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Spring practices are going on around the SEC, and players everywhere are striving to earn playing time this fall.
Most players, anyway.
A few, however, are spending the spring on the sidelines. With no games that count on the schedule for March and April, coaches can afford to be extra cautious with players who are recovering from injuries.
Other players who might contribute this fall are still enrolled in high school. This year, however, most of the best incoming talent in the SEC East is already on campus.
So fans won’t have to wait to get a look at Georgia’s Jacob Eason, Florida’s Feleipe Franks, Kentucky’s Drake Jackson or South Carolina’s Brandon McIlwain — just to name a few.
Here are five key SEC East players who will be a bit less visible this spring:
5. DEREK BARNETT, DE, TENNESSEE
Derek Barnett is dealing with a shoulder injury, and the junior is one of six Tennessee defensive lineman set to miss spring practice this spring. While that makes defensive coordinator Bob Shoop’s life a little more complicated in terms of sorting out line rotations and evaluating his personnel, Barnett can probably cope with missing a few reps.
After all, he missed spring workouts last season and still recorded 69 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He’s expected to be fully recovered in time for preseason workouts this summer.
4. EVAN BERRY, FS/KR, TENNESSEE
Evan Berry will miss spring workouts with an injured shoulder. He probably needs the spring work a little more than Barnett does, since he’s competing for the starting free safety job vacated by Brian Randolph.
So far in his Tennessee career, Berry has made more waves as a kick returner, with three returns for touchdowns last fall, than he has in the secondary. He is, however, still expected to be in contention for that starting spot later this summer, thanks to athleticism like this:
3. ANTONIO CALLAWAY, WR, FLORIDA
Not all spring absences for returning players are because of injury. Antonio Callaway, Florida’s leader in receiving yards (678) and touchdowns (four), is suspended for what his lawyer is calling a violation of the school’s conduct code.
Coach Jim McElwain isn’t shedding much light on the matter, either.
“We’re without a couple of guys who haven’t been with our team since January in Treon (Harris) and Antonio,” he told The Palm Beach Post last week. “They’re still doing some school work and that kind of stuff. But they haven’t been with us since January and they won’t be with us as we’re rolling, so you won’t see those guys out there at practice. Guys, that will be the last that we talk about that.”
It likely won’t be the last time he’s asked about it, especially if the suspension lingers into the summer months.
2. SKAI MOORE, LB, SOUTH CAROLINA
Skai Moore, South Carolina’s 2015 leader in tackles (111) and interceptions (four), flirted with early entry into the NFL draft this winter before deciding to stick around for his senior season in Columbia. Unfortunately for him, a neck strain will keep him largely under wraps this spring.
Skai Moore will be limited in spring practice due to “neck sprain.” “I may hold him for most of spring but nothing serious,” Muschamp says
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) March 14, 2016
Despite reports that he may move to safety, Muschamp told The Charleston Post and Courier this spring that Moore will remain at linebacker, but be used more in coverage.
No matter where he lines up, Moore figures to be the Gamecocks’ most productive defensive player again in 2016.
1. NICK CHUBB, RB, GEORGIA
Through five games last season, Nick Chubb was as good as any running back in college football. He had already piled up 745 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
Then, the first carry against Tennessee changed the course of his season. On that attempt, he tore three ligaments in his left knee, ending his season on Oct. 10.
You don’t have to be a Bulldogs fan to root for Chubb’s return to health, but he’s not ready for live contact drills at Georgia’s spring practices. He is getting some light work in, however, as you can see from this 247Sports video:
Just five months after major surgery, he’s still on the road to recovery. But all signs point to him being a factor in the Bulldogs backfield this fall.
Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.
