Can you believe it?
The offseason is almost over.
SEC Media Days will be here before we know it, and that’s always the unofficial start to the football season.
So, which teams had the best offseasons? We look in the rearview for three teams that have had strong ones thus far:
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Key additions: Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, QB Greyson Lambert, DT Trent Thompson, LB Roquan Smith
Skinny: For all of the Georgia fans wanting Mike Bobo’s boring offense gone, you get your wish. New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer takes over the reigns of a talented unit headlined by Nick Chubb.
You’d never know it, but Georgia hasn’t had a single player arrested this offseason. The Bulldogs usually have an incident or two during the offseason, but it’s been eerily quiet in Athens…a good quiet.
Georgia signed one of the top overall players in the 2015 recruiting class in five-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson, and the Dawgs were even able to woo Roquan Smith away from UCLA after he committed to the Bruins on National Signing Day. UGA was also able to keep five-star signee Terry Godwin from signing with the Atlanta Braves. It was a great recruiting class.
All the focus surrounds the quarterback position, with every other position seemingly filled. The offense and defense are relatively loaded with big-time talent, and all of them stayed healthy during spring practice. In addition, UVA quarterback transfer Greyson Lambert essentially swapped places with outgoing transfer Jacob Park, and Lambert joined Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta in the quarterback race.
However, all of the quarterbacks on campus may be just a placeholder for 2016 quarterback commit Jacob Eason, who looks like one of the most polished high school signal callers maybe ever.
To say it’s been a good offseason for UGA may be a slight understatement. It’s been a great offseason, and all eyes point to the start of 2015.
2. South Carolina
Key additions: Defensive Coordinator Jon Hoke, DE Dante Sawyer, DE Marquavius Lewis
Skinny: While many aren’t optimistic about South Carolina entering the season, the Gamecocks have had a rather strong offseason.
It started with the hire of defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, who will serve alongside Lorenzo Ward. Steve Spurrier had to have a jolt on defense, and everyone knew it. Spurrier hopes Hoke can bring an improved defense. And speaking of defense, South Carolina had to shore up the defensive line after a very underwhelming group in 2014. Talented freshman defensive end Shameik Blackshear should improve the group immediately, as should JUCO transfers Marquavius Lewis and Dante Sawyer. Lewis and Sawyer could be two of the best newcomers in the conference.
Although it doesn’t apply to 2015 specifically, South Carolina was able to get a commitment from 2016 quarterback prospect Brandon McIlwain, who’s tearing it up on the recruiting front. McIlwain may end up being a five-star recruit before the 2016 class is over, and he’ll compete in the Elite 11 quarterback challenge next month.
3. Texas A&M Aggies
Key additions: Defensive Coordinator John Chavis, DT Daylon Mack, QB Kyler Murray
Skinny: Perhaps the biggest offseason acquisition, if you will, was Texas A&M picking up defensive coordinator John Chavis. It helped that Chavis wanted out of Baton Rouge, and the Aggies were waiting on him with open arms. Now, Chavis faces one of the biggest challenges of his career: transforming a below-average defense into a championship unit. The Aggies are stacking talent like cord wood, but Chavis is most likely a year or two off from having a unit that can provide enough stability to get to Atlanta.
One of those players who will help Chavis is five-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack. Mack is a stacked house, and he could be an impact player from game one. Mack is athletic enough to play fullback. (I’m not kidding.) I can’t speak for everyone else, but Mack should be one of the most interesting players in the country to watch as a freshman.
Much has been made about quarterback Kyler Murray. The biggest underrated storyline surrounding Murray is A&M’s ability to make sure he attended the university as opposed to becoming a first-round pick in the MLB draft. He publicly opted out of the draft to focus on becoming an Aggie. That was one of the biggest SEC news stories of the summer. Murray isn’t likely to start this season, unless the injury bug hits Kyle Allen, but what he brings for the future and the ability to build around him in an explosive offense should terrify other defensive coordinators.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
