SEC QBs: Mid-Season Report Card

[Lam Dinh]

We’re halfway through the college football season, and the biggest surprise in the SEC might just be the quarterbacks.

Takeaways

1) Preseason All-SEC QBs have underwhelmed.
The preseason All-SEC QBs were Garrett Nussmeier (1st Team), LaNorris Sellers (2nd Team), and DJ Lagway (3rd Team). None of them have hit double-digit passing touchdowns through the first half of the year. Their collective QB rating hovers around 135, which is below the SEC average for starting quarterbacks.

2) Jackson Arnold is still Jackson Arnold at Auburn (and OU still sucks).
Jackson Arnold has been sacked 21 times—twice as many as Arch Manning (10 sacks), and that’s saying something given our own O-line’s struggles. The issue isn’t just protection; his slow processing has been obvious since his first snaps at OU. I never understood the hype.

3) Biggest Surprises: Ty Simpson and Joey Aguilar.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson (16 TDs, 1 INT) and Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar (14 TDs, 5 INT) have been revelations. I didn’t have either name on my preseason Bingo card, but both deserve credit for steadying their programs after losing last year’s starters. Honorable Mention: Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss).

Hook 'em!

[DanielOnorato]

I know the NFL always speaks about second year regression for QBs although Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler look improved so far this year, it's amazing how badly the true second year starters have performed. 

Sellers has been the biggest disappointment as I thought he could have been a 3 and out player in Heisman consideration with potential to be a top pick. 

All things considered, Arch is in a great position to establish himself as an all SEC QB despite some early struggles if he can continue to build on the growth we've been seeing each week in SEC play. 

[ArizonaLonghorn]

32 minutes ago, DanielOnorato said:

Sellers has been the biggest disappointment as I thought he could have been a 3 and out player in Heisman consideration with potential to be a top pick. 

One big media outlet had these five QBs as the best preseason bets to be taken in the first round of the 2026 draft (alphabetical order, with current ESPN passer rating) - Allar (136, # 11 B1G), Klubnik (142, # 10 ACC), Manning (150, # 10 SEC), Nussmeier (134, # 15 SEC), Sellers (147, # 12 SEC).  Arch is the highest rated of these guys, # 47 nationally.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by ArizonaLonghorn