SEC quarterback rankings: Arch Manning headlines loaded list

USA Today

2 days ago

The SEC features the nation's best batch of college football quarterbacks, with Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier and DJ Lagway included in the top tier.
How good is this crop of SEC quarterbacks? Consider, the quarterback ranked last on this list owns a victory as a starter against Nick Saban's Alabama.
And the No. 1 quarterback on my list? Well, he requires no introduction.
The SEC became the nation's best conference because of its superiority at the line of scrimmage, punishing running backs and speed on the perimeter. Somewhere along the way, though, this conference began attracting the best quarterback talent, too.
That's especially reflected this season.
Consider this list as a collection of tiers. The top five quarterbacks compromise the top tier, and each would rank highly on a national list of quarterbacks. The middle tier offers stability and parity, and the quarterbacks ranked Nos. 6 through 9 could be scrambled into a different order.
Five projected starters transferred to their new schools this past offseason. Some schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee, have not named a starter. The quarterbacks listed reflect our best estimation of the team's starter.
Here's how I rank this impressive batch of SEC quarterbacks:
1. Arch Manning (Texas)
Manning is far from the most proven quarterback on this list, even if he's got the most famous surname. This ranking is based on Manning's potential for a lofty ceiling after he looked the part of budding star in two spot starts and backup opportunities last season. He should be ready to break out in Year 3 playing for Steve Sarkisian, one of the nation's top quarterback developers. Manning's arm is sharp, and his mobility and size are an X-factor, although he must improve his internal clock of knowing when to scramble when under duress.
2. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
If you want to know what scouts mean when they say a quarterback has a 'live arm,' watch Nussmeier sling a pass toward the sideline. He's got zip. He needs to reduce his throws into impossible windows and stop telegraphing to the defense where he's going with the ball. His 12 interceptions tied for the most in the SEC, but his 29 touchdown passes ranked just two off the conference lead. He's an established veteran with a big arm, and he's the SEC's returning leader in passing yards. Plus, he's surrounded by a talented receivers.
PLAYOFF TALKS: As Big Ten, SEC squabble, the College Football Playoff wins
SO, THERE'S A CHANCE?: Five college football sleepers that could contend for national championship
3. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
Sellers steadily improved throughout his redshirt freshman season, to the point that he threw for 353 yards and five touchdowns in a November triumph over Missouri. He's an excellent runner, too. Ask Clemson about that. His quarterback efficiency rating in conference games leads all SEC returning quarterbacks. He's accurate, but he needs to improve his processing time. Ball security is his other area for improvement after he fumbled 11 times. If he speeds up his decision-making, he should see those fumble numbers reduce.
4. DJ Lagway (Florida)
Lagway is a big play waiting to happen. He throws a good deep ball and averaged 10 yards per pass attempt as a true freshman. He should make more plays with his legs, too, after a hamstring injury slowed him last season. Injuries are a concern. A throwing shoulder injury limited his spring practice participation. By May, though, he was throwing three times per week. Along with his health, he needs to improve his midrange accuracy and reduce interceptions. He threw nine picks in 192 pass attempts last year, but he oozes upside.
5. John Mateer (Oklahoma)
Mateer produced awesome stat lines last season at Washington State. He passed for more than 3,100 yards and rushed for more than 800. He's efficient, as well as tough, strong and incredibly athletic. He can throw on the move and from multiple arm angles. He's got plenty of tools in his belt. Why not rank him higher? He's unproven against SEC competition. Two of his worst passing performances last year came in his two games against Power Four competition.
6. Austin Simmons (Mississippi)
Rebels coach Lane Kiffin describes Simmons as a 'really talented thrower' with 'a high ceiling." You'd likely hear no argument from Kirby Smart. Simmons looked the part in a relief appearance against Georgia that resulted in a touchdown drive. He threw just 32 passes as a backup last season but looked good doing so. He played college baseball before opting to focus exclusively on football. On the mound, he fired fastballs that topped 90 mph. Is he ready to be the guy in a system that asks a lot of the quarterback? That's the question he must answer.
7. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)
Vanderbilt's Tasmanian Devil of a quarterback runs on moxie, and he's at his best when facing the state of Alabama. This cocksure sixth-year senior spurred Vanderbilt's upsets of Alabama and Auburn, and he previously beat the Tigers while quarterbacking New Mexico State. Pavia values possession, throwing only four interceptions last year. He's a good runner, but the hits he absorbed took a toll. Pavia passed for fewer than 190 yards in each of his final six games. He lacks top-end arm strength, but he has a nose for playmaking.
8. Marcel Reed (Texas A&M)
Would the real Reed please stand up? The Aggie ignited in September after giving the offensive keys to Reed but fizzled in November, as Reed threw six interceptions in his final five games. The quick-footed Reed showed an ability to extend plays and knife through defenses. He'll need to improve his consistency from the pocket and polish his deep ball. Texas A&M returned a lot of production. As Reed goes (or doesn't go), so will the Aggies.
9. Taylen Green (Arkansas)
Green is a mobile, hard-nosed runner with a strong arm. He can challenge defenses with downfield strikes. He became more accurate as the season progressed and flourished in an October upset of Tennessee, despite the Vols boasting one of the SEC's top defenses. His next steps are to improve decision-making, navigating through his progressions and sharpening his midrange throws.
10. Gunner Stockton (Georgia)
The Bulldogs rallied around Stockton after he took the reins midway through the SEC Championship. It's easy to picture him becoming Georgia's heartbeat. He doesn't match predecessor Carsen Beck's arm talent, but he's more mobile, and there's a certain "Je ne sais quoi" about him that appeals to his teammates. He flashed accuracy when his line protected him, and he's skilled in play-action. Whether he'll stretch defenses downfield remains a question.
11. Ty Simpson (Alabama)
Simpson hasn't proven himself yet. A former five-star recruit, he's entering Year 4 at Alabama and he's thrown just 50 career passes, with a 58% completion clip. A natural pocket passer, he possesses some mobility, too, and improvisational skills. Coach Kalen DeBoer desires more consistency from Simpson, the quarterback who's first in line to replace predecessor Jalen Milroe.
12. Blake Shapen (Mississippi State)
Shapen looked sharp as Mississippi State's quarterback for four games last September before a shoulder injury shelved him for the rest of the season. He's back for a sixth season, and the former Baylor quarterback grasps coach Jeff Lebby's offense. Shapen's return offers the Bulldogs reason for optimism, considering he completed 68.5% of his passes before the injury.
13. Jackson Arnold (Auburn)
Arnold struggled as Oklahoma's starter, losing his job before regaining it and starting in the Sooners' upset of Alabama. That result must give Auburn hope that the junior shouldn't be written off after a rough season playing behind a porous Oklahoma offensive line. Arnold struggled to connect consistently on throws beyond about 10 yards. Arm strength and mobility are assets. Maybe, this former five-star recruit will regain his confidence at Auburn, where he'll have a better offensive line and receivers.
14. Beau Pribula (Missouri)
In Pribula's most extensive playing time as a Penn State backup, he showed a steady hand in relief of injured Drew Allar in a win against Wisconsin. He's a quality pickup for Missouri, which needed to replace starter Brady Cook. Pribula hasn't been named for the job, but he seems like he'd be the front-runner in a competition with Sam Horn, Missouri's seldom-used backup. Pribula is an electrifying runner who pairs athleticism with toughness. His running ability provided Penn State with an effective wrinkle to its system. To become a starter, he must prove himself as a consistent pocket passer.
15. Joey Aguilar (Tennessee)
Aguilar showed a fearless streak while starting at Appalachian State. A best-case scenario for Tennessee is that he develops into something like what Pavia became for Vanderbilt. Aguilar can extend plays outside the pocket. Fearless can't mean reckless, though. He led the nation in interceptions at App State. Aguilar previously transferred to UCLA, but he left for Tennessee on the backside of the Bruins plundering Nico Iamaleava from the Vols. Aguilar's preseason checklist must include improving pocket poise, ball security and learning a new offense at warp speed.
16. Zach Calzada (Kentucky)
Calzada started in Texas A&M's upset of Alabama, way back in 2021, and he now prepares for his seventh season with his fourth program. Calzada never developed enough midrange accuracy at Texas A&M, but he threw a good deep ball, and he's coming off a monster season with Incarnate Word of the Championship Subdivision. He's more intriguing than plenty of past Kentucky quarterbacks.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at [e-mail] and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.