SEC Football: Biggest Question Left for Each Team to Answer
The 2015 college football season is quickly approaching with well under two months left until opening weekend.
When fall camp begins in a few weeks, head coaches will work to fine-tune their teams, tie up loose ends and have their squad ready to go to start the season.
Most SEC schools will start the season against a Power Five opponent. Without a tuneup game to start the year, teams can't afford to have any details left to iron out when they head into their first games.
So what are the biggest question marks in the SEC as another college football season looms right around the corner?
Here is a look at the questions each SEC team needs to answer for the 2015 season.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Who Will Be the Starting Quarterback?
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I'll go ahead and warn you that this isn't the last time you'll see this question.
Alabama is one of several SEC schools that came out of spring practice with an undecided quarterback battle. For the Tide, the race for the starting spot seems to be between senior Jacob Coker and redshirt freshman David Cornwell.
Cornwell has yet to take a snap in a college game, while the majority of Coker's action at the collegiate level has come in mop-up duty both at Florida State and Alabama.
After backing up Blake Sims last season and leading the first-team offense through the spring, Coker should be considered the favorite for the job. But some like Cornwell's chances.
Based on recent results, Alabama fans can rest easy regardless of who wins the job. In its last three seasons with a first-year starter, Alabama has a record of 38-3, including two national championships and a College Football Playoff appearance.
With that said, Jacob Coker at least has some game experience, and if he hasn't been overtaken yet, he should be the signal-caller for Alabama in 2015.
Arkansas Razorbacks: How Will Dan Enos Affect the Offense?
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Arkansas has predicated its offense on running the football under Bret Bielema. But new offensive coordinator Dan Enos should help bring a more balanced attack to Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks return two 1,000-yard rushers from last season in Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. So Arkansas certainly won't be abandoning the running game, just opening up the offense.
Enos comes to Arkansas after a stint as head coach at Central Michigan. Last season, the Chippewas produced 61 percent of their total offense through the air. The Razorbacks passing game accounted for 46 percent of the offense in 2014.
Arkansas has a senior quarterback in Brandon Allen, while Keon Hatcher and Hunter Henry should both serve as reliable targets.
It's only a matter of time before we see what tweaks Enos makes to the offense.
Under Enos' direction, a much more balanced Arkansas offense should jump from 2,444 passing yards in 2014 to more than 2,800.
Auburn Tigers: Who Will Be the Lead Running Back?
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Over the last two years, Auburn has become used to having a workhorse at running back to lead Gus Malzahn's dynamic rushing attack.
Last year, Cameron Artis-Payne led the Tigers with more than 300 carries for 1,608 yards. In 2013, Tre Mason also received more than 300 carries and rushed for 1,816 yards on his way to becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist.
The search for the next Auburn bell cow is still ongoing. The battle to replace Artis-Payne is between sophomore Roc Thomas, JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson and sophomore Peyton Barber.
Both Thomas and Barber received limited opportunities as freshmen as the two combined for 53 carries. Meanwhile, Robinson set single-season JUCO rushing record at Georgia Military College with 2,387 rushing yards.
Malzahn's offense typically spreads the ball to a wide range of playmakers. But one back will need to step up and carry the load in the running game.
That running back will likely be Robinson, and he should be in for a big year.
Florida Gators: What Will the Offensive Line Look Like?
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Few position groups at any school in the SEC have as little depth as Florida has on the offensive line.
The Gators returned only eight scholarship offensive linemen from last season.
Jim McElwain did a nice job of rectifying that situation during the recruiting season, signing six offensive linemen in the 2015 class, including top O-line prospect Martez Ivey. Florida also brought in two-time FCS All-American Mason Halter, who will be eligible to play in the upcoming season.
While the recruiting helps to get numbers up, it doesn't add any experience at the position. The Gators return only one offensive lineman who started a game in 2014.
McElwain has his work cut out for him to put together an offensive line that can create holes for Kelvin Taylor and provide pass protection for whoever wins the starting quarterback job.
Starting O-line prediction: LT David Sharpe, LG Antonio Riles, C Trip Thurman, RG Travaris Dorsey, RT Martez Ivey.
Georgia Bulldogs: Who Will Be the Starting Quarterback?
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I told you you'd see this one again.
The Bulldogs are another SEC team that has unresolved quarterback issues. The battle at Georgia is between sophomore Brice Ramsey, Junior Faton Bauta and incoming transfer Greyson Lambert out of Virginia.
Lambert brings more experience to the table than the others. He started nine games last season, throwing for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns. Ramsey handled mop-up duty last season attempting just 39 passes for 333 yards.
Bauta threw only five passes last season but is also a dual-threat quarterback, unlike Lambert or Ramsey.
As usual, Georgia will contend for an SEC East title in 2015. But the Bulldogs need to find the quarterback to lead them there.
Brice Ramsey might not have the experience, but his impressive arm talent should cause him to beat out Lambert to take the starting spot.
Kentucky Wildcats: Who Fills in the Holes on the Defensive Front?
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Kentucky experienced major losses from last season in the form of Za'Darius Smith and Bud Dupree. The two defensive linemen led the team in sacks and were only behind Josh Forrest in tackles.
The Wildcats have to find answers on the defensive front to replace the pressure that Smith and Dupree were able to put on SEC offenses.
Senior Farrington Huguenin is expected to take over for Smith at defensive tackle. Huguenin made only 18 tackles last season, and a big bump in production is needed from him to round out what should be an effective defensive line with Regie Meant and Melvin Lewis.
The battle to replace Dupree on the edge will come down to Jason Hatcher and redshirt freshmen Denzil Ware. Hatcher registered 28 tackles in 11 games last season.
Huguenin and Hatcher should replace Smith and Dupree, but the Wildcats are likely to experience a drop-off in the pass rush.
LSU Tigers: Who Will Start at Quarterback?
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Once again there's a starting-quarterback question that needs to be answered.
The quarterback situation at LSU is a little different from other schools searching for a starter. Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris both received playing time last season. Jennings was the starter for the majority of the season, but Harris got his chance in a start against Auburn.
However, neither quarterback performed well enough last season to create any job security headed into 2015. Both quarterbacks had completion percentages under 60 percent.
Both have had the chance to show what they can do. But one of these players has to show improvement and take command of the offense to help LSU improve from its 8-5 record from 2014.
Brandon Harris seems to be the better athlete, and his upside and potential will force Cam Cameron to give him the reins to the offense.
Mississippi State: Who Will Fill in on the Offensive Line?
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Mississippi State has talent to replace all over the field, but it starts with the men up front. The Bulldogs return only two offensive linemen from last season's 10-3 squad.
Last year's offensive line played a key part in the Bulldogs' success on offense, opening up holes for Josh Robinson to run for 1,203 yards and protecting Dak Prescott.
But Blaine Clausell, Dillon Day and Ben Beckwith are all gone from Starkville, leaving spots open at left tackle, center and right guard.
Devon Desper looks like the favorite to to take over the spot at guard, while senior Rufus Warren looks to take over the job protecting Prescott's blind side.
Veterans Justin Senior and Justin Malone will have to step up and help breaking in the new guys on the offensive line for the Bulldogs to have a chance at sustaining their success from last season.
Missouri Tigers: Where Will the Pass Rush Come From?
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Shane Ray and Markus Golden teamed up to create one of the best pass-rushing duos in the country for Missouri in 2014. It will be tough for the Tigers to replace the pressure that Ray and Golden were consistently able to provide.
After Ray and Golden, defensive tackle Harold Brantley was the Tigers' most effective pass-rusher last season. Brantley registered five sacks and 58 tackles last season. Brantley broke his leg in a car crash recently and will not be suiting up for the 2015 season, per NBC Sports' John Taylor. The loss of Brantley is another crushing blow for the Missouri defense.
The Tigers were able to help their case in the 2015 recruiting class. Gary Pinkel was able to land 5-star defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr., who should contribute to the defense immediately.
As far as finding replacements on the edges goes, Rocel McWilliams and Charles Harris should be the favorites to take over for the dynamic duo.
Ole Miss: Who Will Start at Quarterback?
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Ole Miss is yet another SEC team still trying to decide on the right signal-caller for the 2015 season. Like some of the other quarterback battles in the conference, there's a transfer that factors into the mix.
The battle in Oxford consists of sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade and JUCO transfer Chad Kelly.
Kelly put up big numbers en route to a JUCO national championship at East Mississippi Community College. He threw for 3,906 yards and rushed for another 446.
Kincade and Buchanan both waited their turn behind Bo Wallace last season for Ole Miss. Kelly has received the most attention of the three and should be the favorite to win the starting job.
Chad Kelly should be under center for the Rebels' season opener.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Defensive Line
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South Carolina had one of the worst defenses in the SEC in 2014, ranking 13th in the conference in total defense last season.
The biggest deficiency for the Gamecocks defense came up front. South Carolina finished last in the SEC in sacks.
Gerald Dixon and Gerald Dixon Jr. both need to step up their play on the defensive line to put pressure on quarterbacks and plug up holes in the running game. South Carolina brought in a new co-defensive coordinator in John Hoke to help improve the defense from last year's effort.
New JUCO recruit Marquavius Lewis should also factor in on the defensive front and could be an instant upgrade on the edge for the Gamecocks.
Tennessee Volunteers: Can the Vols Overcome Their Youth?
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Tennessee as a team might be the SEC's biggest question mark in 2015.
Butch Jones has assembled enough talent on Rocky Top to make the Vols a legitimate SEC contender. Talent isn't much of a question for Tennessee, but experience is.
Last season, Tennessee played more freshmen than any other team in the country. With another top-five recruiting class coming in this season, several more freshmen should contribute this season. The Vols will rely on several players with less than a year of starting experience this season such as quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
To validate the hype Tennessee has received preseason, it will have to prove that its talent can overcome the lack of experience.
It will be tough to navigate an SEC schedule with so many underclassmen at key positions, but the Vols talent should be enough for them to be a legitimate competitor in the SEC East.
Texas A&M: Will John Chavis Improve the Aggies Defense?
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It was a high-profile hire in the offseason, but soon it will be time for the results to show.
The Texas A&M defense has struggled mightily the past two years. The Aggies ranked last in the SEC in total defense in each of the last two seasons.
John Chavis is expected to take the talent Texas A&M has on the defensive side and turn it into a powerful defense on the field. Some of the pieces are in place for Chavis, but he is literally bringing A&M up from the bottom.
He should be excited to work with defensive end Myles Garrett, who set an SEC-Freshman record last season with 11.5 sacks. Incoming 5-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack should also make an impact as part of the defensive front.
It might be tough to ask too much out of Chavis in year one, but he will at least have the Aggies as a middle-of-the-pack defense in 2015. Hey, it's better than dead-last.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Who Will Start at Quarterback?
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It probably wouldn't be fitting to end the list any other way.
Of all the SEC quarterback battles this year, the one at Vanderbilt has to be the messiest.
Last season, it seemed like head coach Derek Mason was throwing things at the wall and hoping they would stick when it came to selecting a quarterback. Four different quarterbacks started for the Commodores. They all failed to impress.
Freshman John McCrary was the only quarterback to throw more touchdowns than interceptions, but even he had 9-8 ratio.
New offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has the unenviable task of trying to create some offensive consistency for Vanderbilt this season.
If no quarterback steps up in a big way in the fall, it would make sense to pick the player with the most upside going forward. That player would be McCrary, and he should have the first crack at taking control of the offense for Vanderbilt to start the season.
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