Way-Too-Early SEC QB Rankings Ahead of the 2023 College Football Season
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Spring practices are just now getting ramped up ahead of the 2023 college football season, and there's plenty to be said about the amount of talent the Southeastern Conference has at quarterback and the following quarterbacks will be examined and how the outlooks have changed from last season.
The offseason practices will be a tell as to how the next season will go, though it's still early. But here's a look at the top quarterbacks in the SEC for '23 and how they stack up in a look ahead.
1. K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas
As a Mississippi native Jefferson is the top returning quarterback for 2023. Last season he finished second in the conference in total offense(298.9 yards a game). Jefferson had a 68 percent completion rate and five picks while adding 2,648 yards on 204 completions. On top of that he bulldozed defenses for 640 yards with nine scores.
2. Will Rogers, Mississippi State
It is unsure how State's offense will look without the air raid, but the Bulldogs are set with Rogers as the quarterback. The Mississippi native owns the school record for career passing yards (10,689) and touchdown passes (82). Rogers's 1,159 completions rank first in SEC history. He led the SEC quarterbacks with 305.7 passing yards a game and owns a career completion of 71 percent.
3. Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels had a couple of ups and downs last season getting adjusted to a new team after playing for Arizona State for three years. The California native helped with a win at Florida with 393 total yards and six touchdowns. He recorded a total of 277 yards in a huge victory against Alabama. Daniels accounts for 2,913 yards, and seventeen touchdowns and paced LSU's offense with 885 rushing yards and eleven scores.
4. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Rattler had a slow start to the '22 season as a transfer from Oklahoma but finished strong, remaining positive for the '23 season. He tossed just eight touchdowns over the team's first ten games and gained more than 250 passing yards. His skills really showed further into the season. During the Tennessee game, he pushed for 438 yards and six scores. In a 45-38 bowl loss against Notre Dame, Rattler passed for 246 yards. How he progresses after some hot and cold throughout the season will be something to watch.
5. Devin Leary, Kentucky
Will Levis left for the NFL, getting Leary from the transfer portal is a huge help to keep the Kentucky offense performing at a high level. Leary transferred over from NC State after suffering a season-ending injury midway through the season. Midway through the '22 season Leary completed 1,265 yards and eleven touchdowns. In his '21 season, he was amongst the nation's top 10-15 returning quarterbacks with 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns. This upcoming season, Leary will have to adapt to a new conference and team but will have some of the best wide receivers: Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Tayvion Robinson.
6. Joe Milton, Tennessee
The Florida native lost the No.1 spot on the depth chart but may have turned a corner in his development last season. In an Orange Bowl win over Clemson he connected 19 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. If Tennessee receives this version of Milton then his ranking is too low and will be higher come the '23 season.
7. Conner Weigman, Texas A&M
Weigman is at the top of the list for breakout candidates in the SEC. After ranking as a five-star prospect in '22 Weigman had to wait until mid-October to see an opportunity for extended snaps. In his first game after an injury against Ole Miss, he flamed the Rebels for 338 yards and four scores and went on to finish his season with 896 yards and eight touchdowns. A&M should have one of the top receiving corps and Weigman's chances of a breakout year certainly doesn't hurt with the new coordinator Bobby Petrino calling the plays.
8. Ty Simpson, Alabama
The outlook here is Simpson -- the No. 26 prospect in the '22 singing class --will claim the top spot. In just four appearances last year, he completed four of five throws for 35 yards. The new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is tasked with developing Simpson in the offseason.
9. Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck still has plenty to prove this upcoming season and needs to be able to hold off two very talented signal-callers: Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton. The Florida Native played seven games last season as the backup to Stetson Bennett. He completed 26 of 35 throws for 310 yards and four scores. If at all, how will the offensive coordinator change from Todd Monken to Mike Bobo impact this battle.
10. Spencer Sanders, Ole Miss
Alabama and Georgia both have quarterback battles but Ole Miss is also near the top of the SEC. Potentially Jaxson Dart or Walker Howard - a transfer from LSU - could have this spot but for now Sanders - a transfer from Oklahoma State - takes it. Over four years Sanders threw 9,553 yards and 67 touchdowns to 40 picks. After averaging eight yards per attempt in his first two seasons, that number decreased to 7.2 over the next two. Sanders also needs to cut down on the turnovers (40 interceptions from 2019-22).
11. Graham Mertz, Florida
Mertz is now the front-runner to take the first snap for Florida in '23 with Anthony Richardson off to the NFL and Jaden Rashada asking out of the NIL. The hope is for Billy Napier to get the most out of Mertz's talent. Mertz threw 5,405 yards and 38 touchdowns with the Badgers but averaged only seven yards an attempt and tossed 26 picks. Can Napier help Mertz reach potential in '23?
12. A.J. Swann, Vanderbilt
Playing as a true freshman quarterback is not easy but Swann held his own. He threw 1,274 yards and ten touchdowns in just two picks. The Georgia native played a good game against Northern Illinois (255 yards and four scores) and against Ole Miss, he completed 27 passes for 281 yards. Although there is room to improve Swann showed just enough to be the future at this position for Vanderbilt.
13. Brady Cook, Missouri
Cook is out for the spring due to shoulder surgery. This creates an opportunity to open for redshirt freshman Sam Horn or Miami transfer Jake Garcia to push for the No. 1 spot. Cook ranked 10th in the SEC in yards per attempt (7.1) but completed 64.7 percent of his throws and added 585 rushing yards with 2,724 in the air. If Cook makes it back with full strength, he should make it higher in quarterback rankings.
14. Robby Ashford, Auburn
Ashford, Holden Geriner, and T.J. Finley battle for the top quarterback spot this spring. Ashford showed potential in '22 and was ranked second in the SEC in rushing yards (709). But he's still a work in progress as a passer (49.2 percent and 6.5 yards attempt),
