Projecting Every SEC Team's Quarterback for 2016 Season
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game is in the books, and national signing day is still around the corner. However, it's never too early to start looking forward toward the 2016 Southeastern Conference football season.
For the third straight season, quarterback battles will dominate headlines around the south, with only two jobs—Ole Miss and Tennessee—etched in stone.
Who will be the starting quarterback for each SEC team when toe meets leather in early September?
Our picks based on talent, compatibility and experience are in this slideshow.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Blake Barnett
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For the third straight offseason, Alabama is home to one of the most intriguing quarterback battles in the country.
Junior Cooper Bateman, sophomore David Cornwell, redshirt freshman Blake Barnett and true freshman Jalen Hurts will all battle for the job once occupied by Jake Coker. Coker finished his Tide career undefeated as a starting quarterback. Bateman has the most experience thanks to his start vs. Ole Miss in 2015 and experience as Coker's backup, but the man for the job is Barnett.
At 6'5", 200 pounds, Barnett is the best quarterback prospect head coach Nick Saban has ever had in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He has a big arm, can push the ball from sideline to sideline and has the mobility to incorporate many of the same zone-read elements that were part of the offense when Blake Sims took the snaps two years ago.
He still has plenty of room to grown into his tall frame and should benefit from a year on the scout team.
"Blake’s matured," said former Alabama defensive coordinator and new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, according to Duane Rankin of the Montgomery Advertiser. "He’s gotten a lot tougher. Those linemen have been hard on Blake, roughed him up and even though he’s got a black jersey on, he gets popped some."
Kiffin's first two quarterbacks at Alabama—Sims and Coker—were limited. Barnett isn't and should become a superstar by the time the leaves change color.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Ricky Town
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The loss of Brandon Allen might seem huge to Arkansas outsiders after Allen tossed 30 touchdown passes as a senior in 2015, but inside the program, there's nothing but confidence?
Why? Because brother Austin Allen, Rafe Peavey, Ty Storey and USC transfer Ricky Town are all ultra-talented signal-callers who should be able to pick up right where the elder Allen left off.
"If that first group ran on the field, it’d definitely be Austin. Second group ran out there it’d be Rafe (Peavey). Third group ran out there it’d be Ty (Storey). Then Ricky (Town), just based on really time in the program,” head coach Bret Bielema said according to Eric Bolin of the Arkansas News Bureau.
While his younger brother Austin has the experience edge and Town is the newest member of the group, Town has the most upside.
The 6'3", 200-pounder enrolled at USC early last year, but he never made it through fall camp and landed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, shortly before the season. With a big arm and pinpoint accuracy, Town is perfect for what Bielema wants to do.
Town can take the tops off of defenses on play action, is mobile enough to escape pressure and can take the Razorback offense to the next level.
Auburn Tigers: John Franklin III
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Auburn needs a dual-threat quarterback to take head coach Gus Malzahn back to the glory days, and junior college transfer John Franklin III needs to be that guy.
The former Florida State quarterback who emulated former Tiger Nick Marshall on the Seminoles' scout team leading up to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game is enrolled in school and will compete with incumbents Jeremy Johnson and Sean White for the top spot on the depth chart this offseason.
"Coach (Malzahn) told me he needed somebody and he got Cam (Newton), then he needed somebody and got Nick Marshall," Franklin said in December, according to Wesley Sinor of AL.com. "Now he needs somebody so he came and got me. I'm just ready to go to work and earn my spot the right way and get the ball rolling with everything."
Is he rough around the edges when it comes to passing? Probably.
Franklin was a backup last year at East Mississippi Community College, but he has the athleticism to be a force in the multidimensional rushing offense and the arm strength to keep secondaries honest.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Georgia Bulldogs: Jacob Eason
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True freshman Jacob Eason is highly touted as the future of the Georgia football program, and the future is now.
Eason is in town to begin his battle with Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey for the top spot on the depth chart for head coach Kirby Smart's team in Athens, Georgia.
Kirby Smart and new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney know what they're going to get from Lambert and Ramsey, and it isn't much. Eason is the one with the most upside and should be the starter for Georgia's first game vs. North Carolina on Sept. 3 in the Georgia Dome.
The former 5-star prospect can sling it all over the field, is a student of the game and is the best quarterback on campus, even before taking a real practice snap for the Bulldogs.
He will have to navigate over some speed bumps as a freshman but should become a star in Athens.
Florida Gators: Luke Del Rio
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Florida's offseason quarterback battle is incredibly interesting, with Treon Harris returning after finishing each of the last two seasons as the Gators' starter. He's joined by Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby, Alabama/Oregon State transfer Luke Del Rio and Feleipe Franks, among other candidates.
Consider Del Rio the favorite.
"I'd say so. Staff is high on Luke Del Rio. https://t.co/2jQ4ZxAvLi
— Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) January 1, 2016"
At 6'1", 216 pounds, with a big arm, the former Elite 11 finalist is familiar with what head coach Jim McElwain asks of his quarterbacks. Del Rio worked with the scout team during his transfer year. He also has experience working behind Sean Mannion at Oregon State and with current Gator offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier when the two were at Alabama.
Is Del Rio a potential superstar? That might be a bit aggressive, but he is good enough to be a threat downfield, can take care of the football and is certainly an upgrade from Harris.
Kentucky Wildcats: Drew Barker
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With Patrick Towles' transfer to Boston College, the Kentucky quarterback position is now Drew Barker's to lose.
He won't.
Barker came to Lexington with 4-star hype and finally got a chance to see the field down the stretch as a redshirt freshman last year after Towles' annual late-season swoon. The 6'3", 225-pounder threw for 364 yards and a touchdown with two picks in 2015, but he should benefit from a full offseason as the starter for head coach Mark Stoops.
Freshman Gunnar Hoak will contend, as will junior college transfer Stephen Johnson II. But Barker was brought in to be the next big thing, and the staff will give him the benefit of the doubt early on. If he doesn't progress or show flashes of his promise, a change could be made.
For now, though, Barker is Stoops' guy.
LSU Tigers: Brandon Harris
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Brandon Harris tossed every pass except for one for LSU in 2015. Barring some unforeseen situation like a surprise transfer or injury, he should open his junior season as the top option on the depth chart for head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
Harris completed 53.6 percent of his passes in 2015 (148-for-276) for 2,158 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed 67 times for 226 yards and four touchdowns. But the Tigers were way too one-dimensional in 2015, which opens the door for former Purdue quarterback Danny Etling to slide in if Harris were to struggle.
"LSU coach Les Miles on TH South Grad Danny Etling: “His competition will definitely elevate the room at the quarterback spot. No question,”
— WTWO NBC2 Sports (@WTWOsports) January 5, 2016"
Harris will be the guy, but if he struggles or Cameron continues to misuse his dual-threat abilities, Etling could see more playing time as the season progresses.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Nick Fitzgerald
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Replacing a legend is never easy, and Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will find that out when he steps in as the starter in Starkville, Mississippi, after Dak Prescott moved on to the NFL.
While it's a challenge, there isn't a quarterback better suited for it than Fitzgerald. The 6'5", 227-pounder from Richmond Hill, Georgia, is very similar to Prescott with his size, athleticism and accuracy on short and intermediate routes.
Fitzgerald completed 11 of his 14 passes last year for 235 yards, three touchdowns and zero picks. He rushed 23 times for 127 yards and three scores.
Elijah Staley will present a challenge, but Fitzgerald was groomed for this during the 2015 season. Barring something crazy happening, he should be the starter for head coach Dan Mullen for the opener vs. South Alabama on Sept. 3.
Missouri Tigers: Drew Lock
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It's a clean slate in Missouri for senior quarterback Maty Mauk after his suspension during the second half of last year, but don't expect first-year head coach Barry Odom to abandon the long-term plans for the Missouri Tigers.
Drew Lock is the plan.
The true freshman slid in for an ineffective Mauk prior to Mauk's suspension and went through the expected freshman struggles. He completed 49 percent of his passes (129-for-263) for 1,332 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. However, the former 4-star prospect has more upside than he showed in 2015.
After all, Mauk has proved what he is time and time again. He'll show flashes of brilliance mixed in with mediocrity, which will haunt new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel's offense if he's given yet another chance.
Let Lock loose, and Missouri football will be better off in the short term and long term.
Ole Miss Rebels: Chad Kelly
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Get ready for the Chad Kelly hype, because it's coming and it's deserved.
The former Clemson Tigers and East Mississippi Community College quarterback burst onto the scene in 2015, becoming the third-most prolific quarterback in terms of total offense in SEC history with 4,542 yards in 13 games.
"Chad Kelly announces he will return for his senior season at @OleMissFB That's gotta make this guy happy! pic.twitter.com/ccKiWy2Ppj
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) January 11, 2016"
He threw 31 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more, but his 13 picks were far too many. If he can cut that down a bit while still producing through the air and on the ground, don't rule out a Heisman run.
In addition to his work through the air, Kelly is also Ole Miss' leading returning rusher. Rushing could be a bigger part of the offense this year thanks to the departure of wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and the graduation of Jaylen Walton.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Lorenzo Nunez
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True freshman Brandon McIlwain is the new kid on the block, but he won't beat out South Carolina Football's other dual-threat quarterback—sophomore Lorenzo Nunez.
Nunez earned more playing time as the 2015 season progressed and finished the season with 376 passing yards, three touchdowns and three picks. He had 375 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Nunez was more of the changeup option to former walk-on Perry Orth, but he is a perfect fit for the system employed by new co-offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and first-year head coach Will Muschamp.
Nunez will have to deal with Orth, McIlwain, Connor Mitch and Michael Scarnecchia in Columbia, South Carolina, and is still a little rough around the edges in the passing game. But he is electric on the ground and has a good arm. Additionally, Roper is known for molding players like Nunez into effective college quarterbacks.
McIlwain might be the future, but experience will win out early for the Gamecocks. Nunez will open the season as the starter.
Tennessee Volunteers: Joshua Dobbs
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Joshua Dobbs established himself as one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country in 2015, when he rushed for 671 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 2,291 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and only five picks.
Dobbs has virtually every weapon around him coming back, the faith of head coach Butch Jones in the passing game and a chance to make a legitimate Heisman Trophy run for the Volunteers in 2016.
"Reggie Ragland compared Deshaun Watson to Tennessee QB Josh Dobbs.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) January 6, 2016"
The one lingering question on Rocky Top is the ability of Dobbs' wide receivers to help him out, which has been a problem for Jones' crew for about three years now.
If Josh Malone can step up or Preston Williams can take the next step, look out for video game stats from Dobbs during his senior campaign.
Texas A&M Aggies: Trevor Knight
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Trevor Knight became the talk of college football two years ago when he led Oklahoma to a Sugar Bowl upset over Alabama, complete with a shout-out from Katy Perry on ESPN's College GameDay in the fall of 2014.
But Knight struggled down the stretch that year, lost his job to Baker Mayfield in 2015 and landed in College Station for the 2016 season. Knight will compete with Jake Hubenak for the starting spot for Texas A&M.
He'll win it.
Knight might not recapture the magic from that January night in New Orleans, but he won't be as ill-prepared as he was when he came in for a concussed Mayfield against TCU last year. Knight is a competent, dual-threat quarterback who knows what to expect. He can push the ball from sideline to sideline and provide the running threat that head coach Kevin Sumlin needs out of his signal-caller.
"I appreciate the opportunity Coach Sumlin and his staff have afforded me and I look forward to making my last year of eligibility a memorable one," Knight said in an emailed statement last month. "I am thankful to Coach [Bob] Stoops and all of the people at OU for their help and support through the years."
It's a big year for Sumlin, so if Knight were to struggle, Hubenak could slide in. But Knight will be the guy in the opener vs. UCLA on Sept. 3.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Kyle Shurmur
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It's going to be Kyle Shurmur's world in Nashville, Tennessee, this year, and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason will be living in it.
Shurmur slowly evolved into a contributor as a freshman in 2015, throwing for 503 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He started five of the last six games for the Commodores and now is the likely candidate to take that job over full time after former starter Johnny McCrary transferred out of the program.
At 6'4", 226 pounds, Shurmur is a prototypical dropback passer with a big arm. He is exactly what Mason and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig need alongside star running back Ralph Webb.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
