Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur Is the Highest Rated Quarterback in the SEC….Just As We All Drew It Up

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I thought for sure that when the new poll came out on Sunday afternoon, the Vanderbilt Commodores would find themselves in the top 25. Well, the Associated Press thought otherwise, despite the Dores beating a really good, #18-ranked Kansas State squad, and despite allowing just 13 points all season. Actually, it’s not all defense over on West End. Vandy has outscored their three opponents 84-13 this season. That’s in large part due to the stellar play of quarterback Kyle Shurmur.

Shurmur has a current quarterback rating of 194.4 on the season, which is good for 1st in the SEC. Yep – that’s right….just as we all predicted before the season started, the kid has the highest quarterback rating in the SEC. But, forget about the SEC for a second, this is the sixth highest quarterback rating in the nation at the moment.

Though Shea Patterson, Drew Lock, and Jake Bentley all have more passing yards than Shurmur, only Patterson has thrown more touchdowns in the SEC. But, those guys have also thrown four, five, and three interceptions to Shurmur’s doughnut.

Shurmur’s also completing 71% of his passes, and has amassed 703 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and most importantly, 0 interceptions. What’s particularly interesting about Shurmur’s season so far is that the guy many considered Vandy’s MVP, Ralph Webb, has yet to really break out this season. Webb is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Though he has scored three touchdowns, he hasn’t eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game yet. Through three games, this looks like Shurmur’s team.

And, it’s a good one. For all the talk of Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina, it looks like Vanderbilt….yeah….Vanderbilt….may be the biggest threat to Georgia in the SEC East.

Stats don’t tell a full story, and it’s difficult to call Shurmur the best quarterback in the SEC so far. Patterson, Nick Fitzgerald, and Jalen Hurts would all have something to say about that. But, Shurmur is definitely in the discussion, and I don’t think that’s something any of us saw coming. Plus, if Ole Miss’ season doesn’t count, does Patterson technically even exist? I don’t know how the sanctions work, but Patterson could be wiped from the history books. Maybe he’ll be deported. I don’t know, that’s my point.

Regardless, behind Shurmur, the Commodores are a legitimate threat, and we’ll find out just how they stack up with the nation’s elite college football programs when Alabama comes to Nashville on Saturday.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@WrestlingNewsCo

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