4 SEC Starters Who Are in Danger of Losing Their Spots to 2015 Signees
Last week, I discussed three SEC starting quarterbacks who could lose their starting jobs heading into the 2015 season.
Let's take it a step further.
National signing day just wrapped up, and some signees in the class of 2015 could step right in and unseat starters at various positions around the SEC.
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Which returning starters could lose their jobs to signees in 2015? Here are our top four:
Texas A&M QB Kyle Allen
Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: I don't expect Texas A&M sophomore quarterback to lose his job to 5-star dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray, for two reasons:
- Allen is the present of the Aggies offense, while Murray might be the future.
- If Murray is a high draft pick in the Major League Baseball draft, that guaranteed money and longer earning power will be hard to pass up.
With that said, Allen is in a little bit of danger if Murray does, indeed, enroll at Texas A&M.
Just three years ago, Jameill Showers had all but locked up the starting quarterback role in College Station after spring practice over then-redshirt-freshman Johnny Manziel and others.
But this is head coach Kevin Sumlin—a guy who's not afraid to be bold.
After three straight state titles and zero losses over his last three seasons at Allen (Texas) High School, Murray has become a legend in the rough-and-tumble world of Texas high school football. The 5'10", 180-pounder has the arm strength to push the ball downfield and the dual-threat capabilities that helped make the Aggies offense successful under Manziel.
Allen was impressive down the stretch last season, particularly in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in the 45-37 win over West Virginia, when he threw four touchdown passes and ran in another. That was important, because the bowl practices leading up to the game were the first time he's received first-team snaps in a camp-like setting, which suggests that further improvement in the offseason should be expected.
If that doesn't happen, and Murray is waiting in the wings, the dual-threat star is certainly capable of taking the job and running with it.
Maybe that's why Allen is keeping a keen eye on him.
Alabama CB Eddie Jackson
Cyrus Jones has one cornerback spot at Alabama locked down, after he progressed nicely throughout the 2014 season, picking off a team-high three passes.
The other side, though, is still a question mark. Eddie Jackson was hit-and-miss after tearing his ACL last offseason, Bradley Sylve was forced into action at times when Jackson struggled and former stud recruits Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey were waiting in the wings.
Add two more contenders for that job.
Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick—two 5-star cornerbacks—signed with Alabama earlier this month and will join the program this summer. They both have the talent to be stars in the SEC. Sheffield has tremendous coverage skills and fantastic closing speed, and he can hang with the quickest wide receivers in the game. Fitzpatrick has similar attributes, but at 6'1", 198 pounds, he has more length to deal with bigger wide receivers.
Would head coach Nick Saban really start a true freshman at cornerback, especially since he didn't insert Brown or Humphrey last season despite Jackson's struggles?
Typically not, but these aren't traditional times in Tuscaloosa.
Mel Tucker was brought in specifically to coach defensive backs. That shifted defensive coordinator Kirby Smart's positional responsibility from safeties to inside linebackers and took some pressure off of Saban, who is more hands-on with cornerbacks than any other positional group.
That means a clean slate for everybody, and if either Sheffield or Fitzpatrick impress Tucker this summer, starting from the jump isn't out of the question.
Tennessee NT Danny O'Brien
Tennessee returns three of its four starters (and seven of eight players on the two-deep) on the defensive line, and the man in the middle had better be looking over his shoulder.
Danny O'Brien finished last season with 23 tackles, 4.5 for loss and one sack and was Tennessee's starting nose tackle as the season came to a close. O'Brien will miss spring practice, though, according to head coach Butch Jones (via: 247Sports).
That opens the door for Owen Williams, a senior who had plenty of playing time as part of the rotation last year, in the short term. Long term, though, the pressure will be on O'Brien and Williams to fend off newcomers looking to make an impact.
Shy Tuttle, a 6'3", 315-pound true-freshman early enrollee, will be chopping at the bit to earn immediate playing time. The former 4-star prospect is big and athletic, and he will benefit tremendously from the extra practice session.
The big challenge—literally and figuratively—will be coming this summer.
Kahlil McKenzie was the headliner in Tennessee's 2015 recruiting class. The 6'3", 354-pound monster is the big-body defensive coordinator John Jancek needs in the middle of the line, is quick off the ball and is athletic enough to do be a force from the moment toe meets leather for the 2015 season.
"When I talked to McKenzie, he said he felt like he was good enough to play anywhere on the defensive line, from a 0-technique to a 7-technique," B/R national college football video analyst Michael Felder told me last month. "The kid isn't wrong. Seven might be a stretch, but he certainly is athletic enough to be a 5-technique in a 3-4 but then turn around and play zero or one on the next snap. His speed is going to give centers and guards problems, and his strength will help him no matter where he lines up for the Volunteers."
Tuttle and McKenzie didn't sign to sit the bench. Because of that, every returning member of the interior defensive line should keep their heads on a swivel and watch out for the newbies.
Auburn DEs DaVonte Lambert and Gimel President
There's a reason 5-star defensive end Byron Cowart was such a big signing for Auburn and head coach Gus Malzahn—Auburn needs a pass rush.
Carl Lawson will be back to help out after missing last season with a torn ACL, but Cowart could be the other bookend in what looks like it could become one of the fiercest pass rushes in the SEC in 2015.
"You're talking about one of the best players in the country," Malzahn said of Cowart on national signing day. "He'll have a chance to compete and a chance to be on the field immediately with his skill set."
As Justin Hokanson of 247Sports notes, Auburn looks pretty set at defensive end with Cowart and Lawson together.
Lambert is recovering from a knee injury and, at 6'2", 293 pounds, has the size and strength to drop down and play inside for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. President, at 6'4", 259 pounds, is best suited as a strong-side defensive end, which could put his status in question once Cowart arrives on campus.
Auburn experimented with a wide variety of combinations to fix its pass-rush issue last year, including the move of 6"2", 213-pound hybrid linebacker/safety Brandon King to defensive end in specific situations. It won't have to with a healthy Lawson and Cowart on board.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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