The 2019 college football season is upon us, and SQSports will be breaking down various college football questions and bringing you many different position and conference power rankings.

We start by breaking down the projected 14 starting quarterbacks for the 2019 season in the SEC.

14 – Riley Neal, Vanderbilt

2018 Stats (at Ball State): 9 G, 57.9 CMP%, 1917 YDS, 11 TD, 4 INT

86 carries, 357 YDS, 5 TD

A three-year starter at Ball State, Neal was 9-22 in his 31 starts for the Cardinals. He is the top candidate to replace three-year starter Kyle Shurmur. The graduate transfer is not a typically gunslinger, but he avoids turnovers (49/1 attempt/INT ratio). Neal has solid mobility and ran for over 1300 yards in his 34 games at Ball State.

A Vandy offense that put up over 28 PPG last season brings back RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn as well as Jared Pinkney and Kalija Lipscomb on the outside. Neal will be tasked with getting the ball into these playmakers hands, and it is something I do not doubt he can do. With that being said, the Indiana native did not carve up defenses in the MAC which makes me weary how he will fare in the toughest conference in America. In six starts against power five teams Neal is 96-for-192 (50%) with 5 TD and 4 INT while averaging 170 yards through the air and 40 yards on the ground.

13 – Terry Wilson, Kentucky

2018 Stats: 13 G, 67.2 CMP%, 1889 YDS, 11 TD, 8 INT

135 carries, 547 YDS, 4 TD

First year starter Terry Wilson helped Kentucky win ten games for the first time since 1977, so you might be wondering, why is he so low on this list? Well the Wildcats were led by standout running back Benny Snell and a defense that gave up just 16.8 PPG. With that being said, the dual-threat QB did his job and embraced his role, however, if the Wildcats want to come even close to replicate the success they had in 2018 Wilson must take a big leap.

Mark Stoops made this offense easy for the young QB, setting him up with short throws and wide open play action passes set up by Snell. Wilson will need to take a major jump as a passer for an offense that averaged just 18.8 PPG in conference games last season. His legs add a huge dimension to his game, but if the air raid does not improve defenses will stack the box against Wilson.

12 – Bo Nix, Auburn

2018 Stats (in HS): 3496 YDS, 48 TD

351 YDS, 6 TD

Bo Nix will be in a heated quarterback competition late into fall camp with redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood, but for sake of argument, I have given the nod to Nix. Nix, the number one dual-threat QB in the class of 2019 and the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season, has tremendous talent, maybe the most talent Auburn has seen at the position since a guy named Cam Newton.

ESPN writes, “athletic QB who moves well in confined spaces. Ability to change arm angles & deliver in obstructed lanes. Throws very well off balance/platform.” Nix finished his tremendous high school career with over 10,000 yards through the air, 2,000 yards on the ground, and 161 total touchdowns. This Auburn fanbase as been disgruntled with Guz Malzahn, and although Nix will struggle against one of the countries toughest schedules, I believe throwing him into the fire is the best way to ensure longterm success with a possible future NFL quarterback.

11 – Keytaon Thompson, Mississippi State

2018 Stats: 6 G, 46.2 CMP%, 458 YDS, 6 TD, 1 INT

24 carries, 226 YDS, 4 TD

With Nick Fitzgerald gone, Keytaon Thompson, a true junior, will have the opportunity to seize this Joe Moorhead offense over the next two seasons. Moorhead was the Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at Penn State in 2016/17 when the very mobile Trace McSorley proved he can sling the rock with the best of ’em. If Thompson can stay healthy, I believe the fifth ranked dual-threat QB in the 2017 class will show that he is a capable passer, and paired with a mind like Moorhead, he could give SEC defenses some trouble.

Thompson has appeared in 16 games over his two seasons in Starkville, mostly in low-pressure, end of game situations. Though his accuracy must improve, Thompson has a great arm and is not afraid to throw the deep ball. Not to mention he has held onto the ball well, in limited action. If he can become even just a consistent passer, Thompson has the chance to be a sneaky good QB in this conference.

10 – Ben Hicks, Arkansas

2018 Stats (at SMU): 12 G, 55.9 CMP%, 2582 YDS, 19 TD, 7 INT

45 carries, -68 YDS

Ben Hicks, the graduate transfer from SMU, is the projected signal caller in Fayetteville when the season rolls around. He will have to hold off former Texas A&M QB Nick Starkel, but Starkel will not report until fall camp, giving Hicks a leg up in the competition.

Hicks was an above average quarterback in the American conference. In his three seasons as starer for the Mustangs he averaged 245 YDS per game while throwing for 71 touchdowns compared to 34 interceptions. Because he did not dominate in the American, it scares me how well he will fair in the SEC. However, he is a strong pocket passer, and when given the time, can read defenses and thread the needle. Hicks and the Razorbacks have an easy start to the season, hosting three mid-majors while also traveling to Oxford. Hicks must carve up these early opponents and lead his team to three or four wins, because if not, he could immediately be on the hot seat.

9 – Matt Corral, Ole Miss

2018 Stats: 4 G, 72.7 CMP%, 239 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

13 carries, 83 YDS, 2 TD

I am very high on Matt Corral, the former Florida Gator commit and the number four ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Corral throws one of the prettiest spirals you will see in college football. He is cool, calm, and collected, playing the position with an ease that it sometimes looks like he is not even trying. Corral backed up Jordan Ta’amu as a true freshman last season, appearing in mop up roles in four contests.

With all that being said, the Rebels lost over 3000 yards of receiving from the 2018 team, and will be very young at the receiver position this upcoming season. I do believe that will limit with this offense, and ultimately Corral, will be able to do in his first season as the starer. However I do believe he will show major flashes of star potential, and though Ole Miss will finish around the .500 mark, I believe they have a chance to pull off an upset against a bigger dog in the SEC.

8 – Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee

2018 Stats: 12 G, 62.2 CMP%, 1907 YDS, 12 TD, 3 INT

40 carries, -94 YDS

Jarrett Guarantano may be one of the more underrated quarterbacks in this conference. In his first year as the helm for the Vols Guarantano showed consistency in the pocket and solid decision making for a first-year starter. He did not stretch the field very often, and did not take many risks, which led to the low INT total. In 2019 Jeremy Pruitt must open up the offense and allow Guarantano to take shots down the field if they want to compete in the toughest conference in America.

Tennessee is bringing back their top four receivers and top two running backs from the 2018 season. Pair that with a strong offensive line as well as the twelfth ranked recruiting class in the 2019 cycle and Tennessee has a very good chance to have their first winning season since 2016. Many believe Guarantano will take a big leap in 2019, and I would not be surprised if that happens. At 6 foot 4, 210 LBS, Guarantano has the frame to succeed in the SEC, now it just comes down to the growth in the film room and competence of the offense.

7 – Joe Burrow, LSU

2018 Stats: 13 G, 57.8 CMP%, 2894 YDS, 16 TD, 5 INT

128 carries, 399 YDS, 7 TD

The Ohio State transfer took over the reigns of the LSU offense in his first season in the Bayou and provided stability at the quarterback position that the Tigers haven’t seen in nearly a decade. Burrow is tough, smart, and knows how to gut out wins. Though not known as the best passer, he does not need to be as the LSU offense is tailored to the power run game. Burrow averaged just 7.6 yards per attempt last season, but this was because he was not asked to sling the ball deep. However, he showed that he can be that guy later on in the season as his only two 300+YDS passing games came in the last three weeks of the season.

LSU has high hopes for 2019 and will likely be a top-ten ranked team coming into the season. We all know how stifling their defense has been, especially under Coach Ed Orgeron. It will be up to the offense, and Burrow, to get this team over the hump and into the College Football Playoff picture. Burrow will have his favorite target, Justin Jefferson, back in the mix and as a fifth-year senior, I expect him to leave it all on the line for the Tigers.

6 – Jake Bentley, South Carolina

2018 Stats: 13 G, 61.9 CMP%, 3171 YDS, 27 TD, 14 INT

65 carries, 78 YDS, 2 TD

Jake Bentley has one of the better arms in this conference, and he looks and conducts himself like a future pro would. He was thrown into the fire in 2016, his freshman season, and has figured things out on the fly under Coach Will Muschamp. Bentley has steadily progressed over his three seasons in Columbia, and after a junior season where he threw for over 3000 yards and 27 touchdowns, I believe he is poised for a terrific senior season.

Bentley, like previously stated, has a heck of an arm and can make all the throws in the book. Though he is not a runner, he moves around the pocket well and picks up first downs when he sees an open lane. Bentley lost his number one target in Deebo Samuel, but the Gamecocks bring back Bryan Edwards and Shi Smith who combined for 100 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2018. Bentley is in prime position to lead the Cocks to an 8 or 9 win season.

5 – Feleipe Franks, Florida

2018 Stats: 13 G, 58.4 CMP%, 2457 YDS, 24 TD, 6 INT

110 carries, 350 YDS, 7 TD

Feleipe Franks has been heavily criticized in his two starting seasons in Gainesville, but the jump he made from his sophomore season to his junior season has been staggering, and if he continues on the up-and-up he may finish higher on the list after the season. Franks accounted for 31 total touchdowns last season and led the Gators to their first double-digit win total since 2015.

Franks showed a massive improvement as a true quarterback last season. He massively cut down on his mistakes, showed the proclivity to throw a nice deep ball, and made plays with his feet when he needed to. His accuracy will never be that of a Jake Fromm or Tua Tagovailoa, but if he can hover right around that 60 percent mark Dan Mullen and company will be fine. If Franks improves on his 2018 campaign the Gators could be very sneaky in the SEC East.

4 – Kelly Bryant, Missouri

2018 Stats (at Clemson): 4 G, 66.7 CMP%, 461 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

30 carries, 130 YDS, 2 TD

Kelly Bryant’s career at Clemson was not what he expected it to be which led him to transfer to Missouri. After backing up DeShaun Watson for his first two seasons on campus, Bryant took over the keys to the offense in his junior season. That year he led the Tigers to a 12-2 record, throwing for 2800 yards and combining for 24 total touchdowns. However, number one recruit in the 2018 class Trevor Lawrence came in and took the job from him. Bryant preserved a year of eligibility by taking a redshirt, and will have on eligible year at Mizzou.

Bryant was the 13th ranked dual-threat QB in the 2015 recruiting cycle. When he has seen the field, he shows that he is a true duel-threat guy with blazing speed. Not only can he beat you with his legs, Bryant has a cannon of an arm. Though, he does lack the accuracy of an elite quarterback. I think he will excel in replacing Drew Lock while having a chip on his shoulder during his last season of college football. The rigors of an SEC schedule may catch up to Bryant and the Tigers, but I would not be surprised to see him put up very good numbers.

3 – Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

2018 Stats: 13 G, 57.3 CMP%, 3107 YDS, 24 TD, 9 INT

149 carries, 474 YDS, 7 TD

Kellen Mond took a major step in year two as the Aggies starting quarterback and will look to build on that as Texas A&M eyes the top of the SEC picture. Mond was the number three ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 class. He was immediately thrust into action as a freshman, and though a very capable runner, he struggled throwing the ball. As a sophomore the offense really opened up for Mond who improved his completion percentage by nearly six percent, and threw just two more interceptions on nearly double the pass attempts.

The question all A&M fans have is, can Mond take that next leap and give his team a chance against the Alabama and Georgia’s of the world? It all rides on how well he protects the ball and how dynamic of a playmaker he can be. The Aggies lost their workhorse running back Trayveon Williams which will put more pressure on Mond. Jimbo Fisher has been known to get the most out of his quarterbacks, and with matchups against Clemson, Auburn, and Alabama in the first six weeks, we will know early how this A&M season will fare.

2 – Jake Fromm, Georgia

2018 Stats: 14 G, 67.4 CMP%, 2761 YDS, 30 TD, 6 INT

41 carries, -27 YDS

Many believe this will be Jake Fromm’s last season in Athens as he is a projected top-ten pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In his two year career at Georgia Fromm has been absolutely dominant to say the least. They are 24-5 when he is at the helm. Fromm is very level-headed and consistent, something you need out of your quarterback if you want to be a national title contender. Last season he threw just six interceptions compared to 30 touchdowns. He protects the ball, and makes big plays when needed.

On a team with the talent level of Georgia, Fromm understands his role and knows he never has to do too much. They sport one of the best running back groups in the nation, as well as an o-line that has four future pros. One cause for concern, however: Fromm lost his top four pass catchers to the league. Yes, Georgia has a strong streamline of talent in the system but inexperienced wideouts never help a quarterback.

1 – Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

2018 Stats: 15 G, 69.0 CMP%, 3966 YDS, 43 TD, 6 INT

57 carries, 190 YDS, 5 TD

Tua Tagovailoa shined in his firsts season as the starter quarterback for Alabama. The Hawaiian native finished second in the Heisman race, and led the Tide to the National Championship, even after suffering a knee injury late in the season. This guy can make all the reads, and he has an accurate cannon on his left arm, which always helps.

Alabama is absolutely loaded at the wide receiver position, and in my opinion, has the undisputed top trio of receivers in the country in Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Jaylen Waddle. All three of this guys would be the number one guy at most other schools in the country. When you have who could be the number one pick in the 2020 NFL Draft throwing to the most talented receiving corps in the country, it is doggone tough to stop. Not to mention the bad taste Clemson left in their mouth.