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The SEC quarterbacks can be framed in two ways, from a broad perspective.
Negative: LSU’s Brandon Harris is the third-leading returnee by 2015 passing yards, with 2,158 in 13 games. Yikes.
Positive: It may take one more year, but the next wave of young, talented SEC quarterbacks is getting ready to take over the league in a big way. We’re talking Blake Barnett, Jacob Eason, Shea Patterson, Feleipe Franks, Drew Lock, Lorenzo Nunez, Jarrett Guarantano and more.
It’s possible that 2016 is a major transition year for SEC quarterbacks. It could be bumpy for several programs.
Unknown isn’t always bad. (See: Johnny Manziel, 2012.) It isn’t always good, either.
So, when we’re aiming to identify the teams with the most “concerning” quarterback situations, we aren’t predicting failure, or even that the players in question will perform at an average or below-average level. We’re merely stating that there’s enough doubt and unknown at those teams that we think the quarterback position could make a significant impact on the team’s wins and losses in 2016.
We’ll get a much clearer picture after spring and fall practice. But for now, these four teams have to be at least a little skeptical about the performance of the starting quarterback this coming season.
- Arkansas: Austin Allen will enter the spring as the frontrunner. The book on him used to be that he has more upside than his brother Brandon Allen, but wasn’t as committed to football. Quietly, the Arkansas coaches felt that he improved a lot in 2015. But coach Bret Bielema recently gave some surprisingly negative comments about USC transfer Ricky Town’s development. Ty Storey and Rafe Peavey are expected to compete for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart. It’s been a wile since Arkansas’ starting quarterback was this much of an unknown. But with several key losses on offense, including a few stalwart offensive linemen, Alex Collins and Hunter Henry, it’s imperative that there not be much drop-off at the position. And that’s somewhat concerning, considering that Brandon Allen was a three-year starter and one of the best in the SEC in 2015.
- Florida: The major caveat is that any quarterback not named Treon Harris should be an improvement. If Feleipe Franks starts, that means he’s ahead of the game in terms of his development. If one of the two veteran transfers start, at least the offense will be led by a legitimate quarterback with a modicum of experience. Still, it doesn’t look like there’s a championship-level quarterback available to the Gators in 2016. And after last year’s SEC East title, that’s the standard by which coach Jim McElwain’s team will be measured.
- Missouri: With the departures of Maty Mauk and Eddie Printz, this is Drew Lock’s job, for better or worse. There’s not much of a parachute here. Starting as a true freshman in the SEC — especially with the way the rest of the offense was performing and with all the Mauk drama — wasn’t ideal. And the new coaching staff is invested in developing Lock. But what if he just isn’t all that great at the college level? I’m not suggesting that’s my belief, but it’s at least a valid concern for this offense in 2016.
- South Carolina: Where to start? Will Muschamp hasn’t been labeled as a quarterback killer just because it’s funny. Jeff Driskel’s 4,000-yard season for Louisiana Tech in 2015 was just the latest entry in that dossier. Plus, Lorenzo Nunez looked like a worse option than Pharoh Cooper at times last season — an athlete who didn’t know how to quarterback at the SEC level. Perhaps he’ll improve, or Brandon McIlwain will be better, or Muschamp will let Kurt Roper run a full-on spread offense that will play to their strengths. For now, consider us skeptical.
OTHERS CONSIDERED
Auburn: At least the team has options. Perhaps the team pulled Jeremy Johnson too soon last year, and he finally develops. Or maybe John Franklin III can be the second coming of Nick Marshall. It’s even too soon to completely dismiss Sean White. But until one player proves he can do it, be wary of a repeat of last year’s debacle.
Georgia: If Jacob Eason was ready from the day he stepped on campus, great. Maybe he’s the next Aaron Murray, a potential four-year starter. If he needs a year to develop, we could see a repeat of last season at the position.
Kentucky: Drew Barker will get an opportunity to succeed with a new offensive coordinator, a (hopefully) better offensive line and receivers who surely will remember how to catch. Then again, he spent most of last year as a backup to a quarterback who threw 9 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.
Mississippi State: When Tim Tebow left Florida, the Gators plummeted. Same thing when Cam Newton left Auburn. That’s not a guarantee that Mississippi State will suffer without Dak Prescott in 2016. Dan Mullen has a great track record with quarterbacks. And the Bulldogs have some intriguing options. But there’s at least a question mark at the position.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
