College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Two

After week two, the magnifying glass has a broader view of who's doing big things for his team and who, likely, benefited from a soft opponent in week one.

You can find the week one quarterback power rankings here.

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (28/43 for 400 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT) at Louisiana-Monroe

Ryan Mallett still hasn't faced any true competition yet, but that doesn't make his arm or that Arkansas offense any less impressive. It took the Hogs two quarters to find their groove, but by the time the third-quarter ended in Louisiana, it was clear who had the best team.

2010 Season Total: 49/67 for 701 yards, 6 TD's, and 2 INT's

2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (16/24 for 229 yards and 2 TD's) vs. Penn State

McElroy had the distinction of being the quarterback who often lost his focus in the big games. If nothing else, the win over Penn State, in Tuscaloosa, proved that McElroy has truly come into his own as the leader of his team. His poise and confidence in the pocket have been a steadying influence on a team that is currently playing without two of its best players—Marcel Dareus and Mark Ingram.

2010 Season Total: 29/40 for 447 yards and 3 TD's

3. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (16/20 for 213 yards and 3 TD's) vs Western Kentucky

Whatever Joker Phillips is selling in Lexington, the Wildcats are buying it, and Mike Hartline is carrying it out on the field. The senior is a markedly better passer and seems much more comfortable leading this Kentucky offense this season than the last.

2010 Season Total: 33/46 for 430 yards and 3 TD's

4. Cameron Newton, Auburn (11/19 for 136 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT—18 carries for 70 yards) at Mississippi State

It wasn't as dynamic a performance as exhibited in week one, but, in Auburn's first SEC road game, against a rowdy home crowd, Newton led the Tigers to a key conference victory.

2010 Season Total: 20/33 for 322 yards, 5 TD's, and 1 INT—33 carries for 241 yards and 2 TD's

5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (12/17 for 165 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Georgia

Garcia's stats don't jump off the page but, watching him play, you get the sense that he may finally be coming into his own as a leader. The Gamecocks have found their running game in Marcus Lattimore, and Garcia is content to make the big plays when called upon. So far, he's been stellar on third downs, and he hasn't made the mistakes that cost his team in key situations last year. If he can continue on the right path, the Gamecocks will definitely be in Atlanta come December.

2010 Season Total: 28/40 for 358 yards and 0 TD's 

6. Aaron Murray, Georgia (14/21 for 192 yards and 0 TD's) at South Carolina

The scoreboard is what everyone pointed to at the end of the game, but that doesn't change the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs have found a player Aaron Murray. The redshirt freshman, in his first road game, showed veteran poise in the pocket, and made some timely throws on key downs. Despite the final outcome, the young gun kept Georgia in it til the end against a highly-motivated talented South Carolina team—that's saying a lot.

2010 Season Total: 31/47 for 352 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT

7. John Brantley, Florida (18/31 for 172 yards and 3 TD's) vs South Florida

The problem with John Brantley is he's not Tim Tebow—let's just put that out there. He's got a decent arm and a lot of potential (once he gets going), but he's been vanilla to this point in two blowout wins against subpar opponents. He's going to need to do a lot more if he expects to get by in the SEC.

2010 Season Total: 35/56 for 285 yards and 4 TD's

8. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (14/20 for 281 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT) at Tulane

Masoli hasn't bombed in his two appearances at quarterback this season, but the Rebels certainly haven't been the team they thought they would when they acquired him. He's done a decent job of transitioning into the offense so far and, considering the lackluster play of Nathan Stanley, it won't be long before it's the Masoli show in Oxford.

2010 Season Total: 21/30 for 390 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INT's

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (8/20 for 96 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) at Vanderbilt 

The Tigers seem to win football games in spite of Jordan Jefferson, not because of him, and that's not a good thing. In week one, Patrick Peterson bailed him out and, in week two, it was running back Stephen Ridley. One would have to think his luck will run out soon and, when it does, he will only have himself to blame.

2010 Season Total: 23/41 for 247 yards, 2 TD's, and 2 INT's

10. Chris Reif, Mississippi State (12/26 for 110 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Auburn

Reif still isn't going to floor you with his passing prowess, but he did play fairly well against Auburn—his mobility likely kept the Bulldogs in the game. He isn't markedly better than 2009, but until Tyler Russell has his first go-round in SEC play, Reif is likely the better option.

2010 Season Total: 19/35 for 226 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

11. Matt Simms, Tennessee (15/29 for 151 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) vs Oregon

Give Simms a little more time and he will be a decent quarterback for the Vols but, right now, you get the feeling that the passing game isn't ready for the better defenses of the world. In time, as the receivers mature, and Simms gets more comfortable, that could change.

2010 Season Total: 29/53 for 332 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

12. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (8/15 for 70 yards, 0 TD's, and 0 INT's) vs LSU

Smith is what he is and that may never change. He struggled mightily against a much better defensive front and, despite the efforts of Vanderbilt running back, Warren Norman, the Commodores simply could not do much offensively to match the Tigers.

2010 Season Total: 27/48 for 310 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT