The quarterback situation at Ole Miss and Tennessee is a big reason why expectations are high for both teams looking forward to next year. Chad Kelly and Joshua Dobbs are projected to be the top two SEC quarterbacks. However, one of the biggest reasons why it was easy to separate those two at the top is the fact that there is such a dramatic drop off between them and the rest of this year’s starters. Once the top dominant defensive conference in all of college football, the SEC is looking up in terms of offense. Here is a look at the top SEC quarterbacks heading in to 2016.
Chad Kelly, Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels led the SEC in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense in 2016 and a big part of their success was the play of their quarterback. Kelly complete 65.2-percent of his pass attempts for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions and there is every reason to expect his progression to continue this season. Kelly should have a strong enough cast around him to top 4,000 yards again in 2016 while leading an Ole Miss offense that has the potential to be the best in the SEC once again.
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee Volunteers
Expectations are higher than they have been in a long time for the Vols and Dobbs is the biggest reason for it. Dobbs finished fourth in the SEC in total offense with 2,962 total yards and he led all quarterbacks with 671 rushing yards. Dobbs has the potential to top those numbers in 2016 with a stronger supporting cast on offense including four returning starters on the offensive line. Progression in the passing game will be the key to his overall improvement in 2016 and based on what we saw a year ago there is a good chance h will be one of the top SEC quarterbacks next season. We’ll see if the Vols finally cash in on all of the promise that they’re supposed to have.
Cooper Batemen, Alabama Crimson Tide
The major drop off begins with Alabama having a new quarterback under center for the third consecutive year. Batemen played limited snaps as the backup to Jake Coker a year ago, but he has all of the tools to thrive next season including a solid coaching staff that includes offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Kiffin has done an excellent job bringing along quarterbacks at Alabama over the last couple of years and he should have the same impact on Batemen. Sophomore’s Blake Barnett and David Cornwell will challenge for the starting job, but we expect Batemen to win it and thrive in the SEC next season.
Brandon Harris, LSU Tigers
Harris is another SEC quarterback that will have to hold off his competition to secure the starting job with Purdue transfer Danny Etling and senior Anthony Jenning also battling for that role. Harris should be able to win the job and once he does the expectation is that he will top the 2,384 yards and 13 touchdowns he threw for last season. Harris has the potential to be an above average starter if he can work on his passing. Everyone knows that he’s a strong runner but he proved to be very nervous as a passer. It will be interesting to see how he performs with running back Leonard Fournette still the focal point of the Tigers’ offense.
Greyson Lambert, Georgia Bulldogs
This is where the SEC quarterback situation really falls off with the Virginia transfer Lambert expected to be named the starter again at Georgia, but not yet guaranteed that job. Labmert hit some high notes in his first year as a starter, including when he set an NCAA record for completing 25 of 26 passes (96%) against South Carolina. However, Lambert will have to fend off competition from early enrollee Jacob Easen, who was the top quarterback prospect in the country and could very well beat him out for the starting job. Georgia is still in a much better situation than Texas A&M, Arkansas and South Carolina, but the fact that Lambert ranks among the top SEC quarterbacks heading in to next season is testament to how weak the position is within the top conference in the country.
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