Ranking the QBs of the SEC Part 2

It's time to polish this list off. Are you ready? Of course you are.

6. Cameron Newton - Auburn Tigers - Once seen as the next coming of Tim Tebow at Florida as he beat out current Gator QB, and #3 on my list, John Brantley,however Newton couldn't help himself from conforming to racial stereotypes and purchased a stolen laptop. He was then arrested for theft and unceremoniously left the school and transferred to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas where he led the Buccaneers to a Junior College National Championship. Now Newton finds himself back in the SEC, only this time he's under center at Auburn. Newton definitely has the potential to climb up my list, but until then he sits at #6.

5. Jordan Jefferson - LSU Tigers - I still don't understand the disdain for Jefferson outside of south Louisiana. Hell, JJ won't even turn 20 until just over a week before the 2010 season begins. In his first full season as the starter in his true sophomore year, JJ threw for 2166 yards while completing 61.5% of his passes and 17 TDs to only 7 INTs. Not to mention he was sacked 34 times which was alone more than every team in the SEC's total sacks given up except South Carolina. Jefferson played pretty well in 2009 considering what was in front of him.

4. Stephen Garcia - South Carolina Gamecocks - Garcia is another QB, like Jordan Jefferson, that people love to hate. The only difference is even Garcia's own head coach, Steve Spurrier, seems to talk crap about him. Also like JJ, last season was Garcia's first full season starting as a Sophomore. And to continue the comparison, Garcia was also sacked more times, 37, than 10 other SEC teams were except for LSU. Garcia also matched JJ's 17 TDs threw the air, while adding 4 more on the ground, but threw more INTs with 10. This season should see significant improvement under the tutelage of the 'Ol Ball Coach. If the Gamecocks are going to make waves around the SEC, Garcia is going to have to lead them there.

3. John Brantley - Florida Gators - Never has there been this much hype surrounding a Florida QB since...well, Brantley's predecessor Tim Tebow. Tebow set all kinds of records while in high school, and Brantley came in a couple of years later and broke them all, and for that I love him. Put it this way, John Brantley is so good that just when Urban Meyer thought he didn't want to coach again without Tebow, he remembered he had this guy standing around serving Gatorade on the sidelines and did an about face. It also doesn't hurt that Brantley is walking into a beautiful situation. The Gators are still loaded with talent at the skill positions and have offensive guru Urban Meyer roaming the sidelines.

2. Greg McElroy - Alabama Crimson Tide - 2508 yards. 17 TDs. 4 INTs. 14-0. And don't call it a fluke. McElroy hasn't lost a game as the starting QB since middle school. McElroy is the prototypical game manager, and all Nick Saban does with game managing QBs is win National Championships. Just ask Matt Flynn. If McElroy was at any other school in the SEC, he would struggle to crack the top half of my list. However, McElroy is at the University of Alabama where he is trying to win back-to-back NCs. There's no fluke about that.

1. Ryan Mallett - Arkansas Razorbacks - Ryan Mallett ran away with the #1 spot in this poll, as he was a unanimous choice as the top QB in the SEC garnering the only first place vote given out. As a RS Sophomore Mallett threw for 3627 yards with 30 TDs and only 7 INTs. If you're looking for a flaw in Mallett's game, you don't have to look far...down the field that is. Mallett only completed 55.8% of his attempted passes mainly because he was often enamoured with the long ball and failed to check down. Mallett and head coach Bobby Petrino have spent most of the offseason watching film to correct the issue. Now are you ready for the scary part? Historically, QBs under Petrino's wing have made huge strides in year 2. Welcome to year 2 of Ryan Mallett and Bobby Petrino.