SEC Football: Quarterback power rankings

The surprise SEC football team in 2023 is the Missouri Tigers, led by quarterback Brady Cook. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
The surprise SEC football team in 2023 is the Missouri Tigers, led by quarterback Brady Cook. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
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SEC Football
Devin Leary and the Kentucky Wildcats are among the large middle class of the SEC football hierarchy. However, most of their success this season has come behind the pads of running back Ray Davis and despite Leary’s struggles. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

SEC Football Quarterback Power Rankings:
No. 11 Kentucky’s Devin Leary

Of the 2023 transfer quarterbacks, Devin Leary entered the SEC with as much hype as anyone else. His last healthy season of action (2021 at NC State) saw Leary throw for almost 3500 yards and a 35-5 touchdown to interception ratio.

That type of success has not followed Leary to Kentucky.

The new Wildcats starter has followed in the footsteps of Will Levis as overhyped, underproducing quarterback talents in Lexington. One of just three SEC football starting quarterbacks to be completing under 60% of his passes this season, Leary has throw five interceptions despite playing the league’s softest schedule up to this point (3 Group of 5 opponents, @ Vanderbilt, and Florida).

Ray Davis has been amazing in the backfield so far for the ‘Cats, so Leary’s underwhelming performance hasn’t hurt Mark Stoops’ team yet. However, as the schedule finishes with their seven toughest games all in a row (@ Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, @ Mississippi State, Alabama, @ South Carolina, and @ Louisville), Leary has to be better for UK’s season to be a success after the 5-0 start.

Tayvion Robinson, Barion Brown, and Dane Key are one of the best receiver trios in the conference, so Leary has plenty of weapons to rely on as he seeks to improve. Will he do it? Big Blue Nation sure hopes so.