To everyone else, it isn’t.
And statistically tony romo is 1 of the best qbs to ever play in the nfl but…… statistics dont win football games or championship fpr that matter
Murray got blown out 35-7 against the guy whos 4 spots below him and your mad hes too low jalen hurts has 2 sec championship 3 trips to the playoffs and a NC and you’re mad Aaron Murray is to low
BlackAndGarnett, since when does Hurts hsve 2 SEC titles and 3 playoff trips? Pretty sure it’s 1 and 2 with no NC.
@South Carolina fan
One game doesn’t define a career…Connor Shaw never even reached the SEC championship..South Carolina doesn’t have an SEC championship…
The argument that Murray had great stats but wasn’t a championship quarterback, and therefore wasn’t “great”, ignores the fact that UGA was among the very best offenses in the conference while he was in Athens. The team’s failure to capitalize on what he accomplished was due primarily to a porous defense. Barring a couple of blip games, UGA’s losses during his 4 years with the Dawgs were shootouts that Martinez and Grantham’s defense regularly and consistently blew. Put Aaron under center at Bama during that time and he has 3-4 rings and is widely regarded as the greatest QB to ever play in the SEC.
You know who should be a better football writer? YOU!
Anyone who would put Jalen Hurts anywhere on this list shows his lack of football knowledge, bias, or both.
Agree. Nick Marshall looks like Peyton Manning compared to Hurts.
Nah agree with this honestly expected Shaw to be lower or not on the list but you gave him the respect he deserves. Hes always been underrated by most but his accomplishments speak for themself
What are his individual accomplishments? Did he every play in the SEC championship..?
Notice how John couldn’t defend Murray not being in the top 5. He had to go with the generic “my team is better” excuse. Even an Auburn fan below is saying Murray should be in. So, the “to everyone else, it isn’t” remark is null and void as well, kind of like this article and his ability to dissect football.
All of this is someone’s opinion. You’re just mad his opinion isn’t the same as yours…
Yep, I’m losing sleep over a Crist article… The QB with all the major SEC QB records of all time, can’t make the top 5 over the last 17 years. Makes sense. Again, you’re making the same argument he is, with no facts to back it up. At least I’ve stated some facts. You should try it some time.
I don’t care about where he ranks any of the QBs, so no I am not making the same argument as him. My point is you’re crying about an opinion because it’s different than yours.
An opinion that can be backed up by stats.
Actually that’s another opinion. It depends on what stats people want to use. Not everyone weighs things equally.. It’s all good though. Just keep throwing out opinions. It’s a blog so it doesn’t matter until you get your feelings hurt.
BamaTime you literally throw a hissy fit on every article when ppl don’t agree with your blatantly biased bama opinions. go throw your tantrums at Walmart with the rest of your degree-less bama brethren.
Don’t mind BamaTime, he was called out for bandwagoning Alabama a long time ago
Can you show me one fan posting on SDS that isn’t bias toward the team theu pull for? Of course you can’t but let me guess you’re that guy…..
DD2. Grown ups are talking. Go to your room.
Trailer park.
Leave your home out of this. I am sure your family worked hard for their house on wheels.
This coming from the local community college graduate?
there’s a difference between being biased and being a bltch- you are being the latter.
I hated playing Connor Shaw. Murray? Meh. Not really. I was more afraid of your backs gaining 1,000 yards against us in a single game. . Murray was a good quarterback but Shaw was dangerous and scary.
He looked scary that’s for sure..As for football, Murray was much better as stats show
Hes tony romo
He played in meaningful games..Did Connor shaw ever make the conference championship?
All Time Record: UGA
National Championships: UGA
Conference Championships: UGA
Bowl Games/Bowl record: UGA
All Americans/Draft Picks/Heisman winner: UGA
Weeks in AP Poll:UGA
UGA>USCjr
Yep, Murray was much better. How many games did he win against USC?
All Time Record: UGA
National Championships: UGA
Conference Championships: UGA
Bowl Games/Bowl record: UGA
All Americans/Draft Picks/Heisman winner: UGA
Weeks in AP Poll:UGA
UGA>USCjr
Ready for the top five, I kinda thought Murray would be in there as well.
Glad Shaw made the top 10. I remember hearing from other fan bases that he was not good. He was a gamer and knew how to win. Fun fact: Connor Shaw never lost a home game. Let that sink in.
Or to Clemson
And he never won his division
Well arent you just the most disgusting part in a rats ass?
Facts hurt?
36-18 overall Aaron Murray
27-5 Connor shaw fact hurt B*tch
Okay one year was a rebuilding year. Connor Shaw never won the division, in fact South Carolina has never won the conference AHAHAHAH
No one knows Connor Shaw
Lol, how old were you when UGA won their last NC? “Mr Trophy Case” bwaaaahaaaaahaaa.
He wasnt born…
literally no one outside of the south carolina program will ever remember shaw over murray- so keep on preaching “facts” and realize south carolina blows @ss and will continue to do so.
BamaTime went to a community college don’t mind him
You have stated your age on here before… See you didn’t try to argue what I said because you know it’s true.
When did I state my age? BamaTime is reaching desperate measures.
Ah yeah I forgot… You have already shown you’re a liar.
Bandwagon.
You have fun with the conversation. I have better things to do than reply to a liar.
Facts hurt Bamatime?
You keep stating that youre saying “facts” im starting to wonder if you know the definition. When you get to class today you should ask your teacher about it
Rex really did get robbed. I guess Heisman voters thought, “Well, he’ll get another chance as an upperclassman.” The award should only be given to the best player, not the best player whose time has come. It’s not a lifetime achievement award.
I should add… No disrespect to the Heisman triumvirate of Spurrier, Wuerffel and Tebow, but Rex Grossman was the best pure passer UF ever had.
Danny was a better field General. I used to live when he called audibles as something special always followed.
Agreed. That’s why I avoided the word “quarterback”.
No one was robbed as much as Tebow his junior year. He should have had 2 heismans, but the fix was certainly in by pollsters that purposefully left him off the ballot in an attempt to sabotage his winning. He had significantly more 1st place votes and yet the number of 2nd and 3rd place votes were remarkably absent. How could that have happened?
At least we got the last laugh in Miami, winning it on the field.
The simpler answer is that they don’t like to award the same guy twice. And sportswriters are also an easily jaded bunch, and thus got Tebow fatigue pretty quickly.
“To Georgia fans, I bet it is. To everyone else, it isn’t”
Excited to see where you rank Peyton.
Reading comprehension is not your strength.
Nah. I know he win the SECCG but got curb stomped by Nebraska. Just wondered how much weight that has over the all time stats.
Won.
please nobody tell him the obvious flaw in his post. I want to see him complain.
Manning should be on every list. From inception to infinity.
This is a ranking since 2000, since Manning graduated before 2000 he’s not eligible for this list.
So I’m guessing the top 5 are Cam, Manziel, Tebow, McCarron, and Prescott in some order?
Probably. Although the heisman winners could be switched out. I think Manzel is the weakest out of the three personally
*Manziel
I’d take Manziel over Prescott
You sure are an idiot
You’re the person that thinks Connor Shaw is better than Aaron Murray.
Excuse me for wanting a heisman winner and someone that destroyed the nation’s top defense two years in a row.
Tulane has more SEC championships than USCjr
You’re an idiot manziel could ony do that because of the talent around him the nfl proved that. The guy was no tim Tebow
Uh he had no defense and was simply not an NFL QB..too different leagues
Oh and UCSjr is an embarrassment
6-7 2010
10-4 2011
12-2 2012
8-5 2013
36-18 overall Aaron Murray
11-2
11-2
11-2
27-5 overall (connor shaw)
All Time Record: UGA
National Championships: UGA
Conference Championships: UGA
Bowl Games/Bowl record: UGA
All Americans/Draft Picks/Heisman winner: UGA
Weeks in AP Poll:UGA
UGA>USCjr
Hahahaha wow youre truly a pathetic little man
I think I would put Aaron Murray above Johnny Manziel even though Manziel won the Heisman but that is the only top 5 guy I would argue with. 1) Tim Tebow, 2) Cam Newton, 3) AJ McCarron, 4) Greg McElroy, 5) Aaron Murray, 6) Johnny Manziel
If McElroy and Manziel make it over Murray, then Crist needs to change the article name to “who has the most NCs and Heismans since 2000.” Not top overall QBs.
Exactly.
Forgot about Prescott. He should be over Murray, too.
I also feel that Dobbs should have been in the top 20 just based on his athleticism and ability to just make plays. I honestly don’t know who I would replace (I guess Shaw) but I guess from a pure QB standpoint I can see why he didn’t make the cut. Just glad to see that Clausen got some love. He had a great year in 2001!
I’d see Prescott at #4 or #5. He did so much with so little talent around him.
Yeah, forgot about him…