We’re back for another year, ranking the SEC QBs based on their projected play this season. Our top SEC QB Rankings look at who you can expect to see turn heads on a weekly basis in the Southeastern Conference in 2024.
2024 SEC QB Rankings
As with all of our conference rankings and our national quarterback evaluations, the SEC QB rankings below consider everything involved with quarterbacking at the major college football level.
While statistics are listed, they were not the lone deciding factor in ranking the athletes. The list below prefers programs with a solidified quarterback situation and one signal-caller who plays significant snaps against top-tier competition. Two-quarterback systems will always be looked down upon, especially in those cases where an answer has not yet been provided for the long term.
Other factors in these rankings include but are not limited to game film, injury history, play-calling, offensive system knowledge and continuity, general quarterbacking mechanics, level of competition, the elevation of supporting casts, and several other influential factors.
All Other QB Rankings
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Tier 1: The Elite SEC QBs
1) Carson Beck | Georgia
Week 1 rank: 1 (no change)
Carson Beck was solid against Clemson to open the season. Beck completed 23 of 33 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a commanding win after a slow start.
Beck’s play improved significantly in the second half as his ability to connect with his receivers on critical plays, particularly on third downs, was a key factor in Georgia’s offensive success. He then carried that over to Week 2 in which he dominated Tennessee Tech through a half of play.
Beck has now thrown for seven touchdowns after a 5-TD game in Week 2, completing passes at a high clip but not quite wowing in the process. We know who Beck is, and his season-opening performances have indicated the best is yet to come.
2) Jaxson Dart | Ole Miss
Week 1 Rank: 2 (no change)
Jaxson Dart was lights out for Ole Miss in Week 1. Yes, it was against Furman, but yes, it was only a single half that saw him set all new personal highs and reach a mark previously set by Joe Burrow.
Dart’s first half against Furman marked a new career-high in total touchdowns, and his 445 total yards in the first half made him the first SEC quarterback since Joe Burrow to surpass 350 passing yards in a single half. He then followed that performance up with a dominant display of passing against Middle Tennessee that may not have touched the end zone, but it was certainly what you wanted him to do.
He was clean from within the pocket and seamlessly ushered in the rushing attack with a mix of solid play-action passes off the success of Henry Parrish and Co. When it came time to unleash it downfield, Dart was accurate and on time, a calling card of his success when he’s on his game.
3) Quinn Ewers | Texas
Week 1 Rank: 5 (+2)
It was a dominant showing for Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns in Week 1. Despite playing just a single drive in the third quarter, Ewers was able to throw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, with his lone hiccup coming on a pass that was tipped at the line and intercepted.
Ewers showed the poise, power, accuracy, and touch we’ve gotten used to, and followed that up with a dominant showing in Ann Arbor in Week 2.
He was usual self, patient and observant, surprisingly athletic and decisive, and it all lead to an emphatic victory over Michigan. Ewers’ performance in Week 2 against the Wolverines is the kind of performance Texas will need week in and week out once they hit SEC play.
4) Brady Cook | Missouri
Week 1 Rank: 4 (no change)
There wasn’t anything in particular that we loved about the Missouri opener against Murray State, but we certainly did see the same Brady Cook that we became accustomed to seeing last year. The offense ran swimmingly early and Cook wasn’t asked to do seemingly anything.
Still, Cook was sharp with his reads and played an incredibly disciplined game from within the pocket. And he followed that up with a crisp performance against Buffalo, one error aside, of course.
The Bulls secondary is a top unit in the MAC and their linebacking corps plays complementary football very well underneath. All that to be said, Cook diced up the Buffalo defense underneath all game long, but nothing happened to break the right way.
Save for a single bad decision, it was a sound performance from Cook and the Tigers offense as they prepare for the tougher road ahead.
5) Nico Iamaleava | Tennessee
Week 1 Rank: 6 (+1)
Sheesh, what a debut it was for Nico Iamaleava. Get to know how to pronounce his name now, folks, because he isn’t the ‘future’ anymore, he’s the RIGHT NOW for Tennessee.
Iamaleava was brilliant against UT-Chatanooga in Week 1, sometimes throwing it against air it felt like, but he still flashed plenty to move him up in our rankings. The velocity on his throws was only matched by the intense accuracy he showed off all game long.
Then, fast forward to a game against a very talented NC State secondary in Week 2. He wasn’t perfect, but in his first primetime and big-time start, Iamaleava nailed the performance.
Iamaleava threw dart after dart and kept his offense humming in the second half, more than enough to knock off NC State easily. The aforementioned velocity that presents itself with his passes is unmatched.
6) Jalen Milroe | Alabama
Week 1 Rank: 3 (-3)
Ween 1 was a dominant outing for the entire Alabama team, on both sides of the ball, but it took shaking off a slow start with his accuracy before Jalen Milroe righted the ship. It was over before this game really began.
By throwing for three scores and rushing for another two, Milroe became the first quarterback in Alabama history to both pass for three touchdowns and rush for two in a single game. He put all his skills on display in the outing against Western Kentucky, including the patented power that we’ve become accustomed to seeing.
However, Week 2 saw a bit more of the same that is the only cause for concern with Milroe. He was inaccurate against USF and struggled to make decisions when pressure got to him. The USF pass-rushing unit feasted all evening long and stifled the passing attack as well as Milroe’s decision-making for about 50 minutes.
The defenses get a bit more difficult going forward and the Alabama offense will have to get the run game going if they want to spark Milroe back into action and allow him some opening passing lanes off play action.
Tier 2: Well-Above-Average SEC QBs
7) Jackson Arnold | Oklahoma
Week 1 Rank: 7 (no change)
In a blowout performance over Temple, the Jackson Arnold era got off to a great start for Oklahoma. In just his second start, Arnold threw for just 141 yards, but reached four touchdowns in the process.
It’s clear that he was able to work up some quick and solid chemistry with Deion Burks, and the manufactured touches for Burks was a smart and creative way to usher in the Arnold era slowly.
In Week 2, however, Arnold was able to let it fly a bit more. Some accuracy issues presented themselves against Big 12 foe Houston, but he wasn’t helped by a couple of untimely drops either. Keeping Arnold clean will prove to be paramount for the Sooners in 2024.
8) Taylen Green | Arkansas
Week 1 Rank: 8 (no change)
We were very clear in our preseason writeups here: We’re going to process cautiously and optimistically with Taylen Green’s ability to translate his success on the field for Arkansas. And I don’t care about the level of the competition, what Green showcased in Week 1 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff was downright dominant.
Green tossed the ball effortlessly around the field with precision and ran the Arkansas offense to perfection. He ran the rock for two scores and made defenders look silly in his wake, but his effort through the air was even more impressive.
In fact, Green had the best throw of the day on Thursday, and perhaps the weekend, when he broke contain and maintained vision downfield, lofting a brilliant and perfectly placed shot while rolling to his left into the end zone for a touchdown.
And then in Week 2, Green followed it up with a great performance against Oklahoma State, save for two costly mistakes. We’re going to chalk up his mistakes to trying to be Super-Man for his team, as opposed to shaky ball security, something he may have gotten away with at Boise State, but not in the SEC, or against a top Big 12 defense.
He has a terrific arm and brilliant athleticism. When he’s on top of his game like he was in the second half against Oklahoma State, there are few defenses that will be able to contain him.
9) Garrett Nussmeier | LSU
Week 1 Rank: 9 (no change)
The final result wasn’t quite his fault, and let’s face it, the interception Garrett Nussmeier threw on the game’s final play was out of desperation and nothing more. In his first start, Nussmeier looked the part of a solid starting quarterback in the SEC.
His arm talent is well documented, and he put that on display against USC, and his decision-making at times was just as sharp. It’s clear that Nussmeier has studied behind some all-time greats at quarterback.
We also said following his Week 1 performance that Nussmeier would be OK, but it took a bit against Nicholls in Week 2 to find that rhythm again. When all was said and done, Nussmeier threw for over 300 yards and six touchdowns, but a sluggish start to the game will leave some scratching their heads as to the plans offensively and defensively.
Independent of it all, Nussmeier was his same powerful self from within the structure, absolutely destroying the intermediate section of the field with his accuracy and anticipation. More of these, LSU, more of these.
10) Diego Pavia | Vanderbilt
Week 1 Rank: 10 (no change)
As we said in our preseason rankings:
“SEC fans need to know who Diego Pavia is. Well, SEC fans that aren’t from Auburn, Alabama, need to know who Pavia is. Just ask War Eagle.”
Now, you can just ask Virginia Tech fans who Diego Pavia is. The answer will be met with a brutal reaction, so proceed carefully.
Pavia lit up the field with his arm and his legs, knocking off the Hokies in dramatic fashion. He’s a gritty and tough quarterback who will sell out for the last inch on the field for his teammates.
Against Vandy’s Week 2 opponent, Alcorn State, Pavia was asked to do so little as the ‘Dores rolled to victory. In the end, Pavia still flashed his athleticism and his talents downfield with his mix of accuracy on deep shots (fine, intermediate shots) as well as his rushing ability once more.
The road gets tougher, but Pavia is battle tested and after the game against Alcorn, he’s now battle rested.
Tier 3: Above-Average SEC QBs
11) Conner Weigman | Texas A&M
Week 1 Rank: 11 (no change)
The general consensus feeling about Conner Weigman’s performance against Notre Dame could surely be seen as negative. He struggled the entire game, completing just 12-of-30 pass attempts against the Irish, and it could be said that the majority of the mistakes were largely his fault.
He was inefficient and though the play-calling and general offensive mechanics seemed slow and sluggish, Weigman did nothing to elevate the cast around him. The rust from not being on the field since early in the year last season showcased itself in Week 1, but not in Week 2 against McNeese.
In fact, the second game of the season is the kind of performance that Weigman needed. He threw for two scores and hardly over 125 yards on just 14 attempts, but it was the way that Weigman diced up the Cowboys’ defense that stood out.
He threw with great anticipation and dotted the field with power, layering, and accurate passes all over. At times, it felt like he was throwing on air, so we’ll wait to move him up until he showcases this against an FBS defense.
Tier 4: Average SEC QBs
12) Blake Shapen | Mississippi State
Week 1 Rank: 12 (no change)
It was a solid debut for Mississippi State and Blake Shapen. Limited as an athlete, Shapen still showed off his impressive skill set as a passer while throwing for three touchdowns and completing 75% of his passes.
Ball security in the pocket and when he breaks contain will remain an issue, it appears, especially after this reared its ugly head once again in Week 2. Similarly, his decision-making when he pushes the ball downfield came back to bite him against Arizona State as he was late to make some reads and all too often against the Sun Devils, was too late to find any receivers open.
The final score is less indicative of how they were outplayed, but Shapen did indeed bring the Bulldogs back to a more respectable outing in the end. Keeping him off his back and within the pocket will be crucial in 2024.
13) Graham Mertz, DJ Lagway | Florida
Week 1 Rank: 15 (+2)
It couldn’t have gone worse for Florida in Week 1. Not only did they suffer a brutal and demoralizing loss to the hands of in-state rival Miami, but they also lost Graham Mertz to a concussion in the third quarter.
While DJ Lagway’s entrance into the game was met with cheers by the fans in attendance, the nature of the situation is this: Mertz still gives the Gators a better chance to win due to Lagway’s inexperience and inefficiencies at this stage of his young career.
And don’t be fooled by his ‘lights-out performance’ against Samford, Lagway probably faced better defenses in high school than he did on Saturday in Week 2.
Still, it has to be said, Lagway did indeed look like the highly sought-after recruit that he was entering the picture, and he’s outplaying a lot of other SEC QBs if he continues what he did against Samford into conference play.
Tier 5: Work-To-Be-Done SEC QBs
14) LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina
Week 1 Rank: 16 (+2)
At times, LaNorris Sellers looked lost against ODU. There is plenty to like about his athleticism and pure arm talent, but there is an equal amount of room to grow as a passer and as a pure quarterback.
He struggled mightily as a dropback passer, but did showcase just enough to get over the hump and avoid a disastrous loss to start the season with his rushing ability. The bottom line for Sellers was this: He must improve as a passer or SC fans will be quick to wonder how they got to the point where he’s the best option for them at quarterback.
Against Kentucky, he only got the win because his opponent was far worse than he was (see Brock Vandagriff). Sellers struggled with his decisions, accuracy, and simple quarterback reads at times. In the end, the defense did their part to erase what was an abhorrent showing on offense to save Sellers here.
15) Brock Vandagriff | Kentucky
Week 1 Rank: 13 (-2)
In a brutal performance for any that wanted to watch Kentucky play Southern Miss in person, we applaud you. After a massive delay and ultimately a game called before it was over, Brock Vandagriff and the Kentucky offense played what felt like a very sparingly performance.
Still, Vandagriff showcased what once made him a sought-after recruit. He was solid over the middle of the field, but this game wasn’t one that was going to ask too much of him. We we wary of moving him up at all in our Week 1 update, and now, we’re not even sure if we should rank him or his replacement from his performance in Week 2, Gavin Wimsatt.
Vandagriff completed three passes. Yes, just three passes. And this was against a South Carolina defense that allowed ODU QB Grant Wilson to essentially throw all over them had they not thrown too many self-inflicted wounds their way in Week 1.
He was benched and it’s unknown at this time if Wimsatt will be the starter going forward in these rankings or not, so we’ll consider both, giving them an advantage over the dead last spot here, only because we know Wimsatt is enough of an athlete to get over the hump than our last QB in the SEC Rankings.
16) Payton Thorne | Auburn
Week 1 Rank: 14 (-2)
Like the other quarterbacks in the SEC who essentially threw well against air, you have to look at what Payton Thorne did and how he did it against an inferior opponent in Week 1. And just like the others, we weren’t going to overreact and put Thorne up too high after torching Alabama A&M in Week 1.
It was a good thing we didn’t move Thorne up, especially after his performance against Cal that essentially threw the game away. And in the end, his four-interception game was actually a five-interception game after one pick-six got called back due to a defensive penalty that had nothing to do with the throw or the coverage.
Thorne was erratic and struggled with his accuracy all over the field. He was asked to throw it downfield far more often than he should, and he struggled in doing so. It’s rock bottom for Auburn from a passing perspective right now, and they don’t have the luxury of going to Robby Ashford for some much-needed rushing assistance this time around.
Will we see another quarterback thrust into action anytime soon? We should.
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