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SEC Football Power Rankings: 10 best quarterbacks entering 2016

By Collin Wieder

Sep 19, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) throws a touchdown pass to Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Preston Williams (7) (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Western Carolina Catamounts at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) throws a touchdown pass to Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Preston Williams (7) (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Western Carolina Catamounts at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 6, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen (8) looks to pass defended by Nicholls State Colonels linebacker John Williamson (44) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Nicholls State 73-7. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen (8) looks to pass defended by Nicholls State Colonels linebacker John Williamson (44) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Nicholls State 73-7. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Arkansas football won’t see a change in the last name on the quarterback depth chart. Brandon Allen’s little brother, Austin Allen, takes over the Arkansas program. The junior signal caller joins a young offense. Fortunately for him, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema loves to play SEC football by pounding with the run game.

Bielema has established a decent program at Arkansas. The running game has averaged over 200-yards per game during his three years in Fayetteville. The passing game is usually not Bielema’s strong suit. Outside of a few years at Wisconsin, he just never got a lot of great production from the quarterback position.

Since his move to the SEC, the passing game improved. Brandon Allen showed a significant progression from 2013 to 2015. His TD-to-INT ratio went 13-to-10, 20-to-5 and 30-to-8 respectively.

Austin Allen will reap the benefits of a newer Arkansas offense. Not to mention, he’s got All-SEC receiver Drew Morgan back. He’s coming off a breakout year where he caught a team-leading 63 passes for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns. Allen will certainly rely on him in 2016.

In the backfield, Allen lost Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Again, Bielema’s genius in the run game makes this a plug-and-play position. Senior Kody Walker is back, though. He rushed for 394 yards and six touchdowns and they’ll employ a strength in numbers approach in the backfield. There are players around Allen to make him a solid starter in the SEC. Furthermore, his defense returns nine starters, so the team can lift him up on a rough outing.

Next: 6. Alabama's Starting Quarterback

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