SEC QB Battles That Will Be Decided This Spring
Around the SEC, very few quarterback situations are set in stone.
Mississippi State's Dak Prescott is entrenched atop the depth chart in Starkville, as is Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Rocky Top and Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk for the two-time defending SEC East champs.
Other programs, however, don't have that luxury.
Coaches will be searching for the next faces of their respective programs this spring, and many could be decided before 95-degree temperatures become the norm around the Southeast. Which battles will be decided this spring? Our picks, based on contenders, coaching and competition, are in this slideshow.
South Carolina Gamecocks
1 of 5
Connor Mitch was brought to Columbia to be the starting quarterback, and 2015 is his time to shine.
The rising redshirt sophomore has attempted only six career passes, which would make him the dark horse on most rosters. At South Carolina, though, those six passes make him the most experienced quarterback on the Gamecocks roster.
Head coach Steve Spurrier wasted no time last offseason naming Dylan Thompson the starting quarterback for the 2014 season in January. That was much more obvious than this year's quarterback battle, which features Mitch, Perry Orth, Brendan Nosovitch and, eventually, true freshman Lorenzo Nunez.
It was clear, though, that Spurrier wanted his quarterback to be the leader in the offseason and get the players motivated during conditioning and "optional" workouts. Mitch, a 6'3", 211-pounder, has the tools to be successful in the new-look offense, and he will be named the starting quarterback after spring practice.
How long will it last? Nunez is a dual-threat stud who can make an impact in the offense, but he will likely serve as more of a changeup quarterback early in his Gamecock career and perhaps earn a more prominent role once he gets comfortable with life as a college quarterback.
Auburn Tigers
2 of 5
For many, Auburn's quarterback battle is already set, with rising junior Jeremy Johnson being the winner.
Don't tell the coaching staff, because they aren't having it.
"I think any time there's going to be competition, you've got to earn it," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said during Auburn's bowl prep, according to Joel A. Erickson of AL.com. "Really, you've got to earn your job all the time."
Johnson certainly has a commanding lead in the competition, though. He started one game in 2013 and also the season-opener vs. Arkansas in 2014, while Nick Marshall served a half-game suspension. During that game vs. the Razorbacks, Johnson threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in 30 minutes of play, announcing to the world that he's the next big thing on the Plains.
Sean White will be the most likely contender. The 2013 Elite 11 MVP and MVP of the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game doesn't have the arm of Johnson, but he is incredibly accurate and will be a star in head coach Gus Malzahn's system at some point.
It just won't be this year.
Auburn's quarterback battle will be like the 1988 fight between Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks. It'll be over within the first 91 seconds of spring camp.
Georgia Bulldogs
3 of 5
Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park will contend for Georgia's starting quarterback job this spring, with Ramsey entering the session with a leg up on the competition.
Ramsey, a rising redshirt sophomore, completed 24 of 39 passes for 333 yards, three touchdowns and two picks in 2014. In the Belk Bowl, he came in for an injured Hutson Mason and provided enough of a threat to keep a little bit of pressure off of Nick Chubb and allow the Bulldogs to pull away from Louisville.
That experience will be invaluable heading into the offseason battle.
Bauta will be more of a changeup quarterback who can provide a running threat—especially in short-yardage situations, with Park continuing to learn as Ramsey's true backup in case of injury. Ramsey has a big arm and plenty of weapons, and head coach Mark Richt typically likes to have these battles wrapped up as quickly as possible.
That's a recipe for a quick and decisive resolution that places Ramsey at the top of the depth chart in Athens.
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Vanderbilt Commodores
4 of 5
After Derek Mason's wild first year in Nashville that saw him start four different quarterbacks, it seems crazy to think that, suddenly, the position battle will settle down in the offseason.
Johnny McCrary will have something to say about that, though, with a little help from new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
McCrary saw his role increase midway through the 2014 season, and he finished the year with a team-high 985 passing yards and nine touchdowns. He was benched in the finale against Tennessee in favor of Patton Robinette, though, which ended his season on a sour note.
McCrary, Robinette and Wade Freebeck will battle it out again this spring, but now that McCrary has a taste of what college football is all about, he should take a lead and run away by the end of Vandy's spring practice session. He has good arm strength, can push it sideline-to-sideline and is quick enough to keep plays alive behind the line of scrimmage.
Ludwig knows he can't be successful by playing musical quarterbacks, so expect him to make it a point to find his guy and let him run with it.
LSU Tigers
5 of 5
Brandon Harris drew even with Anthony Jennings in LSU's quarterback battle last offseason, but unfortunately for the Bossier City, Louisiana native, that was close to the high point of the season.
He got one start in favor of an ineffective Jennings on the road against Auburn, which resulted in a dreadful 3-of-14 performance and a more permanent seat on the bench.
Permanent for the 2014 season, anyway.
Jennings managed to complete just 48.9 percent of his passes last year, and at this point, it's clear that Jennings has basically proven what he is. That should open the door for Harris, who's more of a threat on the ground, to prove whatever the staff needs him to prove in practice, take control of the offense and team and establish himself as the starting quarterback in Baton Rouge.
Jennings had his shot, and it didn't work. Expect a repeat from Harris' spring performance, but instead of just drawing even, he will win the job outright.
If he doesn't, say hello to 8-5, LSU. At best.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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