SEC Quarterback Power Rankings: Post-spring practice reshuffling of the deck
It’s safe to say that 2016 wasn’t a banner season at the game’s most important position in the SEC. Not by a long shot.
Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs had the premier passer efficiency rating in the league (150.6), but he only placed 20th nationally. He was drafted Saturday by the Pittsburgh Steelers, so Rocky Top is hitting the reset button.
While the highest-rated returning starter in the conference is Austin Allen of Arkansas with a mark of 146, finishing 29th in America is far from notable. Sean White of Auburn (143.1) came in 33rd, although he likely won’t be the No. 1 this year on The Plains. Even Alabama’s Jalen Hurts (139.1) could do no better than 44th.
In addition to the Volunteers, we’re certain to see new starters under center at Florida and Texas A&M. The Gators and Aggies are two of many programs that have been held back recently due to poor play at QB.
Here are my quarterback rankings for the SEC now that spring practice is in the rearview mirror. A lot can happen between now and Week 1, though.
14. Jake Hubenak/Nick Starkel/Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Hubenak, Starkel and Mond all struggled to some degree in the Aggies’ spring game, so not a lot of questions were answered.
Truth be told, Hubenak is a backup in the SEC and can’t be counted on to take A&M anywhere of note in 2017. Starkel is coming off a redshirt and has a year in the system under his belt, but his upside may be somewhat limited.
Even though he has the most talent, the true freshman Mond is also the greenest. Coach Kevin Sumlin has quite a dilemma to solve.
13. Feleipe Franks, Florida
Credit Franks for having good numbers overall in the spring game, although he did miss a couple of throws in the red zone.
Competing with fellow redshirt freshman Kyle Trask for the starting job, Franks appears to be much more prepared to lead the Gators this season. One of last year’s starters, Luke Del Rio, doesn’t inspire much confidence in the fan base.
Consistency with his arm will be key for Franks. From the day he got there, Franks developed a reputation being wildly inaccurate at time.
12. Quinten Dormady, Tennessee
With two years in the system, as opposed to just one for Jarrett Guarantano, Dormady is likely the leader in the clubhouse for QB1.
In was an abbreviated performance due to weather issues, but Dormady was a perfect 10-of-10 in the spring game and seemed cool, calm and collected in the pocket. His athleticism when scrambling may have been undersold, as well.
Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nevertheless, one half of a meaningless spring game isn’t enough to vault him up this list. Check back in September, UT fans.
11. Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt
Stuck at the bottom of the rankings throughout most of 2016, Shurmur put a couple of solid outings together down the stretch.
That being said, Vandy still has a ways to go before being genuinely effective in the passing game. We know he can turn and hand the ball off to tailback Ralph Webb, but Shurmur needs to be able to keep that eighth defender out of the box.
While the Commodores held more of a practice than a spring game, Shurmur did deliver some pretty balls and put points on the board.
10. Stephen Johnson, Kentucky
It has become apparent that Johnson has officially wrestled the starting job away from Drew Barker, who is yet to fully recover from a back injury.
Because Barker was held out of UK’s spring game as a precautionary measure, Johnson didn’t have to glance over his shoulder very much. He’s a mediocre passer, let’s be honest, although he does operate Eddie Gran’s offense rather efficiently.
Whatever the Wildcats get out of Johnson through the air is a bonus. Expect this team to run the rock both liberally and quickly.
9. Danny Etling, LSU
After completing his first four passes in yet another Mother Nature-shortened spring game, Etling missed on his last nine and was intercepted once.
Credit the Tigers in the secondary, of course. Even with Jamal Adams and Tre’Davious White gone, there is never a shortage of DBs in Baton Rouge. Still, our first look at Matt Canada’s new system didn’t do Etling any favors.
Sure, all the shifts and motion hinted at a more modern scheme. But unless Etling throws it better, what’s the difference?
8. Drew Lock, Missouri
Don’t be fooled by Lock’s season totals from a year ago. He racked up a lot of yards and TDs in blowouts against inferior competition.
In conference play, Lock underwhelmed more often than not. Mizzou was so concerned with running the offense as fast as possible under new coordinator Josh Heupel that sometimes it forgot to run it effectively. It was speed for speed’s sake.
Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Lock is oozing with tools, don’t get me wrong. He has the ability to be one of the league’s top passers. The Tigers just need a better plan.
7. Jacob Eason, Georgia
Speaking of tools, if Eason ever realizes his full potential at UGA, then he’s on the short list for No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
However, he experienced more downs than ups last year straight out of high school. Eason’s game-winner at Missouri and should-have-been game-winner vs. Tennessee were incredible. There simply weren’t enough highlights like that, though.
True, he needs more reliable receivers and a sturdier offensive line. But Eason has plenty of room to improve his own game, as well.
6. Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
Had Fitzgerald not played so poorly in the spring game, he might be higher on this list. But he was atrocious with a quartet of INTs.
To be fair, a spring game is a terrible format for a signal caller like Fitzgerald. Half of what he does is devastate defenses with his strong legs, which can’t be simulated when defenders are essentially playing two-hand-touch.
Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen transformed Dak Prescott from a good passer into a great one. It remains to be seen if he can do the same with Fitzgerald.
5. Jake Bentley, South Carolina
The Gamecocks finally came to life offensively in 2016 when Bentley took over for the failed duo of Perry Orth and Brandon McIlwain.
If the spring game is any indication, Bentley could be at the controls of a sneaky juggernaut. Not only did he throw the ball beautifully, but he was aided by multiple backs, receivers and tight ends that made plays around him.
Protection will be big, naturally. If the ‘Cocks can keep Bentley upright, look out in Columbia. There’s a lot to like there.
4. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Unlike the aforementioned Franks and Dormady, new starters who have to work their way up due to inexperience, Stidham debuts justifiably high.
Before sitting out this past year, he was quite productive at Baylor in 2015 after Seth Russell was sidelined with an injury. It was only after Stidham also went down that the Bears couldn’t throw the ball anymore.
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
No question about it, Stidham was the talk of the spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He’s the wild card in the West for 2017.
3. Shea Patterson, Ole Miss
Perhaps nobody was more electric through the air in his spring game than Patterson, who was 20-of-31 for 341 yards and a pair of scores.
Even with Quincy Adeboyejo, Evan Engram and Damore’ea Stringfellow no longer in Oxford, Patterson has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to receiving options. The recipe is there for him to spread it around evenly.
Remember, it was Patterson, not Eason, who was the No. 1 field general recruit in the land for 2016. Look for some monster numbers from him.
2. Austin Allen, Arkansas
Maybe the league’s best pure passer last year, Allen was one of the SEC’s pleasant surprises with his touch and toughness.
If Hogs coach Bret Bielema has anything to say about it, we won’t have to see just how tough Allen is again this season. He took a pounding week in and week out behind an offensive line that was leaky in pass protection.
He’ll have to get used to new targets, as four of his top five receivers from 2016 are history. Allen should be able to elevate their play, though.
1. Jalen Hurts, Alabama
The conference’s Offensive Player of the Year from a season ago was only a freshman. Hurts is back for more with the Crimson Tide.
Absolutely, early enrollee Tua Tagovailoa opened so many eyes with the way he threw the ball in the spring game. But coach Nick Saban put an end to the speculation: Hurts is the starter. There is no quarterback competition in Tuscaloosa.
We know Hurts is a gifted runner. Should he improve with his arm, he has enough 4- and 5-star studs around him to be truly unstoppable.
Hurts still has a long way to go. I see Bama losing 2-3 games because of it.
Prolly shoulda happened last year if his experience were holding him down. I don’t buy it.
he has enough 4- and 5-star studs around him to be truly unstoppable. That statement alone shows you might need to pay more attention to what Bama truly is. I am a hog fan no love for Bama but I am realistic!
Um, we agree…
He is a heck of a college QB, but he’s far from unstoppable.
You’re joking, right?
pma95
are you serious? You do realize he struggled against some of the best teams in country, Washington and Clemson last year. Trust me he was good for a true freshman.
Yeah, just like last year, right? Alabama won games because of Hurts’ heroics. Hurts didn’t lose the Clemson game, despite what delusional rival fans want to believe.
Eason, don’t look back, Fromm is right behind you. And gaining fast.
Do you actually think that UGA, with only 2 scholarship QB’s is about to burn Eason? Fromm doesn’t get a shot to start until after Florida if that. I just wish we had a 3rd QB so we could redshirt Fromm.
I get why you put Fitz where he is based on his performance in the spring game, but I bet that’s not where you would put him if you create a preseason SEC QB power ranking in August.
Dan made Chris Relf a dangerous QB. I have no doubt Fitz will be pretty special.
Yeah, let’s see where he sits in August. Spring Games show absolutely nothing.
I’d argue that true freshman QB Connor Blumrick has the most talent of any QB at A&M. He is 6-7, our fastest quarterback, and he has the best arm of anyone on campus. He has been injured and so he hasn’t gotten live reps. Outside of him, I’d have to go with Starkel. I contend that our team will be run oriented next year.
Also, not to argue, but what did you find that suggested Starkel’s upside is limited? I agree with you, however, on your analysis of Hubenak and Mond.
Austin Allen has some young studs he will be throwing to, if they can play half as good as they can, watch out it will be PIG SOOIIEE time! Austin is the real deal possible SEC player of the year!! Watched the Ole Miss spring game was not as impressed as most with Shea Patterson, I am still on the fence about him. Maybe he will prove me wrong. I think Jarret Stidham will be scary good. Nick Fitzgerald I think will be the QB to watch he was very impressive last year both running and passing.
Let me preface this by saying that Jalen Hurts is an absolute monster. He is gifted at the sport.
However,
he isn’t the best in the league.
He can run, sure. However, last I checked ability to run is a bonus, a QB’s true talent shines through with what the position is there to do, throw. Hurts is not the most gifted passer in the world, as I believe he had a sub-60% completion percentage. On top of that, you have to consider the studs he’s throwing to. Simply, he didn’t perform as well in the passing game as you’d hope a QB to, this is especially considering who he’s throwing to. Also, you take any QB in this league and put him on Alabama, chances are whoever it is will excel.
My whole point is he has been hyped up because he is very athletic and found success on Alabama. If you think about it though, what QB hasn’t found success with Alabama lately?
Overall, there are plenty of other QBs in this league who do more with less. So, despite Hurts winning percentage and ability to run, when you consider everything, he isn’t the greatest QB we’ve ever seen; in fact, he is just a good QB in a situation that makes him seem great.
His completion pct is 62.8. As far as any QB having success I just don’t believe it. Look at how many Bama had transfer out without success. Saying someone isn’t good because of the talent around them is an excuse. What he accomplished last season was accomplished by a true freshman. Sounds pretty good to me.
BamaTime, you saying look at the QBs who transferred out and their lack of success just proves the point he was trying to make. Also, look at the last two QBs who took Bama to the Natty, a Florida State backup and a guy that had to switch to running back to even have a shot st the NFL. No one is doubting Hurts is a great player but he isn’t the best. His offensive numbers won him SEC OPOTY and Chad Kelly’s stats last year were way better. Hurts is benefitting from a stacked Bama team and there is nothing wrong with that or admitting it
Chad Kelly’s stats from 2015**
What you’re missing is Hurts was a true freshman doing this. Chad Kelley was already a seasoned player kicked out of another school….. Blake sims didn’t take Bama to the NC….
Gotta agree. A lot of QB’s will have success in that offense, with those playmakers. I think that Hawaiian kid will be a better QB than hurts eventually. Also, it will be interesting to see how the QB is affected by the OC change from Kiffin to Daboll. (I know Sarkisian was there for a game but it was kiffin’s offense.)
Hurts was also the first to lead Bama to an undefeated season since Saban’s first championship at Bama. And there were several moments in the season where he made a play in the 4th quarter to secure the win.
To say it’s just the talent around him is a poor argument since we can look at teams like LSU and others who have similar talent but can’t get it done.
Guess I went and made accusations before knowing all the facts. As it turns out, Hurts is a more accomplished passer than I realized.
I guess my whole argument was I felt he was getting all this recognition because he was a winner and not necessarily the best pure QB.
If Austin Allen and Jalen Hurts switched teams (but still had the exact same stats) would Jalen Hurts still be considered the best in the league? Probably not.
There is no right or wrong answer for a hypothetical question.
Maybe, but even hypothetical questions can serve purpose in arguments. It doesn’t set anyone up to give a definitive answer, but it does allow for another way to consider a specific point of view. And, I think the way I went about it did just that.
I still think the reason he is being considered the best is the fact he did this as a true freshman. I imagine most people are thinking he is going to improve. He may not but with more time to learn and develop I believe he improves.
Who else would they put 1#? Besides Fitzgerald and Austin Allen most of these QBs will be first year starters and Hurts won SECPOTY. Hurts is so far hands down #1 until proven otherwise. Also a QB does more than just throwing. He’s the manager of the offense and he did extremely well year 1.
Right now, I feel good about both Dormady and Guarantano. Although both have a lot to prove on the field, they’ve already shown that they are extremely talented.