Alabama Football has five good quarterbacks. Listen closely to Hugh Freeze and you’ll conclude Auburn doesn’t have any. Let’s work through a post-spring review of the top quarterbacks on all 14 SEC football teams.
An established college football axiom is that in order to win big, a team MUST have an outstanding quarterback. The broad statement has been frequently proven untrue. The Georgia Bulldogs won two National Championships with a not much better, than average, quarterback. Alabama Football had two seasons with exceptional quarterbacking from Bryce Young and came up short twice.
But having a gifted quarterback who is both a leader and an athlete that can make game-changing plays can be a championship-winning, difference maker. How many 2023 SEC quarterbacks fit that description? It is too early to predict, but it is apparent more SEC teams are either unsettled at QB or are lacking QB talent.
There are six SEC football programs with predictable optimism about their expected quarterback starters. The programs and their QBs are Arkansas, KJ Jefferson; LSU, Jayden Daniels; Georgia, Carson Beck; Tennesee, Joe Milton; South Carolina, Spencer Rattler and Mississippi State, Will Rogers. It is possible freshman, Nico Iamaleava could beat out Milton in Knoxville, but Josh Huepel’s offense is expected to be potent with either one. There is a smidgeon of doubt in Starkville because Rogers will be working in a new offense.
There are five other SEC programs that are either set as to a starting QB or close to being set. The three that be described as ‘set’ are Kentucky, Devin Leary; Vandy, AJ Swann, and Missouri, Brady Cook. But ‘set’ at QB does not mean any of the three offenses will be good enough. At Missouri, Cook missed spring due to injury, but his return should be helped by a stronger group of receivers in the fall. Florida might also be ‘set’ with Graham Mertz, but the Gators’ spring offense was unimpressive. In College Station, there is a competition but it appears Connor Weigman will be an upgrade over last season.
SEC Football and Unsettled Quarterbacks
The three remaining SEC teams have unsettled quarterback situations. Ole Miss is probably good and also possibly not great with either Jaxson Dart, Spencer Sanders or even Walker Howard. What will happen in Tuscaloosa is a mystery to anyone not named Nick Saban or Tommy Rees. Hugh Freeze may create turmoil in Auburn, but a yet-to-be-known replacement for Robby Ashford is expected.
The best SEC QBs in 2023 should come from the six programs with settled QB situations. Florida and Auburn appear to be tracking toward having the worst QB play next season. In Tuscaloosa, the quarterbacking should be somewhere between ‘good enough’ to ‘very good.’