As with any year, things change and evolve over the offseason. It’s no different in the SEC West, where in the nation’s strongest division tweaks and adjustments are made to continue that elite status for the upcoming season.
Here’s a look at 10 of the things we’ve learned over the offseason about this highly competitive and highly entertaining division.
1. A program can survive (even after two five-star quarterback recruits follow each other out the door) – Texas A&M will field a team this year and the program will continue despite the transfer of five-star quarterbacks Kyle Allen (Houston) and Kyler Murray (Oklahoma). That’s because Oklahoma graduate transfer Trevor Knight rides in with veteran experience to lead the Aggies through the 2016 schedule.
2. Auburn’s Marlon Davidson is ready to play now – The freshman defensive end impressed in the spring. Playing opposite of standout Carl Lawson, Auburn could have a solid bookend combination for the upcoming season. He tied for the most tackles in the spring game with four and played with the first-team defense during spring practice.
3. It’s time for SEC West coaches to produce – Call it Saban Syndrome if you will, but this season could be make-or-break for a few coaches in the SEC West. Auburn’s Gus Malzahn enters his fourth season on The Plains and has taken a more “hands-on” approach than in years past. He’s also brought in five new assistants in an attempt to help pump life back into a Tigers program that has lost nine of its last 11 SEC games.
Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin is in the same boat. The Aggies stormed into the SEC with 11 wins in their first season but have fallen to 8-5 campaigns the last two years. With $485 million in renovations to Kyle Field, more is expected.
At LSU, Les Miles narrowly escaped with his job at the end of last season and expectations are very high again in 2016. He has his third defensive coordinator in three years but stayed with OC Cam Cameron and an offense that has been highly criticized in recent years as one-dimensional.
4. Alabama doesn’t sweat it without an established quarterback to start fall camp – For the third consecutive season, the Tide heads into fall camp not knowing who its starting quarterback will be. But that hasn’t proven to be a problem. Head coach Nick Saban and OC Lane Kiffin will choose from a talented group that includes Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell, Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts.
5. Auburn may have found a quarterback in John Franklin III – Though nothing has been decided, junior college transfer John Franklin III appears to be the frontrunner to start at quarterback for Auburn this season. Malzahn worked one-on-one in the spring with Franklin, who is battling Jeremy Johnson and Sean White for the starting position. Auburn ranked last in total yards (4,810) and points scored (357) among SEC West teams last season.
6. LSU defense will look different in 2016 – Dave Aranda comes to LSU from Wisconsin as the Tigers’ third defensive coordinator in as many years. He will shift the Tigers from their traditional 4-3 defense into a 3-4 scheme with several moving parts. That’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time. For example, freshman standout Arden Key shifts from defensive end to an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid. The same goes for Lewis Neal in certain passing situations. Tashawn Bower is another who will play outside and occasionally with his hand on the ground. And those are just a few examples of the many roles that are changing. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s Aranda’s way of combating against speedy spread offenses that even the traditional power conference is transitioning into.
7. With Anthony Jennings’ transfer, Brandon Harris holds the keys to the LSU offense – Harris won’t be looking over his shoulder at Jennings this season. Jennings took his talents to Louisiana-Lafayette, where he’ll be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer. Harris will be starting for the second full year after taking the reins from Jennings during the 2014 season.
8. Mississippi State will struggle in Year 1 of the post-Dak Prescott era – It’s not surprising, but the Bulldogs are struggling to find a starter at quarterback. No less than four candidates are still in the running. Redshirt junior Damian Williams, redshirt sophomores Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley, and redshirt freshman Nick Tiano are all vying to fill the giant shoes left by Prescott. The competition is expected to continue far into fall practice.
9. Talk of Ole Miss football centered around off-field activity, not on-field activity – With allegations and sanctions looming, the focus of Rebels football was taken from the field where the question of whether or not they can maintain their current run post-2013 signing class will be answered in 2016. Laremy Tunsil, Robert Nkemdiche and Laquon Treadwell are gone. Quarterback Chad Kelly will shoulder the burden of carrying on without those superstars. The hope is that new bright spots emerge like OT Gregory Little, a true freshman who will be looked upon to help rebuild the offensive line.
10. Arkansas RB Devwah Whaley could be a household name very soon – Someone must step up and replace Razorbacks RB stalwarts Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. That someone could very well be Whaley, a true freshman. He is the complete package, and the Arkansas coaching staff is high on the Texan to make an immediate impact.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
