2011 Florida Gators Football: Guess Who Could Be All SEC

Here are some of the words I expect to see in the reaction boxes below this story:

Moron. Idiot. Incompetent.

But I'm going to write this anyway: John Brantley has as good a shot as anybody to be the All-Southeastern Conference quarterback in 2011.

OK, so that was too vague. How is this: John Brantley has a better shot than most anybody to be the All-SEC quarterback in 2011.

I know, I know. The guy had nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, his first as Florida's starter. He also averaged a whopping 158.5 yards a game through the air.

He made no one forget Tim Tebow. He offered no resemblance to Danny Wuerffel, Rex Grossman or Chris Leak (well, maybe Rex with the INTs).

That said, this semi-prediction is twofold in its reasoning.

The first looks at who is gone; the second at who has arrived.

The 2010 season was a glorious one for SEC passers. With a collection of talent that included Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton of Auburn, Arkansas' strong-armed Ryan Mallett and Alabama's cerebral Greg McElroy, there wasn't another league in the country as top-heavy at the game's most valuable position than the SEC.

But those guys are gone. And so is Kentucky's competent, if unspectacular, Mike Hartline and Mississippi's one-year rental (courtesy of Oregon) Jeremiah Masoli. The Rebels also lost part-time starter Nathan Stanley to a transfer in April.

So, (alphabetically) let's look at those most likely to contend with Brantley for all-conference honors.

Stephen Garcia, Sr. South Carolina

Coach Steve Spurrier pulled a sneaky one when he brought his deposed passer back to Columbia when all of the talk nationally was about the turmoil at Ohio State.

That under-the-radar move no doubt has provided Garcia, a Tampa native, his final opportunity to play and act like a leader.

After two years of wildly inconsistent play that led to quite a few visor tosses, Garcia appeared to "get it" in 2010, when he completed 224-of-349 passes for 3,059 yards with 20 touchdowns and (still too high) 14 interceptions. His efforts were key in the Gamecocks winning the first SEC East title in program history.

Provided Garcia can keep his act together off the field, he has a wealth of talent around him, with receiver Alshon Jeffrey and tailback Marcus Lattimore—both of whom look like future first-round picks—the most intimidating to defenses.

Jordan Jefferson, Sr. LSU

At 6'5", 224 pounds, Jefferson has prototypical size and is a tremendous athlete. He also has a strong arm. However, he may also have been the only quarterback in the conference more maddening to his team's fanbase than Brantley was in 2010. After all, completing 118-of-209 passes for 1,411 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions doesn't exactly inspire faith.

But Jefferson, also LSU's returning rushing leader (123 carries for 450 yards and seven touchdowns), delivered perhaps his best performance as a collegian in his most recent start—the Tigers' 41-24 victory against Von Miller and Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Coach Les Miles has praised Jefferson's improvement, and that was evident in spring practice when the senior was able to do what many believed he couldn't—hold off junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger, a one-time Georgia QB, and former starter Jarrett Lee.

Many prognosticators are picking LSU to win the BCS national championship. If the Tigers can at least come close to doing that because of Jefferson and not in spite of him, he has a shot to earn postseason honors. 

Aaron Murray, Soph. Georgia

Like Garcia, Murray is a Tampa product who chose to leave the state. He's also the most likely pick for the preseason All-SEC quarterback.

Murray had a stellar redshirt freshman campaign, completing 209-of-342 for 3,049 yards with a three-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio (24 TDs, eight INTs). He'll definitely miss throwing to college football's best receiver, A.J. Green, as well as No. 2 wideout Kris Durham. However, remember Murray put up some of those numbers last season with Green suspended for four games to open the year.

Expect Murray to look a lot for Orson Charles (26 receptions for 422 yards and two touchdowns in 2010), the league's best tight end and (here's a theme) also a Tampa native. Junior receivers Marlon Brown and Tavarres King may not be Green and Durham, but they should do just fine.

The biggest thing going against Murray could be the Bulldogs' record. It doesn't matter how good he is individually—a repeat of last year's 6-7 mark won't earn a quarterback an all-conference selection.

Tyler Wilson, Jr. Arkansas

If ever there was a dark horse, this is it.

Though he didn't play much last year, when he did, he was spectacular. After Mallett went down with an injury in the first quarter against eventual national champion Auburn, Wilson shredded the Tigers for 332 passing yards and four touchdowns.

He will have junior Knile Davis (1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns) once again leading the running game, but even better, the Razorbacks boast the best set of receivers in the nation in Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and, provided he recovers fully from patella tendon repair surgery, Greg Childs, who might be the best NFL prospect of the trio. Just this week, they were named to the "Pony Express Watch List," which recognizes groups of college football players on the same team.

With apologies to Tennessee's Tyler Bray, Mississippi State's much-improved Chris Relf, Alabama's A.J. McCarron (or possibly Phillip Sims) and Kentucky's Morgan Newton, the players listed above pose the biggest threat to Brantley for All-SEC honors.

In Brantley's favor should be the arrival of new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, a respected quarterback guru who has tutored the likes of Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.

So, don't look for the same type of square-peg/round-hole misfit that was Brantley in the spread. Weis brings with him a pro-style attack that should work to Brantley's strengths (he has a strong arm and did complete nearly 61 percent of his throws as a junior), and the drop-back specialist won't be asked to run nearly as much as he did under former coach Urban Meyer.

I'm not saying it will happen. Just don't be surprised if John Brantley does end up the SEC's best quarterback in 2011.