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Outside of Dak Prescott, the Southeastern Conference will be seriously lacking some star power at the quarterback position heading into the season. With so few players returning with any significant experience, jobs are open to competition all around the league.
With that in mind, here are the players most likely to open the season as starters for each and every team in the SEC:
Unquestioned starters:
Dak Prescott - Mississippi State Bulldogs, Brandon Allen - Arkansas Razorbacks, Joshua Dobbs - Tennessee Volunteers
These three have no competition for their jobs and are viewed as leaders of their teams. While all three have no pressure to win the job, all three will be expected to raise their level of play if their teams are to reach new heights this season. So a certain degree of pressure comes not from competition, but from raised expectations for each and every one of them.
Holding strong:
Maty Mauk - Missouri Tigers, Jeremy Johnson - Auburn Tigers, Kyle Allen - Texas A&M Aggies
Seeing Mauk not among the top of the league's starters may surprise some, but with the inconsistencies shown in his game and the regression he showed at times last season, the Missouri coaches will have a short lease on Mauk this time around. With U.S. Army All-American QB Drew Lock now on campus, Mauk must step up his game.
Jeremy Johnson won the starting role in the spring following some strong competition from redshirt freshman Sean White. It's not unheard of for first time starters to unexpectedly struggle when handed a team's reins - Jonathan Crompton for Tennessee in 2008 or Anthony Jennings for LSU last season. Johnson will need to play well early to keep White from earning meaningful snaps this season.
Kyle Allen excelled the more experience he got last season and took charge of the offense in the spring but with five-star Kyler Murray on the way, Allen had better not faultier, or Murray could easily steal some playing time this season.
Fighting for the job over the summer:
David Cornwell - Alabama Crimson Tide, Treon Harris - Florida Gators, Brice Ramsey - Georgia Bulldogs, Patrick Towles - Kentucky Wildcats, Anthony Jennings - LSU Tigers, Chad Kelly - Ole Miss Rebels, Connor Mitch - South Carolina Gamecocks, Johnny McCrary - Vanderbilt Commodores
It may be time to put the myth of Jacob Coker to bed after David Cornwell wins the starting job. Cornwell was as touted as any quarterback coming into Tuscaloosa and has been in Kiffin's system just as long as Coker. If the FSU transfer was going to win the job, he would have done it by now.
Treon Harris may not be the best option for Jim McElwain's system but he has the experience and ability to escape the pocket when necessary, a skill that should come in handy as the Gators don't return one starting offensive linemen this season. Putting Will Grier on the field before the line jells could shatter his confidence moving forward.
Brice Ramsey is now the most talented quarterback on the roster with the news of Jacob Park's transfer and was already receiving the majority of the team's snaps this spring. In addition, Ramsey should have the edge in knowledge of the playbook over Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert.
Patrick Towles was playing at such a high level during Kentucky's 5-1 start it's hard to imagine touted redshirt freshman Drew Barker taking over as the team's starter. If Towles confidence has been irreconcilably damaged during the team's 0-6 finish, Barker will be given the ball in an attempt to save Mark Stoops' job.
While Anthony Jennings may not be the popular choice, he has the edge in experience and after Brandon Harris got the start in a 41-7 loss to Auburn last season, he only threw one pass the remaining seven games for the Tigers. The coaches reluctance to play Harris, despite his perceived talent and Jennings' struggles, speak volumes on their thoughts on the position.
Ole Miss didn't risk bringing in Chad Kelly to sit him on the bench. The team has as much NFL talent as any in the nation but with a huge question mark at quarterback, don't be surprised if Hugh Freeze throws out his most gifted player and hopes for the best.
Despite the team's woes last season, Spurrier once again found great success from a relatively unknown player at quarterback last season and Connor Mitch looks to be that player in Columbia this season. The Ole Ball Coach has had too much success to doubt at this point.
The Commodores played a terrible game of musical quarterbacks last season which resulted in one pathetic offensive display after another. The only quarterback that displayed progress was the freshman Johnny McCrary, after the team burned his redshirt halfway through the season. With Patton Robinette retiring from football, the door is open for McCrary to take over and continue his progression.
