It’s July 1, and I’m feeling rather bold today.
Fueled by rash and aggressive speculation, here are the 10 boldest predictions for the SEC’s 2015 season, pulling no punches:
2,000-yard rusher: Herschel Walker’s rushing record could be no more. The incredible specimen rushed for 1,891 yards in 1981. Walker racked up that many yards in 12 games. Let’s say Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette or Derrick Henry stay healthy the full season, and let’s say one of them plays in the SEC Championship, College Football Playoff semifinal and the championship game. That’s three more games than Walker played during ’81. In fact, one of the three could eclipse 2,000 yards. If it’s ever going to be done, it may be this season, as the league is loaded with so many elite backs. For a player to hit 2,000 yards, he’d have to average over 133 yards per game for 15 games. That’s not impossible. I’m feeling bold right now.
Ten 1,000-yard rushers: Unless you’ve been hibernating this offseason, which I wouldn’t blame you one bit, the SEC is loaded with running backs. This could be the best group of backs the conference has seen in history. Furthermore, 10 players will reach the 1,000-yard plateau in 2015. Derrick Henry (Alabama), Jonathan Williams (Arkansas), Alex Collins (Arkansas), Jovon Robinson (Auburn), Nick Chubb (Georgia), Boom Williams (Kentucky) Leonard Fournette (LSU), Russell Hansbrough (Missouri), Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and Jalen Hurd (Tennessee) will all reach the milestone. Other backs to watch are Kelvin Taylor (Florida), Ashton Shumpert (MSU) and Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), and all could reach the benchmark.
Collins will show ‘em: While much has been made about Will Muschamp’s move to Auburn, John Chavis’ move to Texas A&M and Kevin Steele’s move to LSU, Geoff Collins’ move to Florida seems to get lost in the mix. For the last several years, Collins has been the most underrated coordinator in the SEC, and he finally has a historically winning program that can take him to the next level as a coach. Of all the new defensive coordinators, we’ll be talking about the Minister of Mayhem in the most positive light. Does he return the best defensive roster? It’s debatable, but the Gators’ secondary is so good the defense can pin its ears back and keep attacking, pounding offenses into submission. Now, whether or not the offense can compliment the defense remains to be seen.
Best pro-style quarterback: There’s a distinct difference between pro-style and spread-’em-out offenses. Quarterbacks in wide–open offenses will put up bigger numbers. But let me say the pro-style quarterback we’ll be talking about this season will be…Arkansas’ Brandon Allen. Many aren’t believers; that’s fine. For that style of play, Allen fits Arkansas’ offense beautifully, and now a senior, he’ll leave everything on the field. It may not be high-flying, but it’ll be controlled and very efficient. Remember, Arkansas went to Atlanta with Mitch Mustain. Allen is much better.
Record setting: This one is quite simple: the SEC will set a record with 13 teams going to bowl games. The only team that won’t go bowling is Vanderbilt. Kentucky, however, will hit the six-win benchmark. After getting so close in 2014, the Wildcats will reach the plateau this season. There’s so much parity in the league that it’s remarkable. Nobody has any idea how the SEC East or West will turn out, but it will be a lot of teams beating up on each other.
Player of the Year: While the league returns Dak Prescott and a plethora of incredible and worthy running backs, the SEC’s Player of the Year will be Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson. While Jovon Robinson and Duke Williams will be the bread to his butter, Johnson will put up incredible numbers this season. It won’t look like Cam Newton or Nick Marshall; it’ll be a hybrid of the two offenses, balanced more by the passing game. With Gus Malzahn’s ability to dial up plays and Johnson’s ability to execute them, Auburn’s offense could be downright nasty.
Take it on back: Although I do think the SEC Champion will come from the West, the division will take a bigger step back in 2015. It’s powerful; we all know that. But Alabama and Mississippi State are set to take a step back. LSU and Ole Miss are plenty talented but have no quarterback, yet. Texas A&M has no defense, yet. Arkansas still has to prove it can win a close game, and Auburn replaces so many pieces on offense and has much to improve upon on defense. I’m not predicting the SEC East will have a resurgence and catch the West, because it’s weak in its own right. I thought the SEC West took a step back last year, and that will continue in 2015, mostly because of the quarterback play.
Revolving door: Okay, I admit it. This is more rash speculation than anything, but we’ll see three SEC coaching jobs come available this season: Arkansas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. I really think Bret Bielema could be itching to head to the NFL, and that’s coming sooner rather than later. He won’t leave for another college job; he’s happy and content, and he loves Arkansas. But a good NFL job would be too much to pass up. Perhaps I’m in the minority, but if Steve Spurrier has another .500 season, he could retire. Maybe he won’t; maybe South Carolina will surprise folks, and he will coach another several years. That’s what I hope, anyway. One thing we know: when Spurrier isn’t winning big, he’s not happy and he’s not having fun. Spurrier is an SEC icon, and he’s an awesome and entertaining mouthpiece. Although Spurrier’s saying he’ll stick around for another few years, another tough and trial-filled season could be too much to bear. And Vanderbilt is pretty self-explanatory; unless there’s progress made from 3-9, which I certainly hope there is, the Commodores’ athletic department could go another direction. Perhaps, though, Mason will get three complete seasons.
Alabama wins 9 regular season games: Many are pumping Alabama in 2015. Over the last decade, the conference has been a line of scrimmage league. Offensive and defensive lines have ruled, but it’s somewhat changing. And I’m afraid Alabama may get left behind. College football is trending more and more like the NFL: it’s becoming a quarterback league. And Alabama doesn’t exactly have a starter at this point. Jacob Coker hasn’t proven he can take the job and run with it; David Cornwell looks like a nice option, but with so much inexperience, it brings on a whole new set of questions. The same for Blake Barnett. Believe or not, Alabama isn’t bulletproof from winning just nine games. This isn’t me hating on Alabama; the program is loaded with talent, but the margin of error will be so much slimmer this season. Combine that with playing Georgia and an emerging Tennessee program, and things could get somewhat interesting.
Two-loss champion: It hasn’t happened since 2007 LSU did it, but the SEC Champion will have two losses in December. Now, whether or not that eliminates the conference from contending in the College Football Playoff has more to do with the rest of college football. Parity dominates the SEC right now, and while some rosters are loaded more than others, quarterback and defense are the biggest questions. There isn’t a complete team entering this season. Auburn and Georgia look like the closest to complete teams — perhaps Alabama, too, but all three of those teams play each other, which creates an interesting dynamic. Tiebreakers will come into effect more in 2015 than they have in the past. That’s a bold prediction within a bold prediction.
Are there any bold predictions you’d like to add?
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
