In 1998, when the BCS formed, he recalls media referencing the bowl game he oversees as “third-tier.” Well, after the 2016 season, it will host a semifinal in the College Football Playoff. And after the 2017 season, it will host the national championship game.

In addition, his organization has helped develop one of the most successful neutral-site games in college football — the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, this year featuring Georgia vs. North Carolina — helps oversee a wildly successful charity golf tournament (the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge) and played in instrumental role in moving the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta.

He understands the relationship between the game of football and business, and has been one of the major players especially in the last decade.

Reached last week to promote the charity golf tournament, which runs Monday to Wednesday and should raise more than $600,000 for charities and scholarships, Stokan opined on the current structure, which is two years old.

“We’ve seen great growth in the game and great growth in our business. I think the commissioners have ultimately — from the alliance to the coalition to the BCS now to the New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff — have done the right thing,” Stokan said.

“I think four teams is the right amount of teams in the playoffs because what college football has over any other sport is undoubtedly the best regular season. The most interesting, the most pressure-packed, the most important regular season in any sport during the year.”

We talked to Stokan about the charity tournament, the rise of the Peach Bowl, the College Football Playoff and more. Here’s what he had to say.

SDS: How did you decide on a golf tournament for the format when you formed this charity event nine years ago?

Stokan: One of the things that was important to us was developing relationships with the coaches, and also with our partner Chick-fil-A, who was our title sponsor of our bowl game. When we conceived this concept of matching a coach with a celebrity alumni, we went to Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A liked the idea so much that they got out of the LPGA event they were sponsoring and decided to sponsor the Peach Bowl Challenge golf tournament. It really started not only to develop a relationship with Chick-fil-A and its vendors, its partners, and for us as a bowl to develop relationships with the coaches. But we wanted to give money back to charity.

In our mission, it’s awfully important to us to give back to the community where we live, but also the community where we do business with. We had originally ACC and SEC schools in our bowl game. We’re humbly proud to say that we’ve now over nine years given over $5.3 million in scholarship and charity. This year we’ll go over $600,000. Last year we had $653,000 that we gave to charity and scholarship.

The purse is created so that every coach wins. Certainly there’s a first place, but every coach gets some money that goes 50 percent to their charity and 50 percent in a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl endowed scholarship to the university. Not only does the coaches’ community win through his charity, but also their school wins as well in getting money for an endowed scholarship.

SDS: You’ve got the bowl game, you’ve got the charity golf tournament, you’ve got the kickoff challenge at the beginning of the regular season. Any one of those events by themselves would be a huge undertaking. Obviously there’s your organization, there’s the Chick-fil-A people, there are the coaches and teams actually playing in the game. What about these partnerships and your common philosophies has allowed you to be able to undertake so many things at the same time?

Stokan: We’ve really challenged ourselves. Personally, I love challenges. We want to give back to our community as I said earlier, but also we want to give back to the game of college football. We’ve done that through not only a charity and scholarships, but in recruiting the College Football Hall of Fame to come to Atlanta and donating $5 million to be the first founding sponsor and partner to move and build the Hall of Fame here. We believe in being the most charitable bowl game in the country with over $19 million that we have given away since 2002.

Our corporation, Peach Bowl Inc., very easily could’ve taken that money in as reserves and profits. But we feel it’s [our responsibility] to give back to our community. Because our community has supported us by buying tickets and sponsoring our bowl game and our kickoff game. So we’ve been able to reach the highest pinnacle of that by joining the New Year’s Six games, when in 1998 we were looked at as a third-tier bowl game.

I think we’ve received recognition from the conference commissioners because of our willingness to give back to the game and give back to our community through the Hall of Fame, through our Challenge golf tournament. We endow scholarships at both our bowl game and our kickoff game with teams that play in those games. I think the creation of the kickoff game — all those elements led to the conference commissioners saying, ‘These guys are doing what’s good for college football.’ They rewarded us by moving us into the New Year’s Six, where this year we’ll reach the pinnacle of hosting the national semifinals with either No. 1 against No. 4 or No. 2 against No. 3.

And then next year, in partnership with the Atlanta Falcons and the ACVB (Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau) and the Georgia World Congress Center and the Atlanta Sports Council, we’ll host the national championship game.

I think back to 2007 when we created the golf tournament to 2008 when we created the kickoff game to 2009 when we signed the 30-year license to move the College Football Hall of Fame here, it’s just been a very rewarding run. We’re humbly proud to be able to give back as well with everything that we’ve created.

SDS: What do you think it is about the culture in Atlanta and all the organizations that have been involved? What factors go into creating the sort of environment where you’re so competitive? Is it more about the environment there or is it about the people at the top?

Stokan: I think it’s a combination. We take great pride in our leadership and our vision, which is where it starts with our board, our staff — which is the best in the bowl business. You can’t run these type of events to the scale that we do and achieve the type of success we’ve had without having people on a staff that are just tremendous teammates that work hard, work smart, work effectively and efficiently.

So that’s the start. To have leadership and a staff that are on the same page in creating a vision to make Atlanta the college football capital of the world. That’s where it starts and that’s where it ends, because you have to execute all these things. You have to have the vision. But then you have to execute them and you have to support them, and that’s where the board comes in with Chick-fil-A and Coca-Cola and Delta, Georgia Power, AT&T. We have some tremendous corporations here in Atlanta that have worked together with us to support us financially, to allow us to create these events or create these opportunities, and then execute them with operational excellence.

It takes a team. We have a great team with a great vision and people that have bought into the vision and the leadership to execute it both from the board side, the corporate side. The fan side. We don’t sell out 16 straight years I think it was unless you have fans in this community that are willing to buy the tickets and support your game.

We’re very blessed in this city. We’ve got a great infrastructure of interstates so people can drive here easily. The number one airport in the world so people can fly here easily. Great hotels. And partnerships with the city, the state, the airport, the hotels. And great venues that partner with us as well so that we can host these types of events.

SDS: You mentioned the rise of your bowl game. Your words, I believe, were “third-tier perception.” To now being involved in the College Football Playoff. We’re two years in, now, to this system. With what you’ve been able to witness with the rise of your bowl game and also being part of this new system for the first two years, what have you learned about its effectiveness? And also about the future of the sport — what works? You obviously have a handle on how to do these things in an effective manner to make the rise that you have.

Stokan: Mark Bradley of the AJC said back — I believe it was in 1998, that the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl was a third-tier bowl game. And I remember in my first board meeting talking to the board. The BCS was just getting started in 1998. And I said, ‘Our goal is to take this bowl and make it a BCS bowl game.’

It took us until 2012, I guess, to get that opportunity to play in what is now the New Year’s Six/College Football Playoff system. Going back, a) we had the vision and b) we had the leadership and the teamwork and the staff to do it. As the BCS grew, it made college football a national sport. Where prior to the BCS it was a regional sport. Becoming a national sport, we wanted to play at the national level. And so our opportunity to become part of the New Year’s Six games took all that work from 1998 and as I said through 2007, 2008 and 2009.

I think those types of things plus our operational excellence, our sellouts, the ACC and SEC who are great partners, really permitted us the opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff. Now the College Football Playoff, now that college football is a national sport, is now number two in fan amenity only behind the NFL. You have an opportunity with the semifinal games and the national championship now to be second to the Super Bowl in putting a sporting event on in this country. And we’re a part of that. We’ll be a part of that this year.

We’ve seen great growth in the game and great growth in our business. I think the commissioners have ultimately — from the alliance to the coalition to the BCS now to the New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff — have done the right thing. I think four teams is the right amount of teams in the playoffs because what college football has over any other sport is undoubtedly the best regular season. The most interesting, the most pressure-packed, the most important regular season in any sport during the year. So that foundation, to be able to move to a playoff off of that regular season in December just captivates the country now, and that’s why college football is the No. 2 sport to the NFL in fan support.

SDS: Circling back to the golf event — you’ve mentioned community a lot. And obviously it’s a community-minded event. Being around NFL and college football, it just seems like college football is a very community-oriented sport. All these coaches are super competitive, but early in May, if there is an offseason any more, this would probably be it. I would imagine they’re a little bit more relaxed than they are in September. What are you able to see from these coaches when they’re at this event, and are you able to pick up on their caring for the community and their willingness to participate and give to their charities as well?

Stokan: They’re coming out of spring ball. This gives them a chance to No. 1 relax with their wife to come over to a great area at The Ritz on Lake Oconee. And to really not only relax themselves, but also to enjoy in some fellowship and camaraderie and some time with friends and coaches that they don’t normally see or that they can’t play golf with or be at a dinner or a lunch or a breakfast with because during the season, they’re encapsulated 24/7 with running their own programs.

So what we see is coaches who people on the outside may think don’t like each other because their schools are rivals are sharing some fellowship and some stories and great times and doing it all to give back to their own charities and their own schools. It makes for a great scene. They’re able to come with their wives in a relaxed atmosphere, play some golf, have some fun, do what’s right, give some things back to charity and people less fortunate than them. It’s just a wonderful weekend to be with everybody.

We’ve got great relationships with the coaches. They appreciate what we’ve done as an organization giving back to college football, and they want to help us do that as well with the charity donations.

We’ve hit on something that’s been successful for nine years. It’s hard to believe it’s been nine years, but it’s one of those things that you think will just continue to thrive. We can see this thing growing. We’ve started to develop it beyond the ACC and SEC coaches now, because we’re in the New Year’s Six and not just ACC and SEC schools come to our games. Whether it’s a Tom Herman and Andre Ware, former Heisman Trophy winner that will represent Houston this year — Urban Meyer has played in this event. Can’t make it this year. But he said, ‘Hold a spot for me for next year.’ Those are the types of things that we want to continue to build off of and continue to give money back to the communities.

The post Peach Bowl CEO: ‘4 teams is right amount for College Football Playoff’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But perhaps an even bigger sign of the SEC’s depth is the fact that the conference’s pool of undrafted free agent signees is much larger, even with just a few teams reporting their official lists as of Sunday afternoon.

Many of the SEC players who did not get drafted have signed as priority free agents — among the most coveted in the post-draft scramble as scouts and personnel department folks not as involved in the draft discussion get a chance to make their mark in pro football’s biggest land grab.

The path to making an NFL regular-season roster and enjoying a long pro career is exceedingly difficult for these players. But history tells us that a few of these guys will eventually become starters.

There are some notable names on this list, including national championship-winning quarterback Jake Coker (Alabama/Arizona Cardinals), the SEC’s second-leading touchdown maker at receiver in De’Runnya Wilson (Mississippi State/New England Patriots), touted defensive back Trae Elston (Ole Miss/New Orleans Saints) and receiver Marquez North (Tennessee/Los Angeles Rams).

The Vols, the only SEC team without a drafted player this year, have sent at least a handful of players to NFL teams as undrafted free agents, including safety Brian Randolph, who will join North in Los Angeles.

Here’s a complete list of all the free agent signings we’ve been able to document so far. Please let us know if you’ve seen others and we’ll add them to the list.

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS FROM THE SEC

• Alabama: QB Jake Coker (Arizona Cardinals)
• Alabama: DB Geno Matias-Smith (Washington Redskins)
• Alabama: OT Dominick Jackson (Washington Redskins)
• Alabama: DL D.J. Pettway (New Orleans Saints)
• Alabama: DL Darren Lake (San Francisco 49ers)
• Alabama: LB Dillon Lee (New Orleans Saints)
• Alabama: FB Michael Nysewander (Kansas City Chiefs)
• Alabama: WR Richard Mullaney (Houston Texans)
• Arkansas: OL Denver Kirkland (Oakland Raiders)
• Arkansas: DL Mitchell Loewen (New Orleans Saints)
• Arkansas: S Rohan Gaines (Los Angeles Rams)
• Auburn: RB Peyton Barber (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Auburn: DE DeVonte Lambert (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Auburn: LB Cassanova McKinzy (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Auburn: OT Avery Young (New Orleans Saints)
• Auburn: CB Jonathan Jones (New England Patriots)
• Auburn: LB Kris Frost (New England Patriots)*
• Florida: TE Jake McGee (Carolina Panthers)
• Florida: DB Brian Poole (Atlanta Falcons)
• Georgia: LB Jake Ganus (Minnesota Vikings)
• Georgia: DT Chris Mayes (Atlanta Falcons)
• Georgia: DL Josh Dawson (Atlanta Falcons)
• Georgia: DL James DeLoach (Detroit Lions)
• Georgia: TE Jay Rome (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Georgia: LS Nathan Theus (Denver Broncos)
• Georgia: FB Quayvon Hicks (Tennessee Titans)
• Georgia: K Marshall Morgan (Buffalo Bills)
• Kentucky: DT Cory Johnson (Atlanta Falcons)
• Kentucky: OT Jordan Swindle (Los Angeles Rams)
• Kentucky: DT Melvin Lewis (New York Giants)
• Kentucky: DL Farrington Hueguenin (Miami Dolphins)
• Kentucky: LS Kelly Mason (Washington Redskins)
• LSU: LB Lamar Louis (Arizona Cardinals)
• LSU: LS Reid Ferguson (Buffalo Bills)
• LSU: TE Dillon Gordon (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Mississippi State: WR De’Runnya Wilson (New England Patriots)
• Mississippi State: LB Beniquez Brown (Green Bay Packers)
• Mississippi State: CB Taveze Calhoun (Chicago Bears)
• Mississippi State: DL Ryan Brown (Cincinnati Bengals)
• Mississippi State: P/K Devon Bell (Indianapolis Colts)
• Mississippi State: OL Justin Malone (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Missouri: RB Russell Hansbrough (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Missouri: CB Kenya Dennis (Cleveland Browns)
• Missouri: K Andrew Baggett (Cleveland Browns)
• Ole Miss: DB Trae Elston (New Orleans Saints)
• Ole Miss: DE Channing Ward (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Ole Miss: LB/DL C.J. Johnson (New England Patriots)
• Ole Miss: DB Mike Hilton (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Ole Miss: DT Woodrow Hamilton (New England Patriots)
• South Carolina: S Isaiah Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• South Carolina: RB Brandon Wilds (Atlanta Falcons)
• South Carolina: DT Gerald Dixon Jr. (Atlanta Falcons)
• Tennessee: WR Marquez North (Los Angeles Rams)
• Tennessee: S Brian Randolph (Los Angeles Rams)
• Tennessee: LB Curt Maggitt (Indianapolis Colts)
• Tennessee: WR Pig Howard (Oakland Raiders)
• Tennessee: TE Alex Ellis (Tennessee Titans)
• Tennessee: DT Owen Williams (Atlanta Falcons)
• Tennessee: LB Chris Weatherd (New Orleans Saints)
• Texas A&M: RB Tra Carson (Cincinnati Bengals)
• Texas A&M: K Taylor Bertolet (Los Angeles Rams)
• Texas A&M: CB De’Vante Harris (New Orleans Saints)
• Texas A&M: OL Joseph Cheek (New Orleans Saints)
• Texas A&M: C Mike Matthews (Atlanta Falcons)
• Vanderbilt: TE Steven Scheu (New England Patriots)
• Vanderbilt: C Spencer Pulley (San Diego Chargers)
• Vanderbilt: DE Caleb Azubike (Dallas Cowboys)
• Vanderbilt: OL Jake Bernstein (Kansas City Chiefs)
• Vanderbilt: S Andrew Williamson (Indianapolis Colts)

*Mini camp invite only.

The post Complete list of the SEC’s undrafted NFL free agent signees appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But a late-round frenzy saw players like Jalen Mills, Vadal Alexander, Alex McCalister and Keith Marshall flew off the board in the final picks, softening the headliners within the SEC’s “undrafted” list.

The most recognizable name not to be selected may be Alabama quarterback Jake Coker.

After losing a tight competition to eventual No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston at Florida State, Coker transferred to the Tide, hoping to replace AJ McCarron. Instead he watched Blake Sims lead the team to the College Football Playoff before finally seizing control of the position in the second half of the Ole Miss game in ’15.

Coker threw for 3,110 yards and 21 touchdowns as Bama won another national championship. But he didn’t get invited to the NFL Combine and wasn’t among the 15 quarterbacks selected in this year’s draft.

According to ESPN’s draft tracker, Ole Miss defensive back Trae Elston was one of the six best players left on the board when the draft ended. NFL.com rated Auburn offensive tackle Avery Young as the second-best player who will need to sign as an undrafted free agent.

Mississippi State receiver De’Runnya Wilson, who caught 10 touchdown passes in 2015 and stands 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, also did not get drafted. He ran a 4.85 40-yard dash and put forth a 28-inch vertical at the NFL Combine, highly disappointing numbers that contributed to him not being selected.

Other names that we figured had a solid chance of being drafted but were left without a phone call Saturday include a trio of Auburn players (CB Jonathan Jones, RB Peyton Barber, WR Duke Williams), Florida tight end Jake McGee, Arkansas guard Denver Kirkland and Kentucky defensive lineman Cory Johnson.

After producing at least one draft pick for 51 consecutive years, Tennessee now has failed to do so in ’15 and ’16. Receiver Marquez North, safety Brian Randolph, offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson and pass rusher Curt Maggitt are among Vols players who are hoping to catch on with an NFL roster.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the SEC players who were not drafted, along with their pre-draft positional rank within the SEC. (For example, we rated Jake Coker as the third-best SEC quarterback entering the NFL draft. Dak Prescott and Brandon Allen both got selected, so he’s got a “3.” in front of his name.)

QUARTERBACKS

3. Jake Coker, Alabama

RUNNING BACKS

7. Peyton Barber, Auburn
8. Tra Carson, Texas A&M
9. Quayvon Hicks, Georgia
10. Brandon Wilds, South Carolina
11. Russell Hansbrough, Missouri
12. Jaylen Walton, Ole Miss
13. Shon Carson, South Carolina

RECEIVERS

6. De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State
8. D’haquille Williams, Auburn
9. Marquez North, Tennessee
10. Melvin Ray, Auburn

TIGHT ENDS

3. Jake McGee, Florida
4. Steven Scheu, Vanderbilt
5. Dillon Gordon, LSU
6. Darrion Hutcherson, Mississippi State

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

8. Avery Young, Auburn
9. Dominick Jackson, Alabama
10. Jordan Swindle, Kentucky
11. Mike Matulis, South Carolina
12. Kolton Houston, Georgia

GUARDS/CENTERS

6. Denver Kirkland, Arkansas
7. Mike Matthews, Texas A&M
8. Kyler Kerbyson, Tennessee
9. Joseph Cheek, Texas A&M
10. Spencer Pulley, Vanderbilt
11. Aaron Morris, Ole Miss
12. Mitch Smothers, Arkansas
13. Trip Thurman, Florida
14. Marcus Jackson, Tennessee
15. Jake Bernstein, Vanderbilt
16. Justin Malone, Mississippi State

DEFENSIVE ENDS/OUTSIDE ‘BACKERS

6. Cory Johnson, Kentucky
7. Sterling Bailey, Georgia
8. Farrington Huguenin, Kentucky
9. D.J. Pettway, Alabama
11. Josh Dawson, Georgia
12. DaVonte Lambert, Auburn
13. Channing Ward, Ole Miss
14. Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt
15. Dillon Lee, Alabama
16. Beniquez Brown, Mississippi State
17. Curt Maggitt, Tennessee
18. Lamar Louis, LSU
19. Darreon Herring, Vanderbilt

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

5. Gerald Dixon, South Carolina
6. Chris Mayes, Georgia
7. Melvin Lewis, Kentucky
8. Owen Williams, Tennessee
9. Darren Lake, Alabama
10. Quentin Thomas, LSU

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

5. C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss
6. Kris Frost, Auburn
7. Jake Ganus, Georgia
8. Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn
9. Denzell Deval, Alabama

CORNERBACKS

5. Jonathan Jones, Auburn
7. Taveze Calhoun, Mississippi State
8. De’Vante Harris, Texas A&M
9. Brian Poole, Florida
10. Kenya Dennis, Missouri

SAFETIES

3. Trae Elston, Ole Miss
4. Brian Randolph, Tennessee
5. Geno Matias-Smith, Alabama
6. A.J. Stamps, Kentucky
7. Mike Hilton, Ole Miss
8. Ian Simon, Missouri
9. Andrew Williamson, Vanderbilt
10. Chief Brown, Ole Miss
11. Davyon McKinney, Arkansas
12. Devonta Burns, Texas A&M

The post Jake Coker, De’Runnya Wilson among undrafted SEC standouts appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Friday, Alex Collins became the latest Razorbacks player to get selected in the draft — near the bottom of the fifth round, to the Seattle Seahawks.

The NEWEST #ProHog @Budda03 #NFLDraft https://t.co/BhVlvTWvuh

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) April 30, 2016

Collins, sometimes overlooked in the SEC behind Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, 2015 first-round pick Todd Gurley and ’16 returnees Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb, exited Fayetteville, Ark., as the only running back in the conference with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

When Jonathan Williams broke his foot prior to the 2015 season, Collins matured into one of the team’s leaders and absorbed even more carries. He punctuated his Arkansas career with a final season of 1,577 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, helping the team improve from 0-8 in the SEC in ’13 to 5-3 last year.

Prior to ’15, he served as part of an intimidating 1-2 punch with Williams. The two combined as the only pair of running backs in the SEC to each top 1,000 rushing yards in the ’14 season, and Williams came within 100 yards of helping the duo achieve that feat in ’13 as well.

Collins was involved in a number of huge moments for Arkansas the last three years, including the incredible fourth-and-25 overtime conversion that helped the team upset Ole Miss, 53-52, 17 100-yard games and a five-touchdown performance against UT-Martin on just 16 carries.

With 3,703 career rushing yards, Collins ranks second in Arkansas history behind only Darren McFadden.

Williams went No. 156 overall to the Buffalo Bills, 15 spots before Collins. That was a minor surprise. But it seems fitting that the two got drafted so close together.

Seattle was in need of running back help as Marshawn Lynch retired after the 2015 season. Thomas Rawls surpassed Lynch as the team’s No. 1 ball-carrier last year, rushing for 830 yards at 5.6 yards per carry. And quarterback Russell Wilson is a good runner as well. So Collins will be headed to another team with several competent players to run the ball.

The post Next Marshawn Lynch? Alex Collins’ wait ends in fifth round appeared first on Saturday Down South.

No longer will they have to collide with A’Shawn Robinson, a 6-foot-4, 307-pound bundle of explosive muscle, in the middle of the line of scrimmage.

Robinson became the third Alabama player off the board in Friday’s second round when the Detroit Lions selected him at No. 46 overall. His selection followed teammate Derrick Henry, who went No. 45 to Tennessee.

One of just two players from Alabama’s 2015 national championship team to leave eligibility on the table in favor of the NFL draft, Robinson also adds to coach Nick Saban’s incredible collection of early-round picks.

Robinson collected 7.5 tackles for loss and 46 overall stops as a junior in ’15, earning consensus All-American honors and becoming a finalist for the prestigious Outland Trophy. He came into his own in the ’14 SEC Championship Game with three tackles for loss against Missouri, setting the stage for last season.

Part of one of the most memorable defensive lines in Alabama history, Robinson was a major contributor to the team that finished the season 14-1, beating Michigan State and Clemson in the College Football Playoff.

Although he just turned 21, Robinson is perhaps best known for his intense glare, bald head and long beard that makes him look much older.

A'Shawn Robinson was a huge baby, played tackle football at 4, could be '16 first-round pick. http://t.co/oLNkoKFYoI pic.twitter.com/chaVWzwSDp

— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) September 4, 2015

Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson is 20. Tells @slmandel most people think he's 35 pic.twitter.com/9FGRufIXC0

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 29, 2015

In 2015, he also leaped over a center to block a kick, showing off his elite athleticism that NFL teams covet.

That's A'Shawn Robinson everyone. Pulling a Kam Chancellor pic.twitter.com/Xu3rEVFMJh

— Justen Gammel (@gamscout) November 8, 2015

NFL scouts and analysts say he’ll have to work on playing with a lower pad level and developing as a pass rusher. But while he already earned All-American status playing against SEC competition, his potential is much higher.

The post Lions grab A’Shawn Robinson in second round appeared first on Saturday Down South.

There are six players left in the green room, and three of them were members of the Crimson Tide’s national championship defense. And that’s not even including Derrick Henry. All four players could be taken Friday during the second or third rounds.

Mississippi State’s Chris Jones was the only other SEC player remaining in the green room in Chicago at the end of Thursday’s first round.

Here are some of the best SEC prospects still on the board after the first 31 picks.

LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama: News went public just hours before the NFL draft that Ragland has a medical reality that caused several teams to lower him on their draft boards. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Ragland “was flagged for an enlarged aorta, which requires yearly monitoring.” So Ragland, once thought to be a first-round lock, remains available as a powerful inside linebacker.

DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama: While Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche parlayed “huge upside” and “athletic rarity” into first-round status, Robinson did not. Both players produced enough in college to earn All-American and All-SEC accolades in at least one year. But both never achieved a level of play thought possible due to their athleticism. At any rate, Robinson remains on the board for any team that feels like it can teach him to keep his pad level down and develop his pass-rush technique.

DT Jarran Reed, Alabama: Thought by many (including this writer) to be the best run-stuffer in this entire draft class, Reed’s first-round potential seemed hampered by the fact that he’s not a pass rusher. It’s not shocking he remains on the board, as he may never be a marquee type of NFL player. But he’s a lunch pail guy who is already polished as can be against the run, and that will make some NFL team very, very happy — probably in the second round.

DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State: Half of the players left in the green room are SEC defensive tackles. Jones, who entered college as a five-star signee, put together a tremendous freshman season, slumped in 2014 as a sophomore and closed strong. He probably rated fourth among SEC defensive tackles among the consensus projections, behind Nkemdiche, Robinson and Reed. But Bulldogs fans hoped that he’d sneak into the first round. He’ll start offering excellent value if he’s still around late in the second or early in the third on Friday.

TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas: Arguably the top tight end prospect in this draft, Henry should have every opportunity to become the first Razorbacks player taken this year. He’s not the best pass-catcher — that may be South Carolina’s Jerrell Adams. And he’s probably not the best blocker. But add the two together and he’s got a strong case for best all-around. It would be a surprise if Henry lingers all the way to the back half of the third round.

RB Derrick Henry, Alabama: Analysts have questioned his vision, third-down ability and the fact that he doesn’t make many tacklers miss (unless he gets to top gear and outruns all of them). That’s not a slight against the Heisman Trophy winner. Fellow running back Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State, though, went fourth overall on Thursday, the only running back taken in the first round. It’s just very, very hard to be a first-round pick and also a running back. Still, Henry’s freakish size/speed combo, along the durability and work ethic he put on display last season, should be enough for a team to select him at some point Friday.

DL Jonathan Bullard, Florida: Some Gators were hoping to get three in the first round after Vernon Hargreaves III and Keanu Neal came off the board relatively early on Thursday. Todd McShay’s final mock draft projected three Florida players in the first 31 picks. But Bullard, though he’s a nice player, looks more like a second-day pick from our position. His motor and versatility have made him a popular pick among the media. After a strong 2015 season, we’ll find out Friday if NFL scouts and general managers agree with that assessment.

The post Who’s falling in 2016? Here are the best remaining SEC players after Round 1 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But the SEC’s streak of producing the most first-round draft picks started anew.

The conference edged out the Big Ten and Ohio State’s five picks (and Michigan State’s one) by claiming two of the three final selections on Thursday.

The Southeastern Conference also enters Friday on track to produce the most overall draft picks for a 10th consecutive season.

Ole Miss produced a trio of first-round picks and Florida claimed two. In one of the night’s many surprises, Alabama’s only first-round selection was center Ryan Kelly, as A’Shawn Robinson, Reggie Ragland and Jarrad Reed all remained in the green room at night’s end.

Outside of Ohio State, Ole Miss and Florida, Notre Dame was the only other team with multiple first-round selections. The round lasted only 31 picks, as the New England Patriots forfeited theirs due to DeflateGate.

Dating back to the 2010 draft, the SEC now has produced 65 first-round picks, compared to just 34 for the ACC and 32 for the Big 12, the two closest conferences.

2016 FIRST-ROUND PICKS BY CONFERENCE

SEC: 8
Big Ten: 6
ACC: 4
Pac-12: 4
Big 12: 3
AAC: 2
Independent: 2
C-USA: 1
FCS: 1

SEC FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS BY YEAR

2016: 8
2015: 7
2014: 11
2013: 12
2012: 9
2011: 11
2010: 7

FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS SINCE 2010

SEC: 65
ACC: 34
Big 12: 32
Pac-12: 30
Big Ten: 27
AAC: 8
Independents: 7
Big East: 6
MAC: 4
MWC: 3
WAC: 3
C-USA: 3
FCS: 1

The SEC produced a total of 295 picks in the last six drafts, or 49.1 selections per draft. That works out to about seven draft picks per round, so the conference is ahead of pace for its usual total.

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Laremy Tunsil (No. 13), Laquon Treadwell (No. 23) and Robert Nkemdiche (No. 29) all became first-round picks Thursday, putting an NFL stamp of approval on coach Hugh Freeze and the current Rebels program.

Nkemdiche got to vacate the green room with just two picks remaining in the first round.

There’s only a hint of “what might’ve been” regarding Nkemdiche’s college career. Ole Miss beat Alabama in back-to-back seasons and also won the Sugar Bowl in January, both tremendous accomplishments. And the team’s recruiting efforts portend continued success even beyond the Big Three.

But Nkemdiche, despite being considered the top prospect in the nation in ’13 and earning first- and second-team All-SEC honors the last two years, never quite became a dominant force like an Aaron Donald (Pitt) or Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska).

Those are lofty standards, nearly impossible for anyone to achieve. But Nkemdiche is one of the most athletic defensive tackles to play college football in years. At 6-foot-3 and 294 pounds, he ran a 4.87-second 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical leap at the NFL Combine. He even dabbled on offense for Ole Miss in 2015, scoring a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl.

Sometimes able to chase down plays sideline to sideline — again, as a defensive tackle — but never put up big production.

Nkemdiche also fell out of a fourth-story hotel window weeks before the NFL Combine. Police found marijuana cigarettes in the room, and Nkemdiche claims he was drunk. Some have questioned his willingness to play hard on every snap.

“I still don’t know if I have a great read on him. I’m usually big on production and he doesn’t have it like you want it, but we get paid to coach players up. There is a lot there to coach,” an NFC defensive line coach told NFL.com. “I think he’ll either drive you crazy or make you look like a genius. Probably not a lot of middle ground is my guess.”

The Cardinals will get the first opportunity to try to harness that larger-than-life talent.

By getting selected in the first round, Nkemdiche assured the best-ever opening draft day for the Ole Miss program. The team has produced multiple first-round picks on two different occasions — in 2009 (Michael Oher, Peria Jerry) and 1966 (Stan Hindman, Mike Dennis) — but never three until Thursday.

Tunsil (7-game suspension, draft night debacle), Treadwell (slow 40 time) and Nkemdiche (character questions) all faced some level of scrutiny during the pre-draft process. But they entered college as five-star signees (along with Tony Conner, a defensive back who still is on the team). And the three of them exit as first-round picks with an opportunity to make a better living than arguably anyone on the Ole Miss campus this last year.

The post Robert Nkemdiche completes Ole Miss first-round trio appeared first on Saturday Down South.

A bizarre video posted from his Twitter account minutes before the start of the first round, which depicted Tunsil smoking a bong, then shoved him out of the top 10.

ESPN and the NFL Network each reported that someone hacked into his Twitter account and posted the video, which they claim was old.  Reports surfaced that multiple teams removed Tunsil from their draft board completely.

Regardless, Tunsil — at one point a potential No. 1 overall pick, whom some consider the best NFL prospect in the entire draft class — tumbled Thursday. The Dolphins selected him at No. 13 overall, making him the first of what could be three Rebels selected in the first round.

A member of the celebrated 2013 class that signified a changing tide in Oxford, Miss., Tunsil exited at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds — a ready-made NFL offensive tackle. He started 26 of 29 games for the Rebels.

Lauded for his footwork and agility, he punctuated his final college game with a 2-yard touchdown catch in a Sugar Bowl win against Oklahoma State. He may need more strength and nastiness to handle elite NFL pass rushers, scouts say, but overall he’s considered a can’t-miss prospect.

“Extremely athletic,” an NFL personnel executive told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “Good kid. About the same as Tyron Smith. He has a chance to be in a bunch of Pro Bowls.”

Said another: “He’s probably the most athletic guy that’s come out in a while.”

Before the video, the Titans would’ve had to consider taking Tunsil at No. 1 to protect the blind-side of Marcus Mariota, but instead the franchise secured a bounty by trading down so that the Los Angeles Rams could draft quarterback Jared Goff at No. 1 overall. Philadelphia then traded with Cleveland to secure the No. 2 overall pick, selecting quarterback Carson Wentz.

San Diego passed on the opportunity to select Tunsil at No. 3 overall, instead choosing to rely on King Dunlap to protect Philip Rivers — the same Dunlap who missed significant time in 2015 due to a concussion and an ankle injury. And then a number of NFL teams selected offensive tackles. Ronnie Stanley went No. 6 to the Baltimore Ravens and Jack Conklin went No. 8 to the Tennessee Titans.

So Tunsil waited until the Dolphins pounced on him at No. 13.

Tunsil did miss three games in his first two college seasons, suffering a left knee injury, a partially torn biceps, a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. But the biggest mark against him was a seven-game suspension levied by the NCAA. His stepfather brought forth accusations after an apparent physical altercation between the two men.

As the Jacksonville Times-Union wrote, the NCAA punished Tunsil “for not being forthcoming when questioned about multiple impermissible benefits (use of a car, interest-free promissory note, airline ticket, etc.).”

Teammate Robert Nkemdiche also pointed out to reporters that Tunsil was in the room when police found several marijuana cigarettes after Nkemdiche fell out of a hotel window.

It appears that Tunsil’s talent won out over any character concerns. The question now becomes whether Nkemdiche can do the same and join his former teammate in the first round. Laquon Treadwell also is projected as a first-round pick, perhaps as the first receiver taken in this draft.

The post Wait over: Laremy Tunsil falls out of top 10, but not by much appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Going through the programs, we honed in on eight teams that will either have some high-profile selections near the top of the draft, numerous selections throughout or both. Not to say that the remaining six teams won’t be involved — a few of them will boast at least one big-time selection.

But for these teams, we feel like there are an abundance of storylines heading into the draft, and we want to help you get ready for today’s proceedings.

• Alabama: Where will Derrick Henry go?
• Arkansas: Will Brandon Allen last past the fourth round?
• Auburn: How many Tigers will get picked in the draft’s first three rounds?
• Florida: Will Jonathan Bullard or Keanu Neal sneak into the first round?
• Georgia: Did Keith Marshall’s combine help his draft stock?
• LSU: Will there be any first-rounders?
• Ole Miss: Who goes first, Robert Nkemdiche or Laquon Treadwell?
• South Carolina: When will Pharoh Cooper and Jerrell Adams be drafted?

OTHERS

• Kentucky: Will Josh Forrest or A.J. Stamps get drafted?
• Mississippi State: Which team will select Dak Prescott?
• Missouri: Which franchise will be lucky enough to obtain Kentrell Brothers?
• Tennessee: Will the Vols start a new draft streak, or will that have to wait until 2017?
• Texas A&M: How soon will Germain Ifedi come off the board?
• Vanderbilt: Will Stephen Weatherly enter the NFL as a pass-rushing end or an outside linebacker?

The post 2016 NFL draft guide: A deep look at the SEC’s most involved teams appeared first on Saturday Down South.

OFFENSE

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Receivers
• Offensive line

DEFENSE

• Pass rushers
• Defensive tackles
• Linebackers
• Defensive backs

The post Countdown to the NFL draft: Position-by-position look at the SEC appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We’ve been taking a position-by-position look at the SEC’s draft prospects in the days leading up to the event, continuing with defensive tackles.

In many ways it’s held up as a position of differentiation, as it seems like the best prep interior defensive lineman make a beeline for the SEC footprint each February on National Signing Day. And although it isn’t a deep group, there are quite a few headliners in this class, all of them candidates to fly off the board in the first 31 picks.

So what is the current buzz on the SEC defensive tackles?

THE SURE BET

Jarran Reed, Alabama: Arguably the least-heralded of Alabama’s superstar defensive line in 2015, Reed finished as the most effective of the bunch, according to analytics websites like Pro Football Focus. He’s not the sexiest option in the draft — many teams covet three-down players who can pass rush as well as run, even from the defensive interior — but he’s probably the best run stuffer. He isn’t a typical space-eater, however, in that he’s capable of more than occupying a blocker or two. Reed is excellent at shedding those to meet running backs at or behind the line of scrimmage, and that sure-thing skill may make him the first SEC defensive lineman taken this year.

THE MAN-CHILD

A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama: If Reed represents polish, Robinson is potential. The 6-foot-4, 307-pound lineman is one of the most athletic in this draft class. And it’s not as if he’s all kinetic energy, no football skills — we’re talking about an Outland Trophy finalist and consensus All-American. He’s got grown man strength fit for the NFL and has looked about 40 years old ever since he arrived in Tuscaloosa, though his birth date was March 21, 1995. That’s right, this man just turned 21. Combine that with his length and decent pass rush ability and he’s got Pro Bowl potential if he can improve on some technique things (pad level, more pass rush moves, wider base).

THE STEALTH BOMBER

Chris Jones, Mississippi State: He may have arrived in Starkville, Miss., as a five-star talent. But he started just three games his in first two seasons combined, slumping as a sophomore after a promising first go. A prototypical athlete for an NFL defensive lineman, Jones can get off the ball as fast as most any defensive line prospect in this draft, and he’s also strong enough to dominate the point of attack. His versatility is perfect for today’s game, as he can play within a number of schemes and spots.

THE ENIGMA

Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss: Is there any first-round prospect this year with more personality quirks? Nkemdiche wants to buy a pet panther, fell from a fourth-story hotel room window, plays the jazz saxophone and is writing a science-fiction book “about a meeting of the thoughts of the human mind and the conscious,” according to ESPN. And that’s just for starters. On the field, his otherworldly athleticism has pegged him as a potential first-round pick since he arrived in Oxford, Miss., as one of the gems of that seminal 2013 signing class. But his effort has been inconsistent, and although he produced like a top 20 defensive lineman in 2015, he never became one of the most dominant players in the country. His potential and athleticism remain vivid; which NFL team will bite first?

THE SPACE-EATER

Gerald Dixon Jr., South Carolina: At 6-foot-2, 325 pounds, Dixon Jr. possesses the size and strength NFL teams covet in a space-eating 3-4 nose guard. He’s got better quickness than you’d expect for a likely undrafted free agent, but his main skill is occupying blockers. He wasn’t a consistent, every-down player for the Gamecocks, so he must prove he’s willing to work all-out if he wants to make an NFL roster or practice squad.

THE GIANT

Chris Mayes, Georgia: The former Bulldogs lineman is even bigger than Dixon Jr. at 6-foot-3 and 338 pounds. At the college level, once Mayes got his hands on you as a ball-carrier, that was it. You don’t break tackles against him. But he turns 25 in September. He’s an average athlete with next to no pass-rush ability. And he doesn’t anchor well enough for a 3-4 nose tackle prospect. Still, his body should get him a shot in an NFL camp.

NON-SEC PLAYERS TO WORRY ABOUT

• Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
• Andrew Billings, Baylor
• Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech

THREE BIGGEST QUESTIONS

1. Will Robert Nkemdiche remain a first-round pick?
2. Can the SEC claim four first-round defensive tackles?
3. Will the conference produce any draft picks at the position after the four headliners?

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2017

• Montravius Adams, Auburn
• Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama
• Caleb Brantley, Florida

The post Countdown to the NFL draft: SEC DTs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

As we wait for Los Angeles to take the clock (8 p.m. ET Thursday), here’s a position-by-position look at the draft-eligible SEC players.

Who is the best at every position? Who has no shot at being drafted? We rank them all and notate the likely cutoff between drafted and undrafted.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS

1. Derrick Henry, Alabama
2. Alex Collins, Arkansas
3. Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
4. Kenyan Drake, Alabama
5. Kelvin Taylor, Florida
6. Keith Marshall, Georgia
7. Peyton Barber, Auburn
8. Tra Carson, Texas A&M
9. Quayvon Hicks, Georgia
10. Brandon Wilds, South Carolina
11. Russell Hansbrough, Missouri
12. Jaylen Walton, Ole Miss
13. Shon Carson, South Carolina

Projected draft picks: 8

RECEIVERS

1. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
2. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
3. Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
4. Demarcus Robinson, Florida
5. Ricardo Louis, Auburn
6. De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State
7. Cody Core, Ole Miss
8. D’haquille Williams, Auburn
9. Marquez North, Tennessee
10. Melvin Ray, Auburn

Projected draft picks: 6

QUARTERBACKS

1. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
2. Brandon Allen, Arkansas
3. Jake Coker, Alabama

Projected draft picks: 2

TIGHT ENDS

1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas
2. Jerrell Adams, South Carolina
3. Jake McGee, Florida
4. Steven Scheu, Vanderbilt
5. Dillon Gordon, LSU
6. Darrion Hutcherson, Mississippi State

Projected draft picks: 3

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

1. Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
2. Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
3. Jerald Hawkins, LSU
4. Shon Coleman, Auburn
5. Brandon Shell, South Carolina
6. Fahn Cooper, Ole Miss
7. John Theus, Georgia
8. Avery Young, Auburn
9. Dominick Jackson, Alabama
10. Jordan Swindle, Kentucky
11. Mike Matulis, South Carolina
12. Kolton Houston, Georgia

Projected draft picks: 7

GUARDS/CENTERS

1. Ryan Kelly, Alabama
2. Connor McGovern, Missouri
3. Vadal Alexander, LSU
4. Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas
5. Evan Boehm, Missouri
6. Denver Kirkland, Arkansas
7. Mike Matthews, Texas A&M
8. Kyler Kerbyson, Tennessee
9. Joseph Cheek, Texas A&M
10. Spencer Pulley, Vanderbilt
11. Aaron Morris, Ole Miss
12. Mitch Smothers, Arkansas
13. Trip Thurman, Florida
14. Marcus Jackson, Tennessee
15. Jake Bernstein, Vanderbilt
16. Justin Malone, Mississippi State

Projected draft picks: 7

DEFENSIVE ENDS/OUTSIDE ‘BACKERS

1. Leonard Floyd, Georgia
2. Jonathan Bullard, Florida
3. Deion Jones, LSU
4. Alex McCalister, Florida
5. Jordan Jenkins, Georgia
6. Cory Johnson, Kentucky
7. Sterling Bailey, Georgia
8. Farrington Huguenin, Kentucky
9. D.J. Pettway, Alabama
10. Stephen Weatherly, Vanderbilt
11. Josh Dawson, Georgia
12. DaVonte Lambert, Auburn
13. Channing Ward, Ole Miss
14. Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt
15. Dillon Lee, Alabama
16. Beniquez Brown, Mississippi State
17. Curt Maggitt, Tennessee
18. Lamar Louis, LSU
19. Darreon Herring, Vanderbilt

Projected draft picks: 9

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

1. Jarran Reed, Alabama
2. A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
3. Chris Jones, Mississippi State
4. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
5. Gerald Dixon, South Carolina
6. Chris Mayes, Georgia
7. Melvin Lewis, Kentucky
8. Owen Williams, Tennessee
9. Darren Lake, Alabama
10. Quentin Thomas, LSU

Projected draft picks: 5

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. Reggie Ragland, Alabama
2. Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
3. Antonio Morrison, Florida
4. Josh Forrest, Kentucky
5. C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss
6. Kris Frost, Auburn
7. Jake Ganus, Georgia
8. Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn
9. Denzell Deval, Alabama

Projected draft picks: 3

CORNERBACKS

1. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
2. Cyrus Jones, Alabama
3. Will Redmond, Mississippi State
4. Rashard Robinson, LSU
5. Jonathan Jones, Auburn
6. Brandon Williams, Texas A&M
7. Taveze Calhoun, Mississippi State
8. De’Vante Harris, Texas A&M
9. Brian Poole, Florida
10. Kenya Dennis, Missouri
11. Blake Countess, Auburn

Projected draft picks: 7

SAFETIES

1. Keanu Neal, Florida
2. Jalen Mills, LSU
3. Trae Elston, Ole Miss
4. Brian Randolph, Tennessee
5. Geno Matias-Smith, Alabama
6. A.J. Stamps, Kentucky
7. Mike Hilton, Ole Miss
8. Ian Simon, Missouri
9. Andrew Williamson, Vanderbilt
10. Chief Brown, Ole Miss
11. Davyon McKinney, Arkansas
12. Devonta Burns, Texas A&M

Projected draft picks: 3

The post SEC NFL draft rankings by position appeared first on Saturday Down South.

I’d be happy to put up some of my hard-earned cash on “the field” vs. whichever combination of teams they’re touting — with the exception of Alabama, which is gunning for its fifth national championship in eight years.

It’s very difficult to project the four best teams, much less pinpoint exactly how all 14 teams in the SEC are going to finish. That’s plenty of time for injuries, suspensions — and before we sound too depressing, newcomers to emerge as serious contributors.

RELATED: Post-spring SEC power rankings

Several impact players haven’t even arrived on campuses yet and did not participate in spring practice. Some quarterback competitions will linger into the fall, and we know there will be personnel changes that arise between now and September — both within the SEC and within several high-profile programs that SEC teams will face during the non-conference schedule.

But we’re starting to have a good idea about what every SEC program will look like after spring practice. We’re also 11 weeks away from SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., which signifies the coming of fall each year.

A lot should change between now and Sept. 3, which on paper is one of the best opening weekends in college football history. For now, we’re projecting 11 SEC teams to make next year’s postseason. That includes seven programs from the SEC West, which would mark a third consecutive year that all seven teams in the division played in a bowl game.

Tennessee continues to present a temptation as a College Football Playoff projection. We love the Vols’ experience on both sides of the football coming off what was very nearly a special season in Knoxville (oh-so-close losses to Alabama and Oklahoma, both playoff teams). Bob Shoop figures to upgrade (read: increasingly aggressive) what already was a good UT defense. And Joshua Dobbs, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara should combine to produce the best rushing offense in the SEC.

But Georgia and Florida reminded us this spring that to put all our chips into one team is foolish. We still like Tennessee to win the division, but it’s far from a sure thing. The Vols still play Alabama as the cross-division rival, and coach Butch Jones must prove that he’s capable of winning close games in the fourth quarter against championship teams. Oh, and there’s that pesky 11-game losing streak to the Gators.

In the SEC West, we’re torn between Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU as the preseason favorites. Personally, I find it hard to bet against the Tide, as Nick Saban has built probably the most sustainable, consistent football program in SEC history. But both the Rebels and Tigers are capable of winning the conference. And Texas A&M and Auburn seem like annual X factors — often disappointing but able to stun No. 1 teams when they’re clicking.

It may be just as exciting to find out which of the four non-bowl teams from 2015 is able to get to six wins. For Kentucky and Mark Stoops, it may be mandatory. Three consecutive close-but-no-cigar seasons may lead to a coaching change for the Wildcats.

Vanderbilt could be sneaky good, as coach Derek Mason has that defense playing strong, and Ralph Webb is one of the most productive running backs that most outside of SEC territory have never heard of. And Missouri and South Carolina are launching new coaching eras with Barry Odom and Will Muschamp.

Here are our still-early bowl projections for 2016:

2016 SEC BOWL PROJECTIONS (11 invites)

• College Football Playoff Semifinal (Peach Bowl): No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
• College Football Playoff Semifinal (Fiesta Bowl): No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State
• New Year’s Six Sugar Bowl: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma State
• New Year’s Six Orange Bowl: LSU vs. Florida State
• Citrus: Georgia vs. Michigan State
• Outback: Ole Miss vs. Wisconsin
• Music City: Mississippi State vs. Nebraska
• Belk: Arkansas vs. North Carolina
• Liberty: Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech
• TaxSlayer: Florida vs. Virginia Tech
• Texas: Auburn vs. Texas
• Birmingham: Missouri vs. Cincinnati

On the outside looking in: Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina

The post Post-spring SEC bowl projections appeared first on Saturday Down South.

While we wait for SEC Media Days to signify the coming of fall practice, the beat writers who cover the seven SEC West teams have given us plenty to digest. Here are the major developments and storylines that emerged for each team this spring.

ALABAMA

• Cooper Bateman appears to have emerged from the spring as the current leader in the quarterback competition, but it’s far from over. Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts in particular hope that four more months in the incubator will help them wrest away the job.
• Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris did enough to alleviate concerns about how the Tide would replace Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake.
• It may be very difficult for Calvin Ridley to repeat his 1,000-yard season. Robert Foster, who looked like the No. 1 receiver last spring, is healthy again. Gehrig Dieter, a 1,000-yard receiver for Bowling Green last year, is headed to Tuscaloosa, perhaps as the team’s slot receiver. ArDarius Stewart and O.J. Howard should get targets as well at one of the deepest position groups in the SEC.
• Reuben Foster is the new vocal leader of the defense, replacing Reggie Ragland as the player who handles the calls at inside linebacker.
• The defensive line may not be as deep as it was last year. But the pass rush won’t suffer with Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson still present. And Da’Shawn Hand and Dalvin Tomlinson look like breakout candidates.
• Anthony Averett, another of Alabama’s defensive backs that doubles as a sprinter, had an excellent spring and could be one of the surprise names to get significant playing time this fall. AL.com reports that he’s a first-team member of the defense in certain packages.

ARKANSAS

• A “quarterback competition” turned out to be no competition at all. Austin Allen will replace his brother Brandon Allen as the team’s starter. Beat writers collectively have written that Austin Allen at least has the potential for a smooth transition, though he’ll have to prove it in game situations.
• The Razorbacks will have to wait on the offensive gem of the ’16 class, running back Devwah Whaley, who is expected to join the team this summer. But McTelvin Agim, a composite five-star player, participated in spring practice. He already looks like an impact performer, and he’s nasty to boot — punching at least two teammates in practice.
• The defensive line looks like a real strength, as Deatrich Wise Jr. finally has matured. He looks like “the best defensive end in the Southeastern Conference no one talks about,” writes Eric Bolin of the Arkansas News.
• Receiver is one of the deepest positions across the SEC in 2016, and Arkansas is no exception. Dominique Reed may have the highest ceiling, but he has struggled to gain weight. As a 6-foot-3, 175-pound speedster, a little extra muscle on his frame would be scary for SEC defenses.
• Arkansas is still looking for a second tight end to emerge behind Jeremy Sprinkle. Meanwhile, the team has been using a lot more three- and four-receiver sets. That’s good news for Cody Hollister, one of the bright spots of spring.

AUBURN

• John Franklin III, Jeremy Johnson and Sean White exited spring more or less even in the quarterback competition. But there are signs that Franklin III could seize control in the fall. He improved from the first scrimmage to the last and his running ability is an interesting dynamic.
• Tigers fans looking for positive news after a disappointing 7-6 season and lingering questions at quarterback can google “Marlon Davidson.” The true freshman defensive lineman is being written about as a potential starter.
• Speaking of the defensive line, Auburn looks so much different with a healthy Carl Lawson on the field.
• Whether or not you believe in labels like “hot seat,” coach Gus Malzahn finds himself at a critical juncture of his coaching tenure at Auburn. With all the changes among his staff in the last two years, he’s taking a more hands-on approach in 2016.
• Jovon Robinson still is competing with Roc Thomas, but exiting the spring he looks like the clear No. 1 running back on the roster.
• Expect H-backs Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway to be more involved in the offense this year.

LSU

• New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is indeed installing the 3-4 as the team’s base defense. That’s necessitated several position changes, including Arden Key to outside linebacker and Davon Godchaux to nose tackle. Most interesting, though, may be how the defense handles a lack of linebacker depth. Aranda has moved three players to linebacker from other positions.
• Duke Riley seems to be in line to replace Deion Jones as the team’s starting weak-side linebacker.
• There’s been a big emphasis on improving the passing game this spring, and LSU hasn’t tried to hide it. There’s a cautious optimism that’s developed regarding Brandon Harris, who had a good spring game but still didn’t do all that well at connecting on deep balls.
• By adding Dameyune Craig and Jabbar Juluke to the coaching staff that already contains Ed Orgeron, LSU very well may stake claim to holding the most enthusiastic staff in the conference. Both coaches, along with Aranda, have been well received.
• LSU wants Leonard Fournette to drop some weight, but it did allow him a surprising number of carries in the spring game.
• Expect to see plenty of freshman cornerback Saivion Smith, who showed off his ball skills this spring.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

• The Bulldogs exit spring with a quarterback competition still very much muddled. Nick Fitzgerald seems to be a popular pick in the media, but Damian Williams, Elijah Staley and Nick Tiano all seemed to remain part of the conversation. There’s just not much separation at the position — at least not yet.
• The team’s defense controlled two of the three scrimmages, including a six-interception performance in one practice.
• Sophomore Brandon Bryant, responsible for three of those picks, endured “minor wrist surgery” after the team completed its 15 spring practices. He should be healthy before the fall.
• The early departure of De’Runnya Wilson, the dismissal of Fred Brown and an injury to Fred Ross saw the team searching for playmakers among the young receivers on the roster this spring. Malik Dear is one of the emerging standouts.
• Offensive line continues to be a potential concern for Mississippi State after a down year in 2015, but there were encouraging signs in the spring game, at least in terms of run blocking.
• New defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon has named his hybrid linebacker/defensive end position as “Viper.” Will Coleman looks like a potential standout playing the position, and Johnathan Calvin also made four “sacks” during the team’s spring game.

OLE MISS

• Chad Kelly missed practice due to hernia surgery, and coach Hugh Freeze has a tough decision to make at quarterback. Kelly is the sure-thing starter. But what to do with Shea Patterson? The true freshman looked good relative to his inexperience and got extra reps with Kelly out. Should Freeze redshirt him in 2016, or should Patterson get mop-up duty as the backup this year?
• The Rebels receiving corps remains deep despite losing Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core. Redshirt freshman Van Jefferson is eager to make his mark after struggling with the idea of sitting out in 2015.
• There’s a lot of competition at safety. Tony Conner’s recovery from knee surgery seems to be going well, and he should start. But Trae Elston and Mike Hilton are gone as well. C.J. Hampton figures to play a major role, but there are several younger players competing for time.
• Even without Robert Nkemdiche, the defensive line could be nasty. Some of the Rebels’ headliners include Fadol Brown, Marquis Haynes, Issac Gross, D.J. Jones and Breeland Speaks.
• There’s some degree of consternation at offensive line, but the interior could be as good as it has been since Freeze arrived in Oxford, according to one writer. The real concern may be at tackle. The team should be anxious to get five-star Greg Little involved this summer and fall to find out how he’ll mesh within the offense.

TEXAS A&M

• Trevor Knight is no sure thing at quarterback, Kate Hairopoulos writes. But there’s a lot of optimism about Knight as a player and even more as a leader after spring practice. And with so much talent at receiver, it won’t take an otherworldly year from Knight to move the football.
• New coaches Noel Mazzone (offensive coordinator) and Jim Turner (offensive line) have been much-welcomed additions to the staff. At least in spring, with no real adversity to account for, the staff and players seemed more united than last year’s soap opera.
• Despite all the headlines and attention commandeered by the offense in the last six months, beat writers are saying that John Chavis’ defense quietly was the story of the spring game. Myles Garrett, Daeshon Hall and Armani Watts resembled All-SEC type performers.
• The team remains thin at linebacker. But Shaan Washington, Otaro Alaka, Claude George and Richard Moore represent a much-improved nucleus. The hope is that those players are much more confident in the defense and ready to prevent the big plays that have plagued the Aggies in recent seasons.
• Speedy Noil burst onto the scene in 2014 as a true freshman, one of the most promising wideouts in the conference despite playing through a hamstring injury for much of the season. Since then, he’s dealt with disciplinary issues and injuries. He’ll be suspended for the season opener against UCLA, but Texas A&M has seen a more consistent, mature approach from him this spring.

The post What beat writers learned about the SEC West this spring appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That uncertainty didn’t last at most schools. We believe we know the starter at nine schools with at least a 90 percent degree of certainty. And we have an idea that Alabama (Cooper Bateman) and Georgia (Greyson Lambert) may go with experience ahead of potential.

There’s still intrigue at the position. We don’t have a good grasp on the position battles at Auburn, Mississippi State and South Carolina. And waiting for the Tide and Bulldogs to name a starter will remain interesting.

But we learned more than we thought from the spring practices. Here are our predictions to start each team’s season opener at quarterback.

Alabama: Cooper Bateman

Confidence Level: 65 percent

The Skinny: Despite losing the starter for three consecutive seasons, this roster arguably contains more quarterback talent than any Alabama team ever. Bateman (No. 4 pro-style, ’13), David Cornwell (No. 4 pro-style, ’14), Blake Barnett (No. 2 pro-style, ’14) and Jalen Hurts (No. 3 dual-threat, ’15) all were touted prep quarterbacks.

The player who eventually starts for Alabama probably won’t win the job with his arm strength or running ability. The roster includes multiple players who rank as good to great at both skills. The Tide need someone who is going to take care of the football and avoid the big mistake. And it’s always this way at the position, but especially in Tuscaloosa, there’s a big leadership burden, as the starter is a figurehead of sorts.

From these eyes, Cornwell has played himself out of the race this spring. Hurts is a true freshman and although he did some exciting things this spring, I don’t see Nick Saban taking such a risk on the player who may be least developed in terms of arm talent. Hurts may have to hope for some goal line packages built for him. That leaves Barnett as the main challenger, and thus far it seems like he’s still got some physical and mental growing to do. Can he close the gap?

Arkansas: Austin Allen

Confidence Level: 99 percent

The Skinny: Before spring practice, I categorized this as a quarterback “competition.” An Arkansas beat writer politely explained to me via Twitter that even entering spring, it didn’t seem much like a competition. That proved true as coach Bret Bielema named Allen the starter even before the spring game.

“Raw talent” is a label many are using for Allen, whose brother started the last three seasons for the Razorbacks. Despite his inexperience, it appears that Arkansas coordinator Dan Enos will be able to maintain the rejuvenated passing game he brought to Fayetteville in 2015.

Allen has ticked all the boxes out of spring ball. But he’ll still have something to prove in the regular season.

Auburn: Sean White

Confidence Level: 40 percent

The Skinny: Jeremy Johnson, John Franklin III or even Woody Barrett could win this job, for all I can tell. I don’t have a good read on what coach Gus Malzahn may be thinking here.

Johnson didn’t work out last year and it doesn’t seem like the 6-foot-5, 240-pound ball of potential has learned how to read defenses or avoid head-scratching throws. Franklin III appears to be an excellent runner, but can he manage the deep ball with any degree of accuracy? White seems like a bit of a square peg for a round hole — he’s not a runner, but he’s probably the best passer of the group. And Barrett would need to pick up Malzahn’s offense in a few short weeks in order to start the season opener.

This should be a critical decision for Malzahn, and I don’t expect he’ll make it until late August. I suspect the fall scrimmages will be important factors in that choice. This competition seems far from decided, and the Tigers better hope someone steps up.

Florida: Luke Del Rio

Confidence Level: 95 percent

The Skinny: Coach Jim McElwain made a strong bet on Del Rio, a two-time transfer and a walk-on, when he decided not to give Will Grier the hard sell to return midway through the ’16 season. In retrospect, Grier played excellent ball in the first half of ’15 before getting popped for performance enhancing drugs. And Florida hasn’t experienced good quarterback play for years prior to that.

But the spring game gave us all a better understanding of why McElwain made that bet. Del Rio wouldn’t blow away NFL scouts with a pro day type workout. But he operated the offense at an expert level in that scrimmage, making smart decisions with the ball, accurate throws and demonstrating an understanding of where to throw the ball.

Even better, he still has three years of eligibility remaining. Which is good, because true freshman Feleipe Franks looked far from ready to compete for the job. And true freshman Kyle Trask spent most of high school as a backup. Both of them need more time in the incubator.

Georgia: Greyson Lambert

Confidence Level: 60 percent

The Skinny: Any doubt that this is the most high-profile SEC competition ended during G-Day, when Jacob Eason delighted the crowd of 93,000. Kirby Smart is going to have to do some work getting out the message that it’s unrealistic to expect Eason to be a national championship quarterback immediately as a true freshman.

With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel available in the backfield and the conservative coaching combination of Smart and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, the feeling here is that Lambert will start the season against a North Carolina team that won 11 regular-season games last year.

Eason benefitted from playing in a no-contact jersey against a vanilla defense comprised mostly of second- and third-team players. In other words, he faced none of the most difficult parts of starting in the SEC as a true freshman. So while it’s obvious he possesses the best arm on the team — and may eventually be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference — it still should be a mild upset if he clambers from third to first on the depth chart by September.

Kentucky: Drew Barker

Confidence Level: 99 percent

The Skinny: JUCO transfer Stephen Johnson is a skinny, fleet-footed kid who managed to slice through the first-team defense pretty thoroughly despite requiring only a two-hand touch to be downed during the spring game.

Still, as soon as Patrick Towles transferred away from Lexington, this was going to be Barker’s team. After some immaturity early in his UK career, Barker is making an earnest effort to transform into a leader. Boom Williams, Jojo Kemp and others should back him up with a strong running game. And if new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran can do something about all the receivers with stone hands, Barker’s job will be easier than we’ve seen a Kentucky QB face in several years.

Back to Johnson: It may serve UK well if the coaches find a way to get him some snaps with the way he runs the football.

LSU: Brandon Harris

Confidence Level: 95 percent

The Skinny: This job was more or less sealed when (before?) Anthony Jennings announced his intention to transfer.

LSU threw the ball with much greater frequency during spring practice, and hoisted out former Purdue quarterback Danny Etling as a stick to push Harris. Whether it’s moving coordinator Cam Cameron from the booth to the field during games or allowing new receiver coach Dameyune Craig to work with the quarterbacks, there’s a full-force scramble to make Harris better.

The Tigers don’t need Harris to be an All-SEC quarterback. He’s playing alongside arguably the SEC’s best offensive line, Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette in the backfield, an athletic group of receivers and an exciting defense. Harris’ main job is to take care of the football against lesser opponents and occasionally make big plays downfield against teams like Alabama and Florida.

Given that this is Harris’ third season in Baton Rouge, and that the team is depending on his development to such an extent, it’s reasonable to assume at least marginal progress from what was an average season in ’15.

Mississippi State: Nick Fitzgerald

Confidence Level: 35 percent

The Skinny: This may be the most maddening quarterback competition to predict in the SEC. Some wrote off Damien Williams before the spring, but he arguably did the best job of guiding the offense and taking care of the football. Nick Tiano, a redshirt freshman, was the biggest unknown entering spring, but he’s flashed big-play ability.

Either of those two players could inject themselves into the conversation when the real decision-making time arrives, along with Elijah Staley.

I’m still going to predict Nick Fitzgerald, although without a high degree of confidence. Fitzgerald played very well in the 2015 spring game and played in eight games last year. He also attempted the most passes of the four quarterbacks this spring, with the caveat that he also threw the most interceptions in the team’s three scrimmages.

No one has won this job yet. But with a better fall camp, Fitzgerald is in position to claim it.

Missouri: Drew Lock

Confidence Level: 95 percent

The Skinny: New coach Barry Odom and coordinator Josh Heupel have yet to declare Lock the starter, keeping alive Marvin Zanders. But the dismissal of Maty Mauk and Eddie Printz’s decision to transfer are what escalated Zanders from fourth team to in the competition.

Lock looked strong during spring practice — much like he did in fall practice in 2015. He’ll have to find a way to transfer that confidence and comfort from the practice field to actual games. Even with the offensive issues surrounding him, he didn’t look ready for the pressure of real games when Mauk’s off-field issues forced him into action in ’15.

Zanders can’t be dismissed yet. He seems like a hard-nosed player, and his running and improvisational abilities were familiar to Mizzou during Mauk’s time in the program. Still, it would be a shock to see anyone other than Lock behind center at West Virginia on Sept. 3.

Ole Miss: Chad Kelly

Confidence Level: 99 percent

The Skinny: Kelly’s absence this spring gave Ole Miss a great opportunity to jump-start Shea Patterson’s development. The No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2016 class, he’s facing much different circumstances than his peer Jacob Eason. While Patterson reportedly looked great for a true freshman, there’s not a chance he overtakes Chad Kelly as the team’s starter unless Kelly gets hurt again.

The big question for Kelly is whether he can again chase 4,000 yards and compete for a West Division title without Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core. The Rebels are very deep at receiver, but must replace left tackle Laremy Tunsil — likely with true freshman Greg Little.

South Carolina: Brandon McIlwain

Confidence Level: 35 percent

The Skinny: The quarterback position in Columbia, S.C., is such a cluster that I wrote this section before making my prediction and confidence level because I honestly had no inkling off the top of my head.

Perry Orth and Lorenzo Nunez each missed the spring game due to injury. Nunez mostly is an athlete playing quarterback and Orth may be the team’s best passer, but neither are going to compete for All-SEC honors any time soon.

Brandon McIlwain got plenty of reps as a true freshman and early enrollee. His running ability seems to fit well in coordinator Kurt Roper’s system. Connor Mitch started two games last year before suffering his own injuries. He did nothing to inspire Gamecocks fans to hope he seizes the job this year.

Perhaps the most intriguing player is Jake Bentley, son of new South Carolina assistant coach Bobby Bentley. He plans to skip his final year of high school and enroll.

The fact that a high school junior who has never practiced with the Gamecocks is a legitimate part of the quarterback competition should be a statement in itself.

Tennessee: Joshua Dobbs

Confidence Level: 99 percent

The Skinny: Quinten Dormady is looking more and more like a viable replacement for Dobbs after the ’16 season, though one suspects that Jarrett Guarantano will make it an honest competition for that role when he arrives this summer.

Dobbs may be a sure thing as Tennessee’s starter and likely as the best running quarterback in the SEC. But he’s got to get better at going through his progressions and throwing accurately downfield. That may have been the one missing element to last year’s UT team. Get that right this fall and Tennessee could find itself playing for championships.

Texas A&M: Trevor Knight

Confidence Level: 99 percent

The Skinny: Jake Hubenak started the bowl game against Louisville, played competent football and then stayed in College Station even as Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray went elsewhere. Still, coach Kevin Sumlin broke from usual protocol and named Trevor Knight, a recent arrival, as the starter after spring practice.

That’s an entertaining development for a number of reasons. From the outside, it seems that Sumlin is trying to be a more assertive and decisive head coach this year. Also, Hubenak seems to be an infinitely more likable backup than we’ve seen in College Station the last few years — both from a personality standpoint and a skill standpoint. Texas A&M wouldn’t need to panic if the team found itself in his hands again at some point this year.

Knight may never be the quarterback who shredded Alabama for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns during the 2014 Sugar Bowl — at least not on an every-game basis. But the Aggies don’t need a superhero, especially not with Christian Kirk, Josh Reynolds, Speedy Noil and others out wide. He and Noel Mazzone both are new, but Knight is a college veteran and Mazzone has been here before, so many times. Expect a bunch of quick-hit, easy throws that allow those wideouts to make plays after the catch, mixed with some effective runs by Knight.

Vanderbilt: Kyle Shurmur

Confidence Level: 90 percent

The Skinny: The quarterback position has been a disaster since Derek Mason arrived in Nashville. The team’s quarterbacks spent 2014 playing hot potato due to both injury and poor performance. The coaching staff came across as indecisive and the offense as unstable.

With that narrative, Vandy hired Andy Ludwig as offensive coordinator prior to last season. The ‘Dores exited spring thinking that they’d found a starter in Patton Robinette, who promptly quit the sport in favor of concentrating on grad school. That led to more instability at the position.

Shurmur threw 103 passes during the second half of last season as a 6-foot-4 true freshman, giving Vanderbilt fans hope that he’d become the quarterback of the future. After what seemed like a genuine competition this spring, Shurmur finally managed to pull away and will enter the fall as a heavy favorite to start once again.

The post Predicting all 14 SEC starting quarterbacks appeared first on Saturday Down South.

All 14 SEC teams now have completed spring practice. And while regular season wins and losses will determine the ultimate strength of these teams, now seems like a logical time to update our SEC power rankings.

Here’s the prism through which we view every football program entering the summer months.

HOPING FOR A BOWL BID

All four of these teams failed to win 6 games in 2015. Two of them, South Carolina and Missouri, changed coaches. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops may need to make a bowl game this to keep his job, and Vanderbilt coach Derrick Mason bought some job security by winning two SEC games for the much-improved ‘Dores. It will be interesting to see if one or two of these teams separates. For now, it appears as though these four teams will have to scrap with each other for SEC wins.

Vanderbilt and Missouri feature better defenses and more experienced quarterbacks. Drew Lock and Kyle Shurmur looked pretty good in their spring games. So for now, they get the nod.

14. South Carolina
13. Kentucky
12. Vanderbilt
11. Missouri

WILL GO AS FAR AS THEIR NEW QUARTERBACK

I’ve flipped the Tigers and Aggies in this ranking after spring ball. To be fair, Texas A&M seems to pick up steam every year between spring ball and the first two or three games of the regular season. But transfer quarterback Trevor Knight and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone appear to make a good team. Texas A&M’s offense doesn’t have to be overly complicated with so many playmakers at receiver. A little tempo and some run-pass options can go a long way.

Meanwhile, Auburn and Mississippi State’s quarterback competitions seem to be among the most difficult to figure out entering the summer. Both teams should be decent or even good on defense, especially up front. And at least Auburn should feel confident about being able to run the football.

Austin Allen looks as though he’ll be able to approximate his brother, Brandon Allen, in 2016. So the Razorbacks may be finding their level, more or less.

10. Mississippi State
9. Auburn
8. Arkansas
7. Texas A&M

SPRING HOPE BLOSSOMING

I haven’t changed my opinion about where these teams sit in the SEC power rankings after spring practice. But Florida and Georgia both showed me enough that they’re much closer to the four teams ahead of them on this list than I thought.

The Gators appear ready to return to competency at quarterback (Luke Del Rio) and and kicker (Eddy Pineiro). With an improved offensive line and a defense holding steady, Florida is capable of competing with LSU, Georgia and Tennessee.

The arrival of Kirby Smart inevitably was going to make this an interesting season in Athens — the first coaching change within the program in 15 years. Add to that the 93k spring game and “controversy” about Smart’s handling of things like transfer restrictions, open records laws and music lyrics and there’s plenty to talk about with this team entering summer.

Whether UGA starts Greyson Lambert or Jacob Eason at quarterback could determine the feel of the 2016 season in the SEC East.

6. Florida
5. Georgia

IMPRESSIVE CHALLENGERS

The Rebels will field a more dynamic passing game led by Chad Kelly and hold a two-game winning streak against Alabama, which is why we’re giving coach Hugh Freeze and his team the edge here. But many favor LSU and Leonard Fournette, who should be backed by an improving passing game and a transformational defense with new coordinator Dave Aranda.

Both these programs are sure to be ranked preseason. The SEC West very well could be determined by their head-to-head matchup (Oct. 22) as well as each team’s game against Alabama.

4. LSU
3. Ole Miss

PUT UP OR SHUT UP

The Vols now are in a position that must be familiar to fans of rival Georgia. A roster more experienced and talented than the rest of the division, sky-high preseason expectations and no more justification for falling short of Atlanta.

Team 120 put forth one of the most mundane, vanilla springs in the SEC, mostly punctuated by injuries. In many ways, that just made UT feel like even more of a contender. The spring game, coach Butch Jones said, would’ve been canceled in past years. But the team had enough depth to overcome some two-dozen players out due to injury.

Despite playing with just three scholarship receivers, Jeff George and Preston Williams flashed enough times to provide hope for an improved Tennessee passing game.

2. Tennessee

NICK SABAN’S PENTHOUSE

For a team that just won its fourth national title in seven years, Alabama didn’t lose many players to early NFL draft entry. A Heisman Trophy running back eligible for the draft isn’t coming back. And A’Shawn Robinson has been a grown man since the age of 12. Aside from that, the team lost linebacker Reggie Ragland, run-stuffer Jarran Reed, center Ryan Kelly, versatile running back Kenyan Drake and quarterback Jake Coker.

Spring practice helped the Tide gain confidence that the backfield is in good hands with Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. The pass rush remains as good as it’s ever been. The team just needs to settle on a quarterback before a season opener against USC. Games against Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss also should be tough in 2016.

1. Alabama

The post Post-spring SEC power rankings – 2016 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ole Miss, the other team, did not hold a game due to renovations at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Now begins the long wait for September. The SEC will hold its spring meetings starting on May 31. SEC Media Days take place July 11-14, and then fall practice begins about three weeks after that.

The SEC once again managed to display its fanaticism for its football teams, claiming five of the 10 largest spring football attendance numbers this year. (More on that below.)

Ohio State packed more than 100,000 fans into its stadium this year, and Georgia set an all-time SEC record with an announced crowd of 93,000.

Attendance at SEC spring games

The post Look: Crowd shots, final attendance numbers for every SEC spring game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Several Bama players selected in the first round is pretty much automatic at this point.

What are the most interesting storylines and questions heading into this year’s draft (April 28-30, Chicago)? And which Tide players hope to get selected?

1. WHERE WILL DERRICK HENRY GO?

I’ve written about this multiple times — for a more extensive breakdown, go here, here or here.

The short but sweet version: Henry proved himself to be a bell cow running back last season. He won the Heisman Trophy, for crying out loud. He’s huge (6-foot-3, 247 pounds at the NFL Combine) yet once he gets to top gear can run away from a lot of linebackers and safeties.

There are some questions about his vision. He may possess the physical capability, but he didn’t produce as an ideal third-down NFL back at the college level, either as a pass-catcher or blocker. And he needs a bit of a runway to get started.

He’s a tremendous player, but at this point it takes ticking every single box to get drafted in the first round as a running back — like Todd Gurley in ’15 and Ezekiel Elliott this year. It will be no shame if Henry gets selected somewhere near the middle of the second round.

2. HOW MANY FIRST-ROUND PICKS WILL BAMA PRODUCE?

Five players can at least hope to hear their names called Thursday as commissioner Roger Goodell makes 31 trips to the podium. That’s unlikely and perhaps unrealistic. The Tide will need some good mojo to hit four.

For those curious, Miami the all-time record for most first-rounders in a single draft with six in 2004. Alabama has reached four first-round picks in one draft a couple of times with coach Nick Saban (see below).

Reggie Ragland may be the only sure-thing first-round pick from Bama this year. But it would be surprising to see A’Shawn Robinson slide out of the first round. We’ll give Ryan Kelly a better than 50 percent chance and Jarran Reed just under that. As we discussed already, Henry sure does seem like a second-round pick, but all it takes is one team.

3. WHO WILL MAKE THE BEST PRO?

Of course this is an impossible question. Several Alabama linebackers have succeeded recently, so Ragland is an instant consideration. Kelly could have a 15-year NFL career if he becomes a starting center. Henry is a tougher option due to the life span of NFL running backs.

For the sake of argument, I favor Reed. His lack of ability as a pass rusher will be what excludes him from the first round, if he does last past pick No. 31. He’s probably the best run-stuffing defensive lineman in this draft. Alabama featured a lot of those en route to the ’15 national championship. But man, Reed can anchor against the run.

That skill may not be as sexy, or get him as much money. But I anticipate Reed having a long and successful NFL career and being a significant asset for any franchise. Check out this excellent Sports Illustrated video piece to get a better sense for Reed’s skill and personality.

DRAFT PROJECTIONS

1. Reggie Ragland, LB (first round)
2. A’Shawn Robinson, DT (first round)
3. Ryan Kelly, C (first round)
4. Jarran Reed, DT (second round)
5. Derrick Henry, RB (second round)
6. Cyrus Jones, CB (fourth round)
7. Kenyan Drake, RB (fourth round)
8. D.J. Pettway, DE (fifth round)
9. Jake Coker, QB (priority free agent)
10. Dillon Lee, LB (priority free agent)
11. Geno Matias-Smith (free agent)
12. Darren Lake, DT (free agent)
13. Dominick Jackson, OT (free agent)
14. Denzel Devall, LB (free agent)

RECENT HISTORY

• 2015: One first-round (Amari Cooper), seven picks
• 2014: Two first-round (C.J. Mosley, HaHa Clinton-Dix), eight picks
• 2013: Three first-round (Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker), nine picks
• 2012: Four first-round (Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dont’a Hightower), eight picks
• 2011: Four first-round (Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter, Mark Ingram), five picks

The post 2016 NFL draft guide: Alabama appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Based on composite team and player rankings from 247Sports as of 4 p.m. ET Thursday.

Alabama
8 commitments
No. 1 class in SEC
No. 5 class in the country
Top prospect: Five-star RB Najee Harris
Headlined by four-star OT Alex Leatherwood, four-star OLB VanDarius Cowan

Arkansas
7 commitments
No. 8 class in SEC
No. 35 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Three-star QB Daulton Hyatt
Headlined by three-star ATH Jarrod Barnes, three-star OT Shane Clenin

Auburn
3 commitments
No. 11 class in SEC
No. 42 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Five-star OT Calvin Ashley
Headlined by four-star ATH Alaric Williams, three-star S Carlito Gonzalez

Florida
4 committments
No. 10 class in SEC
No. 40 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star WR Daquon Green
Headlined by four-star QB Jake Allen, four-star TE Kemore Gamble

Georgia
8 committments
No. 2class in SEC
No. 8 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star ATH Richard LeCounte III
Headlined by four-star QB Jake Fromm, four-star CB William Poole III

Kentucky
11 commitments
No. 4 class in SEC
No. 13 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star WR JaVonte Richardson
Headlined by three-star DE James Hudson, three-star RB Michael Warren

LSU
5 commitments
No. 7 class in SEC
No. 27 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Five-star DT Tyler Shelvin
Headlined by four-star G Edward Ingram, four-star ATH Patrick Queen

Ole Miss
3 commitments
No. 12 class in SEC
No. 50 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star WR D.D. Bowie
Headlined by three-star DE Markel Winters, three-star OT Ben Brown

Mississippi State
11 commitments
No. 3 class in SEC
No. 9 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star QB Keytaon Thompson
Headlined by four-star LB Tyler Dunning, four-star DT Lee Autry

Missouri
3 commitments
No. 13 class in SEC
No. 57 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star ATH Daron Davis
Headlined by three-star OT Hyrin White, three-star OT Pompey Coleman

South Carolina
7 commitments
No. 6 class in SEC
No. 24 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star WR Stephen Guidry
Headlined by three-star OT Dennis Daley, three-star TE Will Register

Tennessee
6 commitments
No. 9 class in SEC
No. 36 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Four-star WR KD Nixon
Headlined by three-star CB Cheyenne Labruzza, three-star ATH Marquez Bembry

Texas A&M
7 commitments
No. 5 class in SEC
No. 16 class in the country
Top committed prospect: Five-star QB Tate Martell
Headlined by four-star WR Mannie Netherly, four-star OT Grayson Reed

Vanderbilt
0 commitments
No. 14 class in SEC
Top committed prospect: N/A

The post End of spring SEC team-by-team recruiting update appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Even despite rules changes, a faster tempo and a proliferation of elite athletes at quarterback, receiver and running back, it’s difficult to combine the talent and health necessary to reach four-figure production in a single SEC season.

Even more difficult is pairing two 1,000-yard skill players on the same team in the same year. It’s happened a half-dozen times in the last five SEC seasons.

2015: Alabama (Derrick Henry, Calvin Ridley) and Texas A&M (Tra Carson, Christian Kirk)
2014: Arkansas (Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins) and Missouri (Russell Hansbrough, Bud Sasser)
2013: LSU (Jeremy Hill, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr.)
2012: Vanderbilt (Zac Stacy, Jordan Matthews)
2011: None

It’s difficult to do, but fun to watch when it happens. We looked at every SEC team’s odds of pairing 1,000-yard players at either running back or receiver this season.

ALABAMA

Chances: 35 percent

Calvin Ridley is one of three returning 1,000-yard receivers in the SEC. And for the better part of his true freshman season, the Tide got him the ball on quick screens and allowed him to run after the catch. Not until later did the team start heaving him the ball downfield with any regularity, even though he proved effective in those situations.

So one would surmise that Ridley has a fair shot at eclipsing 1,000 yards once again, even with a new quarterback and the chance that Alabama isn’t going to play in 15 games this year.

His main threat may be the proliferation of other options in the passing game, including Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart, O.J. Howard and Gerhig Dieter.

Alabama almost always produces a 1,000-yard running back. Almost. T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry failed to reach that mark in ’14, so it’s more than possible that Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris fall short of that milestone this fall.

There are too many question marks to suspect two 1,000-yard skill players is more likely than not. But coordinator Lane Kiffin has a track record of latching onto one or two offensive standouts and game planning to get them the ball an inordinate number of times.

ARKANSAS

Chances: 20 percent

Can ’16 class signee Devwah Whaley assert himself early enough to reach four-figure yardage?

Kody Walker recently broke his foot and Rawleigh Williams III is coming off a major neck injury, so he may be the team’s best option.

There aren’t many true freshmen running backs hitting 1,000 yards, but there’s recent precedent. Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb did it in 2014. Alex Collins did it for the Razorbacks in ’13.

At receiver, the biggest obstacle may not be the transition to Austin Allen at quarterback, but rather the proliferation of options. Aside from tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, there’s Drew Morgan, Dominique Reed and Jared Cornelius, and that’s just to start.

Coordinator Dan Enos proved last season he’ll inflate the numbers of the Hogs pass-catchers from what they were before his arrival. Morgan came closest last year with 843 yards. But will any of those players get enough receptions to broach the total?

AUBURN

Chances: 2.5 percent

If Jovon Robinson starts at running back all season, he almost certainly will rush for 1,000 yards. Without any of those qualifiers, I’d peg the percentage chance that an Auburn back reaches the mark at 80.

Finding another 1,000-yard player on the roster is tricky. The quarterback position looked like a mess during the spring game. In the last two years, the receiving corps has lost Sammie Coates, D’haquille Williams and Ricardo Louis.

Reinforcements are coming in the form of Kyle Davis, Eli Stove and Nate Craig-Myers, but it’s unlikely any of them reach the 1,000-yard mark this year. That leaves players like Tony Stevens, Marcus Davis and Jason Smith.

And again, your options at quarterback are John Franklin III, Jeremy Johnson and Sean White.

Draw your own conclusions about the likelihood of a 1,000-yard receiver.

FLORIDA

Chances: 2.5 percent

I’m not certain that the Gators will have a 1,000-yard rusher or a 1,000-yard receiver in 2016.

Sophomore receiver Antonio Callaway seems to be the most likely candidate, but he’s indefinitely suspended and missed all of spring practice.

At running back, it remains to be seen if Jordan Cronkrite or Mark Thompson can separate into a clear No. 1 back. For now, I expect those two to split carries along with Jordan Scarlett. Barring one player becoming an alpha option as well as at least marginal improvement at offensive line, it’s difficult to project four-figure yardage from one back.

Considering the team appears set to utilize the tight ends early and often, there may not be a 1,000-yard player on this roster in ’16.

GEORGIA

Chances: 5 percent

There almost certainly will be a 1,000-yard running back for Georgia in 2016. Nick Chubb is a sure thing if healthy, and Sony Michel is capable of it otherwise.

Barring some weird split where they each finish a little shy of the mark, that half of the equation should be solved. And while it’s unlikely, it’s not inconceivable for them both to reach that figure.

At receiver, it appears that Terry Godwin is pointed toward supplanting Malcolm Mitchell as the No. 1 option. But unless UGA starts Jacob Eason against North Carolina and turns him loose to chuck rainbows downfield, it’s far less likely that the Bulldogs will produce a milestone wideout.

KENTUCKY

Chances: 2.5 percent

Garrett Johnson (694 yards) and Dorian Baker (608) topped the UK receiving chart last year in terms of yards, but Kentukcy is hoping that new starting quarterback Drew Barker and new coordinator Eddie Gran can help improve on those numbers.

Still, it seems much more likely that UK turns out a 1,000-yard rusher. That element may depend on the health of Boom Williams, still recovering from an elbow injury that has hampered him since last season. Williams rushed for 855 yards last year despite playing in just 10 games at just 12.1 carries per game.

The Wildcats look to have good backfield depth as well, but will need continued improvement from the offensive line to churn out 1,000-yard players.

LSU

Chances: 7.5 percent

I will be extremely surprised if the Tigers fail to produce a 1,000-yard back. Leonard Fournette may only need a half-season to reach that mark. And if he were to get hurt early, Derrius Guice is capable of that production as well.

Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural both should draw NFL attention. LSU seems committed, whether by choice or not, to throwing the ball more effectively and having more balance on offense. I’m still skeptical that one of those players, with Brandon Harris at quarterback, is going to put up numbers similar to Beckham Jr. or Landry did in 2013.

But if LSU were to win the SEC and get into the College Football Playoff, maybe one of those guys could sneak above 1,000 receiving yards.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Chances: 2.5 percent

Fred Ross managed 1,007 receiving yards last year. He loses Dak Prescott as his quarterback but also doesn’t have to compete for targets with De’Runnya Wilson and Fred Brown, so he’s a reasonable candidate to repeat that feat.

The backfield is more convoluted. For a time, Mississippi State produced 1,000-yard backs like a factory. But last year, a combination of the team’s offensive line regression and the fact that the best back, Brandon Holloway, wasn’t a between-the-tackles 300-carry guy prevented the team from coming close. (Prescott led the team with 588 rushing yards.)

I expect the Bulldogs to make progress both at offensive line and in the backfield. But most of the options there are holdovers, so it’s hard to anticipate such a big jump to reach 1,000 yards.

MISSOURI

Chances: 2.5 percent

The Tigers probably would be happy with a 750-yard rusher and a 750-yard receiver.

J’Mon Moore, Nate Brown and Chris Black offer what could be a decent group of starting wideouts, assuming Black stays healthy and the other two continue to develop. One would anticipate a more confident Drew Lock to be more accurate and comfortable at quarterback in 2016 as well.

But the offensive line must replace four starters. The running back group had one player exhaust his eligibility (Russell Hansbrough), another retire due to injury (Morgan Steward) and one quit the team (Chase Abbington). Ish Witter should improve on his 518 rushing yards from last year, but can he double it?

Ole Miss

Chances: 2.5 percent

With a quarterback who just threw for 4,000 yards in one season, the Rebels should have every opportunity to produce another 1,000-yard receiver, even without Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core. The only question mark is whether the Rebels are too deep at the position for any one player to come away with 1,000 yards.

It’s been a while since Ole Miss had a punishing running game, and although that adjective may not apply this season, Akeem Judd and Jordan Wilkins give the Rebels a different element than did Jaylon Walton. I’m not sure either player will rush for 1,000 yards.

The team’s offensive line will be worth watching. There’s talent there, but a lot of inexperienced players. The team’s likely starting left tackle hasn’t even practiced yet in Oxford.

This may again be one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC, but it’s not the offense with the best chance at producing a pair of 1,000-yard players.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Chances: 1 percent

South Carolina football released a post-spring depth chart.

Deebo Samuel (161 career yards) and Bryan Edwards (freshman) are the top two pass catchers. David Williams (555 career yards) and A.J. Turner (redshirt freshman) are the top two running backs.

Exiting spring, Perry Orth and Brandon McIlwain are listed as “OR” starters at quarterback.

That pales in comparison to the talent that Will Muschamp held on offense at Florida. Even if we’re being optimistic that Muschamp has learned from those Gainesville mistakes, projecting this group to spit out a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver is tenuous. But both at the same time? Yikes.

TENNESSEE

Chances: 7.5 percent

Barring injury, Jalen Hurd should reach 1,000 yards regardless of how many times Joshua Dobbs and Alvin Kamara also carry the ball. The Vols could represent the best running offense in the SEC this year. Kamara has been an extremely efficient player and ran for 698 yards in ’15, so he could be the team’s best chance at two 1,000-yard players.

Receiver could be the sticking point. Team 120 expects to take a big step forward with the passing game. Joshua Dobbs isn’t the greatest downfield thrower, but he’s a senior and this should be his best year as a passer. Josh Malone and Josh Smith are decent players and Jeff George looks like a red zone threat. Ethan Wolf will get his share of targets.

But Preston Williams may be the true X factor. If Williams blossoms in ’16, it’s possible he becomes the No. 1 receiving target. If so, perhaps he’ll challenge for 1,000.

TEXAS A&M

Chances: 20 percent

“Travesty” is the wrong word choice, but it would seem — unfitting? — if the Aggies don’t produce a 1,000-yard receiver this season. Christian Kirk reached the mark last year as a true freshman. Josh Reynolds fell 93 yards short. Speedy Noil has shown flashes of being an upper-tier wideout.

At running back, Tra Carson managed a quiet 1,000-yard season last year. But he’s gone. Keith Ford is the best bet to start this fall. But he’s surrounded by surprisingly promising depth.

Not to say Texas A&M will fail to reach a 1,000-yard receiver. But the view here is the team will split carries too many ways.

VANDERBILT

Chances: 7.5 percent

Ralph Webb seems like a near-certainty to rush for 1,000 yards yet again after notching 1,152 as a one-man wrecking crew for Vandy’s offense last year.

The team’s passing game has been historically bad the last two seasons. But a healthy C.J. Duncan is cause for optimism. Trent Sherfield was a nice find in ’15. And Kyle Shurmur is the clear starter at quarterback, which should help his development.

Because it’s the smallest fan base, sometimes it can be tempting to prop up Vandy as a comedy target. But the ‘Dores did win a pair of SEC games last season, and coach Derek Mason has the defense playing well. Webb is one of the SEC’s better running backs. If Duncan produces like a true No. 1 receiver, it’s not all that crazy to wonder about the team challenging for a bowl appearance.

The post Which SEC teams could produce multiple 1,000-yard RBs or WRs? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

As we point toward the SEC meetings next month in Destin, Fla., every program can identify one or two areas perceived as concerns.

We’ve taken a look at a few of those to determine whether each concern is legitimate or overblown.

ALABAMA’S OFFENSIVE LINE

Status: (Mild) concern

Cam Robinson’s absence from spring practice and Alphonse “Shank” Taylor’s weight problem meant that the first-team offense, which returns three starters on the line, was without two of them during the A-Day game.

The result wasn’t pretty. Even without Jonathan Allen, the first-team defense essentially spoiled any opportunity at a good evaluation of Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell. Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson went bananas.

Robinson will return in the fall, and the Tide hopes that Taylor gets in better shape so he can return to his post as a starting guard.

But replacing Ryan Kelly, last year’s Rimington Trophy winner as the nation’s best center, will be tough. Especially with yet another new starting quarterback, Bama will be counting on the center to help recognize blitzes and ensure the line knows its blocking assignments. Ross Pierschbacher, the third “returning starter,” is transitioning from guard to center.

Right tackle Dominick Jackson wasn’t an all-world player, but he was an underrated run blocker who regularly mauled opposing defensive linemen. He must be replaced as well.

Overall, Alabama’s offensive line was good, not great last year. Nothing like the all-time units that led the Tide’s ’11 and ’12 national title teams. With a new backfield, a new quarterback and a new position coach, there’s at least some mild concern with this group.

AUBURN’S QUARTERBACKS

Status: Concern

This isn’t a revolutionary statement, and it holds true for every offense in college football. But coach Gus Malzahn’s unit needs a strong quarterback to be effective.

Nick Marshall is an NFL cornerback now, most known for his athleticism and his ability to execute the read-option. But Marshall had an uncanny knack for throwing the deep ball, an underrated element of his success.

So while John Franklin III can at least match Marshall’s speed, that doesn’t mean he can duplicate his performance within Auburn’s offense. From what we saw in the spring game, the Tigers may not trust Franklin III the passer to turn it loose downfield. Not yet, anyway.

Sean White probably is the team’s best pure passer. But he’s not a read-option player, and he nearly committed two turnovers in the spring game (bobbled snap, dropped interception). If there’s a square peg, round hole guy at the position among this group, it’s him.

Jeremy Johnson has almost 250 career pass attempts and is entering his fourth year in Malzahn’s system. But he continues to make head-scratching throws and seems unable to read defenses. And despite being 6-foot-5, 240 pounds with good straight-line speed, he’s not a very effective runner.

The current outlook at the position isn’t ideal for Auburn and Malzahn. But there’s still 4.5 months to get it right.

FLORIDA’S INABILITY TO SCORE POINTS

Status: Not (much of) a concern

It’s hard to call the ’15 Florida Gators a paper tiger. Coach Jim McElwain’s squad did win 10 games last year on the field, demolishing the same Ole Miss team that beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

But the offense face-planted late in the season.

With Will Grier headed to West Virginia and Treon Harris doubtful to play another game in a Florida uniform, Florida is turning over the quarterback position to two veteran journeymen and a pair of true freshmen.

Luke Del Rio’s command of the offense during the spring game offered plenty of hope that Florida will upgrade the position from the second half of last season. The offensive line, though it still shouldn’t be the best in the SEC, should make marginal improvements. And I think the trio of Mark Thompson, Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett will be an upgrade over what Kelvin Taylor provided last year as a bell-cow back.

Even losing Jake McGee, the tight ends should be very effective options. I’m assuming Antonio Callaway returns to the team by fall. And there are a number of promising true freshman receivers who could at least contribute.

The bottom line is that Florida has enough talent on offense, when combined with good coaching and good defense, to remain competitive.

MISSISSIPPI STATE’S OFFENSIVE IDENTITY

Status: Concern

There’s a preface here. Coach Dan Mullen’s left pinky knows more about quarterback play than I ever will. He surely has an idea of where he wants the offense to go this fall. I believe that the starting job remains very much open, but I’m sure Mullen has an inkling of where the four contenders stand and how to best make the entire offense work.

This is more about personnel than coaching. All-SEC quarterback Dak Prescott? Gone. Receivers De’Runnya Wilson and Fred Brown? Gone. The backfield? Still searching for a replacement for Josh Robinson from the ’14 season. The offensive line? Also down from what was an outstanding level in ’14.

Fred Ross (1,007 receiving yards in ’15) is an All-SEC candidate. Brandon Holloway — all 5-foot-8, 160 pounds of him — will do his thing out of the backfield, but needs help. Malik Dear looks like a nice complimentary piece at receiver. Beyond that, there’s a lot of question marks.

Despite an ever-changing name plate on the door to the defensive coordinator’s office, the Bulldogs have been pretty good on that side of the football. But to maintain a 9-win level, this team is going to have to find some other playmakers — fast.

OLE MISS’ LOSS OF THE BIG THREE

Status: Not a concern

Here’s what Ole Miss lost to early NFL draft entry:

• Laremy Tunsil. A potential NFL All-Pro. Immediate NFL starter at left tackle. Considered a good enough talent to get selected No. 1 overall.
• Laquon Treadwell. The slight favorite to become the first receiver taken in the NFL draft. Owner of 202 receptions in 2.5 college seasons. By far the No. 1 offensive option for last year’s Rebels.
• Robert Nkemdiche. A well-chronicled enigma as a personality, Nkemdiche probably was a top 20 defensive tackle in the country last year. But one who would occasionally make plays that only one or two other players in the country could make.

That’s not all that Ole Miss lost. But all three of those (five-star) players were a part of the seminal ’13 recruiting class that coach Hugh Freeze signed. That’s a lot of lost production, and it’s also a lot of lost leadership.

NCAA inquiry aside, Freeze has done an excellent job of building depth through recruiting. Ole Miss has closed the gap on programs like Alabama, Georgia and LSU when it comes to talent, becoming a force in both regional and national recruiting.

This is not to say that those losses equate to zero impact. Nor is it to predict an SEC or national title for the Rebels. Rather, Ole Miss has built a sustainable program capable of reloading every season. And this should be the year that Freeze convinces the rest of the Southeastern Conference of that fact.

TEXAS A&M’S POLITICS AND CHAOS

Status: Not a concern

You know the saga that played out in 2015. Jake Spavital, Dave Christensen, Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray are gone. Noel Mazzone, Jim Turner and Trevor Knight are in.

Exiting spring practice, coach Kevin Sumlin took a more assertive approach and named Knight the team’s starting quarterback. Jake Hubenak is a well-liked, capable backup who isn’t going to pitch a fit. Mazzone’s fairly simple spread offense should cater to Knight’s strengths and hinge on tempo. Turner is well-respected and on the same page with Mazzone.

We’ll see what happens when the Aggies experience adversity this fall. But a more unified front clearly exists in College Station at this point.

Sumlin always has been a strong offensive mind, a good recruiter and fundraiser and a solid on-field coach. Whether or not it’s enough for him to keep his job beyond the ’16 season, it sure seems like he’s learned some hard lessons about what it takes to be CEO of a program.

The post SEC spring storylines: Concern or no concern? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Two days after completing the Boston Marathon (and enjoying a subsequent media tour de force), Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs have landed a four-star linebacker for the 2017 class.

Clanga, indeed.

https://twitter.com/44_dc_/status/722938117368520705

Tyler Dunning, listed at 6-foot and 239 pounds, ranks as the nation’s 10th-best inside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Before committing, Dunning previously announced a top 5 of Arkansas, Syracuse, LSU, Kentucky and Tennessee. According to SEC Country, Alabama had been making a push to secure Dunning in recent weeks.

At one point Dunning was committed to the University of Miami. But he de-committed from the Hurricanes after attending Junior Day on Feb. 20. Mark Richt, of course, now coaches Miami.

Beating out other SEC schools for a talented linebacker has to feel good for Bulldogs fans. The 2016 recruiting cycle didn’t end well, and the prize of that class — defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons — has been charged with assault.

Dunning becomes Mississippi State’s 11th commitment for ’17. But only one player rates higher in the 247Sports Composite: Dual-threat quarterback Keytaon Thompson.

The post Good week continues: Mississippi State lands 4-star LB appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But there’s new information tonight that deepens the saga.

I’ll sit back and let those who are reporting on this situation fill you in…

Pac-12 commish Larry Scott says UCLA AD Dan Guerrero, voting for a ban on satellite camps, “did not vote the way he was supposed to vote."

— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) April 20, 2016

Larry Scott said 11 of 12 Pac-12 members favored current satellite camp rules. Who was the one? "Form your own conclusions."

— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) April 20, 2016

College ADs serving as conference representatives on NCAA matters seems like the plot for a Netflix original series.

— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) April 21, 2016

That's a bombshell from Larry Scott. The whole D1 council voting structure looks corrupt now. Liaisons are supposed to represent leagues

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 20, 2016

Sources told me going into satellite camp vote, the expected result was 8-7 in favor of current structure. Votes were expected to be (1/2)

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 21, 2016

(2/2) Keeping camps: B1G (2 points), Pac-12, MWC, MAC, C-USA, AAC. Against: ACC, SEC, Big 12, Sun Belt. P5 leagues = 2 pts. G5 leagues =1 pt

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 21, 2016

To reverse the satellite camp vote, 2 leagues that voted for ban must propose new legislation to D1 council. Pac-12, you're on the clock …

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 21, 2016

And while you're at it, you might want to talk to the Mountain West. Plenty of coaches in that league wanted to keep camps.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 21, 2016

The original vote was 10-5 to ban. Had Pac-12 and Sun Belt reps voted their league's wishes, it would have been 8-7 not to ban.

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 20, 2016

The Sun Belt may have something to do with the SEC. "Want to keep getting $1 million a game to get trounced?" https://t.co/LApGZbgnML

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 20, 2016

Now we just need to find out how the Big 12 and Mountain West reps voted against the interests of the majority of schools in their leagues.

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 20, 2016

In other words, the Pac-12 expected to vote in favor of open season for satellite camps. But UCLA, which doesn’t need them due to its prime real estate in Los Angeles and greater Southern California, decided it would go rogue.

Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson said a majority of the conference was pro-satellite camp, though Texas State AD Larry Teis voted for the Sun Belt in favor of banning the camps. There are plenty of conspiracy theorists who will tell you that the SEC somehow influenced the Sun Belt’s vote.

Either way, satellite camps — staging or participating in football camps off campus, like Jim Harbaugh’s recent tour-de-force in the Southeast, is now banned. This issue may resurface at some point soon. In the meantime, it appears as though even the SEC may have been surprised that the vote came out in favor of a ban.

The SEC mostly has been opposed to satellite camps because it may give away a marginal recruiting advantage the league has based on its geographical footprint. Even with no satellite camps, though, there’s no way to ban the Harbaughs of the world from flying into Lakeland, Fla., to recruit a kid at his high school.

I’m still convinced that if this was taking place during the season, no one would care.

The post Satellite camp saga deepens as Pac-12 commish reveals new information appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Sure, we may remember players like Joe Namath, Steve Spurrier and Archie Manning, mostly because of what they did after quarterbacking an SEC team. But when it comes to all-time passing records, just three quarterbacks who played prior to the 21st century even register.

It’s going to take another decade, maybe even two, before the new breed of offense produces enough standout quarterbacks with the longevity to swallow Peyton Manning, Danny Wuerffel and Eric Zeier from the Top 10 of the SEC career passing list.

Looking for a Year of the Quarterback in the SEC? How about 2003, when half the players in the Top 10 all-time were active?

Recently, Georgia’s Aaron Murray smashed the all-time SEC passing record held by former Bulldogs standout David Greene, while Bo Wallace (career yards) and AJ McCarron (career touchdowns) each snuck onto the bottom of the list — for now.

It’s inevitable that several more players push onto this list soon. All due respect to Wallace, who had a great career for the Rebels, but he’s not quite the talent of an Eli Manning, who has claimed two Super Bowls. Apply that context to the mere 585 yards separating the two players’ college careers and you have a good illustration of how the game has changed.

Incidentally, Wallace finished 158 career yards ahead of Dak Prescott, who projects as a mid-round pick in next week’s NFL draft. The state of Mississippi arguably contains the best passer in the SEC again in 2016 in Chad Kelly, who threw for more than 4,000 yards last season as a JUCO transfer. But with just one year of eligibility remaining, it’s almost impossible for Kelly to catch Wallace.

As far as future threats, that depends largely on which young quarterbacks emerge as starters during fall practice or perhaps take over during the 2016 season. Five of last year’s top 10 SEC passers no longer play for that team. We’ve touched on Kelly already. Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Harris, Greyson Lambert and Perry Orth aren’t going to be top 10 all-time SEC passers either.

Considering there are three Georgia quarterbacks in the all-time top 5, Jacob Eason seems like an interesting place to start when discussing potential candidates. Yes, that’s a very, very lofty bar for a guy who hasn’t even thrown 100 scrimmage passes yet at the college level. But there’s a legitimate conversation about whether Eason will start the season opener against North Carolina, or perhaps replace Lambert at some point this season.

If Eason accumulates, say, 1,500 passing yards this year, that’ll leave him 8,034 yards short — or 2,678 yards per season for three more years.

Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett (Alabama) also could become a three- or four-year starter. Ole Miss’ handling of 2016 signee Shea Patterson will be worth watching. If he redshirts this year rather than getting spot time behind Kelly, he could start for a number of seasons as well.

Drew Lock has to get much better before he’s even in the conversation — as do Mizzou’s receivers — but he did manage 1,332 yards as a true freshman, and at least has the opportunity to start for three more years. If he can double that total this year, he’ll be well on his way.

It’s hard to foresee another current quarterback challenging for this list, but we’ll have to wait until the fall to see if there are any other true freshmen who look like they could lead their respective programs for years to come.

Here are the Top 10 all-time SEC quarterbacks ranked by career passing yards.

The post SEC QBs ranked by career yards appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We’ll take a position-by-position look at the SEC’s draft prospects in the days leading up to the event, continuing today with receivers.

So many SEC receivers have made an immediate impact at the NFL level in recent seasons, including Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans. That’s a great track record for the current crop of players trying to convince franchises to invest in them.

RELATED: Countdown to the NFL draft — SEC RBs

Still, this isn’t an overly deep class. Beyond Laquon Treadwell and Pharoh Cooper, there aren’t any obvious selections sure to be taken on the first or second day of the draft. And there are a few character concerns or players who never reached their potential in college.

So what is the current buzz on the SEC receivers?

(TOO?) EASY TO LOVE

Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss: Most draft analysts rate Treadwell as the No. 1 receiver in this class. He’s a near-lock to get selected in the first round. In recent years, SEC receiving leaders have emerged as early contributors, and even stars, at the pro level. And Treadwell produced more than 1,150 receiving yards in ’15. His long arms, physicality, strong hands and catch radius make him an excellent red zone target and a threat to win the majority of 50/50 balls.

But he ran a 4.63 40-yard dash — hand-timed. And according to Bleacher Report, doctors flagged his ankle at the Combine. (Remember, he suffered a horrific ankle and leg injury in 2014.) NFL corners are going to press him at the line of scrimmage again and again, as he doesn’t have the speed to beat them over the top.

Again, Treadwell should be a first-round pick and can start immediately. But there are flaws to his game that perhaps have gotten somewhat overlooked by most media and fans entering the draft.

THE LUXURY

Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina: At 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds, he doesn’t possess the length or size to be effective on the outside or deep downfield at the NFL level. But get the ball in his hands in space and he’s dynamic. His quick feet and change of direction make him ideal to work out of the slot on short to intermediate routes. But creative coordinators may be able to dream up ways to get him the ball on the move or in the open field. He’s not great at beating press coverage or outmuscling defensive backs for the ball, but he has trustworthy hands and explosive burst.

THE STRAW MAN

Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia: It’s easy to paint a favorable narrative for Mitchell. Despite playing in a run-first offense, an ACL tear and a decline at the quarterback position after Aaron Murray’s departure, Mitchell managed 174 career catches. He’s fast (4.45-second 40), his hands are among the best in the SEC (four total drops in the last two seasons), he’s a great character guy and he’s capable of making quick cuts to create separation. Yet he’ll be a 24-year-old rookie. He’s shown that press coverage really bothers him (see: Senior Bowl). And he should see a steady diet of physical cornerbacks at the NFL level. Can he adjust?

COMPLIMENTARY PIECE

Cody Core, Ole Miss: Chad Kelly didn’t become the third player in SEC history to throw for 4,000 yards on the strength of Laquon Treadwell alone. Although his production wasn’t eye-popping (37 catches, 644 yards), he consistently caught two and three passes per game at more than 17 yards per reception. He’s not an explosive player, nor is he dynamic after the catch. His route-running won’t wow NFL scouts, and he must learn to high-point the ball with his hands instead of waiting on the ball to arrive and bodying it. But his combination of size, speed and oversized mitts (10 3/8 inches) should be enough to make him into a complimentary player who could find a role as a team’s fourth or fifth receiver.

RAW GOODS

Ricardo Louis, Auburn: Entering the draft, Louis reminds me of a poor man’s Sammie Coates. One of the fastest receivers in this draft class, Louis also possesses a powerful body, making him dangerous both on quick screens and go routes. He made some big-time catches at Auburn, so Tigers fans should remember him fondly. But he made a number of drops in college and is one of the least polished draftable receivers in terms of route-running and technique. Turning him into a significant NFL contributor is going to take time and patience.

THE RESEARCH PAPER

Demarcus Robinson, Florida: He may be the SEC’s most natural athlete in this class. Words like “fluid,” “nimble,” “balanced” and “body control” follow him around on prospect evaluations. A good route-runner with leaping ability, he’s physically capable of becoming an NFL starter.

But teams are going to have to make hard decisions about Robinson. Any team that drafts him, especially early, will have put in hours of work on his character to determine he’s worth the risk. Suspended multiple times for marijuana use in ’13 and for meeting with a marketing official in ’15, he also spent time in coach Jim McElwain’s doghouse. He also gets alligator arms (pun intended) going across the middle and seems afraid of lowering his shoulder against a safety to pick up extra yards.

Teams are going to have to weigh the risk/reward potential with care when considering Robinson.

THE CONFOUNDER

De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State: A former Mr. Alabama in basketball, Wilson entered college as a raw talent at receiver. At nearly 6-foot-5, Wilson made for a terrific red zone threat in the SEC.I try not to root for players or teams, but I admit I became a fan of Wilson’s while watching him develop the last two seasons. I figured with his hoops background, touchdown-making and commendable yards per catch, he’d excel at the NFL Combine.

Boy, was I incorrect. He ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.8 range and finished near the bottom of the class in vertical leap. Told of his numbers in Indianapolis, former teammate and quarterback Dak Prescott just shook his head. His technique and polish, though improved, never were great in Starkville, but now scouts have to be at least questioning his work ethic as well.

With long arms and the ability to box out defensive backs, Wilson still has the skill set to win jump balls. He’ll get drafted somewhere and probably will carve out a role for himself. But he’s not the top-tier prospect that I thought he might become.

THE CAUTIONARY TALE

D’haquille Williams, Auburn: One year ago, it would’ve been shocking to know that Williams is far from assured of getting selected in next week’s seven-round NFL draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. even insisted that Williams was the No. 1 receiver prospect of the draft class entering last year. Williams doesn’t have great speed, but his size, leaping ability, physicality and fly-trap hands makes him an excellent jump ball receiver downfield.

Then Williams earned his third suspension from Auburn, this time for allegedly punching four people at a bar. Thus, the Tigers dismissed him from the team. Also concerning was his production when he did play in ’15, as he seemed disinterested most snaps. Media reports indicate a major rift between him and the Auburn coaching staff.

So Williams has fallen from potential first-round pick to possibly out of the draft. He’ll get an opportunity somewhere, but he’s got a lot to prove, and change, before he can recapture his previous trajectory.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT

Marquez North, Tennessee: Perhaps the media and fans expected too much from North. But the guy is an NFL prototype from a physical standpoint: 6-foot-2.5, 223 pounds, 4.48 40-yard dash, 35-inch vertical, 17 bench press reps at 225 pounds. Add to that his 496 receiving yards as a freshman in 2013 and Vols fans understandably felt excited about his potential. But injuries and inconsistency limited him to 378 yards for the remainder of his UT career. Then he left early for the NFL.

North may or may not blossom at the next level. But Tennessee has to feel a little disappointed at how his college career turned out.

NON-SEC PLAYERS TO WORRY ABOUT

1. Corey Coleman, Baylor
2. Josh Doctson, TCU
3. Michael Thomas, Ohio State
4. Will Fuller, Notre Dame

THREE BIGGEST QUESTIONS

1. Will Laquon Treadwell’s 40 time be a factor in relegating him to the bottom half of the first round?
2. Can Tennessee’s Marquez North start a new draft streak for the Vols (51-year streak ended in ’15)?
3. Will former SEC “problem child” players Duke Williams or Demarcus Robinson get drafted?

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2017

• Malachi Dupre, LSU
• Fred Ross, Mississippi State
• Quincy Adeboyejo, Ole Miss

The post Countdown to the NFL draft: SEC WRs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After a brief, vanilla glimpse at the seven programs, we’re in the dark, more or less, until fall practice resumes in August.

We’ve spent several hours reading boots-on-the-ground beat writers for each team, gleaning what we can from their spring observations. I’ve attempted to summarize our findings on each program below.

FLORIDA

• Every beat writer (and based on Twitter, every fan) seemed ready to make two clear proclamations after spring practice: a) Luke Del Rio is the best quarterback on the roster for 2016 and will start for the Gators, and b) Eddy Pineiro is the answer at placekicker. Whether that proves correct this fall, it sure did fire up the fan base on the Friday night of the spring game.
• Kyle Trask, a backup quarterback for most of his high school career, caused some head-scratching among some members of the Gators faithful. But he looked like a more mature passer than touted signee Feleipe Franks in the spring game. Trask may never start at Florida, but he proved he belongs.
• Defensive back Duke Dawson and linebacker Kylan Johnson emerged as names to know on a defense losing some star players to the NFL.
• Florida hopes that its offensive line will take a step forward in 2016, but judging by the spring game, there’s still work to be done — especially in pass protection.

GEORGIA

• Jacob Eason already looks like the most talented quarterback on Georgia’s roster. But most beat writers are predicting that Greyson Lambert will start the season opener against North Carolina.
• Beat writers are calling Nick Chubb’s health “the biggest football story of Georgia’s spring.” Thus far news has been positive, but Bulldogs fans, coaches and players will continue to monitor his progress until he’s safely back on the field making opposing defenses look silly.
• Although there are some intriguing young names, there are some big questions about the pass-catchers behind Terry Godwin and Isaiah McKenzie. Reporters in Athens, though, are saying the 5-foot-11 Godwin looks every bit the part of a No. 1 receiver.
• Aaron Davis did return an interception 98 yards for a touchdown during the G-Day game, but the UGA secondary hasn’t played well this spring. The secondary deflected a combined six passes through the entirety of the spring game.
• Tight ends again appear to be part of the offensive game plan. That’s good news for five-star signee Isaac Nauta.
• The turnover in the defensive front seven shouldn’t be cause for panic, considering the way Georgia has recruited. But there may be some depth concerns along the defensive line and at linebacker.

KENTUCKY

• Many folks view “Air Raid” as synonymous with passing the football. But UK’s backfield may be the strongest position on the team. Boom Williams continued to miss time this spring due to an elbow injury. Jojo Kemp is a nice complimentary player. But Sihiem King, all 172 pounds of him, stole the show Saturday.
• JUCO transfer QB Stephen Johnson pushed him for a good part of spring and impressed beat writers with his running ability Saturday. But Drew Barker more than earned the confidence of the team in addition to the starting job.
• Offensive tackle remains an area of concern, and the receivers continue to struggle with drops.
• Coach Mark Stoops raved about his secondary, particularly corners Chris Westry and Derrick Baity. Denzil Ware’s outstanding spring game helped temper concerns about the team’s pass rush.

MISSOURI

• Mizzou didn’t look all that different from the team we saw at the end of the 2015 season, especially on defense. Despite missing several starters along the defensive line, that unit got the better of the offense during the spring scrimmages.
• By all accounts, Drew Lock played a strong spring game, including an encouraging 64-yard touchdown to J’Mon Moore. Still, Lock looked fantastic in fall practice in 2015, according to beat writers. So his challenge will be to carry over that comfort level and confidence into actual games.
• Defensive end Walter Brady, a standout newcomer in ’15, left the spring game in the second quarter due to injury. But it sounds like Brady will be fine. Alabama transfer receiver Chris Black also left the game early due to injury. The Tigers are hoping he’ll be a significant factor in the passing game, but he’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.
• New head coach Barry Odom is being as secretive as possible this spring, perhaps even more so than other SEC coaches.
• It sure looks like Mizzou is going to use its tight ends more often and in different ways under Odom.
• Redshirt freshman cornerback T.J. Warren is making a strong push for a first-team spot.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Brandon McIlwain appears to be the frontrunner at quarterback. A pair of injuries this spring and the fact that offensive coordinator Kurt Roper seemingly will be allowed to run the system with which he succeeded at Duke are working in his favor.
• Linebacker seems like a position of strength yet again, with the return of Skai Moore and Jonathan Walton (who missed the spring game due to the birth of his child). T.J. Holloman and Bryson Allen-Williams are other players to watch at the position.
• The skill positions look pretty barren for the Gamecocks exiting spring. But freshman Bryan Edwards looks promising, and caught two touchdown passes in the spring game.
• The Will Muschamp era seems media friendly. South Carolina embedded multiple media members during preparations for the spring game.

TENNESSEE

• Despite a rash of injuries among the Vols’ scholarship pass-catchers, Ethan Wolfe, Preston Williams and Jeff George all made plays downfield. UT somehow still managed to give fans hope for an improved downfield passing game.
• Tennessee played its spring game without 24 players, who sat out due to injury. Coach Butch Jones suggested that in past years the team would’ve had to cancel the game, implying that he likes the depth that he’s accumulated for Team 120.
• Running back John Kelly made an impression this spring. He may not get many carries in ’16 if this season goes to plan. But his progress bodes well in the likely event the team needs to replace Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara next year.
• Allen Iverson made an impromptu appearance at the UT spring game. It turns out he was in Knoxville on Friday for a basketball event and decided to drop in.

VANDERBILT

• Sophomore-to-be Kyle Shurmur looked sharp in the spring game, separating himself from the competition at quarterback. He’ll enter the fall as a first-team player.
• Khari Blasingame switched from linebacker to the offensive backfield this spring. He got some good work, especially near the goal line. The Commodores sat Ralph Webb to protect him from injury and try to find another player or two who can become complimentary pieces to him.
• C.J. Duncan, who missed all of last season, is healthy again. He should be an important piece as Vandy tries to improve its passing game.

The post What beat writers learned about the SEC East this spring appeared first on Saturday Down South.

College football is a multi-billion dollar business at this point. The top programs are generating close to $200 million per year. SEC schools spend more than $1 million per year on recruiting with regularity.

No matter how many times a Missouri or Mississippi State emerges near the top of the national rankings mostly with three-star players, I also understand that securing prep talent remains very, very important.

But do we really condone our head coaches trying to run guys like Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban out of the business for being “too old?”

Negative recruiting seems to become a more entrenched tactic each year. (ESPN did an extensive job detailing how that practice gets used in reality.) And it makes sense on some level. You’re selling these kids on going to Georgia instead of Auburn, or Florida instead of Florida State. Fostering a little rivalry hate isn’t a bad thing.

But negative recruiting against a coaches’ age?

“I’m not looking to get out. I’m really not, even though I know that’s going to start being talked about more now,” Saban, told ESPN.com recently. “What I have noticed is that it’s the first time people are starting to say to recruits, ‘He won’t be there the whole time you’re there,’ because of my age.

“Does that really impact your ability to stay good? I don’t know. But if it did, it would make you say, ‘Well, what’s up with this?’ My philosophy is that I’m going to be here for as long as I feel like I can be effective, impact the players, help them be more successful in life and continue to have a successful program.”

The average football coaching tenure in the SEC is about four years. One could argue that Saban is among the most likely to be coaching at Alabama four years from now, given the way that job security works in this conference for those not winning national titles.

Can any coach really promise a 2017 recruit that he’ll be at the university for the kid’s entire career? For some players, that would mean coaching through the 2021 season.

Spurrier, often one of the most forthright coaches in the conference in terms of the media, made the mistake of admitting after the 2014 season that he’d pondered retirement. Opposing coaches pounced. South Carolina’s already-average recruiting class got hammered. I believe all the subsequent negativity impacted Spurrier’s decision to resign in the middle of the ’15 season.

There have been reports that opposing coaches have used the same tactic against Kansas State’s Bill Snyder, who will turn 77 years old during the ’16 football season.

Bobby Bowden was 80 years old when Florida State (understandably) pushed him into retirement. I’m not here to suggest Saban is going to coach for 16 more years. But he’s also given no indication on a timeline for retirement. If anything, Saban continues to insist that he’s not close to finished. To suggest that he will for sure leave prior to 2019 or ’20 is speculative at best.

And do you really need five years with a coach like Saban? A lot of the top-tier recruits are headed to the NFL after three years anyway.

I’m all for explaining why a team’s offensive system is better than other competitors. Or a school telling a recruit that their own coach is tremendous. But do we really want to be constantly making it impossible for anyone older than 65 to continue to hold down an SEC coaching job?

We’ve already failed to stem the tide of horrific Twitter rants channeled at these 17- and 18-year-old kids by misplaced adult “fans.” The No. 1 recruit in 2017, Rashan Gary, got a voicemail from someone purporting to be a Clemson fan and making a KKK reference. When a touted recruit is committed to one school and still takes visits to others, he gets skewered.

https://twitter.com/TheTateMartell/status/722156279485980672

Do we want head coaches and assistants adding to the rotten pile of garbage that is football recruiting?

There are some that would love to see Saban ushered into retirement, making it that much easier to win an SEC title — or maintain one’s job by winning 9 or 10 games a season. But Spurrier was a year removed from lighting up the league when this nonsense started to cripple him as a recruiter. Essentially this sort of negative recruiting will only act as an accelerant for coaches already losing their fastball.

What’s the rush to get them out of a job? I’m sure Georgia and Tennessee would love to extract some revenge on Spurrier in ’16, but instead those programs have to face Will Muschamp — who is at least going to be a bear to compete against on the recruiting trail.

RELATED: A year-by-year history of Nick Saban’s love affair with the media

Many times those older coaches are the ones who are the most interesting. You don’t reach 70 years old as an SEC head coach unless you’ve been very successful. And at that point coaches are much more likely to be honest and show personality in the media, even if that personality involves grumpy, Eeyore-like rants.

Les Miles, Bret Bielema and Dan Mullen are always good for a chuckle or two. But Bielema is 46 years old. Can you imagine him 20 years from now, when he just doesn’t care what you think and he’s willing to say whatever comes to his mind?

Look at it another way. I can’t imagine Saban ever imploring a recruit to avoid another SEC school due to that coaches’ age. It seems like programs who resort to these types of tactics are unprofessional. Desperate, even.

While there are a ton of positives to the $31.1 million payout that each SEC school received from the conference this year — including the ability for a program like Ole Miss to sustain long-term success — there are downsides as well. “Ethics” and “cut-throat business” never have been good bed partners. And that’s what college football has become, for better or worse.

Call me old-fashioned. I just don’t like seeing all this negativity trickle down to 17-year-old prospects and up to 70-year-old coaches.

The post Stop it with the negative recruiting against older coaches appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Camp 1: Did you see Jacob Eason at G-Day?! He’s so going to win the Heisman Trophy this year!
Camp 2: There’s absolutely nothing we can take from this. Jacob Eason wouldn’t complete any of those in a real game with a real pass rush against the real first-team defense. He probably stinks like leftover salami.

It’s true that any grand conclusions from SEC spring games must be considered in context. And yes, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze seems determined to do away with the current format.

But if completing a dress rehearsal in front of tens of thousands was a useless marketing tool, Alabama coach Nick Saban would find a way to create the world’s most efficient meet-and-greet. Instead of playing tackle football on the field, Saban would have all the players lined up signing thousands of free autographs and mingling with fans for the entire two hours allotted by the NCAA.

Once the calendar hits September, it’s true that none of the spring performances are going to matter. But they do give us a real glimpse at the progress — or lack thereof — of individual players.

Here are a few within the SEC that put forth not-so-great springs.

Florida QB Feleipe Franks: The touted ’16 class signee may eventually be an All-SEC quarterback, for all I know. It’s possible that Franks got nervous and pressed in his first public outing as a Gators player. But playing under the lights in the spring game, Franks threw an interception on three of his first four pass attempts.

Franks eventually settled down, even throwing a nice touchdown pass to a diving C’yontai Lewis.

Ranked as the nation’s fifth-best pro-style passer in the 2016 class according to the 247Sports Composite, the 6-foot-6, 216-pound true freshman reportedly did some nice things in other practices. Coach Jim McElwain kept it light when asked about Franks’ spring performance.

But Florida has to hope that it won’t need to rely on Franks in an important situation until at least 2017. Again, it was just one glorified practice, but fellow true freshman Kyle Trask looked like the better passer of the two during the scrimmage. The takeaway may be just how hard it is as a quarterback to step on campus as one of the SEC’s proudest programs and immediately be an impact player at the position.

Alabama K Adam Griffith: The senior had a nice year in ’15, making nearly 72 percent of his field goal attempts — including a long of 55 yards. But during the A-Day game, he missed field goal attempts of 36, 47, 42 and 54 yards in the first three quarters.

We expect Griffith to be fine for the regular season. He recovered to make a 21-yard kick in the fourth quarter. He’s made two-thirds of his 54 field goal tries in his Alabama career, so the 1-for-5 day was an aberration.

Still, with Eddy Piniero — a one-time Tide commitment — turning heads in Gainesville, and more national title aspirations in Tuscaloosa, the Tide can’t afford a regression from the upperclassman.

Alabama’s offensive line: I know, I know. Shocking. But here we are. Defending national champion Alabama is occupying two spots in our spring disappointments list. (We could’ve included one more, the way sensational receiver Calvin Ridley was dropping passes.)

Excuses are plentiful. Namely, All-American candidate and left tackle Cam Robinson missed spring ball. He’s expected to be back to normal well before fall. And the team is replacing Rimington Trophy winner Ryan Kelly, which is going to take time.

Still, Alabama could’ve used a smoother A-Day game in order to evaluate quarterbacks Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell. Coach Nick Saban even joked at halftime that Tim Williams was going to “ruin the spring game” if something didn’t change.

“They’re distorting the timing of everything so the quarterbacks haven’t been able to operate,” Saban said.

The defense combined for 13 “sacks” on the day. In large part due to the pass rush by Williams and Ryan Anderson, the first-team offense managed just 21 total yards in the first half.

The Tide obviously has talent along the offensive line outside of Robinson. But the team needs to develop better play at the other four positions before the fall.

Auburn QBs: Sean White completed some nice downfield passes, but fumbled a snap and threw what should’ve been an easy interception.

Jeremy Johnson continued to throw the occasional pass that looked like he was aiming for a player on the sideline or a player in the stands.

John Franklin III’s lone downfield pass of any significance stood as a completion, but an ill-advised one that most SEC defensive backs would’ve at least swatted away.

The bottom line: It only takes one to be successful. This isn’t a situation where the Tigers may as well start looking for a new head coach. Gus Malzahn has time to find his man and coach him up. But rather than a reassuring spring on the quarterback front, huge questions remain. With that, there will be a lot of pressure on this group in fall practice.

WRs Fred Brown (Mississippi State) and Antonio Callaway (Florida): The Bulldogs and Gators were counting on these two players to be offensive staples in 2016.

But Brown got dismissed from Mississippi State due to a violation of the school’s honor code. With De’Runnya Wilson departing for the NFL early and Fred Ross out due to injury, Brown had an enormous opportunity this spring to become a go-to option for the offense. Instead, the team will have to make do without him.

Gators fans still hope Callaway returns to the team and builds upon the 678 receiving yards he managed as a true freshman in 2015. But he, along with Treon Harris, got slapped with an indefinite suspension and missed the entire spring. Even if Callaway manages to return to the team in time for fall practice without further discipline, he isn’t guaranteed to immediately become the go-to option.

The post Players who fell short of expectations this spring appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The SEC spring slate isn’t quite finished. But with a full seven televised games on Saturday, it was a great opportunity to learn about the conference’s football landscape in 2016.

Here are five lessons we gleaned from Saturday’s scrimmages.

1. SEC QB clarity hits a snag

We opened 2016 with major question marks at quarterback in part because of a transfer market at the position that touched almost every school.

That chaos turned to clarity after the first set of spring games as Texas A&M named Trevor Knight its starter. Kentucky did the same with Drew Barker immediately after Saturday’s noon ET exhibition. Arkansas pre-empted its spring game by naming Austin Allen the starter more than one week in advance. Vanderbilt all but confirmed Kyle Shurmur as its starter as well, and Florida’s Luke Del Rio exited spring as the clear No. 1.

Three of the seven teams that played Saturday, though, will barrel toward summer seemingly no closer to identifying a starter.

Alabama: Cooper Bateman entered the A-Day game with a slight lead over the other three competitors. With Cam Robinson sitting out spring practice due to injury, the first-team offensive line got railroaded by the likes of Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. So there wasn’t much to evaluate with Bateman and David Cornwell on Saturday.

Going against a somewhat depleted second-team defense, Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts were more productive. Both of them held onto the ball too long on occasion. Hurts, while impressive as a scrambler, looked like the lesser passer of the four despite a good completion percentage. And Barnett, who has developed a reputation for pressing a bit, bobbled a snap in the red zone.

From the outside, it seems that Cornwell is the fourth-team player as of now. It would not be a shock if he transferred. But will one of the younger players, Barnett or Hurts, mature enough to pass Bateman by September?

Georgia: A crowd of 93,000 showed up to watch the Bulldogs — and, let’s not kid ourselves, to catch a glimpse of true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason. He responded with a tremendous day, including a pair of perfectly-arched deep balls that dropped right over the shoulder of two well-covered receivers for completions.

Not that it means a lot, but Eason entered the day as the third-team quarterback behind Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey. There wasn’t all that much difference in the production of the three players Saturday, which coach Kirby Smart mentioned. So a few pretty throws won’t win Eason the job. He held the ball too long on occasion. He of course knew he was wearing a no-contact jersey and safe from pain. He also did not have to face much adversity, and went against vanilla defensive calls.

It’s doubtful Eason has separated himself, at least not yet. But it will be interesting to see how Smart and coordinator Jim Chaney handle the decision at quarterback. On one side, the coaches can hold back Eason, knowing that’s a feel-good card they can play after a loss to prolong the honeymoon stage. On the other side, Eason’s ability to attack defenses vertically, when paired with a healthy Nick Chubb and a bunch of athletes on defense, makes Georgia a much more dynamic team.

Mississippi State: To summarily suggest that there’s no way the Bulldogs can replace Dak Prescott seems lazy. Mississippi State fans rightly have hammered those that suggest the team’s 18 wins in the last two seasons were all because of one player. Or that coach Dan Mullen, he with one of the richest quarterback-developing resumes in the SEC, can’t find another successful signal-caller.

But after watching the spring game, it’s time to be realistic. I’m not saying that the team will be awful at the position in 2016. But to expect anything other than a significant drop-off seems illogical. There’s just not an All-SEC quarterback on the roster, not for this fall. Not to mention the receiving corps has taken a few painful hits.

I thought entering the spring that Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley eventually would duke it out in the fall. But Damian Williams has played well enough to be entrenched in that conversation as well come fall. If one of those players can rank in the middle of the pack in the SEC this year, that’s a win for this Bulldogs team.

2. New year, same story for the Crimson Tide

As an observer, Alabama’s spring game was insufferable at times. The Tide entered the fourth quarter with four missed field goals and a 0-0 tie.

But look beyond the scoreboard and two things were apparent. The defense is going to get after opposing passers, maybe like never before. And the running game is going to be a major asset once again.

Damien Harris failed to generate much buzz in limited action last fall as a true freshman and got upstaged in the team’s first two spring scrimmages by Bo Scarbrough. It was easy to wonder whether 2016 class signee B.J. Emmons, a summer arrival, could come in and displace Harris as Scarbrough’s tag-team partner in the backfield.

That still may happen. But Saturday was the best I’ve seen Harris in an Alabama uniform. Yes, his 20 carries for 114 yards came against the second-team defense, and we’ve already delineated that unit was missing some pieces. But he looked decisive and fast. At this point I’d be surprised if he doesn’t enter the season as option 1B out of the backfield, if not 1A.

Oh, and that first-team defense without Jarran Reed, Reggie Ragland and Cyrus Jones? It should be fierce as ever. Even without Jonathan Allen on Saturday, the team was in the face of every black-jerseyed quarterback seemingly every play.

There are some terrific pass-catchers on this roster. It could be as deep as Bama has ever been in that regard. But with another new quarterback and some potential questions with the offensive line (even with a healthy Cam Robinson), don’t be shocked if the Tide returns to the familiar script of elite defense and running the ball.

3. LSU’s passing game seems to make progress

It was nothing revolutionary and we still want to see it enacted in game situations. But LSU quarterback Brandon Harris sure seems like he’s ready for a better season.

In a way, this is a catch-22 scenario for LSU coach Les Miles and the philosophy of his program. The roster always seems to be stocked with physically gifted wideouts. And the bar needed to be cleared by the team’s quarterback never is all that high, thanks to a usually-strong defense and running game.

To put it another way, one could argue that Miles has had the tools to engineer a better output from the team’s passing game all along. But, even when it was apparent that the quarterback position should be a major priority following the departure of Zach Mettenberger, Miles never seemed all that flustered.

Finally, this spring, it seems that LSU has devoted huge chunks of practice — and no doubt countless hours by the coaching staff behind the scenes, not to mention the addition of receivers coach and former SEC quarterback Dameyune Craig — toward improving the passing game. Funny how that works, that when you invest that much time and effort toward something, the outcome is positive.

Especially if new coordinator Dave Aranda improves on the effort of the ’15 defense and Leonard Fournette stays healthy, it will be a major development if this apparent progress proves real.

4. Tennessee receiving corps may have uncovered red zone, downfield threats

The Vols were down to four and even three scholarship receivers during the final week of spring practice. On the surface, that seemed like a misfortunate development. Outside of finding a left tackle and implementing the defense of new coordinator Bob Shoop, cultivating the downfield passing game has been perceived as a top priority for this team.

Yes, Butch Jones has been known to spin things positively. But for this one, we’re with him. It turned out to be a giant silver lining for Team 120.

On just two plays, the 6-foot-6 Jeff George convinced me that he’ll be one of the best red zone threats in the SEC East this fall. That joke that you’ve heard a few times now about his name also belonging to a certain former quarterback? Expect to be sick of hearing it from broadcasters by mid-October.

I still expect Josh Smith and Josh Malone to be the top receivers on the team. Ethan Wolf and Jauan Jennings should contribute as pass catchers. But Preston Williams, named the team’s most improved offensive player this spring, can give UT the vertical threat it lacked last season.

At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Williams has the size/speed combination to demand safety help downfield and buy extra space for Tennessee’s strong running game. He averaged 22.6 yards per catch in limited action in ’15, and added three catches for 77 yards Saturday. The extra practice reps can only help aide his development.

5. Kentucky’s defense may be its undoing again

At one point Saturday, every UK beat writer was virtually slobbering over JUCO transfer quarterback Stephen Johnson.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, the backup still looks as if one good collision to the midsection from an SEC linebacker could snap him in half. Wearing a no-contact jersey, Johnson — who is lightning quick — dashed for 69 rushing yards mostly against the first-team defense.

Johnson was never intended to win the starting job. The team named Drew Barker the starter in what had to have been a planned move as soon as the spring game ended. But Johnson’s scrambles shined a beam of light on a bigger problem: Kentucky’s run defense.

Yes, Chris Westry has All-SEC potential at cornerback. Yes, Denzil Ware was all over the field Saturday with 15 tackles and 4 “sacks.” But if UK continues to get manhandled at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, notching that elusive sixth win and earning a bowl appearance may be just out of reach once again.

The receivers and running backs still dropped too many passes, though I feel confident that new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran is the right man to coach up that group into the fall. The team signed two outstanding prep offensive linemen that should improve that unit in the years to come.

But if Johnson could break free like that against the defense, what’s going to happen when UK faces Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee) or Lamar Jackson (Louisville)?

The post SEC lessons we learned in Saturday’s spring games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It appears that Ohio State won the day with 100,000 fans, though Nebraska (72,000), Penn State (65,000) and Clemson (50,000) all had big crowds in non-SEC games.

Georgia, of course, managed to sell out Sanford Stadium.

Attendance at 2016 SEC spring games

The post Look: Crowd shots, attendance numbers for every SEC spring game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But Alabama, the best team in the SEC at doing so since Nick Saban arrived, sure has leveraged it into some mighty accomplishments. And in a year with so much inexperience at quarterback conference-wide, it’s sure to be a valuable asset.

Because there’s been such a large influx of talented defensive tackles in the last several recruiting classes, it’s even harder than usual to predict the best run defenses in the SEC. There are several other teams who could finish the year on this list without causing us to raise our eyebrows. But here are the five defenses that we think enter the season best against the run:

5. Florida: Every year the Gators ship off defensive talent to the NFL. Yet every year the unit returns looking like one of the best in the SEC. Players like Caleb Brantley, Joey Ivey, CeCe Jefferson and Jarrad Davis should be enough to keep Florida near the top of the SEC in terms of run defense.

4. Missouri: Kentrell Brothers and his 152 tackles are gone. But the Tigers return six of the seven starters up front, including the entire defensive line. Account for Terry Beckner Jr.’s development at defensive tackle and potentially more snaps in a 3-4 front and there’s reason to believe Missouri can remain one of the stoutest run defenses in the SEC. Last year Mizzou finished sixth in the conference in run defense (132.8 yards per game) — but allowed just 3.3 yards per carry, second to Alabama.

3. Ole Miss: If you aren’t a Rebels fan, you may be surprised to learn that Ole Miss has allowed just 3.6 yards per carry in the last three seasons, second in the SEC to Alabama. The team will have to replace Robert Nkemdiche and C.J. Johnson — no easy task — but with D.J. Jones, Fadol Brown, Breeland Speaks, Marquis Haynes and company on the defensive line, the unit has more than enough leftover bodies to close down running lanes.

2. LSU: Wisconsin led the Big Ten in rush defense last season before Dave Aranda migrated to Baton Rouge. We’ll keep a close watch on the team’s new 3-4 scheme in Saturday’s spring game. But from Kendall Beckwith to Arden Key to Devon Godchaux, the front seven is saturated with athletic, talented players. It can’t hurt to go against Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice in practice every day. And with Ed Orgeron continuing to coach the team’s defensive line, we have faith that this unit will be able to bottle up opposing running backs.

1. Alabama: The Tide lose the best run-stuffing defensive lineman in this year’s NFL draft (Jarran Reed) and a first-round linebacker (Reggie Ragland). Judging by the sack and interception numbers, last year’s defense arguably was more impressive against the pass. Still, this Bama defense will have every opportunity to be the best in the SEC against the run. Outside of one misplay that allowed the Georgia star to bust a single long run, in 2015, Alabama held Leonard Fournette (6.5 ypc) and Nick Chubb (8.1 ypc) to 94 yards on 38 carries — not even 2.5 yards per rush. The team has allowed single-digit rushing touchdowns in seven of the last eight seasons, leading the SEC in rush defense in the same number of years.

The post 5 best run-stuffing defenses in the SEC appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Most of you probably didn’t notice that Bryant skipped a massive celebration planned for Wednesday night and instead returned to the gym Thursday morning to work out. The morning after his final game as a professional basketball player.

Greatness isn’t a random occurrence, as we’ve been reminded so many times by “five-star” signees.

There’s something satisfying about watching a team come together. Curry played college basketball at Davidson, a member of the SoCon. I was a student-athlete at Samford University, and we migrated to the SoCon during my senior year. Even before then, I was a huge Steph Curry fan. But watching him game by game in the same conference — when he played in front of a couple thousand fans instead of in front of millions — gives me even more satisfaction watching him drain more than 400 3-point shots in one season with the Warriors.

That brings us to this weekend, when seven SEC football teams will play televised spring games.

It’s very possible for some of these teams that we’ll be watching a national championship squad develop. Or that we’ll be watching a future first-round NFL draft pick take the field in his college team’s uniform for one of the first times.

So while these games don’t count as wins or losses, there’s still something exciting about watching a team’s spring game.

Here’s the TV schedule for this weekend, along with some thoughts as to why we’ll be watching.

SEC GAMES

Saturday

Noon ET — Kentucky (SEC Network)

Wildcats fans hope a new starting quarterback (Drew Barker) and a new coordinator (Eddie Gran) can be the key to unlocking a solid collection of running backs and receivers. And this team has made improving at the line of scrimmage a major priority.

Noon ET — Mississippi State (ESPNU)

The Bulldogs running game went south in ’15, even with Dak Prescott at quarterback. Brandon Holloway returns as the lead back, but he’ll need help from Ashton Shumpert, Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee. Those backs incidentally played very well during last season’s spring game, so part of the impetus is on the offensive line to get better push.

2 p.m. ET — Tennessee (SEC Network)

The starters return mostly intact from the ’15 season, so there shouldn’t be too many surprises. Still, we’re anxious to see if Joshua Dobbs has improved his downfield passing game, despite the fact that the Vols may be playing with a total of four scholarship receivers. And we’ll be watching to learn how Bob Shoop utilizes all the young talent on defense.

3 p.m. ET — Alabama (ESPN)

Yet another quarterback competition should intrigue the fans in Crimson. Cooper Bateman may lead early, but Blake Barnett, David Cornwell and Jalen Hurts remain part of the conversation as well. Bama can’t give all four primo reps in fall practice, so the A-Day game could start to thin the herd.

4 p.m. ET — Georgia (ESPNU)

Kirby Smart’s spring game debut should challenge for the national attendance lead this year, as UGA is making a big push to fill Sanford Stadium. And even if he doesn’t start the 2016 season opener, we admit — we can’t wait to see Jacob Eason in action.

4 p.m. ET — LSU (SEC Network)

This spring, team has emphasized the passing game as much as any year of the Les Miles tenure. So Saturday will be a nice progress check. But we’re even more interested in checking out the Dave Aranda defense, which could be the biggest key to LSU’s chances in 2016.

6 p.m. ET — Missouri SEC Network)

For Mizzou fans wanting to forget about 2015, watching this game could be a good first step. It’s the first time since 2000 that a Tigers team played a spring game with a coach other than Gary Pinkel. As far as football things go, we want to see whether new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, quarterback Drew Lock and any of the running backs or receivers can give us something about which to be excited.

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE

Saturday

12:30 p.m. ET — Notre Dame (NBC)

Coach Brian Kelly has done an outstanding job with the Fighting Irish, which always seem to be in the national conversation. The team’s quarterback competition between between DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire is one of the most intriguing in the country.

1:30 p.m. ET — Ohio State (Big Ten Network)

The Buckeyes lost NFL talent in droves after last season — one of the largest single-season exoduses of top college football talent from one team in several years. But J.T. Barrett is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Urban Meyer is 31-1 in regular-season Big Ten games at Ohio State, and is hoping to stay a half-step ahead of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan team.

2 p.m. ET — Miami (ESPN3)

This represents Mark Richt’s spring debut with the Hurricanes. It appears Richt is borrowing a page from the Butch Jones turnaround playbook, inviting former Miami players to the game in large quantities. He’ll also get to work with quarterback Brad Kaaya, perhaps one of the best in the ACC.

2 p.m. ET — Texas (Longhorn Network)

This is a pivotal year for Charlie Strong, who has made headway in recruiting and worked to restore discipline to the team’s culture, but needs to show on-field results. The team’s quarterback position has remained a perpetual disappointment since ’09, but D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren make for an outstanding running back tandem.

3 p.m. ET — Houston (CollegeSportsLive.com)

It’s just speculation at this point, but Tom Herman is a hot name in coaching circles. Linked to the South Carolina opening last offseason, some believe that he’d be at or near the top of the list if Texas or Texas A&M should make changes after the season. It’s possible Auburn would have interest as well. If you’re in the camp expecting change as either an Aggies or Tigers fan, this is a chance to scout out Herman as your potential next coach.

6 p.m. ET — USC (Pac-12 Network)

Alabama’s opponent in the Tide’s season opener, the Trojans are on their third head coach in four years. This time it’s Clay Helton. Incidentally, Lane Kiffin hired Helton as his quarterbacks coach in 2010. So there should be familiarity there. Helton says he’ll name USC’s starting quarterback after this game, which should help him seperate Max Browne and Sam Darnold.

The post This weekend’s spring football TV schedule appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Arkansas will keep practicing next week ahead of its April 23 spring game. The last weekend in April features the NFL draft, always a fun time for SEC players and fans.

But then we enter the dark days of May and June. Other than occasional recruiting news and off-field trouble, that’s two solid months without much going on in the world of SEC football.

That makes this Saturday even more fantastic. We’ve got seven different spring games in the SEC, all happening within an eight-hour window.

Since the SEC Network decided to broadcast almost every spring game this year on its main channel — save for Alabama’s appearance on ESPN and a pair of ESPNU games — it’s easier than ever to consume the annual scrimmage showcases from the luxury of your couch.

At SDS, we are genuinely excited for the action-packed Saturday to come. Although the list of players we’re anxious to watch is much longer than this, here are five (OK, technically six) that we’re eager to observe during Saturday’s spring games.

1. Georgia QB Jacob Eason: The smoke signals out of Athens are pointing toward Greyson Lambert exiting the spring as the team’s QB1. That’s no surprise, much like Cooper Bateman at Alabama. The younger players, if they can manage to overtake the veterans by the season opener, may need the entirety of the summer and fall camp to mature enough to do so. Georgia beat reporters have gotten some glimpses of Eason in a UGA uniform. But this is our first chance to watch arguably the most heralded member of the entire 2016 class across the conference. His performance Saturday should give us a first indication about where Eason stands entering the fall and how much of a gap he’ll have to make up before there’s any conversation about him overtaking Lambert.

2. Tennessee WRs Preston Williams and Jeff George: The Vols have gotten woefully thin at a few spots this spring due to injury, and receiver could be at the top of that list. Jauan Jennings and Vincent Perry recently suffered injuries that will keep them out of Saturday’s Orange and White game. Josh Malone has been held out all spring, and Josh Smith missed Tuesday’s practice. The Vols lost several receivers to graduation, and several freshmen will join the team during the summer. But Williams, a touted member of the ’15 signing class, and George, a JUCO transfer, will have an opportunity to prove their worth. Tennessee’s downfield passing game is one of the biggest agenda items in terms of improvement. Yes, Joshua Dobbs needs to improve as a downfield passer. But part of it is on the receivers. And both Williams and George have the potential to be game-breakers.

3. Missouri WR Chris Black: Once a touted recruit, Black never broke through at Alabama. He’ll get every opportunity as a senior transfer at Mizzou. He should be the first-team receiver out of the slot on Saturday, flanked by J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown. Thrust into the starting role in place of Maty Mauk in the middle of last season, Drew Lock took plenty of flack as a true freshman, most of it deserved. But it was far from an ideal situation, and his receivers must give him infinitely more help. Moore and Brown are developing, and should be able to contribute more this fall. But Black is a bit of an X factor. If he can blossom into a certifiable starting member of the receiving corps, the Tigers should be definitively improved in that area.

4. LSU DE/OLB Arden Key: The stats fail to tell the complete story here. Key finished his freshman season with 5 sacks, second to Missouri’s Walter Brady among SEC freshmen. But Key, listed at 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, showed potentially-electric speed and athleticism as a pass rusher. LSU’s new 3-4 defense under Dave Aranda has been generating excitement this spring, and any number of Tigers defenders could be listed as “players to watch” on Saturday. But transitioning Key to outside linebacker is a fascinating move. We know he can rush the passer. How will he perform in coverage? If he can pick up some of the more challenging responsibilities of the position, it’ll go a long way toward solidifying the percentage of time LSU can stay in its 3-4 look.

5. Alabama RB Damien Harris: Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake are gone. It sure looks like Bo Scarbrough will enter the fall as RB1. Still, I expect the Tide to return to a two-back system. Either Harris or true freshman B.J. Emmons should get at least 100 carries, probably more. Harris, a five-star member of the 2015 class, hasn’t impressed me thus far in his Alabama career. I’m eager to see him perform in another game-like situation to get a read on whether he can do anything to solidify himself as option 1B in the backfield, or if Emmons will come in with a great opportunity to be that person.

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Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.

Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy.

Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon.

T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry.

Derrick Henry and … Kenyan Drake?

Henry was not literally the only running back to carry the ball for the Tide last season. But force-feeding him nearly 400 carries during the 2015 season was a departure from the usual script since coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. No other back even reached 80 rushes.

Consternation is the wrong word, but there’s some curiosity as to how Bama will distribute the carries in 2016. The team’s backfield depth took a major hit prior to the ’15 season. Henry and Drake are headed to the NFL.

The most experienced returnee, Damien Harris, is a true sophomore with 46 carries in throwaway time last year. A five-star signee who chose the Tide over the Kentucky Wildcats, Harris has yet to show the sort of potential that got Alabama fans excited early in the careers of players like Henry and Yeldon. But you don’t become a five-star player without athletic ability, and there’s still time for him to become a strong player.

Bo Scarbrough is a name that has excited the houndstooth-wearing fanatics since committing to Alabama way back in September 2012. After tearing his ACL and also enduring a four-game NCAA suspension, he carried 18 times in four games. He also played at 240 pounds, which the team decided was 10 pounds too heavy.

A lighter Scarbrough, healthy and involved in every spring practice, has generated all sorts of buzz in 2016. Scarbrough has managed 243 yards and four touchdowns on just 21 carries in two scrimmages. Keep in mind this is against a Alabama defense that outside of one carry managed to shut down Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb last season. (Reggie Ragland and Jarran Reed are gone from that group, but it’s still a deep, talented run-stopping defense.)

The weight loss may curtail a fraction of the comparisons to Henry — at 240 pounds, he was listed just two pounds apart from Henry’s 2015 playing weight — but at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, running a 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds this spring, some fans and media members won’t be able to resist.

Despite his talent, Scarbrough barely has cracked the 100-yard mark in terms of career rushing yards. Henry spent an entire season as tag-team partners with Yeldon (990 yards in 2014) before his Heisman Trophy season. So to expect Scarbrough to replicate Henry’s 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns from a year ago is unfair.

But if Alabama returns to its familiar buddy system, even if Scarbrough is the “featured” back, he’ll have help.

That’s why it was such an important flip when Alabama was able to pry B.J. Emmons from Georgia (he de-committed from the Bulldogs one month before pledging to the Tide). Emmons, the second-ranked running back in the 2016 class according to the 247Sports composite, will have every opportunity to make an immediate impact. Considering how unusually thin the running back group was in the ’16 class, as well as Alabama’s need at the position, that was a crucial get.

Emmons can either push Harris to be better or leapfrog him to become Scarbrough’s primary partner. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 232 pounds when he signed, he may be even thicker than Scarbrough, who is four inches taller.

Whatever Scarbrough’s level is this fall, he’s done enough this spring to prove that he’s worthy of becoming part of the next generation of Alabama running backs. The thing left to determine is who will help him, and how much.

That’s why Harris’ performance in Saturday’s A-Day game may be more significant than Scarbrough’s. And why Emmons’ fall practices are so noteworthy.

The other factor to consider is that Alabama’s offense has been much more dynamic since Lane Kiffin became coordinator prior to the ’14 season. Kiffin has a history of getting his No. 1 offensive playmaker a disproportionate number of touches , and more often than not that’s been a receiver (see: Amari Cooper in ’14).

Take a look at the pass-catchers this team will feature:

• Calvin Ridley topped 1,000 yards as a true freshman last year.
• O.J. Howard finally showed up in a major way in the national championship victory against Clemson.
• Robert Foster projected as the potential No. 1 receiver last spring before tearing his rotator cuff against Ole Miss, and he’ll get a chance to show out this year.
• ArDarius Stewart was a very athletic No. 2 last season, contributing 700 receiving yards.
• And the team is going to have to get some touches for graduate transfer Gehrig Dieter, who wracked up 94 catches and 1,033 yards last season for Bowling Green.

Assuming a competent quarterback emerges from a physically gifted but inexperienced group of passers, Alabama is going to be able to move the ball effectively through the air. There are plenty of reasons to believe the Tide won’t need to give the ball to a single workhorse running back 40 times a game to win, as it began to do late last season.

If Harris and Emmons can offload 100, maybe 150 carries from Scarbrough, avoid fumbling and gain 3 and 4 yards at a time, that should be all the help this team needs in the backfield. Anything more and this offense may be every bit as good as it has been the last two seasons.

The post Alabama could return to the buddy system at RB appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That is not intentional, but it often is necessary within the SEC footprint. The more objective you try to be, the more angry fans swear you have an agenda.

It’s a long five months until the college football season kicks off. There surely will be changes to our handicapping due to injuries, suspensions, the outcome of position battles and players who emerge during fall practice.

Still, after this weekend, 13 of the 14 SEC programs will have completed spring practice. And a slight majority of those teams don’t have a reasonable chance of winning a conference title in 2016.

Let’s start with the four SEC East teams that did not participate in bowl games last season. All four are hoping for better outcomes this time.

But let’s be real, Missouri: For a team that participated in back-to-back SEC Championship Games, the Tigers didn’t come all that close to winning a conference crown even when coach Gary Pinkel and his players shocked all of us. I’m sure some of you will conjure up some argument about how Mizzou could return to Atlanta in ’16 and then how it’s anybody’s game.

But no objective person is convincing me that Missouri — or South Carolina, Kentucky or Vanderbilt — is winning an SEC title this year.

That leaves us 10 teams.

Auburn has gone worst-to-first before, even with coach Gus Malzahn. But that ’13 team was both special and lucky. Having watched all three quarterbacks during Saturday’s spring game, I’m having difficulty believing the team will be able to beat Clemson in the season opener, much less slice through a murderers’ row of a West Division.

Mississippi State? I’m sorry. I don’t believe that Nick Fitzgerald or whomever plays quarterback can immediately reach Dak Prescott’s level from the last two seasons. And I’m skeptical about that offensive line. And you’ve lost some tremendous talent on the defensive side of the ball in each of the last two years. That’s too many blows for a program that didn’t come all that close to an SEC crown the last two years despite playing excellent football at times.

Arkansas, what can I say? If you were able to combine the defense at the end of the ’14 season with the offense about three-quarters of the way through ’15, you’d have a legitimate chance. But I’m skeptical. There’s nothing wrong with winning 9 games in the SEC, but I think this team is close to reaching a plateau.

Texas A&M has become a perpetual wild card, only one that always lets down those who place faith in the Aggies sometime between April and the end of September. Texas A&M fans can string together an appealing narrative for their team this spring. The offensive coaching staff is on the same page! No more drama at running back! Our O-line coach is back! The receivers and Myles Garrett are fantastic! John Chavis is finally turning around the defense! Buy that bill of goods at your own peril.

This isn’t to say that those eight programs will go through bad years (some will, some won’t). Or that there’s no chance in hell any of them can even contend for a division title.

However, I would be willing to bet most or even all of the money currently in my bank account that the 2016 SEC football championship will go to one of the following six teams.

6. Florida (+1200): Arkansas holds the same odds according to 5Dimes, which lists seven teams as championship possibilities. But the Razorbacks and Gators enter the season with much different circumstances. Coach Jim McElwain won a surprise SEC East title in his first season in Gainesville. The offense tanked during the second half of the year after the NCAA busted quarterback Will Grier for performance-enhancing drugs. It was somewhat amazing that Florida started the season 9-1 with a relatively weak offensive line and next to zero confidence in the options at placekicker.

I am not going to predict Florida to win the division. But neither can the possibility be discounted. There are still four SEC East teams far from certain to win 6 games. Tennessee seems eternally vexed by these Gators. And if McElwain can coax a 5-1 record within the division, the team will have a chance to get to Atlanta.

5. Georgia (+1000): The Bulldogs could be the most intriguing team in the SEC this year. Mark Richt’s 15-year tenure has ended; hard-charging Kirby Smart, a long-time Alabama defensive coordinator, now runs things in Athens. Perhaps the change in management style is just what UGA needs.

Furthermore, will the team stay conservative on offense, feeding Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, while retaining a veteran quarterback with the role of game manager? Or will the team insert true freshman Jacob Eason and allow him to learn on the job? That’s something we may not learn until a few games into the season, but it should be fun to watch it unfold.

Despite such a major facelift to the front seven on defense, this remains one of the most talented teams in the SEC. Remember, Georgia did win 10 games last season, and the Bulldogs continue to churn out top 10 signing classes. If UGA can manage to beat Tennessee and Florida, an East Division title should be theirs.

Speaking of intriguing, who wouldn’t be interested in a Smart vs. Nick Saban matchup in the final SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome?

4. LSU (+400): Since what was in retrospect a fluky 9-6 overtime win against Alabama during the 2011 season, LSU has not won that game. Last year, the matchup with the Tide simultaneously smashed the team’s College Football Playoff hopes, slammed the breaks on Leonard Fournette’s Heisman Trophy bid and sent the program into a three-game tailspin.

That’s the main reason I am going to project Ole Miss ahead of LSU entering this season. The Tigers are not dynamic enough on offense, or at least have not been in the last two years. Fournette and Derrius Guice are tremendous football players. But LSU is going to play at least two games in which the opposing defense is able to slow down the running game and dare the Tigers to beat them downfield against 1-on-1 coverage.

I expect Brandon Harris and the receivers to improve. The defense in my opinion got a significant upgrade by swapping out Dave Aranda for Kevin Steele as coordinator. But I’m skeptical that this team can beat Bama.

Right now the Tide look unstoppable against teams that play a similar style. If you can field a spread offense with some tempo and the threat of some big plays downfield, you can beat Nick Saban and company (see: Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M). But if your plan is to play physical, intimidating defense and run the football? You can almost forget it. Just ask Michigan State how that strategy worked in the College Football Playoff.

Assuming Alabama continues its recent reign of terror over this Les Miles team, that’s a one-game handicap that may force LSU to be perfect through the rest of its SEC schedule just to have a chance. This team is talented enough to do just that, but it’s a very, very tough ask.

3. Ole Miss (+700): For all his charms as a recruiter, I don’t believe coach Hugh Freeze is among the best in-game head coaches in the conference. I thought former Memphis coach Justin Fuente outcoached him in the Rebels’ loss to the Tigers last year. And I’m not so sure I trust Freeze and this roster to play with consistency throughout all 12 games.

Still, this team’s style of play gives Ole Miss a chance to beat anyone. It’s no fluke that the Rebels notched back-to-back wins against Alabama. Chad Kelly returns as a quarterback with a real chance to become the SEC’s first to log multiple 4,000-yard passing seasons. The offense takes chances downfield, and often those chances pay off. The Landshark defense will give up chunks of the field, but it’s aggressive and opportunistic. Make a mistake and you will pay a penalty, often by losing possession.

This year should prove that the team’s depth, not three top-end players, now is its true strength. This is a legitimate top 15-20 team nationally in terms of roster talent. If the 2016 version of the Rebels can do the unthinkable and knock off Alabama for a third consecutive year, the team will have every opportunity to emerge as SEC champions.

2. Tennessee (+500): Feel free to hunt me down on Twitter and yell at me if I’m wrong. There are no guarantees when it comes to projecting the SEC East, especially in recent years. But I feel confident in picking Team 120 to be hands-down the best in the East Division in 2016, a position I’ve held since before bowl season.

Even a marginal improvement on defense (with new coordinator Bob Shoop) and in the downfield passing game (another year for Joshua Dobbs, a receiving corps more adept at those plays) should be enough — perhaps along with a more cut-throat second-half approach from coach Butch Jones during games in which UT leads.

This running game is outstanding. There’s talent at all three levels on defense. And, irrespective of the outcome, I thought Tennessee gave Alabama it’s toughest down-by-down game of any team in the regular season last year.

This group came oh-so-close to knocking off not one, but two College Football Playoff teams last season. And it returns almost every important player. Shore up left tackle and this team could become the most formidable East representative the division has sent to Atlanta since Urban Meyer left Florida.

1. Alabama (+120): Nick Saban has won national titles more often than not in the last seven years. The talent level remains sky high. This team is aiming for six consecutive seasons at 7-1 in SEC play. Any potential question within this roster or coaching staff is tied to several potentially-enviable answers.

The past is the past, even the ’15 season. But Bama’s track record is too overwhelming at this point. On paper, there are at least two other rosters in the West Division that at least resemble the Tide. Do you trust LSU and Ole Miss to be more consistent over the course of a 12-game schedule?

I don’t. So while I won’t be surprised if the Rebels or Bengal Tigers win the division, most people who pick against Alabama before the season are doing so to be trendy or contrarian. I see no reason to suddenly displace this program from being the SEC favorite.

The post Only these 6 teams can win SEC title in 2016 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Step 1: Lose your 1,000-yard rusher, and essentially your lone effective backfield option.
Step 2: Get even better at the position the next season.

We’ll have to wait until at least September to confirm the accuracy of those steps for Texas A&M. But days after the Aggies completed spring practice, it’s a likely scenario.

In 2015, Tra Carson became Texas A&M’s first 1,000-yard rusher in four years — since Cyrus Gray in ’11. That’s despite playing with a toe injury that required offseason surgery.

No other running back even mustered 200 yards on the ground.

Add in transfer quarterback Trevor Knight’s solid spring and perhaps the deepest receiving corps in the country and those unfamiliar with the roster changes in College Station may surmise that Texas A&M’s backfield will get neglected this fall.

Again, we’ll have to wait until new coordinator Noel Mazzone is firing live rounds before we know for sure. But every indication is the running game is headed toward something of a revival.

One of Knight’s former Oklahoma teammates, once a five-star signee, Keith Ford left the Sooners in ’15. He’d incurred a suspension due to academic and team violations, and Samaje Perine had surpassed him on the field. Ford pointed at a lack of connection with the coaching staff as the reason he left Norman.

After sitting out last season, Ford also missed the spring game as a precaution due to injury. But the Aggies already have an idea of his skills, and he could emerge in the fall as the team’s starting ball-carrier.

“Keith Ford is a guy who’s played in some real games,” running backs coach Clarence McKinney said, according to The Battalion. “He also has top-end speed, which means every time he touches [the football] there’s a chance he’ll break one [for a touchdown].”

There’s an expectation that James White, who fought through injuries of his own last season, will emerge as an impact player as well. After a solid spring, White — listed at a stout 220 pounds — looks poised to at least double his career carries (77).

That could be enough to upgrade the team’s running game. Especially since offensive line coach Jim Turner is back in College Station, working hand-in-hand with Mazzone. That should lead to better blocking in the running game, even if you subscribe to the theory that the Aggies have seen a slow decline in talent at offensive line since the megaclass Turner helped recruit in 2010.

THE REST

Giving even more credence to our two-step plan, though, Texas A&M’s backfield goes much deeper than two players.

Trayveon Williams: The coaching staff has raved about this true freshman from Houston. We saw why in the spring game, despite his fumble. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, there’s some understanding that Williams may need to add SEC muscle before becoming an every-down contributor. But his ability in open space and as a receiver could make him an exciting situational player for the Aggies in 2016.

Kwame Etwi: Similar size is not the only thing Etwi has in common with Williams. He’s had occasional trouble with ball security early in his college career. But in 2015, as a freshman walk-on, he ran for 116 yards in a blowout victory against Ball State. He doesn’t project to get a ton of carries, but Etwi seems capable of production in case of injuries.

Kendall Bussey: A three-star member of the ’15 signing class, the New Orleans native injured his knee as a high school senior and the Aggies redshirted him last year. But he performed well enough this spring that 247Sports named him one of the five most surprising players. He’s more of a combo back than the pure power of a Carson/White and the speed of a Williams.

OUTLOOK

It won’t be a surprise if Texas A&M rolls out an all-Sooners starting backfield of Trevor Knight (QB) and Keith Ford (RB).

Even then, White looks to get enough carries to be an impact player.

With Williams, Etwi and Bussey all doing some nice things in spring practice, the decision about how to distribute carries probably will linger throughout fall and into the season.

It’s a nice problem to face, especially given the usual attrition at the running back position.

Knight averaged 5.6 yards per carry for the Sooners. His dual-threat abilities could only serve to distract linebackers and safeties from Texas A&M’s running backs.

If this group comes together, this team could feature the best running game we’ve seen from the Aggies since the program migrated to the SEC.

The post Surprise: Texas A&M running game worthy of excitement appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We’ll take a position-by-position look at the SEC’s draft prospects in the days leading up to the event, starting with running backs.

So many blue-blood SEC teams lost running backs to the NFL after just three years — Alabama, Arkansas (2), Auburn, Florida, and Georgia.

RELATED: Rankings, potential NFL fits for the SEC’s draft-eligible running backs

Then there’s the fact that former Alabama running back Trent Richardson (No. 3 overall in 2012 to the Cleveland Browns) was the last player at the position to get selected in the first round — until Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon last draft. So the evolution of value as it relates to the running back position at the pro level is still taking shape.

So what is the current buzz on the SEC running backs?

THE ENIGMA

Derrick Henry, Alabama: There aren’t many good comps for Henry at the pro level — Eddie George, maybe? — and so he’ll be an interesting case study. Weighing in at 247 pounds at the NFL Combine, Henry still managed to run 4.54 seconds in an electronically-timed 40-yard dash. Give him a runway and he can accelerate through all three levels of a defense. But he enters the league with a lot of wear on his big body. His vision isn’t the best if there isn’t an obvious hole. And there are questions about his ability as a three-down player in the NFL, as his pass blocking was inconsistent and Alabama didn’t use him much in the passing game.

Henry’s game works best when he gets fed for four quarters, and as such a team needs to commit to him as its primary ball-carrier. There are enough questions with his game to push him into the second round.

THE GLASS MAN

Keith Marshall, Georgia: The former five-star recruit wowed us with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. He’s capable of being one of the better running backs in this draft class. Despite playing alongside Todd Gurley as a true freshman in 2012, Marshall only carried 253 times for the Bulldogs, mostly due to a torn ACL (’13) and subsequent injury problems. He’s got the speed of a sprinter along with patience and balance, so the potential is there. But if he had trouble with the SEC grind, is he going to be able to survive NFL training camp and four sometimes-grueling (for borderline rookies) preseason games and even get to the start of the regular season healthy?

THE SECOND FIDDLE

Alex Collins, Arkansas: Despite three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, it never felt like Collins quite belonged in the top tier of SEC running backs alongside players like Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette, Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb. Expect that narrative to follow him into the NFL draft, where many expect him to become a second-day pick. He doesn’t have the sort of deep speed that allows some NFL running backs to pull away from linebackers. His hands also are suspect, as he wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game and fumbled nine times the last two seasons. But he’s a tough, patient runner with good lateral quickness. He should be able to contribute to a pro backfield right away.

THE BATTERING RAM

Tra Carson, Texas A&M: If you weren’t paying attention, you missed it. But Carson topped 1,000 rushing yards in ’15 for the Aggies. He ran for a whopping 621 yards after contact last season, according to Pro Football Focus. A lack of burst may limit him to running between the tackles. And the fact that he didn’t find more holes in the Texas A&M spread offense — with wide offensive line splits — suggests his vision isn’t great. But if you need someone to punish defenses, especially in goal-line or short-yardage situations, Carson is your man.

THE POOR MAN’S DARREN SPROLES

Kenyan Drake, Alabama: There can’t be a better utility back in this entire draft. Underrated as a between-the-tackles runner playing behind T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Drake isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and take on contact. But his speed, quick feet and balance make him an excellent receiver out of the backfield and an able special teams contributor. NFL teams must consider his lengthy injury history, but he has a chance to be a useful, multi-dimensional player at the pro level.

THE UNDERDOG

Peyton Barber, Auburn: After some fans and media members discounted him in the three-person running back competition last offseason, Barber won the starting job outright and rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He’s not the fastest or most powerful back, and he doesn’t have much film to speak of outside of the ’15 season. Yet it’s hard to ignore that production. His decision to enter the NFL draft early was a surprise, but it’s hard not to root for a guy putting it on the line to try to help his mother.

BUST POTENTIAL

Kelvin Taylor, Florida: His NFL Combine workout seemed to give credibility to the notion that Taylor is one of the least explosive running back prospects in this draft class. A 4.60 in the 40-yard dash and 15 bench press reps at 225 may outclass the average intramural athlete, but it’s not so great compared to the otherworldly athletes who populate NFL backfields. While Taylor runs hard and has above-average vision, he doesn’t possess the speed or power to become a starter in the NFL. A few draftniks have fallen in love with him, though. If an NFL general manager does the same and takes Taylor in the third or fourth round, that could lead to disappointment.

Florida RB Kelvin Taylor has some juice as a runner. Really good acceleration after cut here. https://t.co/WK3vcc38ye

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 17, 2016

ESPN NFL Analyst Merril Hoge calls Florida RB Kelvin Taylor "one of best runners I've seen in recent memory." Says he can be an NFL starter.

— John Oehser (@JohnOehser) April 5, 2016

FORGOTTEN POTENTIAL

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas: He missed all of 2015 with a broken foot, but rushed for 1,190 yards in the SEC in 2014. NFL personnel folks are likely to question his ball security and tendency to bounce too many carries outside in search of big gainers. But he should be a third-down asset. And at 220 pounds, with loose hips and quick feet, he has the physical traits of an NFL running back. The injury probably deflated his value, so he’ll have a chance to make some general manager look smart.

NON-SEC PLAYERS TO WORRY ABOUT

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
2. Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech
3. Jordan Howard, Indiana
4. Devontae Booker, Utah

THREE BIGGEST QUESTIONS

1. Are Alabama running backs overrated coming out of college?
2. Who will be the second SEC back taken? Alex Collins? Jonathan Williams? Kenyan Drake? Kelvin Taylor?
3. How many of the six early-entry running backs from the SEC will make an NFL roster?

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2017

• Leonard Fournette, LSU
• Nick Chubb, Georgia
• Jalen Hurd, Tennessee

The post Countdown to the NFL draft: SEC RBs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

All the more reason why getting pressure with your pass rush will be that much more important this fall.

Here are the teams we think will lead the SEC in sacks, pressures and general backfield disruption.

T5. Missouri — There’s been a lot of transition here both in terms of personnel and coaching. But Charles Harris and Walter Brady have an opportunity to be the top sack duo in the SEC this fall. Terry Beckner Jr. and Donavin Newsom are intriguing pass rushers as well. If Harold Brantley can overcome the extensive injuries he suffered in a car crash last year as well as academic hurdles, Mizzou has a chance to finish the season well inside the top 5 in the conference.

T5. Auburn — Carl Lawson, Carl Lawson and Carl Lawson. That’s the key to Auburn’s pass rush, and maybe it’s an entire defense. The Tigers need to get a healthy season out of him. If so, he’s a candidate for double-digit sacks. And he makes things easier for players like Montravius Adams and Marlon Davidson. The Tigers also hope to get more production from Byron Cowart, a five-star signee as part of the 2015 class. If Lawson is healthy, Auburn’s pass rush could leapfrog from 13th in ’15 to among the best in the SEC.

4. Tennessee — Outside of the early part of last season, Derek Barnett has been one of the conference’s better bull rushers for two years. He’s a good bet to reach double-digit sacks yet again. Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr. combined for 9 sacks at linebacker last season. Team 120 also is equipped with a wealth of rotational players at defensive line, any number of whom should contribute to the team’s sack total — perhaps Corey Vereen most notably. Of note, new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop helped Penn State compile 3.54 sacks per game in 2015, tied with Arizona State for most in the country, an even better mark than Alabama.

3. Texas A&M — Myles Garrett is every bit a candidate to follow Jadeveon Clowney as a three-and-done player who gets selected at No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. Most consider him the best pass rusher in the nation entering the season. But he’s not alone along a good Aggies defensive line. Daeshon Hall, who made 7 sacks in ’15, has generated positive publicity in College Station this spring and could be even better. Those two alone should combine for at least 20 sacks. And with Daylon Mack and Kingsley Keke set to clog the middle, there should be more pass-rush opportunities to go around for backup ends Qualen Cunningham, James Lockhart and Jarrett Johnson.

2. LSU — Lewis Neal and Arden Key look like one of the best pass-rush tandems in the SEC for 2016. And the flexible, aggressive 3-4 scheme installed by Dave Aranda could make them that much more effective. Davon Godchaux also led all SEC defensive tackles last year with 6 sacks. Linebacker Kendell Beckwith is a threat to rush the passer as well. LSU tied for third in the SEC last year with 34 sacks, and will have every opportunity to better that number this year.

1. Alabama — Jonathan Allen finished just a half-sack shy of Myles Garrett last season for the SEC lead. He returns trying to cement himself as a first-round pick. Tim Williams is a linebacker, but has spent most of his on-field downs along the line of scrimmage rushing the passer. He made 10.5 sacks last year despite limited playing time, and could be the best pure pass rusher in the conference outside of Garrett. His counterpart is Ryan Anderson (a combined 9 sacks the last two years). And Da’Shawn Hand is the team’s X factor in terms of pass rush. He could miss Saturday’s A-Day game due to back spasms, but the ’14 class five-star signee offers more upside as a rusher than did Jarran Reed. Alabama led the nation in sacks last season, and should be considered the favorite to at least top the SEC this fall.

The post 5 best pass-rushing defenses in the SEC in 2016 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ticket sales in college football dropped for the fifth consecutive year. Within the SEC specifically, half the programs experienced a decline in attendance.

Prices, meanwhile, continue to be cost-prohibitive for many families. The median ticket price for home games in the SEC last season was more than $125. Take an family of four to an average game in ’15 and you’re paying $500 just for the tickets — that’s before parking, concessions, gas and memorabilia.

Tixers.com calculated the average home ticket price for each SEC team last year. Georgia was by far the most expensive ticket, while Alabama (No. 5) and Florida (No. 11) came in lower than some may expect.

At $78.74, Vanderbilt’s ticket prices were much cheaper than the Tide’s. But watching the Commodores lose at home to Western Kentucky couldn’t have provided as much value for fans as Bama’s exciting victory against a Tennessee team that finished the season ranked.

SEC fans don’t seem to mind paying high dollar to watch their team play at least once or twice. But who is getting the best value?

To find that, we divided the average cost of home tickets by the number of home wins. Home games do not include neutral-site games such as Arkansas-Texas A&M or Florida-Georgia.

Here’s how those numbers shook out in terms of average price per home win in ’15:

Scale — (Average home ticket price x number of games)/number of home wins = value

• 14. Auburn — $1,347.50/3 = $449.17
• 13. South Carolina — $833.94/2 = $416.97
• 12. Tennessee — $1499.05/5 = $299.81
• 11. Georgia — $1,432.20/5 = $286.44
• 10. Texas A&M — $1,288.77/5 = $257.75
• 9. Missouri — $723.12/3 = $241.04
• 8. Kentucky — $854.48/4 = $213.62
• 7. Arkansas — $838.74/4 = $209.69
• 6. Alabama — $1,193.64/6 = $198.94
• 5. LSU — $1,032.29/6 = $172.05
• 4. Mississippi State — $685.23/4 = $171.31
• 3. Vanderbilt — $472.44/3 = $157.48
• 2. Ole Miss — $781.41/6 = $130.24
• 1. Florida — $752.01/6 = $125.34

Benefitting from lower-than-expected ticket prices and a 6-1 home record, Florida offered the best value of any SEC team last fall. The Gators won 10 games and won the SEC East in Jim McElwain’s first season, a surprise achievement.

Ole Miss, another team with a strong season (Sugar Bowl win), finished just behind Florida.

SEC West preseason favorite Auburn barely reached 6-6 in the regular season, and that’s reflected here. Tigers fans had to pay about $450 per home victory, on average.

Despite decent seasons, Tennessee and Georgia fans didn’t get great value due. The Vols (No. 2) and Bulldogs (No. 1) represented the most expensive tickets in the SEC last fall.

But again, it’s unfair to treat every home win equally.

This is about value to you as fans. SEC wins mean more than beating non-conference opponents, and top 25 wins mean more than victories against unranked teams.

With that in mind, let’s adjust the scale.

• Victory vs. team in final AP top 25 = 2
• Victory vs. unranked SEC team = 1.5
• Victory vs. unranked non-conference team = 1
• Single-digit loss vs. ranked team = 0.5

• 14. Auburn — $1,347.50/3.5 = $385.00
• 13. South Carolina — $833.94/3 = $277.98
• 12. Texas A&M — $1,288.77/6 = $214.80
• 11. Tennessee — $1499.05/7 = $214.15
• 10. Missouri — $723.12/3.5 = $206.61
• 9. Georgia — $1,432.20/7.5 = $190.96
• 8. Kentucky — $854.48/5 = $170.90
• 7. Arkansas — $838.74/5 = $167.75
• 6. Alabama — $1,193.64/9 = $132.63
• 5. LSU — $1,032.29/8 = $129.04
• 4. Vanderbilt — $472.44/4 = $118.11
• 3. Mississippi State — $685.23/6.5 = $105.42
• 2. Ole Miss — $781.41/8 = $97.70
• 1. Florida — $752.01/8.5 = $88.47

You’ll notice that the numbers didn’t change much. Georgia (+2) and Texas A&M (-2) were the only two schools to move multiple spots in the rankings.

Again, Gators fans win out here. Ben Hill Griffin was a terrific venue in which to watch SEC football in 2015 if you were looking for value. That’s despite a loss to No. 14 Florida State to end the regular season. Florida managed to go 3-0 against SEC teams at home, including a 38-10 trouncing of then-No. 3 Ole Miss and a 28-27 victory against a Tennessee team that finished the season ranked No. 22.

Ole Miss also treated the home fans, even though the Rebels’ most notable victory came at Alabama. Coach Hugh Freeze managed a 6-1 record at home, including stompings of then-No. 15 Texas A&M and then-No. 15 LSU. Ole Miss’ only home loss came in arguably the most entertaining SEC game of the entire season, a 53-52 defeat to Arkansas courtesy of a fluky fourth-and-25 conversion.

Alabama scored the most points on our modified scale, notching wins against ranked Tennessee and LSU teams as well as a close loss against Ole Miss.

Looking just at the results side of the equation, South Carolina offered the weakest outcomes. The Gamecocks beat an 0-12 UCF team and Vanderbilt while losing to Kentucky, Florida, Clemson — and The Citadel. South Carolina fans may not have been grateful that the scheduled game against LSU got moved to Death Valley due to flooding, but it helped the team avoid another home loss. After being perfect at home with Connor Shaw at quarterback (17-0 record), the program would love to recapture some magic in 2016 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Auburn and Missouri weren’t much better at home.

Overall, these numbers only represent one season. But it proves that if your team is one of the SEC’s traditional powerhouses, and it doesn’t perform well at home, you’re shelling out a lot of hard-earned cash without much return.

Win just a few games at Vanderbilt and tickets are cheap enough that you’re providing good bang for the buck. But struggle at a place like Tennessee and you’re charging fans stacks of cash just to watch you lose to Oklahoma and Arkansas.

A few of the teams at the bottom of this list also feature head coaches with questionable job status beyond 2016. Gus Malzahn and Kevin Sumlin would do well to make sure their teams perform at home this fall.

The post Which SEC team provided its home fans the best value in 2015? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Still, a half-dozen SEC teams are essentially done with organized practice until the fall.

After a Friday and Saturday spent in front of a TV watching four spring games on the SEC Network, here’s what we’ve learned about the conference thus far.

1. There’s clarity at the quarterback position.

The story of spring practice in the SEC has been all the uncertainty at the quarterback position.

Outside of Chad Kelly at Ole Miss, Brandon Harris at LSU and Joshua Dobbs at Tennessee, there weren’t any established veteran starters certain to keep their jobs.

Thus far, though, most every team that has held a spring game exited with a much greater understanding of its options at quarterback.

Vanderbilt: Kyle Shurmur exited spring ball as the team’s starting quarterback. The ‘Dores are desperate for stability at the position, so it likely will take an injury for the team to displace the sophomore-to-be before the season opener.

Florida: Luke Del Rio’s command of the Gators offense impressed even more than his completion percentage (90.9). Jim McElwain took a risk when he didn’t fight to convince Will Grier to return. Florida’s recent history at quarterback is bad. But thus far, indications are that bet will pay off. That should allow the Gators to redshirt Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, the latter of which upstaged the more touted ’16 class signee in the spring game.

South Carolina: With half the so-called contestants out due to injury, this narrative is incomplete. Or perhaps the absences of Lorenzo Nunez (knee) and Perry Orth (collarbone) will cost them both. True freshman Brandon McIlwain didn’t look like a certified SEC starter, but he sure was impressive for a kid who should still be in high school. He should enter the fall with at least a real chance at the job.

Auburn: Of the five SEC teams that have completed spring football games, the Tigers’ quarterback situation is the most uncertain. Jeremy Johnson, last year’s starter entering the season, looked more or less as shaky as he was in ’15. John Franklin III’s lone completion of any real substance was more of a misplay by the secondary, and Auburn rarely allowed him to throw downfield. Sean White looked like the best passer, but he fumbled a snap and threw what should’ve been an interception. The good news? Auburn has about five months to figure out the quarterback position.

Texas A&M: After all the turmoil at the position, the Aggies couldn’t feel much better exiting the spring game. Trevor Knight looked like the steady veteran playmaker that the fans hoped he’d be. Jake Hubenak looked like a feisty backup with a good deep ball. The receivers, even Speedy Noil, made plays. Noel Mazzone’s offense looks balanced. Expect Knight to be the starter when the team takes the field against UCLA on Sept. 3.

(Update: Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has named Knight the starter.)

2. Carl Lawson is capable of single-handedly changing Auburn’s defense

To this point in his career, talk about Lawson has exceeded what he’s done on the field.

After an impressive freshman season, he missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL. After a spectacular half against Louisville in last year’s season opener, he hurt his hip, missing another half-season.

He’s healthy again. And as long as it stays that way, he has a chance to singlehandedly improve Auburn’s defense.

On Saturday, he played in his first A-Day game — a weird notation for a player who nearly left for the NFL draft after last season.

On one play, his first step was so quick that he blew past the right tackle and would’ve lit up Sean White if not for the presence of White’s red “do not hit me” jersey. On another, he ran across the field to track down a ball-carrier from the back side of the formation.

Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams all over the field. https://t.co/fHT6M9N258

— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) April 9, 2016

Here's a comprehensive flowchart for breaking down A-Day, tho:

Was Carl Lawson injured?

YES—–> abject failure
NO—–> wild success

— Jerry Hinnen (@JerryHinnen) April 9, 2016

Players like Montravius Adams and freshman Marlon Davidson looked good Saturday, but the guess here is they look much better when Lawson is on the field alongside them.

3. Texas A&M’s mindset is evolving.

There is some concern that the talent level along the offensive line is declining from what was an unbelievable group three years ago.

Still, a year ago this team was going through a novella at starting quarterback. And coach Kevin Sumlin was openly admitting his ’14 team was too soft to compete for an SEC West title.

We’re still taking a “believe it when we see it” approach in terms of Texas A&M’s capabilities in the running game on both sides of the ball. The backfield, secondary and especially the linebackers have something to prove.

But there are signs that the Aggies culture is going through a transformation.

Sumlin chuckled on the SEC Network broadcast when it jokingly called him to task for guaranteeing a “vanilla” game plan, pointing to a wide receiver pass for a touchdown. The coach insisted the defense deployed some blitzes that also were supposed to be off limits, shrugging it off as his team’s competitiveness.

WR WR! Yup, You read that right.

Christian Kirk's 36-yd TD pass to Speedy Noil was WOW: https://t.co/FCPprAI2Jl pic.twitter.com/gzi4KAqW5K

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 9, 2016

Daeshon Hall has become a worthy partner to Myles Garrett. Armani Watts looks more like an NFL-caliber safety after growing pains early in his college career. And while the results weren’t always there, the team seemed to play with more of an edge against the run.

Pair what should be a hyper-tempo offense under Noel Mazzone with an aggressive, opportunistic John Chavis defense and this team that has been bullied the last few years seems much better suited to do some bullying of its own.

4. Florida is looking more dynamic.

The Gators appear on track to restore competency at quarterback. It’s a safe assumption that a deeper, more experienced offensive line will improve. And Kelvin Taylor was one of the least explosive starting running backs in the East Division last season. Mark Thompson and the Jordans should be an improvement.

Still, the most exciting development in Gainesville may be the presence of Eddy Piniero.

Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com wrote a thoughtful, against-the-grain piece on Piniero after the game.

It was a thrill to see the social media sensation be able to nail kicks from 52, 46 and 56 yards, offering tangible proof that his videos were no fakes. He boomed kickoffs out of the back of the end zone, and hung them for an eternity when the Gators asked him to drop them at the goal line. His extra points were confident and split the uprights.

Still, he missed from 52 and 53 yards. Badly. And his timing appeared slow on a few kicks. Florida didn’t pit him against a rush. He’s never kicked in a college game before, so there’s a chance that at this point some of his tries would get blocked. And 3-for-5, even with the impressive distance on his tries, isn’t going to win him a Lou Groza Award.

But there’s legitimate hope in his talent. More importantly, it gives Florida options. No longer are the Gators forced to go for every fourth down deep inside enemy territory.

If Florida needs to rely on its defense and use Del Rio as more of a game manager who protects the ball, Piniero is a nice asset to add to the equation.

5. Vanderbilt is no longer the SEC’s clear-cut worst team.

Laugh all you want. The Commodores may not avoid last place in the SEC East this year, much less win 6 games to become bowl-eligible. But Vandy should no longer be the easy win it was for all of ’14 and parts of ’15.

Derek Mason appeared overmatched during his first season as head coach. But he’s improved the staff around him. Last season, his team lost two star players for the entire schedule and another for most of the year. All three return in 2016. There’s stability at quarterback. Mason has the defense playing well, and Ralph Webb is one of the SEC’s better running backs.

Expect this team to still get beat at the line of scrimmage, especially on offense. Most every team in the SEC will field more playmakers at receiver. And Vandy’s depth does not compare well to the rest of the conference.

But don’t anticipate much difference between the ‘Dores and the three other division teams that failed to make a bowl appearance last year: South Carolina, Kentucky and Missouri. Play well in those three games and Vandy will have a great chance to improve on its 4-8 record from last year.

The post What we learned from the 5 completed SEC spring games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It appears that Michigan won the day with 60,000 fans, though Clemson and Florida State both came in at about 50,000.

Attendance at 2016 SEC spring games

The post Spring game attendance numbers, crowd shots thus far in the SEC appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Whether it is the conference founding, SEC expansion or mascots, we examine your knowledge of this great conference with the quiz below.

Share your score in the comments below.

The post SEC football history quiz: How well do you know your conference? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

For Millennials and those in Generation Z, you may be surprised to learn that for the majority of its history, the AP poll included just 20 teams. It expanded to 25 in 1989.

Some more poll history:

• The first Associated Press poll came out in 1934, though it didn’t exist in ’35 and started on a continual basis in ’36. Former SEC assistant director of media relations Charles Woodroof compiled the votes for that first poll.
• From 1962 to 1967, the AP poll only acknowledged 10 teams.
• With one exception, until 1968, the final poll got released after the regular season and did not account for bowl results.
• The SEC has participated in the last dozen meetings between AP No. 1 and No. 2 teams. Florida, LSU, Alabama and Auburn have all won such games since ’08. There have been 50 of those meetings all-time.
• For those wondering whether Ole Miss and Mississippi State ever have been ranked in the final AP poll at the same time prior to Dan Mullen and Hugh Freeze, the answer is yes — several times. The first: 1941.
• There have been 80 total years in which the Associated Press has ranked the nation’s best college football team.

To no one’s surprise, Alabama leads the overall count with 54 appearances in the final AP poll. The Tide have appeared in the poll nearly 68 percent of the time. Bama overtook Tennessee, which led early, decades ago, though the Vols are the only other SEC program to have appeared more than 50 percent of the time.

But there have been some recent movers. Florida has shot up the list thanks in large part to coach Steve Spurrier and coach Urban Meyer. After a few fairly early appearances, Kentucky has not gotten many AP votes in recent years. And Ole Miss has crept within striking distance of Arkansas and Texas A&M.

Here are the current SEC members listed by all-time AP poll appearances (final poll only).

The post Final Associated Press poll appearances by SEC team appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Baseball just got started — though it almost feels like spring training, as most teams have 159 regular-season games to go. The NBA is readying for a lengthy playoff schedule, but that’s not here yet.

A cynic would say this is the perfect time to eschew a weekend of watching sports and catch up with loved ones, or knock out neglected chores.

But what sounds better — cleaning out the garage, or plopping in front of your flatscreen TV and watching SEC football? Who cares if it’s spring games. This is as close to the real thing as we’re going to get for five more months. Might as well enjoy, especially if you’re a fan of one of these two teams.

Best of all, due to NCAA practice limitations, these events are guaranteed to last a crisp two hours.

If you’re a die-hard college football fan, you may even want to check out Deshaun Watson, Baker Mayfield or Christian McCaffrey for a few series on Saturday.

Here’s the TV schedule for this weekend, along with some thoughts as to why we’ll be watching.

SEC GAMES

Friday

7 p.m. ET — Florida (SEC Network)

Is Luke Del Rio the definitive leader at quarterback exiting spring practice? Can JUCO transfer Mark Thompson become the No. 1 running back? And should Gators fans be happy with the progress of the offensive line?

Saturday

Noon ET — South Carolina (SEC Network)

This will be a good opportunity to showcase true freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain and the new brand of offense that Will Muschamp and coordinator Kurt Roper are touting. Plus, freshman wideout Bryan Edwards may give fans hope at a position devoid of big names.

4 p.m. ET — Auburn (SEC Network)

We don’t expect the Tigers to settle on a starting quarterback any time soon. But the performances of Jeremy Johnson, John Franklin III and Sean White should give the public something to chew on for the next few weeks. Also, look out for the young players in the defensive front seven for an idea of who could be able to help this fall.

6 p.m. ET — Texas A&M (SEC Network)

Other than the obvious — new starting quarterback, new offensive coordinator, new offensive line coach — tempo seems to be a priority for the Aggies this spring. According to reports, the results been mixed. The spring game should offer a good gauge. And does John Chavis finally have the run defense headed in a better direction?

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE

Saturday

2:30 p.m. ET — Clemson (ESPN3)

College Football Playoff participants in 2015, the Tigers return quarterback Deshaun Watson and an offensive roster that’s the envy of the country. Plus, Auburn is an early opponent this fall.

3 p.m. ET — Florida State (ESPN3)

Two years removed from Jameis Winston and a tremendous defense, are the Seminoles again ready to challenge for the ACC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff?

3 p.m. ET — Oklahoma (FSSW)

Quarterback Baker Mayfield returns as a strong Heisman Trophy candidate after the Sooners made a run to the College Football Playoff in ’15.

4 p.m. ET — Stanford (Pac-12 Network)

Christian McCaffrey enters the season as one of the country’s most popular players. But can Stanford find a quarterback to replace Kevin Hogan and ensure a balanced offense?

7 p.m. ET — Boise State (N/A)

It’s not broadcast on TV, so we won’t be able to get our spring fill of the blue turf. But Boise State again is a threat to win double-digit games and contend for the Group of 5 spot in the New Year’s Six bowls after a somewhat disappointing 2015.

The post This weekend’s spring football TV schedule appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Still, it’s a significant milestone. A nice, round number. Every now and then, a Kelvin Taylor (1,035 yards in 2015) will reach that mark without being particularly impressive. Or a T.J. Yeldon (979 yards in 2014) will fall just short.

Most of the time, it’s a barometer that separates the great from the good to mediocre. It’s also a status symbol for teams that find their identities within a punishing running game.

We’ve still got 12 SEC spring games to go, and there’s time for injuries and newcomers to change the landscape in the fall. But as spring practice starts nearing conclusion, here are the ball-carriers we expect to reach 1,000 yards in 2016.

THE REPEATS

Leonard Fournette, LSU: The Tigers star may not even need a half-season to reach the 1,000-yard mark, as he surpassed that number in the first five games of last season. If he stays healthy and LSU makes the College Football Playoff, a 2,000-yard season and a Heisman Trophy should be well within his grasp. Of course, the one thing Fournette hasn’t proven is that he can slice through Alabama’s terrific defensive front seven.

Jalen Hurd, Tennessee: At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Hurd will punish you if you don’t have some forward momentum at the point of contact. One of the SEC’s best workhorse backs as a sophomore in 2015, he’s got a chance to emerge nationally within the upper tier at the position. It doesn’t hurt that he’s flanked by quarterback Joshua Dobbs and fellow ball-carrier Alvin Kamara, which keeps defenses guessing even on obvious running plays.

Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt: Listed at 5-foot-10 and a doughnut more than 200 pounds, Webb has got to be one tough son of a gun. He managed more than 1,300 yards of total offense in ’15 behind a weak offensive line and alongside a historically bad passing game. Often one of, or the, only player that defenses had to make sure to contain, Webb still managed seven games of at least 90 rushing yards. With the ‘Dores expecting a modicum of offensive progress in ’16, one would surmise Webb has an excellent chance to repeat the 1,000-yard milestone.

GOOD PRODUCTION GETS BETTER

Nick Chubb, Georgia: The 2016 season may be the one chance we have to see a full-fledged college season from Chubb. He spent the first part of ’14 stuck behind Todd Gurley, though he still rushed for 1,547 yards. Then Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in ’15. Sony Michel rushed for 1,000 yards as a result, though Chubb managed 747 rushing yards on just 92 carries. If he gets even 10 games as the feature back, expect the 1,000-yard mark to be a mere formality.

Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky: A rudimentary check of Williams’ rushing totals as a freshman (486 yards) and sophomore (855 yards) paints an upward trajectory that makes him a good candidate. Yes, there’s something to the thought that Williams — listed at 5-foot-9 and 196 pounds — is not a 30-carries-per-game player. He’s faced some disciplinary issues and dealt with an elbow injury in ’15. But with a career average of 6.9 yards per carry, it seems almost unfathomable that his career single-game high is 18 carries. We expect new coordinator Eddie Gran to give him the ball at least enough times for him to reach the four-digit threshold this fall.

Jovon Robinson, Auburn: A faction of the media and fans believed that Robinson would become the alpha ball-carrier straight away in 2015. But it took the JUCO transfer time to adjust, and the Tigers coaching staff time to trust him. Still, Robinson’s 619 yards in the season’s final six games offered a long look at his All-SEC potential. Now that Peyton Barber left early for the NFL, we’d expect that late-season production to continue in 2016.

(RELATIVELY) NEW TO THE SCENE

Devwah Whaley, Arkansas: It’s bold to project Whaley will rush for 1,000 yards as a true freshman. He has yet to carry in a college game, and may not enter the season as the starter. Still, there’s plenty of opportunity for more than one Razorbacks running back to get carries. Even if Rawleigh Williams III and Kody Walker get their share of touches, Whaley is the most gifted of the three. We project him to emerge as the first option at some point in the season. Arkansas has produced four 1,000-yard rushers in the last three years, so there’s a road map for that sort of production. Alex Collins managed 1,026 yards in his first season in ’13.

Bo Scarbrough, Alabama: We’re not willing to say that Scarbrough is going to be the next Derrick Henry. At least not until 2017. But Henry himself managed 990 rushing yards in his second season. B.J. Emmons may be a factor in the fall, but for now Scarbrough and Damien Harris are competing for carries on relatively even terms. It’s early and there’s not a ton of evidence to work from, but we think the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Scarbrough fits the physical profile of a starting Alabama running back. The Tide have produced a 975-yard rusher in each of the last five seasons, so the system should be conducive for Scarbrough to make a push toward that figure if he becomes the first option.

Also considered: Sony Michel, Georgia; Mark Thompson, Florida; Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee

The post Predicting the SEC’s 1,000-yard rushers in 2016 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After that, there’s a considerable drop-off, without many intriguing fringe players.

Here’s a closer look at all the eligible SEC receiver prospects in this year’s NFL draft.

THE BEST

1. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell

Projection: Mid-first round

Skill set: Treadwell’s speed may be the only thing preventing him from projecting as a top 10 pick in this draft. There’s some reason to doubt his ability to separate from press coverage, as he ran a hand-timed 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the Ole Miss pro day. His catch radius is outstanding, even though he made some concentration drops in 2015. He’s very good at tracking the football in the air. At 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds, he could become a good slot receiver in the NFL. He excels against zone coverages. His production is outstanding, so while he may get beat up by press corners at the pro level, expect him to remain a solid contributor and to start early.

Best fit: Los Angeles Rams

2. South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper

Projection: Third round

Skill set: A classic example of getting the most out of one’s ability, Cooper is 5-foot-11 with average speed and athleticism. He wasn’t a tremendous downfield threat in Columbia, S.C., or a guy who ran a ton of complex routes. Still, his footwork, quickness and balance are excellent. He’s disciplined. Most of all, he nearly produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a receiver at South Carolina. And he’s a playmaker once he gets the ball in his hands.

Best fit: Any team with a creative offensive coordinator that’s not afraid to figure out how to use a player outside of the conventional NFL profile.

LIKELY DRAFT PICKS

It’s very difficult to differentiate the group of third-tier receivers from the SEC in this draft class. But there are some intriguing players here. We expect at least one or two of these guys to make an impact at the NFL level within the next two years.

3. Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell

Projection: Fourth or fifth round

Skill set: Mitchell will be a 24-year-old rookie with average speed. Still, unlike several of his SEC counterparts, he should pass character tests with flying colors. He’s a technician as a route-runner, smooth with a good change of direction and the ability to lose corners on double moves. He can also make contested catches, so he probably projects as a No. 3 receiver at the NFL level.

4. Florida WR Demarcus Robinson

Projection: Fourth or fifth round

Skill set: Robinson possesses game-breaking speed and athleticism. If he reaches his potential, he could become a legitimate deep threat at the pro level. His hands are a bit of a concern. Pegging his draft status is a guessing game. His physical talent suggests a higher-round pick, but he got suspended four times at Florida. Will NFL teams decide to trust him? And at what point has he fallen far enough that his talent is worth taking a chance?

5. Mississippi State WR De’Runnya Wilson

Projection: Fifth or sixth round

Skill set: The former Mr. Basketball in the state of Alabama is 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, a physical specimen who is still learning the game. But he’s far from the Antonio Gates/former hoops player with huge upside narrative. His NFL Combine results highlighted his disappointing athleticism, and he’ll have trouble getting open at the pro level. He does have a great catch radius and he’s physical when contending with defensive backs for catches, so he’ll get a look as a possession receiver because of his size.

6. Ole Miss WR Cody Core

Projection: Fifth or sixth round

Skill set: At 6-foot-3 with a vertical leap of nearly 38 inches at the Ole Miss pro day, Core has the size and jumping ability to go up and get the football. His routes need work, his hands are somewhat inconsistent and he isn’t the fastest receiver in this class. He’ll be a special teams performer first and foremost as a rookie, and that’s his ticket to sticking with an NFL roster.

7. Auburn WR Ricardo Louis

Projection: Sixth or seventh round

Skill set: Using a draft pick on Louis is a bet on your franchise’s ability to develop an athlete into a professional football player. There’s not much to like here in terms of an NFL skill set, as Louis didn’t show particularly good hands or run great routes for Auburn. But he’s 6-foot-2, thick for a receiver at 215 pounds, and ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His best asset may be running after the catch. He’s a developmental project, but someone should like him enough to use a draft pick on him.

FRINGE PLAYERS

Duke Williams entered 2015 with some draft analysts projecting him as the No. 1 receiver prospect of this entire draft class. But continued off-field trouble that eventually got him dismissed by coach Gus Malzahn, as well as a lackluster performance in the games he did play in ’15, now has cast doubt on whether he’ll get selected at all.

Tennessee saw at least one of its players selected in every NFL draft from 1963 to 2014. But last year, the Vols’ streak ended — yet another indictment of former coach Derek Dooley. UT may have to wait until 2017 to start a new streak, unless North or Curt Maggitt manage to become third-day picks later this month.

8. Auburn WR D’haquille Williams (seventh round/priority free agent)

9. Tennessee WR Marquez North (seventh round/priority free agent)

10. Alabama WR Richard Mullaney (free agent)

11. Georgia WR Justin Scott-Wesley (free agent)

UNLIKELY TO HAVE A CHANCE

The pool of draft-eligible receivers is not particularly deep in 2016. Beyond Williams and North, there aren’t many players who would become exciting undrafted free agents with a real chance to make an NFL roster.

Tennessee’s outgoing receivers never met outside expectations. But perhaps Pearson or Howard can convince an NFL team to take a flier on them in training camp and see what happens.

12. Florida WR Latroy Pittman Jr.

13. Tennessee WR Von Pearson

14. Tennessee WR Pig Howard

The post Rankings, potential NFL fits for the SEC’s draft-eligible WRs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

If you’re a head coach in the SEC, and you want job security, the University of Georgia is a great place to take a job. Mark Richt coached in Athens for 15 years, and UGA boasts the fourth-highest average coaching tenure all-time.

In fact, the SEC East coaches must feel pretty good collectively. Florida and Tennessee are the two most patient football programs in the conference, historically. Jim McElwain (second season) and Butch Jones (fourth season) are still relatively early in their tenures.

Florida holds a slight edge over Tennessee in average tenure, by mere hundredths. But in addition to recent short stays by Derek Dooley and Lane Kiffin, the Vols hired their first football coach in 1899, while Florida didn’t launch the football program until 1906.

Coaches at the turn of the 20th century rarely retained the position for more than one or two seasons, so overall, the average modern-era hire can expect an additional half-year or so on top of the listed average. In other words, LSU’s average coaching tenure is 4.0 years, but accounting for those early one- and two-year stints, the modern average is more like 4.5 years.

If you’ve got options — and a family with kids who want to stay in the same school system — Oxford, Miss., and Lexington, Ky., shouldn’t be your choice. Coaches there barely survive three years, on average. Then again, barring a major scandal, one would think Hugh Freeze has built up quite a bit of equity at Ole Miss, having increased the team’s win total in each of his first four seasons.

Interestingly, the Gators have hired just 21 coaches in history, while the Wildcats have hired a whopping 38.

Alabama, which hired a string of Mikes before Nick Saban — DuBose, Price and Shula — has burned through head coaches in rapid succession at a few points in history and ranks in the middle of the pack. That’s despite Saban heading into his 10th season with the Tide.

Missouri was a tumultuous place before coach Gary Pinkel arrived in 2001. Of course, Pinkel stayed with the team through the 2015 season, retiring as the school’s all-time winningest head coach.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the tenure of Barry Odom. At 39 years old, even in 2016, he’s young for an SEC head coach. But the last Mizzou coach to reach double digits on the job prior to Odom was Dan Devine (1958-70).

AVERAGE HEAD COACHING TENURE FOR EVERY SEC TEAM ALL-TIME

Despite winning 18 games the last two seasons, Mississippi State still ranks last in the SEC in wins per season all-time, just a fraction behind Kentucky and Vanderbilt. But even factoring in the longer schedule, it gives coach Dan Mullen’s performance some perspective. He’s managed to get the Bulldogs into the top 25 on a regular basis, which is no small task within the history of that program.

LSU may be the most impatient program in the SEC, historically speaking. The Tigers are the only conference member to average at least 6 wins per season and also rank in the bottom half of the league in average coaching tenure.

That shouldn’t surprise you if you listened to talk radio anywhere near Baton Rouge last season, or if you kept up with the novella between the administration and coach Les Miles toward the end of the schedule. But LSU has won 6.4 games per season, on average, just behind Georgia and Florida and fifth-best in the SEC. Yet LSU hires a new coach in less than four years, on average.

On the other end of the spectrum, Vanderbilt historically has been very patient with its football coaches. The Commodores win 4.7 games per year, on average, next-to-last in the SEC by a fraction. But Vanderbilt head coaches get about 4.5 years to hold the best football office in the athletic building, ranking fifth in the SEC.

In other words, losing on the field at Vandy doesn’t equate to losing your job as a head coach right away. So, Derek Mason, replicate last year by winning a pair of SEC games and you surely will stay put into 2017.

The post Updating the average coaching tenure for every SEC school appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We’ve taken a look at five 2016 class signees at every position that should be able to make an impact this fall.

Below you’ll find the player that may make the biggest contribution in ’16 as well as a link to each positional story.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks: Jacob Eason, Georgia

Running backs: Devwah Whaley, Arkansas

Receivers: Tyrie Cleveland, Florida

Tight ends: Isaac Nauta, Georgia

Offensive line: Gregory Little, Ole Miss

DEFENSE

Defensive ends: McTelvin Agim, Arkansas

Defensive tackles: Derrick Brown, Auburn

Linebackers: Ben Davis, Alabama

Cornerbacks: Chauncey Gardner, Florida

Safeties: Deontay Anderson, Ole Miss

SPECIALISTS

Kickers/punters: Braden Mann, Texas A&M

The post 5 2016 class impact SEC players at each position appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But, as he’s finding out this spring, the potential for outrage and negative emotion grew exponentially when he became head coach at one of the proudest college football programs in the country.

Just a few practices into his tenure in Athens, Smart has been held up as a bastion of all that’s wrong about college athletics for placing transfer restrictions on outgoing running back A.J. Turman. ESPN radio personality went on an anti-Smart rant that included repeated uses of “disgrace” and “shame on you,” and he wasn’t alone.

After being connected to new Georgia legislation intended to slow the flow of athletics information to the public in cases of open records requests, Smart has been branded an out-of-control — well, control freak. One who some say has overstepped his bounds, even as UGA has downplayed his involvement in that bill.

But you know what? Maybe it’s a good thing for Georgia’s football program to get a little more cut-throat.

We’re not suggesting that Smart break any rules or go full-fledged Mike Rice on his players. But, right or wrong, the last few teams that coach Mark Richt fielded in Athens just weren’t intimidating.

Some of that was physical toughness. Alabama, for instance, all but shut down running back Nick Chubb in a dominant road victory against the Bulldogs in 2015. Some of it was just performance, as UGA struggled to put away teams like Georgia Southern.

For all the “Richt is a great man with good character” narrative discussions — the veracity of which we don’t doubt — there was a sometimes-unspoken undertone regarding his team’s seeming lack of discipline and accountability at times.

Nick Saban’s “The Process” isn’t a new creation, nor is it rocket science. He learned it under coach Don James, as did former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel — who branded it “Mizzou Made.” Smart is instilling his own version of that culture right now at Georgia.

The idea is simple. Details matter. Everything should be structured and regimented. Everyone is under the microscope at all times. Competition abounds. Players and coaches will be held accountable.

That’s not to say that you have to agree with Smart’s decision to restrict transfers. And we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether his involvement in the open records legislation deserves judgement. But if you’re a Georgia fan, surely you’re excited for the initial energy percolating from Flowery Branch, where the team is practicing while it awaits the completion of a new $30 million practice facility.

“Toughness” seems to be a motif for Smart this year, as he brought it up at his introductory press conference and after the team’s first spring practice. And not to get all Crimson on you, but there was something to the Tide’s success during the Saban-Smart era beyond just recruiting the country’s best talent.

DawgNation.com, perhaps the premier site covering Georgia’s football team in 2016, summed it up best after the team began spring ball:

“You can tell he’s a dominant person by the way he speaks and his actions,” running back Sony Michel said. “He tells you what he wants. There’s nothing sugar-coated about it. He tells you exactly how he wants something done.”

More Michel: “He’s going to push us to the limit. He’s going to push us harder than we’ve ever been pushed. He’s going to see us strain. He’s going to see us go until we just can’t go any more.”

Some players are walking on eggshells.

Some fans will smile at this.

It sure seems like Smart intends to put the “Dawg” back in the Bulldogs. If the football team turns out to be a little meaner on the field, that’ll play just fine.

The post A more cut-throat approach could suit Georgia well appeared first on Saturday Down South.