By Josh Kersh
The SEC’s history of legendary quarterbacks has never been questioned. It would be very hard to make an argument considering the SEC has produced players such as Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, Joe Burrow, and Bryce Young all having won the Heisman Trophy and all drafted in the first round of their respective NFL draft classes.
However, the SEC is also known to over-hype their players, specifically skill positions, and even more specifically quarterbacks. The current landscape of the conference and team rosters in 2024 is no different. In today’s day and age of social media, podcasts and sports shows, it’s easier than ever to make your voice heard when it comes to your favorite player on your favorite team. Sunshine pumping has never been easier.
Here are my most overrated 2024 SEC quarterbacks.
1. Carson Beck – Georgia
I firmly believe that without the safety nets of TE Brock Bowers and WR Ladd McConkey, Beck would’ve been a middle-of-the-pack SEC QB. Beck did not complete a throw over 55 yds in 2023, almost one-third of his passing yds went to the two mentioned above, he cannot extend a play with his feet, nor rush for any meaningful yardage beyond the line of scrimmage (avg 1.9 yds/carry).
Beck could certainly improve this offseason, but then again he could regress since his two favorite targets are no longer with him on the Bulldog’s squad. Completing 72.4% of his throws will definitely help him with confidence, and having Kirby Smart as his HC certainly works to Beck’s advantage as well. Can Carson Beck adjust his game and continue to showcase his exceptional accuracy in 2024, despite losing his two favorite offensive weapons? Time will tell.
2. Jalen Milroe – Alabama
Next, I have Jalen Milroe listed as one of the most overrated and over-hyped quarterbacks in the SEC in 2024. He’s also, in my opinion, the most overrated QB in the Saban era. Milroe is the only QB on my list who was benched for two different QBs (Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson vs USF) in the same game in 2023. The week before he was benched, Alabama played Texas and lost 34-24. In that game Milroe threw for 255 yds, but also 2 INTs.
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After the USF game, however, Milroe may have taken the largest step forward in making a case for most improved player. Milroe burst onto the scene in 2022 as a QB that had wheels and was not afraid to use them, averaging 8.5 yds/carry. He also showed the conference why he was nothing more than a running threat, completing only 58.5% of his passes in 2022 (although improved it to 65.8% in 2023). But because he was a Nick Saban QB, the national media ate him up and glorified his running ability to overshadow his lack of passing prowess. We can’t have a Saban QB fail, now can we?
3. Nico Iamaleava – Tennessee
This one may be a little surprising to most, but since he became a national headline in 2021 as a high school recruit I was skeptical. The media blew this kid up during his junior year in HS, and the hype never stopped. In his junior year he threw for 2,244 yds, 33 TDs to 1 INT and stands in at 6’6” and 206 lbs. Looking in from the outside those stats and his size certainly stand out and would make anyone who’s anyone pay attention to him. But what has he done in the SEC as of now? He backed up Joe Milton his freshman season, but Iamaleava is still receiving royalty praises. He has 314 passing yards on 45 attempts in college. I will hold my praises for him until he has more meaningful snaps in more meaningful games. Stats against the Iowa’s, Vanderbilt’s, and UConn’s of the world aren’t going to sway me. The media definitely needs to chill.
4. Payton Thorne – Auburn
Coming into Auburn for the 2023 season, Thorne was coming off of his second-best season of his career after throwing for 2,679 yds, 19 TDs to 11 INTs on 62.5% of his passes (highest percentage of his college career). But in 2021 he had the best season he’s ever had with 3,240 yds, 27 TDs to 10 INTs on 60.4% of his passes. But he also had Kenneth Walker III at RB (1,636 rush yds) and Jayden Reed at WR (1,026 rec yds 10 TDs). Those two are some serious weapons.
Auburn did not have that type of weapon at WR, had a worse OL and a RB that was suspended for the first 3 games of 2023. Yet Auburn fans expected him to come in and produce similar stats with, quite frankly, lesser talent. The expectations for him came back down to earth shortly after the 2023 season started, and we all expect less out of him. But he does have updated skill positions around him, as well as a better OL. But a vast improvement is needed.
I probably could have made a case for a couple of more QBs in the SEC, but I feel the hype surrounding the other teams is pretty close to where they’re at in skill level and expectations of them. The 2024 SEC season will be a season to remember for both good and bad reasons. Fans are going to be critical, fans are going to pump sunshine, they’ll disagree and argue. One thing we can all agree on is that the CFB season can’t get here soon enough. I’m ready to tell opposing fan bases that their QB is overrated.
