Ranking all 16 SEC projected starting QBs from worst to first (2024)

During the offseason, Robby Ashford made the decision to transfer from Auburn to South Carolina. Ashford is one of the more dynamic quarterbacks on this list. The biggest issue regarding Ashford is his ability to stretch the field vertically. Meaning Ashford is a more proven rusher than he is a proven passing threat. If Ashford can continue to develop as a passer, his ceiling seems to be relatively high in Dowell Loggain’s offense.

One of the more experienced college quarterbacks is Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen. Prior to transferring to Mississippi State, Shapen spent three seasons at Baylor. Over the course of his college career, Shapen has passed for over 5,000 yards. He has the potential to thrive in Jeff Lebby’s offense in Starkville. It will be interesting to see how he performs against SEC competition.

Auburn’s coaching staff is hopeful that Payton Thorne will take the reins at quarterback and not let them go this season. In 2023, Thorne rotated with backup quarterback Robby Ashford. The lack of consistency at the quarterback position became a bit overwhelming for the Tigers. The expectation is that Thorne will be a different quarterback in Hugh Freeze’s offense in 2024. After all, Thorne was able to participate in spring practices at Auburn. In 2023, he enrolled after spring practice had concluded. Thorne will need to show improvement early on. If not, he could be replaced by either Walker White or Holden Geriner.

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea may have found himself a gem in the transfer portal this offseason. The Commodores added New Mexico State transfer quarterback Diego Pavia. In 2023, Pavia helped lead the Aggies to an upset victory over the Auburn Tigers. He is a prolific passer that can keep opposing defenses on their toes in the run game. Vanderbilt has lacked consistency at the quarterback position for quite a while. Can Pavia change the narrative in 2024?

The Arkansas Razorbacks lost starting quarterback KJ Jefferson to the transfer portal this offseason. He was a three-year starter for the Razorbacks. During the offseason, Arkansas went to the transfer portal and landed a commitment from Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green. Green made 18 starts for the Broncos in two seasons. He was a threat as both a runner and passer in the Mountain West Conference. One area that he will need to clean up is the turnover rate. In two seasons, Green threw 15 interceptions. The SEC will be far more difficult to navigate for Green in 2024. Green’s upside is very high, so it will be interesting to see how he fairs against SEC competition in Fayetteville.

In two seasons in Athens, quarterback Brock Vandagriff played sparingly. Now, he will have the opportunity to lead the Kentucky Wildcats. Vandagriff was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. He possesses the arm strength and playmaking ability to keep opposing defenses honest. Vandagriff will have enough talent surrounding him to help the Wildcats make some noise in the SEC East. It will be intriguing to see how Vandagriff is able to distribute the ball and get Kentucky’s playmakers involved.

It has been an injury-riddled career for the quarterback Conner Weigman up to this point. Weigman played in five games as a true freshman and was the team’s starting quarterback in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury against Auburn in Week 5. Weigman has thrown 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions in two seasons. Weigman should be in a good position to succeed in Mike Elko’s offense in College Station in 2024.

LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has waited his turn the last two seasons. Nussmeier served as the backup for this past season’s Heisman trophy winner — Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier played sparingly in his first three seasons in Baton Rouge. Now, the Louisiana native will have the opportunity to display his skillset in front of the Tiger faithful. The expectation is that Nussmeier will come in and keep the Tigers offense afloat in Brian Kelly’s offensive system in 2024. He has the raw arm talent and playmaking ability to have a lot of success in Baton Rouge during his redshirt-junior season.

Florida has the most experienced quarterback in the conference this season in sixth-year senior Graham Mertz. The Kansas native spent four seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers before transferring to Florida. In his lone season in Gainesville, Mertz passed 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how Mertz looks in year No. 2 in the Swamp. One thing that Mertz does well is take care of the football. Last season, he threw just three interceptions.

The Tennessee Volunteers will go from having one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the conference in Joe Milton to one of the youngest quarterbacks in the conference in Nico Iamaleava. Although Iamaleava has minimal playing experience, he is still poised to be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference in 2024. Iamaleava possesses the arm talent and poses a threat in the rushing department as well. It will be interesting to see how Iamaleava performs as a redshirt-freshman this season.

One of the more underrated quarterbacks in the SEC is Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold. The Texas native served as a backup last season behind Dillon Gabriel. He played in six games in 2023. He will need to limit the turnovers as he threw three interceptions. If he can do that, the ceiling seems very high for the Sooners signal-caller.

Ole Miss will return its starting quarterback from a season ago with Jaxson Dart returning for his senior season. The Rebels offense is expected to take the next step under the direction of Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. Dart passed for over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023. There will be a lot of intrigue surrounding Dart in 2024 and rightfully so. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.

In 2023, Missouri was a forced to be reckoned with on the offensive side of the ball. A lot of that was a result of the play of Missouri quarterback Brady Cook. Cook passed for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. The fifth-year senior will have a lot of talent surrounding him next season. One of those playmakers includes junior wide receiver Luther Burden. Cook and Burden will be quite the duo in the SEC in 2024.

The Georgia Bulldogs will return starting quarterback Carson Beck. The Florida native is set to be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference during the 2024 season. In 2023, Beck passed for almost 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He possesses the arm talent to challenge opposing secondaries. Beck can also keep opponents honest in the run game as well. Beck will be crucial to the Bulldogs’ success next season. It will be interesting to see how he develops heading into his second season as the starter in Athens.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is one of the top returning quarterbacks in the country in 2024. Milroe helped propel Alabama’s offense to new heights a season ago. The Texas native accounted for almost 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. He will have the opportunity to showcase his skillset in a new offense in 2024 under the direction of offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan. Head coach Kalen DeBoer is also an offensive mastermind, so Milroe should take the next step next season.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers comes in at No. 1 in the SEC quarterback rankings. The Texas native has proven himself as a passer in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. Last season, Ewers passed for almost 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is one of the most prolific passers in the country heading into the 2024 season. Ewers is projected to be one of the first quarterbacks chosen in the 2025 NFL draft.