Top College Football Offenses with Biggest Holes to Fill in Spring Practice
The top offenses in college football have holes to fill next season, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it.
There's a strong correlation between having a top offense and having a top quarterback, and another strong correlation between having a top quarterback and losing one. Why? Because top quarterbacks don't typically become top quarterbacks until they're older. And when they're older, they leave to get paid.
The eight teams that follow finished with a top-10 offense in 2014, according to the F/+ ratings at Football Outsiders. For emphasis: I played no part in deciding the top 10 offenses; I deferred to one of my favorite (and, objectively, one of the best) statistics.
Instead, my job was taking those top 10 offenses and deciding if and where they had holes to fill this spring. Ohio State, the No. 2 offense in 2014, has no glaring holes of which to speak. Oregon, the No. 3 offense, has a gaping hole at quarterback, but the battle to fill that role is moot until FCS transfer Vernon Adams arrives this summer.
The other eight teams on this list, however, have important work to do over the next few months. If they want to retain their spots among the top 10 offenses, they must plaster a hole during spring camp.
Sound off below and let us know what you think.
Alabama
1 of 8
Where's the Hole?
In the passing game. Quarterback Blake Sims and Alabama's top three receivers, Amari Cooper, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones, are no longer with the program. Slot receiver Chris Black returns, as does tight end O.J. Howard, but there is little to no experience at the two outside receiver spots.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
Fortunately, Alabama has options. So is the virtue of (a) being Alabama and (b) winning five straight recruiting national championships.
Redshirt senior Jake Coker, who transferred from Florida State last summer, returns as the early favorite to start under center. Pushing him are four capable alternatives: early-enrolling 5-star Blake Barnett, strong-armed redshirt freshman David Cornwell, redshirt sophomore Cooper Bateman and redshirt junior Alec Morris.
As for the wide receivers: Robert Foster was a 5-star recruit in 2013, and Cam Sims was a top-100 recruit in 2014. Redshirt sophomore ArDarius Stewart, another 2013 recruit, led all returning candidates with 12 catches for 149 yards last season. Other candidates include junior Raheem Falkins and redshirt freshman Derrick Kief.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Calvin Ridley was the No. 11 overall recruit and No. 1 wide receiver in 2015. He and Barnett established a healthy rapport at "The Opening" last summer. Also joining the fray is top-100 overall recruit Daylon Charlot, whom Alabama poached from LSU's backyard (Patterson, Louisiana). The quarterback field, however, is set.
Auburn
2 of 8
Where's the Hole?
In the passing game. Two-year starting quarterback Nick Marshall departs, as do leading receiver (by yards) Sammie Coates, No. 3 receiver Quan Bray and leading tight end C.J. Uzomah.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
Jeremy Johnson is the overwhelming favorite at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Sean White is the future, but in order to pull the upset, he would need to play like Peyton Manning.
At receiver, D'haquille Williams locks up one starting spot and is a Biletnikoff candidate. Competing for the other outside spot: Ricardo Louis, Tony Stevens and Melvin Ray. Competing to start in the slot: Marcus Davis, Stanton Truitt and Myron Burton.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Auburn signed a pair of top-200 overall receivers: Darius Slayton (No. 141) and Ryan Davis (No. 188). Slayton (6'1", 182 lbs) is better served on the outside, while Davis (5'10.5", 172 lbs) is better served in the slot. Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee called Slayton "the under-the-radar signee who will explode for Auburn in 2015."
Baylor
3 of 8
Where's the Hole?
At quarterback. Two-year starter Bryce Petty departs after one of the best runs in Baylor football history. Under his command, the Bears won two Big 12 titles (one solo, one shared) and made two BCS/CFP bowl games, although they came up short in both.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
Seth Russell backed up Petty the past two seasons and posted huge numbers (48-for-85, 804 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT in 2014). However, those numbers came against lackluster competition, so he'll have to fight to win this job.
Competing with Russell are a pair of athletic specimens: 6'5" redshirt sophomore Chris Johnson and 6'4" early enrollee Jarrett Stidham, both of whom are mobile options. Stidham, the No. 38 overall recruit in 2015, might be the biggest signee in Baylor history.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Nope. With Stidham arriving early, this quarterback field is set.
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Florida State
4 of 8
Where's the Hole?
At quarterback. Jameis Winston leaves a 6'4", 230-pound, Heisman-shaped gash on this offense. Even with the last year's 18 interceptions, he won the first 26 starts of his Florida State career.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
Junior Sean Maguire backed up Winston in 2014. He started when Florida State suspended Winston for the Clemson game, and although he had an uneven performance, he led the Noles to a 17-10 win.
Competing to unseat Maguire from his perch as the tentative favorite: redshirt freshman JJ Cosentino, true freshman De'Andre Johnson and converted track star/wide receiver John Franklin.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Yes; and in a big way. Deondre Francois was the No. 64 overall recruit and No. 3 pro-style quarterback in 2015. He lacks an ideal frame (6'1", 195 lbs) but throws a live ball and plays with moxie. Enrolling after spring ball hurts his chances, but if no other QB makes an assertive case to start, he can swoop in and win the job.
Georgia
5 of 8
Where's the Hole?
In the passing game. Senior quarterback Hutson Mason departs, as do leading wide receivers Chris Conley and Michael Bennett. No returning player logged more than 300 receiving yards last season.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
If healthy, Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley should start on the outside. The problem? It's hard to trust their health. Scott-Wesley has appeared in just 11 games the past two seasons, and Mitchell missed all of 2013 with a knee injury. Both are being touted as healthy, but Georgia, for the sake of being safe, must develop a Plan B.
Junior Reggie Davis and sophomores Isaiah McKenzie and Shakenneth Williams are the main names to watch in spring camp. Juniors Kenneth Towns and Blake Tibbs will also compete, but they're long shots.
As for the quarterbacks: There's a tight three-way battle between Faton Bauta, Jacob Park and Brice Ramsey. Ramsey backed up Mason in 2014 but struggled in the Belk Bowl. Park was Mr. South Carolina Football in 2014 but took a redshirt as a freshman. Bauta is the oldest and most athletic QB on the roster but hasn't shown the arm to run this offense.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
At quarterback, unfortunately, no. But at receiver, absolutely.
Five-star athlete Terry Godwin can play receiver and has the quickness to explode as a freshman. Georgia also signed a top-250 overall player, Jayson Stanley, and a top-400 overall player, Michael Chugbu, to come in and compete on the outside.
Georgia Tech
6 of 8
Where's the Hole?
At the skill positions. Georgia Tech loses (brace yourself) seven of its top eight running backs, including each of its top four, and both of its leading wide receivers from last season. Its Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 7 leading pass-catchers were running backs who departed.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
If he's healthy, Broderick Snoddy will be one of the two starting A-backs. He suffered a gruesome leg injury at the end of last season but might be ready by fall camp. Dennis Andrews has the inside track for the other starting A-back slot.
At B-back, though, things get interesting. Redshirt freshman C.J. Leggett has the early lead, but true freshman Quaide Weimerskirch will push him in spring camp. No returning B-back has a single career carry.
At receiver, Michael Summers will keep his role as a primary blocker, but who will replace DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller as vertical threats? Redshirt sophomores Antonio Messick and Ricky Jeune saw the field last season, but combined they recorded just one catch: a 16-yard touchdown by Messick at NC State. Three-star Harlond Howell enrolled for spring camp and will push them for reps.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Plenty. Receiver Christian Philpott was the No. 501 recruit in 2015—ranking more than 400 spots higher than Howell (No. 939). Even with less time to practice, he stands a good chance of earning reps.
If Snoddy or Andrews look sluggish, 3-star freshmen TaQuon Marshall and Omarhi Jarrett will factor in at A-back. Same goes for 3-stars Mikell Lands-Davis and Marcus Marshall at B-back.
Marcus' older brother is former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.
South Carolina
7 of 8
Where's the Hole?
At quarterback. Fifth-year senior Dylan Thompson departs, depriving the roster of proven QB talent. The returning candidates have thrown nine combined passes at the FBS level.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
Connor Mitch (six career passes) and Perry Orth (three career passes) alternated behind Thompson last season. Mitch was the No. 345 overall recruit in 2013, making him the only spring quarterback with any sort of pedigree. Orth and the Gamecocks' No. 3 option, Michael Scarnecchia, each ranked outside the top 1,650 as recruits.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Fortunately—desperately—yes. Lorenzo Nunez was the No. 324 overall recruit and No. 10 dual-threat quarterback in 2015. He checks in at 6'2.5", 190 pounds, and has FBS-level scrambling ability. If he proves he has an arm in fall practice, he's a threat to win the job.
UCLA
8 of 8
Where's the Hole?
At quarterback. Ten offensive starters return, but the one who leaves—three-year starting QB Brett Hundley—was the best player on the team and one of the best offensive players in UCLA history.
Who Will Compete in Spring Practice?
It all starts with true freshman Josh Rosen, the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 1 quarterback in 2015. He is 6'4", deceptively mobile and led his team (St. John Bosco) to consecutive California state titles games in high school, winning the first before losing the second.
Despite his youth, Rosen has the best chance to start in 2015. He'll compete with junior Jerry Neuheisel, who played hero when Hundley left the Texas game with an arm injury, and sophomore Asiantii Woulard, a gifted athlete with questionable passing skills.
Any Reinforcements If They Fail?
Nope. This is all UCLA has to work with.
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings
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