Ranking the top SEC quarterbacks ahead of the 2025 season

Last year felt like a transition year for quarterbacks in the SEC. It seemed as if there were more first-year starters than usual, and several young players who weren’t expected to start in 2024 got thrust into starting roles sooner than expected.

Some of those hit big, and the result is a loaded year for QBs in the conference. There are multiple second-year starters looking to build on excellent seasons. There are a few new starters, meanwhile, some who have waited their turns behind established veterans. Add those together, and the quality of QB play in the SEC should be excellent this year.

1. D.J. Lagway, Florida

Lagway’s health is the biggest caveat here after an offseason spent resting nagging injuries, but he has the highest ceiling of any QB in the country when healthy. 

If Florida has the Lagway who played against LSU and Ole Miss last year for an entire season, the Gators can beat anyone on their schedule. Lagway finished second in the country (behind Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart) last season in yards per attempt at 10.0, but he also spent the offseason and the first half of the season practicing like a QB who would occasionally spell Graham Mertz. Now Lagway is absolutely QB1, and if he takes a leap, it could be stratospheric.

But — and this feels like a huge but — he has to stay healthy.

2. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Speaking of QB leaps, remember what happened to the last two LSU starters who had a pretty good first year at the helm of the Tigers’ offense? That would be Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, who each won a Heisman Trophy. Some of this will depend on how good LSU’s receivers are — Burrow and Daniels were quite blessed in that department — but Nussmeier looks capable of making a big jump as well in year two as the starter.

I moved Nussmeier up from my earlier ranking of top 10 returning QBs in the nation because the scouts keep saying he could be the best QB in the 2026 draft class. Those skills likely will translate to big numbers in Baton Rouge this season. LSU worked hard in the transfer portal to put more talent around him. The line will be inexperienced, though, and it will be up to Nussmeier to help that group.

3. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

When Sellers is on, he’s one of the nation’s most exciting QBs. A 6-foot-3, 240-pounder with good speed and a rocket arm, Sellers makes South Carolina’s offense multidimensional by himself. 

He also is entering year two as a starter, and he has the chance to make a huge jump as well. He already a big jump in season one. In South Carolina’s final five games last season, Sellers completed 72 percent of his throws for a 10 yards per attempt average with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. 

4. Arch Manning, Texas

There probably isn’t a first-year starter better set up to succeed than Manning. Forget his last name. He’s still a 6-4, 220-pound speedster with a big arm who will be surrounded by some of the nation’s top talent.

In the limited sample size we’ve seen while filling in for an injured Quinn Ewers last season, Manning looked quite capable of running Steve Sarkisian’s offense. Now Manning will have a full offseason of Sarkisian building the offense around him.

5. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Mateer was the most desired QB in the transfer portal this offseason. He completed 65 percent of his passes for a nine-yard average and threw 29 touchdown passes at Washington State. He also led the Cougars in rushing with 826 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground.

The competition leveled up tremendously when Mateer followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman. But if the Sooners have improved on what was a woeful offensive line last season, Mateer will make Oklahoma much better.

6. Austin Simmons, Ole Miss

Sure, we’re probably putting more stock than we should into one first-quarter drive against Georgia. But it was a freaking awesome drive by Simmons filling in for a banged-up Dart.

Also, the 6-4, 215-pound lefty was already clearly beloved by his teammates. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, who isn’t shy about using the transfer portal when he sees a need, moved forward from the end of last season with Simmons as QB1. 

If we re-order this list at season’s end, Simmons might be the biggest mover.

7. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

If this weren’t such a loaded year for QBs in the league, Pavia would be much higher. All he does is make whatever team he’s on better.

Put it this way: If Pavia played for Alabama, the Crimson Tide might be the preseason No. 1. But Pavia stayed at Vanderbilt even though multiple schools made inquiries this offseason. Can he lift the Commodores to an even higher level? We probably shouldn’t doubt him at this point.

8. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

The fact that Georgia coaches seemed OK with letting Carson Beck walk tells you how they and the players on the Bulldogs’ roster feel about Stockton. Yes, Georgia kicked the tires on former Cal QB Fernando Mendoza, but Mendoza went to Indiana before Stockton made his first start in the Sugar Bowl. 

Stockton has only played serious minutes against nasty, elite defenses (Texas and Notre Dame last season), but he seems to have the tools to take advantage of Georgia’s receiving corps, which now includes Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and USC transfer Zachariah Branch. 

9. Ty Simpson, Alabama

If Jalen Milroe was the problem at Alabama last year, then Simpson being unable to beat out Milroe should be somewhat concerning.

But the fact that the Crimson Tide didn’t just dive into the portal to find a QB to combine with an excellent receiving corps and talented offensive line suggests a faith in Simpson from coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer also brought back longtime offensive consigliere Ryan Grubb, who spent last season as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator. That should help Simpson develop.

Simpson has a big arm, and he’s capable of gaining yards on the ground as well. If he has used this offseason wisely, he could have a huge season.

10. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Reed became the Aggies’ starter for the first time last season when Conner Weigman injured his shoulder before the Florida game, but Weigman returned as the starter in the Missouri game. It wasn’t until Texas A&M faced dire circumstances against LSU that the Aggies turned to Reed again. 

At that point, coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein realized Reed was their QB1. Now, they’ve had the back third of a season and an entire offseason to build the offense around Reed, who is an excellent runner but who needs to develop as a passer.