Biggest X-Factors in the SEC West in 2015
The SEC West was the most competitive division in college football in 2014, and this upcoming season is shaping up to be no different.
From Alabama to Arkansas, there's no such thing as an easy win on the SEC West schedule as the division is loaded with quality teams from top to bottom.
With so many top-notch teams, one weak link for any team could possibly be the difference between competing for a spot in Atlanta or being in the the bottom half of the division. Each team in the West feels like it has a legitimate chance to take the division crown.
However, each school will also need to have certain players improve, step up and lead their team in order to have a chance at winning the title in college football's deepest division.
Here are some of the biggest X-factors in the SEC West as the 2015 season approaches.
Mississippi State Offensive Line
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The Bulldogs return only seven starters from last year's veteran squad, the fewest in the SEC. Only three starters return from a defense that ranked 12th in the SEC in total defense last season.
So with the defense expected to struggle, the offense will need to score a lot to keep the Bulldogs afloat. The offense's success will likely hinge on the offensive line.
Mississippi State is still in good shape at the skill positions. Quarterback Dak Prescott returns for his senior season, and top receivers De'Runnya Wilson and Fred Ross are back. Replacing Josh Robinson at running back won't be easy, but junior Ashton Shumpert is more than capable of having a big year.
Of last year's starting five, only Justin Senior and Justin Malone are back on the offensive line. That means there are open spots at left tackle, center and right guard.
If head coach Dan Mullen can find the right guys to plug in on the O-line, the Bulldogs' offense could go without skipping a beat in 2015.
Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre, LSU
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The quarterback situation at LSU was less than stable in 2014, and it doesn't seem like that's changed much at this point.
Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris both had their chances last season, and neither quarterback did enough to inspire a great deal of confidence.
Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre are both talented wide receivers who can be a huge help to whoever wins the starting role. Dural led LSU with 758 receiving yards last season, while Dupre was second on the team with 318 yards.
Both receivers need to be able to create separation from defensive backs this season and give the quarterbacks some easy completions to help build their confidence.
LSU's offense surely won't be confused with Steve Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun offense from his days at Florida, but the passing game needs to do enough to give running back Leonard Fournette space to operate in the running game.
LSU has won under Les Miles without stellar quarterback play before. The Tigers made it to a national championship game in 2011 with Jordan Jefferson at quarterback. While that team had an elite defense and strong run game, it also had talented wide receivers in Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham.
Dural and Dupre need to up their production from 2015 to help make LSU's passing game respectable this season.
Brandon Allen, Arkansas
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Brandon Allen has earned the classic "game manager" role as the starting quarterback in head coach Bret Bielema's ground-and-pound offense. He's asked to hand the ball off, avoid turnovers and occasionally make plays when needed.
The term "game manager" isn't necessarily negative, but under new offensive coordinator Dan Enos, Allen will look to get rid of the moniker in his senior year.
Allen threw for 2,285 yards last season. Cooper Rush, Enos' starting quarterback at Central Michigan, threw nearly a thousand more.
The Razorbacks' running game is dominant, and with Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins returning, that shouldn't be any different this season. Still, the Razorbacks should have a more balanced offense this season, which means an expanded role for Allen.
The stout rushing attack and stingy defense already make the Razorbacks a solid team. If Allen can prove to be a quarterback who can go out and win a game, defenses won't be able to load the box against the run, and the offense will instantly open up.
A more aggressive Allen could propel the Razorbacks up from their last place finish in the division last season.
John Chavis, Texas A&M
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John Chavis was one of two big-name defensive coordinator hires in the SEC West this offseason. After six seasons in Baton Rouge, Chavis stayed in the division and took the coordinator job at Texas A&M.
Chavis became known for developing talent on the defensive line at LSU, and he'll have talent to work with at A&M.
Defensive end Myles Garrett was second in the SEC in sacks with 11.5 in his freshman year, and his progress under Chavis should be something to watch over the next two years. The Aggies also brought in 5-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack as part of the 2015 recruiting class. Mack is expected to immediately contribute.
Kevin Sumlin's offenses at A&M have almost always been effective. The same can't be said for the defense. Texas A&M has had the worst defense in the SEC each of the last two seasons.
The Aggies have taken steps back since their 11-2 season in 2012, going 9-4 and 8-5 the last two years. Chavis' impact on the defense could be what Texas A&M needs to get back to competing at a high level in the West.
Ole Miss Quarterback
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Ole Miss is one several SEC teams that has an undecided quarterback battle heading into the season. JUCO newcomer Chad Kelly and redshirt freshmen Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade all have a shot at the job.
Kelly seems to be the favorite to win the job, but head coach Hugh Freeze has said there is no timetable for a final decision.
“It maybe two weeks into fall camp when it is obvious or it may be two games into the season before it is made,” Freeze said at SEC media days, per Rebels247's Dave Bevan. “I am not really going to put myself in a box on that. I really want to evaluate all the fair chance to see who is the most efficient at leading our offense.”
Whoever wins the job will be given control of a team that returns 17 starters and has a legitimate chance to finish what it started last season and win the West.
The entire offensive line is back. Lead rusher Jaylen Walton returns, and Laquon Treadwell and Evan Engram should be reliable targets to help break in the new signal-caller.
The Rebels just need someone to step up, take control of the job and lead this talented Ole Miss team.
Alabama Secondary
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Alabama has a reputation of always having a stingy defense, but the secondary has certainly been questionable the last few seasons.
That was especially true in 2014 as Alabama surrendered 3,164 passing yards, the most of any season in Nick Saban's tenure in Tuscaloosa. Alabama also ranked last in the SEC in passes of 10 or more yards surrendered and 11th in passes of 20 yards or more.
The Crimson Tide bring back All-SEC cornerback Cyrus Jones, and former cornerback Eddie Jackson was moved to safety in the spring to help accommodate the loss of Landon Collins and Nick Perry on the back end. Sophomore and former 5-star recruit Tony Brown will likely take the other corner spot.
This year's secondary should be aided by what might be the deepest front seven in country, led by junior tackle A'Shawn Robinson and senior linebacker Reggie Ragland.
At SEC media days, head coach Nick Saban addressed the strength of the defensive front and the need for the secondary to improve, per CBS Sports' Chip Patterson:
"Defensively, we have a lot more experience, a lot more veteran returning players. We're going to have a very, very good front seven, and I think it's important that the secondary does not give up the kind of explosive plays we gave up at the end of the season last year.
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Talent is certainly never the issue at Alabama. An improved secondary paired with Alabama's defensive front might result in a defense that could rival some of Saban's best.
Will Muschamp, Auburn
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Auburn's hiring of Will Muschamp was one of the biggest offseason moves in the SEC and could have a huge impact on the SEC West race.
As good as Auburn's defense has been under head coach Gus Malzahn, the defense has been sub-par at best. In the last five years, the Tigers haven't finished higher than ninth in total defense in the SEC.
Much like with Chavis at Texas A&M, everyone at Auburn hopes Muschamp is the guy to change that.
The Tigers have several elite players on the defensive line, including Montravius Adams and Carl Lawson. Auburn's defense is led by the senior linebacker duo of Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy.
In the secondary, All-SEC safety Jonathan Jones will be joined by transfers Blake Countess from Michigan and Tray Matthews from Georgia.
Muschamp has consistently produced quality defenses at every stop in his career. A stingy Auburn defense paired with Malzahn's potent offense would mean trouble for the rest of the SEC and would make the Tigers a serious national title contender.
Malzahn had extremely high praise for Muschamp at media days, calling him "the best mind in all of football, not just college football," per ESPN's Greg Ostendorf.
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