It was quite a frustrating Week 1 for the SEC, both overall and specifically at the quarterback position.

Coming into the 2016 campaign, it was expected to be a bit of a down year under center in the best conference in America. Of the 14 programs in the league, only three brought a QB to Media Days.

While there were a few standout performances over the course of the opening weekend, in general the SEC didn’t throw the ball particularly well. Seven squads rotated passers, which produced various levels of success. Some of said rotations were carefully orchestrated, but others seemed half-baked.

However, most frustrating was a couple of established veterans failing to show any improvement from the year before. As a result, it might be time to recalibrate expectations for their respective teams already.

Here are my SEC quarterback rankings following Week 1, as a familiar name tops the list despite starting 0-1.

14. Kyle Shurmur/Wade Freebeck

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason spent a good portion of the offseason telling anyone who would listen that Shurmur was his guy.

But in a season-opening loss to South Carolina at home, which included a double-digit lead being blown, Shurmur was pulled occasionally for Freebeck. The Commodores were brutal through the air again, just like a year ago.

Shurmur and Freebeck combined to complete just 34.8 percent of their passes and throw for a pathetic 73 yards.

13. Sean White/Jeremy Johnson/John Franklin III

White apparently won the starting job during fall camp, but that didn’t stop Auburn coach Gus Malzahn from trying to outsmart everyone.

He shuttled White, Johnson and Franklin in and out of the lineup with no distinct pattern. To the surprise of no one, none was impressive because getting into any sort of rhythm was impossible by definition.

The trio finished 15-of-30 passing for 175 yards with 0 TDs and 2 INTs, plus collectively they lost 20 yards on 10 rushing attempts.

12. Nick Fitzgerald/Damian Williams

With Dak Prescott now starting for the Dallas Cowboys, Mississippi State learned the hard way how hard it will be to replace him.

Fitzgerald, supposedly the winner of a four-way battle to succeed Prescott, orchestrated two three-and-outs before getting yanked. Williams (below) entered and initially did some good things, both running and throwing, but it didn’t last long.

Sep 3, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Damian Williams (11) drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Even though Williams threw for 143 yards and ran for 93 more, his limitations as a downfield passer were evident in defeat.

11. Perry Orth/Brandon Mcilwain

Orth got the start for South Carolina at Vandy, although he was totally ineffective for a quarter and gave way to the freshman McIlwain.

While McIlwain provided an initial spark with his ability to run, he also showed his inexperience by putting the ball on the turf. Re-entering the game, Orth helped turn a 10-0 deficit into a 13-10 triumph on the road.

A former walk-on, Orth is long on guts. But McIlwain and his generous gifts are the future. Still, this is a rotation that could actually work.

10. Drew Lock/Marvin Zanders

Thrown to the wolves last season in a bad Missouri offense as a true freshman, Lock flashed some of his four-star skills Saturday.

He threw for 280 yards in a losing effort at West Virginia. Nevertheless, he only completed 23-of-51 throws and averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt. Lock moved the ball between the 20s but couldn’t finish drives.

Zanders entered the game here and there yet appears to be a running threat only. It didn’t make much sense, so just let Lock play.

9. Luke Del Rio

Finally making his first career start at Florida after two short stints elsewhere, Del Rio was 29-of-44 for 256 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs.

Yes, the numbers look good in a vacuum. That being said, the Gators were locked in a tight game with lowly UMass before finally pulling away late. Del Rio hit eight receivers, but six averaged 9.3 yards per catch or less.

The Minutemen were 3-9 in 2015 and featured the No. 98 pass defense nationally. Del Rio should have made more big plays.

8. Austin Allen

Taking over for older brother Brandon Allen at Arkansas, Austin Allen threw the game-winning touchdown pass in his first start.

Of course, the Razorbacks shouldn’t have needed a fourth-quarter floater from Allen (below) to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat 21-20 against Louisiana Tech at home. A W is a W, though.

Sep 3, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarter back Austin Allen (8) hands the ball off to running back Rawleigh Williams III (22) during the first half against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Allen threw two TDs against two interceptions, but there is reason to believe that he’ll improve and eventually resemble his elder sibling.

7. Drew Barker

Halfway through Kentucky’s game against Southern Miss, Barker had already thrown for close to 300 yards and four scores.

But the Wildcats suffered an epic collapse at Commonwealth Stadium, watching helplessly as a 35-10 lead somehow devolved into a 44-35 loss. His teammates on the defensive side of the ball deserve most of the heat, but Barker isn’t blameless.

The No. 1 passer in the SEC right now with a passer efficiency rating of 222.2, that figure means a lot less with an 0-1 record.

6. Brandon Harris

Perhaps a bit higher on the list than he should be after Week 1, LSU fans keep waiting for the light to turn on with Harris.

Blessed with a generational talent at running back and two wide receivers that will play in the NFL, Harris continues to be consistently inconsistent. In a 16-14 loss to Wisconsin, he recorded just 12 completions and was picked off twice.

The second interception came late in the fourth quarter when a field goal would have been enough to pull out a win at Lambeau Field.

5. Joshua Dobbs

Another experienced passer who showed shockingly little growth from a year ago, at least Dobbs managed to win his opener.

He did it in frustrating fashion, of course, needing overtime to overcome pesky Appalachian State kicking off the most highly anticipated season at Tennessee in a long time. Dobbs attempted just two downfield throws, completing one.

He simply is what he is this point. If the Vols want to be scarier through the air, his receivers need to turn short passes into long gains.

4. Greyson Lambert/Jacob Eason

First-year Georgia coach Kirby Smart went the safe route and started the senior Lambert, eventually handing the keys to the freshman Eason.

As is usually the case, Lambert was mediocre. When Eason (below) got into the game in the second quarter, he looked like a kid straight out of high school at first. But once he got his feet wet, his natural arm talent was undeniable.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) at the line of scrimmage against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the fourth quarter of the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Eason finished 8-of-12 for 131 yards with a TD and no picks. The Bulldogs will be his team eventually. The hype is real.

3. Blake Barnett/Jalen Hurts

Similar to what happened with Mississippi State, Barnett started and lasted two whole series before Alabama coach Nick Saban brought out the hook.

Hurts, a true freshman like Eason but not carrying the weight of an entire fan base, fumbled the ball away on his first snap. The young man shook it off, though. He starred with two passing TDs and two more rushing in a 52-6 beatdown of USC.

Barnett looked better late in garbage time, but the story was Hurts. Even the upperclassmen want him to take over this offense.

2. Trevor Knight

Texas A&M delivered one of the league’s better wins over the weekend, overcoming some late mistakes to outlast UCLA in overtime.

Knight, operating a spread system similar to the one he originally ran at Oklahoma, appeared to be quite comfortable right away. His numbers (22-of-42 for 239 with 1 and 1) were good if not great, but this performance wasn’t about the box score.

The Aggies desperately needed leadership in the huddle, and Knight has provided it. There’s reason to believe that his stats will soon follow suit.

1. Chad Kelly

After about a quarter and a half, Kelly was a Heisman Trophy candidate and Ole Miss was putting the rest of the West on notice.

A half and change later, his four turnovers matched his four touchdowns. A 28-6 lead was erased by a 33-0 Florida State run, which Kelly fueled with his carelessness. Now 0-1, the Rebels still have Alabama and Georgia on their September schedule.

It doesn’t change the fact that Kelly is bar none the best QB in the SEC. His mistakes simply multiplied quickly facing a top team.

John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.