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College Football

Every East team’s biggest spring surprise

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

All around the SEC East, the quarterback position is the center of attention. Two-time defending champion Florida has gone to Atlanta seemingly in spite of issues with suspensions, injuries and under-performance at the position, and Jim McElwain’s squad may be going with a new starting signal-caller this fall. The Gators are not alone, as Tennessee also entered spring looking to find a replacement for departed starter Joshua Dobbs.

While UF and UT figure out the most important position, Georgia has reached division-favorite status with former 5-star recruit Jacob Eason entering his second year as the starter. Though Eason has the experience of playing in every game last season, Georgia found out he’s not the only talented passer on campus in Athens. Many teams had an unexpected standout at quarterback this spring, while for some teams it was a pass-rusher or pass-catcher who turned heads.

Florida – Kadarius Toney

The quarterback battle in Gainesville this spring was between Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, but it was Toney, a 3-star athlete, who stole the show in The Swamp. Toney had the longest run of the night (34-yard quarterback keeper) and the game’s most impressive highlight, scrambling his way out of a pass rush to throw a touchdown on the run.

McElwain’s offense at Florida has not used a Wildcat quarterback the last two seasons, but that’s likely to change this fall. The Gators have struggled mightily when it comes to scoring in the red zone and producing runs of 10-plus yards. Toney could have an impact in both areas.

Georgia – Jake Fromm

Fromm’s impressive spring might not be a surprise to those who followed the 4-star prospect’s recruitment, but any time an early enrollee lights up a spring game, it’s unexpected to outsiders. Nobody is saying there’s a quarterback controversy in Athens, but it appears Fromm is providing healthy competition for Eason, which should give the incumbent starter a much-needed push this offseason.

Fromm finished 14-for-23 for 277 yards and two touchdowns against UGA’s second-string defense. If anything happens to Eason, it appears that the Bulldogs will be in good hands.

Kentucky – Sihiem King

The Wildcats already knew the running game would be a strength in 2017 with Benny Snell, who had a 1,000-yard freshman season, leading the way. With his 19 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, King showed why multiple running backs deserve carries in the UK offense.

https://twitter.com/_KeithGarrett/status/853056396912414721

King impressed in last year’s spring game as well, but was hardly heard from last fall. With Stanley “Boom” Williams having left early, this may be King’s year to finally get some touches.

Missouri – Jack Lowary

Redshirt freshman Micah Wilson was widely expected to lock up the backup quarterback job this spring, but Lowary had something to say about that at the Black and Gold Game.

https://twitter.com/GrantLowary/status/853326671184658432

https://twitter.com/GrantLowary/status/853319459783585793

Lowary finished 7-of-11 for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson, meanwhile, was 7-of-15 for 68 yards. With Drew Lock the definite starter, Lowary and Wilson should be in a healthy competition for No. 2 on the depth chart.

South Carolina – Kiel Pollard

The Gamecocks could be getting the ball to the tight ends a lot in 2017. After hauling in 48 passes for 616 yards last season, Hayden Hurst will be back for another year in Columbia. Pollard just showed that Hurst isn’t the only USC tight end who can catch passes.

https://twitter.com/GamecockTrey/status/848274121712697350

Pollard finished with eight catches for 91 yards. If South Carolina uses both tight ends, the Gamecocks may have one of the better pass-catching tandems at the position in the division.

Tennessee – Quinten Dormady

Much like Fromm, this is a surprise to outsiders. Not many outside of Big Orange Country expected to hear such impressive offensive stats in the first post-Dobbs spring game. Dormady put on quite a show from the get-go.

Dormady was perfect on the day (10-of-10) for 120 yards a pair of touchdowns. Jarret Guarantano doesn’t appear to be throwing in the towel, but it hardly seems coincidental that Sheriron Jones has decided to transfer. It should be an interesting two-man competition this fall to be the starting quarterback on Team 121.

Vanderbilt – Jonathan Wynn

Without Zach Cunningham, somebody has to pick up the slack on defense for Vanderbilt. Wynn had five tackles, including two sacks, in Vanderbilt’s non-televised scrimmage that replaced the spring game.

Wynn finished last year with a career-high five tackles against Tennessee and appears ready to close out his Commodores career on a high note.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.

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