Ranking SEC quarterbacks: Start at Carson Beck, then Jalen Milroe, Nico Iamaleava | Toppmeyer

T.J. Moe delivered one of the great quotes in SEC history in 2012 , when the Missouri wide receiver pontificated that, in the SEC, “the girls are prettier here, air's fresher and toilet paper is thicker.”

I’ll add another: The quarterbacks are superior, too.

Since Moe's zinger, more quarterback talent flocked to the SEC, coming from hometowns like Athens, Ohio (Joe Burrow), Ewa Beach, Hawaii (Tua Tagovailoa) and Pasadena, California (Bryce Young).

Immediate eligibility for transfers and NIL deals further spurred the southbound quarterback parade.

When Florida’s Danny Wuerffel won the 1996 Heisman Trophy, he became the first SEC quarterback to win college football’s top award in 25 years. And now? Six of the past 14 quarterbacks to win the Heisman hailed from the SEC, more than any other conference.

The SEC’s quarterback talent runs especially deep this season.

Ranking SEC’s projected starting quarterbacks

1. Carson Beck (Georgia): There’s no quarterback in the country I’d rather have taking the snap on third-and-medium than Beck.

2. Jalen Milroe (Alabama): His athleticism took Alabama to the Rose Bowl in his first year as starter. He’ll gain polish under Kalen DeBoer.

3. Quinn Ewers (Texas): Ewers boasts a strong arm that pairs well with a proven offensive line and coach Steve Sarkisian's excellent play-calling.

4. Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee): The time to buy low on Iamaleava stock ended after he supplied four touchdowns against Iowa in Tennessee’s January bowl game. This ballyhooed redshirt freshman is for real.

5. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): Dart improved significantly in his second season as Lane Kiffin’s starter. That bodes well for his third year at Ole Miss, especially considering the wide receiver upgrades.

6. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): Nussmeier can zip it. He won’t match Jayden Daniels' wheels, but Wisconsin can attest to Nussmeier's ability to pick apart a defense.

7. Brady Cook (Missouri): The Tigers’ veteran, steady-handed quarterback can beat defenses with his arm or legs. He’s not elite, but he’s solid.

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8. Conner Weigman (Texas A&M): I need to see Weigman navigate a full season against SEC defenses before I elevate him higher, but the physical tools are in place.

9. Graham Mertz (Florida): Mertz isn’t much of a downfield artist, but he’s accurate. He proved me wrong after I ranked him No. 14 on this list last August.

10. Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma): Arnold is equipped with a strong arm and dual-threat abilities. In that way, he’s like predecessor Dillon Gabriel. He’s just not as proven as Gabriel.

11. Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky): Vandagriff, Georgia’s former backup, is a prototype quarterback and a former blue-chip recruit. His talent exceeds that of a typical UK quarterback.

12. Blake Shapen (Mississippi State): At Baylor, Shapen led victories against a few solid Big 12 programs, including Oklahoma. He’s not a downfield artist and should fit better within MSU's tempo offense.

13. Payton Thorne (Auburn): Thorne throws too many interceptions and doesn’t stretch the field much. As upsides, he runs well, and he’s a veteran who’s been through the battles.

14. Taylen Green (Arkansas): Green’s running ability ranked as his top skill at Boise State. He’ll need to improve his accuracy and reduce interceptions to thrive in the SEC.

15. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt): Pavia is undersized, but he can sling it. At New Mexico State, he threw for three touchdowns in an upset of Auburn. He’s an aggressive runner.

16. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina): Sellers teases upside with dual-threat abilities. He’s untested and will require some varnish as he develops.

Email of the week

Warren writes: Like most members in the SEC media world, you don’t know much about Oklahoma.  This team may well be the surprise of the SEC this year, in spite of its schedule.

My response: Here’s what I know about Oklahoma: During my last visit there, I needed only 30 minutes to double up my chips at the Muscogee Creek Nation Casino’s blackjack table. Fond memories of the Sooner State.

Here’s what else I know: The SEC stacked the deck against the Sooners with this schedule. They were dealt a ‘16’ against the dealer’s face card. Of course, I’d turn that into a winning hand at Muscogee Creek Nation.

Three and out

1. Kirby Smart delivered a subtle dig at Clemson ahead of Georgia’s game against the Tigers. Asked about the Georgia-Clemson rivalry, Smart said : “We don’t see them on the road recruiting as much as it seems like we used to. I don’t know if it’s died down some.” Ouch. Clemson last signed a top-five recruiting class in 2021, and Dabo Swinney also turns up his nose at transfers.

2. LSU’s game Sunday against Southern Cal provides a study of likeness. Two high-priced coaches that bolted blue-blooded programs in 2022. Two new starting quarterbacks. Two teams needing defensive improvement behind new defensive coordinators. Two coaches facing a fork-in-road season. The difference? Brian Kelly’s holding steady among the nation’s top coaches, while Lincoln Riley might want to check the latest Zestimate on his Los Angeles mansion.

3. ESPN’s Desmond Howard likes Notre Dame’s playoff chances. That boosts my confidence in leaving Notre Dame off my playoff qualifier list . Who can forget Howard’s 2022 playoff picks featuring Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Baylor and Michigan? High comedy.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer .

The "Topp Rope" is his SEC football column published throughout the USA TODAY Networ k.

Subscribe to read all of his columns. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered , and newsletter, SEC Unfiltered .

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ranking SEC quarterbacks: Start at Carson Beck, then Jalen Milroe, Nico Iamaleava | Toppmeyer