Big Team Questions Loom as SEC Media Days Lineup is Set
Written by Ryan Wright
True diehard college football fans have to love what the SEC is rolling out in 2015. The parity in the league is at an all-time high with as many as three teams that could win the SEC East and as many as four in the West.
All of the buildup before the season kicks off starts in Hoover, Alabama on Monday with the SEC Media Days. Monday June 13 through Thursday June 16 is an opportunity for each SEC coach to highlight their program, their staff, and three of their perceived top players.
More often than not a deep look inside a given program can be taken via the SEC Media Days. This look is provided by which players a coach chooses to bring along as a representative of the team. As always the attendees speaks volumes about each SEC team.
Notes on the Attendees and Non-Attendees
Alabama
Notable snubs by head coach Nick Saban: expected starting quarterback Jake Coker and returning leading running back Derrick Henry.
Saban may want to keep the quarterback position an open battle going into fall camp but what about Henry? Depending on how one counts returning starters, Bama is short on starting experience entering the 2015 season. Giving the team a focal point for leadership, or not in this case, sends up a small red flag.
Arkansas
Running back Jonathan Williams – check, quarterback Brandon Allen – check, wide receiver Keon Hatcher – hmmm. Hatcher led the Razorbacks in receptions and yards last season but is far from an All-SEC caliber receiver at this point. Perhaps bringing a returning guy off the nation’s No. 10 ranked defense would have been a wiser move? Defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson, linebacker Brooks Ellis, or defensive end JaMichael Winston could have been a nice invite.
In head coach Bret Bielema’s defense, all three Razorbacks heading outside Birmingham are seniors. Winston, Johnson, and Ellis are all juniors.
Auburn
Gus Malzahn nailed it. New starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson and two guys expected to lead the way on defense under new coordinator Will Muschamp. Auburn is really young on offense so there is not a lot to highlight in proven talent on that side of the ball.
Florida
Two out of three isn’t that bad for new Florida head coach Jim McElwain. As has been the case for the Gators over the past three-four years, their defense will have to lead the way if a legitimate run to the SEC East is made.
Powell is a sophomore slot receiver who finished the 2014 season fifth on the team with 147 yards on 15 receptions and one score. Powell maybe a terrific young man and a great spokesperson for the Gators but does not bring the wow factor of what Florida’s offense might be like in 2015.
Georgia
Mark Richt is rewarding his seniors bringing receiver Malcolm Mitchell, offensive tackle John Theus, and linebacker Jordan Jenkins but is snubbing first-team All-SEC running back Nick Chubb. As a true freshman Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards with 14 touchdowns giving up 123 touches to Todd Gurley and 64 to Sony Michel.
Georgia lost a lot of primetime players on defense but should finally have some continuity in the secondary. The new leader in the front seven with Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera gone is Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd.
Kentucky
The Wildcats are a team to watch out for in 2015. They have enough experience returning at the right spots on offense to make some noise, plus a very favorable schedule. The big question mark is on defense. Kentucky finished the 2014 season with the No. 75 ranked defense in FBS. Bringing nose guard Melvin Lewis and safety A.J. Stamps sends a message, hopefully the Wildcats defense can respond to the call.
LSU
For obvious reasons LSU is not bringing 2014 starting quarterback Anthony Jennings after his offseason arrest for unlawful entry. No surprise but the LSU team is truly Leonard Fournette’s. No QB for the Tigers should mean no SEC title for LSU.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss is leaving first-team All-SEC offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in Oxford. Tunsil would be an obvious choice to represent the Rebels in Hoover but after his step-father made allegations that Tunsil was accepting NCAA violating benefits from agents Ole Miss may be without their stud left tackle for the entire 2015 season.
On paper Ole Miss will be a tough squad to contend with in 2015 after going 9-4 last season. Evan Engram is one of the best tight ends in the nation, invite deserved. Mike Hilton can lineup at safety or corner and play at an All-SEC level, invite deserved. C.J. Johnson is a returning starter but Robert Nkemdiche seems like the obvious choice here. What is Hugh Freeze hiding?
Mississippi State
The SEC does not take kindly to rebuilding teams and the Bulldogs will be doing exactly that in 2015. One-time Heisman Trophy candidate Dak Prescot returns under center for the Bulldogs. Having Ryan Brown instead of Beniquez Brown does not add up. Taveze Calhoun is the only returning starter in a secondary that allowed 273 passing yards per game in 2014, or the 114th best pass defense in the nation.
Missouri
The magic carpet ride might be over for Missouri in 2015 but the same thing was said entering the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The losses of Markus Golden and Shane Ray on the edges will hurt. In a conference filled with exceptional talent in the secondary Kenya Dennis fits the mold. Brining senior center Evan Boehm and returning starting quarterback Maty Mauk makes sense.
South Carolina
The Gamecocks were streaky in 2014 and a lot of that unpredictability is sure to come in 2015. South Carolina is still young and another year away from getting back to the three straight 11-win season plateau head coach Steve Spurrier reached from 2011-2013.
Summing up the South Carolina invites – place kicker Elliott Fry!
Tennessee
The Volunteers are team no one wants to mess with in 2015. Junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs looks like the real deal. Inviting defensive end/outside linebacker Curt Maggitt makes sense as well. He had 11 sacks last season. He also had offseason shoulder surgery missing spring practices. If fully healthy with another year of maturation under his belt, expectations are really high on this senior. Returning junior cornerback Cameron Sutton is the leader in the secondary for one of the nation’s best units.
Not inviting Jalen Hurd could mean more about the abilities of incoming JUCO transfer Alvin Kamara.
Texas A&M
How much work can new defensive coordinator John Chavis do in eight months? Why defensive end Myles Garrett is not in Alabama for the SEC Media Days is a big question. Not having quarterback Kyle Allen in attendance is another big question. Julien Obioha is a three-year starter at defensive end but might be pushed for playing time in 2015.
Two senior offensive linemen – nice but kind of boring.
Vanderbilt
If head coach Derek Mason is going to ascend to the ranks of a solid Division-I football coach his next two seasons are make or break. Former head coach James Franklin recruited decent talent to Nashville and now the Commodores have eight starters returning on offense and nine on defense. Expectations are high to get back to a bowl game.
Mason’s selection of top returning running back Ralph Webb, top tackler in linebacker Nigel Bowden, and preseason Rimington Trophy watch list center Spencer Pulley makes sense.
SEC Media Days Attendees
Alabama
Head Coach Nick Saban
Reggie Ragland, Sr., LB
Kenyan Drake, Sr., RB
Ryan Kelly, Sr., OL
Arkansas
Head Coach Bret Bielema
Jonathan Williams, Sr., RB
Brandon Allen, Sr., QB
Keon Hatcher, Sr., WR
Auburn
Head Coach Gus Malzahn
Jeremy Johnson, Jr., QB
Jonathan Jones, Sr., DB
Kris Frost, Sr., LB
Florida
Head Coach Jim McElwain
Jonathan Bullard, Sr., DE
Brandon Powell, So., WR
Vernon Hargreaves III, Jr., DB
Georgia
Head Coach Mark Richt
Malcolm Mitchell, Sr., WR
John Theus, Sr., OT
Jordan Jenkins, Sr., OLB
Kentucky
Head Coach Mark Stoops
Melvin Lewis, Sr., NG
Jordan Swindle, Sr., OT
A.J. Stamps, Sr., S
LSU
Head Coach Les Miles
Leonard Fournette, So., RB
Vadal Alexander, Sr., OT
Kendell Beckwith, Jr., LB
Ole Miss
Head Coach Hugh Freeze
Evan Engram, Jr., TE
Mike Hilton, Sr., DB
C.J. Johnson, Sr., LB
Mississippi State
Head Coach Dan Mullen
Dak Prescott, Sr., QB
Taveze Calhoun, Sr., DB
Ryan Brown, Sr., DE
Missouri
Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Kenya Dennis, Sr., DB
Maty Mauk, Jr., QB
Evan Boehm, Sr., C
South Carolina
Head Coach Steve Spurrier
Elliott Fry, Jr., PK
Pharoh Cooper, Jr., WR
Skai Moore, Jr., LB
Tennessee
Head Coach Butch Jones
Joshua Dobbs, Jr., QB
Curt Maggitt, Sr., LB/DL
Cameron Sutton, Jr., DB
Texas A&M
Head Coach Kevin Sumlin
Mike Matthews, Sr., C
Germain Ifedi, Jr., OT
Julien Obioha, Sr., DL
Vanderbilt
Head Coach Derek Mason
Ralph Webb, So., RB
Nigel Bowden, So., LB
Spencer Pulley, Sr., C
Photo credit: cbssports.com; No. 27 Nick Chubb.