Let the (QB) battles commence!
by GEORGE SOMERVILLE,
The Touchdown’s SEC Correspondent
With Spring games behind us, we are now officially in the territory of quarterback battles for the starting jobs for week one.
Some battles are clearer cut than others but the SEC finds itself in a fascinating position this year.
While the typically dominant teams continue to be considered favourites – not just for the SEC Championship, but also the National Championship – this year those same teams are in the process of replacing quarterbacks who have moved on to the NFL.
But not every team has as a clear cut succession plan in place which leaves some serious question marks over the positions at Georgia, Alabama and LSU to name just three teams.
Let’s have a look at which quarterback battles to watch out for over the summer and into fall camps……
The race for Georgia
Athens, GA
Let’s start with the reigning National Champions, Georgia. This is a program which had its fair share of quarterback battles before settling on the enigma that is Stetson Bennett IV.
I say enigma because, even though Bennett is a back to back National Champion, he continues to divide opinion. Even after being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. Notwithstanding public opinion, whoever replaces Bennett has big shoes to fill.
Carson Beck appears the current favourite to start under center when fall camp begins. But remember, we said this about Jamie Newman and JT Daniels and look what happened. So nothing is taken for granted in Athens, with Kirby Smart more than willing to see all his quarterbacks take off the gloves to duke it out.
With Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton hovering over his shoulder the pressure is on Beck. However his 211 yards in UGA’s G-Day game leading the first team offense will have helped calm any nerves.
It remains to be seen what a Georgia offense will look like post offensive co-ordinator Todd Monken’s departure for the NFL. But a familiar face has arrived back in Athens, with Mike Bobo taking up the reins. Notwithstanding this, Bobo’s return is likely to signal an offense with a heavier run game, although this is by no means a certainty at this moment. This could be beneficial for Beck, giving him a little more time to settle in to the system.
And time is what Kirby Smart and Georgia needs at the start of this new season. No team has ever won three consecutive National Championships before, so the pressure is on Georgia from the get go.
Beck has been waiting in the wings for his chance and his time is now. Beck considered transferring out last year but elected to sit tight. Should he lead the Dawgs to that elusive third title, the wait will be more than worth it.
#GoDawgs
The irish influence
— Tyler Buchner (@tylerbuchner) April 27, 2023
Tuscaloosa, AL.
Perhaps the school with the biggest need, or perhaps the greatest pressure to find a quarterback, is the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Firstly, how do you replace Bryce Young? But actually Young replaced Mac Jones who replaced Tua Tagovailoa who replaced Jalen Hurts. See where I’m going with this?
Many commentators fear that the Bama quarterback conveyor belt has slowed to a halt, with no obvious heir apparent ready to fill Young’s shoes. Jalen Milroe made appearances last year, especially when Young was injured, however did not set the heather on fire with his form.
Milroe’s performance in Alabama’s A-Day Spring game did little to calm the Crimson Tide faithful’s nerves. But Milroe is a top 100 prospect. Ty Simpson is also a 5 star recruit with 4 star recruits Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan making up a star studded QB room in Tuscaloosa. The quality of which should really please Alabama fans.
However, the transfer from Notre Dame of Tyler Buchner to Alabama has raised some eyebrows. The offensive identity and scheme under new co-ordinator Tommy Rees isn’t obvious at this moment in time. So bringing in Buchner from the Irish – where Rees also came from – signals a new era in Tuscaloosa. Buchner took snaps last year for the Irish, however when it became obvious that Sam Hartman was transferring into South Bend, Buchner elected to transfer out. Rees’ move to Alabama was timely for Buchner.
This feels like one of the more intriguing quarterback battles to follow over the summer.
#RollTide
the battle of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA
If there is pressure in Tuscaloosa there is as much if not more down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The speed at which Brian Kelly righted the Tigers’ ship last season surprised many and perhaps even Kelly himself. An SEC West title in his first season has got LSU fans in a tiz. You see, if you aren’t a Tigers fan then you don’t understand the overwhelming expectation for LSU to be top dogs. And I don’t mean SEC West Champions.
There was a collective sigh of relief when Garrett Nussmeier chose not to transfer out after the spring game. With the addition of Jayden Daniels last season from Arizona State, there was a suggestion that Nussmeier might not fancy the challenge of wrestling the starting job from Daniels.
However, with the transfer of Walker Howard to Ole Miss, Nussmeier moving on would have created a huge hole with only freshman Rickie Collins behind Daniels on the roster.
So the question is, can Nussmeier grab the starting job? Well, Daniels did enough last season to hold on to the starting job. He held off the competition from Max Johnson and Myles Brennan to guide the Tigers to the top of the SEC West. Nussmeier did get games and showed enough to let us know that he could be a QB1 in his own right. Nussmeier stepped in when Daniels’ health suffered and this is the most likely scenario should Nussmeier get an extended run in the team. Daniels is a running QB which will take a physical toll throughout the season in the SEC. So having a ready to go/step in QB is a luxury many teams can’t afford. But the Tigers can.
So if you thought the contest in Tuscaloosa was worth watching then settle down with the popcorn for the Battle of Baton Rouge.
#GeauxTigers
Dart-ing forward
Oxford, MS
Last season the Ole Miss Rebels replaced Matt Corral with Jaxson Dart. Taking over from Corral – which was never going to be easy, Dart threw for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdown’s with a QB rating of 72.9 – which should be considered a successful transition.
Yet head coach Lane Kiffin likes to shake things up, and has brought in Spencer Sanders from Oklahoma State and Walker Howard from LSU. While Sanders was limited by injury last season, he led the BIG XII with 3,507 total yards (2,839 passing and 668 rushing) the year before, demonstrating how good a talent he can be. Walker Howard redshirted his first season in Baton Rouge, but does arrive as a five star recruit.
With Luke Altmyer transferring out of Oxford, there was a need for depth in the QB room and Kiffin has achieved real depth. Which makes the competition this summer fascinating.
Speaking to ESPN after the Rebels Spring game, Kiffin talked about the QB position.
“I just see it being very competitive,” Kiffin said.
“To have two returning starting quarterbacks and a very high-profile recruit in there that redshirted last year is really good,” he said, “and a lot different than once Luke Altmyer decided to transfer.”
“But we have a long time, spring and fall, to figure it out and let guys play.”
As Kiffin says, there’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge before September 3rd in the season opener against Troy.
As we have seen across the four schools covered, the recurring theme is that quarterback competition is going to be fierce but fascinating.
#HottyToddy
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
A GLASWEGIAN LIVING IN LONDON, GEORGE IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAN WHO FOLLOWS THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE. HE PROVIDES CFB CONTENT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN AND IS ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST.