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SEC East traditional heavyweights set to resume dominance in 2016
By John Hollis
Published:
It’s been rough the past few years for the so-called “traditional powers” of the SEC East, but it appears as if they are about to resume their dominance over the rest of the division.
The programs at Florida, Georgia and Tennessee are still a far cry from where they were in their heyday, but disarray at Missouri, Kentucky and South Carolina means it’s unlikely that any of those teams will shock the college football world and take the division next fall to spoil any lofty dreams by the Gators, Bulldogs or Volunteers. Vanderbilt has so many problems – especially on offense – that just being respectable could again be a tall order.
A lot of observers have been quick to tout UT as the early favorite to win the East after coach Butch Jones’ team closed the season with five consecutive wins. None of those victories, however, came against a team that finished the regular season with a winning record.
The Vols, however, will be a year more experienced and will welcome back the bulk of this year’s team that should have beaten Oklahoma and Florida. Chief among those coming back will be dual-threat quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.
Tennessee will likely be a team to be reckoned with.
Florida won the SEC East for the first time since 2009 under first-year coach Jim McElwain and figures to be much improved offensively with upgrades at quarterback and at the kicker positions. Replacing stalwarts such as All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and defensive end Jonathan Bullard won’t be easy, but the Gators are deep and should be very strong on defense.
Knoxville will be the place to be Sept. 24, 2016 when the Gators travel to play Tennessee for what figures to be the inside track to the SEC East title and a berth in the SEC Championship Game. The implications mean the game figures to again have all the buzz and cache that once marked the series between the two schools in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Georgia, which will be directed by new coach Kirby Smart, is never lacking in future NFL talent and could also be in the mix for its first division title since 2012 if prized quarterback recruit Jacob Eason lives up to just half the advance billing. A healthy Nick Chubb back at tailback will make the Dawgs dangerous.
The division will definitely, however, be a three-team race.
Missouri, which won the SEC East in 2013 and 2014, will be led by former defensive coordinator Barry Odom following Gary Pinkel’s retirement for health reasons. The Tigers, however, have all kinds of issues to resolve before becoming a threat again. Saddled by controversies all season, Mizzou endured its worst offensive year since joining the SEC and still has to figure out if Drew Lock or Maty Mauk can carry their team at quarterback.
South Carolina was doomed offensively this fall by a lack of playmakers and a suspect roster that was the result of consecutive years of inadequate recruiting under former coach Steve Spurrier. New coach Will Muschamp has wasted no time in hitting the road to try to upgrade the talent, but winning the division is too much to ask right away of so many newcomers who will be thrust in key roles from Day One.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops will likely be coaching for his job next season after another disappointing crash to the season. Staff changes, including at offensive coordinator, will make things difficult from the outset.
Finding a decent quarterback will be Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason’s top priority if he hopes to hold onto his job as well. The Commodores have major issues on offense, but they will return the team’s lone offensive bright spot in running back Ralph Webb.
John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.
