Auburn Football: Pre-Spring SEC Quarterback Power Rankings

Nicholas Ian Allen

Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee (left) high-fives quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) after a touchdown as head coach Gus Malzahn celebrates in the background against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to the Auburn football season, we explore how Tigers QB Jeremy Johnson stacks up in our pre-spring practice SEC quarterback power rankings.

Though it doesn’t look like it because of all the winter weather that’s hit many campuses across the Southeastern Conference, spring is just around the corner. In fact, one team in the SEC – Vanderbilt – has already begun spring football practice.

Across the league,the other 13 teams are in the final stages of winter workouts and have both eyes squarely fixed on the spring practice calendar. Five head coaches welcome back full-time starting quarterbacks, while a handful have players that shared the role. Of course, a few must find a completely new signal caller to replace a graduated veteran.

The Auburn football team is scheduled to begin spring drills on Tuesday March 10, and will spend the better part of five weeks preparing for the A-Day game on April 18, as well as the 2015 football season. The Tigers must replace quite a few starters from last season’s 8-5 squad, especially on the offensive side of the football.

Obviously, one of the most important objectives is finding a new starting quarterback to replace outgoing starter Nick Marshall. Rising junior Jeremy Johnson has the inside track for his experience as Marshall’s top backup in both 2013 and 2014, as well as his off the charts potential. But how does Johnson stack up to the other signal callers in the SEC?

Our pre-spring practice SEC quarterback power rankings take an early look at the most important position on the football field.

Next: 14. Vanderbilt

Nov 29, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Patton Robinette (4) reacts after a turnover on downs on the last possession of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Volunteers won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

It should come as no shock that the Vanderbilt Commodores come in last in our pre-spring SEC quarterback power rankings. The 3-9 Commodores were awful last season, especially at quarterback and the biggest issue was the merry-go-round nature of the position in head coach Derek Mason’s first season. Four players started games and combined to complete 180 of 357 passing attempts (50.4%) for 2,149 yards, 13 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Patton Robinette earned the start in the season opener against Temple, but was replaced by LSU transfer Stephen Rivers. Robinette was the most consistent passer for the Commodores – he completed 64.2% of his passes – but suffered through injuries and Mason’s quarterback carousel and did not play in five games. A rising junior, Robinette regained the starting job for the season finale against Tennessee, which could give him the inside track this spring.

Johnny McCrary was the team’s leading passer with 985 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. The sophomore is the most athletic of the bunch, though that didn’t translate to big yards on the ground in 2014. McCrary had just 39 rushing yards on 22 carries last season. He’s got more upside than Robinette, but is also less consistent.

Wade Freebeck also spent time as the starting QB last season, and will be in the mix. True freshman Kyle Shurmur or redshirt freshman Shawn Stankavage could also make their case. Rivers has transferred.

Next: 13. South Carolina

Oct 18, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Connor Mitch (6) scrambles for yardage as Furman Paladins linebacker Cory Magwood (46) pursues in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The least experienced group of quarterbacks in the SEC belongs to the South Carolina Gamecocks, whose leading returning passer is wide receiver Pharoh Cooper. Graduated senior Dylan Thompson completed 270 of 451 passes for 3,564 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2014, while Cooper was 5-for-8 for 78 yards and two TDs on trick plays and as a Wildcat QB.

You might have expected head coach Steve Spurrier to give one of his backups a little more playing time last season in order to prepare for the future. But, with the Gamecocks struggling all season to win games and become bowl eligible, Spurrier relied on his fifth-year senior instead.

The leading returning quarterback is rising sophomore Connor Mitch, who attempted only six passes, of which he completed two for 19 yards, and saw action in just two games. Mitch, a 6-foot-3, 211-pound signal caller from Raleigh, North Carolina, has the inside track for the position but will compete with Perry Orth and Michael Scarnecchia, as well as true freshman Lorenzo Nunez.

Next: 12. Georgia

Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Brice Ramsey (12) goes under center during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Georgia won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, Georgia head coach Mark Richt made a concentrated effort to get his backup quarterback playing time in 2014. With fifth-year senior starter Hutson Mason atop the depth chart, the Bulldogs completed 217 of 322 passes (67.4%) last year for 2,599 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. And while Mason was responsible for 83.4% of the passing yards, backup Brice Ramsey had 333 yards and three touchdowns.

As a redshirt freshman, Ramsey played in six games. He completed 24 of 39 passing attempts, and not only in mop up duty. Ramsey was inserted into series throughout the season and saw extended playing time in the Belk Bowl against Louisville because of an injury to Mason.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound pocket passer was just 4-for-9 for 51 yards with an interception against the Cardinals, but the experience gives him some momentum heading into spring practice where he will compete with junior Faton Bauta and redshirt freshman Jacob Park for the starting role.

Georgia ranks low on this list now primarily due to a lack of big game experience. However, Ramsey is quite talented and could emerge as one of the better QBs in the SEC in 2015.

Next: 11. Ole Miss

Nov 2, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Chad Kelly (11) runs with the ball past Virginia Cavaliers defensive tackle Donte Wilkins (93) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium. The Tigers won 59-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In a case of good news/bad news, Bo Wallace is no longer the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels. It’s bad news because Wallace was a three-year starter in Oxford who leaves as the program’s all-time leader in total offense, which is no small feat since Wallace passed Eli Manning for the record.

However, “Dr. Bo” always seemed to play on the brink of disaster and earned a reputation (as well as the Good Bo/Bad Bo moniker) for untimely turnovers that held Ole Miss back from greatness.

Looking ahead to 2015, the Rebels must replace Wallace with either former Clemson starer and junior college transfer Chad Kelly or one of Wallace’s backups from last season, DeVante Kincade or Ryan Buchanan.

Despite some off-field issues that make Kelly a candidate to “embarrass” Ole Miss at some point in the future, Kelly has the inside track because of his experience at both Clemson and as the JUCO national championship QB at East Mississippi Community College – where he threw for 3,906 yards and 47 touchdowns and added 446 rushing yards and four more scores in 2014.

According to Alex Scarborough of ESPN, “If Chad Kelly plays well, the Rebs could compete for a national championship.”

However, for Kelly to earn the opportunity to start and lead the Rebels to a successful season, he’ll need to 1. Stay out of trouble, and 2. Beat out Kincade and Buchanan – a pair of talented sophomores that combined to complete 28 of 42 passing attempts for 202 yards with a touchdown (Kincade) and an interception (Buchanan) last season.

Next: 10. Florida

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) throws during the fourth quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated Florida Gators 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

As we know, the Florida Gators have struggled on offense and quarterback over the past few seasons. In fact, it’s the primary reason Will Muschamp is now the defensive coordinator for the Auburn football team and not still head coach in Gainesville. However, the Gators do have quite a bit of talent on offense, including signal callers Treon Harris and Will Grier, who will compete to become the starting quarterback for new head man Jim McElwain.

Harris emerged as the starter in the second half of the 2014 season, replacing Jeff Driskel who has since transferred to Louisiana Tech. As a true freshman, Harris finished with 1,019 passing yards on 55-for-111 passing (49.6%), with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound dual-threat has explosive playmaking ability with the ball in his hands and added 332 yards and three scores on the ground as well.

However, McElwain has a long history as an of working with pro-style quarterbacks as the offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008-2011 and as the head coach at Colorado State the last three seasons. That means former blue-chipper Will Grier might have a shot to supplant Harris in 2015.

Grier redshirted last season after losing the backup role to Harris in the pre-season, but at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and with a very strong arm, the former Mr. Football USA will have a chance to take advantage of the coaching change. If he does, expect Harris to move to wide receiver.

Next: 9. LSU

Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Anthony Jennings (10) scrambles for a short gain during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU Tigers have two talented quarterbacks capable of putting up solid numbers and leading the team to the SEC title. But the reason they are ranked No. 9 on our pre-spring quarterback power rankings is that neither one has played up to his ability as the starter for the Tigers.

Anthony Jennings started the first five games last season and led the Tigers to a 4-1 record to begin the season, but his overall shaky performance – including a 2-for-5 night against New Mexico State in which he threw for only 11 yards and two interceptions – led head coach Les Miles to start true freshman Brandon Harris in Game 6 against Auburn.

Harris responded by completing three of 14 (21.4%) of his passes in Jordan-Hare Stadium in a 41-7 loss. The next week, Jennings was back atop the depth chart, where he stayed for the next seven games, and Harris attempted only one more pass the rest of the season.

Still, Anthony Jennings completed only 111 of his 227 (48.9%) of his passing attempts in 2014 for 1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He and the more talented Harris will compete this spring and next fall for the starting quarterback position. Don’t be shocked if Harris wins the job, but he’s the underdog heading into spring practice.

Next: 8. Kentucky

Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Patrick Towles (14) looks to pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter at Papa John

A lot of people expected Drew Barker, the highly touted 2014 recruit and incoming freshman quarterback, to emerge as Kentucky’s starter last season – if not by Game 1, at least later in the year. However, Patrick Towles not only won the job, he played well enough as a sophomore that head coach Mark Stoops opted to redshirt Barker.

Towles led the Wildcats to a surprising 5-1 start to the season in which he completed 120 of 192 passing attempts (62.5%) for 1,541 yards, ten touchdowns and four interceptions. The 6-foot-5, 238-pound signal caller also scored twice on the ground and spiked the hopes of the Big Blue Nation that Kentucky could make it to a bowl game just one year after stumbling to a 2-10 record.

However, Towles and the Wildcats didn’t win another game. Outside of a heroic performance in a 45-31 loss to No. 1 Mississippi State in which he threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns without a pick and rand for 76 yards and two scores, Towles slumped in the second half. In the other five contests, the Fort Thomas, Kentucky native was 81-for-157 (51.6%) for 787 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions.

The season proved that Towles has great promise, and he’s likely to beat out Barker and Reese Phillips again in 2015. The question is whether or not he’ll be able to help Kentucky finally snap a four-year bowl drought.

Next: 7. Arkansas

Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) looks to pass during the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most underrated players in the SEC is Arkansas starting quarterback Brandon Alen. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Fayetteville, Arkansas native quietly put together a solid junior season in which he completed 190 of 339 passing attempts (56%) for 2,285 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

The performance, in addition to one of the league’s best rushing attacks and a very good defense, helped the Hogs catch fire in the second half of 2014 to sub four of their last six games, including a 31-7 victory over Texas in the Texas Bowl, with the losses coming to a Mississippi State squad ranked No. 1 in the nation and SEC East champs Missouri.

Allen enters 2015 as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the SEC, and he is the unquestioned starter and a team leader. He’ll also be able to rely on two 1,100-yard running backs in Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams again next season as well as one of the nation’s top tight ends in Hunter Henry and the team’s leading receiver from last year, Keon Hatcher. That combination makes the Razorbacks a very dangerous team next season and a trendy pick to begin the year ranked in the top 25, if not the top ten.

Rising sophomore Austin Allen will serve as his brother’s primary backup, though talented redshirt freshman Rafe Peavey may be the quarterback of the future.

Next: 6. Alabama

Sep 20, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen talks to quarterback Jake Coker (14) during the game against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Fairly or not, Jake Coker brought a lot of attention to himself after he decided to transfer from Florida State in an attempt to get out from beneath the shadow of Heisman Trophy winner and future NFL first rounder Jameis Winston. Unfortunately for Coker, all that attention didn’t help him win the starting quarterback spot at Alabama.

As a junior last year, Coker completed a solid 64.4% of his 59 passing attempts for 403 yards, four TDs and did not throw a pick. However, after splitting some time early in the season, Coker fell off in the on-going competition with Blake Sims.

Sims started every game in 2014 for the Crimson Tide and had a terrific senior season. He completed 252 of his 391 passing attempts (64.5%) for 3,487 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sims was also the team’s third leading rusher with 350 yards on the ground and seven more scores.

Now the most experienced signal caller on the roster, Coker again has a chance to take the reins of the Alabama offense, and this time he should capitalize. Like 2014, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Mobile native won’t be handed the role and he’ll have to beat our Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and Blake Barnett, but the fact of the matter is that Coker is one of the most talented players in the SEC.

If all goes well with offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin calling the plays for the second year in a row, Coker could have a huge season.

Next: 5. Texas A&M

Nov 27, 2014; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen (10) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 football season was a strange one for Texas A&M. The Aggies entered ranked 21st in the nation, and most pre-season analysts (myself included) thought it was a bit high for a team that had to replace some of the most productive players in school history – most notably Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and fellow first round draft picks Mike Evans and Jake Matthews.

However, A&M blasted a top ten ranked South Carolina squad 52-28 on the road in the season opener, and starting quarterback Kenny Hill emerged as the early Heisman favorite. The Aggies started the season 5-0 and rose to No. 6 in the AP Top 25, and those analysts looked silly.

However, a three-game losing streak led to Hill (who at the time led the SEC in passing) to lose not only his position in the Heisman race, but also as the team’s starting quarterback. True freshman Kyle Allen snapped the losing streak with an underwhelming 21-16 win over UL-Monroe, but led Texas A&M to a 41-38 upset victory over No. 3 Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium the following week.

With Allen starting the rest of the season, the Aggies lost to Missouri and LSU, but beat West Virginia 45-37 in the Liberty Bowl. The Arizona native finished the season with 1,322 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but Allen’s emergence as the starter (and a two-game suspension and later decision to transfer for Hill) means Allen is the clear favorite to start in 2015. A former five-star recruit, Allen will still have to compete and blue-chipper Kyler Murray poses the biggest threat.

Next: 4. Tennessee

Nov 29, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Josh Dobbs (11) runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs didn’t even play in the team’s first seven games. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Georgia native sat behind starter Justin Worley, and planned on redshirting.

However, with Worley injured, Vols head coach Buth Jones inserted Dobbs into the game against Alabama on October 25 and Dobbs responded with 192 passing yards and two touchdowns as well as 75 yards on the ground. The next week in his first start against South Carolina, Dobbs threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns and had 166 rushing yards and three more TDs.

He started the rest of the season and now enters 2015 as one of the best signal callers in the SEC and even among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy.

As a sophomore last year, Dobbs completed 112 of his 177 passing attempts (63.3%) for 1,206 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. A dual threat, he had 469 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground.

Dobbs will need to improve his decision making as a passer, but the sky’s the limit for him – literally. He’s an aerospace engineering major. Get it? (Don’t tell me you’ve already heard that joke).

With Dobbs firmly entrenched as the starter, the Vols lost Nathan Peterman to transfer, which leaves redshirt freshman Devin Smith and incoming freshmen Jauan Jennings and Quinten Dormady as the only QBs on the roster, so keeping Dobbs healthy is priority No. 1 for the Vols in 2015.

Next: 3. Missouri

Jan 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk (7) drops back to pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first quarter of the 2015 Citrus Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Maty Mauk suffered through the ups and downs of what many might call a “sophomore slump.” Following a freshman season in which he completed 68 of 133 passes for 1,071 yards, 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions, Mauk entered 2014 as one of the SEC’s rising stars.

In the first four games of the season against South Dakota State, Toledo, UCF and Indiana, he looked the part with 978 yards, 14 touchdowns and a 61.6% completion percentage. But when the level of competition increased against South Carolina, Georgia and Florida the following three weeks, Mauk was dreadful.

The 6-foot, 200-pound signal caller completed only 37% of his passes in those three games for 249 yards without a touchdown and was intercepted five times. Despite Missouri defeating the Gators 42-13 in The Swamp, Mauk completed only six of 20 passes for 18 yards.

However, Mauk largely regained form in the second half of the season to finish with 2,648 yards on 221-for-414 passing with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He added 229 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries and thanks to one of the league’s best defenses, led Mizzou to the SEC East title.

Because of his winning ways and the lack of a major threat from the rest of the depth chart, Mauk will be the starting quarterback in Columbia as long as he’s healthy. Because of his experience and potential, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC.

Next: 2. Auburn

Oct 26, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) drops back to pass against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The Auburn Tigers will be without two-year starting quarterback Nick Marshall, who leaves second in the Auburn football record books in rushing yards by a quarterback and is the single-game record holder for passing yards with 456. Marshall amassed 3,346 total yards and 31 touchdowns in 2014.

But, as good as Marshall was for the Tigers, Jeremy Johnson has a chance to be even better. Maybe even much better.

Johnson started the 2014 season opener (his third career start) and completed 12 of 16 first half passing attempts for 243 yards and two TDs. The rising junior had only 12 more passing attempts over the course of the season, but at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and with a strong right arm, he’s got NFL prototype written all over him.

Expect head coach Gus Malzahn to turn Johnson loose in his first season as the full-time starter and put up big numbers for the Tigers. If he wins the job that is –according to the Auburn football coaching staff, Johnson isn’t the starter just yet.

Redshirt freshman Sean White was the MVP of the Under All-American Game in 2014 and will compete with Johnson this spring. White hould provide a solid option as a backup. JUCO transfer Jason Smith will begin his Auburn football career as a quarterback, but would probably get on the field quicker if he moved to wide receiver.

Next: 1. Mississippi State

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first quarter in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Last but certainly not least, the near unanimous selection for top SEC quarterback is Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott. As one of only five full-time 2014 starters returning next season, Prescott would have a pretty good shot at the top spot even if he wasn’t a great player. Add the fact that he spent a large portion of last year as the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and he’s a lock.

As a junior in his first full season as the starting QB for the Bulldogs, Prescott was 244-for-396 passing (61.6%) for 3,449 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He fell just 14 yards short of 1,000 rushing yards and led the team with 14 rushing touchdowns.

More importantly, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound signal caller led MSU to a 9-0 record to begin the season, including wins over three consecutive teams ranked in the nation’s top ten and the first No. 1 ranking in school history. With Prescott pulling the strings, Mississippi State ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing (280.7 yards per game), rushing (233.1 yards per game) and scoring (36.9 points per game).

However, Prescott and the Bulldogs stumbled down the stretch and lost three of their last four games. Those losses – particularly a 25-20 loss to Alabama in which Prescott tossed three interceptions – kept Dak Prescott from New York and the Heisman ceremony.

After considering an early jump to the NFL, Prescott will instead return to Starkville in 2015 to make a push for the award and another historic season for the Bulldogs. Should something happen to Prescott, head coach Dan Mullen will turn to rising junior Damian Williams or redshirt freshman Nick Fitzgerald.

Next: Did Auburn Player Help or Hurt Themselves at the NFL Combine?

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Nicholas Ian Allen