The biggest unknown across much of the SEC heading into this season is the uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Oh sure, if you follow the SEC you know the name Bryce Young - the next great Alabama quarterback. Even still, we have yet to see Young play meaningful snaps in an SEC game. While Alabama likely doesn't have to worry about who their future starter may be, about half of the conference does.
We will attempt to rank those we know about...the returning starters as noted by their teams current depth chart.
1. JT Daniels - Georgia
It's year two for JT Daniels under center, and this season there will be no waiting game (or guessing game) as to when he gets on the field. This is his offense. A full spring with Todd Monken should proven to be golden for Daniels who possesses all the tools to run Moken's offense the way he wants to play. Daniels zipped 10 touchdowns last year against only two interceptions in four starts for Georgia while averaging over 300 yards per game. With Monken wanting to take more shots down field, those numbers could take a step forward this year. Daniels may not put up the best numbers on this list (that's the next guy), but he'll certainly win more because of the collection of talent Georgia has put around him.
2. Matt Corral - Ole Miss
There was no one more happy to see Lane Kiffin arrive in Oxford than Matt Corral. After being forced to the bench because of the previous staff's run-based scheme, Corral shined last year with Kiffin in charge. The Ole Miss QB was first in the nation in total offense, fifth in passing yards, and seventh in passing touchdowns. Losing WR Elijah Moore will hurt, but expect big things from Jerrion Ealy who will line up at running back and wide receiver in Kiffin's wide open attack. Georgia native Braylon Sanders is finally healthy and should make an impact. Corral should put up huge numbers... especially due to the struggles of the Ole Miss defense, but that same defense could keep him out of any realistic Heisman Trophy talk.
3. Will Rogers - Mississippi State
Bulldogs Coach Mike Leach said in the spring that the quarterback position was "wide open". It's hard not to think that Rogers will be guy after what he showed at the end of last season. Rogers led the NCAA in completions in the month of November last year. Key to his development this year will be the play of his offensive line and the state run game. The offensive line gave up 34 sacks last year, an SEC high. Only two starters return up front. The run game has to improve, defenses last year were dropping 8 in coverage due to State's lack of interest in running the ball. Leach has to help his young QB out a little with better line play and some semblance of a run game.
4. Bo Nix - Auburn
Bo Nix, meet Mike Bobo. The former UGA QB takes over as the offensive coordinator at Auburn. Task number one is to "fix" whatever is going on with the former prep phenom and the son of a former Auburn great. There are still questions around the Auburn program on whether or not Nix is the guy. The rumor circulating back in the spring was that Nix had been asked to forget everything he knows, with Bobo and new Head Coach Bryan Harsin retraining him. There have also been question marks about Nix's willingness to accept coaching. Bobo can coach quarterbacks, but Nix has to be willing to accept it. Regardless Auburn still has a problem on the offensive line they has got to be fixed and the Tigers are really young at wide receiver. Expect some bumps early, especially with Penn State looming in mid-September. If Bobo can work his magic with Nix, the talent is there for Nix to be in the conversation with the best quarterbacks in the league.
5. Conner Bazelak - Missouri
Bazelak was the SEC's Co-Freshman of the Year in 2020. He passed for over 2,300 yards with seven touchdowns against six interceptions. The majority of the season Bazelak was average at best. Much like his Missouri teammates he struggled to put four quarters together. Bazelak should be the benefactor of four returning senior starters on the offensive line in his second year under center. Missouri worked the transfer portal to improve their speed and overall athleticism on the outside, and that should benefit him as well. Those two factors should help Bazelak trend upwards in 2021.
6. Ken Seals - Vanderbilt
Seals probably deserves better than to be pegged sixth on this list, but someone has to be last. Seals is a good football player, but one who makes too many mistakes at times and gets a little careless with the ball. He threw 10 interceptions last year in fewer than 190 attempts, but he did show some accuracy by completing nearly 65% of his throws. If he can be better about taking care of the ball this year, Seals can turn in another solid, albeit unspectacular, season. He'll have to do it with an offensive line that has to replace three starters up front. Vanderbilt never had a real identity on offense under Derrick Mason, we'll see if the new defensive minded Head Coach Clark Lea can add some life to the Commodore "O".