Adams: Plenty of questions at QB in SEC

What does that tell you?

Nobody thinks of the SEC as a quarterback league. But you still expect to see more than one quarterback at preseason media days, which will begin this afternoon. Florida's Chris Leak will be the only quarterback at the three-day event.

Rarely has the conference had so much uncertainty at the position. Auburn's Brandon Cox is one of the few exceptions. He started last year as sophomore, improved throughout the season and is capable of beating out Leak as the All-SEC quarterback.

Other SEC schools have returning starters at quarterback, but they aren't nearly as sure about the position as Auburn or Florida.

JaMarcus Russell returns as LSU's starting quarterback. He's big, strong and experienced. But is he better than backup Matt Flynn?

With Russell injured, Flynn was outstanding in LSU's rout of Miami in the Peach Bowl. And don't forget about Ryan Perrilloux, a consensus high school All-American who redshirted last season.

Like LSU, Kentucky has both a returning starter and uncertainty at the quarterback position. Andre Woodson, who started last season, is 6-foot-5 with a strong arm. But his questionable decision-making and proneness for fumbling has created an opportunity for Curtis Pulley, who's athletic enough to play running back or wide receiver. They will compete for the starting job in preseason practice.

Tennessee starter Erik Ainge played like a future first-round draft pick in the first half of his freshman season; last season, he suffered through the mother of all sophomore slumps. So despite Ainge's experience and talent, there's still uncertainty at the position.

South Carolina returning starter Blake Mitchell is no sure thing, either. He was coach Steve Spurrier's quarterback from start to finish last season, but he's not exactly the second coming of Danny Wuerffel. Moreover, Spurrier is less hesitant than other coaches about changing quarterbacks.

Casey Dick won the starting job at Arkansas in the second half of last season, and Michael Henig did the same at Mississippi State. It's debatable whether either one can become more than a pedestrian quarterback.

So much for the returning starters. Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss all will be breaking in new quarterbacks.

Ole Miss quarterback Brent Schaeffer flashed great athleticism while splitting time with Ainge at UT two years ago. He also excelled in junior college after transferring. But you have to wonder if he can take the physical pounding that comes with the SEC territory. You also have to wonder if he will have off-the-field issues as he did at UT.

Alabama sophomore John Parker Wilson apparently has the physical skills to be successful, but you don't know about his on-the-field savvy. All you need to know about Vanderbilt's new quarterback: His name isn't "Jay Cutler."

Georgia might have a future star in freshman Matthew Stafford, who enrolled at school early enough to go through spring practice. Coach Mark Richt will have to weigh Stafford's strong arm and potential against the experience of less-talented senior Joe Tereshinski.

The development of quarterbacks could be the biggest story of this SEC season. But if you're looking for a quarterback story from Birmingham, your options are limited.

There's either Leak or Bob Lane, one of Ole Miss' two representatives at the media get-together. Remember Lane? He's a former high school All-American quarterback who signed with the Rebels.

Four years later, he's their starting tight end.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knkews.com.