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Spring QB Rankings

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com
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Ranking the quarterbacks of the ACC and SEC as spring football settles in.

Spring is a time for returnees to get back in the mode, a time for newcomers to show that the hype is legitimate. These rankings will be adjusted after spring practice.

1. Aaron Murray, Georgia - Showed great poise and consistency as a freshman, handling the adversity of A.J. Green's suspension and Mark Richt's job security with considerable maturity on and off the field. Scored 28 total touchdowns.

2. Danny O'Brien, Maryland - Came out of nowhere to stun the ACC with nearly 2,500 passing yards and 22 passing scores. Taking over the starting job in late September, O'Brien helped the Terrapins go 7-3 down the stretch.

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina - Give Garcia a lot of credit for helping the Gamecocks make their first-ever SEC Championship Game. He threw for over 3,000 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns but still struggled with turnovers at times.

4. Tyler Bray, Tennessee - He led the Volunteers to a perfect month of November to help UT reach the postseason. In that stretch, the freshman threw 12 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. He topped the 310-yard mark in four of his five starts.

5. Chris Relf, Mississippi State - Relf isn't a traditional passer, but his toughness and grit helps the Bulldogs win football games. He still managed a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and added over 700 yards rushing. Had four total scores in the Gator Bowl.

6. E.J. Manuel, Florida State - The numbers haven't always been baffling, but his performances in the spotlight have. Manuel has won high-profile bowl games each of the last two seasons filling in for Christian Ponder. The raw athleticism is impressive.

7. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas - Expectations are high for the heir-apparent to Ryan Mallett. His skill set is ideal for the Bobby Petrino system. He has played sparingly the last few years, showing off his live arm.

8. Jacory Harris, Miami - His interception totals have been quite high, but consider this a benefit of the doubt pick. We feel like his skills will soon translate to better efficiency on the field for the Hurricanes.

9. Morgan Newton, Kentucky - Newton has a lot of upside, though some of it remains unrealized. He has eight career scores and can both throw and run the football. He showed some promise last season in the Compass Bowl against Pitt.

10. John Brantley, Florida - For now, we expect considerable improvement here. Brantley will obviously need to be evaluated again after spring. His tools are still ideal and his numbers early in his career reflect that. It was a bad fit in 2010.

BJ Bennett - Bennett developed the Southern Pigskin concept as a teenager. He has worked for over a decade in sports journalism, writing for major newspapers and hosting a radio show for The Fan Sports Radio 103.7, ESPN Radio Coastal Georgia. Bennett has been published in newspapers, magazines, journals and websites all across the southeast. Down Here, Bennett's original book on southern college football, is currently in the process of being published.