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Each week, former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia will grade the SEC quarterbacks’ performances.
We begin with Week 5’s Valedictorian, Will Grier:
Will Grier (Florida): 24-29 for 271 yards, 4 TDs
My Take: The freshman played big-time ball on a national stage. He made all the right reads and was very accurate when necessary. Florida may have found its next star QB!
Grade: A+
Will Grier to Demarcus Robinson for 6. 36-yard TD. #Gators up 7-0. https://t.co/3rzCPyxj9m
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) October 3, 2015
Jacob Coker (Alabama): 11-16 for 190 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
My Take: Despite the inclement weather, Coker was very accurate throughout without pressing the issue. People don’t realize how hard it is to throw a wet football 50 yards and hit a receiver in stride, and Coker made it look much simpler than it is. He also added a short touchdown run.
Grade: A
I think the dynasty might be okay pic.twitter.com/50RvC9B5px
— Dan Lyons (@Dan_Lyons76) October 3, 2015
Kyle Allen (Texas A&M): 25-41 for 322 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
My Take: Allen has played very well this season. This wasn’t his most accurate game, but he still was firing it. He proved to be a more effective runner than people gave him credit for, totaling 65 yards.
Grade: B+
Drew Lock (Missouri): 21-28 for 136 yards, 2 TDs
My Take: Lock, the other freshman in the South Carolina game, managed the game and didn’t make mistakes. He threw to the open spot and led the team. He didn’t light it up, but the kid can play.
Grade: B+
Patrick Towles (Kentucky): 29-42 for 329 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
My Take: Towles has become one of the better QBs in the league. He struggled against a very good Florida defense, but outside of that game, he has been crushing it. He did throw two costly picks, but he’s a gunslinger and I love that. Towles is also sneaky fast. Look for him to continue to fire the ball.
My Grade: B+
Dak Prescott (Miss. State): 20-34 for 210 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
My Take: Dak hasn’t been near the Heisman hopeful that people were expecting, but has been playing well. Made some good throws but also some inaccurate ones. Helped his overall grade by rushing for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Grade: B-
Brandon Allen (Arkansas): 11-24 for 219 yards, 1 TD
My Take: He wasn’t asked to do too much as Arkansas got its running game going against the Vols. When he was called on, he was efficient. He did miss a few throws that he typically makes with ease.
My Grade: C+
Josh Dobbs (Tennessee): 20-36 for 232 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
My Take: I think Dobbs is one of the better QBs in the SEC, but he hasn’t played extremely well this year. He played well — minus any spectacular throws — Saturday against a good Razorback defense.
My Grade: C
Chad Kelly (Ole Miss): 26-40 for 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
My Take: Kelly finally met his match. Florida has the best defense in the country and they proved that Saturday night. He was harassed constantly (sacked four times and fumbled twice) and forced into some bad throws. That constant pressure created several inaccurate throws.
Grade: C-
Lorenzo Nunez (South Carolina): 15-24 for 172 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
My Take: He made some freshman mistakes, but freshmen are expected to be ready to play. Now. At a high level. Nunez could have easily thrown five interceptions, and his lone touchdown pass was on a tipped ball he threw up for grabs. Silver lining? He ran 15 times for 60 yards and is the Gamecocks’ only running threat right now.
Grade: D+
Brandon Harris (LSU): 4-15 for 80 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
My Take: Harris has to figure out what to do. The Tigers cannot continue to feed Leonard Fournette every play and expect him to last (or maybe he can). He cannot afford to throw picks and give away possessions, either. Harris has a good strong arm but lacks accuracy. He and the Tigers better figure it out before the Gators come to town in two weeks!
My Grade: D(ish)
Greyson Lambert (Georgia): 10-24 for 86 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
My Take: This game against Alabama didn’t go the way anyone envisioned it. Lambert struggled, was yanked and then put back in after backup Brice Ramsey struggled even more (two interceptions). Collectively they went 11-30 for 106 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Rough day for the Bulldogs QBs.
Grade: D-
Sean White (Auburn): 6-10 for 108 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
My Take: In White’s second career start, I still haven’t seen enough of him to make a judgment. He didn’t throw a pick, which is nice for the Auburn offense and they got a W.
My Grade: Incomplete
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
