SEC football: Ranking every team’s quarterback situation for 2019

Quarterback is not always at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to the SEC but, like the conference, in 2019 the position just means more.

Quarterbacks undoubtedly will play a critical role in the success, or lack thereof, for all 14 SEC football teams this season. Nine brought their quarterbacks to SEC Media days with only Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Arkansas arriving without their signal-caller.

The range of talent in the conference is significant. The conference currently features two of the top quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft while four head into August without a starter named. Heading into the season, from worst to best, here is how every SEC football team’s quarterback situation ranks.

14. Vanderbilt: Riley Neal vs. Deuce Wallace vs. Mo Hasan

The Commodores are seeking to replace Kyle Shurmur who led their team for the last three seasons, setting school records along the way. They have five scholarship quarterbacks battling for the job. Riley Neal, a graduate transfer from Ball State is a top candidate to win the job. He threw for 7,393 yards and 46 touchdowns in 34 games for the Cardinals. Deuce Wallace, who has served a suspension from the team, and Mo Hasan, who served as the back-up in 2018, are also top contenders for the starting role.

13. Mississippi State: Keytaon Thompson vs. Tommy Stevens

The Bulldogs finished with eight wins in 2018 with Nick Fitzgerald at the helm. Fitzgerald is now gone and they are desperate to find a quarterback who can help the offense elevate to the level of success the defense found last season. Their battle is between Keytaon Thompson and Penn State transfer, Tommy Stevens.

Thompson was the presumed heir to the role, with relative success backing up Fitzgerald. Thompson threw six touchdowns and one interception but completed just 46 percent of his 39 attempts in 2018.

Stevens, reunited with head coach Joe Moorhead; who had served as offensive coordinator at Penn State prior to joining Mississippi State. Stevens is a dual-threat who threw for just 304 yards in limited time at Penn State but ran for 506 yards and caught 14 receptions for  62 yards and two touchdowns. He had an impressive showing at the Manning Passing Academy this summer and expectations are rising.

12. Arkansas: Ty Storey vs. Nick Starkel vs. Ben Hicks

Last year’s starter Ty Storey completed just 57 percent of his passes and threw 11 interceptions (compared to 10 touchdowns) while leading the Razorbacks to a 2-10 record in 2018. They will forgo experience with the hope of a graduate transfer sparking their otherwise stalled offense.

Ben Hicks stood out while with SMU. He threw for 9,081 yards and 71 touchdowns while starting 37 games over the last three seasons for the Mustangs. Nick Starkel has a good campaign in 2017, his first (and only) year starting for Texas A&M. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,793 yards and threw 14 touchdowns, with six interceptions. Starkel, though, could not hold off Kellen Mond.

11. Auburn: Joey Gatewood vs. Bo Nix

Auburn is in a uniquely challenging position. They have a pair of top recruits in Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix battling, with neither having significant playing time under their belt. Joey Gatewood served as the backup to Jared Stidham last season. He is a four-star prospect who 247Sports Composite ranked as their top athlete in the 2018 recruiting class and No. 49 overall in the class.

Bo Nix is a five-star prospect, according to 247Sports Composite, and was ranked as the top dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 class and No. 33 overall. Nix threw for 6,667 passing yards in two high school seasons and has a verified 4.6 time in the 40.

10. Ole Miss: Matt Corral

Matt Corral lacks game experience, like most of the quarterbacks, ranked below him on this list. The redshirt freshmen, though, has already been named the starter for the 2019 season. Ole Miss also chose to bring Corral to SEC Media Days; a reflection of the leadership role they expect him to play for their team.

Ole Miss swayed Corral, who originally committed to Florida, as a centerpiece to their 2018 recruiting class. Corral was a four-star prospect from Long Beach, Calif. and was ranked the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the class.

9. Kentucky: Terry Wilson

Wilson manned the helm of Kentucky’s 2018 offense, which cruised further than most expected. The Wildcats, though, lost a lot of talent up front, including star running back Benny Snell. Wilson is a dual-threat weapon who had inconsistent success last season. He completed 67 percent of his passes, but only had 1,889 total passing yards. Wilson also threw for eight interceptions, compared to 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 547 yards and four touchdowns.

8. Florida: Feleipe Franks

This is where the rankings get tough; the next five quarterbacks discussed can be interchanged in ranking without much disagreement from me. Feleipe Franks shocked much of the football world with his 2018 season; he threw for 2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six interceptions after an unimpressive freshman campaign. His improvement has been credited, in large part, to Dan Mullen taking over the offense. Still, Franks has a career 56 percent completion rate that is hard to look past. The biggest questions for Franks and Mullen this season is: Was 2018 the ceiling for Franks or is there more to come?

7. LSU: Joe Burrow

Burrow originally committed to Ohio State, as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 class. After losing the job to Haskins he transferred to LSU. His first season in Baton Rouge came with much success: he threw for 2,894 yards for 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Burrow completed 58 percent of his passing attempts. Burrow appears to have more room to grow with new passing game coordinator Joe Brady. He has the potential to finish as a top-three quarterback in the conference by the end of the season, but it is far from guaranteed.

6. South Carolina: Jake Bentley

The Gamecocks know exactly what they are getting with Jake Bentley in 2018. He has the experience with 33 starts over the last three seasons. Bentley is consistent: in 2017 he threw for 2,794 yards, 18 touchdowns, and completed 62 percent of his attempts. In 2018 he threw for 3,171 yards, 27 touchdowns and 62 percent of his attempts.

Bentley’s experience and success will be critical as the Gamecocks try to make a run at the SEC East. His game, though, comes off as capped to me. He has a good arm and is composed well under pressure. He is stiff, though, and has inconsistent mechanics. He lacks mobility and often puts the ball in dangerous places-especially struggling in the red zone.

5. Tennessee: Jarrett Guarantano

This is likely higher than most, but Jarrett Guarantano’s top-five ranking represents what I view his ceiling to be. In 21 games over the last two seasons, he has thrown for 2,904 yards, 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions and has completed 62 percent of his passes.

Guarantano, though, has been held back by poor offensive line play as a centerpiece of a rebuilding Volunteers offense. This season, though, Guarantano heads into the second year under head coach Jeremy Pruitt with the potential of two highly touted freshmen tackles and the possible return of Trey Smith. He also has a new offensive coordinator in Jim Cheney.

He has impressive arm talent and displays big-play potential and the ability to make good decisions throwing the ball. His passing is rooted in good footwork and his quick release. He is effective in extending the play with his mobility and has burst when he decides to run with the ball.

4. Texas A&M: Kellen Mond

Mond won the starting job in 2017, but it was during his sophomore season (2018) that he broke out. He is a true dual-threat weapon. In 2018 he threw for 3,107 yards and 24 touchdowns while also running for 474 yards and seven touchdowns.

Mond is a constant threat to break off a big play. His quickness and athleticism are on full display when he runs the ball. He also plays as big as his 6’1″ 217-pound frame suggests he should; he’s not afraid to swipe off defenders to keep a run going.

Although Mond’s running ability gives him upside, it is his arm which is at the center of his success thus far in College Station. Mond has good arm talent and can zip the ball in the short field. He had the 6th most passing yards in the SEC in 2018.

3. Missouri: Kelly Bryant

Kelly Bryant led Clemson to the 2017 National Championship game, winning an ACC title along the way. In what was briefly the most controversial move in 2018, Dabo Sweeney chose to bench Bryant for Trevor Lawrence. Bryant then chose to transfer to Missouri and honored that commitment even after the Tigers were handed their 2019 bowl ban.

In 2017, he completed 66 percent of his 398 attempts for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns. His completion percentage was better than any SEC quarterback that season. Bryant also ran for 665, which would have ranked third among SEC quarterbacks, and 11 touchdowns in 2017.

Bryant has the opportunity to immediately jump in and take the reins of the Missouri offense. He is a dangerous combination of experience and skill. Missouri can’t play in a bowl game in 2019, but Bryant can help them cause chaos in the SEC East.

2. Georgia: Jake Fromm

Jake Fromm is everything a Georgia fan could want. Sometimes Fromm is even more than what they want; his ability to take and then hold onto the starting job has led to the departure of two players (Jacob Eason and Justin Fields) with more prestigious recruiting profiles than himself.

Fromm, though, is a force for the Bulldogs, helping them win 24 games the last two seasons. He has thrown for 5,376 yards and 54 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions while completing 65 percent of his attempts.

Fromm’s game is centered around accuracy. He has great touch on passes and artistically leads receivers downfield. He has tight mechanics and is poised in the pocket. He reads defenses well and often comes through in clutch situations for Georgia.

Fromm is a consistent source of certainty for Georgia, and they will need him to be again in 2019.

1. Alabama: Tua Tagovailoa

The only way to describe Tua Tagovailoa is he’s special. He is a next-level talent that is surrounded by a supporting cast which makes it difficult to fail. Along with Fromm, he is considered to be among the top four quarterback prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft.

In 2018, his first full season as a starter, Tagovailoa totaled 3,966 passing yards on 355 attempts. He threw for 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions en route to finishing as the runner-up to Kyler Murray for the Heisman Trophy. He led the SEC in passing yards, touchdowns, passing completions and yards per attempt (11.2).

He has serious arm talent that allows him to throw the ball anywhere on the field. His impressive arm strength is matched by his accuracy in the short and midfield. He has great touch, a quick release and anticipates very well. His ceiling, along with his past production is what gives him the nod as the top SEC quarterback heading into the 2019 season.