By Luke Brumm
As is the case with every Power Four conference, the SEC is adding newcomers for 2024. Oklahoma and Texas will be making their way into the conference, but they have their quarterbacks in Quinn Ewers and Jackson Arnold. There are a handful of SEC teams that currently have quarterback competitions going on right now, however. Let’s take a look at what those look like.
Florida – Graham Mertz & D.J. Lagway
Graham Mertz transferred to Gainesville from Wisconsin and was the Gator’s starter last season. Florida only went 5-7, but Mertz had a good season. He threw for 2,903 yards with an efficient 20-to-3 TD/INT ratio. That should easily be good enough to keep the job this year, but D.J. Lagway might have something to say about that. Lagway is a five-star recruit who many see as Billy Napier’s savior at Florida.
I do believe that Mertz will start, but he could be on a very short leash with Lagway waiting to take over.
Auburn – Payton Thorne, Walker White, Holden Geriner, & Hank Brown
Payton Thorne was another transfer from the Big Ten to the SEC. He came from Michigan State and played a lot more than Robby Ashford last season. Thorne completed 163 out of his 265 passes for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, Thorne did have ten interceptions as well, and that could have something to do with the quarterback competition that is going on right now.
True Freshman four-star QB Walker White has come in and impressed so far. He seems to be the main competitor for Thorne. The other two competing are Holden Geriner and Hank Brown, in their third and second year respectively at Auburn.
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South Carolina – LaNorris Sellers & Robby Ashford
LaNorris Sellers has been waiting for his chance behind Spencer Rattler, and now he will get his chance to compete for the job. He will be competing with Auburn transfer Robby Ashford. Sellers was a three-star prospect from Florence, South Carolina. Ashford started his career at Oregon and then transferred to Auburn, getting a decent amount of playing time. He played in all 12 games in 2022 and was the main QB that year. However, Thorne got his playing time taken by Payton Thorne last season so he is now at South Carolina.
In the end, I think Sellers will get the start, but this could carry over into Fall Camp.
Arkansas – Jacolby Criswell, Taylen Green, & Malachi Singleton
Jacoby Criswell and Taylen Green are both transfers that will be competing with redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton for the starting job. Criswell is coming over from North Carolina while Green transferred in from Boise State. Criswell was never able to gain the starting job at UNC, while Green played in every game last season and went 121 for 212 for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns.
I see this becoming more of a two man battle between the experienced QBs, Criswell and Green.
Mississippi State – Blake Shapen & Michael Van Buren
Blake Shapen has spent the last three seasons at Baylor and put up pretty good numbers. He had 5,574 yards and threw for 36 touchdowns in his time in Waco. Shapen’s competition will be Michael Van Buren, a three-star from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. He flipped his commitment from Oregon to Mississippi State in December before committing later that month.
Van Buren played one of the hardest high school football schedules ever last season, so he has more experience vs. tough opponents than most freshmen. Last season, St. Frances faced Buford (GA), Chaminade-Madonna (FL), East St. Louis (MO), St. John Bosco (CA), Mater Dei (CA), and IMG Academy (FL).
This could be another situation where Shapen gets the nod but is on a very short leash.
Vanderbilt – Diego Pavia, Blaze Berlowitz, & Nate Johnson
Diego Pavia and Blaze Berlowitz are both headed to Vandy via New Mexico State. Nate Johnson is coming from Utah, completing the battle of transfers. Pavia was the starter for the Aggies last season and had a very impressive year. He went 221 for 366 for nearly 3,000 yards and added 26 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions. Pavia added another 928 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground as well. Berlowitz was a backup to Pavia, only playing in one game while Johnson saw more, but still limited playtime last season for Utah.
I think that Pavia and his experience will push him above the other two and will be the Commodores’ starter in 2024.
