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Chad Kelly is doing things not seen in Oxford since Eli Manning was under center.
Dak Prescott played arguably the best first half by any SEC QB this season … only to watch Brandon Allen top him in the second half.
The SEC’s three best quarterbacks showed why Saturday, producing the season’s first tri-Valedictorian award.
The Week 12 SEC QB report card …
Brandon Allen (Arkansas): 30-43, 406 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: The hottest QB in the SEC (nation?) turned up the heat in the second half, nearly rallying Arkansas to victory behind a school-record 7 TD passes. His seventh TD pass gave him 63 in his career, breaking Ryan Mallett’s school record.
He even added a two-point conversion on an athletic catch in traffic.
Allen has thrown 19 TD passes in his past five games.
Grade: A+
Brandon Allen is legit. Kid throws #seeds all over the field
— Stephen Garcia (@StephenGarcia) November 22, 2015
Chad Kelly (Mississippi): 18-32, 280 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: Kelly played like the SEC’s top QB as he shattered two Eli Manning school records (total yards and total TDs in a season) and crept closer to Manning’s single-season school record for passing yards. Manning threw for 3,600 yards in 2003. Kelly has
Kelly also ran for 81 yards and 2 more touchdowns. His 34 total TDs shattered Manning’s record of 32.
Kelly also set the school record for total yards.
Grade: A+
https://twitter.com/OleMissFB/status/668187922227707904
Dak Prescott (Mississippi State): 38-50, 508 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
My take: Prescott was unstoppable in the first half as the Bulldogs built a 31-21 lead.
Granted, it helps when your receivers make plays like this.
https://vine.co/v/izzQZi3piZO
The interception he threw — just his third this season — was a perfectly thrown ball that zipped through his receiver’s hands, off his helmet and into Kevin Richardson’s diving hands.
He then rallied the Bulldogs out of an 11-point deficit by throwing for 2 TDs and running for another.
Grade: A+
Kyle Allen (Texas A&M): 18-36, 336 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
My take: Allen jumped back into the Aggies QB race, nearly throwing for a season high in his first start since being pulled in the Ole Miss loss.
His best ball was a perfect strike to Josh Evans, which resulted in a 95-yard TD pass.
Grade: A
Throwing from his own end zone, Kyle Allen hit Josh Reynolds for a long TD in a play that looked a lot like this. pic.twitter.com/zm612yupCy
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) November 22, 2015
Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee): 16-24, 89 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: Dobbs controlled the game and made just enough plays, particularly with his legs, against a tough Missouri defense.
His 8-yard TD run gave the Volunteers a 16-0 halftime lead and effectively ended it.
Grade: B
Jeremy Johnson (Auburn): 13-19, 163 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: Johnson wasn’t tested by an Idaho ranked 116th in total defense, but credit him for playing a clean game. He also added two rushing touchdowns in a nice warmup performance for Alabama next week.
Grade: B-
Perry Orth (South Carolina): 28-43, 367 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
My take: Orth had his best day — admittedly against an FCS opponent. His first 300-yard game included a 41-yard go-ahead TD to Pharoh Cooper. He would have had his first 400-yard game, but a penalty wiped out his long TD pass to Cooper.
Still … one TD pass.
Strange decision on 4th-and-10 to throw underneath, but there’s no guarantee the Gamecocks could have gone 50 or more yards to get into field goal range anyway.
Grade: B- … graded on a curve because South Carolina clearly isn’t above losing to an FCS school.
Drew Barker (Kentucky): 16-29, 129 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: The Wildcats kept it conservative in Barker’s first career start, and why not? They ran for 415 yards and 6 TDs. No need to take any risks.
His longest completion went for 22 yards — to running back Stanley Williams.
Drew Barker has made some questionable throws tonight, but he's been very clutch on third down. Gets another one there.
— Jon Hale (@JonHale_HL) November 22, 2015
With a bowl bid at stake, they’ll have to open the playbook more next week against Louisville.
Grade: C-
Brandon Harris (LSU): 26-51, 324 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Miles asked if Harris has regressed: "I don't know that regressed is the spot. I think he's a young quarterback." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 22, 2015
My take: Harris’ first career 300-yard game came in another blowout loss, and also included two more turnovers. His first interception set up an Ole Miss TD that stretched the Rebels’ lead to 24-0 in the first half.
Grade: C-
Greyson Lambert (Georgia): 16-25, 183 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
My take: Even against a Sun Belt team, Georgia didn’t put the ball in Lambert’s hands. They played for OT, instead of trying to get in field goal range. When all they needed was a FG to win in OT, they played it safe and handed off to Sony Michel, who won it with a 25-yard TD run.
Grade: C-
Drew Lock (Missouri): 13-30, 130 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
My take: Lock has shown he is what he is — a near 40-percent passer. His 21-of-28 showing against South Carolina was an outlier. His interception led to a field goal, but he showed some poise late in rushing for a TD and then completing a pass for the conversion.
Grade: D.
Treon Harris (Florida): 8-17, 122 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
My take: Threw a beautiful deep throw on a 53-yard TD pass to Antonio Callaway, but he quickly offset that by throwing another deep ball into double coverage, which FAU intercepted in the end zone. Moments later, Harris fumbled while scrambling at his 4, setting up a game-tying scoop-and-score.
Harris had a couple of late chances too but missed on a 3rd-and-7 out route.
All told, a chance to build confidence against a 2-8 team raised more questions about Harris’ ability to lead the Gators to an SEC title.
Grade: D-
Kyle Shurmur (Vanderbilt): 3-12, 19 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
My take: Shurmur played well last week — 166 yards, 2 TDs, most important he led Vandy to a victory over Kentucky.
Saturday was a decisive step back in every way.
Grade: F
Jacob Coker (Alabama): 11-13, 155 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
My take: Coker was nearly perfect … and probably should have been given the varsity to freshman team like difference in personnel.
Grade: Incomplete
Coker is in the advanced classes. He is smart enough to realize this was a practice test for next week’s Iron Bowl.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
