SEC Quarterbacks Should Be Solid Next Year
We were sitting in the car a few days ago (we spend about 80% of our time sitting in the car) when Glenn made a comment that piqued my interest. It was just after the Florida-Georgia game, during which we saw Matthew Stafford of UGA and Tim Tebow of UF. Both are freshmen, and both will be making big impacts in the future.
Glenn said something to the effect of, "With those two guys and Mustain, the SEC is going to have some pretty darn good quarterbacks next year."
Very true, Glenn.
Those three freshmen will improve and should be fun to watch in 2007, but what about the rest of the conference? The SEC is set up remarkably well at that position next year. Let's take a team-by-team look.
Alabama: Current QB is John Parker Wilson, a sophomore. He's thrown for 201 yards per game (5th in the conference), 12 TDs, and 5 INTs.
Arkansas: Current QB is Mitch Mustain, a freshman. The numbers are not great for Mustain. Only 853 yards, 10 TDs, and 7 INTs, but the talent is there and the wins keep on coming.
Auburn: Current QB is Brandon Cox, a junior. It's been a bit of a disappointing season for Cox, who averages 184.9 yards per game. He has avoided turnovers, with 9 TDs to just 3 INTs. His numbers could be better, but Auburn is a running team.
Florida: Current QB is Chris Leak, a senior. They'll replace him with Tim Tebow, the freshman. The problem is, can Tebow throw the ball? Will UF become an option team? That seems unlikely. Maybe there is another QB who will platoon with Tebow, but at least the Gators will have one accomplished QB starting next year.
Georgia: Current QB is Matthew Stafford, a freshman. He's throwing interceptions at an alarming rate. He has only 3 TDs and 9 INTs, but the talent is obvious. He has a great arm. He's mobile. He'll be a good QB.
Kentucky: Current QB is Andre' Woodson, a junior. Woodson's numbers are as good as almost any SEC quarterback's. He has the second most yards per game, 240.1. Woodson has thrown 18 TDs and only 5 INTs.
LSU: Current QB is JaMarcus Russell, a junior. He's averaging 238.8 yards per game with 9 TDs and 4 INTs. If he leaves early for the NFL, Matt Flynn proved his capability during last year's Peach Bowl and Ryan Perrilloux was one of the best recruits in the nation two years ago.
Mississippi: Current QB is Brent Schaeffer, a junior. He's only thrown for 118.2 yards per game, but two of his last three outings have been solid. He nearly led his team to an upset of Auburn.
Mississippi State: Current QB is Michael Henig, a sophomore. He has started the last four games and threw for 384 yards and three TDs last week against Kentucky. He's getting better by the game.
South Carolina: Current QB is Syvelle Newton, a senior. He'll have to be replaced, and a candidate will be Blake Mitchell. Mitchell began the season as the starting QB, so Steve Spurrier may not have to worry about experience.
Tennessee: Current QB is Erik Ainge, a junior. Ainge is arguably the best QB in the conference. He leads the SEC in yards per game, and his junior year has been so good that many could see him leaving early for the NFL. If that happens, the backup right now is Jonathan Crompton. He is a freshman with very little experience.
Vanderbilt: Current QB is Chris Nickson, a sophomore. He does not throw for a great deal of yards, but he is a dual threat who averages 5.3 yards per carry. He's thrown 11 TD passes and 8 INTs.
Only two teams, UF and South Carolina, will have their starting quarterbacks graduate. It's possible to see Ainge and Russell depart after their junior years, but for the most part, the SEC will be loaded with quarterbacks next season.
