The SEC's 5 most heated quarterback competitions during preseason

Just a few months ago, LSU had one of the most interesting offseason quarterback competitions among SEC teams.

That changed quickly. T.J. Finley transferred to Auburn in May, and Myles Brennan broke his left-nonthrowing arm while fishing earlier this month.

That leaves Max Johnson as LSU’s starting quarterback. He might have won the job anyway, having led the Tigers to back-to-back victories in two starts to culminate last season. Freshman Garrett Nussmeier will be Johnson’s backup, at least until Brennan recovers from his injury.  

Although LSU’s quarterback drama melted quickly, intriguing competitions remain elsewhere in the SEC.

Here are the SEC’s top five quarterback competitions, with less than three weeks remaining until season openers.

Texas A&M

The favorite: Haynes King

The contender: Zach Calzada

The skinny: King is a former four-star recruit and one of the top-ranked dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2020 class. He played sparingly behind Kellen Mond last season, attempting just four passes. Calzada has had an additional year in the Aggies’ system, but he’s appeared in just three games through two seasons and wasn’t as highly touted as a recruit. Both quarterbacks move well enough, but King is more of a polished talent when it comes to extending plays with his legs.

Coach speak: “Zach is a very talented man, can throw the football very well, but everybody gets caught (up with) his arm. Zach is a really good athlete and can run around. I think Zach is an NFL talent. I think Haynes King is an NFL talent. Haynes can really throw the football. He's smart, he's competitive, he can run, just like Zach.” – Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher

Tennessee

The favorite: Joe Milton

The contenders: Harrison Bailey and Hendon Hooker

The skinny: First-year coach Josh Heupel added Milton, a Michigan transfer, after spring practice. He was inconsistent in 2020 throughout five starts with the Wolverines, but Milton has a strong arm – which Heupel likes – and he says he’s recovered from a thumb injury that hampered him last season. Fellow transfer Hendon Hooker, a 15-game starter at Virginia Tech, is a dual threat who topped the competition throughout the spring. But Bailey played well in the spring game and appears to have improved after starting Tennessee’s final three games in 2020 as a true freshman.

Coach speak: (Milton is) excited to show us … that he can take the next step – as a passer, as a runner, as a quarterback, as a guy that can lead a big-time college football program to where it should be.” – Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh

TOPPMEYER:Why Josh Heupel should embrace a 2-QB system at Tennessee, even if he's leery of it

Kentucky

The favorite: Will Levis

The contenders: Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen

The skinny: Kentucky added Levis, a former Penn State backup, as a transfer in February, and not simply to add another body to the competition. Levis’ arm strength puts him atop the competition. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen recruited Levis out of high school while Coen was Maine’s offensive coordinator. Gatewood, who is a good runner, and Allen could not unseat the since-departed Terry Wilson last year. But they have the advantage of learning Coen’s system throughout the spring. Levis didn’t enroll until this summer.

Coach speak: “We have a lot to look at. It's nice to have options. I feel very good about those three.” – Wildcats coach Mark Stoops

Auburn

The favorite: Bo Nix

The contender: TJ Finley

The skinny: Nix is a two-year starter and received praise throughout the spring from new coach Bryan Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. A former five-star recruit, Nix threatens defenses as a runner, but he must improve his passing consistency. He completed fewer than 60% of his passes in each of the past two seasons. Harsin made Nix one of Auburn’s two representatives at SEC Media Days, a nod to his place atop the quarterback competition. Adding Finley from LSU was a smart move to provide an experienced backup, but this is Nix’s job unless he falters.

Coach speak: “I’ve been extremely impressed with how hard (Nix) works. … I’ve been impressed with Bo. He’s hungry. He wants to win. He loves Auburn University. And I think all those things are important.” – Bobo

AUBURN ANALYSIS:Why Bryan Harsin's Auburn football offense might differ from what you'd expect

Mississippi State

The favorite: Will Rogers

The contenders: Jack Abraham and Chance Lovertich

The skinny: Judging by the spring game, it looked like Rogers would have to battle throughout the preseason to hold off Southern Miss transfer Jack Abraham. But Abraham has been limited in practice so far during the preseason for unspecified reasons, putting Rogers squarely into the driver’s seat after he started the final six games of last season as a true freshman. Lovertich, a South Alabama transfer, is the top backup option if Abraham is unavailable long-term.

RECRUITING:'Fascinated by Leach': How Mississippi State football re-opened a recruiting pipeline to Texas

Coach speak: “In leadership, (Rogers has) come a long, long way as far as elevating the play of others. He seems more consistent, obviously, than he was starting as a true freshman.” – Bulldogs coach Mike Leach

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.