FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fire up the hype machine — it’s talking season, and bold takes are flying in from every direction.
One of the latest hot lists comes from That SEC Podcast host Mike Bratton, who ranks Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green as the No. 4 signal-caller in the SEC heading into the 2025 season.
No shock at the top: South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers claims the No. 1 spot after reportedly turning down an $8 million offer to leave the Gamecocks via the transfer portal.
Florida’s DJ Lagway slots in at No. 2, followed by LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier at No. 3 — both names that won’t raise many eyebrows among SEC fans.
From a statistical standpoint, placing Green right behind those top three quarterbacks signals strong confidence in what he can achieve under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino this fall.
Mike Bratton called Green one of the most underrated quarterbacks—not just in the SEC, but across the entire country. His decision to rank Green ahead of projected Texas starter Arch Manning sends a clear message: substance matters more than hype when it comes to preseason evaluations.
“I think this guy’s criminally underrated,” said Mike Bratton. “He’s not getting the national attention he deserves. I truly believe he’s one of the top quarterback prospects in the country this season.”
Fayetteville has never been a hotbed for national spotlight, even with Arkansas competing in the SEC. Bratton’s co-host, “Cousin Shane,” echoed that sentiment, saying if Taylen Green were on a national title contender, the conversation around him would be entirely different.
“I’ve been high on this kid for a long time because I’ve seen his ceiling up close,” Shane said. “Arkansas was competitive in a lot of games, and I don’t think that happens without Green at quarterback.
“If Ohio State had this kid right now, not only would he be the starter, but people would be talking about them going back-to-back in the national title race.”
In his first season under Bobby Petrino, Green racked up more than 3,700 yards of total offense and accounted for 23 touchdowns. His commitment to studying the game and learning from his 2024 experience could set the stage for a breakout senior season — and a promising future at the next level.
“Taylen knows the offense,” offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino said during spring practice. “He’s a lot more comfortable now. Last year, it felt like every day brought something new—new coverages, new blitzes, new challenges. But now, he has a much better understanding of defenses, and that’s going to help him run our offense more effectively.”
Green faced mental hurdles at times last season, turning the ball over with nine interceptions and 12 fumbles, five of which were lost. Heading into his senior year, his focus is on playing with confidence, cutting down on mistakes, and owning his style of play.
“I’d say it starts in the film room—really understanding why I made certain decisions,” Green said. “Not just watching a play and moving on, but figuring out what led me to make that throw or take that risk.”
“The more you understand, the slower the game gets,” he added. “There’s a lot to process in this offense, but my job is to filter that information and simplify it—so I can just go out there and play my brand of football.”
Leave a Reply