The new SEC quarterback flying under the radar in 2026

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With spring practices in full swing across the SEC, fans eagerly await updates and inside scoops on how their teams are shaping up as fall quickly approaches. Quarterbacks usually dominate the headlines with every throw dissected and every move debated.

While preseason conversations are centered around seasoned QBs that are back in the pocket, such as LaNorris Sellers and Arch Manning, there seems to be another SEC quarterback who is somehow being overlooked. Heading into the 2026 season, he is one of the most productive dual-threat QBs in the nation with far more proven production, yet he is entering the league almost unnoticed. That player is Byrum Brown.

Brown arrives in the SEC after following his head coach, Alex Golesh, from the South Florida Bulls to the Auburn Tigers. And if you look at his stats, he will be the QB1 to watch this season. In 2025, Brown put together one of the most complete campaigns in college football:

  • 3,158 passing yards
  • 28 passing touchdowns
  • 1,008 rushing yards
  • 14 rushing touchdowns

Brown is the only returning quarterback in the country to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards last season. But what is even more impressive is that Brown led USF to early-season upsets over ranked teams, including Boise State and Florida. And even though he sat out of the Bulls' bowl game, his stat line still stands as the most dynamic season in recent history.

Why Auburn Could Be the Perfect Fit

Quarterback production at Auburn has not been the Tigers' greatest strength in recent years, as the team has struggled to stabilize the position. The Tigers have cycled through players like Peyton Thorne, Robby Ashford, Bo Nix, and Jackson Arnold.

Brown can be the breakout QB that Auburn needs this season, as he is already familiar with Golesh's tempo-driven offense. He is comfortable running, and his dual-threat ability will stress defenses in ways that the Tigers haven't consistently been able to do in years.

In fact, Auburn has managed just two 3,000-yard passing seasons in its entire history, a surprising fact for such a historic program in the nation’s toughest conference.

SEC’s Quiet Breakout Candidate

The SEC used to be the home of dynamic quarterbacks who could dominate both through the air and on the ground. However, over the past decade, the league has trended more towards pocket passers. In 2025, there were only two QBs who rushed for more than 500 yards: Diego Pavia and Taylen Green. Even though he is new to the SEC, Brown's 1,000 rushing season instantly puts him into a different category.

Brown is entering the league with elite dual-threat numbers, and he's playing for a coach who built an offense around him. Auburn is a program that is desperate for quarterback stability, so adding that kind of skillset and chemistry is what historically thrives in the SEC.

If the Tigers take a step forward in 2026, don't be surprised if Byrum Brown, the overlooked quarterback in the preseason, suddenly becomes one of the most talked-about players in the SEC.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Auburn Football: New QB Byrum Brown is under-the-radar SEC star

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