Previewing SEC media days: Georgia turmoil, new coordinators and transfer QBs

The SEC enters media days with its speak of realignment and new schedules already previously. Oklahoma and Texas will be part of the convention subsequent season to a lot fanfare and a brand new period will start in faculty soccer.

So what is going to the coaches and gamers discuss throughout media days? The on-field motion, after all.

Alabama‘s new look offense underneath former Our Lady offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, Brian Kelly’s second yr at LSU and the staggering variety of switch quarterbacks within the convention would be the speak of the week in Nashville, Tennessee.

Forward of all of the podium prognostications, daring predictions and sound bites, our writers deal with the 5 largest questions and matters of SEC media days.

1. How does Georgia reply off-field questions?

Alex Scarborough: On the sector, the questions are apparent: Who will exchange Stetson Bennett at quarterback? How does the offense change with out Todd Monken as coordinator? And what a couple of protection that may now be with out stalwarts Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo?

Georgia’s schedule could be simple, however the path to repeating as nationwide champions for a 3rd consecutive season is not any piece of cake. Coach Kirby Sensible could spend most of his time in Nashville addressing what’s occurred off the sector, although, as a result of the speeding-related incidents dedicated by his gamers have piled up. Earlier this month, freshman outdoors linebacker Samuel M’Pemba was clocked going 88 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone — about an hour earlier than Georgia receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint appeared in an Athens courtroom and pleaded responsible to driving 90 mph in a forty five mph zone on Might 23. ESPN reported in June that Georgia soccer gamers and their vehicles have been concerned in at the very least 10 reviews of traffic-related transferring violations in Athens-Clarke County since Jan. 15, when Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and soccer employees member Chandler LeCroy had been killed in a reckless driving incident wherein police alleged former defensive lineman Jalen Carter was racing them hours after a nationwide championship celebration.

2. How will Alabama navigate change on offense?

Scarborough: It turned abundantly clear throughout the course of final season that one thing needed to change on offense for Alabama. The scheme employed by coordinator Invoice O’Brien was too reliant on quarterback Bryce Young; the working sport lacked an inside presence; and the receivers who watched DeVonta Smith and Jameson Williams blossom into stars did not grow to be reliable playmakers. With Younger and O’Brien off to the NFL, Nick Saban was given a clear slate. He introduced in a extra pro-style coordinator in former Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees and opened up the quarterback competitors, welcoming in former Preventing Irish QB Tyler Buchner to go together with returning gamers Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson. With a very good group of younger working backs, do not be shocked if Alabama turns into extra run-heavy this season, relying much less on what is going to nonetheless be an unproven receiver corps and taking a number of the burden off whoever the beginning QB might be.

3. How will LSU fare in Yr 2 underneath Brian Kelly?

Chris Low: When are expectations not lofty at LSU, particularly if you herald a coach the caliber of Brian Kelly and are coming off a nationwide championship 4 years earlier?

The Tigers shocked lots of people a yr in the past in profitable the SEC’s Western Division and knocking off Alabama in Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge. Taking that subsequent step will show much more troublesome, however LSU has the items in place to make one other run within the West and get again to the SEC championship sport. It begins with quarterback Jayden Danielswho blossomed final season in LSU’s offense. Having a multifaceted quarterback with expertise helps clear up a ton of issues, particularly when your complete offensive line is again. Tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones began as freshmen final season, and Kelly believes that unit has an opportunity to be particular. And on protection, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. returns after establishing himself as one of many SEC’s high big-play defenders as a freshman, and furthermore, defensive sort out Maason Smith‘s return from damage is another excuse to love LSU’s protection. This is not Kelly’s first rodeo. He understands the expectations and understands that LSU might be circled on a number of groups’ schedules this season. But it surely’s additionally an LSU group that improved because the season progressed a yr in the past, and there isn’t any motive to imagine that Kelly, given his pedigree, will not get much more out of this group in 2023.

4. Can Bobby Petrino save Jimbo Fisher from the recent seat?

Low: The Petrino-Fisher pairing raised a number of eyebrows across the faculty soccer world when Fisher employed Petrino in January to come back in and be Texas A&M‘s offensive coordinator. Fisher and Petrino are each recognized for his or her volatility, and it is affordable to surprise how they’ll mesh in what’s clearly an necessary season for your complete Texas A&M program. Fisher knew he wanted to shake issues up on offense, step away from being the first playcaller and herald any person who had achieved it at a excessive degree. Petrino is a polarizing — going again to his firing at Arkansas — however there isn’t any denying he is lengthy been among the best playcallers in soccer. Fisher is at all times going to be concerned within the offense, and he might be with Petrino as they put the plan collectively every week. However Petrino would not have taken the job at Texas A&M if it weren’t going to be his present.

Finally, the proof might be in how the Aggies’ offense fares after ending a hundred and first nationally in scoring final season (22.8 factors per sport). Petrino has some promising expertise to work with, together with receivers Ainias Smith and Evan Stewartand a extra skilled offensive line hell-bent on enjoying as much as its expertise degree. Heart Bryce Foster is the enforcer in the midst of that line and has an opportunity to be a star. One of many issues Petrino has achieved finest throughout his profession is develop quarterbacks, and sophomore Conner Weigman has the arm energy and expertise to be one of many nation’s breakout quarterbacks this season underneath Petrino’s tutelage. The Aggies clearly have to have the ability to throw it higher after ending subsequent to final within the SEC in passing effectivity final season. Little doubt, the Fisher-Petrino questions will persist till we get into the season, however search for the Aggies to awaken on offense.

5. Which switch QBs can have the largest impression?

Scarborough: SEC coaches weren’t bashful about dipping into the switch portal for assist at quarterback this offseason. There may very well be as many as 5 beginning QBs within the league this season who had been enjoying in one other convention final yr. We already lined Alabama including Buchner to the combination. However proper down the highway in Auburnfirst-year coach Hugh Freeze nabbed former Michigan State starter Payton Thorne to compete with final yr’s starter, Robby Ashford. And at Be Misscoach Lane Kiffin shocked many by lighting a hearth underneath Jaxson Dart — who threw for two,900 yards final season after transferring from USC — by including not one however two QBs through the portal: former Oklahoma State starter and All-Large 12 choice Spencer Sanders and former five-star prospect Will Howard from LSU. Within the East, Kentucky shortly changed its former switch QB Will Levis with one other switch in former NC State starter Devin Leary. And Missouri — fairly than sit tight with Brady Cook coming off an damage that prompted him to overlook all of spring follow — introduced in Jake Garcia from Miami.