It’s been mentioned over and over throughout this spring. The 2017 SEC football season is the Year of the Quarterback. In all, 12 of the 14 SEC teams are returning starters this season.

The possibility of many single-season passing records being broken this season is very strong. But, which teams should expect this year’s starter to challenge or break the school’s single season passing yards record?

Here’s a look at every SEC school’s single-season record-holder in passing yards, and whether we should expect this year to change that.

Alabama

Record: Blake Sims (3,487 – 2014)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Why? Jalen Hurts figures to be an improved quarterback in his sophomore season, and there is a good chance he could reach 3,000 passing yards this season.

Only 3 Tide QBs have thrown for 3,000 yards.

However, the Crimson Tide figure to remain strong in the running game, with a backfield once again loaded with stars and Hurts himself a major threat to run.

The year Sims set the school record for passing yards, Alabama ranked sixth in the SEC in rushing at 206.6 YPG. Last season the Crimson Tide were second at 245.0 YPG. And this season could have an even better collection of running backs than in 2016, with Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris both having 1,000-yard potential.

Arkansas

Record: Ryan Mallett (3,869 – 2010)

2017 prediction: a close challenge

Why? Last season, Austin Allen led the SEC in passing yards with 3,430. There is reason to believe that he can better that number this season, but even with a bowl game, Allen would have to average 297 passing yards per game to break Mallett’s record.

Auburn

Record: Dameyune Craig (3,277 – 1997)

2017 prediction: record will be broken

Why? Craig is the only 3,000-yard passer in program history. Even though the Tigers could have the SEC’s best rushing offense for the second straight season, new starter Jarrett Stidham figures to throw a lot in 2017.

In 2015 with Baylor, Stidham averaged 313 passing yards per game in three starts before getting injured. He won’t need to average that much this season to break a 20-year-old school record.

Florida

Record: Rex Grossman (3,896 – 2001)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Florida QBs have thrown for 3,000 yards 8 times, but none since Tim Tebow left.

Why? Grossman’s total is the fourth-highest in SEC history and the Gators haven’t had a 3,000-yard passer since Tim Tebow. More specific to this season, Florida still hasn’t settled on a staring quarterback. Transfer Malik Zaire has one 300-yard game on his resume; the idea of him averaging 300 yards a game passing for a season doesn’t seem likely. Such a number would take away one part of his dual-threat capability, and there’s no guarantee he’s going to win the job over redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks.

Georgia

Record: Aaron Murray (3,893 – 2012)

2017 prediction: record is safe – for now

Why? Murray’s total ranks No. 5 in SEC history. Georgia has one of the best running back duos in the SEC, if not the nation, in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Georgia QBs also have thrown for 3,000 yards 8 times. Jacob Eason will try to make it 9.

Jacob Eason had a good freshman season, throwing for 2,430 yards in 13 games. But if you had the Dawgs’ backfield, would you rather run the ball, or throw it?

However, in 2018 (and 2019 if he were to return), Eason could very well challenge Murray’s school record.

Kentucky

Record: Tim Couch (4,275 – 1998)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Why? Couch’s SEC record is approaching its 20th birthday. Only three SEC QBs have topped 4,000 yards.

Stephen Johnson was solid last season, throwing for 2,037 yards in 12 games for a team that featured a pair of 1,000-yard running backs in Stanley “Boom” Williams and Benny Snell.

Snell is back, but even if he weren’t, it’s difficult to imagine any quarterback at Kentucky averaging almost 330 yards a game to surpass Couch’s record.

Put it this way: If the great Andre Woodson couldn’t catch Couch’s mark 10 years ago, does any Wildcat fan expect the record to fall any time soon?

LSU

Record: Rohan Davey (3,347 – 2001)

2017 prediction: record will be challenged

Why? It’s not likely quarterback Danny Etling to have the opportunity to throw the ball enough to challenge Davey’s school record. Especially when the SEC’s leader in rushing yards last season – Derrius Guice — returns in 2017.

But over his last three games last season, Etling averaged 248 passing yards per game. That average over a 13-game season could put Etling in the neighborhood of Davey’s record, at least, or give him a chance to become the fourth Tiger to top 3,000 yards.

Ole Miss

Record: Chad Kelly (4,042 – 2015)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Why? It was a small sample last season for then-freshman Shea Patterson; just three games. But in those three games at the end of the 2016 season, Patterson averaged nearly 300 yards passing a game (293.3 YPG).

This season, Patterson could very well lead the SEC in passing yards. However, there’s no bowl game for the Rebels, meaning Patterson will have to averages 337 passing YPG over a 12-game season to catch Kelly’s school record — and third-highest total in SEC annals.

Patterson figures to have the opportunity to throw the ball over the field and pile up the passing yards. But it still will likely be enough to set a new school record.

Mississippi State

Record: Dak Prescott (3,793 – 2015)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Why? Nick Fitzgerald is very much a work-in-progress as a passer. Based on his play last season, there is a chance Fitzgerald could lead the SEC in rushing this season. After all, he was second in the conference in total rushing yards last season, finishing just 12 yards behind Guice.

That said, it’s difficult to imagine a player leading the SEC in rushing and setting a school passing record in the same season.

Missouri

Record: Chase Daniel (4,335 – 2008)

2017 prediction: record will be challenged

Drew Lock's 3,339 yards last season are the most by a Tigers QB since joining the SEC.

Why? Daniel’s record came before the Tigers joined the SEC. To break that record, junior Drew Lock will need to average about 333 passing yards per game over a 13-game season. Given that he led the SEC in pass attempts last season with 434 in the first year in a new system, it’s certainly possible he will have enough chances.

However, two obstacles await Lock in 2017. First, averaging 333 yards would be an increase of around 50 yards a game from his 2016 average (283.3 YPG). Second, the 333 YPG average was based on a 13-game schedule, which would mean a bowl appearance for the Tigers in 2017.

Considering the Tigers are coming off a 4-8 season, you have to wonder if a bowl game is in their future. With just 12 games, Lock would need to average over 360 passing yards a game to catch Daniel’s record.

South Carolina

Record: Dylan Thompson (3,564 – 2014)

2017 prediction: record will be broken

Why? This might seem like a reach, because this year’s starting quarterback, sophomore Jake Bentley, only averaged 203 passing YPG in seven games last season.

But he finished the 2016 season in a big way, throwing for 390 yards in a close loss to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.

The prediction here is that momentum will carry over into this season, and with 10 starters back on offense, expect Bentley to set a school record for passing yards in a season.

Tennessee

Record: Peyton Manning (3,819 – 1997)

2017 prediction: record is very safe

Why? This is not a knock on whomever replaces Joshua Dobbs. But whether it’s Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano, can we really expect either first-time starter to break Manning’s school record? The other half of chasing that record is receivers, and Tennessee hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver under Butch Jones.

Texas A&M

Record: Johnny Manziel (4,114 – 2013)

2017 prediction: record is safe

Why? Manziel’s total ranks second in SEC history. There’s no question head coach Kevin Sumlin needs to hit a home run in picking the right quarterback in the three-way battle between veteran Jake Hubenak and Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond.

A&M will throw the ball, regardless of who starts, but it’s not fair to predict that quarterback will challenge Johnny Football’s school record.

You can also add in the fact that two — if not all three — quarterbacks will at least get a chance to see some game action early in the season, which will cut down on any starter’s passing yards total.

Vanderbilt

Record: Kurt Page (3,178 – 1983)

2017 prediction: record will be challenged

Why? Shurmur broke the school record for passing yards by a sophomore last season, but only surpassed 200 yards passing five times. Considering he will need to average about 245 yards to break Page’s overall record, failing reaching the 200-yard mark in half of your games is not a good sign.

So, why will this school record be challenged this season? It’s not unreasonable to expect Shurmur to continue to develop as a quarterback, especially when you consider the 416-yard effort he put up in an upset over rival Tennessee in the regular-season finale.

The other factor in Shurmur’s favor is the return of one of the SEC’s top running backs in Ralph Webb. With opposing defenses geared up to stop Webb, Shurmur should have opportunities to throw the ball downfield.