By Brett Daniels
Football in the SEC used to be “3 yards and a cloud of dust”. Final scores of 10-6, 14-10, and 20-17 were common. That began to change with the arrival of Steve Spurrier and his “Fun and Gun” offense at Florida in 1990. Slowly the rest of the league began to adapt and the SEC which has always been known for running the football and playing defense became the conference of the quarterback. Tim Couch playing in Hal Mumme’s Air Raid offense at Kentucky became the first quarterback in conference history to throw for more than 4,000 yards (4,275 in 1998), it would be 15 years before another QB would eclipse the 4,000-yard mark when Johnny Manziel threw for 4,115 in 2013. Since then, there have been seven 4,000-yard passers, the most recent being Stetson Bennett (UGA) who threw for 4,128 yards in 2022.
The 2024 season could be one of the best in history for the SEC with four returning QB’s who could threaten the 4,000 mark and others with a lot of potential.
The Top Tier
1. Carson Beck (Georgia)
In 2023 Beck was one of the top QB’s in the nation in his first year of starting. After a slow start, Beck put up huge numbers completing 72.4% of his passes (302 completions/417 attempts) for 3,941 yards with 24 TD’s and 6 INTs for a rating of 167.92. Against 5 ranked teams, Beck compiled a 72.4 % completion percentage for 1,304 yards with 9 TD’s and 1 INT. The Bulldogs will miss All-American TE Brock Bowers (56 rec, 714 yds, 6 TD), 2nd round pick Ladd McConkey (30 rec, 478 yds, 2 TD), and dependable WR Marcus Rosemey-Jacksaint (34 rec, 535 yds, 4 TD). Beck will play behind one of the best Offensive Lines in the country and throw to a deep receiving corps which includes WR Rara Thomas (23 rec, 383 yds, 1 TD), Dominik Lovett (54 rec, 613 yds, 4 TD), Dillon Bell (29 rec, 355 yds, 2 TD) and TE Oscar Delp (24 rec, 284 yds, 3 TD). Transfers WR Landon Humphries (Vanderbilt), Colbie Young (Miami) and TE Benjamin Yurosek (Stanford) will also contribute.
Stat of the day:
In 2023, Carson Beck became just the 5th QB in the SEC since 1990 to complete over 70% of his passes with 400+ attempts in a single season.
He and Mac Jones are the only two to have done so in their 1st year as a starter. pic.twitter.com/D5izbMNjQ0
— Jonathan Williams (@Dr_JWill) February 6, 2024
More Sports News
2. Quinn Ewers (Texas)
Ewers led the Longhorns to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff in 2023. Despite missing two games to injury, Ewers completed 272/394 passes for a 69% percentage with 3,479 yards 22 TD’s and 6 INT’s. Against 5 ranked opponents Ewers had a 70% completion rate and threw for a staggering 1,790 yards (358 yds/game) with 10 TD’s and 4 INT’s. Texas will have to replace the top 4 pass catchers from 2023 with Xavier Worthy (75 rec/1614 yds/ 5TD), Adonai Mitchell (55 rec/845/11TD), Ja’Tavion Sanders (45 rec/682 yds/2TD), and Jordan Whittingham (42 rec/505 yds/1TD) all moving on to the NFL. The Longhorns were able to bring in WR Isaiah Bond (48 rec/668 yds/4TD) and TE Amari Niblack (20 rec/327 yds/4TD) from Alabama, and WR Matthew Golden (38 rec/404 yds/6TD) from Houston. Ewers and the Longhorns will face significantly stiffer competition in the 2024 season moving to the SEC from the Big 12.
3. Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Milroe had a rough start to the 2023 season which would lead to him being benched for the game against South Florida. After Alabama narrowly escaped with a win, Milroe would again be the starter and go on to finish the year strong. Against ranked competition Milroe had a 64.5% completion rate and threw for 1,227 yards (204.5 yds/game) with 7TDs and 4INTs. The Crimson Tide will be attempting to replace its top 3 pass catchers (Jermain Burton, Isaiah Bond, Amari Niblack) and and 2 of its top 3 rushers (Jase McCllelen and Roydell Williams) along with implementing new Head Coach Kalen DeBoer’s offensive scheme.
4. Jaxon Dart (Ole Miss)
Dart is a highly talented QB that tends to shine against lesser competition and struggle against the better defenses that he faces. In 4 games against ranked opponents, Dart had a 62% completion rate and threw for 1,124 yards (281 yds/game) with 7TD’s/2INTs. These numbers are skewed by the LSU game where he torched the Tigers 108 ranked defense for 389 yards and 4TD’s. Against Alabama, Georgia, and Penn State, Dart had a lower completion percentage (59.7%) and only threw for 3TDs (all against Penn State) and had 2INTs. Ole Miss has added significantly through the Transfer Portal during the 2024 offseason and returns most of its pass catching production from 2023. The offensive line will have to play better in 2024 to give Dart and the Rebels an opportunity to make the College Football Playoff.
The Next Tier
5. Brady Cook (Missouri)
The Missouri Tigers have improved over the last two seasons on offense largely due to the play of Cook and WR Luther Burden III. Cook had a strong 2023 but like Dart struggled against the better defenses he faced. Against four ranked foes, Cook had a 60% completion percentage throwing for 1,107 yards (277 yds/game) with 6TDs and 4 INTs. These numbers were also inflated by facing a horrid LSU defense (63.8% 411 yds, 2TD/2INT) and a mediocre Kansas State unit (63.9% 356 yds, 2TDs/0INTs). Against Georgia and Ohio State, Cook had a lowly 52% completion rate throwing for 340 yards 2TDs and 2INTs. The good news for Mizzou fans is that the Tigers will return all of their significant production at WR/TE for the 2024 season and have a much more forgiving schedule than some of the QB’s listed ahead of Cook on this list.
6. Graham Mertz (Florida)
Many Florida fans are clamoring for top recruit DJ Lagway to take over at QB for the Gators and at some point, this season that might happen. In the meantime, Florida fans should be happy that Mertz is returning for the 2024 season. The Gators have a brutal schedule in 2024 playing against 9 teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. Against ranked teams Mertz was efficient with a 70.2% completion rate throwing for 1,032 yards (206.4 yds/game) with 6TDs/2INTs. The yards per game number was low which indicates a lack of explosiveness in the passing game. A lot of that was due to a leaky offensive line and inexperience in the receiving corps. In 2024 the offensive line should be better, and the Gators are returning all but one of their top pass catchers (Ricky Pearsall 65 rec/965 yds/4TD) and have added two new explosive transfers in Chimare Dike and Elijah Badger.
The “Young Guns”
7. Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee)
Vol fans have been excited about the arrival of Iamaleava since he first stepped on campus in the Spring of 2023. The freshman saw limited action during the 2023 season with his only start coming against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl where he was named MVP. The Volunteer pass catching unit will see Bru McCoy return from injury along with Squirrel White in the slot and Donte Thorton, Jr on the outside. Tennessee was active in the Transfer Portal nabbing former Notre Dame TE Holden Staes and Tulane’s leading receiver Chris Brazzell II along with several talented high school players. The Vols will get Florida and Alabama at home but must travel to Oklahoma and Georgia for tough road tests.
🎯Nico Iamaleava
✅ Lot of excitement for the 1st year starter. Does he have the most excitement entering 2024 out of any 1st year starter? Several good ones
✅What needs to happen for Nico to finish as a top 3 QB in the SEC in 2024?
✅Flashes of the potential ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/prK0TAto6W
— QB Spotlight (@QBspotlight) May 31, 2024
8. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
Nussmeier burst onto the scene in relief of an injured Jayden Daniels against Georgia in the 2022 SEC Championship Game and gave the Bulldog secondary all they wanted. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the rest of the league) Nussmeier won’t have Malik Neighbors or Brian Thomas, Jr to throw to in 2024 as both were 1st round picks in the last NFL Draft. The Tigers do return what should be one of the best offensive lines in the country along with WR Kyren Lacy and TE Mason Taylor.
9. Connor Weigman (Texas A&M)
Weigman was off to a solid start to the 2023 season before going down with an injury against Auburn in the 4th game of the season. At the time Weigman had a 68.9% completion rate throwing for 979 yards and 8TDs/2INTs. The Aggies lost their top two pass catchers to the NFL Draft (Anias Smith) and the Transfer Portal (Evan Stewart–Oregon) but return a trio of talented pass catchers in Jahdae Walker, Noah Thomas, and Moose Muhammad III.
10. Brock Vandegriff (Kentucky)
The former 5 start recruit, and Georgia QB will be starting for the Wildcats in 2024. Vandegriff brings the ability to create with his legs along with a huge arm to the Kentucky offense. The Cats return three of their top five pass catchers from the 2023 season.
11. Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma)
Arnold will take over for the departed Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) in the Sooners first season in the SEC. The Sooner offense will have no shortage of weapons at the WR position with Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, and Andrel Anthony (returning from an ACL tear) along with top recruit KJ Daniels. Arnold will get a baptism by fire welcoming Tennessee to Norman in week 4 before traveling to Auburn in week 5. The Sooners will also face Texas in the Red River Rivalry before traveling to Ole Miss and Missouri. Oklahoma will host Alabama in Norman November 23 before wrapping up the season in Baton Rouge on November 30th.
The Rest of the Conference
12. Payton Thorne (Auburn)
Many expected the Tigers to go after a signal caller in the Transfer Portal after having a non-existent passing game in 2023. Thorne struggled to throw the ball downfield and didn’t get much help in the running game. QB Holden Geriner (Soph) and Hank Brown (RFr) are options should Thorne struggle. The addition of talented freshman receiver Cam Coleman will give whoever is at QB a legitimate downfield target.
13. Blake Shapen (Mississippi State)
The Baylor transfer will lead the Bulldogs into SEC competition in 2024. At Baylor, Shapen started 8 games and threw for 2,188 yards with 13TDs/3INTs while rushing for 4 more TDs. Mississippi State added three new pass catchers in the Transfer Portal bringing in WRs Kelly Akharaiyi and Kevin Coleman along with TE Justin Ball.
14. Taylen Green (Arkansas)
Coach Sam Pittman enters the 2024 season squarely on the hot seat after back-to-back disappointing seasons. Former starter KJ Jefferson transferred to UCF in the offseason. Green comes to the Razorbacks from Boise State where he started 12 games and threw for 1,752 yards with 11 TDs while running for 9TDs. The Razorbacks return three of their top four pass catchers.
15. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
Sellers played sparingly in 2023 backing up Spencer Rattler. In the 2024 spring game Sellers was 9 for 11 passing for 70 yards, he also picked up 38 yards on the ground including a rushing touchdown. The Gamecocks brought in WR Amari Huggins-Bruce out of Louisville and Jared Brown from Costal Carolina through the Transfer Portal. A lack of size and talent along the line of scrimmage will make it difficult for Sellers to shine as a passer, however his running ability will be a huge benefit.
16. Vanderbilt
The Commodores lost experienced QB AJ Swann to LSU in the Transfer Portal which prompted Head Coach Clark Lea to bring in three transfer QB’s to compete for the job. Diego Pavia and Blake Berlowitz are both former New Mexico State QB’s while Nate Johnson comes over from Utah. Whit Muschamp and Jeremey St-Hillaire are freshman that will join the team for fall camp. The Commodores also lost their top receiver Landon Humphries to Georgia after the 2023 season. Whomever wins the starting job at Vanderbilt will have an uphill battle as the team is still deficient across the board in talent.
