This season is shaping up to be an interesting year for quarterbacks in the SEC. Seven teams return their starters in 2010, but only the top three seem real happy with their guy.
After a four year run of National Championships, one of the reasons the SEC may be down a bit this year is quarterback play. When a backup quarterback like Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson could easily rank fifth on this list, you know most of the conference is still searching.
If you want to win a championship, you need playmakers at quarterback…”bus drivers” need not apply. Here’s how we think the SEC’s 2010 signal callers stack up.
1. Ryan Mallett, Junior, Arkansas (3,624 PaYds, 30 TDs in 2009) — No surprise here. Mallett will likely prove he’s the best in the nation by season’s end. A 10-win season might give Arkansas its first Heisman winner in school history.
2. John Brantley, Junior, Florida (410 PaYds, 7 TDs in 2009) — Some might be surprised to see a quarterback who has never started a college game ranked so high on this list. Brantley has all the skills to be a very good pro-style quarterback — pocket presence, arm strength, etc. The Gators offense will look a lot different this fall as the “Post-Tebow Era” gets underway, and Brantley will be the beneficiary.
3. Greg McElroy, Senior, Alabama (2,508 PaYds, 17 TDs in 2009) — Still on a high from winning the National Championship last year, Alabama’s spring practice strides have the Tide faithful talking about a repeat in 2010. In his first year as a starter, McElroy went from being a “bus driver” to a “playmaker” — distributing the ball to Julio Jones, Trent Richardson, and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Not flashy, but solid…perfect for a Saban-coached team.
4. Cam Newton, Junior, Auburn (2,833 PaYds, 22 TDs in 2009 at Blinn College) — After a lot of debate, Newton was awarded the starting quarterback job a week after the spring game by head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. The 6-6, 245-pound juco transfer started his college career at Florida. In the spring, he beat out last year’s backup senior Neil Caudle among others and, according to Chizik, “gives us the best chance to win.”
5. Stephen Garcia, Junior, South Carolina (2,862 PaYds, 17 TDs, 10 Ints in 2009) — Steve Spurrier doesn’t want to, but he most likely will have to go with Garcia again. Poor decision making and a penchant for throwing interceptions — at critical spots in big games — would give even the most patient coach pause. Spurrier’s way past patient.
6. Jordan Jefferson, Junior, LSU (2,166 PaYds, 17 TDs in 2009) — Want to know how irked the LSU coaches and fans were with the progress of Jordan Jefferson in the spring? They have yet to name Jefferson, a junior, the starter and are contemplating going back to senior Jarrett Lee. Yes, THE Jarrett Lee who threw 16 INTs in 2008, seven of which were returned for touchdowns. Yikes! Jefferson was 8-for-23 passing for 94 yards against an injury-depleted defense in the spring game. Not good for “Les the Hat,” who is on the hot seat in Baton Rouge.
7. Mike Hartline, Senior, Kentucky (802 PaYds, 6 TDs, 7 Ints in 2009) — Although new head coach Joker Phillips hasn’t officially named him the starter, Hartline is talking like the job is already his. “It’s my time,” Hartline said, “I’m not going to let anyone take this away from me.” His only competition is from sophomore Morgan Newton (706 PaYds, 6 TDs in 2009) and redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski.
8. Matt Simms, Junior, Tennessee (2,204 PaYds, 17 TDs in 2009 at El Camino College) — After the departure of the most immature coach to ever walk an SEC sideline, the Vol Nation looks to new head coach Derek Dooley to right the ship. Dooley was dealt a tough hand at quarterback after senior Nick Stephens decided to bolt this spring. That left only juco transfer Matt Simms (son of former NY Giants QB Phil Simms), and true freshman Tyler Bray. With five new starters on the offensive line, it could be a long year for Simms in Knoxville.
9. Aaron Murray, Redshirt Freshman, Georgia (No Stats in 2009) — It’s been a tough year for quarterbacks at Georgia. The Dawgs suffered through the “Joe Cox Experiment” in 2009, and then saw backup Zach Mettenberger get dismissed after an alcohol-related arrest in the spring. It’s Murray’s gig now after a spring battle with #2 quarterback Logan Gray. He’s going to be a good one, but in 2009 will be learning on the job. Experienced talent is in place around him.
10. Nathan Stanley, Sophomore, Ole Miss (163 PaYds, TD in 2009) — It was no surprise to Arkansas fans to see Jevan Snead regress in 2009. After a promising sophomore campaign, Snead led the NCAA in interceptions (20) in ’09, then failed to get drafted after declaring for the NFL. They don’t call Snead’s former coach the “Quarterback Killer” for nothing. This year’s “bus driver” Stanley has an uphill climb ahead.
11. Chris Relf, Sophomore, (283 PaYds, 5 TDs in 2009) or Tyler Russell, RS Freshman, Mississippi State — Head coach Dan Mullen couldn’t decide on a starter in the spring, so the battle for the Bulldog starting quarterback will continue in the fall. Last year’s part-time starter Relf ran for more yards (500) in 2009 than he passed for (283). Russell is the future, but his so-so spring game line (12-26, 120 PaYds, TD) wasn’t enough to get the nod.
12. Larry Smith, Junior, Vanderbilt (1,126 PaYds, 7 TDs in 2009) — Before a hamstring tear in the tenth game of 2009, Larry Smith was putting up some decent numbers for the Commodores. “He’s got to improve on some accuracy and completion percentage and stuff like that,” said new offensive coordinator Jimmy Kiser. Ummm…yeah…that completion percentage “stuff” is pretty important.
Savor being at the top of this list Hog fans. Only 60 days until kickoff!!!
Arkansas' heyday was the time when we were Quarterback U. The second Arkansas era sees us stocked with QBs for the forseeable future. We've wandered the football wilderness for a long time. This is going to be tooooooooooo sweet!
"…when we were Quarterback U."
When was this hallowed and oft-mentioned time? And who were the QBs?
Jon Brittnum, Bill Montgomery, Joe Ferguson.
Remember the tailbacks? Dickey Morton and Bill Burnett, not exactly Darren McFadden.
Even our best teams since have been QB led. Quinn Grovey, Barry Lunney, and Clint Stoerner.
Those first were the players I had in mind although of the last three, Barry Lunney could legitimately be described as a 'bus driver' (much as it pains me to say of a fellow Ft. Smith boy). While all the QBs listed were fine players, I just don't see us being the QB factory that the term 'Quarterback U' implies (like the term 'Linebacker U' implies of Penn St. and rightly so). We need to have produced many more examples, I should think, to have earned that moniker.
Agreed. Arkansas has not been a QB factory but, neither has it been linebacker U or had a long list of great running backs. Its best teams were led by QBs and relied on the pass. Even the great McFadden year was led by a QB and, dare I say it, when he was replaced by the busdriver it all went south.
Lunney had Madre to be sure. He was not strong arm. But, if he was a bus driver he was better than any Nutty ever had. He led that team and made key plays in all of the big wins.
I'd agree with your last two posts. Perhaps I'm selling my home-boy short. ;^) (I tend to think of Madre when I think of that team.) Calcagni comes to mind also. He could throw when needed but running the offense (literally) and being a leader were his fortes.
And, we can't forget Matt Jones.
'Scuse me for cuttin in guys, but if I were a bettin man, I'd say the last of that coveted era woud have to be Joe Fergason. Not sure, but I think Billy Moore was probably before him maybe?
Aaron Murray could turn out to literally be the under-Dawg of the year.
Phil Steele has an abundance of credibilty in the college football world, and he predicts the Dawgs could possibly have one of the best, if not the best O-Line in the country.
Their RBs look to be solid again, and they have an outstanding TE.
With those kind of players/talent around him, he could have the same kind or even better year than Mitch Mustain did in '06. Just a thought.
The Georgia coaches had to beg Logan Gray to stay after he found out he was #2 QB after the spring. He was the only QB to have any game experience. I think Murray will be good…I just hope he waits to do it after the Hogs roll out of town with a win in Week 3.
Agreed Sunshine. Last season, we gave up a big play to the UGA TE after Jerry Franklin was thrown out of the ballgame, and gave up another big one to the RB straight up the gut.
Our quality depth at LB is what scares me the most on defense. It's not so much that they are now SEC sized LBs, but how much they've learned in the system since last season.
Mental breakdowns/ inexperience on D lost that game for us.
If we can avoid that this time around, we can keep pressure on their young QB in the late stages of the game.
That would give our defense a serious advantage in the 4th qr.
Where would Tyler Wilson fit on this ranking? I am just sayin' – we are one play away…
"5. Stephen Garcia, Junior, South Carolina (2,862 PaYds, 17 TDs, 10 Ints in 2009)"……….God forbid if Mallett can't go, but I think Tyler could put up numbers comparable to Garcia's from '09.
Not saying it would look the same…a lot more Pistol, a lot less under center…but I think he could be ok.
He will still have a wonderful offense around him full of playmakers.
We have a terrific stable behind Mallett. You are going to see a competition you won’t believe for the next THREE years at least.
Would like to see someone mobile that can throw like Mitchell if Mallet goes down.
Perhaps better than ok if the staff can play consistently to his strengths.
Wilson just needs experience leading the offense downfield. He has plenty of weapons around him to be sucsessful.
IMO, D.J. Williams would be more of a weapon in the short passing game with Wilson in the game, plus he is more accurate throwing to the RBS coming out of the backfield than Ryan has been.
Of course he would still have to prove this against the best defenses in the SEC.
So far, we've only seen him in action against his own defense in team scrimmages or against opposing teams in a few mop up duties, playing with a lot of 2nd and 3rd string team mates.
It's just a big guess really, but I suppose knowone really knows what he's capable of doing until he does it.
I just hope that when it happens, it's not because Ryan went down with injury.
Wilson needs to be able to come into a game pressure-free. That way, all he has to do is execute and build confidence for next season.
UA is better suited as "Safety U" … Waters, Atwater, Kennedy, Bua(???) and Hamlin.
I remember that. It has been awhile. They were great hitters and covered their area well.