SEC quarterback rankings: Where does John Mateer fit in with Arch Manning & Co. in 2025?
Ryan AberThe Oklahoman
NORMAN — Now that Quinn Ewers has declared for the NFL Draft, opening the door for Arch Manning to start for Texas next season, the quarterback picture in the SEC for 2025 is gaining clarity.
Among the newcomers expected to start next season are Washington State transfer John Mateer at OU and Jackson Arnold, who transferred from the Sooners, at Auburn.
There will also be new players taking over, with Austin Simmons expected to replace Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss and Gunner Stockton taking over for Carson Beck at Georgia.
But at the top of the heap for next season are the returners, including LSU’s Garrett Mussmeier, Florida’s DJ Lagway and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers among others.
Where does the Sooners’ Mateer stack up?
Here are The Oklahoman’s rankings of the SEC’s quarterbacks for 2025:
1. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Nussmeier was excellent in 2024, completing 64.2% of his passes for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first season as the Tigers’ starter. Nussmeier did throw 12 interceptions, but had just one over the last four games showing his continued growth. LSU also added Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr. in the portal.
2. DJ Lagway, Florida
When Lagway took over for the injured Graham Mertz in mid-October, the Gators took off, going 5-1 to close the season including wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Tulane. The freshman threw for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Lagway, who averaged 16.7 yards per completion, figures to make significant strides in his first full season as the starter.3. Arch Manning, Texas
After two seasons as Quinn Ewers’ backup, Manning will take over as the Longhorns’ QB1 next season. He provided a glimpse into his progression while Manning was injured in 2024, throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns with just two interceptions. He completed 67.8% of his passes. He also became a situational replacement as a runner, with 25 carries for 108 yards and four touchdowns.More:OU football transfer portal tracker: Sooners land OSU's Kendal Daniels
4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers was one of the biggest surprises this season, taking over the job as a redshirt freshman and leading the Gamecocks to nine wins for the first time since 2017 and to the brink of the College Football Playoffs. Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions and ran for 674 yards and seven touchdowns.
5. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee
Much was expected from Iamaleava in 2024 and he mostly delivered, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions. While Tennessee’s offense sputtered a bit near the end of the season but that was more on the Volunteers’ struggles to protect Iamaleava than on the redshirt freshman.More:Curtis Lofton steps down as OU football general manager after less than a year in role
6. John Mateer, OU
Mateer was excellent for Washington State after two seasons behind Cam Ward. The Little Elm, Texas, product threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns with just seven interceptions and ran for 826 yards and 21 touchdowns. Landing Mateer was one of the Sooners’ biggest wins of the offseason, pairing with his Cougars’ offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle in Norman.
7. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Pavia was the biggest surprise in the SEC in 2024, leading the Commodores to their first bowl game since 2018. Pavia’s eligibility looked to be out before being granted an injunction that barred the NCAA from enforcing eligibility restrictions related to Pavia’s time in junior college. Now he’ll return after throwing for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also ran for 801 yards and eight touchdowns.8. Austin Simmons, Ole Miss
After backing up Jaxson Dart as a redshirt freshman this season, Simmons will take over as the Rebels’ starter next season. He was just 19 of 32 for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions this season. Simmons, who is also a left-handed pitcher for Ole Miss, was a four-star who was initially in the 2025 class before reclassifying to the 2023 class.9. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
After backing up Carson Beck the last two seasons, Stockton was forced into bigger action when Beck was injured in the first half of the SEC Championship Game. In the College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame, Stockton was 20 of 32 for 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.10. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
While the Aggies surged in the immediate aftermath of Reed taking over for Connor Weigman, then struggled late in the season, Reed was much better late than he was earlier. He finished throwing for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. Seventh-year transfer Jacob Zeno offers experience behind Reed and Brady Hart is a highly touted prospect but Zeno’s upside doesn’t match Reed’s and Hart is just 16 so needs some time to develop before taking over.11. Taylen Green, Arkansas
After three seasons at Boise State, Green flourished in Fayetteville last season, completing more than 60% of his passes for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions and ran for 602 yards and eight scores. The Razorbacks don’t have much experience behind him with KJ Jackson and Blake Boda having appeared in just one game each, but there is talent there and with signees Madden Iamaleava and Grayson Wilson.More:Here's why a 9-game SEC football schedule seems less likely after this season | Adams
12. Jackson Arnold, Auburn
The TIgers’ offense was boom or bust this season, struggling with turnovers for much of the year. Enter Arnold, who had a rough first season as a starter with 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions though he struggled with ball-security issues. Arnold rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Much of his struggles were tied into the lack of protection from OU’s offensive line and a lack of targets among wide receivers. Arnold still has the potential that made him one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the 2023 class.
