Several SEC teams scrimmaged Saturday. Kentucky’s Mark Stoops didn’t say much following the Cats’ scrimmage, other than he was disappointed with the way his team responded after a tough Friday practice.
Here are some quick hitters after coaches spoke to the media Saturday:
Alabama Crimson Tide
- Nick Saban praised his team, because he thought there was a lot of improvement Saturday.
- The defense forced two turnovers for scores.
- Saban said he wanted Kenyan Drake to get hit today for the first time since the Ole Miss game, where he suffered his season-ending injury.
- Saban said Cooper Bateman had 27 throws, Alec Morris had 21 and Jake Coker had 26. Blake Barnett had 11.
- Right tackle Dominick Jackson suffered a shoulder injury that may sideline him for “a couple days.”
- Cyrus Jones is the primary punt returner.
- ArDarius Stewart had eight catches.
Arkansas Razorbacks
- Bret Bielema said Arkansas has more talent and deeper talent at receiver than he’s had since he’s been there.
- Bielema on Ricky Town: “We’re getting known for being a pretty good pro-style offense, and you’re seeing that in recruiting.”
- Bielema said last year’s D-line was really good because of two guys. This year, it’s good because there are eight.
- Brandon Allen completed 17 of 22 passes for 245 yards, four touchdowns and two INTs, with touchdown passes of 18, 18 and 17 yards to Keon Hatcher, Jeremy Sprinkle and Hunter Henry.
- Austin Allen completed 10 of 17 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and one INT while working with the second-team offense.
- Brooks Ellis led the first-team defense with six tackles, including two for loss.
Auburn Tigers
- Auburn’s scrimmage Saturday focused on younger players and stretched about 30 plays.
- D’haquille Williams is practicing with the second-team unit and moving up the depth chart.
- Top three running backs are still Roc Thomas, Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson.
- Marcus Davis, Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray are the top three receivers.
- Gus Malzahn quote: “We’re two weeks away from playing a very good team and it’ll be a dogfight and our guys need to understand that.”
Georgia Bulldogs
- No stats were made available by the coaching staff.
- Brice Ramsey, Greyson Lambert and Faton Bauta all took first-team reps.
- Richt mentioned that WR Justin Scott-Wesley won’t be ready for the first game, if at all this season.
- Mark Richt quote on QBs: “I’d like to know and have some peace about it; when I make a big decision, I like to have peace, and I don’t have that right now. I’m a patient guy, but the clock is ticking. I got a feeling it will play out in the games.”
LSU Tigers
- Les Miles said the Tigers need to tighten some things up, but he feels they are a good football team.
- Leonard Fournette had 100 yards rushing on 10 carries. LSU rushed for 270 yards.
- The quarterbacks threw for 250 yards, seven touchdowns and one INT.
- Brandon Harris again took the first-string reps “significantly” over Anthony Jennings.
- Miles says in this scrimmage Jennings “probably threw for more touchdowns” today.
- Receiver Trey Quinn has not returned after suffering a head injury last week.
South Carolina
- Steve Spurrier said the Gamecocks’ scrimmage went well.
- RB Brandon Wilds had the play of the day on a 70-yard burst for a touchdown.
- Defensive coordinator thought his unit regressed a little bit.
- There were four turnovers, and QB Connor Mitch had two INTs.
- QB stats: Connor Mitch 5-10-71-2 INTs, Perry Orth 5-10-56-0, Michael Scarnecchia 6-10-58-0, Lorenzo Nunez 3-3-44-0
- RB stats: Brandon Wilds 4-86, David Williams 9-48, Darius Paulk 2-9, Mitch 3-1, Nunez 3-(-1), Shon Carson 3-7, Devin Potter 1-2, Mon Denson 2-4, A.J. Turner 1-1
- Spurrier quote: “The offense did a lot better today. We had the ball moving a bit. We had a lot of careless plays, some fumbles and the wide receivers dropped a couple, so we’re still pretty careless out here, but it was encouraging. The offense did a lot of good things. Overall, it was very encouraging that the offense was able to move the ball. I think it was a combination of (the line getting better) and the skill guys did better. When you throw on first down, you need to throw a completion. We did that a lot.”
Vanderbilt Commodores
- Coaches concluded the scrimmage with a lengthy full-contact session involving the team’s younger players. It was around 65 to 70 plays.
- Derek Mason said he liked the quarterback play and the receiver play.
- Derek Mason quote: “This scrimmage breaks camp for us. The guys will rest the next 24 hours, then we’ll come back Monday moving toward preparations for Western Kentucky.”
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
