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In contrast to Michigan, the Longhorns' SEC opponents have quarterback figured out

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•07/03/24•

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The defending national champion Michigan Wolverines are in a bit of a quarterback conundrum. The opposite can be said for nearly every Southeastern Conference team on Texas’ schedule.

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As things stand in early July ahead of the peak of talkin’ season with media days, nearly every Southeastern Conference program knows who its first-team quarterback is two months before the season. A number of teams picked up transfers they plan to start this season. Others, like Texas, understand exactly who they want to be taking the first snap come Week 1 because they were already on the roster last year.

Here’s a look at the QB situation around the league, specifically as it pertains to teams from the Longhorns’ 2024 schedule.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Blake Shapen

  • 2023 (Baylor): 184-for-298, 2188 yards, 13 touchdowns, three interceptions, four rushing touchdowns
  • Career: 479-for-752, 5574 yards, 36 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, six rushing touchdowns

Shapen looks to start anew after several seasons with the Baylor Bears. He’ll be directing traffic for Jeff Lebby in his veer-and-shoot offense.

Oklahoma Sooners

Jackson Arnold

  • 2023: 44-for-69, 563 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions, one rushing touchdown

Arnold saw some action during his first season with the Sooners, including the bowl game loss versus Arizona. Once Dillon Gabriel sought another destination, Brent Venables and company began the Arnold era. Arnold will be working with Joe Jon Finley and Seth Littrell, who are new to their roles but familiar faces around the OU program.

Georgia Bulldogs

Carson Beck

  • 2023: 302-for-417, 3941 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions, four rushing touchdowns
  • Career: 338-for-475, 4437 yards, 30 touchdowns, eight interceptions, four rushing touchdowns

The 2024 Heisman frontrunner, Beck turned in a monster 2023 and returned in the hopes of leading the Bulldogs to the SEC and national titles.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Diego Pavia

  • 2023 (New Mexico State): 221-for-366, 2973 yards, 26 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 176 carries, 923 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns
  • Career: 322-for-556, 4423 yards, 39 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 269 carries, 1431 yards, 13 rushing touchdowns

The ‘Dores landed Pavia out of the portal, and it’s not a stretch to say he has SEC experience after leading the Aggies past Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It’ll be an uphill battle for Clark Lea this year, but Pavia will have Jerry Kill in Nashville to help him adjust and try to make the most of the season.

Florida Gators

Graham Mertz

  • 2023: 261-for-358, 2903 yards, 20 touchdowns, three interceptions, four rushing touchdowns
  • Career: 721-for-1131, 8308 yards, 58 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 12 rushing touchdowns

Mertz flew a little under the radar last year in how well he took care of the ball, but other Florida storylines took the spotlight away from him. Mertz is set to start again but how much time DJ Lagway earns is a major storyline.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Taylen Green

  • 2023 (Boise State): 121-for-212, 1752 yards, 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 78 carries, 436 yards, nine touchdowns
  • Career: 287-for-483, 3794 yards, 25 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 164 carries, 1026 yards, 19 touchdowns

After KJ Jefferson moved on from the program following a prolific career in Fayetteville, Green transferred in to work with Sam Pittman and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. A talent that helped lead Boise State to the Mountain West title despite a middling season by blue field standards, Green might be one of the top players on a depleted offense.

Kentucky Wildcats

Brock Vandagriff

  • 2023 (Georgia): 12-for-18, 165 yards, two touchdowns
  • Career: 12-for-21, 165 yards, two touchdowns

A five-star in the 2021 class, Vandagriff left after he saw the path to playing time in 2024 was yet again blocked by Beck. Vandagriff thought he was going to be working with Liam Cohen, but Cohen left and was replaced by Bush Hadman. Part of a quality group, Vandagriff looks to lead the Cats to 10 wins for the third time in seven seasons.

Texas A&M Aggies

Conner Weigman

  • 2023: 82-for-119, 979 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions
  • Career: 155-for-251, 1875 yards, 16 touchdowns, two interceptions

Can Weigman stay healthy? That’s the question the former five-star must answer heading into this third year in College Station. He’ll likely be in a more modern offense with Collin Klein, and the Aggies are expecting him to do big things during Mike Elko‘s first season.

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