According to Swinney, receiver Justyn Ross is cleared to return to the field for the first time in a year.

Ross missed all of last season after having a congenital fusion condition of his neck and spine that required surgery.

During his two seasons playing for the Tigers, Ross has caught 112 passes for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Alabama fans should know that name well as Ross caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown against the Crimson Tide during Clemson’s latest win over Nick Saban’s program in a national championship game.

Clemson and Georgia are set to open the season in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 4.

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According to Shea Dixon of 247Sports, Taylor is no longer a member of the team in Baton Rouge.

An Alabama native, Taylor was a four-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle and was rated as the No. 29 defensive tackle in the country when he signed with LSU.

Here is Taylor’s bio on the LSU team page:

Played at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Alabama … Rated a four-star defensive tackle by 247Sports and Rivals … Played in the 2019 Alabama-Mississippi All-State game on Dec. 14 … Finished his career with 77 total tackles, including 58 solo tackles … Averaged 3.1 tackles per game and had a total of 3.5 sacks with one interception and one caused fumble.

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Johnson’s decision comes days after five-star defensive back Jacoby Mathews decommitted to LSU on his way to visit Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M program.

Johnson originally committed to LSU back in February. He was set to close out his senior season at Isidore Newman playing with five-star 2023 quarterback prospect Arch Manning but Shea Dixon of 247Sports is reporting that Johnson is moving to Florida.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Johnson is rated as the No. 40 receiver in the country and a top 300 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Following this news, LSU is down to 15 commitments in the 2022 recruiting cycle. The Tigers currently have the No. 2 recruiting class in the SEC.

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Elite defensive back Bryce Anderson just proved that as the West Brook High School standout has committed to Texas A&M over Texas.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Anderson is rated as the nation’s No. 3 safety prospect, the No. 12 overall player in the state of Texas and a top 50 overall prospect in the nation in the 2022 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The Beaumont native is also currently committed to playing in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl following the conclusion of his high school playing career.

Following this news, Texas A&M holds pledges from 13 prospects in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Anderson is now the second highest-rated recruit in the class as only five-star quarterback Conner Weigman currently ranks as a better prospect.

The Aggies currently have the No. 4 recruiting class in the SEC.

Take a look at Anderson’s junior season highlight reel below:

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Jackson is being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. According to his arrest report, Jackson had less than two ounces of marijuana.

Following this news, Texas A&M has suspended Jackson according to Travis Brown of The Eagle.

Jackson earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors following his lone season playing for the Aggies. He is projected to possibly start for the Aggies this season.

Here is Jackson’s bio on the official Texas A&M site:

2020 (FRESHMAN): Played in all 10 games, making one start … Earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opening win over Vanderbilt and was in on a pair of tackles, including a fourth-quarter sack for a loss of 5 yards … Had two tackles and a QB hurry in the win over Florida … Broke up two passes and added a QB hurry as the A&M defense limited the Bulldogs to negative rushing yards as a team in the win at Mississippi State … Made the start at tackle and had two tackles in the win over Arkansas … Recorded a half tackle-for-loss on a tackle in the dominant 48-3 win at South Carolina … Made a tackle in each of the victories over LSU and Auburn … Had two tackles, a sack and a hurry in the Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina.

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In fact, the Bulldogs may very prove to have the deepest receiving group in the SEC after landing Arik Gilbert this offseason.

That being said, there are plenty of players on Kirby Smart’s latest Bulldog team still fighting their way back to the field as training camp is set to begin in Athens this weekend.

During his first media availability of training camp, Smart shared the latest update on Georgia receivers working their way back from injury.

According to Smart, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint will be ready for camp. Rosemy-Jacksaint missed the second half of the season after suffering a tough broken ankle against Florida.

In addition to Rosemy-Jacksaint’s return, Smart noted that Kearis Jackson will be on the practice field but is not yet 100 percent after having minor knee surgery this offseason.

Finally, Dominick Blaylock is not yet ready to return to the field after tearing his ACL back in August of 2020.

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Fulton’s decision comes after Todd Davis, Joe Looney and Kelvin Benjamin each made the same decision earlier in camp.

A former standout lineman for Tennessee, Fulton played seven seasons in the NFL, four with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the Houston Texans.

He started 90 of the 107 games he appeared in during his NFL career. He was selected in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Chiefs.

“These are tough decisions on guys,” Giants coach Joe Judge said regarding the decision from veterans to retire. “As you get vets later in their career, they started training camp, it’s not uncommon for this to happen. Now, you don’t want it to happen, but you have to respect the decision each person makes for their family.”

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Where will the pass rush come from?

That question could be answered by outside linebacker J.J. Weaver, provided of course, he’s ready to see the field this fall after tearing his ACL in November of last season.

During his Friday media availability, Mark Stoops shared the latest update on Weaver’s rehab from his late-season injury.

“JJ is ahead of schedule. He’s working extremely hard,” Stoops shared. “I stayed on JJ from day one, just to continue to make sure he stayed up with [his rehab], starting with his range of motion and then his strength and all those things. He’s putting it together.

“I don’t know, you know, what I mean, I don’t want to force that. He’s doing a very good job. But you also have to make sure you give that ligament time to heal. And he has a bright future and I have a tendency to try to be more cautious with those type of guys than force him back into it.”

Despite missing the final two games of the season, Weaver was named to the Coaches’ 2020 SEC All-Freshman Team after racking up 33 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup last fall.

He was also named SEC Freshman of the Week following Kentucky’s win over Tennessee last season.

Minor setback for a major comeback. ??? #LongLiveMyPops

— JJ Weaver (@jjtimeee) November 29, 2020

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Expectations are high among the Big Blue Nation faithful after Mark Stoops hired Liam Coen away from the Los Angeles Rams and the team managed to land former Nebraska receiver Wan’Dale Robinson in the transfer portal.

Combine those two with arguably the best running game and offensive line combo in the SEC and the pieces are in place for an immediate offensive turnaround in Lexington.

That being said, the ultimate success or failure of the unit will likely rely on the player pick to lead the offense.

Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen return for another season in Lexington while Kentucky managed to land former Penn State signal-caller Will Levis in the transfer portal.

With all eyes in Lexington on the quarterback competition, Stoops was asked to share his thoughts on when a starting quarterback could be named.

“Through the years, you’ve heard me answer this and I’m going to answer it the same way, it’s more important to get it right than to be in a hurry,” Stoops said on Friday. “Is there a benefit (to naming a starter)? Yes, I believe there is. There’s a benefit to getting reps, that’s part of the negative to having a lot of talented players – at any position.

“But it seems like it’s obviously much easier to rotate guys in through out practice and preseason at other spots than quarterback. So, we do feel like there is quality depth – maybe for the first time. You go all the way down and have four or five guys that you feel confident that could play football at this level. Getting them reps is a concern and we will work that as best we can.”

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That includes putting in work not just in the weight room and in the film room, but putting in the work to ensure his mental health is as strong as it can be entering a season with so much expectation in Athens.

During a recent appearance on the SEC Network program Marty and McGee, Georgia’s starting quarterback shared some insight into the work he’s had to put in after facing adversity for the first time as an athlete.

Based on his comments, Georgia has done everything it can to provide Daniels with all the tools to exceed on and off the field.

JT Daniels opens up about his mental health.

A powerful conversation with @MartySmithESPN & @ESPNMcGee. pic.twitter.com/StvKJqZjoV

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 6, 2021

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That day is today, as the Thompson High School standout from Alabaster, Ala., has just announced he’s down to 10 schools at this point in his recruitment.

A former Tennessee commit during the Jeremy Pruitt era on Rocky Top, Mitchell didn’t have the Vols in his recent top 10 but does have SEC schools Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M as well as FSU, Clemson, Miami, Oregon and Ohio State outside the nation’s best college football conference.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Mitchell is rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 1 cornerback in the country for the 2023 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

During his sophomore season at Thompson High School, Mitchell had 82 tackles, four interceptions, two touchdowns and eight pass breakups.

To see why he’s such a coveted prospect, check out his sophomore season highlight reel:

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While he’s been a member of Dan Mullen’s Florida program for several years now, Cox is apparently still a topic of conversation in Athens, which only goes to show how deep the rivalry between those two schools runs.

During his first media appearance of fall camp on Thursday, Mullen provided some good insight into Cox’s status as the talented Gator defender is working his way back from an offseason surgery in June.

“Yeah, I mean we expect him to be back, I don’t know if we’re gonna let him go 100% right on day one, but he’s gonna be out there practicing right away,” Mullen shared. “Building him up right now, with the time that he’s missed, building him up, getting ready back to being 100% in, not just the foot injury, but his in training and conditioning, all that stuff.”

In addition to those comments, Mullen shared his high expectations for the redshirt junior after Cox started all 12 games for the Gators in 2020.

During that time, Cox registered 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks. He had to sit out the 2019 season after transferring from Georgia.

“You know, I expect big things out of him this year because I thought he had a really solid year last year,” Mullen added on Cox. “Now a second year in the system, more experienced, more veteran guy, an older guy, having to learn, look at what he did well importantly last year and how to how to build off of that. I have tremendous respect for Brenton because you’re looking at a guy that highly profiled recruiting guy. People had all kinds of questions about him.

“He’s come in here and then I think SEC academic honor roll since the day he stepped on campus. Handles his business at an extremely high level in the locker room, in the classroom, and on the practice field. I mean, the effort and what he was able to do the year he knew he couldn’t play to come out every day, work at better be a team guy give the team a great look and excel in the classroom. I think shows a lot of the character and the type of person that he is and, you know really why he fits being a Florida Gator.”

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After managing to quickly and discretely add Texas and Oklahoma to the league this offseason, Sankey is worth whatever the SEC is paying him.

Prior to making those bold moves, Sankey was instrumental in keeping college football from canceling the 2020 season, something other powerful leaders called for at this time last year.

“College athletics is in the midst of a transformational period, and the SEC is fortunate to have a highly impactful leader to guide us forward at this critical time in our history,” said Jere Morehead, President of the University of Georgia and current President of the SEC said in a released statement. “He has effectively introduced change and advancement for the conference while respecting the institutional traditions that make the SEC unique. His leadership and ability to foster collaboration through the COVID-19 pandemic helped establish a framework for all of college sports, and those leadership skills will be critical as we move forward with change in the years ahead.”

Sankey has served as SEC commissioner for seven seasons.

“I am grateful for the support of the SEC’s presidents and chancellors, and for the continuing opportunity to serve our universities while supporting the student-athletes of the Southeastern Conference,” said Sankey. “We are in the midst of a time of change for college athletics, and I look forward to working with the SEC’s campus leaders to identify a path forward that will sustain the incredible success of our Conference and provide opportunities for young people to grow academically and challenge themselves athletically.”

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Following the first day of fall camp on Rocky Top, Heupel was asked to share his thoughts on the level of retention he saw from his players on the practice field.

“I really feel like, for pretty much everybody on the offensive unit, we’re way ahead of where we finished – offensively,” Heupel answered. “I mentioned that on the defensive side of the ball, too. We’ve continued to become smarter, more understanding of what we’re trying to do and how to operate throughout the summer – in that way.”

While he may have seen enough to make that comment, Heupel shared that it is way too early to grade the performance of any of the team’s quarterbacks that are competing for the starting role in the offense.

“Quarterbacks, I saw them all miss throws, I saw them all make throws. They’ll have a lot more as we go along,” Heupel added.

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True freshman Kaemen Marley opened camp at receiver. Marley did not enroll early at Tennessee, so he did not practice with the team this spring.

Marley getting reps at receiver was a surprise considering he is listed as a defensive back on the team’s roster and was recruited to play defense by Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee coaching staff.

Following the first practice of fall camp, Heupel was asked to comment on Marley opening camp at receiver, and not defensive back, as the freshman is listed on the team’s official roster.

“That’s just how he was recruited,” Heupel said. “I feel like [playing receiver] is a natural starting point for him. He’s a guy that’s ultra-talented and we will find out his skillset, where he feels comfortable, where his progression goes and how to get him on the field the fastest.”

Marley’s bio on the Tennessee team site:

Talented two-way player and a consensus four-star athlete by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Enrolled at Tennessee in July 2021 … The No. 101 player in the country and No. 2 athlete by Rivals.com … No. 172 ranked player in the ESPN 300 … Rated the No. 4 athlete and No. 9 player in the state of North Carolina by the 247Sports Composite … Named a 2021 Sports Illustrated All-America candidate … Named to the NCPreps Preseason All-State team as a junior in 2019 and a senior in 2020 … Was a North Carolina first-team all-state selection by MaxPreps in 2019 after leading Eastern Randolph to a 10-3 record and the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs … Starred on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats, finishing his junior season with 814 receiving yards, 396 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns to go along with three interceptions while lining up at wide receiver, running back and defensive back … Has not played in 2020 after the North Carolina high school football season was postponed due to COVID-19 … Also played basketball in high school … Received offers from 16 schools … Committed to the Vols in May 2020 … Coached by Charles Arrington.

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