Can freshman QBs thrive in the SEC?

For Matthew Stafford, the moment came on Nov. 4, 2006. The five-star recruit, a schoolboy superstar in Texas, was the starting quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs against Kentucky.

“I got my helmet ripped off, my face was all bloodied. I was like, ‘This is a lot tougher than you’d think it might be,’ ” Stafford said.

Stafford would go on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but that day – that entire season really – was one big growing pain. He threw three interceptions in a 24-20 loss that day, and he threw 13 interceptions and fumbled another four times on top of that for the season.

“It wasn’t always easy, had a bunch of ups and downs my freshman year,” Stafford said recently on a visit to his alma mater.

That same moment Stafford had in Lexington, Ky. – that “Welcome to the SEC, rookie” moment – could be coming this year for Brandon McIlwain at South Carolina and for Jacob Eason at Georgia. In a year where there are more questions than answers at the quarterback position throughout the SEC, the two East Divisions rivals are facing maybe the scariest question of them all.

Can a true freshman quarterback thrive in the SEC?

“It’s not an ideal situation, obviously,” said former Alabama quarterback-turned SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy. “You’d love to have someone that is experienced and has seen the bright lights before.”

Neither McIlwain nor Eason has been named the starting quarterback, but both had impressive spring games and will enter fall camp at or near the top of their competitions.

“He’s done exactly what my expectations were, come in and work extremely hard,” South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp said of McIlwain. “He’s done that, so I’ve been very pleased.”

McIlwain started with the first-team offense during the Gamecocks’ spring game and finished the day 19-of-26 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He was 12-of-14 passing in the scrimmage before that, Muschamp said.

“He had a lot of command and a lot of maturity,” Muschamp said. “Obviously, he’s a very good athlete, but he throws the ball extremely well. He made a couple really nice throws (in the spring game). His decision-making was really good, and he’s continued to improve from practice one until now. He’ll make some tremendous strides in the offseason.”

McIlwain, a four-star prospect and Elite 11 quarterback coming out of Council Rock North High School in Newtown, Pa., threw for 1,720 yards and rushed for another 1,545 as a senior. He was listed as the Gamecocks’ co-starter along with senior Perry Orth coming out of spring practice, although junior Connor Mitch and sophomore Lorenzo Nunez will get another look in the fall.

McIlwain was not made available to speak to the media during spring football practice.

Eason was the Gatorade national player of the year and a five-star prospect coming out of Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Wash. He was considered the nation’s No. 1 quarterback prospect by ESPN.com, and he looked like the Bulldogs’ best option at the position during Georgia’s spring game, going 19-of-29 for 244 yards and a touchdown.

Eason performed so well that first-year Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart immediately was asked to address why veterans Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey should remain part of the competition.

“For people to say that, maybe they should go to ‘Coaching 101.’ I don’t see that being that the case,” Smart said. “What I see going into fall camp is three guys that have three different traits. All three of them got some growing to do.”

Coaches usually prefer their freshman quarterbacks’ “growing” be done in the privacy of practice, at least for a year, but the talent of McIlwain and Eason may force the hand of both Muschamp and Smart.

“I couldn’t have (started as a true freshman). I promise you that much,” McElroy said. “I would have been scared and upset abut I know in 2016 guys come in with higher expectations. People have changed now. Recruiting in 2006 is totally different than recruiting in 2016.”

McIlwain’s maturity has been praised by his coaches and teammates.

“He is very focused on what he is doing and where he is at,” freshman wide receiver Javon Charleston said. “When he gets on the football field he knows what he expects from guys, and he makes sure he does his part as a quarterback to make his reads and he is quick in his decision-making. As far as command, he is a great leader and overall quarterback.”

The Gamecocks and Bulldogs are the only SEC teams where a true freshman has a real chance to win the starting job, although Alabama has not eliminated Jalen Hurts from its competition. The whole league will be watching to see how the young men handle the pressure.

“That’s a heck of a spotlight to be under,” Stafford remembered. “I felt like when I came out it was a ton, a ton of attention. There is no such thing as privacy anymore. Especially now. I thought it was that way when I was coming out. It has only intensified so for those guys, it’s an eye opener for sure.

“The spotlight is only going to grow, and it’s something you have to learn to adjust to and get used to.”

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Can freshman QBs thrive in the SEC?."