Sec notebook

[cloverleaf]

Ole Miss

The Rebels should be fine under center with Chad Kelly returning for a second straight
season as the starter. Now they'll try to replace three potential NFL first-round draft
picks in receiver Laquon Treadwell, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive lineman
Robert Nkemdiche. Ole Miss hopes talented players like defensive lineman Breeland
Speaks and receivers Damore Stringfellow and Quincy Abeboyejo can step into larger
roles. Ole Miss was the only school in the SEC that didn't have a spring game because
Vaugh-Hemingway Stadium is undergoing substantial renovations. Lost a lot of talented
players but the Rebs have recruited well the past few years.
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LSU

The Tigers have a stud running back in Leonard Fournette, who wasn't asked to do much
this spring considering coach Les Miles is well aware of his talent. LSU does have 18 starters
returning, including quarterback Brandon Harris. The Tigers hope Harris continues to improve.
He threw for 2,165 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while completing 53.8 percent of
his passes. LSU also must replace both of its offensive tackles from last season. I look for
the Tigers to challenge Alabama for the SEC West this season provided they get good QB play.
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Mississippi State

The Bulldogs defense has had an extensive makeover during the offseason after coordinator
Manny Diaz left for Miami. Coach Dan Mullen hired former USC assistant Peter Sirmon as
his replacement. The Bulldogs have several experienced players returning on defense,
including defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson, linebacker Richie Brown and safety Brandon Bryant.
Finding a quarterback will be a priority for Mullen before the season starts.
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[CoachCB]

SEC Spring Game Attendance

Seven SEC teams held their spring games on Saturday, and despite nice weather,
the games drew mixed results as far as attendance. Here's a list of spring games
so far:

Georgia 93.000
Alabama 76,212
Tennessee 67,027
Florida 46,000
Auburn 45,723
South Carolina 32,916
Kentucky 28,441
Texas A&M 27,412
Missouri 24,443
LSU 21,027
Mississippi State 15,717
Vanderbilt 3,500

The LSU attendance has to be an indictment on Miles and his future there. Not much enthusiasm coming out of Baton Rouge. I still think he's an outstanding coach and has just had a run of pretty bad QBs (not as bad as Florida's QBs the last 7 years).

 

[CoachCB]

What are the best jobs in the SEC? Steve Spurrier says it’s Georgia and LSU.


On Finebaum, Spurrier said, "Of course, Nick Saban has made Alabama the best right now, but as far as recruiting advantages, LSU doesn't have much competition in their state, and Georgia pretty much should own their state there. "

 

[CoachCB]

Mullen runs the Boston Marathon - good for him. He ran a 4:28, which is pretty pathetic.... (Coach CB ran it in 3:07 in 2008, fyi!)

Dan Mullen completed the Boston Marathon on Monday and wrote about the experiencefor Sports Illustrated. Mullen has also raised more than $40,000 for The Mullen 36 Family Foundation through his run.

“I decided to run Boston on a whim after a conversation at the Adidas retreat last year,” Mullen wrote. “Adidas was nice enough to find me a sponsor's exemption, and I began with four-mile daily runs during the season that grew to six. During the season it was hard to sneak in long runs, but I ran eight miles a day on our bye weeks, 13 on New Year's Day after our bowl game and then 11 on Signing Day after the last fax came in. I eventually built to a 20.25-mile run on Easter Saturday before tapering back.”

On the the feeling of completing a marathon, Mullen wrote, “After I willed myself through the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course on Monday, I experienced something completely different than winning national championships, a conference title or leading Mississippi State to No. 1 in the country for the first time in school history. Those are team accomplishments, and they are unbelievable feelings I was lucky enough to have in my career. But it's a different blender of emotions when you cross that finish line — your body is drained and your mind is shot, but you are just so overcome with joy."

 

[linebets]

The LSU attendance has to be an indictment on Miles and his future there. Not much enthusiasm coming out of Baton Rouge. I still think he's an outstanding coach and has just had a run of pretty bad QBs (not as bad as Florida's QBs the last 7 years).

I thought it was the fan support that saved his ass from being fired after the A&M game?

 

[cloverleaf]

Les Miles has a great opportunity this season to quiet his distractors with the talent on this
team. If he doesn't have a big season...look out. Hide the kids Lucy!

 

[cloverleaf]

Missouri

Missouri was 5-7 last year with a terrible offense. Offense is again the major issue for a
team that averaged 13.6 points per game last season to rank second to last among all
Football Bowl Subdivision teams. (The only team to score fewer points was Kent State
at 13.1 ppg). Coach Barry Odom hasn't officially named a starting quarterback, but Lock
is the clear favorite after a good spring. Could be another 5-7 season for the Tigers.
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South Carolina

The Gamecocks (3-9) must identify a starting quarterback. They will enter fall camp with
six candidates still competing for the job. South Carolina must also improve its defensive
backfield. Muschamp has complained about the secondary all spring.
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Auburn

The Tigers might have uncertainty at quarterback, but no such concerns exist on the defensive
line. Auburn should be deep at that position with talented veterans like Carl Lawson and Montravius
Adams being supplemented by young players like Byron Cowart and Marlon Davidson. If Lawson
can stay healthy, he is one of the best pass rushers in the SEC.
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Arkansas

Austin Allen, who is the younger brother of last year's starting quarterback Brandon Allen, came into
spring practice as the favorite to become the next Arkansas quarterback and didn't disappoint. Coach
Bret Bielema was confident enough in the younger Allen's performance that he named him the starter.
The Razorbacks do have some questions at running back following the early departures of Alex Collins
and Jonathan Williams. Sophomore Rawleigh Williams was held out of spring drills because of a neck
injury and senior Kody Walker, who is back for a sixth season, broke his foot and is out until June.
Incoming freshman Devwah Whaley will also be in the mix.

 

[MackDonald]

I had heard that Miles had some health issues he was dealing with (probably just rumors) along with a bad case of hemorrhoids which can be painful as hell, even Preparation-H is useless with severe cases....Surgery is often required. I recall seeing him grimace (often) on the side-lines during several games last season.

 

[cloverleaf]

Mack my friend, sounds like you might have had some past experience with preparation-H
and that scenario. Never had the problem myself but I remember my senior year in high school
when my dad had to have that surgery. I still remember how rough it was on him. Today's
surgery is probably much better but count me out of having to go through it.

Note the diversity in the CFB forum. Football and hemorrhoids. Ha!

 

[cloverleaf]

SEC West - Quarterbacks

Spring football has helped a few teams in the Southeastern Western Division find a new quarterback. For
others, the competition continues. Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State are among the schools still trying
to decide on a No. 1 option under center.

Alabama is choosing between holdovers Cooper Bateman, Blake Barnett and David Cornwell and freshman
mid-year enrollee Jalen Hurts. Bateman has the edge in experience, but it was the younger quarterbacks
like Barnett and Hurts who looked the best during the spring game. Jalen Hurts has been impressive and has
a chance to play some this season. He's by far the best athlete of the quarterbacks.

Auburn's trying to decide between Jeremy Johnson, Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin III.
Johnson and White have SEC experience, but Franklin is the most athletic and arguably the best suited to run
coach Gus Malzahn's zone read offense.

Mississippi State is trying to replace Dak Prescott, who is widely considered as the best player in program
history after throwing for more than 9,000 yards and running for about 2,500 more in his career. Nick
Fitzgerald, Elijah Staley, Damian Williams and Nick Tiano are locked in a four man race for the job.

Texas A&M (Trevor Knight), LSU (Brandon Harris), Ole Miss (Chad Kelly), and Arkansas (Austin Allen) have
all named starters. Knight is a transfer from Oklahoma. Harris was a starter last season. Kelly is the best
quarterback in the conference and broke several Ole Miss records last year. Allen was second team to his
brother during 2015.

 

[cloverleaf]

Against The Spread - 2015

Team.................Total.......Home.......Away
Alabama.............7-6..........3-6..........4-0
Arkansas.............7-5.........3-5...........4-0
Auburn...............3-9..........1-7..........2-2
Florida................8-5..........4-4..........4-1
Georgia..............5-7..........3-4...........2-3
Kentucky............3-9..........2-6...........1-3
LSU....................5-6..........5-2..........0-4
Ole Miss..............7-5..........5-2..........2-3
Miss State...........7-5..........4-3..........3-2
Missouri..............3-9..........2-5...........1-4
South Carolina.....6-6..........3-3...........3-3
Tennessee...........7-5..........4-4...........3-1
Texas AM............5-6..........3-4...........2-2
Vanderbilt...........6-5-1.......3-2-1........3-3

*Over the past two seasons, Arkansas has the best ATS record (16-8). Auburn
has the worst (7-17). National champion Alabama comes in at (12-14).

 

[cloverleaf]

Clover's "Early" Preseason Top 10

1. Clemson
2. ALABAMA*
3. Michigan
4. Baylor
5. Florida State
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU*
8. Notre Dame
9. Houston
10. TENNESSEE*

My early guess at the top-10 when the AP Poll comes out. I actually believe Alabama should
be number one but AP voters will probably go with Clemson because of their great quarterback.
My take and welcome yours........................

 

[CoachCB]

Clover's "Early" Preseason Top 10

1. Clemson
2. ALABAMA*
3. Michigan
4. Baylor
5. Florida State
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU*
8. Notre Dame
9. Houston
10. TENNESSEE*

My early guess at the top-10 when the AP Poll comes out. I actually believe Alabama should
be number one but AP voters will probably go with Clemson because of their great quarterback.
My take and welcome yours........................

I like your top 10 except for Baylor and I'm not so sure about Houston (we'll see what they do when they play a "real" team). I'd move FSU up to #4 and I agree w/ you that Clemson will probably be #1 due to their QB (although they lost some talent on Defense). I think LSU is going to be very good and Miles has a chip on his shoulder.

 

[CoachCB]

The rich get richer:

Bama gets good news on DT signee:

https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/...on-davis-eligible-to-play-for-alabama-in-2016


MERIDIAN, Miss. — Alabama will add 6-foot-7, 330-pound defensive linemanRaekwon Davis to its roster this fall, after all.


The four-star behemoth committed to both Alabama and Jones County Junior College (Ellisville, Miss.) on signing day in February, a maneuver that gave him a backup landing spot if his work in the classroom did not improve.


But Davis recently told SEC Country he’s officially headed to Tuscaloosa next month.


The NCAA requires student-athletes to attain a certain score on a sliding scale that combines the prospect’s grade-point average and standardized test scores; a low ACT score had been the primary culprit behind Davis’ uncertain future.


“That was really the only thing holding me back,” he said Thursday night.


SEC Country confirmed Davis’ eligibility (based on current grade-point average and test scores) with Jones coach Steve Buckley.


“I’m glad he’s going to Alabama,” Buckley said Monday.

 

[cloverleaf]

NFL Draft Producers

The following list is the number of players by school drafted by the NFL over the last 4
years and the past 10 years. Also listed is the won/loss record for the past 4 years.

Team...............4 Years.............10 Years.............2012-2015 W/L
1. Alabama..........32....................56......................50-6
2. LSU.................27....................64......................37-14
3. Georgia............22...................55......................40-16
4. Florida.............21....................52.....................32-19
5. S. Carolina.......19....................36.....................32-19
6. Arkansas..........17....................33.....................22-28
7. Missouri............15...................27.....................33-19
8. Tennessee........10....................31.....................26-24
9. Texas AM..........14...................25......................36-18
10. Auburn...........11....................35......................30-22
11. Miss State.......12....................18......................34-18
12. Kentucky......... 6....................16......................14-34
13. Ole Miss...........3.....................15......................34-18
14. Vanderbilt........7.....................14......................25-25

Alabama loses 32 players to the NFL over the last four years and still be in the hunt for a
national championship every year. Saban just reloads!

The SEC does well providing players for the NFL but are second to the ACC the past four years.
Florida State has 33 and Alabama has 32.

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama Defensive Line

Alabama's expected two deep defensive depth chart entering summer should look something like this.
This two-deep does not include any players that weren't on the roster this spring, including any incoming
freshmen or graduate transfers. Take a look.

DE - Jonathan Allen, (6-3, 295) Sr. and Da'Shawn Hand (6-4, 280) Jr.
Although Allen, the reigning team sack leader, didn't participate much this spring while still recovering
from offseason surgery, there's little doubt he'll be taking over as a starter for NFL bound A'Shawn
Roberson. Hand would then appear in line to replace Allen in the pass-rushing specialist role.

NG - Da'Ron Payne (6-2, 320) Soph and Joshua Frazier (6-4, 315) Jr.
Much like Allen, Payne slides right into the starting position after serving as a key backup last season.
Payne was widely considered one of the stars of spring, at times dominating his counterparts on the
offensive line. Frazier is another longtime reserve who will be counted on to provide depth.

DE - Dalvin Tomlinson (6-3, 310) Sr. and OJ Smith (6-2, 315) Soph.
Tomlinson replaces projected first round draft pick Jarran Reed on the outside, where he made his
mark last season with an impressive six batted passes from the defensive line. Smith will provide depth
but is likely to be challenged for playing time by incoming signees.

(next linebackers)

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama Linebackers

Jack LB - Tim Williams (6-4,237) Sr. and Anfernee Jennings (6-3, 270) rFr.
Williams will take over as the starting outside linebacker after serving as a mostly third-down pass
rusher last season, when he compiled 10.5 sacks. Jennings flashed his pass-rushing skills with three
sacks in the spring game. Williams was almost unblockable during spring drills and the spring game.

Mike LB - Reuben Foster (6-1 ,243) Sr. and Keith Holcombe (6-4, 230) Soph.
Foster is probably the hardest hitter on the team and is finally getting his opportunity to be the man in
the middle of Bama's defense and by all accounts he's embraced it. Holcombe has split his time between
football and baseball this spring, and didn't participate in the A-Day game because of a concussion, but
he provides reliable experience at a key position.

Will LB - Shaun Dion Hamilton (6-0, 232) Jr. and Rashaan Evans (6-3, 232) Jr.
Hamilton competed with Foster for a starting spot on the weak side last season and split time at the position.
With the move of former five-star signee Evans from outside linebacker to the inside, the position will probably
be split again.

Sam LB - Ryan Anderson - (6-2, 253) Sr. and Christian Miller (6-4, 233) Soph.
Anderson and his six sacks last season takes over in the versatile outside linebacker role filled by graduated
Dillon Lee. Anderson is expected to provide his elite athleticism on an every down basis this season, Miller
like Jennings, has been a welcomed surprise during the spring and could be a vital role players as a pass
rushing specialist.

(next defensive backs)

 

[CoachCB]

CL, who will replace Davis as DL coach?

 

[cloverleaf]

Don't know Coach. I heard from a reliable source that Saban blew his top over this
incident. Lot of demands on the Alabama coaches as far as recruiting but when one
breaks rules, they will pay a price. Of course Bama suffers also. With the program
Saban has built...the coaches don't need to go beyond the rules. Davis is one hell of
a defensive line coach and I hate to see him go. But....

 

[rolltide]

here is the early 2016 depth chart...doesn't include incoming freshman not on campus yet (like BJ Emmons who will be 3rd RB on chart or the new DL guys like Raekwon Davis)

that is one tasty group of LBs !/

Alabama offense​

Position	First team	Second team	Others
Quarterback	Cooper Bateman	David Cornwell	Blake Barnett, Jalen Hurts
Running back	Bo Scarbrough	Damien Harris	Ronnie Clark (inj), Derrick Gore, Xavian Marks,
Wide receiver - X	Calvin Ridley	Derek Kief	Raheem Falkins
Wide receiver - Z	Robert Foster	Cam Sims	T.J. Simmons
Slot receiver	ArDarius Stewart	Daylon Charlot
Tight end/H-back	O.J. Howard	Hal Hentges OR Brandon Greene	Miller Forristall
Left tackle	Cam Robinson	Korren Kirven	Bradley Bozeman
Left guard	Lester Cotton	Dallas Warmack	Josh Casher
Center	Ross Pierschbacher	J.C. Hassenauer
Right guard	Brandon Kennedy	Alphonse Taylor	Chris Owens
Right tackle	Jonah Williams	Matt Womack	Charles Baldwin

Alabama defense​

Position	First team	Second team	Others
Defensive end	Jonathan Allen	Da'Shawn Hand
Defensive tackle	Da'Ron Payne	Dakota Ball	O.J. Smith
DT/DE	Dalvin Tomlinson	Joshua Frazier	Johnny Dwight
Sam OLB	Tim Williams	Christian Miller	Jamey Mosley, Shawn Jennings
Inside linebacker	Reuben Foster	Keith Holcombe	Adonis Thomas, Joshua McMillon
Inside linebacker	Shaun Dion Hamilton	Rashaan Evans	Keaton Anderson
Jack OLB	Ryan Anderson	Anfernee Jennings	Christian Bell, Mekhi Brown
Cornerback	Marlon Humphrey	Kendall Sheffield
Nickelback	Maurice Smith	Tony Brown
Safety	Eddie Jackson	Shawn Burgess-Becker	Deionte Thompson
Safety	Ronnie Harrison	Hootie Jones
Cornerback	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Anthony Averett