SEC Football: Each Team's Weakest Position Group for 2015
Every team has a weakness, even in the SEC.
Despite consistently having more than half of its schools among the top 20 or 30 in recruiting each year, as well as leading the way annually in players who get drafted into the NFL, each SEC team still has a positional area of concern heading into the 2015 season. Either because of attrition, injuries or lack of performance, each team is missing something at a certain spot on the field.
The key will be finding a way to make these weaknesses better between now and the start of next season or figuring out how to prevent them from becoming too troublesome.
Check out which position group each SEC team will be spending the most time addressing during the 2015 offseason.
Alabama: Wide Receiver
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Notable returners: Chris Black (Jr.), Robert Foster (So.), Cam Sims (So.), ArDarius Stewart (So.)
Key losses: Amari Cooper, Christion Jones, DeAndrew White
Top newcomers: Calvin Ridley
Alabama would be in a bad enough situation at wide receiver if it only lost Amari Cooper, the junior whose 124 receptions, 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns were all single-season school records. Yet the Crimson Tide also graduated their No. 2 and No. 3 receivers, which leaves Chris Black as their most experienced wideout.
He has a grand total of 23 receptions and two touchdowns in two seasons, with both TDs coming in 2013.
"With all three starting wide receiver spots up for grabs, there will be ample opportunity for Alabama’s next group of young but talented wide receivers," Bleacher Report's Marc Torrance wrote, citing Cam Sims as the best bet to have a breakout year.
Sims, a 4-star recruit from the 2014 class, had seven receptions for 62 yards and a TD last season.
With the inexperience at this position, 5-star commit Calvin Ridley will probably get a chance to play right away.
Arkansas: Linebacker
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Notable returners: Brooks Ellis (Jr.), Dwayne Eugene (So.), Khalia Hackett (So.), Randy Ramsey (So.), Josh Williams (Jr.)
Key losses: Braylon Mitchell, Martrell Spaight
Top newcomers: Derrick Graham
Unless it lands a few more commitments in the next two weeks, Arkansas will go two straight recruiting classes with only a single linebacker coming on board. And with two of its three starters graduating, that will make for some potential depth issues in 2015.
The Razorbacks have a good one coming back in Brooks Ellis, who had 72 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season. The 6'2", 237-pound junior anchors the middle, but reserves will need to fill the strong- and weak-side spots.
Several backups saw time last season, with Josh Williams making the biggest impact, but he did most of that spelling Ellis. It will be a tall task for whoever is asked to replace Martrell Spaight, who led the SEC in tackles.
Auburn: Secondary
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Notable returners: S Johnathan Ford (Sr.), S Joshua Holsey (Sr.), CB Jonathan Jones (Jr.), S Derrick Moncrief (Sr.)
Key losses: CB Jonathan Mincy, S Trovon Reed, S Jermaine Whitehead
Top newcomers: S Jordan Colbert, S Tim Irvin
Auburn's defense had a bad reputation last season, mostly because of a lack of pressure up front and horrible tackling in open space, particularly in the secondary. Yet the Tigers tied for the SEC lead with 22 interceptions, preventing things from getting worse.
The problem is, only nine of those picks came from players who return for 2015. Jonathan Jones intercepted six passes, while Johnathan Ford had three takeaways.
Because teams tended to throw a lot on Auburn, many reserves saw a lot of time on the field. Joshua Holsey had 41 tackles, while Derrick Moncrief added 27. Each figures to battle for a starting spot this season.
New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp had great secondaries while at Florida, so don't be surprised if he can make something out of this struggling unit. That likely will include implementing some of the new recruits, most notably 4-star prospect Tim Irvin.
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Florida: Offensive Line
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Notable returners: OT David Sharp (So.), OT Rob Johnson (So.), OG Trip Thurman (Sr.)
Key losses: OG Trenton Brown, C Max Garcia, OT Chaz Green, OT D.J. Humphries, OG Tyler Moore
Top newcomers: OT Mike Horton, C Tyler Jordan, OG Brandon Sandifer
Depth on the line, more than anywhere else, might be the most important thing a team needs in order to ensure success. Offensive linemen can suffer a litany of injuries, making it necessary to sub in frequently for those who get hurt or worn down during a game.
Yet with four starters and five players—representing 47 starts from last season—leaving, Florida's 2015 line is devoid of experience and almost as thin in overall manpower. According to Zach Abolverdi of The Gainesville Sun, Florida brings back only eight players. Just one of those, senior Trip Thurman, is an upperclassman.
"Certainly that's an area that we're going to have to address and we're going to need to have some players come in and be ready to play," offensive line coach Mike Summers, who was retained by new Florida coach Jim McElwain, told Abolverdi. "But wherever there are concerns, there are also opportunities. There are young players that have been developing, and they will have their opportunity to step forward."
Thurman started 10 games last season, including the Birmingham Bowl at left guard, while David Sharp had three starts and Rob Johnson appeared in six games. The Gators only have seven commitments in their 2015 class, with three of those on the offensive line.
Georgia: Quarterback
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Notable returners: Faton Bauta (Jr.), Jacob Park (R-Fr.), Brice Ramsey (So.)
Key losses: Hutson Mason
Top newcomers: None
Unless Georgia lands an impact transfer, its quarterback for 2015 is going to be someone who wore a Bulldogs uniform last season. He just didn't get it very dirty, if at all.
Hutson Mason attempted 277 of Georgia's 322 passes and took an even higher percentage of the Bulldogs' snaps last year, his first as a starter after spending several seasons serving as Aaron Murray's backup. After being spoiled with a four-year guy in that spot, Mason managed the spot but mostly deferred to Georgia's prolific running game.
The same is likely this fall, though new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer figures to want more involvement from the passing game in his attack. Brice Ramsey had the bulk of the time at backup, with Faton Bauta getting limited reps.
The one to watch is Jacob Park, a 4-star pro-style quarterback from the 2014 class who redshirted.
Kentucky: Linebacker
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Notable returners: Ryan Flannigan (Sr.), Josh Forrest (Sr.), Khalid Henderson (Sr.)
Key losses: Bud Dupree, TraVaughn Paschal
Top newcomers: Eli Brown, Jordan Brown
Bud Dupree was such an important part of Kentucky's defense, he essentially played two positions. His skills enabled the senior to operate out of a hybrid slot that was part defensive end, part linebacker, and based on what the Wildcats have coming back, they will miss his linebacker.
Kentucky brings back its other two starters, seniors Ryan Flannigan and Josh Forrest, but after that things get thin quickly. Khalid Henderson was a key reserve, but beyond him no other backup made more than seven tackles.
Last year's recruiting class brought Flannigan from junior college, but the freshmen didn't contribute. Much more is expected from this year's defensive prospects, with 4-star Eli Brown capable of contending for Dupree's vacant outside linebacker spot.
LSU: Quarterback
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Notable returners: Brandon Harris (So.), Anthony Jennings (Jr.)
Key losses: None
Top newcomers: Justin McMillan
LSU's quarterback situation in 2015 is going to look a lot like it did last year. While that's great for continuity, it doesn't foster much confidence after the way the tandem of Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings looked on the field.
The pair combined for 50 percent accuracy, less than 163 yards per game and 17 touchdowns on just 276 attempts. Passing wasn't the primary part of the Tigers offense, but that was due to poor performance as much as the strength of the run game.
"The Tigers will not win the SEC if they do not get better quarterback play," Bleacher Report's Carter Bryant wrote.
Short of landing a veteran transfer at the position, the only other viable option is Justin McMillan. The 3-star pro-style passer enrolled early and figures to be involved in the competition this spring.
Mississippi State: Running Back
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Notable returners: Brandon Holloway (Jr.), Ashton Shumpert (Jr.)
Key losses: Nick Griffin, Josh Robinson
Top newcomers: Nick Gibson, Keith Mixon, Alec Murphy
It wasn't as shocking as some early departures, but Josh Robinson's decision to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft took many by surprise. Mississippi State was caught off guard by the loss of Robinson, who in 2014 led the team with 1,203 rushing yards while scoring 11 touchdowns and helping to reduce the number of carries that quarterback Dak Prescott took on.
If the Bulldogs thought Robinson might leave, they would have probably given more touches to the two guys who have the best chance to replace him, Brandon Holloway and Ashton Shumpert. They combined to rush it 92 times and score three TDs, only slightly more work than Robinson got as the main backup in 2013.
MSU does have a trio of ball-carriers in its incoming recruiting class, highlighted by 4-star prospect Nick Gibson.
Missouri: Wide Receiver
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Notable returners: Nate Brown (So.), Wesley Leftwich (Sr.), J'Mon Moore (So.)
Key losses: Jimmie Hunt, Bud Sasser, Darius White
Top newcomers: Richaud Floyd, Emanuel Hall, Johnathon Johnson, Ronnell Perkins, Justin Smith
If any of the five wide receiver recruits that Missouri has lined up for 2015 catch a pass in the season opener, he might as well be instantly converted from newcomer to veteran. That's how thin the Tigers are outside, where after graduating all three starters they bring back three wideouts who combined for a whopping nine receptions last season.
Or less than half of what leading returning receiver Sean Culkin, a tight end, had in 2014.
Jimmie Hunt, Bud Sasser and Darius White had 117 receptions for 2,073 yards and 23 of the 25 touchdowns that quarterback Maty Mauk threw. Mauk struggled despite having three seniors to work with, which doesn't bode well for this fall with so little experience coming back.
Ole Miss: Linebacker
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Notable returners: DeMarquis Gates (So.), Denzel Nkemdiche (Sr.), Christian Russell (Sr.)
Key losses: Serderius Bryant, Keith Lewis, Deterrian Shackelford
Top newcomers: Terry Caldwell, Leo Lewis, Zedrick Woods
Ole Miss' biggest single question mark in 2015 will be at quarterback, where three-year starter Bo Wallace is gone and the Rebels will have a challenge finding a solid replacement. But they have more options for that one position than they have for the entire linebacking corps next season.
Though they only use two linebackers in the 4-2-5 alignment that made the "Landsharks" so tough in 2014, both of the starters have moved on, along with key reserve Keith Lewis. But Denzel Nkemdiche, who was knocked out by a broken ankle in October, figures to jump in and take back the outside linebacker spot he shared with Serderius Bryant.
Leo Lewis, a 4-star in-state recruit, is the top-rated inside linebacker in the country and will get a chance to play right away.
South Carolina: Quarterback
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Notable returners: Connor Mitch (So.), Perry Orth (Jr.)
Key losses: Dylan Thompson
Top newcomers: Lorenzo Nunez
So long, Dylan Thompson. You will be greatly missed.
After he set the school record for passing yards in a season with 3,574 yards, South Carolina heads into 2015 with its least amount of returning experience at the quarterback position in Steve Spurrier's career at the school.
Thompson was only a full-time starter for one season, but he saw plenty of action in previous years. The same can't be said for backups Connor Mitch and Perry Orth, who have attempted nine career passes. That's two less than wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who has thrown three touchdowns out of Wildcat formations in the past two seasons.
Lorenzo Nunez, a 4-star dual-threat passer from Georgia, could wind up competing for the starting job this summer if neither Mitch nor Ortz impresses during the spring.
Tennessee: Offensive Line
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Notable returners: OT Dontavius Blair (Jr.), C Mack Crowder (Sr.), OT Jacob Gilliam (Sr.), OG Marcus Jackson (Sr.), OT Kyler Kerbyson (Sr.), OT Jashon Robertson (So.)
Key losses: None
Top newcomers: OT Jack Jones
For Tennessee, the problems with the offensive line aren't a matter of depth, as the Volunteers bring back all five starters and plenty of reserves who saw action. It's more a quality issue, as that line was all-new in 2014 and struggled throughout the year.
The 43 sacks the Vols allowed were tied for sixth-worst in FBS, and the number would have been greater had quarterback Joshua Dobbs not been so mobile.
"Even though the personnel isn't yet in place for UT's offensive line to be a team strength in 2015, excuse time is over," Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote. "The unit appears to be the biggest obstacle standing in the way of a quality Vols offense. It needs to be vastly improved next year."
Texas A&M: Secondary
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Notable returners: CB Devonta Burns (Sr.), CB Victor Davis (So.), CB De'Vante Harris (Sr.), CB Nick Harvey (So.), CB Sam Moeller (Jr.), S Armani Watts (So.), S Donovan Wilson (So.)
Key losses: CB Deshazor Everett, S Clay Honeycutt, S Howard Matthews, S Floyd Raven
Top newcomers: CB Roney Elam, S Justin Dunning, S Justin Evans, S Larry Pryor
While Texas A&M's secondary earns the dubious distinction of being its weakest position group, that comes with a caveat: With a little improvement, it has the chance of being the Aggies' strongest spot on the field in 2015.
The loss of three starters, led by cornerback Deshazor Everett, will force the rest of the young secondary to grow up fast. Underclassmen such as Armani Watts—who had three of the Aggies' five interceptions in 2015—will have to do much more in order to prevent SEC passing games from devouring A&M.
Extra help is coming in this next recruiting class, with three defensive backs rated at four stars or better by 247Sports.
Vanderbilt: Quarterback
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Notable returners: Wade Freebeck (So.), Johnny McCrary (So.), Patton Robinette (Jr.)
Key losses: Stephen Rivers
Top newcomers: Kyle Shurmur
In many cases, when a school ends up starting four different quarterbacks, it's due to a rash of injuries. For Vanderbilt, it was more a case of trying anything and everything to find someone to consistently lead the Commodores offense, though none of the quartet of starting passers was able to do that in 2014.
That group was whittled down to three when Stephen Rivers, a graduate student, transferred after one season. He only completed 38.5 percent of his throws with three interceptions and zero touchdowns, so it wasn't a huge loss.
The main starter of the group was Johnny McCrary, though he was pulled early in the regular-season finale in favor of Patton Robinette. The position is completely wide open for 2015, with 4-star pro-style prospect Kyle Shurmur among the Commodores' top incoming recruits.
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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