Gators look to challenge for an SEC title
The SEC is often referred to as the best conference in college football, especially after LSU’s win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game to close the 2019 season.
Three coaching changes and an influx of transfers are among the SEC storylines to watch during spring football practices.
Team to watch
Florida: The Gators are coming off back-toback double-digit win seasons for the first time since 2008-09. UF has earned consecutive wins in New Year’s Six bowl games. Yet there are areas where the team fell just short, including failing to win the SEC East in Dan Mullen’s first two seasons. The program has landed back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes and that influx of talent coupled with a base of returning talent that includes quarterback Kyle Trask points to the Gators not only challenging Georgia in the division but also competing for an SEC title.
Trending up
Tennessee: After a 1-4 start to last season, it appeared Tennessee was on course for its third straight losing season. Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt was a prime candidate for the hot seat. But the team rebounded to win seven of its last eight games, including its final six. The Vols closed last season with a come-from-behind win over Indiana in the Gator Bowl. Capitalizing on that momentum, the program landed its first top-10 recruiting class since the 2014 season.
Trending down
Arkansas: Arkansas ranks last in the conference in wins (23) and winning percentage (37%) during the last five seasons, including back-to-back two-win seasons. Along those lines, the Razorbacks have lost 19 straight SEC games, with Arkansas’ last league win coming on Oct. 28, 2017. Resurrecting the program is a huge challenge and one that falls on the shoulders of Sam Pittman, who becomes the fifth coach to lead the program since 2011.
Coaches with the most to prove Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss) and Mike Leach (Mississippi State): It’s rare to have a new coach face scrutiny right out of the gate, but considering the expectations surrounding Kiffin and Leach in their respective jobs, it’s hard not to believe all eyes will be on both of them. It’s been a decade since Kiffin was a head coach in the SEC, guiding Tennessee to a 7-6 season in 2009 before leaving to take the USC job. Leach, meanwhile, has developed a reputation for producing explosive offenses everywhere he’s gone, but his style and attitude have sparked a love-hate relationship with fans.
Player to watch
QB Bo Nix (Auburn): Nix put together an impressive freshman campaign, leading Auburn to a 9-4 record while passing for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns. The next step in Nix’s development begins this spring and it takes place under the watchful eye of a new offensive coordinator in Chad Morris. He has a history of developing productive quarterbacks during his time at Tulsa (G.J. Kinne) and Clemson (Tajh Boyd), and helping develop Nix could be what makes Auburn a division-title contender again.
Transfer to watch
QB Jamie Newman (Georgia): Newman is one of a handful of quarterbacks who found their way to the SEC through the transfer portal. But he’s the only one joining a program that finished in the top five of the final College Football Playoff rankings.
Newman is coming off a career best season, during which he amassed more than 3,300 yards of total offense and 34 total touchdowns while leading Wake Forest to an 8-5 season. His arrival couldn’t have come at a better time as Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs look to find a replacement for veteran Jake Fromm.
Newcomer to watch
QB Bryce Young (Alabama): The heralded Young arrives in Tuscaloosa just as the Crimson Tide face a transition at quarterback. Redshirt junior Mac Jones appears to be the heir apparent after stepping in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa at the end of last season and he is the most experienced quarterback on the roster. But Young, who is an early enrollee, is one of the highestranked quarterbacks to have signed with Alabama, and it’s likely he could push Jones for the job.