Post-Spring SEC Football: Key QB Battles and Breakout Players Analyzed

SEC post-spring intel: Inside the key QB battles, breakout players, more buzz from across the league

From unsettled QB rooms to breakout players, here's what we're hearing around the SEC entering summer

By Chris Hummer

& Matt Zenitz

May 21, 2026 at 11:23 am ET • 18 min read

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Spring practice is over across the country and teams are in full recruiting mode as the summer approaches. That makes it a perfect time to survey contacts across the country for intel and updates from spring practice.

Over the next few weeks, CBS Sports will be going conference-by-conference around the Power Four with the latest post-spring intel. We're starting in the SEC, where there are high-profile quarterback battles, big coaching staff changes and a lot of breakout players to keep an eye on heading into the fall.

QB battle updates

Alabama

There's nothing decided at this point in Alabama's quarterback competition between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack , and it doesn't appear there's a big separation between the two heading into fall camp. But sources around the program view Russell, the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class, as being at least a slight favorite to win the job.

Sources have indicated Russell comes with a higher ceiling while Mack is a more consistent game manager in a system he's been in since his time with Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at Washington . The question for Russell is both consistency -- cutting down on ill-timed throws and turnovers -- and how he'll look and respond at points when the defense is able to hit him, which has seemingly been limited to this point.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks have one of the more under-the-radar quarterback competitions in the SEC, in part because neither competitor -- KJ Jackson and Memphis transfer KJ Hill -- has much experience with one start between them (via Jackson).

Jackson, a redshirt sophomore and former four-star recruit, threw 54 passes last season. Hill, a historic recruiting win for Ryan Silverfield at Memphis in the 2025 class, had 32 pass attempts a season ago for the Tigers.

The competition remains ongoing, but it appears Jackson has the edge going into fall camp.

"He's the older kid. He's played. He's been around," a source said. "AJ is still young."

Florida

The Gators have an underclassman quarterback battle between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones. Philo, a transfer from Georgia Tech , played for OC Buster Faulkner, while Jones is a second-year passer who flashed in limited 2025 reps.

The battle remains open, but Philo has the definite edge at this point in the competition, per sources. Jones had his moments during spring practice, but Philo was the more consistent day-to-day player.

"(And) if Philo had a tough day, then the next day he'd kill it," a source said.

Tennessee

The Vols might have the most intriguing quarterback competition in the SEC as redshirt freshman George MacIntyre , a top 20 passer in the 2025 class, battles 2026 five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon for the starting job.

MacIntyre was the more consistent and smoothest operator during the spring, but momentum is growing behind Brandon, whose physical gifts are undeniable and, he is looked at as the future QB for the program.

Don't be surprised if Brandon ends up starting at some point this year, potentially even as early as Week 1.

"George operated better during the spring, but physically, Faizon's really gifted," a source said.

Vanderbilt

All eyes were on five-star quarterback Jared Curtis this spring for Vanderbilt .

In many ways, he was as advertised from a talent perspective. But the Commodores' starting QB battle remains undecided heading into the summer. Curtis could be termed the favorite (he's paid like it), but veteran Blaze Berlowitz , who came with some of the staff from New Mexico State , had an excellent spring showing.

"(Curtis) is a freakazoid talent-wise," a source said. "I don't know if he'll be our starter. That's more a (compliment to) the other QBs in the room. He's as good as we'd hope he'd be. The other guys in the room are playing good football right now. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out."

More intel on SEC teams

Georgia

Georgia had a pair of true freshmen start on the offensive line last season with Dontrell Glover and Juan Gaston , and it seems like they may have another in 2026 with offensive guard Zykie Helton. The four-star recruit had a huge spring for the Bulldogs to the point he's already drawing starter-level hype exiting spring practice.

"He'll be a household name by midseason the same way Dontrell Glover and Juan Gaston were this past year," a source said. "Zykie is a real deal, Freshman All-American. He'll be a (multi-year) starter long term."

Helton isn't the only Bulldog true freshman drawing rave reviews post-spring. So are tight end Kaiden Prothro, who will be part of a loaded tight end room, and safety Tyriq Green.

"These (three) guys are on the freak show UGA play early, be gone in three years track if they keep doing what they're doing," another source said.

Kentucky

Kentucky made a big swing in the transfer portal in targeting Notre Dame transfer and 2025 Fighting Irish backup Kenny Minchey as its quarterback of the future for first-year head coach Will Stein. And the early returns on Minchey are very much positive, sources said.

"Minchey is the real deal," a source said. "If we can protect him, (we) have a chance. Minchey shapes the ball so well. Very catchable at all levels of his throws. He can make all the throws. Good command. Good athlete."

Minchey did not start for the Irish last year, but he did push eventual breakout star CJ Carr to the very last second in the Irish's QB battle. Those around the Notre Dame program felt Minchey could start pretty much anywhere in the country.

LSU

The five-star transfer trio of Sam Leavitt , Jordan Seaton and Princewill Umanmielen got most of the attention in LSU's top-ranked transfer class. But a non-five-star that people should know is Boise State safety transfer Ty Benefield .

At least some NFL scouts view Benefield, a 2025 first-team All-Mountain West selection, as one of the best NFL Draft prospects among safeties and as a potential top 50 draft pick.

"He's a freak," an LSU source said. "He checks every box. He'll be a first-round pick when it's all said and done."

Missouri

The status of star running back Ahmad Hardy for the 2026 season remains up in the air, per sources, as the 2025 All-American recovers from a gunshot wound on his leg he suffered at a concert in his home state of Mississippi.

Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters this week that there's no timeline for Hardy's return. That's legitimate, per sources.

On a positive note, in Columbia , there's enthusiasm around the program regarding new OC Chip Lindsey's offense and new QB coach Garrett Riley's work with a quarterback group that includes Ole Miss transfer and new starter Austin Simmons . Missouri came out of the spring believing it's in position to be a much more effective and productive passing offense after ranking last in the SEC in passing last season, which is even more important now considering the situation with Hardy.

Ole Miss

There were several changes in Oxford this winter, with much of the staff and some of the roster turning over in the wake of Lane Kiffin's departure. But much of Ole Miss' core remains, and the new staff (including the holdovers) is bullish about the potential 2026 product.

"My biggest takeaway from this spring is this is the most talented team we've had from top to bottom in terms of depth and top players (since Kiffin's arrival at Ole Miss in 2020)," a source said, " In 2024, we had really good players, but we didn't have the depth at certain positions (like we do now). We also have elite players at key positions like quarterback, running back and defensive line."

In addition to offensive stars such as quarterback Trinidad Chambliss , who sources say had a terrific spring, and running back Kewan Lacy , there's a belief in Oxford that the defense is set to be better after the Rebels ranked ninth in the SEC in scoring defense last season.

"Defense is going to be much improved as a whole," another source added. "There's been significant upgrades at all three levels. The d-line has a legitimate 2024 Philadelphia Eagles feel where we can rotate two full units out there and feel very good about ourselves."

Oklahoma

Oklahoma's offense sputtered for stretches in the 2026 season, ranking 97th nationally in yards per play. A change you can expect to see on that unit is more of a commitment to the tight end room. The Sooners have seen excellent early returns on their revamped tight end group via the portal, which saw them add Hayden Hansen from Florida , Rocky Beers from Colorado State and Jack Van Dorselaer from Tennessee .

The combination of that talent infusion and the addition of new tight ends coach Jason Witten -- the former Cowboys Pro Bowler -- has those around Norman expecting an improved and much more multi-dimensional offensive attack after the tight end group was a weakness for the Sooners last year.

"It's going to be massive for both the run game and the pass game," a source said.

South Carolina

Among the big questions for South Carolina this offseason is the status of superstar edge rusher Dylan Stewart , who missed the spring due to a nagging back injury that he sustained during the 2025 season.

Stewart is expected to begin ramping up his workload later this month when the team returns from a break, according to a source.

"He's doing great," a source said. "He'll start doing a lot more."

Texas

Will Muschamp is back in Austin as defensive coordinator after 16 years away, and sources have raved about his work with the defense this offseason.

"Muschamp brings what he's known to bring," a source said.

On the player side for Texas , one new Longhorn who's drawn a ton of buzz is former Auburn wide receiver transfer Cam Coleman . His catches have caught fire on social media, but it's his physical development that's caught the eye of some within the program.

"I think his body has changed over the last six months, and it's been really impressive," a source said. "He's gone from a very lean AJ Green-esque body to more of a very built and ready Julio (Jones). It's very impressive to see the weight he's put on and still maintain the speed and the catch radius. He put together a really impressive spring."

Texas A&M

Marcel Reed took a step forward as the Aggies' QB last year, helping lead the program to its first-ever CFP appearance. He's now improved even more heading into his third season as a starter, per sources.

"Marcel looks to be more in command of the offense, and his understanding of where to go with the ball is much more improved than last year," a source said.

Lesser-known players poised for breakout seasons

Deuce Alexander, WR, Ole Miss

Alexander was a solid contributor for Ole Miss last year after transferring in from Wake Forest , tying for third on the team with 44 catches and ranking third with 684 yards. Now, he's poised to be the team's new No. 1 receiver based on his continued growth and after the Rebels lost their other four top wide receivers from last season. The speedy Alexander is reminding some in Oxford of former Tennessee All-American wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.

"He's now the clear alpha in the room," a source said.

Lloyd Avant, RB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma made Avant, a do-it-all contributor for Colorado State last year, an immediate priority in the transfer portal, and he's quickly climbed his way up the depth chart since arriving on campus. A source indicated that he could potentially even be a starter if he performs during fall camp like he did during the spring.

Ethan Davis, TE, Tennessee

A popular name when asking Vols sources a

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/sec-post-spring-intel-qb-battles-breakout-players-alabama-florida-tennessee/)._