A way-too-early prediction of every QB1 in the SEC in 2023

Credit: Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

I’m gonna have multiple cracks at this. That is, predicting every SEC team’s QB1 in 2023.

I’ll probably try again post-spring when we get a little more transfer portal movement and then before fall camp, I’ll take another hack.

In this era, it’s necessary. With the fluidity of the transfer portal, I’ll admit that I’m gonna have some whiffs on this. The real roll of the dice would be saying someone in the portal will be an SEC team’s QB1. That’s bold. That’s also maybe a bit too bold given how early in the offseason we are.

For now, here’s who I think will be QB1 at each SEC program to start 2023:

Alabama — Ty Simpson

No Jalen Milroe? Why not? I don’t believe we saw enough from Milroe as a passer to assume that he’s heads and shoulders above Simpson for the job. Alabama’s offense is predicated on having that downfield passing attack and if you don’t have someone who has that pocket presence, it’s an awfully difficult offense to execute. I think as a redshirt freshman, Simpson possesses more versatility than Milroe and he ends up winning Alabama’s first true quarterback battle since 2018.

Arkansas — KJ Jefferson

He’s my top returning quarterback in the SEC and his backup (Malik Hornsby) transferred to Texas State. Any debate here? Nope. Moving along.

Auburn — Robby Ashford

This is probably the part where I should call my shot and predict that a transfer portal quarterback will become Hugh Freeze’s first starter. Despite some clear interest through the portal to add a quarterback, I’ll stick with Ashford, who possesses some early-Malik Willis similarities. He always has his legs, he understands the offense and he has a solid arm, but move-the-chains accuracy remains an issue. That’s not to say Ashford has Willis-level upside, but he’s got a skill set that Freeze should be able to work with.

Florida — Graham Mertz

Welp, we know it won’t be Jaden Rashada. I was pretty underwhelmed by Mertz at Wisconsin. Some of that was the Paul Chryst offense, but he didn’t ever seem like a guy who had the game slow down for him. If he had gone to a situation with a more established offensive play-caller or better receivers, I would’ve been intrigued. But that didn’t happen. Instead, Ricky Pearsall figures to be the go-to target for a thin group of pass-catchers. It feels like the Mertz-Jack Miller battle will be somewhat lackluster … unless another transfer enters the fray.

Georgia — Carson Beck

As Kirby Smart said, Beck did everything Georgia asked of him. Not many blue-chip quarterbacks sit on the bench for 3 years to wait their turn. Beck did that. He did that so that he could have an opportunity like the one he currently has. That is, have the most likely path to starting for the No. 1 team in America. Beck is entering Year 4 in the Todd Monken offense. While I fully expect this battle to go deep into the fall with Brock Vandagriff and/or Gunner Stockton, I think the promising limited sample size pushes Smart to roll with the 4th-year signal-caller.

Kentucky — Devin Leary

I’m extremely high on Leary and a potential bounce-back year for the Kentucky offense. If you think he’s going to be in quarterback battle, remember that he was the preseason ACC Player of the Year before getting hurt in 2022. Leary is a proven commodity, and he gives Kentucky a chance to not just replace Will Levis, but perhaps get an upgrade. A lot of that will depend on the offensive line, which is priority No. 1. Leary might not be as durable as Levis, but he also gets rid of the ball quicker and should be able to maximize a promising group of UK skill-players in Liam Coen’s offense.

LSU — Jayden Daniels

Don’t convince yourself that Brian Kelly is about to pull a 180 and bench the guy who led him to an SEC West title in Year 1. I say that as someone who became incredibly intrigued with Garrett Nussmeier. But Daniels has the keys to the offense, despite any sort of politically correct statements from the LSU head coach this offseason. Daniels could start as a preseason All-SEC quarterback, and while he might not have the same gunslinger mentality that Nussmeier has, Daniels would have to play his way out of the job with several disappointing showings.

Mizzou — Brady Cook

I enjoyed seeing Cook’s full arsenal on display down the stretch. Utilizing his legs felt like a no-brainer, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll get some competition added to the quarterback room this spring. And I’m not necessarily saying that’s a portal guy, but the decorated Sam Horn was a summer enrollee last year, so this will be the first real side-by-side with those 2. Both will be working with a new play-caller in Kirby Moore. Can he tap into the version of Cook we saw once Bush Hamdan (now at Boise State) took over play-calling duties in the last 3 regular-season games? Either way, I’d expect Cook to get a Year 2, barring a significant transfer addition.

MSU — Will Rogers

It’s a new scheme with Kevin Barbay, but Rogers has more SEC reps than any returner. MSU just lost a pair of underclassmen quarterbacks to the portal, so Rogers is more entrenched than ever as the starter, despite the new play-caller.

Ole Miss — Spencer Sanders

Only Lane Kiffin would portal like that for his starting quarterback. And yes, I used “portal” as a verb because less than a year after his splashy edition of Jaxson Dart, who served as Ole Miss’ starter as a redshirt freshman, Kiffin landed 2 splashy quarterbacks from the portal in consecutive days. Even though Kiffin was clearly desperate to add depth with Dart as the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster, the Sanders addition from Oklahoma State was a sign that he’s willing to move on. Sanders has 1 year of eligibility left after starting 4 years for Mike Gundy. A guy with 85 total touchdowns at the Power 5 level isn’t coming to Oxford to hold a clipboard. Sanders’ mobility is on par with what we saw from Dart, who struggled in the red zone. I’d be surprised if Sanders didn’t earn the starting gig.

South Carolina — Spencer Rattler

Those last 3 games changed the entire vibe of Rattler at South Carolina. It also set the stage for him to be the unquestioned starter heading into his 5th college season. With all due respect to Luke Doty, Rattler is the guy and there won’t be any debate about it.

Tennessee — Joe Milton

Think of the last time we saw a true freshman earn the Week 1 start in the SEC. Bo Nix in 2019 was your answer. Outside of that, there aren’t a ton of examples of that (2016 Jacob Eason comes to mind). Even Jalen Hurts and Jake Fromm weren’t QB1 in their respective openers. In other words, no, I don’t think we’re about to see Nico Iamaleava get the nod in Week 1 when Milton just balled out in the Orange Bowl. Tayven Jackson’s transfer narrows that discussion a bit, but Josh Heupel wants Milton to be the guy. Shoot, he started him over Hendon Hooker in 2021. I fully expect Heupel’s 2.5 years of development with Milton to lead to an obvious QB1 by fall camp.

Texas A&M — Conner Weigman

It’s Weigman or bust for Bobby Petrino. What a sentence that is. Weigman got 4 starts and he appeared in 5 games as a true freshman, which saw him post a quarterback rating of 132. There were some promising signs from the 5-star true freshman. Hence, why Haynes King and Eli Stowers hit the portal. Max Johnson is still around and I suppose we shouldn’t be stunned if Petrino goes rogue, but I’d expect Weigman’s mobility to be a deal-breaker. This is a great opportunity for A&M to fully embrace its new offensive identity with Petrino calling plays and the talented young signal-caller leading the offense.

Vanderbilt — AJ Swann

It would’ve been nice to have seen more of Swann in 2022, but Mike Wright’s skill set was exactly what the ‘Dores needed to finally get in the SEC win column in the 2020s. Now, though, Wright is gone and the offense belongs to Swann. Clark Lea said that would be the case at his postseason press conference. Lea didn’t even sign a quarterback in the 2023 class. Swann has a prime opportunity to give Vandy something it hasn’t had since Kyle Shurmur left — a solid, reliable SEC starter.

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  • Come on MrTruth you are the authority on the Man named Mertz. Give me something that I can expand on

    • While we're waiting for Truth to crank up his sarcasm machine, I'll offer that I don't think the QB competition at Florida will be anything close to "lackluster", although that term is certainly popular right now among the typing heads in the context of manufactured drama. First of all, Mertz was not in a passing offense at Wisconsin, and in a more balanced offense like Florida's may turn out to be better than we're led to believe. Second, Miller may likewise surprise us if the OL is indeed up to SEC standards and he's healthy. Third, there won't be another QB in the portal for the Gators, and we're completely forgetting about Max Brown who may be better than Rashada - recognizing of course that we still don't know much about him. He's a 4-star under scholarship for a reason.

      Beck should be seamless at Georgia, same with Milton at Tennessee.

        • JTF, I'm allowing for Carson to falter early in the first couple of games - don't imagine it'll be catastrophic by any stretch of the imagination - but once he's got his sea legs and gets into the SEC schedule, I really do think Kirby will have him ready. It's natural for fans to be uncertain of the guy who replaces a legend, so I do get that. You're right IMO in one sense - a Bennett doesn't come around very often. That said, I do think this youngster will be a surprise to a lot of people and we're looking at a good run for three-in-a-row.

      • If's & buts, candy and nuts.
        IF a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his
        ...well, you know.
        If Beck struggles in camp, CTM will fix him, and we have two other blue chippers to choose from.
        UF can't say that.

        • What makes you think we're saying that? We won't be on our feet until '24, and our first run logically won't be until '25.

      • This column is a product of lazy journalism. Mertz has been a starter for three seasons. Miller has been a starter for one not-so-great game. Ergo, Mertz will start for the Gators. No more thought went into it than that.

        As Lee Corso is fond of saying, “Not so fast!”

        Rashada would NEVER have factored into this spring and summer QB1 competition anyway. A true freshman QB at an SEC school is too busy learning the playbook and finding his way to class.

        Mertz must come in and compete for the job with a guy who already knows the playbook and the way to his classes. Also, unlike Rashada, Mertz has no “political advantage” that the media can latch onto if he loses the competition to Miller in spring.

        Napier knew he needed an experienced QB2. Mertz checks that box and if he wins the QB1 job over spring and summer, more power to him!

    • Wishful thinking, pal.
      The gators won't even compete for the SEC title this year, much less a playoff spot.
      However, please feel free to keep chasing that dream.

        • Dawg homer trolling JTF. Taking his shots while he can.

          He remembers how painful it was to be a Dawg attending Cocktail Parties between 1990 and 2015 and is simply returning some of that favor.

          He should also remember, what goes around comes around.

        • StLGator taking shots too...that reminds me that Florida football wasn't capable of winning championships until 1990....it started in Athens decades earlier. A lot of favors had been returned in Jacksonville many times in the years prior to 1990....and that returned pain is still evident in Gainesville now, too.....55-44-2

    • I was too slow, and the thread was hijacked by fools like this writer who fail to understand that Mertz is about to redefine what it means to play QB. He’s going to hit the league so hard it will become the EC. Wives will divorce their defensive coordinator husbands when they see how Mertz destroys their so-called defensive schemes. When Mertz is done, all will be reduced to smoke and rubble and he will stand upon the broken bodies of the fallen and roar: MERTZILLA!

      • LMAO! Boy, you must have some truly special x-ray glasses to be able to see that deep inside all those layers of B1G ineptitude.

        • The Mertzinator was bored and uninspired by the lack of competition. In the pathetic world of the Big. Much like the legendary Saitama, he couldn’t help but yawn and go through the motions, uninspired by the fat, slow players he faced, so he has come to the SEC hoping to at least find a defense worthy of being destroyed by him.

        • Good name for the coming end. The SEC as we know it will no longer exist after MERTZ' march of destruction!

  • The UGA job appears to be Carson’s to lose. Hard to argue with 3 years in the system with the skill set he’s displayed. I just have a feeling about Gunner, though. Same kind of vibes coming out of his time as scout team QB that we saw with Stet. Except he’s reportedly 6’2” and 225 now.

    • It's hard to put stock in star ratings when it comes to QBs. UGA has the coaching talent to push the best QB forward.

      • The blue-chip QB “bust” list is long and distinguished. Running a high school offense well just ain’t in the same zip code as a P5 gig against NFL-type talent and ultra-sneaky DCs. Lots’a can’t-miss arms fall off that steep learning curve.

        • Mountain...speaking of Five Star busts...Anyone remember Clemson's starting QB in 2022 ? DJ Uga________ A total bust Five Star & he transferred. Yes Five Stars does not guarantee success in the SEC.

    • I don’t think the QB position skips a beat next season. Carson has looked good when I have seen him.

        • Don’t sweat it JTF. If not Beck, then one of the other blue chippers you guys have riding the bench.

          The QB at UGA doesn’t have to carry the team. He just has to make sure he doesn’t lose games for you.

        • JTF, I don’t want to minimize Bennett’s contributions to UGA’s two NC’s, but it took him a full year of less than ideal QB play to get as good as he got over his last two seasons. He reminded me of Danny Wuerffel.

          Be patient with the next guy. This is college football (not the NFL,) where QBs rotate out every 2-4 years, whether we fans like it, or not.

          Having said that, our “next guy” after Wuerffel was Doug (The Slug) Johnson. Yikes!!!

        • Don't get me wrong, I feel very confident that UGA will have a competent QB. I feel strongly that they make the playoffs with the new QB.
          I just thought the "seamless transition" expression was a little naive.
          It's all good.

        • I will say this about SB. For not having a clear NFL skillset or many attributes of a typical NFL QB, he's done the most with what he has, more so than anyone else I've ever seen. Sure the depth and talent around him greatly helps, but you just have to do the best you can. If 6'1 Brock Purdy, nicked named, "Mr. Irrelevant" for being drafted all overall last in 22, than there is hope for SB at 5'10 in lifts.. lol. Before that his win this past weekend, I didn't think there was a chance for SB to be drafted, but even if dead last drafted, there is a chance. Purdy's performance has go to be very encouraging and inspiring for SB.

        • JTF, though it might have been a little hyperbolic in retrospect, I'll always stand by it except for when I don't anymore. So sayeth NealyBob.

  • " but move-the-chains accuracy remains an issue."

    SDS "writers" don't actually watch football games. Ashford was hurt for most of the season with a shoulder injury. This isn't new information. The fact the SDS have continued to leave that part out is amazing. Ashford was also running for his life just like Bo and TJ Finley. NO O-line. That changes now. The O-line will be MUCH improved by August.

  • "..it’s fair to wonder if he’ll get some competition added to the quarterback room this spring. And I’m not necessarily saying that’s a portal guy, but the decorated Sam Horn was a summer enrollee last year, so this will be the first real side-by-side with those 2."

    No Connor it wont be, Cook will not be playing side by side with anyone in the Spring, he's out with shoulder surgery. Now, Horn and Garcia going at it side by side should be a real treat.

    • Booches94

      You don't really think SDS writers know what they're posting do you? There are falsities all in this article.

      • It'll be interesting to see Cook with a healthy throwing shoulder next fall, provided the rehab goes well. Neither Horn nor Garcia are anywhere close to the runner Cook is, so if Cook can sling it better next year it should be very interesting.

    • SDS literally covered cook's labrum surgery on 12/29.... just kinda..super lazy? to not even read and reference the stories covered by your own reporters?

      • "I’d expect Cook to get a Year 2, barring a significant transfer addition."

        all Connor had to do was follow SDS own reports and he would know the significant transfer has already happened.

  • My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.

    —Robert Smalls, U.S. congressman, 1895

      • DOn't worry I saw your proud boy cross dress photos where you are on your knees in front of george santos. stop the hate repent and love thy neighbor. You will not get into heaven being a rac!st and a liar.

        • If there's someone on SDS that can translate the utter stupidity known as Willyboob, it'd be much appreciated.

        • Also Willyboob -

          JE$$$$$US ISN’T REAL. I’VE SAID MANY TIMES THAT YOU HAVE TO USE THE LANGUAGE OF RET@RDS AND SIMPLETONS TO MAKE YOUR POINT.

          Pulled straight from one of his well worded, meaningful posts.

          It's obvious this dude isn't getting into heaven either with him flat out saying Je$u$ isn't real. Multiple times at that.

          Crazy.

        • I'm calling you a closeted tip toucher and a proud boy loser who probably touches himself to jan 6. im super happy that traitor chick got shot too they all deserved to be ex3cuted for treason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          CORCH AGREEEE WITH WILLLY.

        • hEAVEN ISN'T REAL idiot. like i always say, you have to use the language of simpletons to get your point across to them. and even if i dont believe in je$$$$us, why would that have anything to do with your faith???? ATTACKING WITHOUT CONTEMPLATING YOUR ACTIONS AND REASONING IS THE TRAIT OF THE IGNORANT AND THE SINNERS. REPENT to je$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$us

        • Again WillyBoob, ZERO people have an issue with you catching a case of the Damar Hamlin within your own home. In fact, it's probably encouraged. Do us a favor, go get another booster to speed up this process. We'd greatly appreciate it.

          I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do not care about most people on this planet.

        • its obvious you don't care. anybody that ain't white ain't right yeah? do you REALLY think that je$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$us would like and appreciate your sentiment? you are such a hypocr!te it almost hurts. what hurts the most is knowing you will be a r@cist until you d!e. just admit you only use rel!gon to feel special and part of a group so you aren't so LONELY. have your (ex)wife (really? you found somebody to marry you? i dont believe it) make me a sandwich since you won't let her leave otherwise.

      • “White privilege is an absence of the consequences of racism. An absence of structural discrimination, an absence of your race being viewed as a problem first and foremost.”

        Your life has been built on top of the bones of those you deem less than you. to not admit to the privilege g0d has bestowed to you, than you lie to and deceive yourself. you will not deceive g0d

        • HA!!!!!!!! YOU CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT SO YOU REVERT TO PERSONAL ATTACKS. JE$$$$us sees through your mirage of good will and piety. repent before hE destroys your soul and you touch tips with s@tan forever

        • "YOU CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT SO YOU REVERT TO PERSONAL ATTACKS."

          Earlier in the day:

          "hEAVEN ISN’T REAL idiot."

          "I’m calling you a closeted tip toucher and a proud boy loser who probably touches himself to jan 6. im super happy that traitor chick got shot too they all deserved to be ex3cuted for treason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

          But yeah...personal attacks.

        • Willybob, than you should probably move to another country than my friend. Do you have an ounce of common sense. No one here is nor should denounce themselves based on any shade they are. Did you fall out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down? LOL

        • There's not enough Haldol in the world to cure that type of perseveration, but I do sense the median IQ of this page dropped by at least two standard deviations from the mean.

      • Best to ignore the guy. He'll go away once he grows up and realizes that he's no better than anyone else and that having a chip on his shoulder doesn't make him a deep thinker - it just makes him bitter.

        • Our watchword has been “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Brave men do not gather by thousands to t0rture and murd3r a single individual, so gagged and bound he cannot make even feeble resistance or defense. Neither do brave men and women stand by and see such things done without compunction of conscience, nor read of them without protest.

          —Ida B. Wells-Barnett, political journalist, teacher, 1900

        • Comparing Willyboob to donkey $hit is actually offensive to donkeys. They are now, how Willyboob would say, triggered.

        • LOL!!! who is the TR!GGERED one here??????????? ALL I DO IS TELL TR0TH. YOU ARE THE ONE PUK!NG YOUR PANTS HERE BC YOU KNOW YOU ARE A R@CIST AND S3X!ST. @B0RTION ISNT MURD3R. SEPERATION OF CHU$$$RCH AND STATE. try to REFLECT on your habits and realize it is not too late to change.

        • You're right. It's not too late to change. Come on over here to Memphis and catch yourself a case of super late term @b0rti0n driving down the highway. Don't worry, we won't consider it murder. Just an @b0rti0n.

          Also, literally just you being triggered. That word is terrible.

          Have a blessed day

        • LOL MEMPHIS???!!!!!!!??? no wonder you're an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! memphis is the #5000 in the USA for education. what a stup!d sack of sh!t you must be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          CORCH AGREES ALL VOLS SUCK BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Willybob's ideals are so weird. It's like he's consumed leftist and conservative and is confused on which one to follow.

        • Not from Memphis originally. Not even close. Most of this place is a dump. Probably due to to it's majority population. I'll let you figure that out. You'll see quickly why this place is so low in education and so high in crime. Go ahead. Look it up.

          I don't agree with the Memphis politics. I do agree with the their Stay Strapped or Get Clapped policy though. It's a good one. Gotta stay safe in these streets Willyboob.

          There is no way this person is an actual person that can function in society. Willyboob is proof of what happens during a failed @b0rti0n. Tragic. Trojan owes somebody an apology.

  • Unpopular opinion. I think Brock pushes for QB1. I think Beck is the favorite and likely will start game 1, but even before Kirby's mobility comment, I had this feeling about Brock.

    Yes - Gunner volunteered to get hit, but you think if Beck volunteered Kirby would have allowed him? No. It says a lot about the kid's character and willingness to win, says nothing about his ability.

    I think Brock pushes and loses a close battle. I think Beck has either the best year ever for a UGA QB (statistically) becomes a top pick and leaves, or struggles and loses his job. No in between. Either way i think 2024 under the new playoff format, UGA will have a new QB1 and with the amount of potential games will need both Vangagriff and Gunner.

  • Milton will have a very good year. It highly possible that the SEC East will be decided the next to last game in Knoxville. Go Big Orange!!!

    • Man I hope. With our schedule it looks easy. But SC will be better next season, which is our second bigget threat right next to GA. And then we have ALabama to get through as well.

      Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa though would make a BIG statement.

      • I think the SC loss was more about us and inner team issues at the time than anything they did. I mean where was that team against ND? Plus, the chickens gotta come to knoxville and pay back seems imminent.

    • Without a deep dive, SCar the only game I see Tenn losing potentially even if Milton isn't all that spectacular.

      It's a long ways to go, but very well could come down to UGA vs Tenn in Knoxville.

        • They're going to have to show me they fixed that offensive line before I buy stock in anything Kentucky.

        • KY just looked so bad to finish the year, you have to wonder. Still have talent on that roster. Will see.

        • SC nor UK will be a threat of any kind to TN. We are poised to be that much better on both sides of the ball in 23. NO slight to SC or UK but you are what the majority of the season you have been and we saw that in their game with ND. And UK in its bowl game? Well, there is way more issues than the QB at UK. Looking at what they are adding? There may be some improvement but than again, there isn't much to hang your hat on to say they will be much different from this past season. I know UK had some opt outs for the bowl game but not even a point against Iowa isn't a tweak fix, it's feels like slightly more.

        • Sorry Orion, but I can't go there with you. The O-line has a lot of improving to do, and I'm on the pessimistic side that the necessary improvements will be made during the offseason. Do I think they will improve? Yes, but I a this point I don't think they can improve to the level they need so that the offense can effectively make use of WRs Key, Brown and Robinson. Even if the o-line does take a big step forward, we really don't have a proven power RB in the backfield to complement the passing game. On the plus side for the passing game, Leary is suppose to have a quick release which should work well for short and intermediate routes, but I don't think he will have the time to sit in the pocket and wait for the deep routes to open up.

      • Honestly Jay, I think so too. As far as Kentucky, they've already started the regression to their mean and I don't think '23 will be any different. The East definitely will be decided between Georgia and Tennessee - but I can't see anybody stopping Georgia again. Not in 2023, but after that it's up for grabs.

        • We'll have a much better handle on who TN and UGA are by the time their game rolls around. SB's management of the offense I feel won't be replace with equal execution with any UGA QB this season. From UGA, I think we might finally get a chance to see a more typical passing offense that uses it's WR's more. But those issues that newer QB's have, no matter how many years you were on the bench and in the system make. Nothing replaces game time experience. So by next to the last game played, we'll have a sense who is whom etc.

        • Roger that, gwhite. At the end of the proverbial day, we're all just opining and speculating at this point anyway.

          Tell you what though - two teams impressed me to the core as far back as last spring, Georgia and Tennessee. OK, the Vols had a couple of brain cramps along the way - didn't see that coming, but that doesn't make the turnaround any less impressive. Georgia? The facts speak for themselves.

          Hey, while the Gators are rebuilding for the next couple of years, you take your SEC pleasure where you can!

  • Mike Wright to Miss State will be interesting down the road and I firmly believe Jake Garcia will push for/win the Mizzou QB competition

  • Carson Beck did look sharp in the passing game, and he seems to have a good understanding of Monken's offense.

    Beck's mobility will be something to watch for. Kirby has stated that he values a dual-threat QB.

    • I feel the same way. Sanders is talented, but his 2022 ESPN passer rating was 128.3. In comparison, Dart's 2022 ESPN passer rating was 143.6. While Sanders has more overall playing experience than Dart, Dart played better overall last year and has one year under his belt in Kiffin's system. IT appears to be more of a toss-up with the very slight edge going to Dart.

      • Dart benefited from a great run game and O-line that will be returning next year. He will need to make year 2 progression under Kiffin like Corral did if he wants to start again (and I hope he does). Otherwise I think Sanders will know how to win with that run game, o-line, and incoming wide outs.

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