Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Athlon Sports
SEC Quarterback Rankings for 2024
By Steven Lassan,
2024-08-08
The SEC is college football's top conference for quarterback talent in 2024. Georgia's Carson Beck takes the No. 1 spot in Athlon's projected top SEC quarterbacks, but Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Texas' Quinn Ewers, and Missouri's Brady Cook could easily finish atop the league.
Also, don't count out a breakout candidate from emerging at the No. 1 spot. Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, and Texas A&M's Conner Weigman are poised to quickly become household names in the '24 season.
Ranking the quarterbacks by conference or nationally is no easy task. To help compile the rankings, there was some projection involved for 2024. This was not a ranking of quarterbacks only based on accomplishments so far or pro potential. All factors — pure talent, supporting cast, having a clear hold on the No. 1 position, previous production, '24 projection, and scheme changes (just to name a few) — were considered and projected to rank the quarterbacks in the SEC for 2024.
In his first season as the starter, Beck quickly emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. The Florida native worked as the backup to Stetson Bennett from 2021-22 and saw action in 11 contests. The '23 campaign marked Beck's first opportunity at extended action and he quickly met the moment in a tight road win (313 passing yards) at Auburn, followed by clutch performances against Missouri and Ole Miss in November. Over 14 starts, Beck threw for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns to only six picks. Additionally, his completion rate (72.4) ranked second among SEC signal-callers, while a 9.5 yards per attempt finished third. Beck's 27 completions of 30-plus yards also tied for second in the conference. After a standout debut, Beck should be even more comfortable in his second year as the team's No. 1 signal-caller.
Filling the production and leadership left behind by Bryce Young's departure to the NFL was no easy task for Milroe. Adding to the challenge was an early struggle against Texas in Week 2 and a benching versus South Florida the following Saturday. However, Milroe returned to the starting lineup and seemed to get better with each snap as the season progressed. The Texas native showcased an ability to hit the deep ball (35 of 67 for 1,267 yards and 16 TDs from throws of 20-plus yards per PFF) and ended the year with 3,365 overall yards and 35 touchdowns. Milroe averaged 10 yards per attempt, which ranked third nationally among signal-callers. Also, he tossed just one pick over his last six games. Milroe has room to grow and refine his game overall as a passer, but new coach Kalen DeBoer should be able to help take his skill set to another notch in '24. If Milroe can round out his passing form and maintain the dynamic ability on the ground, contending for the Heisman Trophy is a realistic goal this fall.
Entering his third season as the starter, expectations are high for Ewers to take the next step and push for All-America honors at the controls of coach Steve Sarkisian's high-powered offense. Although talented redshirt freshman Arch Manning is waiting in the wings, the job is firmly in control for Ewers. After throwing for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games in '22, Ewers upped his performance a level last fall. Over 12 starts, Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns and averaged a healthy 8.8 yards per attempt. The Texas native has tossed just 12 picks over 690 attempts with the Longhorns and finished second in the Big 12 in passing yards a contest (289.9). Improving his downfield accuracy (16 of 47 for 20-plus yard throws per PFF) just a bit could help Ewers move up even higher on this list.
With a deep receiving corps anchored by Juice Wells and Tre Harris, along with tight end Caden Prieskorn, Dart could post monster numbers in his third season as the starter for coach Lane Kiffin. And with his experience in the scheme and skill talent in place, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Dart finish '24 as the SEC's No. 1 quarterback. After a solid debut in Oxford in 2022, Dart elevated his performance up a notch last fall. In 13 games, the USC transfer completed 65.1 percent of his throws for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns. Dart also ran for 389 yards and eight scores. Additionally, his yards per attempt climbed from 8.2 in '22 to 9.4, while the interceptions fell from 11 ('22) to five ('23). Dart finished second among SEC quarterbacks with 63 completions of 20-plus yards and ranked third in total offense (288.7).
A healthy right shoulder made a huge difference in Cook's performance last year. After battling a shoulder ailment that required offseason surgery after the '22 campaign, Cook emerged as one of the SEC's top quarterbacks last fall. In 13 starts, Cook threw for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns and added 319 yards and eight scores. The Missouri native shined in a last-second win over Kansas State (356 passing yards), torched LSU for 411 yards through the air, and added 331 in a victory against Florida. Cook tied for second in the SEC in completions of 40-plus yards (15), ranked fifth in completion rate (66.1), and placed fourth in the conference in total offense per contest (279.7).
Iamaleava is college football's No. 1 breakout candidate at quarterback for 2024. After a high-profile recruitment (and rumors of an $8 million NIL deal), Iamaleava played in five games as a true freshman last fall. The five-star prospect saw limited work behind Joe Milton before starting the Citrus Bowl against Iowa. Against a standout Hawkeyes' defense, Iamaleava threw for 151 yards and a score on 12 completions and added three more touchdowns on the ground. All signs point to a massive year for Iamaleava in his first season as Tennessee's No. 1 quarterback.
There's a lot of new on LSU's offense for the 2024 season. Play-caller Mike Denbrock left Baton Rouge for Notre Dame, prompting coach Brian Kelly to promote quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan to co-offensive coordinator with Cortez Hankton. Additionally, the Tigers must replace Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and two standout receivers in Brian Thomas and Malik Nabers. Although this unit is losing a ton, don't be surprised if Nussmeier keeps LSU's offense near the top of the SEC. The Louisiana native has flashed big-time potential in 18 appearances for the Bayou Bengals, including a start in the Reliaquest Bowl against Wisconsin (31 of 45 for 395 yards and three scores). In his LSU career, Nussmeier has passed for 1,720 yards and 11 touchdowns. The junior will have a few ups-and-downs as a first-time starter, but expect Nussmeier to deliver a breakout campaign in '24.
Weigman was on track for a breakout 2023 season but a foot injury suffered against Auburn on Sept. 23 ended his year prematurely. After throwing five touchdowns in the opener against New Mexico, Weigman passed for 336 yards and two scores in a road defeat at Miami. He passed for 337 yards in an easy win for Texas A&M against ULM but was unable to build on that momentum after the injury against Auburn a week later. Weigman has all of the tools to emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. New coordinator Collin Klein should do a better job at maximizing Weigman and the talent of the supporting cast than former coach Jimbo Fisher managed to do in College Station.
Oklahoma's transition to the SEC was made a little easier with a quarterback of Arnold's caliber poised to deliver a breakout season. Navigating quarterback development in the transfer portal era is a challenge, so even though Dillon Gabriel had a successful run in Norman, the Sooners needed to turn over the offensive keys to Arnold for his sophomore campaign. The former five-star prospect received playing time in seven games last year, including a start in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona. In that matchup against the Wildcats, Arnold threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-24 loss by the Sooners. The Texas native has room to grow as a first-time starter and also has to work behind a line with five new starters this fall. However, once Oklahoma's line settles, with a standout receiving corps in place, Arnold's play should take off in '24.
Florida's addition of Mertz through the transfer portal last offseason was met with skepticism after four up-and-down years at Wisconsin. The Kansas native threw for 38 touchdowns and 5,405 yards with the Badgers but also tossed 26 picks and never reached his recruiting potential (four-star prospect by 247Sports) to spark the passing game in Madison. However, coach Billy Napier took Mertz's game to the next level in '23. Before a season-ending injury in November, Mertz threw for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns to just three picks. Mertz needs to stretch the field more this fall, but the senior finished sixth in the SEC in completions of 10-plus yards (116) and led the conference in completion rate (72.9). True freshman DJ Lagway is too talented to keep on the sidelines and is expected to see snaps for the Gators in '24. Mertz will maintain the No. 1 spot on the depth chart and optimism should be high for Napier to help the senior take another step forward in '24.
After starting 26 games at Michigan State from 2020-22, Thorne transferred after spring practice to Auburn and claimed the No. 1 spot on the depth chart by the opener. The Illinois native added more to the rushing attack than most anticipated (515 yards and three scores) but was up-and-down as a passer. In 13 games, Thorne threw for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns and finished near the bottom of the SEC in yards per attempt (6.6) and ranked last in quarterback rating (129.1). Although Thorne's upside might not be at an All-SEC level, the senior should perform better in '24. Auburn's supporting cast at receiver is significantly better with the arrival of freshman Cam Coleman and transfer Keandre Lambert-Smith. Also, the staff cohesion should improve with coach Hugh Freeze handling some of the play-calling duties. Expect Thorne to take a step forward in his second year on the Plains.
With Carson Beck entrenched atop the Georgia depth chart, Vandagriff transferred to Kentucky in search of a chance to start right away. The Georgia native played in five games in his first two seasons (2021-22) but played in eight as the top backup to Beck in '23. During his limited snaps last year, Vandagriff threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 12 completions and added 39 yards on the ground. The junior doesn't have an extensive resume of on-field action to evaluate, but he ranked as one of the top quarterback recruits in the '21 signing class and has a veteran offensive line and standout receiving corps to lean on. Can new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan help Vandagriff reach his potential?
Green brings intriguing upside and potential to an Arkansas offense that desperately needs a spark after averaging only 20 points in SEC play last season. After playing in two games as a true freshman at Boise State in '21, Green eventually took over as the starting quarterback during the '22 season. Green threw for 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns and flashed his dual-threat ability with 586 yards and 10 scores. After the breakout redshirt freshman campaign, high expectations surrounded the Texas native entering '23. Although the numbers weren't bad (1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air and 436 yards and nine scores on the ground), Green didn't take the next step as most anticipated and ended in a timeshare at quarterback with Maddux Madsen. A fresh start and a chance to learn under new Arkansas play-caller Bobby Petrino should help Green develop. And after a strong showing in the spring, Green quickly gained the confidence of the staff to earn the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. If Petrino can work his magic once again, Green will move up this list significantly by the end of '24.
Expectations are high for Sellers in his first year as coach Shane Beamer's No. 1 quarterback. The South Carolina native played in three games as a true freshman last season and compiled an impressive stat line in limited time. In those limited snaps, Sellers completed all four of his pass attempts for 86 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 51 yards and a score over five carries. Additionally, Sellers has received praise for his work this offseason and the overall progression for the '24 season. With limited snaps under his belt, Sellers will need time to fully develop into the role and emerge as a passer that can consistently hurt SEC defenses. However, his mobility and overall development this offseason place Sellers in the mix to be a breakout candidate in the conference this fall.
15. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
New coach Jeff Lebby picked Shapen from the transfer portal to direct his high-powered offense in '24. With five new offensive line starters, along with a staff breaking in the scheme, this unit is likely to be a work in progress early in the '24 campaign. But Shapen's skill set and arm strength should fit in well with Lebby's scheme. At Baylor, Shapen threw for 5,574 yards and 36 touchdowns in 27 appearances. Accuracy was a strength (63.7 percent) and the Louisiana native also connected on 22 throws of 40-plus yards in his last 21 appearances.
After a dismal offensive showing (16.9 points in SEC play last year), Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea reset that group this offseason. Lea hired New Mexico State coordinator Tim Beck to call plays in '24 and landed a couple of transfers from Las Cruces, including Pavia to compete for the starting quarterback job. Pavia will have to hold off Utah transfer Nate Johnson for the top spot, but his familiarity with this scheme and coordinator should pay off. The New Mexico native played in 12 games for the Aggies in '22 and threw for 1,450 yards and 13 scores and ran for 508 yards and six touchdowns. However, Pavia took a big step forward last season, accounting for 2,973 yards and 26 scores through the air and another 925 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Adapting to better competition in the SEC will be a big challenge for Pavia after starring in Conference USA.
Steven Lassan is the senior college football writer and editor for AthlonSports.com. Follow him on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook .
anything Alabama is always overrated.... Best HC, bama...Best QB, bama...Best coach, bama....Best waterboy, bama...Best paid players before NIL, bama....best of best, bama. there ain't one list where Alabama tide is out of the top. Saban is gone for a reason.....he didn't like players getting paid more than he could offer. it will all come out one day........then bamasses, you can keep praying at the foot of that stupid statue you have of Nicholas.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
