Grading the SEC quarterbacks in Week 9: Drew Lock shines on the road

With five conference games on the schedule, there were plenty of ups and downs for the league’s quarterbacks in Week 9.

Drew Lock was dazzling in Missouri’s non-league win at UConn, while Nick Fitzgerald and Jake Bentley also played well in victories.

Here is a grade for each of the SEC’s quarterbacks for Week 9:

Drew Lock/Micah Wilson, Missouri: A-plus

Stats: Lock — 31 of 37 passing for 377 yards, 5 TDs; Wilson — 3 of 6 for 31 yards, INT; 3 rushes for 14 yards, TD

For the second week in a row, Drew Lock had his way against a non-conference foe. He tossed 5 touchdown passes in a rout of UConn and made it look easy. Micah Wilson served up an interception in relief, but had a 22-yard touchdown run.

Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State: A

Stats:12 of 21 passing for 141 yards, 2 TDs, INT; 18 rushes for 105 yards, TD

Nick Fitzgerald is like the kid in school that has the answer key for a test. His ability to pick up yardage on the ground makes it easier for us to give him high marks. He led the Bulldogs with 105 yards rushing and a score while adding 2 more touchdowns through the air.

Jake Bentley, South Carolina: B-plus

Stats: 19 of 29 passing for 174 yards, TD; 6 rushes for 47 yards, 2 TDs

Jake Bentley isn’t known for being a running threat, but his 2 rushing touchdowns in the win against Vanderbilt show he’s capable of exploiting holes in opposing defenses. The Gamecocks gashed the Commodores on the ground, but Bentley also chipped in 174 passing yards and another score.

Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt: B

Stats: 27 of 49 passing for 333 yards, 4 TDs, INT

Kyle Shurmur’s stat line reminds us of a volume shooter in basketball. The final numbers are OK, but only because he took a ton of shots. Shurmur threw 49 passes as the Commodores played catch-up, and wound up with 333 passing yards and 4 touchdowns.

Cole Kelley, Arkansas: B

Stats: 19 of 30 passing for 189 yards, 3 TDs, INT; 13 rushes for 22 yards, TD

Cole Kelley found himself in a 31-7 hole early against Ole Miss, but kept his team in the game. The Razorbacks rallied for a narrow win, and Kelley was at the heart of the comeback. He ran for a 15-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, then tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Deon Stewart just before halftime to set the stage for the second-half heroics.

Stephen Johnson, Kentucky: B-minus

Stats: 6 of 15 passing for 46 yards; 6 rushes for 84 yards, TD

The stats suggest this grade might be too high, as Stephen Johnson struggled in the passing game. But his big gainers on the ground, and the leadership and toughness he showed in the game, balance that out. Picking up Kentucky’s second win in 33 tries against the Volunteers is probably worth a letter grade by itself.

Jordan Ta’amu, Ole Miss: B

Stats: 20 of 30 passing for 368 yards, INT; 9 rushes for 76 yards, 2 TDs

Jordan Ta’amu had the sort of up-and-down day one might expect from a JUCO transfer making his first FBS start. The good was 444 yards of total offense and a couple of rushing scores. The downside came in the form of a second quarter interception and a fourth quarter fumble — both of which led to Arkansas touchdowns.

Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee: C-plus

Stats: 18 of 23 passing for 242 yards

Jarrett Guarantano isn’t the reason Tennessee lost at Kentucky, but one could say he’s the reason they didn’t win. The stats say he took care of the football and completed plenty of passes, but an inability to turn Kentucky turnovers into touchdowns was the reason the Volunteers came up short.

Kellen Mond/Nick Starkel, Texas A&M: F

Stats: Mond — 8 of 26 passing for 56 yards, 2 INTs; 6 rushes for 32 yards; Starkel — 8 of 15 passing for 133 yards, TD, INT

Texas A&M had a terrible night against Mississippi State, and much of that misery came from behind center. Kellen Mond reverted to his early-season struggles and was pulled for Nick Starkel, who was only moderately better.

Feleipe Franks/Malik Zaire, Florida: F

Stats: Franks — 7 of 19 passing for 30 yards, INT; Zaire — 3 of 6 passing for 36 yards; 2 rushes for 30 yards

The combined stats for Feleipe Franks and Malik Zaire read like the screenplay for a horror flick. Neither quarterback made a dent against a stingy Georgia defense, though Zaire did manage a late touchdown drive to keep Florida’s scoring streak intact.

Jake Fromm, Georgia: INC

Stats: 4 of 7 passing for 101 yards, TD, INT

With the Georgia ground game running roughshod over the Florida defense, Jake Fromm was largely a spectator in a convincing 42-7 win. He threw only 7 passes and recorded a touchdown and an interception as the Bulldogs notched their biggest victory over the Gators since 1982.

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