Keeping up with the news related to all 14 teams, especially during preseason practice, is challenging.
So we’re here to provide an assist.
Here are 10 on-field things that we learned in the SEC this week.
1. Duke Williams returns … briefly: Auburn ended what turned out to be a week-long suspension for its No. 1 receiver, apparently regarding some type of insubordination that didn’t involve a verbal altercation with a coach. Stashed at the bottom of the depth chart, Williams suffered an ankle injury in his first practice and left the stadium on a golf cart.
2. Vols injury news — good and bad: Tennessee fans flipped out Wednesday night when a radio station affiliated with Fox Sports reported that receiver Marquez North was feared lost for the season. It turns out North only sprained his knee. He’ll miss about one week. Meanwhile, guard Marcus Jackson (torn biceps) likely is out for the year. That’ll cost UT its most experienced offensive lineman. Not good news for a Vols team that finished last in the SEC in tackles for loss and sacks allowed in 2014.
3. Auburn reveals RB order: Fans of #TeamJovonRobinson got some disappointing news this week. Unless there’s a drastic change between now and the season, it looks like Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber will get the majority of the carries. The JUCO transfer Robinson reportedly hasn’t been great in practices thus far.
4. Separation with LSU QBs leads to media blackout: Beat writers covering the Tigers were beginning to insist that Brandon Harris gained a lead on Anthony Jennings in the quarterback competition. Facing a constant barrage of questions, and perhaps wanting to keep his players from leaking information, coach Les Miles barred the media from Saturday’s scrimmage.
5. Touted freshmen QBs get huge comparisons from coaches: The SEC’s 2016 class of quarterbacks could be the highest-rated ever. But there are several monster ’15 signees at the position drawing rave reviews. First, Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator compared Kyler Murray to Johnny Manziel. Then a Missouri assistant compared Drew Lock to Chase Daniel. Finally, renowned quarterback coach George Whitfield called Alabama’s Blake Barnett the best 18-year-old quarterback he’s ever seen.
6. Carl Lawson “unblockable”: Auburn coach Gus Malzahn did get something positive to talk about this week — we think. Malzahn said that Lawson, back from a torn ACL that sidelined him for more than one year, is “unblockable” during practice. Two things, though: 1) Lawson missed the team’s second scrimmage Saturday. That’s probably precautionary. But even as great as we’ve gotten at rehabbing torn ACLs, it’s still no guarantee he’ll be 100 percent all season; and 2) anything good that happens in these practices is also bad, right? It’s a zero-sum game. If Auburn’s pass rush is dominating, that means the offensive line is getting crushed.
7. Poor Vanderbilt: As if the Commodores needed a handicap on offense, the team lost C.J. Duncan for the season due to a lower leg injury. Duncan was one of very few playmakers that the team was counting on to turn around a dreadful offense. Of course, projected starting quarterback Patton Robinette left the team after spring practice to pursue dentistry. Ralph Webb, Steven Scheu and Darrius Sims, hope you’re ready for a lot of touches.
8. Murky situations at QB: It seemed like Kentucky may officially name Patrick Towles as the starter after Saturday’s scrimmage, but that didn’t happen. It seems likely that Towles, South Carolina’s Connor Mitch and Texas A&M’s Kyle Allen eventually will be named starters. Ole Miss has been pretty quiet on their quarterback competition. But at Alabama, Florida and Georgia, thus far it appears that even the head coach isn’t sure which player will start.
9. Mizzou RB makes triumphant return: Morgan Steward suffered what the team called a minor hip strain on Aug. 8, 2014. The “day-to-day” injury held him out of practice for about one year and eventually required surgery. But Steward, perhaps even more physically gifted than Russell Hansbrough, participated in Missour’s scrimmage Saturday and got tackled for the first time. If his health continues to improve, perhaps he’ll become the primary backup to Hansbrough this season.
10. Shoulder concerns for Leonard Floyd: Georgia’s preseason all-everything linebacker, set to play three different positions this year, is vital to coordinator Jeremy Pruitt’s defense. But he didn’t practice all spring due to shoulder surgery. That same shoulder required an MRI on Wednesday. It revealed no damage, but the fact that it’s sore is at least concerning. UGA fans will want to monitor his health early in the season.
MORE NOTABLE INJURIES
- Georgia ILB Tim Kimbrough (knee) remains out after a minor knee procedure, but he’s expected to return for the start of the season. WR/KR Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring) should return soon, the team said.
- Tennessee RB Jalen Hurd remained limited in practice Saturday, but coach Butch Jones said it was more for precautionary reasons.
- Florida DE Alex McCalister (hamstring) missed practice, but should be fine for the season.
- Ole Miss G Rod Taylor tore his labrum while boxing. He’ll miss a few weeks and then try to play through the injury, delaying surgery until after the season. But it seemed likely he’d start, and the Rebels offensive line could use his run-blocking.
- Alabama WR Robert Foster sprained his knee during Saturday’s scrimmage, but the injury isn’t expected to keep him out long. The team already is practicing without WR Chris Black (ankle) and RB Kenyan Drake (hamstring).
- Missouri K Andrew Baggett (back spasms) missed Saturday’s scrimmage. According to beat reporters covering the Tigers, his replacements were pretty bad. S Ian Simon (hamstring) also didn’t participate.
QUOTABLE — FAKE RANT/REAL RANT
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier went on a funny practice “rant” poking fun at the coachspeak so prevalent during the preseason. Instead of praising his players, he railed against every aspect of his team in a tongue-in-cheek diatribe that one writer at a major paper actually took seriously (I won’t name any names cough Atlanta Journal-Constitution cough).
The funniest part about it? Spurrier’s real post-scrimmage interview on Saturday — this time not a joke — sounded very similar, especially when he described his team’s offense.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
