SEC Football: Top 10 quarterbacks returning for 2022 season

[caption id="attachment_19958" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrnAs we begin to look ahead and preview the upcoming 2022 SEC Football season, what better position to start with than at quarterback?rn Top 10 SEC Football quarterbacks returning for the 2022 season rnA group that includes the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, numerous experienced starters, and even a few offseason transfers, the talent at the quarterback position across the SEC certainly stands out when compared to some other conferences across college football.rnrnTaking a deeper look at that group as well, how would you rank the Top 10 SEC Football quarterbacks entering the 2022 season? Well, here are our rankings compiled by our team here at Southbound &amp; Down, each of which can be found below.rn rn t Matt Melton - @matt_melton20 rn t Andrew Dutkievic - @LatiNo_Chill rn t Ryan Broyles rn t Patrick Previty - @PatrickPrevity rn t Ron Wallace - @ronaldwallace rn rnBefore we get to the Top 10 however, here are a few honorable mentions that should be mentioned as well, each of which just missed the list.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Honorable%20Mention" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19956" align="alignnone" width="1600"] LSU Tigers quarterback Myles Brennan (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)[/caption]rn HM. Haynes King - Texas A&amp;M Aggies rnThe redshirt sophomore began the 2021 season as the starter in College Station, but would suffer a season-ending injury in week two against Colorado. Now entering his third season at Texas A&amp;M, King will compete for the Aggies starting job during fall camp alongside LSU transfer Max Johnson and five-star freshman Conner Weigman.rn HM. Myles Brennan - LSU Tigers rnAfter missing all of the 2021 season with an injury, Brennan returns to LSU in 2022 for his sixth season in Baton Rouge. Brennan will be competing for the Tigers starting job during fall camp alongside Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels, four-star freshman Walker Howard, and the returning Garrett Nussmeier.rn HM. Jayden Daniels - LSU Tigers rnOne of the names alongside Brennan in the Tigers quarterback competition, Daniels transferred to LSU during the offseason from Arizona State where he was the Sun Devils starter each of the past three seasons. Daniels enters the 2022 season as LSU's most-experienced quarterback when it comes to in-game action, having thrown for a combined 6,025 yards and 32 touchdowns in his collegiate career, while also having rushed for 1,288 yards and 13 more scores.rn HM. TJ Finley - Auburn Tigers rnAuburn's starter towards the end of the 2021 season, Finley enters the 2022 campaign as the most-experienced option in the Tigers quarterback competition, one that also features Texas A&amp;M transfer Zach Calzada, Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, and four-star freshman Holden Geriner. Finley did show some flashes a year ago with the Tigers, throwing for 827 yards and six touchdowns in limited action.rnrn[nextslide teaser="No.%2010%20-%209" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19815" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 10. Max Johnson - Texas A&amp;M Aggies rnThe arguable favorite entering the fall to win the Texas A&amp;M starting job, Johnson transferred to College Station from LSU in the offseason where he was the Tigers primary starter a year ago. Throwing for a total of 2,815 yards with a 27:6 TD:INT, Johnson completed 60.3% of his passes last season, and comes to Texas A&amp;M as the most-experienced name in the quarterback room.rnrnFor what will be one of the top teams in the SEC this season, all eyes will be on Texas A&amp;M in 2022, with the question of if the Aggies can take the next jump to a national title contender likely depending on the quarterback position. The pressure will be on Johnson should he win the job, but the 6-foot-5 junior is more than capable of helping the Aggies to take that next jump.rn 9. Anthony Richardson - Florida Gators rnOne of the more-intriguing returning quarterbacks in the conference, Richardson enters his redshirt sophomore season in Gainesville arguably cemented as the Gators starter. Looking back at last season as well, the talent and athleticism of Richardson certainly flashed at times when running the ball (401 yards and three touchdowns on 51 attempts) , but the former four-star struggled at times passing, sporting a 6:5 TD:INT with a 59.4% completion percentage in limited action.rnrnAs the Gators enter year one under new head coach Billy Napier, Florida will be relying on a breakout season from Richardson in 2022, a player that has a significant amount of hype entering the year. The talent is 100% there for Richardson to reach that potential as well, meaning that the Florida star could be set for that breakout season in 2022.rnrn[nextslide teaser="No.%208%20-%207" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19847" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 8. Jaxson Dart - Ole Miss Rebels rnThe first SEC Football transfer quarterback in the Top 10, Dart made national headlines this offseason when he transferred to Ole Miss from USC. Regarded as one of the nation's top transfer quarterbacks as well, Dart comes to Oxford after seeing a significant amount of action with the Trojans a year ago as a freshman, throwing for 1,353 yards with a 9:5 TD:INT and a 61.9% completion percentage.rnrnFor an Ole Miss team that brought in upwards of 15 transfers this offseason, Dart may be the biggest name of them all, meaning that the expectations surrounding the sophomore entering 2022 will be high. Dart will still have to beat out the returning Luke Altmyer for the starting job in the fall, and if that happens as most expect, there is no denying how special the USC transfer could be in this Lane Kiffin Ole Miss offense.rn 7. Stetson Bennett - Georgia Bulldogs rnYes, Georgia fans I know what you're likely thinking - isn't No. 7 too-low for Bennett? Well, for a multi-year starter coming off a season in which he led the Bulldogs to a national championship by passing for 2,862 yards with a 29:7 TD:INT and a 64.5% completion percentage, there is an argument to be made for that, but it is also an example of just how deep the quarterback position is in the SEC in 2022.rnrnBennett should enter the 2022 season cemented as Georgia's starting quarterback for the first time in his collegiate career, but similar to the last two years, the gap between the senior and talented backups such as Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff could be slim. Bennett will be the starter however, and with a similar season to a year ago, should help put the Bulldogs in a position to defend their national title come January.rnrn[nextslide teaser="No.%206%20-%205" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19876" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 6. Will Levis - Kentucky Wildcats rnNot only is the previously mentioned Richardson drawing a significant amount of early 2023 NFL Draft buzz, but Levis is another name in that same boat. Entering his second season with the Wildcats after transferring from Penn State last offseason, Levis will be looking to build off his impressive 2021 campaign, one in which he completed 66% of his passes while accounting for 33 total touchdowns.rnrnFor a Kentucky team that is likely to be one of the SEC East's best once again in 2022, the expectations for Levis will be high entering this season, and he will have to do it without his No. 1 option at receiver from a year ago in Wan'Dale Robinson. Combine that with the early 2023 NFL Draft buzz surrounding Levis, and it should make for an interesting 2022 season for the Kentucky starter.rn 5. Spencer Rattler - South Carolina Gamecocks rnThe other SEC Football transfer quarterback to make the Top 10, Rattler comes to South Carolina after three seasons at Oklahoma, one that includes a 2021 campaign in which he was surpassed on the depth chart by now USC starter Caleb Williams. Looking at the time he did play in 2021 however, Rattler completed 74.9% of his passes for an 11:5 TD:INT, coming off a sophomore season in which he was the Sooners full-time starter throwing for 3,031 yards with a 28:7 TD:INT.rnrnA former five-star recruit, the jump that South Carolina makes in year two under head coach Shane Beamer will largely depend on what the Gamecocks get from Rattler at the quarterback position. Yes, he did lose the starting job at Oklahoma, but with the former five-star now cemented as the starter at South Carolina entering the year, don't be shocked if Rattler surprises the college football world with his play in 2022 and catapults himself back up NFL Draft boards.rnrn[nextslide teaser="No.%204%20-%203" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19943" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 4. Will Rogers - Mississippi State Bulldogs rnA player who threw for a total of 4,739 yards with a 36:9 TD:INT a year ago as a sophomore at Mississippi State, Rogers returns for his junior season with the Bulldogs cemented as one of SEC Football's top quarterbacks. Also, if almost passing for 5,000 yards and 36 touchdowns wasn't impressive enough, Rogers also led all of college football with 505 completions a year ago, all the while completing 73.9% of his passes.rnrnA near perfect fit in the Mike Leach "Air Raid" offense at Mississippi State, we have already seen just how good Rogers can be in the pass-heavy offense of the Bulldogs. Yet another year in the Leach system will only prove to benefit Rogers, and based on the amount of opportunities he will have throwing the ball, don't be surprised if the junior is set for another special season in 2022.rn 3. KJ Jefferson - Arkansas Razorbacks rnAfter seeing limited action during his first two seasons in Fayetteville, there are few SEC Football quarterbacks who enjoyed a more-impressive breakout 2021 campaign than Jefferson. Throwing for 2,676 yards with a 21:4 TD:INT, Jefferson would complete 67.3% of his passes for the Razorbacks, while also rushing for 664 yards and six scores.rnrnA player who enjoyed a big breakout 2021 season, the expectations will not only be high surrounding Jefferson entering the 2022 season, but for an Arkansas team overall that went 9-4 a year ago. One of the SEC's top dual-threat quarterbacks at 6-foot-3, don't be surprised at all if Jefferson continues to build off his 2021 season in 2022 as both he and the Razorbacks continue to emerge into the national spotlight.rnrn[nextslide teaser="No.%202%20-%201" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_19954" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 2. Hendon Hooker - Tennessee Volunteers rnWhile the gap on our list between No.'s 2-3 was very slim, the advantage however went to Hooker who returns for his second season in Knoxville as one of the conference's most-experienced quarterbacks. After transferring from Virginia Tech last offseason, Hooker enjoyed a career-year at the helm of the Volunteers offense, completing 68% of his passes for 2,945 yards with a 31:3 TD:INT.rnrnAlso rushing for 600+ yards for the second consecutive season, Hooker proved to be a near perfect fit a year ago in Josh Heupel's offense at Tennessee, and has the potential to put up the exact same numbers once again in 2022. While it could be difficult to duplicate his 31:3 TD:INT mark in particular, Hooker simply has everything needed to be one of the SEC's, if not college football's, top quarterbacks this season.rn 1. Bryce Young - Alabama Crimson Tide rnThe 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young's first year as the starting quarterback at Alabama was nothing short of special. Completing 66.9% of his passes, Young would lead the SEC with 4,872 yards passing and 47 touchdowns, while also receiving numerous other honors that included the Davey O'Brien Award and a consensus All-American.rnrn[story_link_next description="3%20SEC%20quarterbacks%20with%20the%20most%20to%20prove%20in%202022" url="https://southboundanddown.com/2022/06/10/sec-football-3-quarterbacks-most-prove-2022-season/" /]rnrnA no-brainer here at the No. 1 spot, Young is not only the top quarterback returning in SEC Football for the 2022 season, but college football overall. Looking ahead to the 2022 season as well, it feels likely that Young is set for a special junior campaign with the Crimson Tide, one in which the former five-star should be in the mix to win his second Heisman Trophy.

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SEC Football: Top 10 quarterbacks returning for 2022 season

Top 10 SEC Football quarterbacks returning for the 2022 season

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