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You can guarantee several returning starters in the SEC as well as players looking to take the next step are mindful of who’s coming in post-National Signing Day, a natural anticipation of position battles as we approach spring practice.
JUCO early enrollees have a noticeable leg up on the rest of the 2015 class thanks to 15 additional spring practices and learning the system. Even dominant players like Myles Garrett at Texas A&M and South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, both fall enrollees, could’ve used extra practice sessions as a springboard as true freshmen to command more snaps.
Note: We’ve listed the incoming competitor first against the likely front-runner for the job.
AUBURN, primary ballcarrier: Jovon Robinson (JUCO signee enrollee) vs. Roc Thomas vs. Peyton Barber — Rhett Lashlee’s new favorite player on offense is Robinson, the nation’s top JUCO transfer who arrived late 2014 and was able to participate in bowl practice with the Tigers. He feels an immediate need in a backfield forced to replace rushing threats Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant. Thomas is Auburn’s top returning rusher with just 214 yards and a couple scores last season in mop-up duty as a rookie. Rising sophomore Barber, who toted the football 10 times as a true freshman, will be in the mix as well.
Who wins the job? Robinson.
SOUTH CAROLINA, defensive end: Marquavius Lewis (JUCO early enrollee) vs. Darius English — Expect quite a personnel overhaul on the Gamecocks’ defensive this fall, especially up front where South Carolina finished last in the SEC in sacks last season. Lewis is the headliner of a pass rush-heavy 2015 class and capable of making a serious impact off the edge. no longer in the shadow of Chaz Sutton and Clowney, English was expected to produce as a third-year sophomore in 2014 but never looked comfortable, struggling to hold his own like most players along the Gamecocks’ front. English has an athleticism edge on Lewis, but doesn’t have the strength of Lorenzo Ward’s newest 6-foot-4, 275-pound lineman.
Who wins the job? Lewis.
FLORIDA, left tackle: Martez Ivey (five-star) vs. David Sharpe — Youth and inexperience with depth issues abound. Ivey was the most important piece of Jim McElwain’s first class in Gainesville, the SEC’s No. 1 player who has the best shot at starting as a true freshman next season. Joining an offensive line that returns only one upperclassman (Trip Thurman), all positions will be up for grabs during fall practice. We’re projecting here based on Ivey’s skill set and overall grade, but the Apopka, Fla. native will likely surge up the depth chart as the Gators’ second-best blocker behind Roderick Johnson when he steps on campus. Sharpe won’t make it easy, a physical tackle capable of winning the job head-to-head against Ivey who played well in relief of D.J. Humphries last season. The fellow U.S. Army All-American is the starter at left tackle if the season started today. There’s a chance Ivey could switch sides and play right tackle to get him on the field, but it’s a move that often hampers development.
Who wins the job? Ivey.
MIZZOU, defensive tackle: Terry Beckner Jr. (five-star) vs. Rickey Hatley vs. Josh Augusta — With All-American candidate Harold Brantley holding down one of the tackle spots in what is expected to be a 4-3 look under first-year defensive coordinator Barry Odom scheme, who will play to his right? Beckner arrives this fall with much buzz as one of the nation’s top prep interior lineman wanted by several others in the SEC. Have you seen the recent photo of Beckner standing next to former Mizzou standout and Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson? One would think Beckner’s the NFL starter. Hatley, a redshirt junior, has the experience edge which will likely be the determining factor at least leading up to the opener. Augusta is actually bigger than Beckner, but is better suited at nose tackle in a 3-4 since conditioning has been an issue throughout his career at 335 pounds.
Who wins the job? Hatley, but not for long.
