Alabama Football: 5 Best SEC Quarterbacks not named Jalen Hurts
By Ronald Evans
Arkansas QB Austin Allen
At the top of this post, we suggested the best quarterback measurements are wins and moving the chains when it most matters. Sometimes those stats are not best, especially when a quarterback plays for a team with significant weaknesses. That is the situation for Austin Allen.
Before diving into more detail, remember Austin Allen played sparingly in his first two Razorback seasons. In two years, he attempted only 19 passes. This is important because Allen, like Fitzgerald, Hurts and Eason will be making the leap forward as a second season starter.
In 2016, Austin Allen led the SEC with 3,430 passing yards. He threw 25 touchdown passes and surrendered 15 interceptions. He also had the highest quarterback rating (146) of any 2017 SEC returning signal caller.
The 15 interceptions were a big problem. A bigger problem was he was last in the league with 35 sacks. Nationally that placed the Hogs at No. 103 in the nation for sacks allowed. For all its size and Bielema’s bluster, the Arkansas offensive line was weak at quarterback protection.
Arkansas was 10th in the SEC in Total Defense in 2016. Given the ineptitude of his offensive line and defense, it can be argued Austin Allen did more with less than any 2016 SEC quarterback. That Arkansas less may be even lesser in 2017. There is no clear replacement for the loss of Rawleigh Williams at running back. The doubt about Austin Allen is not is good enough to be a top quarterback. He would make SEC teams LSU, Vanderbilt, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Kentucky immediately better as their quarterback.
There is no clear replacement for the loss of Rawleigh Williams at running back. Austin Allen is good enough to be a top quarterback. He would make SEC teams LSU, Vanderbilt, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Kentucky immediately better as their quarterback.
The problem for Austin Allen is Arkansas may need him to do too much in 2017. Asking any quarterback to do too much, without the support of solid team components, is a recipe for failure. Austin Allen may be the best 2017 SEC quarterback that has little chance to succeed.
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Before closing, we confess our designation of Austin Allen is a stretch. He will not be the 2017 SEC First Team quarterback, but if he were the quarterback at LSU, Florida or Tennessee, he could earn that honor.