Bold Predictions for SEC Football in 2017
There are only two teams remaining in the Football Bowl Subdivision with the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide set to take on the Clemson Tigers in next week's College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa, Florida.
Again, the SEC is still standing, much like it has throughout recent history. UA head coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide more often than not have been the standard bearers for the conference in the past few years, and they are yet again this year.
Don't look for that to change in 2017, either.
As the year kicks off and the college football season winds down, it's never too early to look toward the future. After all, everybody but the Tide and Tigers are already peering into the crystal ball for September's kickoff, right?
So what can we expect from the SEC? There will be plenty of stars to replace and plenty more stars to replace them. A trend under center looks to reverse itself, and there even could be a changing of the guard in multiple SEC towns across the Southeast.
Plus, who holds the advantage in the conference as we look ahead at the next year? Here are some bold predictions for 2017.
Alabama Quarterback Jalen Hurts Will Be Invited to Heisman Trophy Ceremony
1 of 9
Despite some midseason buzz, Alabama true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts wasn't invited to New York City for the 2016 Heisman Trophy ceremony.
That will change next year.
The dual-threat signal-caller is one of the most talented players in the nation, and he plays for a machine in Tuscaloosa that is going to churn out yards like an assembly line. He'll have a staunch running game at his disposal and plenty of receiving weapons.
When you combine that with his own playmaking ability, there's no reason for Hurts to fall short again in '17. Alabama will be where Alabama always is near the top of the college football universe, and Hurts will be the one leading the way.
The Channelview, Texas, native also has the intangibles to win the award.
"If you know Jalen, he don't get anxious," left tackle Cam Robinson told AL.com's Rainer Sabin after Saturday's win over the Washington Huskies in the national semifinal.
So he's a calm, cool, collected leader who is even more talented and just so happens to play for the nation's top team. Yeah, that's not even that bold to say he'll be a finalist for college football's top individual award.
But Derrius Guice Will Win It
2 of 9
You want bold? How about this one?
Yes, this year's Heisman Trophy-winning player will be back in Louisville Cardinals quarterback sensation Lamar Jackson. Yes, Oklahoma's Houdini-in-cleats signal-caller Baker Mayfield will return with a slew of weapons, too. Hurts has been discussed already, and there are plenty of other candidates.
But LSU Tigers junior-to-be running back Derrius Guice is about to make things a lot easier on a Tigers team that must say goodbye to future first-round pick Leonard Fournette.
To be honest, he already has.
With Fournette nursing his share of injuries much of the season, Guice lived up to his own former top-prospect billing by making the All-SEC Coaches First Team with 1,387 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns and a 7.6 yards-per-carry average. He also helped LSU to a 29-9 win over Louisville with 138 yards on the ground.
In the process, he outshone Jackson. It's just a sign of things to come.
With Ed Orgeron taking over head coaching duties and with a prolific young offensive mind in Matt Canada as the new coordinator, the future is bright in Baton Rouge. Guice is just the guy to help ease the lingering quarterback concerns, and he'll get the ball plenty.
If he stays healthy, he'll put up massive numbers. And though Alabama's defense will still be strong, he won't have to face the same monster squad he did this year, either.
At Least Three SEC Programs Will Fire Their Head Coaches
3 of 9
The uncertainty around the futures of several programs is palpable, and 2017 could be the last chance for several coaches.
Though Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Vanderbilt's Derek Mason seemed to take a step forward and away from the coaching ledge in 2016, there are others who remain close to the tipping point.
At Texas A&M, Kevin Sumlin endured his third consecutive late-season meltdown as his team went from fourth in the initial College Football Playoff standings to finishing 8-5. With all that money around College Station and a perfect setup to win big, patience is wearing thin.
Mediocrity won't be accepted, especially after hated neighbor Texas made a splash hire with Tom Herman.
Auburn may have just played in the Sugar Bowl, but Gus Malzahn's Tigers still finished just 8-5 with a lopsided loss to Oklahoma. With plenty of pieces in place for a '17 run, he'll be expected to produce a double-digit-win season.
With all the expectations in Knoxville this year, coach Butch Jones couldn't bring home a division title. Then, late in the year with a Sugar Bowl berth on the line, the Vols lost to Vanderbilt to slide to the Music City Bowl. They beat Nebraska to finish 9-4, but there is still unrest on Rocky Top.
With the Vols making an offensive coordinator change and with so many strong players departing, it could be a tough rebound year.
Hugh Freeze didn't make a bowl game this year at Ole Miss, and the Rebels still have that NCAA cloud looming over them. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has plenty of questions to answer after back-to-back late-season collapses against Missouri and Virginia Tech.
Others could join the list, too. So don't be surprised if at least three of those guys get the ax and programs elect to go in a different direction after the '17 season.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Florida's Defense Will Still Be Strong
4 of 9
Even though head coach Jim McElwain came into Florida with the reputation of being an offensive guru, his defense has carried the Gators over the first two years.
That will continue in 2017 despite changes that will include replacing departed coordinator Geoff Collins, the new head coach at Temple, and several stars who won't be around next year.
Topping that list is junior cornerback Jalen "Teez" Tabor, who will be one of the top defensive backs taken in the draft. Also, backfield mate Quincy Wilson declared for the draft following the Outback Bowl, and he will be a high selection, too.
Linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley and safety Marcus Maye will also be taken by pro teams.
"As Florida’s 2016 season comes to a close on Monday, it’s time to focus on the 2017 NFL Draft," SEC Country's Pete Scantlebury wrote. "Florida players are already dotting the mock drafts across the news outlets, with a defensive-heavy flavor to the Gators’ draft prospects."
How can the Gators stay strong while losing all those horses?
Star defensive back and Outback Bowl MVP Chauncey Gardner will be a star next year, and UF also will boast rising studs CeCe Jefferson and Jabari Zuniga along the defensive front. Defensive back Duke Dawson is coming back, too.
The myriad injuries from this season led to playing time for linebackers David Reese and Vosean Joseph and defensive lineman Jachai Polite. Keivonnis Davis, Nick Washington, Marcell Harris and Kylan Johnson also are promising.
A lot of talent is gone, but whomever McElwain names as the coordinator (likely interim Randy Shannon) will have plenty of clay to mold.
Quarterback Will Become a Conference Strength
5 of 9
For the past few years since the A.J. McCarron, Johnny Manziel and Aaron Murray class in 2013, the quarterback position hasn't been a consistent strength of the SEC.
That will change in 2017.
Yes, the league will miss prolific passer Chad Kelly of Ole Miss and dual-threat star Joshua Dobbs of Tennessee, but there is a wealth of talent at the position ready to blossom in the conference.
We've already discussed Hurts, who is one of the brightest young players in the nation. Mississippi State looks like it's got a difference-maker in dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who burst onto the scene and helped the Bulldogs transition to life without Dak Prescott.
When Kelly went down, true freshman Shea Patterson showed glimmers of his star talent. Fellow true freshman Jake Bentley looks like a long-time leader for the Gamecocks in South Carolina. Yet another true freshman in Georgia QB Jacob Eason has the arm talent to be special.
Sophomores Drew Lock of Missouri and Kyle Shurmur of Vanderbilt had bright moments, too.
That's not even mentioning veterans like LSU's Danny Etling—who should benefit from Canada's play-calling—Arkansas' Austin Allen and Florida's Luke Del Rio.
Add that to the tantalizing possibility that Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham could be a perfect fit for Malzahn's Auburn offense, and Tennessee has two talented hopefuls in redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano and junior Quinten Dormady.
It's a safe bet there are plenty of stars in the making in that group. Several will join Hurts at the top of the heap.
Life Without Joshua Dobbs Will Start off Rocky on Rocky Top
6 of 9
Joshua Dobbs was a polarizing quarterback in Knoxville over much of his career, but he became universally loved on Rocky Top in 2016 when he carried the team on his shoulders in leading the Volunteers to an average of 36 points per game.
He could win games with his feet, and after improving his passing credentials during his senior year, he became a downfield threat with his arm.
Now, thanks to injuries forcing him into action far before he was ready, he's gone. And the Vols are left to find his replacement in what could be a critical year for fifth-year head coach Jones.
The battle will be between two players who are very different in junior drop-back quarterback Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman dual-threat, strong-armed signal-caller Jarrett Guarantano. That battle begins this spring, and it's one Vols fans are eager to see.
Now there is a wrench thrown into things as well, with offensive coordinator Mike DeBord's decision this week to leave Knoxville for the same position at Indiana to be closer to his family, according to VolQuest.com's Rob Lewis.
The Vols will be breaking in a new play-caller to run Jones' offense to go along with a new quarterback.
There's no denying the talent of the two candidates, but Dobbs won so many games with his elusive ability and making something out of nothing, it's difficult to imagine UT won't skip a beat without him behind center.
The future is bright for the two new Vols, but the immediate returns probably won't approach Dobbs' level of ability. That could make for some rocky times in Knoxville.
Georgia Will Be the Beast of the East
7 of 9
It was a forgettable first season for Kirby Smart, but the win over the TCU Horned Frogs in the Liberty Bowl gave the Bulldogs eight victories and ended the year on a positive note.
The future should be a lot better.
Not only does Georgia return Eason, who should grow into one of the SEC's top quarterbacks with a little more seasoning, but the Bulldogs also got some good news when running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel elected to return for their senior seasons.
If Chubb especially returns to his pre-knee-injury form, he'll be one of the marquee runners in the country.
Factor in an improved offensive line, a defense that should be better the second season under coordinator Mel Tucker and perhaps the best recruiting class in school history that rivals Alabama and Ohio State, and Smart will have plenty of weapons.
The Bulldogs have Scout's No. 2-ranked class, and they just continue to add to the group with several spots remaining.
With the Under Armour All-America Game commitment of defensive back Deangelo Gibbs makes the ninth top-100 prospect to pick the Bulldogs this recruiting cycle. That’s the most in school history. In addition, 19 of the Bulldogs’ 22 players are considered Scout 300 players.
Considering Tennessee and Florida lose a lot, that opens the door for the Bulldogs to take over an open East. South Carolina should be stronger with a young nucleus, and the Vols and Gators will have plenty of talent, too.
But this looks like the perfect opportunity for UGA to seize control.
The Iron Bowl Will Decide the SEC West
8 of 9
Who is going to topple the Tide from the top of the rankings?
The best chance of that happening in 2017 may be at the beginning of the season when Alabama plays Florida State in Atlanta. But perhaps the second-best shot will come in the regular-season finale when UA plays hated rival Auburn.
The Crimson Tide have handled the Tigers ever since the "Kick Six" game, but if Malzahn can pair Stidham with running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson, and that defense continues to surge under coordinator Kevin Steele, the Tigers are building a program again.
There were some tough times in 2016, but AU still did enough to make it to the Sugar Bowl, despite it being a down year in conference. There's no denying Stidham's talent, and while it will likely be an open competition, it's hard to imagine Sean White or somebody else beating him for the job.
If he can continue to show the promise he did under Art Briles at Baylor, Stidham could be a game-changer for the Tigers. All their defensive talent will be a year more seasoned, and the running game is going to be strong, too.
Alabama loses a ton off that historically strong defense, but Saban grows 5-stars on trees in Title Town. He'll just plug and play players who'll emerge into the league's best all over the field. When you factor in all that returning offensive talent, it's the safest bet in the country to have 'Bama coming out of the West.
That division will be decided on the loveliest city on the Plains on the regular season's last weekend. LSU may have a say in all this, but the Tide and Tigers will be the best of the West.
Alabama Will Win Another National Title
9 of 9
Death, taxes and Alabama championships.
It's getting to be an old cliche.
Saban forces teams to play his boring old brand of ugly football mostly because his defense is so dominant that opponents can't play up to their capabilities in that game. With all the adjustments the Crimson Tide have made offensively, they've turned into an unstoppable force.
The defense shows no signs of stopping, but if it struggles, UA has enough offensive firepower to make up for it.
With the way Saban continues to recruit, Alabama will continue to load the NFL draft with talent. It also will continue to replace that talent with players who are just as good if not better than the ones who leave.
That may sound like the rest of the nation waving the surrender flag, but by now, you've got to give the program its due. Alabama is a dynasty everybody loves to hate, but it's a dynasty nonetheless. Clemson has the chance to beat the Tide with star quarterback Deshaun Watson next week, and it had better.
If the Tigers don't, it'll be tough for head coach Dabo Swinney's team to make it back for the third consecutive year with a first-year starting quarterback in 2017. Yes, Ohio State and Oklahoma will have a wealth of talent, but can they do enough to beat Alabama next year?
Will another team emerge?
All that is possible, but would you really bet a lot of money on the field right now, especially considering Alabama's track record? The safe bet is UA winning another national title this year and then another one next year.
Rinse. Repeat.
Quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered on CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter: @Brad_Shepard.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
