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Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly just had one of the best passing seasons for an SEC QB in 2015, but where does it rank among the conference’s best?
Here’s a look at the SEC’s top 5 seasons in terms of passing yards:
5. Aaron Murray, 3,893 yards, 2012: The Georgia QB also led the SEC by throwing for 36 touchdowns that season on his way to becoming the conference’s all-time in passing yards (13,166) and passing TDs (121). Also that season, Murray led the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship Game, in which Georgia came about five yards short of upsetting Alabama, a 7.5-point favorite. Murray, currently with the Chiefs, was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
4. Rex Grossman, 3,896 yards, 2001: Despite leading the nation in passing efficiency (170.8) and yards per attempt (9.9) during his sophomore season, the Florida QB finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, just 62 points behind Nebraska’s Eric Crouch. That’s right, Eric Crouch. Selected by the Bears with the 22nd pick of the 2002 NFL Draft, Grossman spent six seasons with Chicago before moving on to the Texans, Redskins and Browns before catching on with the Falcons, according to his most recent Twitter post.
3. Chad Kelly, 4,042 yards, 2015: All he did in his first year with Ole Miss was set single-season school records in passing yards, total yards (4,542), touchdowns responsible for (41) and 300-yard passing games (8). The transfer from Clemson and nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, who has had some well-documented off-the-field issues, is returning for his senior season in Oxford.
2. Johnny Manziel, 4,114 yards 2013: The Texas A&M standout threw for more yards and TDs (37) than he did the previous year, when he became the first freshman – albeit a redshirt – to win the Heisman Trophy after passing for 3,706 yards and 28 TDs. Selected by Cleveland with the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Johnny Football is still a Brown, but Kelly’s issues seem tame compared to Manziel’s problems.
1. Tim Couch, 4,275 yards, 1998: After the Kentucky QB’s outstanding senior season, the Browns made him the top pick of the 1999 NFL Draft, but he couldn’t replicate his college success as a pro. In five seasons with Cleveland, he went just 22-37 as a starter, passing for 64 TDs and 67 interceptions. After Couch was released by the Browns in 2004, he suffered multiple injuries and failed to latch on with numerous NFL teams, including Jacksonville.
Following Couch’s release by Jacksonville, the NFL banned him for six games during the 2007 season for violating its drug policy. But don’t feel bad for Couch. Not only is he currently working for Fox Sports South as an analyst for SEC football, he is also still married to Heather Kozar, the 1999 Playboy Playmate of the Year.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
