Alabama Football: Ranking best SEC Quarterbacks for ’22

No. 4 – Stetson Bennett – Georgia Bulldogs

This ranking might elicit some wailing in Athens. How can a returning starter on the defending National Champion team not be No. 1? The easy answer is there are three SEC quarterbacks who are better.

Georgia’s defense was (except for the SEC Championship game) so dominating last season, Bennett and the Bulldogs’ offense did not have to be explosive. Bennett threw 387 passes at a completion rate of 64.5 percent. The Georgia economical passing attack gave Bennett 2,862 passing yards, with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His PER was 176.7. Bennett also rushed for 259 yards.

Those are amazing numbers for a former walk-on.

No. 3 – KJ Jefferson – Arkansas Razorbacks

Jefferson is primed for another big season. He will not have Treylon Burks to throw to, but the Hogs have enough offensive weapons. Jefferson (or the guy listed next) is the top dual-threat QB in the SEC. One reason is he is built like a running back and is hard to bring down.

Jefferson rushed for 664 yards in the 2021 season, averaging 4.5 yards-per-carry. He threw 294 passes and completed them at a 67.3 percent clip. That number was up almost 20 percentage points from his 2020, redshirt freshman season. He connected for 21 touchdown passes, with only four interceptions. His PER was 164.7.

No. 2 – Hendon Hooker – Tennessee Vols

Coming from West Virginia, there was little question about Hendon Hooker’s physical skills. Like Jefferson, he is a legit dual-threat QB. While his completion rate was good at West Virginia, at 65.3 percent on 150 throws, interceptions were a concern. In 2020, he passed for nine touchdowns but also had five interceptions.

Maybe Josh Heupel’s offense was better suited to Hooker or maybe Heupel is a better QB coach, but Hooker was better as a Tennessee Vol. In 2021, he threw 302 passes and completed 68.2 percent of them. That output produced 31 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. His PER was 182.0.

Hooker also rushed for 620 yards last season.

The ranking takes us back to Bryce Young at No. 1. Alabama football fans know his exploits well. He passed for 4,872 yards with a completion rate of 66.9 percent. With his 547 passes, he produced 47 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. His PER was 167.5. Imagine what he could do with a less leaky pocket.

Note: All the player stats were provided by sports-reference.com.

A concern for Alabama football fans is better protection for Bryce Young. Not only must the Crimson Tide remedy weaknesses at right tackle, its stellar left tackle, Evan Neal will be hard to replace.