SEC Unfiltered: How new starting quarterbacks could impact conference.

Welcome to SEC Unfiltered, the USA TODAY NETWORK’S newsletter on SEC sports. Today, Knoxville News Sentinel columnist John Adams takes over.

Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava has become one of the most highly touted new quarterbacks in college football. The redshirt freshman, whose only college start was in the Citrus Bowl, is listed as a top-five Heisman Trophy candidates by some betting services.

He’s also one of the big reasons why Tennessee is regarded as a College Football Playoff contender this season.

Oklahoma is entrusting its playoff hopes to another redshirt freshman quarterback, Jackson Arnold, who became the Sooners' No. 1 quarterback when former starter Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon after last season.

But new quarterbacks on lesser SEC teams also could impact which schools represent the conference in the 12-team playoff.

SEC media ranked South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt as the bottom four in the conference. However, each team has a new quarterback, who might help produce an upset or perhaps lift his team above its predicted finish.

South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers

The redshirt freshman led South Florence High School to the South Carolina state championship by rushing for 1,338 yards and throwing for 45 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He played sparingly as Spencer Rattler’s backup last season but already has gained a reputation as an accurate passer, who, at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, could boost the Gamecocks running game as well.

Arkansas: Taylen Green

The Boise State transfer has drawn comparisons to former Razorbacks quarterback Matt Jones, who later became a tight end in the NFL. Like Jones, the 6-6 Green has size and speed.

He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns while passing for 3,794 yards in his last two seasons at Boise State. Passing accuracy has been a problem, but maybe new Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino can help with that.

Mississippi State: Blake Shapen

He’s not as much of a running threat as Sellers or Green but doesn’t lack experience after starting at Baylor. He first made a name for himself at the college level in the 2021 Big 12 championship game.

Subbing for an injured Gerry Bohanon, Shapen completed his first 17 passes as Baylor upset No. 5 Oklahoma State to win the Big 12 championship.

Vanderbilt: Diego Pavia

The Commodores new quarterback rushed for 923 yards and passed for 2,973 last season at New Mexico State. Auburn can vouch for his ability.

Pavia passed for three touchdowns as New Mexico State upset the Tigers 31-10 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: SEC Unfiltered: How new starting quarterbacks could impact conference.