Even though it’s widely accepted as the best football conference in the nation and consistently pumps out the most pro-ready players, the SEC is not known for its quarterbacks.
For years, game manager quarterbacks captained pedestrian passing offenses that were afterthoughts to run-heavy gameplans. That recipe, combined with elite defenses, lead many SEC teams to successful seasons and national championships, particularly for Alabama.
That’s changed in recent years, with the SEC embracing more spread and air raid concepts and leaning on the pass. That’s led to the emergence of elite quarterback prospects like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young, who broke college records and got picked near the top of the NFL draft.
To be named the best quarterback in the SEC actually means something now. Gone are the days of Jake Coker or Matt Mauck being just good enough to lead a team to the national championship. To be the best in the nation’s best conference and compete for the CFP crown, you need an elite signal caller.
LSU certainly has one.
Though fifth-year senior Jayden Daniels has his detractors, he’s far and away one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. His elite running ability combined with his ability to avoid turnovers allowed him to put together an efficient first season with LSU, finishing with 3,798 total yards and 29 total touchdowns.
Still, Daniels was decidedly not the best quarterback in the conference. Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker clearly outperformed Daniels while he was healthy, as did future No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
Stetson Bennett put up better production en route to a national championship with Georgia, and Will Rogers led the conference in passing for Mississippi State’s air raid.
Even Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick, was considered a better player than Daniels because of his coveted set of skills, despite being outgained by him.
Daniels was elite, but he was a great quarterback in a conference of great quarterbacks. This year, with most of the above standouts now in the NFL, the quarterback landscape looks much different. Daniels has undeniably risen to the top of the heap.
This season, Daniels has taken the next step. Through three games, he ranks No. 4 in the country in total yards with 1,133 and No. 11 in total touchdowns with 10. He’s also been ruthlessly efficient, ranking No. 12 in completion percentage, No. 10 in passer rating and No. 14 in yards per attempt.
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In addition to all of that, his deep passing ability has taken a leap, and he’s continued to be a weapon with his legs while also being more calculated in doing so. He ranks No. 17 in rushing yards among quarterbacks this season.
The LSU offense has flourished under Daniels’ guidance, ranking as the No. 6 offense in the nation by average yards gained and No. 10 by points scored on average.
Daniels has the most well-rounded resume to be the SEC’s top quarterback this year, but that’s not to say he’s without challengers.
Forthmost of those challengers is Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Under Dart, Ole Miss’ offense has been the only in the conference to score more on average than LSU, ranking No. 4 in the nation.
Dart is No. 7 in the nation in rushing yards among quarterbacks and No. 2 in yards per attempt with an impressive 12.5. He’s been more productive as a runner than Daniels, and the Rebels offense has been better than almost everyone in the country at generating big plays.
Ole Miss has had a significant deficit in time of possession in each of its three wins, but it doesn’t matter because the Rebels score quickly.
However, Dart’s completion percentage is a full seven points lower than Daniels’, and he’s also been asked to throw almost 30 fewer times. Daniels may have a slight edge because of his efficiency and expected production, but the margin is still razor-thin.
Spencer Rattler deserves an honorable mention, as the South Carolina quarterback ranks No. 11 in the country in passing yards. His Gamecocks gave No. 1 Georgia a scare, but unfortunately, they sit at 1-2 so far this season.
Rattler’s talent hasn’t been enough to overcome a lack of support, with South Carolina averaging the fewest rushing yards in the SEC and giving up the most sacks.
Texas A&M’s Connor Weigmann and Vanderbilt’s AJ Swann have also had productive seasons. Swann leads the SEC in total yards but has played an extra game and has also thrown a conference-leading four interceptions. Weigmann is third in total yards in the SEC and is tied for second with Daniels in touchdowns with 10 as he leads a surprisingly good Aggies offense.
Ultimately, though, the conversation comes down to Daniels and Dart, much like the SEC West race seems to be coming down to LSU and Ole Miss.
Despite his performance over the last two seasons, Daniels hasn’t received much NFL draft attention. Part of that’s probably due to his status as a late bloomer, with this being his fifth year as a college starting quarterback. Part of it’s because of antiquated ideas about mobile quarterbacks and how fit they are to run an NFL offense.
Mostly, it comes down to his physical tools. Daniels is small for his height and could probably serve to fill out his frame if he were to advance to the next level. He’s also still developing his deep ball. In the past, he has prioritized quick, efficient passes, and the arm strength he’s shown so far doesn’t seem to be quite at the level of other elite prospects.
Daniels is still growing; his most recent game against Mississippi State was described by Brian Kelly as his best game at LSU “without question.” If Daniels continues to progress this season at the rate he is, he deserves a look from an NFL team.
Either way, Daniels has staked a convincing claim as the SEC’s best quarterback. If that holds true in the coming weeks, LSU has a good shot of being one of the SEC’s best teams.
