Way-too-early SEC QB rankings ahead of the 2025 season
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The 2025 SEC Football landscape will enter its second season with Texas and Oklahoma in the conference, and coincidentally, both programs will introduce new starting quarterbacks. Other teams with a new signal caller include Ole Miss, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Auburn, and Missouri. At the same time, Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Marcel Reed will return for his first entire starting season.
However, Texas QB Arch Manning has received the most preseason press, which will continue into the fall. Still, you can't blame the media for fawning over the former five-star prospect with all the traits to become the No. 1-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after likely leading the Longhorns back to the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season.
While it may be February, the spring football season is right around the corner, so it's never a better time to rank the SEC signal callers heading into next month. Here are our way-too-early SEC QB rankings.
16. Beau Pribula, Missouri Tigers
The Tigers will introduce former Penn State QB Beau Pribula to a relatively new offensive lineup, where he passed for 424 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns during his two seasons with the Nittany Lions.
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15. Zach Calzada, Kentucky Wildcats
The former Texas A&M, Auburn, and most recently, Incarnate Word standout quarterback is back in the SEC, taking over for a Wildcat offense that desperately needs consistency under center.
14. Austin Simmons, Ole Miss Rebels
Austin Simmons will replace one of the greatest players in Ole Miss history as quarterback Jaxson Dart departs for the NFL. Simmons is talented, but there will be plenty of learning moments in 2025.
13. Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide
This is Ty Simpson's job to lose with Jalen Milroe headed to the NFL Draft, but five-star freshman Keelon Russell and returning 6'6" QB Austin Mack will make this an interesting battle heading into the fall.
12. Gunner Stockton, Georgia Bulldogs
Gunner Stockton's ascendance as the starter in the College Football Playoff doesn't guarantee him the starting spot, as former four-star quarterback Ryan Puglisi has the skillset to vie for the job.
11. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State needs a veteran presence at quarterback in head coach Jeff Lebby's second season, and veteran Blake Shapen looks like the answer after throwing for 974 yards and eight touchdowns before his 2024 season was cut short due to injury.
10. Jackson Arnold, Auburn Tigers
The former five-star Oklahoma QB has yet to meet his meteoric expectations, but maybe a change of scenery is all Jackson Arnold needs. If talent at wide receiver was an issue for Arnold, he's entering one of the best situations in college football, led by standout WR Cam Coleman.
9. Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks
Taylen Green's impressive athleticism and ability to make plays out of structure is intriguing, culminating with his performance against Texas Tech during bowl season. Green will lead a veteran offense that will likely be in every game next season.
With Conner Weigman transferring to Houston, this is Marcel Reed's job from here on out as the redshirt sophomore has plenty of experience under his belt from the 2024 season, while his focus has shifted to improving his ability as a pocket passer. Still, Reed is one of the best athletes in the SEC.
7. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee
Based on traits, Nico Iamaleava is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, but his recent play and average finish last season have many of us wondering what his ceiling is. Increased talent at wide receiver will help his downfield passing efforts next season.
6. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt Commodores
While Diego Pavia isn't the most talented QB in the SEC, he is undoubtedly the toughest. Pavia and former Texas A&M quarterback turned tight end Eli Stowers are looking to vault the Commodores past six wins in 2025.
5. Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns
Arch Manning's 2025 season will likely reach Tim Tebow-live levels of national coverage, but with the news that Texas will not hold a spring football game, we will have to wait to see what the new Longhorn passing attack looks like with several new faces at wide receiver.
4. D.J Lagaway, Florida Gators
D.J. Lagaway has a chance to lead the once-maligned Florida Gators to a nine-win season in 2025, primarily due to his elite traits and the veteran-receiving talent around him.
3. John Mateer, Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma needs to land John Mateer from the transfer portal to have any chance of rebounding in 2025. However, if the Sooners can't block upfront, the former Washington State signal caller will scramble more than he'd like in 2025.
2. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks
LaNorris Sellers is the real deal, showing off his passing ability and a bulldozing running attack that could lead to the Gamecocks earning a trip to the College Football Playoff if the stars align.
1. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Tigers
This was a no-brainer. Garrett Nussmeier could have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft but decided to return to Baton Rouge for a final season to pad his resume and compete for a CFB spot after struggling down the stretch in 2024.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
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