SEC Football: Ranking the Top 10 quarterbacks entering 2023 season
By Matt Melton
4. Devin Leary – Kentucky Wildcats
2022 Stats: 61.1 CMP%, 1,265 yards, 11:4 TD:INT, 23 carries, 1 yard, 3 TD across 6 games
A new face to SEC football this season, Leary enters the 2023 campaign at No. 4 after transferring to Kentucky from NC State during the offseason, where he was a multi-year starter for the Wolfpack. One of the SEC’s more experienced quarterbacks, Leary is entering his sixth season at the college level, one of which he redshirted, owning career marks of a 60.2 CMP% with 6,807 passing yards and a 62:16 TD:INT ratio, along with having rushed for five touchdowns.
Leary comes to Kentucky however after appearing in only six games a year ago due to injury, but was still solid for NC State by completing 61.1% of passes for 1,265 yards and an 11:4 TD:INT ratio, as well as rushing for three touchdowns. Now back to full health however, Leary is certain to make a splash for the Wildcats this fall, and could end up being one of the most impactful transfers of the entire offseason.
3. KJ Jefferson – Arkansas Razorbacks
2022 Stats: 68 CMP%, 2,636 yards, 24:5 TD:INT, 158 carries, 640 yards, 9 TD across 11 games
Beginning the top three is Jefferson, who is easily one of the SEC’s most experienced quarterbacks entering the 2023 campaign, which is also his fifth at Arkansas, as well as third as the Razorbacks full-time starter. Having seen action in each of his four prior seasons in Fayetteville however, the redshirt senior holds impressive career totals of a 65.5 CMP% for 5,804 passing yards and a 48:10 TD:INT ratio, while also having rushed for 1,429 yards and 19 touchdowns on 362 attempts.
Jefferson is coming off a season in which he missed some games due to injury, but would still post a strong 2022 campaign by completing 68% of passes for 2,636 yards with a 24:5 TD:INT ratio, as well as rushing for 640 yards and nine touchdowns on 158 attempts. Ranking top five in the SEC in passing touchdowns, Jefferson is cemented as one of the conference’s premier quarterbacks as we enter 2023, with the 6-foot-3, 246 pounder certain to make a significant impact in the running game as well.