The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FROM SECCOUNTRY.COM
Spring games include a big crowd for UGA’s Jacob Eason, a freshman QB facing high expectations.
Another big weekend of spring games is in the books for the SEC. There probably weren’t a lot of starting positions settled, and most of the football was pretty forgettable. However, spring games continue to be a great excuse for a little tailgating, and it’s always nice to see those SEC logos pop up on the television screen.
Here are five things we learned:
Eason draws a crowd
With apologies to Ludacris, an overflow crowd of more than 93,000 showed up at UGA’s G-Day game primarily to get their first glimpse of true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason — which makes him already as popular in Georgia as fried chicken and sweet tea.
Expectations are going to be through the roof for him, and it won’t be easy to live up to them.
Bama still Bama
The simplest description of the absurdity of Alabama’s depth is that Rashaan Evans is being used by the Crimson Tide as an inside linebacker. He’ll be fabulous at that position. In fact, he had 17 tackles from that spot in the spring game.
The point is that Evans is the kind of player that would anchor the pass rush for almost any other team in the country.
Playing that caliber of athlete at inside linebacker is a luxury most programs can’t even imagine. It’s like having a Ferrari that you only drive to the supermarket.
Vols’ offense dynamic
By now almost all SEC fans are familiar with Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and most know about Vols running back Jalen Hurd. However, the breakout star on offense for Tennessee this spring was probably running back Alvin Kamara from Norcross.
The Vols should use Kamara to round out a potent backfield, and this trio should help Tennessee take steps toward fulfilling the increased expectations that exist for this season.
Miles has good hire
The reviews for new LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda are glowing. Aranda comes to the Tigers from Wisconsin — and imagine what a jump that must be. Wisconsin is missing two things that an SEC power like LSU has in abundance — elite talent and a willingness to spend money on coaches’ salaries.
This season Aranda will be paid $1.3 million, nearly triple the $520,000 he made last year at Wisconsin.
He’ll also lead a defense at LSU that’s a pipeline to the NFL — as opposed to his Wisconsin defense, which was on a highway to a custard factory.
Of course, Aranda won’t be able to get too far from his old team. LSU opens with Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Week 1.
Mullen’s summer
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen ran the Boston Marathon last week — which is ironic because the group of players competing to be the Bulldogs’ next quarterback all looked to be about 26.2 miles away from being as good as Dak Prescott after Mississippi State’s spring game.
Mullen will be patient. He may have to be.