SEC Preview: Team-by-team preview
Reese's Senior Bowl Scouting Coordinator Patrick Woo looks ahead to SEC Media Days with a team-by-team look at 2016-17.
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Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis |
Florida
Media day attendees: Jarrad Davis (Sr., LB), Marcus Maye (Sr., FS), David Sharpe (Jr., OT)
After winning 10 games and the SEC East title in his first season in what could be Jim McElwain’s worst roster, the Gators should only get better even if the win total doesn’t reflect it. A week before SEC Media day begins, the presumed frontunner for the quarterback job, Luke Del Rio was placed on scholarship and his decision-making and consistency as a passer will determine the direction of the offense, especially with more experience up front and WR Antonio Callaway back and the addition of slot WR Dre Massey along with tight ends DeAndre Goolsby and C’yontai Lewis. Even with the personnel losses Florida should be stingy again on defense led by the defensive line and secondary and Jarrad Davis at the linebacker spot but the Gators could use more depth at linebacker. Florida also added junior college kicker Eddy Pineiro, and “Steady Eddy” is a huge upgrade in the special teams department. With Tennessee and Georgia carrying the hype in the division, the Gators are definitely going to be in the hunt.
Georgia
Media day attendees: Jeb Blazevich (Jr., TE), Brandon Kublanow (Sr., OC), Dominick Sanders (Jr., FS)
The Kirby Smart era begins in Athens and the offense is going to revolve around a hopefully healthy Nick Chubb with the addition of offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman. It’s presumed that true freshman Jacob Eason will be the quarterback at some point and he needs receivers to step up. Defensively, the Bulldogs have to generate more of a pass rush while replacing Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd but this is a talent-loaded defense that Smart is inhertiing starting from the defensive line with Trent Thompson to the entire secondary of the nation’s No. 1 pass defense returning. How quickly the offense can get balanced with the threat of a passing game will determine the Bulldogs success with SEC title aspirations.
Kentucky
Media day attendees: Jojo Kemp (Sr., RB), Courtney Love (Jr., LB), Jon Toth (Sr., OC)
Kentucky has to get over the hump after the late season collapses in ’14 and ’15. The Wildcats finish with Georgia, Tennessee and Louisville in 3 of the last 4 games and have to go to Alabama and Florida. New offensive coordinator Eddie Gran had the 6th best passing offense nationally at Cincinnati and Drew Barker takes over as the unquestioned quarterback and the Wildcats return playmakers at receiver and in the backfield. Jon Toth anchors the offensive line that has to be better than the 30 sacks it allowed last season. Defensively, the Wildcats lose 6 of its top 7 tacklers but Nebraska-transfer Courtney Love has already made his presence felt and become a team leader and should lead the defense but keep on eye on the two sophomore corners, who both have length and press-man ability in Chris Westry and Derrick Baity.
Missouri
Media day attendees: Sean Culkin (Sr., TE), Charles Harris (Jr., DE), Michael Scherer (Sr., LB)
Barry Odom takes over as the head coach and brings in former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, who called plays for the record-breaking Sooners offense led by Sam Bradford. The offensive line is depleted and the Tigers have to figure out the running game to give talented quarterback Drew Lock some help. Mizzou hopes that Alabama grad-transfer WR Chris Black will provide a boost. Mizzou was last in the SEC in every major offensive category in 2015 and Lock threw for more than 150 yards just once in conference play. The Tigers were stout on defense though allowing just 16.2 points per game but they were only scoring 13.6. A deep defensive line led by ends Charles Harris and Walter Brady and Harold Brantley returning from his car accident injuries last season will be a major part of Mizzou’s success.
South Carolina
Media day attendees: Marquavius Lewis (Sr., DE), Deebo Samuel (So., WR), Mason Zandi (Sr., OT)
Will Muschamp gets a second chance and replaces Steve Spurrier but with all due respect to Spurrier, Muschamp doesn’t have a whole lot to work with yet but he does have a sophomore receiver by the name of Deebo Samuel, who’s flashed in spring ball but couldn’t stay healthy. His ability will help replace Pharoh Cooper but the harder man to replace will be defensive leader Skai Moore, who led the team with 111 tackles and 4 interceptoins last season. Moore will sit out all year with a herniated disc. The quarterback battle is still ongoing between Perry Orth and Brandon McIlwain and Jake Bentley may also be in the mix but whoever the quarterback is will hand the ball off to David Williams but Muschamp wants to have a spread attack with Kurt Roper calling the shots. It’s on defense that he has to make his presence felt and the Gamecocks need Marquavius Lewis, Darius English and perhaps Boosie Whitlow to make an impact with a pass rush. It may be a rough first year in Columbia but Muschamp’s energy will be something the team rallies around.
Tennessee
Media day attendees: Josh Dobbs (Sr., QB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Sr., LB), Cameron Sutton (Sr., CB)
Is this finally the year where Butch Jones’ revival of Tennessee’s program finally pays off and the Vols win the division? There’s 19 starters back but still coaching changes were made and Bob Shoop takes over the defense. Shoop has top 25 defenses each of the last five years at Vanderbilt and Penn State and he inherits a really talented defense from Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen to Darrin Kirkland and Jalen Reeves-Maybin to Cameron Sutton and Todd Kelly Jr on the back end. Josh Dobbs needs to develop in his final year as a passer and have a downfield threat. He only completed 40% of his passes beyond 15 yards in 2015 but with Josh Malone, Josh Smith and Preston Williams and also tight end Ethan Wolf, the Vols have weapons. Then there’s the backfield where Jalen Hurd is 892 yards away from being the school’s all-time leading rusher and Alvin Kamara could start anywhere else and is also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. Combine that with Evan Berry’s ability in the return game and the Vols have the potential for big plays in all three phases of the game.
Vanderbilt
Media day attendees: Zach Cunningham (Jr., LB), Oren Burks (Jr., LB), Ralph Webb (Jr., RB)
With some offensive improvement, it’s possible that Vandy could vie for a bowl game in 2016. The defense was stingy as Derek Mason took over and front seven should cointnue to make plays. Safety Oren Burks drops down to a hybrid linebacker role that’s tailor-made for him while star-in-the-making Zach Cunningham and Nigel Bowden return at linebacker. The loss of Stephen Weatherly to the NFL Draft was a big blow to the pass rush but the secondary returns experience as well. The Dores moved up 40 spots in the national rankings in total defense last year. A week before SEC Media Days, Mason said that Kyle Shurmur is the “clear-cut” man at quarterback. He is the son of former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur and giving him the role heading into the summer and fall camp will help his development. Shurmur started 5 of the last 6 games and the program saw previous starter Johnny McCrary transfer out. Shurmur returns Ralph Webb in the backfield who had a school single-season record 277 carries last year and receiver C.J. Duncan returns from missing all of 2015 with a leg injury and the same for left tackle Andrew Jelks. The offensive line struggled last season without him. All eyes will be on the offense after the Dores were shut out twice last season (by Houston and Texas A&M).
Alabama
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Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen |
Media day attendees: Jonathan Allen (Sr., DE), O.J. Howard (Sr., TE), Eddie Jackson, Sr., FS)
For the third year in a row, Alabama will have a new starting quarterback and again have eyes on a College Football Playoff bid with the new signal-caller. Cooper Bateman seems to have the upper-hand but Blake Barnett, David Cornwell and true freshman Jalen Hurts are in the mix. There’s some shuffling up front as Ross Pierschbacher takes over for Ryan Kelly at center but expect another heavy dose of the physical ground attack with Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris being passed the torch in what’s lately been “RB U”. In Nick Saban’s 10th year at the helm, the Tide got a huge boost from a core of juniors returning for their senior season: Jonathan Allen, Eddie Jackson, O.J. Howard, Tim Williams and Reuben Foster among them. Add in Robert Foster and Cam Sims coming back from injury, the transfer of Gehrig Dieter from Bowling Green and the return of Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart and the Tide have playmakers aplenty and the defense returns most of the personnel that had 52 sacks a year ago.
Arkansas
Media day attendees: Brooks Ellis (Sr., LB), Jeremy Sprinkle (Sr., TE), Deatrich Wise Jr. (Sr., DE)
The offensive trio of Brandon Allen, Alex Collins and Hunter Henry is gone but Allen’s younger brother, Austin Allen, takes over and Jeremy Sprinkle, who led all SEC tight ends with 6 touchdown receptions last year, will fill the void left by Henry. Drew Morgan was able to emerge last year and Dominique Reed is among the fastest receivers in the southeast. Keon Hatcher comes back from his foot injury and Jared Cornelius and Cody Hollister return. The Hogs are deep in that area but thinner in the backfield with Rawleigh Williams and Kody Walker and will have three new starters on the offensive line that will no longer be the heaviest in all of football. Keep an eye on bluechip running back signee Devwah Whaley to see the field early. The defense returns some key players but was 117th nationally vs. the pass. Deatrich Wise and Brooks Ellis return to lead the defense but the secondary has to improve.
Auburn
Media day attendees: Montravius Adams (Sr., DT), Marcus Davis (Sr., WR), Carl Lawson (Jr., DE)
Sean White? Jeremy Johnson? John Franklin III? No quarterback separated himself from the pack after Auburn’s spring game so that’s going to be the biggest question moving forward. Gus Malzahn has to find the guy who can run his offense and pair with Jovon Robinson in the backfield. At receiver, there seems to be hype following two true freshmen Nate Craig-Myers and Kyle Davis. Marcus Davis is the team’s leading returning receiver with just 181 yards. The Tigers are also replacing both starting tackles but new offensive line coach Herb Hand has confidence in Robert Leff taking over at left tackle and the interior is solid with guards Alex Kozan and Braden Smith. There’s also two big grad-transfer additions in linebacker T.J. Neal from Illinois and defensive back Marshall Taylor from Miami of Ohio. Taylor can play safety or corner and could line up opposite of Carl Davis to give Auburn a lengthy corner duo. The defense should continue to improve and if the games are close, Lou Groza finalist Daniel Carlson is back to kick field goals. The Tigers open against Clemson in Jordan-Hare.
LSU
Media day attendees: Leonard Fournette (Jr., RB), Ethan Pocic (Sr., OC), Tre’Davious White (Sr., CB)
LSU is the one of the most intriguing teams in the country with the return of key seniors, the addition of Danny Etling to push Brandon Harris and the hiring of Dave Aranda as defensive coordinator. Not to mention that Les Miles pulled off the No. 3-ranked recruiting class after he was almost fired. LSU returns 18 starters and with good quarterback play, really could compete for the Playoff in terms of talent on paper. Even with the transfers of receivers John Diarse and Trey Quinn, Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural return. The secondary is loaded led by Jamal Adams and the Tigers can five deep at corner. If there’s some semblance of a passing game so that Leonard Fournette isn’t limited to under 3 yards per carry against Alabama again, the Tigers could make things interesting. An area to watch would be the adjustment on defense by ends Lewis Neal and Arden Key, who will not stand up as outside linebackers in the 3-4 and who will play alongside Kendell Beckwith.
Mississippi State
Media day attendees: Richie Brown (Sr., LB), A.J. Jefferson (Sr., DE), Fred Ross (Sr., WR)
Getting over the Dak Prescott era in Starkville is going to be difficult, especially without a bonafide successor at quarterback. It’s between Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley but Nick Tiano made an impression in the spring game. Whoever the quarterback is returns the SEC’s most productive receiver in Fred Ross, who had 88 catches for 1,007 yards a year ago but won’t have a lot of support from the run game, at least early on. The Bulldogs have an entirely new defensive staff that inherits a deep defensive line, Richie Brown and redshirt freshman Leo Lewis at linebacker and sophomore star Brandon Bryant at safety. Defensive end Johnathan Calvin broke out in the spring game with four sacks. It’s hard right now to see that the Bulldogs will be prolific on offense and can come back from behind so the defense leading the way early will be the key.
Ole Miss
Media day attendees: Evan Engram (Sr., TE), D.J. Jones (Sr., DT), Chad Kelly (Sr., QB)
After losing three first round picks in Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche, the Rebels still have a good amount of talent left over and filled C.J. Johnson’s void at linebacker with Oregon State grad-transfer Rommel Mageo. Tony Conner also returned for his senior season but Ole Miss has to replace safeties Trae Elston and Mike Hilton. The defensive front with D.J. Jones and Marquis Haynes has to be a factor. Haynes had 10 sacks in 2015. Look for the Rebs to be just as explosive on offense though even without Treadwell. Chad Kelly set 14 school record last season including 4,551 total yards and he loves creating big plays. Damore’ea Stringfellow, Quincy Adeboyejo and Evan Engram should be on the receiving end of some. The void left by Tunsil is a big one and the responsibility may go to 5-star freshman Greg Little but Kelly gets the ball out quick often. He needs help from a run game though, the 183 inside runs by Ole Miss last season was the fewest of all Power 5 teams but Akeem Judd and Jordan Wilkins are bigger, more physical backs than what they’ve had in the past.
Texas A&M
Media day attendees: Myle Garrett (Jr., DE), Trevor Knight (Sr., QB), Ricky Seals-Jones (Jr., WR)
Texas A&M was able to lure offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone away from UCLA and oddly enough, the Aggies open the season against the Bruins. Oklahoma transfers Trevor Knight and running back Keith Ford should make up the backfield along with James White at running back and another transfer, Priest Willis from UCLA, should become a needed factor in the secondary. If Knight can be what he was in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama, there could be a lot of big plays with Christian Kirk, Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones all returning but Knight’s mobility will be highlighted too after the Aggies were 107th in sacks allowed. Defensively, Otaro Alaka returns from injuries that cost him most of 2015 and Donovan Wilson returns after 5 interceptions a year ago but the Aggies are replacing both corners Brandon Williams and De’Vante Harris. Up front, Daylon Mack is a star in the making after becoming a social media star with clips of his burst off the snap, often beating offensive linemen out of their stances. Mack along with the combo of Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall provide a good foundation for the defense. It’s no secret that the Aggies have to get back to ideally above eight wins this year to take the pressure off of Kevin Sumlin.