Ranking every starting quarterback after spring practice

Spring takeaway: TBA

The word: Considering Diego Pavia — Vanderbilt’s probable starter — will arrive on campus later this summer, this grade is incomplete for now. He was New Mexico State’s star on offense last season and Commodores coach Clark Lea decided to bring along Pavia’s OC, Tim Beck, to Nashville as well. Utah transfer and dual-threat Nate Johnson showed flashes this spring with the first team, but was reportedly inconsistent with giveaways. Lea was mum on his quarterback situation exiting spring, but we expect Pavia to be the guy during fall camp with Johnson behind him or perhaps being a package player in certain situations.

Spring takeaway: There’s worry about weapons and depth.

The word: The Gamecocks didn’t show much offensively during their Garnet and Black spring game, whether by design or something worse — the team has yet to find playmakers outside of quarterback LaNorris Sellers. He was efficient in short duty with the first team, engineering a touchdown drive on his first series before finishing it off with his legs. Last season’s redshirt year behind Spencer Rattler was vital toward Sellers’ development considering he’s being thrust into a leadership role for 2024. Auburn transfer Robby Ashford and freshman Dante Reno are the guys behind him. With two more recent portal acquisitions at receiver, Shane Beamer’s doing all he can to ensure Sellers has reliable targets following the departures of Xavier Legette (2024 NFL Draft) and Juice Wells (Ole Miss).

Spring opinion: Hugh Freeze should’ve taken a transfer this cycle for added competition.

The word: Auburn’s quarterback competition will extend into fall camp ahead of the 2024 season, not exactly what Freeze had envisioned after several weeks of spring practice. Four signal-callers took reps in March and April — Thorne, Holden Geriner, Hank Brown and true freshman Walker White — with Thorne set as the probable returning starter. Thorne threw for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns with 10 interceptions last season without much of a wide receiver corps to speak of, although that’s changed this offseason. Auburn has added premium talent at the position in the portal and signed five-star freshman Cam Coleman to lead the bunch. Still, Freeze would’ve liked to have seen some separation under center this spring after not signing a transfer across two portal cycles.

Spring takeaway: Boise State transfer is cut above rest in Bobby Petrino’s quarterback room.

The word: Taylen Green assumed first-team duties quickly this spring for the Razorbacks, eventually chasing former UNC transfer Jacolby Criswell back to Chapel Hill during the spring portal window. It’s actually quite surprising how quickly Green has won over his teammates and he’s been a leader on campus since Day 1, according to Petrino, the Razorbacks’ new OC. Green’s performance this season hinges on offensive line play and who steps up at wide receiver. And ultimately, how he plays could determine Sam Pittman’s future as head coach.

Spring takeaway: Thus far, the Baylor transfer has passed the eye test with flying colors.

The word: First-year Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby has to be confident quarterback play will be a plus at Mississippi State this season with Blake Shapen handling his Air Raid philosophy. Shapen threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns — with only four incompletions in 22 attempts — in the first half of the spring game last month. He’s thrown for more than 5,000 yards in his college career and looks like a perfect fit for Lebby’s playbook. Shapen missed part of the 2023 season after a knee injury early and a concussion later in the campaign, but said in December he’s anxious to show what he’s got in Starkville with a clean bill of health. 

Spring takeaway: The Georgia transfer has made Kentucky’s first-team defense better by testing its limits.

The word: Given the talent in the Wildcats’ secondary and up front at the line of scrimmage, one would’ve expected Brock Vandagriff to struggle at times during his first spring practice in Lexington learning a new offense, but it didn’t happen. That speaks volumes to his development as a player after spending the last couple years in Athens as a depth option. Vandagriff avoided mistakes during the spring, challenged the back end of Kentucky’s defense and looks to be a difference-maker in new OC Bush Hamdan’s tempo-based scheme. Pace of play is going to look a lot different for the Wildcats this fall.

Spring takeaway: If new-look offensive line holds, the Sooners will be in business.

The word: Jackson Arnold gives Oklahoma’s offense a chance to be elite in the expanded SEC and his arm talent should be limitless in this passing game driven by Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley next fall. This team wanted to figure out its depth chart along the offensive front this spring and determine WR1 and early returns suggest both of those boxes were checked. Purdue transfer Deion Burks looks like a 1,000-yard, multi-touchdown threat at the second level if Arnold has time. He has the tools to be the next great passer for the Sooners as a former five-star.

Spring takeaway: Tigers’ passing game in good hands with experienced pocket passer.

The word: There’s no worry from those embedded in Baton Rouge coming out of spring as LSU transitions from three first-rounders exiting last year’s record-setting offense to Garrett Nussmeier and a new core of wideouts. The scheme will not change from a “nuts and bolts” standpoint despite Mike Denbrock’s exit to Notre Dame with Joe Sloan entering his third season with the program. Nussmeier would’ve started previously in his career at various other SEC schools had he not been playing behind an eventual Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick.

Spring takeaway: There’s a reason Conner Weigman is receiving 2025 NFL Draft first-round buzz.

The word: Texas A&M is going all-in offensively with Weigman at quarterback under first-year coach Mike Elko and those around the program believe this is one of the most underrated rosters in the country as a fringe top-25 squad. And yes, we’ve heard that before under the previous regime. Weigman had a spectacular start to the 2023 campaign before an injury sidelined him for much of his sophomore season. Weigman’s best attribute is his arm strength and there’s a couple targets downfield, namely Moose Muhammad III and Noah Thomas, capable of big seasons.

Spring takeaway: Graham Mertz was good enough this spring to hold off the future of the program.

The word: There were questions about Florida taking the Wisconsin transfer during the last portal cycle as an emergency of sorts at quarterback, but Mertz proved naysayers had no clue what they were talking about after a statistically-impressive campaign. He’s back to try and further develop as a possible 2025 NFL Draft pick ahead of freshman DJ Lagway, who flashed during the spring. Billy Napier has two quarterbacks he can win with this fall, which is vital considering he’s on one of the league’s hottest seats.

Spring takeaway: Is that a three-year starter manning the controls? No, it’s redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava.

The word: Nico Iamaleava only played four series in Tennessee’s spring game, but that was enough to shake off the rust with the rest of the first-team offense. There are big-time expectations for him this season, along with a supporting cast that includes a couple veteran wideouts and potential rising stars in the backfield. Luckily for the Vols, Iamaleava only played in four regular-season games last fall, preserving his redshirt. That may not matter if the 2024 season goes as planned at Tennessee and his draft stock soars during the 2025 campaign. The former five-star’s likely a three-and-out player in Knoxville.

Spring takeaway: Ask anyone around Missouri — this is Brady Cook’s team.

The word: One of college football’s most underrated signal-callers last fall, Cook didn’t get his due until he helped the Tigers topple Ohio State during bowl season to finish with 11 wins. His preferred playmakers return, including All-American candidate Luther Burden, and Missouri looks like it addressed potential worry in the backfield following the departure of Cody Schrader with portal help. For a guy who was once chastised by the fanbase in favor of another option during a previous quarterback competition, Cook’s made the most of his career at Missouri and looks to go out with a bang for a top-10 team.

Spring takeaway: Expect Alabama’s offense to cater to Jalen Milroe’s strengths in 2024. 

The word: If Kalen DeBoer intends on keeping the football in the hands of his best playmaker this season, Milroe should be seen as the Swiss Army Knife of sorts for this offense. He’s strong enough to absorb hits and we’re going to see that early as a ballcarrier. Milroe was able to maintain his first-team status during the spring despite a charge from Ty Simpson, but in practice, there’s only so much he can show. He’s at his best when live, evading pressure and extending plays with his legs. For DeBoer’s offense to work with this potential Heisman candidate at quarterback, he must allow for Milroe to run a bit more than we’ve seen from previous quarterbacks in recent years at Washington.

Spring takeaway: Jaxson Dart could ascend to top SEC quarterback billing with strong season.

The word: Wonder how many times Jaxson Dart actually hit the turf this spring … maybe once, and that was by accident? You saw the carnival of sorts at the Ole Miss spring game. Keeping him in bubble wrap was a necessity for a team that looks like a College Football Playoff threat under Lane Kiffin given last year’s success and what the Rebels have coming back around Dart on offense. He’s yet another extremely productive passer in a system that is a quarterback’s best friend. Dart’s biggest improvement last fall was seeing his average yards per attempt increase from 8.0 to 10.1. This will be a big-play, quick-hitting offense once again.

Spring takeaway: The Longhorns own college football’s top quarterback room.

The word: Few players nationally have more to build off of than Quinn Ewers, who directed the Longhorns to a semifinal appearance and was terrific down the stretch, including a career-noteworthy 452-yard, four-touchdown explosion against Oklahoma State. Ewers could be the first quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft if this trajectory keeps up and he’s got Arch Manning breathing down his neck if not.

Spring takeaway: Carson Beck is the SEC’s alpha at quarterback until he’s unseated.

The word: Beck would’ve likely benefited had Arizona State transfer Jaden Rashada arrived in time for spring practice, but it was a solid depth pickup for the Bulldogs nonetheless after seeing Vandagriff leave for another SEC school. Beck won the job last spring and has not looked back, utilizing his NFL-like skillset in a pro-style scheme. With 24 touchdown passes and a completion rate at 72.4%, Beck nearly eclipsed 4,000 yards through the air and saved many of his best games when it mattered most for the Bulldogs in 2023, including sparkling outings against then nationally-ranked Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee.