Where the Experts Rank Devin Leary Among SEC Quarterbacks
During the doldrums of the summer, ranking quarterbacks within a conference is an excellent exercise to produce the hottest takes. Following an exodus of quarterback talent from the SEC’s top programs, there’s a power vacuum that Devin Leary can fill. The NC State transfer produced impressive numbers for the Wolf Pack. If the injury-prone passer can remain healthy, he could play his way into All-SEC contention.
Brandon Walker, Barstool Sports
Brandon Walker is one of the loudest mouths in the South. A Mississippi State fan to the core, he could not resist from throwing his guy just ahead of the Kentucky quarterback.
Disagree? You can tell it right to Brandon Walker’s face when he hosts Kentucky Sports Radio Tuesday, July 11.
SEC Beat Writers
The Herald-Leader’s Jon Hale polled beat writers from each market in the SEC. This exercise gets us closer to a consensus from the experts that cover the sport on a daily basis. The good news: Devin Leary is well thought of around the SEC.
- KJ Jefferson (Arkansas): 59 (8 first place votes)
- Jayden Daniels (LSU): 55 (5)
- Will Rogers (Mississippi State): 42
- Devin Leary (Kentucky): 25
- Spencer Rattler (South Carolina): 16
- Joe Milton (Tennessee): 9 (1)
With new starters emerging in Athens and Tuscaloosa, this group of six stands out among the pack. My list would only slightly shuffle that deck.
- Jayden Daniels
- KJ Jefferson
- Devin Leary
- Will Rogers
- Joe Milton
- Spencer Rattler
Clark Brooks and Charles Power, On3
- Joe Milton
- Devin Leary
- Jayden Daniels
- KJ Jefferson
- Spencer Rattler
- Will Rogers
- Jaxson Dart
- Carson Beck
- Payton Thorne
- Brady Cook
Brad Crawford, 247 Sports
You’ll never believe this, but the President of the Shane Beamer Fan Club doesn’t believe in the Kentucky Wildcats. Very few rank Devin Leary outside of the top five in the league. Crawford pegs Leary at No. 8 and gave him a B+ for his performance in the spring.
The biggest question entering spring for Devin Leary, who transferred from NC State as one of the portal’s top quarterbacks this cycle, was his availability after recovering from a torn pectoral muscle last October. He answered the bell for the Wildcats as a full-go over the last 15 practices and instantly became one of the team’s leaders. That’s a great sign for a team needing just that at the position following the exit of multi-year starter and projected first-round pick Will Levis. At full strength, Leary is one of the nation’s top passers. He threw 35 touchdown passes as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 and 11 scores last season before being sidelined with the chest injury.
Brad Crawford, 247 Sports
Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports
Just like the list in 247 Sports, the Athlon Sports preseason production ranks South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler ahead of Devin Leary. The new Kentucky comes in at No. 5, one spot behind Rattler. Despite the change in scenery, Athlon does not believe there will be a steep learning curve ahead of the 2023 season.
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“Leary has to adapt to a new conference and system but will have one of the SEC’s top wide receiver trios — Barion Brown, Dane Key and Tayvion Robinson — to throw to this fall.”
Cam Mellor, College Football Network
The former film grader at Pro Football Focus believes Leary has put out some of the best tape among SEC quarterbacks. The Kentucky quarterback is ranked No. 2, second only to Mississippi State’s Will Rogers.
“Leary entered the picture as easily one of the top signal-callers in the SEC, as he offers up tremendous arm talent and a keen understanding of requisite QB fundamentals to win ball games,” writes Mellor.
“In a new environment and looking for a chance at redemption, there are few better than Leary in college football in 2023.”
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