SEC Football Preview 2016
East
#1 Tennessee Volunteers
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Coach: Butch Jones
Offensive Coordinator: Mike DeBord Defensive Coordinator: Bob Shoop Stadium: Neyland Stadium (102,455) 2015 Record: 9-4 The Breakdown Offense: Butch Jones enters his 4th season as head coach with his most talented roster yet. Tennessee returns 18 starters total from a team that won 9 games, while it’s 4 losses were by 17 combined points. The Vols finished 3rd in the SEC averaging 35.2 points per game. Tennessee will need to improve the passing game (92ND in the country) to keep defenses from stacking the box. Senior QB Josh Dobbs had an overall solid season in 2015. Dobbs took care of the ball and established himself as a dynamite runner. All eyes will be on Dobbs and his passing ability. While he only threw 5 INT’s compared to 15 TD’s, his arm missed out on a ton of big plays. Dobbs still accounted for nearly 3,000 yards of total offense and 26 TD’s. The backfield combination of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara is deadly. Hurd is big physical back with good speed. Hurd finished 2015 with 1,285 yards and 12 TD’s. Alvin Kamara averaged 6.5 yards per carry and has big play potential if he reaches the edge or finds open space. Kamara is the leading receiver coming back for Tennessee. Tennessee has potential at the receiver position. Josh Smith and Josh Malone will both benefit from an increase in production from Dobbs. Malone is the leader of the unit, making 31 receptions last season. TE Ethan Wolf made 22 catches with 2 TD’s. The offensive line has 4 starters returning and are a veteran group. Overall the Volunteers look impressive on the offensive side of the ball. Defense: Tennessee’s defense has a few potential All-American players. Tennessee ranked 16th in the nation in total defense in 2015 and with 9 starters back, should be just as good. Tennessee was one of the better teams in takeaways, finishing 28th overall. DE Derek Barnett is a force when rushing the edge. Barnett led the Volunteers with 10 sacks and had 69 tackles. Barnett will no doubt be on all the major awards lists. Corey Vereen added 3.5 sacks playing opposite of Barnett. The middle of the line is filled with big bodies in sophomores Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle. Jalen Reeves-Maybin did not play the spring game due to injury but will be ready to go this fall. Reeves-Maybin led the Volunteers in tackles (105) and TFL (14). Darrin Kirkland Jr. also put together a very good season for Coach Jones, finishing with 66 tackles. Tennessee is well off at the linebacker position and the same could be said for the secondary. All- SEC talent Cam Sutton returns for his senior season on Rocky Top. Sutton is one the top corners in the SEC, maybe the country. Sutton is joined by a deep crew at corner. Emmanuel Moseley led the Volunteers secondary in PBU’s and Justin Martin is looking to have a career year. Tennessee will replace both safeties but with talent like Evan Berry and Todd Kelly the Volunteers should be fine. Special Teams: Kicker Aaron Medley returns for the Volunteers, coming off a 21-31 season. Tennessee really needs Medley to be more accurate to get over the hump. Trevor Daniel was one of the better punters last season, averaging 45.7 yards per punt. Tennessee is dangerous in the return game. Evan Berry was the most explosive kick returner in the country with 3 TD’s and an average of 38.3 yards per return. Cam Sutton was just as electrifying returning punts. Sutton returned two punts for TD’s in 25 attempts. Overview: Tennessee fans are excited for the 2016 because Rocky Top could be the location of something special. This is the best Tennessee team in a very long time. Expectations are extremely high and it’s hard to say how that will affect the players. The schedule is well-balanced and there are no cupcakes for the first 8 games. Sun-Belt favorite Appalachian State opens the season at Neyland. A showdown with Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway will be an early test for the Vols. All eyes will be on the week 4 showdown with the Florida Gators. Tennessee fans have been waiting a long time to see their beloved Volunteers beat the Gators. A grueling three game stretch at Georgia, at A&M and Bama at home, stand between the Volunteers and a SEC East Championship. The Volunteers should win the final 5 games, barring a big upset. An SEC Championship and a CFB playoff spot is not out of the question this season. Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country. |
Offense:
Passing: Joshua Dobbs, SR, QB 344 ATT, 205 COMP, 59.6 PCT, 2291 YARDS, 15 TD, 5 INT, 127.0 RATING Rushing Jalen Hurd, JR, RB 277 ATT, 1288 YARDS, 12 TD Receiving Josh Malone, JR, WR 31 REC, 405 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Todd Kelly, JR, FS 3 INT Sacks: Derek Barnett, JR, DE 10 Sacks Tackles: Jalen-Reeves Maybin, SR, LB 66 Solo, 39 Assist, 105 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 9-4 2014 7-6 2013 5-7 2012 5-7 2011 5-7 Tennessee Schedule
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#2 Georgia Bulldogs
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Coach: Kirby Smart
Offensive Coordinator: Jim Chaney Defensive Coordinator: Mel Tucker Stadium: Sanford Stadium (92,746) 2015 Record: 10-3 The Breakdown Offense: A new era is kicking off in Athens, as Kirby Smart takes over the program. His first project will be finding a way for the offense to move the ball. Georgia’s offense played well until a season ending knee injury to Nick Chubb. Chubb’s health is a major question heading into the season. The other big question is who will play QB. Greyson Lambert is the favorite, coming off a season where he threw only 2 INT’s. Lambert lacks the deep ball and is really a game manager. Top prospect Jacob Eason is who many Bulldog fans want to see start. If Lambert struggles, Eason could move into the starting role. Sony Michel filled in the hole left by Nick Chubb’s injury. Michel ran for 1,136 yards and 8 TD’s. His 5.2 yards per carry is nothing compared to Chubb’s 8.1. Michel did pull in 26 receptions making him 3rd on the team. WR Terry Godwin leads all returners with 35 catches from 2015. Isaiah McKenzie is a speedy receiver, with big play potential. The offensive line returns 3 starters and is a veteran group. Georgia should be much better up front, and TE Jeb Blazevich could benefit from a different QB. Senior C Brandon Kublanow is the anchor up front and one of the better centers in the SEC. Georgia needs the offensive line to hold up if they want a shot at an SEC Championship. Defense: There is some good and bad news when it comes to the Bulldogs defense. The bad news, the entire front 7 is gone, leaving Kirby Smart with a ton of work to do. The good news, Georgia returns all 4 starters in the secondary that ranked 1st in the nation in pass defense. Trent Thompson may be the Bulldog with the most playing time on the D-line. Thompson totaled 25 tackles in his freshman year. The biggest concern for the Bulldogs may be at the linebacker position. OLB Davin Bellamy accounted for 5.5 TFL and 3 sacks last season. Tim Kimbrough is the top tackler returning with 62. A healthy leader Reggie Carter could be a big factor early in the season. Cornerbacks Malkom Parrish and Aaron Davis return after having solid seasons in 2015. Parrish finished with 6.5 TFL and 2 INT’s. Davis added 46 tackles of his own, Dominick Sanders led the Bulldogs with 6 INT’s. Sanders is easily the best playmaker in the Dogs’ secondary. Quincy Mauger led the Georgia secondary with 58 tackles, 40 of them solo, 2nd best on the team. Special Teams: Georgia lost longtime kicker Marshall Morgan. He is replaced by freshman Rodrigo Blankenship. Fellow freshman Marshall Long will handle the punting duties. Isaiah McKenzie handles the punts and he took a couple for TD’s last season. Reggie Davis averaged over 23 yards per return on kickoffs. Overview: Georgia enters the season with a lot of young talent, meaning it’s hard to predict how the season may go. The quarterback position has to be the biggest concern for first year coach Kirby Smart. Luckily for the Bulldogs, they play in the SEC East and have to contend with only Tennessee and Florida. Georgia starts the season with the UNC Heels in Atlanta. Back-to-back games at Ole Miss and Tennessee in Athens will start to show how the season will play out. Florida in Jacksonville and Auburn at home are the only remaining tough games for the Dogs’. UGA could very easily get to 10 wins or more if QB play and the front 7 dominate. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing: Greyson Lambert, SR, QB 256 ATT, 162 COMP, 63.3 PCT, 1959 YARDS, 12 TD, 2 INT, 141.5 RATING Rushing Sony Michel, JR, RB 219 ATT, 1161 YARDS, 8 TD Receiving Terry Godwin, SO, WR 35 REC, 379 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Dominick Sanders, JR, FS 6 INT Sacks: Davin Bellamy, JR, LB 3 Sacks Tackles: Tim Kimbrough, SR, LB 28 Solo, 39 Assist, 67 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 10-3 2014 10-3 2013 8-5 2012 12-2 2011 10-4 Georgia Schedule
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#3 Florida
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Coach: Jim McElwain
Offensive Coordinator: Doug Nussmeier Defensive Coordinator: Geoff Collins Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,458) 2015 Record: 10-4 The Breakdown Offense: Year one of the Jim McElwain was an overall successful one, finishing 10-4. It makes you wonder, what might have been if the Gators offense wasn’t terrible. Florida ranked 100th in the nation in scoring offense, 113th in rushing, and 112 in total offense. The Gators return 5 starters and have an abundance of young talent. Florida enters the season with a new QB leading the offense. Luke Del Rio and Purdue transfer Austin Appleby are locked in a battle. Sophomore RB Jordan Scarlett will start the season at the top of the depth chart. Scarlett averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 34 attempts. Antonio Callaway will nenefit greatly from a QB that can get him the ball. Callaway is an explosive weapon at WR, averaged 19.4 yards per catch as a freshman. Brandon Powell pulled in 29 catches last season, Powell should see more targets this season. Keep an eye out for freshman Tyrie Cleveland. The offensive line is talented but unproven at this point. Florida struggled protecting the QB, leading the nation in sacks allowed. Martez Ivey played well as a true freshman and will be at LG. Juniors Cameron Dillard and David Sharpe are the other returning starters up front. The right side of the line will be filled with underclassman. Florida will be in major trouble if the big guys can’t stay healthy. Defense: Florida continues to dominate the defensive side of the ball year in and out. The Gators have to replace some very good players that helped the Gators finish in the top 10 of total defense in 2015. Florida appears to be set up front with a defensive line featuring Bryan Cox Jr. Cox Jr. finished with 11 TFL and 3.5 sacks. CeCe Jefferson will play the opposite Cox Jr., Jefferson had 8.5 TFL in his freshman season. Junior DT Caleb Brantley was a run stuffing roadblock in 2015. Jarrad Davis led returning Gators in tackles last season with 94. Davis has a knack for getting players down in the backfield. Florida continues to recruit solid players in the secondary. With Vernon Hargreaves III gone, the Gators star will be junior Jalen Tabor. Tabor led the Gators in PBU’s with 14 and tied for the lead with 4 INT’s. Tabor is a potential top draft pick so he may be leaving the Swamp after 2016. Quincy Wilson is another very good CB for the Gators. Marcus Maye finished with 77 tackles and a couple INT’s. Special Teams: The Gators struggled making FG’s last season converting on 7-17. A new kicker emerges this season, sophomore Eddy Pineiro. Johnny Townsend was on the nation’s best punters a year ago. Townsend averaged 45.4 yards per punt on 83 attempts. Antonio Callaway was dangerous in the punt return game, averaging 15 yards per return and two scores. Brandon Powell will returns kick-offs with Callaway. Overview: Florida enters another season without a clear choice at QB. The offense has a lot of question marks and lacks depth at key positions. If the Gators want to win 10 games again, they will have to rely on the defense. Florida has 8 very winnable games, if they can play spoiler in the others, it could be another great season. Florida opens the season with 2 cupcakes and a week two date with UK. Late September the Gators travel to Knoxville, looking to win a 12th straight over the Vols. October features to big games, LSU visits the swamp on October 8. A date with UGA in Jacksonville and then a tricky road trip to Arkansas follows. The Gators welcome former head coach Will Muschamp to the Swamp in November before finishing with a road trip to Tallahassee. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing: Treon Harris, JR, QB 235 ATT, 199 COMP, 50.6 PCT, 1676 YARDS, 9 TD, 6 INT, 118.1 RATING Rushing: Treon Harris, JR, QB 96 ATT, 238 YARDS, 0 TD Receiving Antonio Callaway, SO, WR 35 REC, 678 YARDS, 4 TD Defense: Interceptions: Jalen Tabor, JR, CB 4 INT Sacks: Cece Jefferson, SO, DE 3.5 SACKS Tackles: Jarrad Davis, SR, LB 46 Solo, 52 Assist, 98 Total Florida Schedule
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#4 Kentucky
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Coach: Mark Stoops
Offensive Coordinator: Eddie Gran, Darrin Hinshaw Defensive Coordinator: D.J. Eliot Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium (61,000) 2015 Record: 5-7 The Breakdown Offense: Kentucky returns 9 starters on offense and is searching for bowl eligibility in Mark Stoops 4th year in Lexington. Sophomore QB Drew Barker will be the starter. Barker completed 50% of his passes in limited action last season. Stanley “Boom” Williams and JoJo Kemp split carries in 2015, but Kentucky should lean heavily toward Boom this season. Williams averaged 7.1 yards per carry and finished with 6 rushing TD’s. Jojo Kemp is a solid backup, he gives the Wildcats options at the RB position. Dorian Baker is the top WR on the depth chart. Baker led the Wildcats with 55 receptions and 3 TD’s. Garrett Johnson is a downfield threat. Johnson averaged 14.9 yards per catch and led the Wildcats in receiving yards. Jeff Badet is another very good option at WR. Badet only had 29 catches but averaged 14.8 a catch. Drew Barker may have the most talented receivers that Kentucky has had in quite some time. The offensive line returns 4 starters from a year ago. LT Cole Mosier will be the only new face in the group. Center Jon Toth is the veteran of the group, being the only senior on the line. There is plenty of experience that is needed for a line to be successful in the SEC. TE C.J. Conrad pulled in 15 passes in his freshman season. Defense: Kentucky was one of the worst defenses in the SEC last season and this season should be no different. The Wildcats only return 4 starters and are relying on a ton of young guys to step up. Regie Meant is the leading tackler back for the front 3 line. Kentucky is looking to play 3 sophomores at the linebacker position. Denzil Ware the only returning starter recorded 39 tackles and 5.5 TFL. Same can be said for the secondary. 3 sophomores have the potential of starting over seniors. Senior J.D. Harmon led the Wildcats with 3 INT’s in 2015. FS Marcus McWilson is the top tackler returning for Kentucky. Special Teams: Austin McGinnis returns as the kicker. McGinnis, a junior converted 13-17 FG’s. Kentucky will turn to freshman Grant McKinniss to handle the punting duties. Sihiem King averaged 21.7 yards per returns on kickoffs. J.D. Harmon had an average of 32 yards on 4 attempts. Overview: Kentucky has potential to do some really good things on the offensive side of the ball. Boom Williams needs to see the ball as many times as possible. Kentucky also has some very talented receivers and a decent offensive line. The defense is a major concern with so many young faces. Kentucky was dealt with a pretty tough schedule. An opener against Southern Miss could be a potential upset. The Wildcats have to visit Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Louisville. If the Wildcats want to get to a bowl game they have to win at home. They draw very winnable home games against South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Kentucky has the talent on offense to get to a bowl game but it comes down to if the defense can make some stops. |
Offense:
Passing Drew Barker, SO, QB 70 ATT, 35 COMP, 50.0 PCT, 364 YARDS, 1 TD, 2 INT, 92.7 RATING Rushing Boom Williams, JR, RB 121 ATT, 855 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Garrett Johnson, JR, WR 46 REC, 694 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Chris Westry, SO, CB 2 INT Sacks: Denzil Ware, SO, LB 1 Sack Tackles: Marcus McWilson, SR, FS 32 Solo, 34 Assists, 66 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 5-7 2014 5-7 2013 2-10 2012 2-10 2011 5-7 Kentucky Schedule
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#5 South Carolina
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Coach: Will Muschamp
Offensive Coordinator: Bryan McClendon, Kurt Roper Defensive Coordinator: Travaris Robinson Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) 2015 Record: 3-9 The Breakdown Offense: South Carolina lost its do-it all man in Pharoh Cooper. Where the South Carolina offense goes from there is a major question in year one under Will Muschamp. South Carolina will have a major QB battle before the beginning of the season. The front runner is freshman Brandon McIlwain, who was the top recruit for the Gamecocks out of Newtown, PA. David Williams is listed as the number one back coming out of the spring but freshman A.J. Turner could get some carries. South Carolina’s top returning WR is sophomore Deebo Samuel, who caught 12 passes. Freshman WR Bryan Edwards could make an instant impact for a WR core that is lacking talent. The offensive line has major concerns returning only two starters. Defense: South Carolina ranked last in the SEC in scoring defense, rushing defense, and total defense. In comes head coach Will Muschamp and new defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson. The Gamecocks return only 5 starters, including star senior LB Skai Moore. Skai Moore led the Gamecocks with 110 tackles in 2015. Fellow senior DE Marquavius Lewis finished with 3 sacks coming off the edge. Boosie Whitlow is an athletic pass rusher, of his 14 tackles, 5 were for loss. Senior linebacker Darius English led the Gamecocks with 4 sacks in 2015. The secondary is a huge question mark entering the season. Sophomore Rashad Fenton figures to be one of the starting cornerbacks. Chris Lammons tied for a team high 4 PBU’s. Jordan Diggs is the only starter returning in the secondary. Special Teams: Senior kicker Elliott Fry returns after converting 20-28 FG’s a season ago. Sean Kelly is one of the better punters in the SEC, averaging 44.3 yards per punt. Deebo Samuel will replace Pharoh Cooper as the punt returner. Rashad Fenton averaged over 26 yards a return on kickoff duty last season. Overview: South Carolina ended 2015 on a 5-game losing streak, including an embarrassing loss to The Citadel. South Carolina won only 3 games and don’t exactly have a better team. Gamecock fans will have to be patient with Will Muschamp, as it appears this will be a full rebuild. South Carolina has a very favorable schedule that could help them reach bowl eligibility. South Carolina opens with back-to-back SEC road games at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. A third consecutive SEC road game at Kentucky ends September. South Carolina then gets 5 straight home games, including visits from A&M, Georgia, and Tennessee. The most talked about game will be Muschamp’s return to Gainesville in November before ending on the road against Clemson. South Carolina has a realistic shot at 6 wins, but big questions loom at important positions. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing: Perry Orth, SR, QB. 261 ATT, 143 COMP, 54.8 PCT, 1929 YARDS, 12 TD, 9 INT, 125.2 RATING Rushing David Williams, JR, RB. 86 ATT, 299 YARDS, 0 TD Receiving Deebo Samuel, SO, WR 12 REC, 161 YARDS, 1 TD Defense: Interceptions: T.J. Holloman, SR, LB. 2 INT Sacks: Darius English, SR, DE. 4.5 Sacks Tackles: T.J. Holloman, SR, LB. 42 Solo, 21 Assists, 63 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 3-9 2014 7-6 2013 11-2 2012 11-2 2011 11-2 South Carolina Schedule
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#6 Missouri
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Coach: Barry Odom
Offensive Coordinator: Josh Heupel Defensive Coordinator: DeMontie Cross, Ryan Walters Stadium: Memorial Stadium (71,168) 2015 Record: 5-7 The Breakdown Offense: Barry Odom takes over for long time head coach Gary Pinkel. Odom has his work cut out for him with an offense that ranked near the bottom of the NCAA. Missouri posted an average of 13.6 PPG, good for 127th in the nation. Drew Lock took over the QB position after Maty Mauk imploded. Lock completed under 50% of his passes and had double the amount of interceptions then touchdowns. Ish Witter had the most rushing yards for the Tigers last season but sits behind sophomore Nate Green on the depth chart. J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown combined for 7 TD catches and led the Tigers with 350 and 326 yards receiving. Four new starters on the offensive line doesn’t make things any better for a Tigers offense that was terrible. Nate Crawford is the only returning starter, but keep an eye out for transfer LT Tyler Howell. TE Sean Culkin caught 16 passes for 139 yards. This is a very young line and any injuries could led to another poor season. Defense: Missouri has had a tremendous defense over the past few seasons. The 2015 Tigers were spectacular finishing top 5 in scoring defense and passing defense. Missouri returns a bulk of the starters from that team. Defensive ends Charles Harris and Walter Brady both finished with 7 sacks each. Harris though posted an outstanding 18.5 TFL. The tandem of Josh Augusta and Terry Beckner Jr. give the Tigers two big run stoppers in the heart of the line. Michael Scherer is the leading tackler returning on this Tigers defense. Scherer recorded 93 tackles, 9 of those for loss. Donavin Newsom had 9 TFL and 2.5 sacks from the outside linebacker position. LB Trey Baldwin was one of Missouri’s best recruits and could see some time this season. Aarion Penton recorded 41 solo tackles and 8 PBU’s. FS Anthony Sherrils led the Tigers secondary with 64 tackles and ended up with 6 PBU’s. Special Teams: Freshman kicker Tucker McCann will step into the role long held by Andrew Baggett. Corey Fatony posted a 42.9 yards per punt average as a freshman. John Gibson will be the kick returner once again. Aarion Penton took one to the house last season as a punt returner but averaged only 7.7 a return. Overview: It’s hard to believe Missouri struggled as much on offense as they did a year ago. The problem is that the offense is still lacking major talent to compete in the SEC East. Missouri has continued to do a great job on the defensive side of the ball. If Missouri is going to reach bowl eligibility it will be on the backs of the defense. Missouri travels to West Virginia for their week one showdown with the Mountaineers. A non-conference home game against Middle Tennessee will be interesting. Missouri has to travel to LSU, Florida and Tennessee this season. Home games with Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Arkansas will be the difference in reaching a bowl or not. It’s hard to see the offense improving from its SEC worst offense a year ago. 6 wins is all they need but it doesn’t look promising. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Drew Lock, SO, QB 263 ATT, 129 COMP, 49.0 PCT, 1332 YARDS, 4 TD, 8 INT, 90.5 RATING Rushing Ish Witter, JR, RB 126 ATT, 518. 1 TD Receiving J’Mon Moore, JR, WR 29 REC, 350 YARDS, 3 TD Defense: Interceptions: Anthony Sherrils, JR, SS 1 INT Sacks: Charles Harris, JR, DE. Walter Brady, SO, DE. 7 SACKS Tackles: Michael Scherer, SR, LB 47 Solo, 46 Assist, 93 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 5-7 2014 11-3 2013 12-2 2012 5-7 2011 8-5 Missouri Schedule
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#7 Vanderbilt
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Coach: Derek Mason
Offensive Coordinator: Andy Ludwig Defensive Coordinator: Derek Mason Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium (40,550) 2015 Record: 4-8 The Breakdown Offense: Vanderbilt ended last season as one of the worst offenses in country. Vanderbilt managed to score only 15.2 points per game. One bright spot for the Commodores was RB Ralph Webb. Webb literally carried Vanderbilt’s offense. With 277 carries, Webb finished with 1,152 yards but only 5 TD’s. Webb did manage to catch 24 balls ending with 2 receiving TD’s. Sophomore QB Kyle Shurmur is set to lead the Commodores this season. Shurmur saw action as a freshman, ending with 503 passing yards and 5 TD’s. Shurmur will have his top target back in Trent Sherfield. Sherfield hauled in 51 receptions and 659 yards. Caleb Scott led the Dores’ in average yards per reception. C.J. Duncan could emerge as a big time target for Shurmur. Vanderbilt has to get better on the offensive line if it wants to improve on the dismal 2015 season. The line returns 2 starters from last season but also gets TE Jared Pinkney back from injury. LT Andrew Jelks is also returning from injury and could be a huge factor. Seniors Barrett Gougar and RT Will Holden provide the Dores’ with a veteran presence. Defense: Head coach Derek Mason is a tremendous defensive mind. Vanderbilt was very strong in his first season at the helm. Mason returns 7 starters from 2015, including his star player junior LB Zach Cunningham. Cunningham led the Commodores with 103 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Adam Butler is the lone returner on the defensive line. Butler managed 3 sacks rushing the edge. Jay Woods finished with 23 tackles and fellow DT Nifae Lealao 18 tackles. Landon Stokes steps into a starting role at OLB this season. Oren Burks led the Commodores with 3 interceptions and ended with 52 tackles. Vanderbilt returns most of its secondary, that finished 41st in the country. Torren McGaster is back for a senior season following a very productive 2015 campaign. McGaster led Vanderbilt with 10 PBU’s and finished top 5 in tackles. Tre Herndon recorded 32 solo tackles and 43 total playing opposite of McGaster. The secondary is rounded out with Arnold Tarpley and Emmanuel Smith. Special Teams: Vanderbilt kicker Tommy Openshaw was a bit shaky last season. Openshaw converted just 12 of 19 FG’s. Openshaw doubled as the team’s punter, but that job should fall to freshman Sam Loy this season. Darrius Sims and Ryan White will handle the return duties. Overview: Vanderbilt lost a couple close games in 2015 that kept them from returning to a bowl game. The SEC East is very mediocre after Georgia and Tennessee, meaning the Commodores could contend for a bowl game. Ralph Webb and the defense are top notch yet again. Vanderbilt faces a tough non-conference schedule. Vanderbilt opens the season with a visit from South Carolina. Following the opener, the Commodores play what should be 3 very competitive games against Middle Tennessee, at Georgia Tech and at Western Kentucky. Vanderbilt gets Ole Miss, Florida and Tennessee at home. Road games at Georgia, Auburn and Kentucky could be big tests. Getting Auburn and Ole Miss from the West did Vanderbilt no favors. If Vanderbilt gets to a bowl game, it will be an amazing season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing: Kyle Shurmur, SO, QB. 103 ATT, 44 COMP, 42.7 PCT, 503 YARDS, 5 TD, 3 INT, 93.9 RATING Rushing Ralph Webb, JR, RB. 277 ATT, 1152 YARDS, 5 TD Receiving Trent Sherfield, JR, WR. 51 REC, 659 YARDS, 3 TD. Defense: Interceptions: Oren Burks, JR, LB. 3 INT. Sacks: Zach Cunningham, JR, LB. 4.5 Sacks Tackles: Zach Cunningham, JR, LB. 69 Solo, 34 Assists, 103 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 4-8 2014 3-9 2013 9-4 2012 9-4 2011 6-7 Vanderbilt Schedule
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West
#1T Alabama Crimson Tide
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Coach: Nick Saban
Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin Defensive Coordinator: Jeremy Pruitt Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) 2015 Record: 14-1 The Breakdown Offense: Alabama continues to have a dominant offense behind offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Alabama averaged 35.1 points per game in route to another national championship. Alabama loses Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and has to replace 3 starters on the offensive line. Alabama also needs to pick a clear starter at QB before the season, a process that is beginning to become a yearly tradition. Cooper Bateman seems to be the favorite to get the nod at QB heading into the season. David Cornwell is also in the mix, we could see both play early on. Bo Scarbrough replaces Derrick Henry and he is a monster. Scarbrough could be in the mix for a Heisman this season. Damien Harris will benefit as backup similar to a Kenyan Drake role. It didn’t take Calvin Ridley long to become a big man on campus. Ridley exploded on the scene with 89 catches and 1,045 yards as a freshman. Alabama is loaded at WR with Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart who added 63 catches. TE O.J. Howard had a career game against Clemson and adds an extra dynamic to the passing game. Alabama has some issues up front having to replace key departures on the line. LT Cam Robinson is a sure thing but his off the field issues could leave him on the bench early on. Ross Pierschbacher will replace Ryan Kelly at center. Freshmen Jonah Williams and Brandon Kennedy could see starting roles this season. Defense: Alabama’s defense was the class of the SEC once again in 2015. Bama allowed 15.1 points per game and led the nation in rush defense. Kirby Smart is gone but Jeremy Pruitt steps in. Alabama is poised to be even better in 2016 on the defensive side of the ball. Jonathan Allen returns and led the Crimson Tide with 12 sacks last season. Da’Ron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand step into significant roles up front. Hand had 6.5 TFL and 3 sacks in limited playing time. Reuben Foster is the leading returning tackler for Alabama. Foster becomes the leading man on the Tide defense after waiting for his time to shine. OLB Tim Williams is a force in the backfield, Williams recorded 9.5 sacks last season. The secondary is absolutely loaded despite the departure of Cyrus Jones. Marlon Humphrey had 45 tackles and 3 INT’s. Fellow corner Minkah Fitzpatrick added 45 tackles and took his only 2 INT’s to the house. Eddie Jackson is a sure bet for an All-American spot. Jackson led the Tide with 6 INT’s and is a dominant presence in the Tide secondary. Ronnie Harrison could become a potential star at FS. Special Teams: Senior kicker Adam Griffith converted on 23-32 FG’s last season. Punter JK Scott is one of the best in the country. Scott averaged 44.2 yards per punt in 2015. With Cyrus Jones gone, the return game may take a dip in production. Ridley is listed as the leading man to get punt returns. Damien Harris should be returning kickoffs. Overview: Nick Saban has the talent to win yet another national championship. The defense is loaded it almost doesn’t seem fair. Alabama opens the season with USC in Arlington, TX. A showdown with Ole Miss in Oxford in week 3 should provide a narrative of how good this team actually is. Trips to Tennessee and LSU appear to be potential roadblocks on the way to an SEC Championship. Alabama is clearly the best team in the West but LSU is not far behind. Saban and co. should find themselves in familiar position playing for a national title. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Cooper Bateman, JR, QB 52 ATT, 37 COMP, 71.2 PCT, 291 YARDS, 1 TD, 2 INT, 116.8 RATING Rushing Bo Scarbrough, SO, RB 18 ATT, 104 YARDS, 1 TD Receiving Calvin Ridley, SO, WR 89 REC, 1045 YARDS, 7 TD Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 14-1 2014 12-2 2013 11-2 2012 13-1 2011 12-1 Defense: Interceptions: Eddie Jackson, SR, SS 6 INT Sacks: Tim Williams, SR, LB 10.5 Sacks Tackles: Reuben Foster, SR, LB 48 Solo, 25 Assists, 73 Total Alabama Schedule
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#1T LSU Tigers
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Coach: Les Miles
Offensive Coordinator: Cam Cameron Defensive Coordinator: Dave Aranda Stadium: Tiger Stadium (102,321) 2015 Record: 9-3 The Breakdown Offense: LSU and Les Miles enter 2016 looking for a national championship. The offense returns 8 starters including Heisman trophy contender Leonard Fournette. LSU led the SEC in rushing a year ago, with 256.8 yards per game. As good as the running game is, the passing game is that much worse. LSU needs to find a balance if it wants to make it to Tampa. This could be the season that Brandon Harris finally breaks out, right? Harris threw for 2,165 yards and 13 TD’s with 6 INT’s. Harris has the ability to the run and throw but he does neither very effectively. Harris holds the key to how successful the LSU Tigers can be this season. Leonard Fournette is a man that needs no introduction. Fournette carried the ball 300 times last season for nearly 2,000 yards and 22 TD’s. Malachi Dupre led the Tigers in receptions, yards receiving and TD’s in 2015. Travin Dural is coming off a 28 catch season. LSU has one of the top offensive lines in the SEC, maybe the best. Center Ethan Pocic returned for his senior season and is going to be a top pick in next year’s NFL draft. The left side of the offensive line remains intact with sophomore Maea Teuhema at tackle and sophomore Will Clapp at guard. A couple veterans in Josh Boutte and Toby Weathersby will handle the right side. Defense: LSU has a special group of players of the defensive side of the ball heading into 2016. A new coordinator makes the third in as many years, but Dave Aranda has a talented bunch. LSU is going with starters Lewis Neal, Christian LaCouture, Arden Key and Davon Godchaux. Lewis Neal led the Tigers with 7 sacks and added 8.5 TFL. Godchaux is a force at the DT position, he accumulated 8 TFL and 5 sacks. Key had 38 tackles and 4 sacks. The Tigers have an extremely talented front four. The return of Kendell Beckwith was a huge boost for the middle of defense. Beckwith is the top returning tackler and recorded 10 TFL in 2015. Corey Thompson and Donnie Alexander have some playing time under their belt but will be thrust into a bigger role this season. Freshman Devin White could see some significant time on the field. Junior safety Jamal Adams headlines the Tigers secondary. Adams led the secondary with 63 tackles and 4 INT’s a year ago. Tre’Davious White is a very good corner who led the Tigers in PBU’s last season. White and Adams are the top guns of the group. Rickey Jefferson added 29 tackles and Kevin Toliver played big minutes his freshman season. Special Teams: Trent Domingue hit 13-17 FG’s last season and returns for his senior season down on the Bayou. Domingue could possibly handle punting duties as well. If it isn’t Domingue it will be freshman Josh Growden. Derrius Guice averaged 23.6 yards per returns on kickoffs last season. Tre’Davious White took 1 of his 20 returns to the end zone, averaging 11.5 yards per return. Overview: Les Miles just barely survived the hot seat a year ago. Miles has to feel the pressure with the group that he has this season. Miles could possibly have his most talented team ever down on the Bayou. LSU opens the season going north for a clash with Wisconsin in the famous Lambeau Field. A week four showdown at Auburn could be a trap game. LSU is blessed with having Bama and Ole Miss at home. The schedule sets up perfectly for the Tigers if they can beat Alabama in Baton Rouge. A win over Alabama and the Tigers should be heading to Atlanta before a possible trip to the CFB Playoffs. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Brandon Harris, JR, QB 277 ATT, 149 COMP, 53.8 PCT, 2165 YARDS, 13 TD, 6 INT, 130.6 RATING Rushing Leonard Fournette, JR, RB 300 ATT, 1953 YARDS, 22 TD Receiving Malachi Dupre, JR, WR 43 REC, 698 YARDS, 6 TD Defense: Interceptions: Jamal Adams, JR, SS 4 INT Sacks: Lewis Neal, SR, DE 8 Sacks Tackles: Kendell Beckwith, SR, LB 50 Solo, 34 Assist, 84 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 9-3 2014 8-5 2013 10-3 2012 10-3 2011 13-1 LSU Schedule
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#3 Auburn
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Head Coach: Gus Malzahn
Offensive Coordinator: Rhett Lashlee Defensive Coordinator: Kevin Steele Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) 2015 Record: 7-6 The Breakdown Offense: Auburn’s offense turned the Gus bus into the struggle bus in 2015. Auburn finished with 27.5 points per game (75th in the nation) and 370 total yards a game. (94th in the nation) Jeremy Johnson went from Heisman contender to the bench in only 3 games. A new season brings less hype and more excitement for the young and talented Tigers. If Gus Malzahn wants to stay off the hot seat, he will need better QB play. Auburn enters the season with 3 players fighting for the opportunity to start at QB. Jeremy Johnson, Sean White and JUCO star John Franklin III are 3 very different players. John Franklin III has the best shot to win the starting job. Franklin III enrolled at FSU out of high school and sat behind Jameis Winston before transferring. John Franklin III looks like Nick Marshall and has Auburn fans excited. Auburn is solid as usual at the RB position. Jovon Robinson benefitted from the early departure of Peyton Barber and the transfer of Roc Thomas. Robinson is in line to get the bulk of the carries with Kerryon Johnson as his backup. Auburn will use Johnson in different formations to get him some open space. H-backs Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway could play major roles in the rushing attack. Marcus Davis is the leading returning receiver. Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Meyers are true freshman who could make an impact in the passing game. Alex Kozan is the leader of the offensive line. Kozan, a senior, has had a tremendous career as an Auburn Tiger. Kozan has the potential to garner plenty of awards this season. Center Austin Golson and RG Brandon Smith are returning starters on the offensive line. Auburn is inexperienced at the tackle positions but Robert Leff and Darius James are full of potential. Defense: Auburn enters the season with a new defensive coordinator for the third consecutive season. Kevin Steele replaces Will Muschamp and has a very talented defensive unit. Injuries to key players played a big role in 2015. Auburn finally has the depth to sustain injuries to their star players. There are reasons to believe this could be the best Auburn defense in quite some time. Carl Lawson returns for his junior season. A healthy Lawson is a dangerous player, but injuries have derailed most of the past two seasons. Montravius Adams had 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season. Dontavius Russell is another big run stopper in the middle, Russell added 4.5 TFL in 2015. Byron Cowart and Marlon Davidson add depth to the DL and have a chance to shine this season. Auburn got a boost at the LB position with T.J. Neal adding the grad-transfer from Illinois. Neal was one of the better LB’s in the B1G. Tre’ Williams had 55 tackles and is in line for the starting OLB position. Auburn’s secondary is loaded with experience and talent. Carlton Davis led Auburn in interceptions as a true freshman. Jamel Dean and grad-transfer Marshall Taylor will battle for the other CB position. Rudy Ford led Auburn in tackles with 118 and is the leader of the defense. Tray Matthews made 46 tackles in 10 games in 2015. Special Teams: Kicker Daniel Carlson hit 23-27 FG’s with a long a 56 in 2015. Carlson was 4-5 from beyond 50 yards. Carlson has a chance to win the Groza award as he is one of the top kickers returning in 2016. Kevin Phillips pinned 17 punts inside the 20 last season. Phillips averaged 41 yards per punt. Marcus Davis will handle the punt returns. Kerryon Johnson and Rudy Ford both averaged over 27 yards per return on kickoffs in 2015. Overview: There will be no hype coming out of Auburn, Alabama this summer. Auburn will begin the season unranked and history would say that’s a good thing. Gus Malzahn has a roster that could potentially win 10 games in 2016. Auburn opens the season by hosting Clemson on the plains. A win in the opener could send shockwaves through the nation. Auburn doesn’t leave the plains until the second week in October. Road games at Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama will make the difference in another 7 win season or a spectacular one. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Sean White, SO, QB 143 ATT, 83 COMP, 58 PCT, 1166 YARDS, 1 TD, 4 INT, 123.3 RATING Rushing Jovon Robinson, SR, RB 117 ATT, 639 YARDS, 3 TD Receiving Jason Smith, JR, WR 13 REC, 203 YARDS, 2 TD Defense: Interceptions: Carlton Davis, SO, CB 3 INT Sacks: Montravius Adams, SR, DT 2.5 Sacks Tackles: Rudy Ford, SR, S 68 Solo, 50 Assist, 118 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 7-6 2014 8-5 2013 12-2 2012 3-9 2011 8-5 Auburn Schedule
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#4 Mississippi
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Coach: Hugh Freeze
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Luke, Dan Werner Defensive Coordinator: Jason Jones, Dave Wommack Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (60,580) 2015 Record: 10-3 The Breakdown Offense: Ole Miss led the SEC in scoring, passing offense and total offense in 2015. Chad Kelly was the reason and he returns to Oxford for his senior season. Kelly is on some early Heisman lists and for good reason. Chad Kelly completed 65% of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 31 TD’s. Chad Kelly can also get it done on the ground, he ran for over 500 yards and 10 scores. The problem for Kelly, he loses top wideout Laquon Treadwell. Akeem Judd will be the starter behind Kelly in the backfield. Judd averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 78 carries. Ole Miss has some playmakers at the WR position. The loss of Treadwell is enormous but Quincy Adeboyejo is a deep ball threat. He averaged nearly 17 yards a catch with 7 TD’s. Damore’ea Stringfellow added 36 catches for 503 and 5 TD’s. Markell Pack adds depth and 31 catches from last season. TE Evan Engram is a versatile player with great hands. His catch total should surpass last year’s 38. The offensive line will have some work to do. Ole Miss loses 3 starters and is asking big things from some younger players. Sean Rawlings is a returning starter at center. A player that is a much watch is incoming freshman Greg Little. Little was the #1 recruit for the Rebels in the offseason. The Rebels plan to use him as the starting LT out of the gate. Injuries to the OL could cause major havoc once the season begins. Defense: Ole Miss lost a ton of talent from last season’s defense. Ole Miss struggled defending the pass, coming in at 13th in the SEC. Ole Miss needs a solid pash rush and the man for this is junior DE Marquis Haynes, who led the Rebels in sacks a year ago, finishing with 10 sacks. Breeland Speaks and D.J. Jones are two big boys in the middle. Speaks and Jones both finished 2015 with 5.5 TFL. DeMarquis Gates is led the Rebels with 76 tackles a year ago. Gates may be the best player on the defensive side of the ball after Haynes. Tony Connor is looking to bounce back from an injury sustained early last season. Rommel Mageo was a pretty significant grad transfer for the Rebels. The secondary is going to be the key for the Landsharks this season. Tony Bridges and Kendarius Webster are veteran corners. Bridges had 3 INT’s and Webster finished with 43 tackles. Sophomore Zedrick Woods has breakout potential in 2016. Special Teams: Kicker Gary Wunderlich converted 19-25 FG’s and one of the top kickers in the entire SEC. Punter Will Gleeson averaged 40.7 yards per punt. Wunderlich also is used as a punter and he averaged 46.9 yards per in 9 attempts. Zedrick Woods and Jordan Wilkins will handle the kick returning duties. Overview: In an offseason that was anything but kind to the Rebels, it’s hard to imagine Ole Miss not being ready to kick-off the year. Chad Kelly is the reason why so many people are high on the Rebels in 2016. Kelly is a dynamic athlete with a ton of swagger. Coach Hugh Freeze has really turned the Ole Miss program around and fans are ready for a breakthrough. Ole Miss plays one of the marquee games on opening weekend, getting the Noles in Orlando on Labor Day. Ole Miss will either be poised for a big season or a letdown by the end of September. Week 3 brings Alabama to Oxford and then Georgia follows the next week. A road trip to Baton Rouge and a home date with Auburn round out October. November is a bit kind to the Rebels and could be a big month if they are an undefeated or one loss team. Ole Miss has a decent schedule with the potential for big time wins. Wins that are needed to make a push to the playoffs. A shaky offensive line is worrisome and the depth on the defensive side of the ball raises questions. Ole Miss may not top the 10 wins from a year ago, but it’s hard to count them out of any game with Chad Kelly playing QB. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Chad Kelly, SR, QB 458 ATT, 298 COMP, 65.1 PCT, 4042 YARDS, 31 TD, 13 INT, 155.9 RATING Rushing Chad Kelly, SR, QB 107 ATT, 500 YARDS, 10 TD Receiving Quincy Adeboyejo, SR, WR 38 REC, 604 YARDS, 7 TD Defense: Interceptions: Tony Bridges, SR, CB 3 INT Sacks: Marquis Haynes, JR, DE 10 Sacks Tackles: DeMarquis Gates, JR, LB 46 Solo, 30 Assist, 76 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 10-3 2014 9-4 2013 8-5 2012 7-6 2011 2-10 Mississippi Schedule
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#5 Texas A&M
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Coach: Kevin Sumlin
Offensive Coordinator: Noel Mazzone Defensive Coordinator: John Chavis Stadium: Kyle Field (102,733) 2015 Record: 8-5 The Breakdown Offense: A&M took a step back offensively a season ago. With both QB’s that played significant minutes in 2015 transferring, the Aggies have to turn to former Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight. Knight brings veteran leadership to the Aggies and he has a win over Alabama. Knight is surrounded by amazing skill players. His running back will be a familiar face in Keith Ford. Ford is also a transfer from Oklahoma. He’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry in his career. Ford is looking to become a valuable piece out of the backfield. Christian Kirk had his coming out party all season in College Station. Kirk has superstar potential as shown by his 80 catches, 1,009 yards and 7 TD’s as a true freshman. Josh Reynolds is a big play receiver, averaging 17.6 yards per catch. Reynolds finished with 51 catches for 907 yards and 5 TD’s. Ricky Seals- Jones is a solid third option. Seals-Jones pulled in 45 catches and 4 scores. Speedy Noil has yet to have his breakout moment but it could happen at any moment. Damion Ratley averaged 13.3 yards per catch. The Aggie receiving core is oozing with star potential. Texas A&M returns only 2 starters on the offensive line. Overall the offensive line is going to be a young unit. If the Aggies are going to be successful the line has to be better. The run block has to improve on 66th in the nation and they need to give Knight plenty of time to find his star receivers. Defense: Texas A&M finished 28th in the nation in scoring defense and finished top 5 in passing defense. Myles Garrett continued to dominate in his sophomore season. Garrett led the Aggies with 11.5 sacks, 19.5 TFL and 5 forced fumbles. DT Sophomore Daylon Mack added 9.5 TFL as a freshman last season. Daeshon Hall had a solid season playing opposite of Garrett. Hall recorded 54 tackles, 14.5 TFL and 7 sacks. Shaan Washington is the leading tackler back among the linebackers. The senior Washington finished 2nd with 81 tackles. Richard Moore appears to be getting a bump in playing time in 2016. Moore finished with 39 tackles. Otaro Alaka will be a player to keep a close eye on. Alaka missed all of last season with an injury. If he can bounce back, A&M will have another solid attacker. Priest Willis will get a chance to start at corner after sitting out a year due to his transfer from UCLA. Donovan Wilson led the Aggies with 5 interceptions, added 63 tackles, 8.5 for loss. Justin Evans finished with 78 tackles at the SS position. Armani Watts led the Aggies with 126 tackles in 2015. Special Teams: Sophomore Daniel LaCamera will take over the kicking role. LaCamera went 3/3 on XP last season. Freshman punter Braden Mann has to replace Drew Kaser who averaged 47.5 yards per punt. Those are some big shoes to fill. Christian Kirk and Speedy Noil will resume their roles as kickoff returners. Christian Kirk will handle the punts, after averaging 24.4 yards per returns and 2 TD’s. Overview: Texas A&M comes into the 2016 in the same sleeper role as last season. Kevin Sumlin has a put his eggs in the Trevor Knight basket. Knight has a great opportunity to flourish in College Station. The defense appears to be in good shape and special teams may drop off a bit. The schedule is somewhat kind to the Aggies. A&M opens with UCLA at home, a game that could tell us a lot about the Aggies. A week 3 date at Auburn is an important one. The Aggies draw a home date with the East favorite Tennessee Volunteers before visiting Tuscaloosa two weeks later. Texas A&M gets Ole Miss and LSU at home to finish out the season. A&M is in good shape getting Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss at home. A&M is the true definition of a sleeper, if things fall the right way they could be in Atlanta. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Jake Hubenak, JR, QB 75 ATT, 40 COMP, 53.3 PCT, 399 YARDS, 3 TD, 1 INT, 108.6 RATING Rushing James White, JR, RB 55 ATT, 196 YARDS, 1 TD Receiving Christian Kirk, SO, WR 80 REC, 1009 YARDS, 7 TD Defense: Interceptions: Donovan Wilson, JR, CB. 5 INT Sacks: Myles Garrett, JR, DE 12.5 Sacks Tackles: Armani Watts, JR, SS 83 Solo, 43 Assist, 126 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 8-5 2014 8-5 2013 9-4 2012 11-2 2011 7-6 Texas A&M Schedule
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#6 Arkansas
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Coach: Bret Bielema
Offensive Coordinator: Dan Enos Defensive Coordinator: Robb Smith Stadium: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000) 2015 Record: 8-5 The Breakdown Offense: Arkansas was one of the more efficient offenses in the country during the 2015 season. Arkansas will face an uphill climb to get that type of production this season. Key players Brandon Allen, Alex Collins, and Hunter Henry are all gone. The offensive line gets replaced with new faces meaning Bret Bielema has his work cut out for him. Austin Allen, little brother of former QB Brandon Allen will take over the reins for Bielema’s offense. He has big shoes to fill after his brother’s career year in 2015. Allen will have Kody Walker and Rawleigh Williams in the backfield. Both players should see plenty of carries unless one gets hot. The offensive line will be starting 3 underclassman. RT Dan Skipper is a big physical player. Drew Morgan led the Hogs in receptions and reception TD’s in 2015. Dominique Reed added 6 TD’s and 535 receiving yards, averaging over 19 yards per catch. Keon Hatcher had 13 catches with 2 TD’s before an injury derailed his season. Jared Cornelius out of the slot has big play potential. Jeremy Sprinkle is a big target at TE, catching 6 TD’s last season. Defense: Arkansas returns 9 starters from a defense that finished 12th nationally in rush defense. DE Deatrich Wise Jr. led the Razorbacks with 8 sacks in 2015. Taiwan Johnson and Jeremiah Ledbetter are a couple of big run stoppers in the heart of the line. The two combined for 12.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks. Arkansas has an experienced linebacker core, who can make big stops when called upon. Brooks Ellis led the Razorbacks in tackles last season with 102. Sophomore Dre Greenlaw added 95 tackles playing alongside Ellis. Henre’ Tolliver had 55 tackles, 4 for loss from the nickel position. The Hogs secondary got torched last season, ranking last in the SEC and 117 nationally. CB’s Jared Collins and DJ Dean are both seniors that need to play better in passing situations. Dean led the team with only 2 INT’s. SS Santos Ramirez had 35 tackles as a freshman. FS Josh Liddell had 2 INT’s and 52 tackles for Arkansas. Special Teams: Sophomore Cole Hedlund returns as kicker for the Razorbacks. Hedlund hit 9-15 FG’s in his freshman campaign. Toby Baker averaged 41.2 yards per punt last season. Jared Cornelius will returns punts again this season. Cornelius averaged 13.3 yards per return on 7 attempts. Dominique Reed averaged 22.2 yards per return on kickoffs last season. Overview: Bret Bielema going into his 4th season, has built his type of team in Fayetteville. Arkansas wants to continue to pound the ball until you submit and this will be the season to do so. Austin Allen is a huge question mark for the Hogs going into the season. Arkansas will need the protection to hold up for the running game. The defense should continue to dominate the classic run game as usual. Arkansas heads to Ft. Worth in week 2 for a showdown with TCU. Arkansas got a scheduling gift with Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida and LSU all at home. A road game at Auburn may be the only one that worries Hog fans. It may be a challenge for Arkansas to exceed the 8 win total from a year ago, but they will be bowling once again this season. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing: Austin Allen, JR, QB 3 ATT, 1 COMP, 33.3 PCT, 35 YARDS, 1 TD, 0 INT, 241.3 RATING Rushing Kody Walker, SR, RB 90 ATT, 394 YARDS, 6 TD Receiving Drew Morgan, SR, WR 63 REC, 843 YARDS, 10 TD Defense: Interceptions: Josh Liddell, JR, FS 2 INT Sacks: Jeremiah Ledbetter, SR, DT 2 Sacks Tackles: Brooks Ellis, SR, LB 45 Solo, 57 Assist, 102 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 8-5 2014 7-6 2013 3-9 2012 4-8 2011 11-2 Arkansas Schedule
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#7 Mississippi State
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Coach: Dan Mullen
Offensive Coordinator: Billy Gonzales, John Hevesy Defensive Coordinator: Peter Sirmon Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium (61,337) 2015 Record: 9-4 The Breakdown Offense: Fans in Starkville will soon find out what life is like without Dak Prescott. Prescott may have been a once in a lifetime talent for Mississippi State fans. Dan Mullen has done an admirable job during his tenure at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs lost a ton of talent but they may not be in rebuilding mode. Sophomore QB Nick Fitzgerald appears to be the kid to replace Dak. Fitzgerald played very well when given the opportunity. He accounted for 6 TD’s (3 pass, 3 rush) and didn’t turn the ball over. Brandon Holloway rushed for 413 yards in only 92 attempts. Holloway was dangerous in the passing game with 33 catches and 5 TD’s. Top receiver Fred Ross returns for his senior season. Ross had a career season with 88 catches, 1,007 yards and 5 TD’s. Donald Gray hauled in 21 catches with an 18.4 yard per catch average. Gabe Myles found the end-zone twice with limited catches. The offensive line returns 3 starters. Justin Senior, Jamaal Clayborn, and Devon Desper are all seniors and have to improve if they want to give the Bulldogs a chance to win. Deion Calhoun is a young LG with potential to be really good in the coming years. Defense: The Bulldogs return 6 starters on the defensive side. DE A.J. Jefferson was a force in the backfield with 11.5 TFL and 5 sacks. DE Jeffery Simmons was the top recruit and could see some playing time behind Torrey Dale. Richie Brown led Mississippi State in tackles last season with 109 and sacks 6.5. Brown is tenacious player, who won’t take a play off. J.T. Gray will start alongside Brown, Gray recorded 62 tackles. Freshman Leo Lewis and Tim Washington could be thrust into playing meanful minutes early in the season. The secondary could be a sore spot on the defensive side of the ball. Brandon Bryant played well at safety last season and led the Bulldogs with 3 INT’s. Kivon Coman was second on the team in pass break ups with 7. Sophomore Mark McLaurin could see the starting safety spot. Tolando Cleveland heads into his senior season looking to improve on his 41 tackles. Special Teams: Junior kicker Westin Graves converted on 15-18 FG’s and is one of the reliable spots on the Bulldogs roster. Logan Cooke, a junior averaged 42.2 yards per punt. Fred Ross will handle the punt returns, Ross took one to the house and averaged 10.5 per return. Brandon Holloway averaged 23.6 yards per return on kickoffs with a TD. Overview: Dan Mullen won’t call it a rebuilding season, but the Bulldogs are short on talent in certain positions. Dak Prescott really carried this team a year ago, leading them to a 9 win season. If the Bulldogs reached 9 wins it would be a miracle. 6 wins is reasonable to expect but could be harder than some imagine. Mississippi State gets South Carolina and Kentucky from the East. They do some traveling this season with a trip to Massachusetts to play the Minutemen and a tricky road trip to BYU. The Bulldogs also travel to LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss, not exactly a recipe for success. It will be an encouraging season if Nick Fitzgerald ends up outperforming expectations. |
Top Returners:
Offense: Passing Nick Fitzgerald, SO, QB 14 ATT, 11 COMP, 78.6 PCT, 235 YARDS, 3 TD, 0 INT, 290.3 RATING Rushing Brandon Holloway, SR, RB 92 ATT, 428 YARDS, 0 TD Receiving Fred Ross, SR, WR 88 REC, 1007 YARDS, 5 TD Defense: Interceptions: Brandon Bryant, SO, SS 3 INT Sacks: Richie Brown, SR, LB 6.5 Sacks Tackles: Richie Brown, SR, LB 51 Solo, 58 Assist, 109 Total Last Five Year Win Totals 2015 9-4 2014 10-3 2013 7-6 2012 8-5 2011 7-6 Mississippi State Schedule
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