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Ready for another full Saturday of SEC football this weekend?
Four teams from the West and two-time defending Eastern Division champ Mizzou will put the finishing touches on spring ball with fan-friendly scrimmages, a dress rehearsal for players hoping to impress coaches before a three-month break.
Auburn will practice once more next week after Saturday’s A-Day which Gus Malzahn hopes breeds a competitive atmosphere between the Tigers’ 1s against 2s.
5. Ashton Shumpert, RB, Mississippi State: In search of a replacement for last season’s bell cow Josh Robinson, the Bulldogs are confident that Shumpert is more than capable. He’s being pushed for first-team duties however by redshirt junior speedster Brandon Holloway, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season, along with a pair of redshirt freshmen getting serious work — Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee. Lee closed the gap during Mississippi State’s second scrimmage after rushing for a team-best 90 yards and two touchdowns. Heading into Saturday’s spring finale, it appears the Bulldogs’ order in the backfield is Shumpert, Lee, Williams and Holloway.
Today’s question, who will be MSU’s primary running back this fall? Ashton Shumpert, Dontavian Lee, or Aeris Williams?
— Bulldog Sports Radio (@BulldogsRadio) April 13, 2015
4. Ed Paris, DB, LSU: Hoping to hold off five-star freshman Kevin Toliver for the starting cornerback spot alongside Tre’Davious White, Paris has enjoyed a stellar spring as potentially LSU’s next great coverage beast on the outside. Expect a physical scrimmage from Kevin Steele’s defense Saturday in Baton Rouge and an intriguing battle between Paris and Toliver matched up against Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre.
DB Ed Paris vs WR DJ Chark in Tuesday’s Big Cat drill #LSU pic.twitter.com/xUvOQlRAZf
— Emily Dixon (@emilyvdixon) March 31, 2015
3. Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn: Many in Tigers camp are expecting this former five-star bull rusher to be Will Muschamp’s breakout star on defense this season — if Auburn can get him to play to his potential every snap. That’s been the goal this spring for a unit in desperate need of his production as the Tigers’ only returning defensive tackle. Adams dropped 10 pounds after the bowl game and appears more nimble during camp, a good sign for a squad hoping to contend for a Western Division title.
2. J’Mon Moore, WR, Mizzou: Maty Mauk threw his first two scrimmage touchdown passes of the spring on Tuesday, the final 50-yard heave landing in the hands of Moore, a wideout who will be asked to step into a leadership role this season. Wesley Leftwich made the other touchdown reception on a well-thrown corner route. With Nate Brown nursing a knee sprain, Moore and Leftwich will be on display with the first-teamers, hoping to establish themselves as reliable targets for the Tigers this fall who lost nearly all of their pass-catchers from last season. Drops have been a major problem during scrimmages thus far for an inexperienced group.
J’Mon Moore led Mizzou with four catches for 72 yards; Blair 4 for 34; Laurent 3-18; Reese 2 for 31
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) April 14, 2015
1. Jacob Coker and David Cornwell, QBs, Alabama: Is Coker simply a victim of too much hype? At the college level, you have to earn your starting position and the Florida State transfer has struggled in that regard. This could make the third straight season Coker loses a quarterback battle (Jameis Winston, Blake Sims) since signing as a four-star talent. Cornwell has taken reps with the first team and Nick Saban likes his handle on the offense. Alabama would prefer to redshirt Blake Barnett and Cooper Bateman has split time at wideout. We consider this a two-player race and Saturday’s spring performance — unlike last season — could determine a front-runner.
