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SEC Football: Assessing the top QBs from the 2016 recruiting class

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:44 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Erich Hilkert/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

The 2016 SEC football quarterback recruiting class included multiple quarterbacks who started for SEC teams in 2016 — who are the best?

In the hyper-competitive recruiting world of college football, it is becoming more common to see true freshman start in season one, even at the all-important quarterback position.

As the 2017 season rapidly approaches, it is natural to ask: What happened to the big recruits from 2016? Did they start? Will they start in 2017?

At the top

Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) moves in the pocket during the second quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Two quarterbacks stood well above the rest in the 2016 class and both quarterbacks chose to attend SEC schools. There wasn't much separation between Shea Patterson and Jacob Eason. Both quarterbacks were five-star prospects, although each quarterback possesses different physical attributes and a different playing style.

Eason struggled with taking snaps under center, so Georgia tried to accommodate by using the shotgun more than customary. With Eason having a full offseason to work on taking snaps under center while familiar with the playbook, he should take a step forward in 2017. He was one of the few 2016 quarterback recruits who started nearly every game during the 2016 season. Eason is more of a traditional pocket passer with a rifle arm.

At this point, he hasn't lived up to his top billing, but he has plenty of time to get there. He showed plenty of potential while starting 13 games. Eason threw for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns. The quality of his receivers should improve in 2017.

Patterson received less opportunity than Eason because Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze hoped to redshirt Patterson while he learned behind senior Chad Kelly. Unfortunately, Kelly suffered a season-ending injury and the No. 1-rated quarterback of the 2016 class went into action. He had an impressive debut in a win against Texas A&M. Patterson performed reasonably well in the Egg Bowl loss to close out the season, although in between, his performance against Vanderbilt was genuinely bad.

In a 38-17 loss, Patterson did throw two touchdowns to zero interceptions, but he also only completed 20-of-42 passes. Admittedly, a significant portion of his 54.5 completion rate had to do with dropped passes. Like Eason, the quality of Patterson's receivers should improve in 2017. In 2016, Patterson showed flashes. The 2017 season should offer a chance to demonstrate flashes on a more consistent basis.

Apr 7, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) warms up prior to the orange and blue debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Near the top

Two quarterbacks who were highly touted, although not at the same level as Eason and Patterson, didn't play a single snap in 2016. Four-star recruits Feleipe Franks of Florida and Jarrett Guarantano of Tennessee redshirted their freshman seasons.

Franks was extremely raw coming out of high school and most figured it would be at least a season before he competed for a starting position. Following the surprise transfer of former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, it remains to be seen whether Franks will get a shot to start in 2017. Zaire only has three starts under his belt, but that is more than Franks.

Furthermore, Zaire had plenty of suitors, so Florida must have conveyed a legitimate chance to compete for a starting role. Prior to Zaire's transfer, the starting job appeared to be in Franks' favor with senior Luke Del Rio holding a reasonable though unlikely chance. Even if Zaire wins the starting job, Florida fans can expect Franks to receive reps as a backup and possibly push Zaire to earn the starting role.

Meanwhile, Guarantano is in a similar position at Tennessee. Guarantano redshirted last season with senior Joshua Dobbs the team's clear starter and Quinten Dormady the clear backup. Because of his experience, Dormady is the early frontrunner for the starting job this season, although the Tennessee staff gave Guarantano plenty of reps in practice and word is he is pushing Dormady for the starting job. He will likely begin the season as Tennessee's backup, but he should earn game reps and make the Tennessee staff reconsider his standing if Dormady should falter.

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) throws against the Clemson Tigers during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Less-heralded, but the best at this point

The two best quarterbacks from the 2016 class as of now are South Carolina's Jake Bentley and Alabama's Jalen Hurts. Bentley and Hurts were both four-star recruits, but neither was as highly rated as Eason, Patterson, Franks or Guarantano.

While Bentley essentially only started half of the 2016 season, he threw for 1,420 yards and had the highest completion percentage (65.8) in the SEC among statistical qualifiers. Bentley had the fifth-highest quarterback rating among SEC quarterbacks.

He took an alarmingly high number of sacks (24), fourth most in the SEC. South Carolina's offensive line is partly to blame. Still, Bentley needs to get the ball out sooner.

Hurts is impressive on this list because he showed tremendous poise in 2016, something necessary for the expectations that come with playing for Alabama. He had the sixth-highest quarterback rating in the SEC, just behind Bentley.

Producing 36 combined touchdowns was Hurts' most impressive stat, third in the SEC behind senior Joshua Dobbs and sophomore Nick Fitzgerald. He threw the third-highest number of touchdowns in the SEC behind Dobbs and Austin Allen (and tied with Drew Lock).

While Hurts only threw nine interceptions, he must cut down on the fumbles. He fumbled the ball 11 times in 2016.

All in all, it is still way too early to accurately assess the 2016 SEC quarterback class. That said, it is clear the 2016 quarterback class is full of talent, talent that will emerge more fully in the 2017 season.

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