Alabama Football: 5 Toughest QBs Crimson Tide Will Face in 2016

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — One of the potential problems that the University of Alabama has in developing defensive game plans for the upcoming 2016 season is that a lot of them might have to be significantly reworked during the weeks and months ahead.

Roughly half of the teams have yet to name a starting quarterback, and in some cases those competing have a very different style of play. 

Mississippi State is a good example. Head coach Dan Mullen doesn’t appear to be close to naming a starter between sophomores Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley, junior Damian Williams and redshirt freshman Nick Tiano.

At this point it wouldn’t be surprising to see all four get playing time and more than one to start before the Bulldogs visit Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 12.

Similarly, Southern California and Auburn will be holding quarterback competitions during training camp (more on that later).

On the flip side, Arkansas has already named Austin Allen its new starter, and Kentucky did likewise with Drew Barker, but Western Kentucky has hit a major snag in trying to replace three-year starter Brandon Doughty. Heir apparent, Nelson Fishback, recently suffered a torn pectoral muscle requiring surgery.

The Hilltoppers visit the Crimson Tide on Sept. 10 (2:20 p.m., ESPN2.)

5. Max Browne, Southern California

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Former 5-star recruit Max Browne is expected to start fulfilling his potential this season.

This spot could have easily gone to John Franklin III, but the junior college transfer to Auburn first has to beat out Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. Combined, the three converted just one of 22 third-down opportunities during the Tigers’ spring game.

So the nod here goes to Browne, who had a good spring at Southern California, but couldn’t really separate himself from Sam Darnold.

Rated by the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings as the nation's top pro-style quarterback in 2013, Browne had seven completions on 11 attempts for 114 yards and three touchdowns during USC’s spring game. 

The Trojans might be the only team Alabama faces that can match its playmakers, but the Crimson Tide gets him at the right time, the season opener. Browne was Cody Kessler’s backup last season, and for his career, he’s completed just 11-of-19 passes (57.9 percent) for 143 yards.

4. Brandon Harris, LSU

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If Brandon Harris can give LSU more offensive balance, the Tigers will be a very scary foe to face in 2016.

The question regarding Harris isn’t whether or not he’s improved—it’s how much he’s improved, because if it’s by a lot, LSU could be the team to beat in college football this season. 

Last season Harris completed 149-of-277 passes (53.8 percent) for 2,165 yards, with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. At one point he had a streak of 137 consecutive passes without an interception, which tied the school record held by Alan Risher (1982).

Harris struggled against Alabama, completing just 6-of-9 attempts for 128 yards, but he finished with a confidence-building performance against Texas Tech: 14 of 23 (60.9 percent) for 261 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Like with USC, LSU’s quarterback will be surrounded by a lot of talent, and they’re experienced as well with eight returning starters, including running back Leonard Fournette—nine if you include the fullback. 

Two key statistics that will measure Harris’ progress are passing efficiency rating, which was just 130.6 last season, and average yards per attempt, 7.8.

3. Trevor Knight, Texas A&M

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Trevor Knight transferred to Texas A&M in hope of having a big final season with the Aggies.

If Knight shows more consistency than in the past, he might end up being the best quarterback in the conference in 2016, especially after the way things seemed to click for the Aggies’ offense this spring.

During Texas A&M’s Maroon-and-White spring game, he completed 25-of-36 passes for 282 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran in another score.

More importantly, he showed a poise that the Aggies lacked behind center last season when working through its quarterback issues that led to two key departures and Knight’s addition as a graduate transfer.

In three seasons at Oklahoma, Knight threw for 3,424 yards and 25 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. His biggest win came against Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl when, as a redshirt freshman, he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns—still career highs.

How well he meshes with new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone could be the key to Texas A&M’s season.

2. Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee

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A lot of people are predicting big things for Joshua Dobbs and Tennessee this season.

One could make the argument that Dobbs should top this list, and maybe he will at the end of the season, but only if Tennessee is able to win the SEC East. 

Last year Dobbs completed 205-of-344 attempts for 2,291 yards, with 15 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He also ran into the end zone 11 times.

In 2014, he became one of three SEC players over the last 20 years—Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel the others—to have 300 yards passing and 100 rushing in a game (South Carolina), and he did it again last season (Georgia).

Dobbs was 13-of-22 for 171 yards and one touchdown against Alabama, but had just 19 yards on 16 carries on the ground, a season low against SEC competition.

This year he’ll have the advantage of being home against the Crimson Tide but at the end of a tough four-game stretch beginning Sept. 24: Florida, at Georgia, at Texas A&M, Alabama.

1. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss

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After leading Ole Miss to a Sugar Bowl victory, Rebels fans are eager to see what Chad Kelly can do for an encore.

After a very turbulent offseason the biggest thing Ole Miss has going for it in 2016 is the player that head coach Hugh Freeze took a chance on last year, Chad Kelly.

He broke or tied 14 Ole Miss single-season records and was the first quarterback in program history to lead wins over Alabama, Auburn and LSU during the same season. He notched wins against five ranked opponents, including Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl.

Kelly led the SEC in passing (310.9 yards per game), total offense (349.4), passing touchdowns (31) and points responsible for (246). He was also among the national leaders in passing efficiency (155.9), completion percentage (65.1), completions per game (22.9) and yards per pass attempt (8.83).

While the Rebels lost nearly every other starter on offense, we’ll have to wait and see who might emerge as Kelly’s favorite target; remember that a year ago everything at Ole Miss was new to him. Now he’s had a year to learn Freeze’s offense even more and is expected to be a team leader.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.