Georgia football: SEC East quarterbacks will be a tougher test in 2022
Georgia football faces a tougher test from SEC East quarterbacks in 2022 than it did on its 2021 title run.
The transfer portal, another year of experience from rival arms, and defensive stars in the NFL Draft figure to make Georgia’s chances at a repeat that much harder.
Here’s a look at each SEC East opponent, how its quarterback did against Georgia in 2021, and what to expect next season.
FLORIDA – ANTHONY RICHARDSON HAS GATORS’ QUARTERBACK JOB TO HIMSELF NOW
Anthony Richardson‘s stats against Georgia in 2021 underperformed even the most conservative predictions.
Dan Mullen tinkered with his quarterback competition, and it cost him in Jacksonville. Emory Jones had to come in when Richardson got benched, and he actually played better than AR15 did.
Richardson went 12/20 passing for 82 yards, 4.1 yards per attempt, no touchdowns, two interceptions, a fumble and a 44.0 QBR.
Of all the SEC East quarterbacks on this list, Richardson played the worst against Georgia.
He’s better than he played in Jacksonville, and he’ll have an entire offseason to be the Gators’ guy. The best news for Richardson:
Nakobe Dean will be on a NFL roster.
The bad news for Richardson:
Nolan Smith will still be on Georgia’s football roster.
KENTUCKY – WILL LEVIS
Georgia fans need to start preparing themselves for Kentucky football. The Wildcats and Mark Stoops mean business in 2022.
Will Levis had the best QBR against Georgia in SEC East play last season (85.9).
Kentucky’s quarterback went 32/42 for 192 yards and two touchdowns on the Dawgs Between the Hedges.
Now he has a new quarterback coach with the hire of former 49ers assistant Rich Scangarello. Apparently the Wildcats love him.
If Kentucky is going to be a football school in 2022, Will Levis will be a huge reason why.
MISSOURI – COMMITTEE OF QUARTERBACKS (and Jayden Daniels in the transfer portal?)
Missouri tried a rotation of Brady Cook and Tyler Macon in Athens last season.
Cook went 14/19 for 78 yards with a 79.3 QBR, and 32 rushing yards. Macon was 6/13 for 74 yards, with a 74.3 QBR and 42 yards on the ground.
Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is in the portal now, and Missouri reportedly leads for his services. Daniels would be a step up from both Cook and Macon, at least on paper.
Like Macon, Daniels was a four-star recruit in high school, but Daniels ranked third at the quarterback position and was the #55 overall player in the country coming out. Macon was 46th and 425th, respectively.
If Daniels comes to Mizzou, Georgia can expect to face a skillset similar (not a carbon copy) to Bryce Young’s: a shifty string bean in the pocket with a silky smooth rocket of an arm.
He also rushed for 710 yards last season.
Daniels did show the tendency to turn it over. He threw 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2021. At any rate, the Tigers could have a competitive showdown at quarterback in 2022.
SOUTH CAROLINA – LUKE DOTY / NEW SEC QUARTERBACK SPENCER RATTLER
Say what you will about Spencer Rattler being a bust of a Heisman Trophy candidate last season.
South Carolina just doesn’t get quarterback talent like this in Columbia, historically. Rattler was a five-star and the nation’s best quarterback coming out of high school.
Great work from Shane Beamer to recruit Rattler to face SEC competition.
Luke Doty went 13/26 for 153 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 49.9 QBR against Georgia football’s bone-crushing defense last season.
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Something about Spencer Rattler most likely being the quarterback in Columbia against the Dawgs next season seems like it could be an issue.
It’ll be Georgia’s first SEC game, on the road, in that juiced up environment.
Rattler will have already played at Arkansas to get a gauge of SEC competition.
The Dawgs will either continue a ‘welcome to the SEC’ party after the Hogs start it, or Rattler will start to feel right at home as the Gamecocks’ quarterback. Can’t wait to see it.
TENNESSEE – HENDON HOOKER
Tennessee and Hendon Hooker were in for an incredibly rude awakening against Georgia on Rocky Top.
Josh Heupel went with a blackout. The Vols were trendy upset picks. Tennessee fans wanted a ‘Hendon Hooker for Heisman’ campaign.
The Vols’ hurry-up offense got out to a white-lightnin’-quick start.
Then Georgia’s flu-stricken defensive units settled in, and Hooker eventually got benched. He finished the day 24/37 for 244 yards, one touchdown, one pick, and a 70.5 QBR.
Hooker already looked amazing last season in Josh Heupel’s system. Many of the Dawgs’ second-string (and in some cases, third-string) players were still able to contain him throughout the night, and get six sacks on Rocky Top.
Now, a lot of those guys are starters. I still think Hooker will be a dangerous and improved adversary for the Dawgs in Athens.
VANDERBILT – MIKE WRIGHT
Bless your heart, Mike Wright. Jalen Carter will still be wearing a red helmet with a ‘G’ on it next season. It doesn’t matter what Mike Wright‘s stats were last year.
Bless Vandy’s heart.
Even if most of the SEC East’s quarterbacks are better in 2022, it could be a net positive for Georgia
Georgia dominated its division opponents’ quarterbacks last season. The Dawgs hadn’t faced anything like Bryce Young until the SEC Championship (26/44 421 yards, 3 TD, 98.1 QBR), and they were obviously under-prepared for the challenge.
If Georgia can navigate its way to the SEC Championship game again next season, no matter who it faces in Atlanta, the Dawgs ought to be much more battle-tested by December than they were in 2021.
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