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Best in show: Here’s the latest SEC QB index after Week 8’s play
By Will Heath
Published:
In the year of the running back, solid quarterback play is still key for a championship contender.
Here is this week’s SEC quarterbacking top 10 based on the seasons they have put together so far:
10. TREON HARRIS, FLORIDA
The skinny: Holding this spot by default in the absence of Will Grier. We’ll move him up if he duplicates last season’s performance against Georgia in Jacksonville.
Last week: Bye
Season: 36-59, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
9. PATRICK TOWLES, KENTUCKY
The skinny: You know the phrase “all he does is win?” Poor Patrick Towles seems to do everything but win. In what appeared to be a very winnable game at Mississippi State, Towles played a perfectly ordinary Patrick Towles Game — 23-of-42, 218 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT — and was undone because his defense got victimized by Dak Prescott (more on him in a minute). In fact, Towles now has the distinct privilege of being just good enough to not beat Florida, Auburn and Mississippi State, the three biggest games on the Wildcats’ schedule to date.
Last week: 23-42, 218 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Season: 146-242, 1,730 yards, 8 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
8. BRANDON HARRIS, LSU
The skinny: Despite a mere 128 passing attempts in 2015, Brandon Harris is third in the league in yards per attempt (8.58), and second in the league in QBR (153.85). We all expect Leonard Fournette to continue being Leonard Fournette, but the Tigers will need Harris to make two or three plays downfield in Tuscaloosa and Oxford if they expect to play for a championship.
Last week: 11-20, 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Season: 75-128, 1,098 yards, 9 touchdowns, 0 interception
7. GREYSON LAMBERT, GEORGIA
The skinny: It feels like Lambert’s dismantling of South Carolina happened three years ago, doesn’t it? The good news for Lambert is he still has an opportunity to change the narrative on the season, if only he can make some throws against a very tough Florida defense.
Last week: Idle
Season: 100-156, 1,276 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
6. JOSH DOBBS, TENNESSEE
The skinny: Not much else to say, really. Dobbs can’t play defense, and he can’t block for himself. Which is a damn shame. He had Alabama on the ropes last Saturday.
Last week: 13-22, 171 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions; 16 carries, 19 yards
Season: 111-191, 1,272 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 89 carries, 387 yards, 5 touchdowns
5. KYLE ALLEN, TEXAS A&M
The skinny: You know, Ole Miss’ defense is very, very good, but that performance by Allen Saturday night was worse than Kenny Hill’s in Tuscaloosa last season. This week he finds himself in a quarterback controversy with Kyler Murray and Jake Hubenak. He’s tumbling down these rankings in a hurry.
Last week: 12-34, 88 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception
Season: 121-213, 1,625 yards, 14 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
4. JAKE COKER, ALABAMA
The skinny: Earlier in the season, I called Jake Coker a taller version of John Parker Wilson … and I swear I meant that as a compliment. Coker won’t impress anybody much with the way he throws the football, but he’s huge, and for now has made all the necessary plays to have his team in the hunt for the division, the conference and the playoff. Bonus points for his postgame interview, when he made Nick Saban look shorter than he actually is.
Last week: 21-27, 247 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception
Season: 143-224, 1,623 yards, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions
3. BRANDON ALLEN, ARKANSAS
The skinny: It is to Brandon Allen’s undying credit that the Hogs didn’t fold in Saturday’s marathon overtime win over Auburn. I wrote him off a week ago as a bland retread who couldn’t rise to the occasion, and — while Auburn ain’t exactly the cream of the crop — he hit big throws when big throws were necessary, and kept his team in it long enough for the defense to make a play. Well done.
Last week: 19-31, 233 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception
Season: 127-204, 1,769 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
2. CHAD KELLY, OLE MISS
The skinny: Kelly’s performance Saturday night was a microcosm of his entire team’s — after two games in which they appeared to be foundering, the Rebel offense found its feet Saturday against the Aggies. Beyond the raw numbers, it was impressive to see Ole Miss regain its aggressiveness — the Aggies were forced to react to them, instead of the other way around. That’s the recipe that wins a title. Not a national title, but still.
Last week: 26-41, 241 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Season: 180-276, 2,475 yards, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
1. DAK PRESCOTT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
The skinny: There is no objective measure by which Dak Prescott belongs at the top of the SEC’s list of quarterbacks. Except this: He’s the best blend of talent and experience in the league, and when he’s rolling, he might just be unstoppable — he was responsible for all 6 Bulldog touchdowns Saturday against Kentucky. If he gets rolling in November, we might have some real fun.
Last week: 25-35, 348 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception; 13 carries, 117 yards, 3 touchdowns
Season: 173-260, 2,048 yards, 14 touchdowns, 1 interception; 72 carries, 371 yards, 7 touchdowns
Will Heath is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
