Who are the SEC’s best returning quarterbacks for the 2024 college football season? There are plenty of candidates to mention, plus the addition of Texas and Oklahoma make it more compelling. The conference lost some big names after last season with Jayden Daniels (LSU), KJ Jefferson (Arkansas), Will Rogers (Mississippi State), Devin Leary (Kentucky), and Spencer Rattler (South Carolina). We continue our series of best returning players by looking at the SEC’s best returning quarterbacks.
SEC’s Best Returning Quarterbacks
#5: Brady Cook, Missouri
Going into the 2023 season, Brady Cook would not have even sniffed a list such as this. There was some conversation about whether he was or should be the top signal caller for the Tigers going into the season. He showed everyone that he could be one of the best passers in the SEC. Cook finished fourth in the conference with 3,317 yards and added 21 touchdown passes. He was solid on the ground as well with eight rushing touchdowns. Having receivers on the outside like Luther Burden and Theo Wease on the outside will help duplicate those numbers this season. He threw for more than 300 yards five times last season. Cook may need to be relied on more if the Missouri rushing attack is unable to replace the production of Cody Shrader. He led the conference in rushing with 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns.
#4: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Jalen Milroe came a long way in the 2023 season. After throwing two interceptions against Texas he was benched against South Florida only to regain the starting job and led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff. He even made a late run at the Heisman conversation late in the season. With new head coach Kalen Deboer replacing the legendary Nick Saban, what will 2024 look like for Milroe? He threw for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns but was even more of a threat on the run. Milroe rushed for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. Perhaps his best game came against LSU and eventually Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. In the 42-28 win, Milroe totaled 374 yards and four touchdowns. All of those scores were on the ground. More will be required of Milroe with inexperience at the playmaker positions and learning a new offense at the same time.
#3: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Heading into the 2023 season, the Ole Miss Rebels had a loaded quarterback room. The returning Jaxson Dart was joined by a couple of transfers Walker Howard (LSU) and Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State). He held off both to remain the starter and put up big numbers for a team that ended with an 11-2 record. Dart threw for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns with seven more on the ground.
His best game of the season came against LSU and Jayden Daniels. In a high-scoring back-and-forth game, Dart threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns with one rushing score. Most importantly he made big plays late in the game that led to a 55-49 victory. Head coach Lane Kiffin has given Dart more weapons for the upcoming season. Most notable is wide receiver Juice Wells from South Carolina. Add him with Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, not many quarterbacks have more receiving targets than Dart.
#2: Quinn Ewers, Texas
When entering a new conference, it is quite a luxury to have a third-year starting quarterback who led your team to the brink of a National Championship Game appearance. Quinn Ewers showed great development during the 2023 season. He was second in the Big 12 with 3,479 yards and would have been first if he had played all the games last season. In the Big 12 Championship Game, Ewers showed what he is capable of when he is “on”.
In the 49-21 win over Oklahoma State, Ewers passed for 452 yards and four touchdowns. That was one of six games where Ewers threw for over 300 yards. He will need to create chemistry with a new group of receivers. His top receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell are gone to the NFL. One name to pay attention to will be Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond. The good news for Texas is if Ewers has to miss games due to injury, they have a highly talented quarterback in Arch Manning on the bench.
#1: Carson Beck, Georgia
Most people have placed the Georgia Bulldogs as the favorite in the SEC and a big reason is the return of quarterback Carson Beck. The second-year starter is looked at by many as the best quarterback prospect in the country. Beck led the conference in passing yards with 3,941 yards and had 24 touchdowns.
His first big test was a road contest against the Auburn Tigers. The Bulldogs trailed for most of the game, but Beck never wavered. With the help of tight-end Brock Bowers, he led Georgia to a 27-20 victory. In the game, he was 23 of 33 for 313 yards and one touchdown. Beck had five games of 330 or more yards with the best in a 51-13 win over Kentucky. Against the Wildcats he was 28 of 35 for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Beck will have to be the leader on offense with Bowers and Ladd McConkey no longer in Athens. Wide receiver Dominic Lovett could be the new go-to receiver for Beck.
