Every Wednesday right here you can read Across the South, where we’ll get into a different topic on the SEC, break down the biggest matchups of the previous week, preview the coming week’s slate, and talk about where things stand in the best conference in the land!
In this week’s edition, while we still have bowl season upon us and an SEC team still competing for a national championship, it is almost time to put a wrap on 2023 and look ahead to 2024. With LSU’s Heisman winner Jayden Daniels assuredly gone to the NFL, let’s take a look at who is going to fill the power vacuum at the quarterback position in the conference next season:
While there still could be some shock NFL announcements (namely from Carson Beck and Jaxson Dart), things are starting to become a whole lot more clear for how we will evaluate the position entering next season. I would expect both quarterbacks to return and be two of the best in the conference.
Ole Miss has a chance in 2024 to be even better than the 10-2 season it’s coming off of without Alabama on the schedule and with an opportunity to face Georgia at home. Jaxson Dart has improved and unless he enters the draft, he will be poised to lead a prolific Rebels offense once again.
Dart threw for nearly 3,000 yards along with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions this year while rushing for nearly 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
For Carson Beck, it seems like a no-brainer for him to come back, even though he could be a mid-round draft pick right now. Georgia’s offense didn’t miss a beat in the transition from Stetson Bennett to Beck, and one more good year (plus a chance to compete for a championship) could do wonders for him.
Beck threw for over 3,700 yards with 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions and added four touchdowns on the ground in 2023.
Then of course there’s Jalen Milroe, who improved more over the course of the season than perhaps any player in the country. Though the Tide QB room is loaded, Milroe is virtually guaranteed to enter next season as the starter and perhaps even a Heisman candidate.
Milroe threw for over 2,700 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions along with nearly 500 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Another interesting one to keep an eye on is Missouri’s Brady Cook. The Tigers’ junior quarterback led them to their best season under Eli Drinkwitz and could certainly enter the draft, but similarly to Beck, another great season could be in the cards if he elects to stay.
Cook had a huge year, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding eight rushing touchdowns.
Entering this season, it felt like Jayden Daniels and a bunch of question marks at the quarterback position in the SEC. Next season, there will be a significantly more defined power structure in the conference when it comes to the most important position on the field.
