By The summer months are here, and that means two things for college football fans: recruiting buzz and preseason predictions.
Preseason publications are beginning to make their way to newsstands and supermarkets everywhere, including Athlon Sports, whose College Football Preview magazine hit the shelves earlier this month. The magazine is filled with plenty of preseason notes on conference realignment, coaching changes, and College Football Playoff predictions.
Athlon Sports is also known for its extensive team breakdowns. The team at Athlon Sports has broken down each position unit within the SEC and has given each team within the new-look conference a ranking. Where does Auburn fall in Athlon’s SEC preseason quarterback unit rankings?
Payton Thorne returns to the helm as starting quarterback for the Tigers this season and looks to progress from his 1,755-yard performance in 2023, where he passed for just 16 touchdowns. Hugh Freeze has full confidence in Thorne’s ability and has added more reliable targets at receiver to boost his production as a passer.
Does Athlon Sports expect Thorne to take a giant step forward in 2024? Here’s a look at Athlon Sports’ 2024 preseason SEC quarterback rankings.
16
Vanderbilt
Brian Bishop-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Diego Pavia (2023 stats at New Mexico State: 221-366 | 2,973 yards | 26 TD | 9 INT)
Backup: Nate Johnson
2023 passing average: 223.67 YPG (9th in SEC)
15
Mississippi State
Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Blake Shapen (2023 stats at Baylor: 184-298 | 2,188 yards | 13 TD | 3 INT)
Backup: Chris Parson
2023 passing average: 181.83 YPG (13th in SEC)
14
South Carolina
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: LaNorris Sellers (2023 stats: 4-4 | 86 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT)
Backup: Robby Ashford
2023 passing average: 278 YPG (3rd in SEC)
13
Arkansas
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Taylen Green (2023 stats at Boise State: 121-212 | 1,752 yards | 11 TD | 9 INT)
Backup: Malachi Singleton
2023 passing average: 187.5 YPG (12th in SEC)
Visit Razorbacks Wire for the latest Arkansas football news
12
Kentucky
© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
Projected starter: Brock Vandagriff (2023 stats at Georgia: 12-18 | 165 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT)
Backup: Beau Allen
2023 passing average: 211.6 YPG (11th in SEC)
Visit UK Wildcats Wire for the latest Kentucky football news
11
Auburn
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Projected starter: Payton Thorne (2023 stats: 162-265 | 1,755 yards | 16 TD | 10 INT)
Backup: Hank Brown
2023 passing average: 162.23 YPG (14th in SEC)
10
Oklahoma
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Jackson Arnold (2023 stats: 44-69 | 563 yards | 4 TD | 3 INT)
Backup: Casey Thompson
2023 average: 324.8 YPG (1st in Big 12)
Visit Sooners Wire for the latest news surrounding Oklahoma football
9
Florida
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Graham Mertz (2023 stats: 261-358 | 2,903 yards | 20 TD | 3 INT)
Backup: DJ Lagway
2023 passing average: 259.2 YPG (7th in SEC)
Visit Gators Wire for more Florida football news
8
Texas A&M
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Conner Weigman (2023 stats: 82-119 | 979 yards | 8 TD | 2 INT)
Backup: Jaylen Henderson
2023 passing average: 270.7 YPG (5th in SEC)
Visit Aggies Wire for the latest Texas A&M football news
7
LSU
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Garrett Nussmeier (2023 stats: 48-78 | 591 yards | 4 TD | 1 INT)
Backup: AJ Swann
2023 passing average: 338.92 YPG (1st in SEC)
Visit LSU Wire for the latest LSU football news
6
Missouri
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Projected starter: Brady Cook (2023 stats: 244-369 | 3,317 yards | 21 TD | 6 INT)
Backup: Drew Pyne
2023 passing average: 262.3 YPG (6th in SEC)
5
Tennessee
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Nico Iamaleava #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up prior to the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camping World Stadium on January 01, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Projected starter: Nico Iamaleava (2023 stats: 28-45 | 314 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT)
Backup: Gaston Moore
2023 passing average: 243.2 YPG (8th in SEC)
Visit Vols Wire for Tennessee football news
4
Ole Miss
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Projected starter: Jaxson Dart (2023 stats: 223-358 | 3,364 yards | 23 TD | 5 INT)
Backup: Walker Howard
2023 passing average: 285.6 YPG (3rd in SEC)
3
Alabama
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Projected starter: Jalen Milroe (2023 stats: 187-284 | 2,834 yards | 23 TD | 6 INT)
Backup: Ty Simpson
2023 passing average: 220.4 YPG (10th in SEC)
Visit Roll Tide Wire for the latest Alabama football news
2
Georgia
Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Projected starter: Carson Beck (2023 stats: 302-407 | 3,941 yards | 24 TD | 6 INT)
Backup: Gunner Stockton
2023 average: 305.2 YPG (2nd in SEC)
Visit UGA Wire for the latest Georgia football news
1
Texas
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Projected starter: Quinn Ewers (2023 stats: 272-394 | 3,479 yards | 22 TD | 6 INT)
Backup: Arch Manning
2023 average: 289.1 YPG (3rd in Big 12)
Visit Longhorns Wire for the latest Texas football news
