The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EASTERN DIVISION RECAP
FLORIDA
McElwain: QB situation is good
■ Season opener: Florida vs. Michigan (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas), 3:30 p.m., Sept. 2, ABC
While coach Jim McElwain didn’t share any particularly noteworthy thoughts or insights into how the addition of Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire impacts the Gators, McElwain acknowledged this is the strongest the program’s quarterback situation has been since he arrived.
Zaire enrolled at Florida last month and will compete with redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks this summer as part of a crowded quarterback group that also includes 2016 starter Luke Del Rio, redshirt freshman Kyle Trask, true freshman Jake Allen and early enrollee freshman Kadarius Toney.
“I think here’s the beauty, I think for the first time our room is really good. We’ve got talent. We’ve got guys that are going to be able to compete against each other, learn from each other and I’m looking forward to it,” McElwain said.
GEORGIA
Returning running backs are big boost
■ Season opener:
Appalachian State at Georgia, 6:15 p.m., Sept. 2, ESPN
The Bulldogs are the rare team that returns a pair of talented, experienced running backs.
Senior running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel combined for nearly 2,000 yards in 2016. Chubb, who was returning from a serious knee injury, ran for 1,130 yards and eight touchdowns. Michel added 840 yards and four touchdowns.
Coach Kirby Smart said Chubb’s “decision weighed a little bit on the other guys who were deciding. He made it OK to do.” Smart said the running back “showed a confidence not o nly in our coaching staff, but in our total program, that he knows he’s going to have an opportunity to get better and grow.”
Georgia had an 8-5 record last season, including a 4-4 mark in the SEC.
KENTUCKY
Stoops: No idea brother was leaving
■ Season opener:
Kentucky at Southern Miss, 4 p.m., Sept. 2, CBSSN
Coach Mark Stoops has mixed emotions about his brother Bob stepping down at Oklahoma.
When he got the call, Mark Stoops he stepped out of his office and walked around the practice field talking with his older brother about the decision.
“Obviously it’s one of those moments you won’t forget,” the Wildcats coach said. “It came out of the blue. I had no idea it was coming. But he called me and told me what was going to happen in the very near future. It was a bit of a shock to me.”
Mark Stoops said he was glad Bob Stoops got the chance to walk away on his own terms after winning a Big 12 Conference title and the Sugar Bowl.
The e lder St o ops announced in early June that he was retiring after 18 seasons, 10 Big 12 Conference championships and a national title.
MISSOURI
Losing eight games ‘hurts your soul’
■ Season opener: Missouri State at Missouri, noon, Sept. 2
Second-year coach Barry Odom was blunt when discussing how a tough 2016 season affected him.
Odom: “When you win four games, it hurts your soul.”
Missouri finished with a 4-8 record last season, including a 2-6 mark in the SEC. But there’s reason to believe the Tigers will be improved.
Missouri won two of its final three games last sea- son — beating Vanderbilt and Arkansas — and the offense returns 10 starters, including junior quarterback Drew Lock.
Lock threw for 3,399 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Having QB helps rebuilding process
■ Season opener:
N.C. State at South Carolina, 3 p.m., Sept. 2, ESPN
Coach Will Muschamp said finding a young star at quarterback has helped push the Gamecocks’ rebuilding plan forward.
Sophomore Jake Bentley started the final seven games of his freshman season in 2016, throwing for 1,420 yards while completing 65.8 percent of his passes. Even more important, South Carolina won four of his seven starts.
Muschamp said that there was “no question” Bentley’s development has been a boost for recruiting because players know “you’re going to win games.”
South Carolina finished with a 6-7 record last season, including a 3-5 mark in the SEC.
TENNESSEE
Jones isn’t saying who will be QB
■ Season opener:
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic — Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta), 8 p.m., Sept. 4, ESPN
The major question facing the Volunteers this year is who will replace starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
Fifth-year coach Butch Jones didn’t provide many clues to the QB issue.
Junior Quinten Dormady was the backup last year, completing 11 of 17 passes for 148 yards. Redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano is the other major candidate.
Jones believes it’s a great issue to have. The coach says the Vols “will not name a starting quarterback until the time is right,” but added he can’t say when that is. Jones says the competition will “be decided on the field when we start training camp.”
VANDERBILT
Coach likes where team is heading
■ Season opener:
Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., Sept. 2, CBSSN
Co a ch Derek Mason believes his team is on the rise and wants people to come see for themselves.
Mason: “We feel like we’re in the midst of a renaissance.”
The Commodores made a bowl game for the first time in Mason’s three-year tenure and closed the regular season with wins over Mississippi and Tennessee, while earlier upsetting Georgia on the road. Now, they return nine offensive starters, including quarterback Kyle Shurmur and tailback Ralph Webb.
Compiled by Rick Crotts, using information from SECCountry.com and Associated Press