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Earlier we looked at the quarterback situations for every team in the SEC West, so today we’ll look at the SEC East.
FLORIDA
Starter: Luke Del Rio, RS Sophomore
Backup: Austin Appleby, Graduate transfer
Redshirt: Kyle Trask, Freshman; Feleipe Franks, Freshman
2017 commitment: Jake Allen (4-star)
Overall: Del Rio should be the guy for at least the next two seasons. After that we’ll see how far Trask and Franks have come. Going into this season it appears that Trask is well ahead of Franks, who was a much high-rated prospect coming out of high school.
If Del Rio struggles this year, Appleby provides depth with game experience from his time at Purdue. In just two seasons Jim McElwain has done a good job at building depth at the position and given himself different options under center.
GEORGIA
Starter: Jacob Eason, Freshman
Backup: Greyson Lambert, Senior; Brice Ramsey, Junior
2017 commitment: Jake Fromm (4-star)
Overall: By all accounts Eason appeared to be preparing to take the first snaps against North Carolina on Saturday although Lambert has taken first-team reps for the past couple of days this week.
Whether it’s Saturday or next month, this is more or less Eason’s team through the next three seasons at least.
Ramsey is an emergency quarterback but also punted last year and might pull double duty again. Georgia will probably need a second QB commitment to round out some potential depth issues.
KENTUCKY
Starter: Drew Barker, RS Sophomore
Backup: Stephen Johnson II, Junior
Redshirt: Gunnar Hoak, Freshman
2017 commitment: Walker Wood (3-star)
Overall: The 2016 season and the possible future of head coach Mark Stoops will likely depend on the performance of Barker, who was 1-1 as a starter last year. Johnson will likely see the field at some point but probably as a designated player in a special package.
For the Wildcats it’s Barker or Bust.
MISSOURI
Starter: Drew Lock, Sophomore
Backup: Marvin Zanders, RS Sophomore
Redshirt: Micah Watson, Freshman
2017 commitment: Reyondous Estes (3-star)
Overall: Lock started the final eight games as a true freshman last season and suffered some predictable growing pains (49 percent passing, 4 TDs, 8 INTs). He has a new quarterbacks coach and OC, Josh Heupel, and the offense should be a little more aggressive this year.
Zanders is the more mobile quarterback and Heupel has been very public in saying that the redshirt sophomore will have a role in the offense this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Starter: Perry Orth, Senior or Brandon McIlwain, Freshman
Backup: Jake Bentley, Freshman
2017 commitment: Jay Urich (3-star)
Overall: Hard to say where Will Muschamp will go here. The general consensus is that McIlwain is the most electric option and would benefit the most from Kurt Roper’s offense. I could see Orth getting the first snaps and McIlwain getting some possessions in the first half and then Muschamp riding the hot hand in the second half.
RELATED: Muschamp must share McIlwain with baseball
Bentley looks like a potential redshirt, but he could also be in the mix at some point. A lot more questions than answers for the Gamecocks, but Thursday night will provide some clarity.
TENNESSEE
Starter: Joshua Dobbs, Senior
Backup: Quinten Dormady, Sophomore; Sheriron Jones, RS Freshman
Redshirt: Jarrett Guarantano, Freshman
2017 commitment: C.J. Lewis (3-star)
Overall: As long as Dobbs is healthy things will be fine in 2016. There are plenty of questions surrounding Dobbs’ ability to make tough throws, but he’s a strong competitor and leader with pluses that far outweigh the minuses.
If Dobbs gets hurt, the Volunteers have some depth. Dormady got into a couple of games last season and he’s a pocket passer. Jones redshirted, but he’s the mobile threat of the two backups.
Guarantano is the quarterback of the future and would probably benefit from a redshirt.
VANDERBILT
Starter: Kyle Shurmur, Sophomore
Backup: Wade Freeback, Junior
Injured: Shawn Stankavage, Sophmore
Redshirt: Deuce Wallace, Freshman
2017 commitment: Jacob Free (3-star)
Overall: Another year, another starting quarterback for Derek Mason and the Commodores. Shurmur got thrown into the fire last year as a true freshman and it was as tough as expected for him.
The sophomore, however, has committed to being a better player and helping the Commodores get back to a bowl. He will have Ralph Webb at running back to take off a lot of the pressure. If Shurmur falters, Freeback has played some garbage time over the past two seasons.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
