HOOVER, Ala. — SEC Media Days are something between an oasis and a mirage after a long wander through the desert.
From a media consumption standpoint, here’s water to drink after months of very little access to coaches and players. Only instead of a deep pool of filtered aquifer water, we get a few gritty drops. Just enough to keep us alive and hydrated until early September.
All 14 head coaches spoke, as did 42 different players. It’s a terrific event, and although I have not attended media days at all five power conferences, I find it hard to believe anyone else does it better.
Still, there are a number of players that media and fans would’ve loved to hear from this week. Coaches generally hand-pick three players to bring along to Hoover. Although there’s no set criteria, usually those players are juniors or seniors.
Thus, many of the players we wish had made the trip are underclassmen:
GEORGIA RB NICK CHUBB
It’s rare that a sophomore gets invited to Media Days by his coach, so I don’t fault the Bulldogs for leaving Chubb in Athens, Ga.
Still, the man-child just unleashed arguably the most impressive season by a freshman running back in the SEC since Herschel Walker. Chubb’s production (1,547 rushing yards) and consistency (100+ yards in every start) were off the charts.
The running back got more first-team All-SEC votes than any other player in the conference this preseason, and most believe he has an opportunity to put together an otherworldly season in 2015. Leonard Fournette called him the best back in the SEC. It would’ve been fun to find out if Chubb agreed.
TEXAS A&M DE MYLES GARRETT
The closest thing to Jadeveon Clowney in the current SEC, Garrett is the best pure pass rusher in the conference. He’s aiming to open his college career with consecutive double-digit sack seasons. He’s also the biggest source of excitement for Aggies fans pertaining to new defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Will he be able to play stronger against the run this year? Has he added any weight? How does he like the new, attacking schemes of Chavis? There are a dozen questions that would’ve been nice to pose to Texas A&M’s biggest defensive star.
AUBURN WR DUKE WILLIAMS
One of the best receivers in college football, Williams would’ve been interesting on a number of topics: his suspension in last year’s bowl game, the decision to return to Auburn, Jeremy Johnson vs. Nick Marshall at quarterback, how excited he and his offensive teammates are at the presence of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
Williams will attempt to make a case that he’s a first-round NFL draft pick while simultaneously carrying a burden as the clear No. 1 option for Auburn at receiver. If Johnson is everything that most of us imagine, Williams could lead the SEC in long receptions.
ALABAMA RB DERRICK HENRY
Kenyan Drake’s presence in Hoover was a nice touch. He’s a communications major, so the experience could be helpful to his future career, if he ever needs or wants to work outside of football. Drake is a nice story, coming back from such a major injury. And he’ll be a significant part of Alabama’s offense as a ball-carrier and receiver.
Now that Amari Cooper is in the NFL, Henry is the No. 1 option within coordinator Lane Kiffin’s productive offense. The running backs surrounding Henry have been dropping in rapid succession due to injury, arrest or transfer. Plus, he’s sort of the third wheel in the discussion of best running back in the SEC for 2015 behind Nick Chubb and Leonard Fournette.
There are a ton of story lines that would’ve been nice to ask an opinion of Henry.
TENNESSEE DE DEREK BARNETT
The Vols brought their stars to Media Days perhaps more than any other team (Joshua Dobbs, Cameron Sutton, Curt Maggitt). It’s hard to argue with those selections.
But it would’ve been spectacular to speak with Barnett, who may be the best all-around player on the defense after compiling 20.5 tackles for loss — as a true freshman defensive lineman in the SEC.
Equally adept at the bull rush and defending the run, Barnett is representative of coach Butch Jones’ excellent recruiting the last two seasons as well as the team’s hope of ascending to the level of nationally elite. Who better to discuss the state of Tennessee football than with a player who may help bridge the disappointment of recent years with the potential success of future ones?
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
