They have an air about them
Experience or not, QBs look ready, able to lead top teams
Alabama’s primary challengers in the Southeastern Conference can’t take too much heart from the Crimson Tide breaking in an inexperienced quarterback. They’re in a similar boat.
There is a new group of passers at the top of the league, but the same expectations exist. The SEC has won three of the last four national titles, including dominating runs of perfection from the top-ranked Crimson Tide last season and LSU in 2019.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart even quoted Henry David Thoreau, though it could easily have come from his Alabama’s Nick Saban.
“Success comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it,” Smart said.
“I’m too busy trying to take the next step to give our team a competitive advantage to really worry about expectations.”
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that’s referred to as The Process.
The defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Crimson Tide are turning to sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, who got limited opportunities last season. Alabama remains the national favorite despite losing QB Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tailback Najee Harris from an explosive offense.
Not to mention offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
Preseason No. 13 Florida and No. 6 Texas A&M are also turning to new quarterbacks. No. 5 Georgia has the no-brainer decision of sticking with end-of-season starter JT Daniels and No. 16 LSU’s Max Johnson takes over for Myles Brennan, who’s expected to miss much of the season after surgery on his left arm.
Gone, though, are seemingly impossible-to-defend targets Smith and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. And two Heisman finalist quarterbacks, Alabama’s Jones and Florida’s Kyle Trask.
Texas A&M flirted with a playoff berth last season, unable to overcome a lopsided early loss to Alabama. Now, the Aggies will replace four-year starting quarterback Kellen Mond with redshirt freshman Haynes King.
The Gators turn to new starter Emory Jones, Trask’s backup, who waited three years for his turn.
The SEC must replace 12 first-round NFL draft picks, half of them courtesy of the Tide.
Alabama lost three Heisman finalists from offense — including Harris. But a defense led by linebackers Will Anderson and Christian Harris — and ex-Tennessee starter Henry To’oTo’o — looks to be formidable
“We’re going to be a work in progress as we focus on improvement, and that’s going to be critical to our success,” Saban said.
“We have a lot of difficult games early on the road, new coaches, new quarterback, eight new guys on offense.”
It will only get tougher in coming seasons when Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC.
On the hot seat?
With eight new head coaches hired over the last two years, there may not be any real hot seats. Perhaps two or three warm ones that could heat up. Off-the-field issues have hit LSU and Ed Orgeron, who had a down year after leading the Tigers to a national title.
Mississippi State’s Mike Leach had a rough first season despite winning the last two games and lost a number of players to the transfer portal.
Mark Stoops seems safe at Kentucky but is coming off a 5-6 season. Having six players arrested for first-degree burglary doesn’t help. They pleaded not guilty on Aug. 20.
Top players
Offense: Georgia junior QB JT Daniels delivered with a 4-0 record after taking over as starter last season . ... Alabama sophomore QB Bryce Young attempted just 22 passes last season as a backup, but the Tide’s confidence is high with Nick Saban’s highest-rated signee at the position . ... QB Mississippi junior QB Matt Corral became just the fourth SEC player to lead the nation in total offense per game, averaging 384.9 yards per season . ... Kentucky’s Darian Kinnard, a firstteam All-SEC tackle, is back for his senior season after starting 26 consecutive games. ... Preseason first-team All American Kenyon Green, a junior, is moving from guard to left tackle while anchoring a Texas A&M line that lost four starters.
Defense: Alabama junior LT Evan Neal has started 26 games — half at right tackle, half at left guard . ... A first-team All-American in 2019, LSU junior CB Derek Stingley was limited to seven games last season on a defense that ranked at the bottom nationally against the pass . ... Alabama sophomore Will Anderson and junior Christian Harris are the stars of perhaps the nation’s top group of linebackers. Anderson is a first-team preseason All-American and Harris is a secondteam pick . ... Junior DE DeMarvin Leal, a first-team preseason All-American, had 4 ½ sacks and 12 ½ tackles for loss in his first two seasons for Texas A&M . ... Florida junior CB Kaiir Elam was third in the SEC in passes defended per game (13) last season.