SEC Football: Biggest Remaining Position Battles in Fall Camp
Here we are, two weeks from the start of the college football season, and several key position battles around the SEC are still unsettled.
From Alabama's quarterbacks to Auburn's running backs to Georgia's defensive line, starting spots are still up for grabs on some of the highest-profile teams in the country.
Which position battles are the biggest? Our picks based on scheme, preseason ranking and number of contenders are in this slideshow.
10. Texas A&M Running Backs
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If you view Texas A&M as a team that slings it all over the field, running backs Tra Carson and James White are about to change your mind.
The duo, along with new offensive line coach/running game coordinator Dave Christensen, are going to bring a more downhill approach to an Aggie rushing attack that was far too east/west over the last three seasons.
How will the depth chart shake out? If Texas A&M is going to play at a high tempo, one needs to assert himself as the top option to prevent substitutions that slow that tempo down.
According to offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, per KZNE 1150 in College Station, Texas, the two have set the tone during fall camp:
"For the young kids, we're throwing them into the fire. From Tra Carson to James White, those two have been great. - Spavital on RBs
— The Zone (@Zone1150) August 13, 2015"
Which one will step up? Will they both play in the same backfield? The answer to those questions will complete the Texas A&M offensive puzzle and make it nearly impossible to slow down.
9. South Carolina Quarterbacks
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South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has a crowded quarterback battle on his hands, and it looks like it's coming to an end, according to Josh Kendall of the State:
"Steve Spurrier says he's ready to name QB starter "in the very near future." http://t.co/zWhk3AvPnq
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) August 20, 2015"
Who will it be?
Junior (and former walk-on) Perry Orth, sophomore Connor Mitch, redshirt freshman Michael Scarnecchia and true freshman Lorenzo Nunez are all vying for the top spot on the depth chart, although Spurrier made it clear to the Post and Courier's David Caraviello that Nunez—the only dual-threat quarterback in the group—has been relegated to more of a package quarterback.
The odds-on favorite is Mitch, who has the most upside and experience of the group. Plus, the timetable is accelerated a bit thanks to the Gamecocks opening the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against cross-state rival North Carolina.
Spurrier needs to get to it following Saturday's scrimmage, because the eventual winner needs to start getting unquestioned first-team snaps soon.
8. Arkansas Wide Receivers
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Wait, Arkansas has wide receivers?
Yep, a good one in Keon Hatcher, in fact. Behind the 6'2", 210-pound senior, though, there are a lot of question marks.
As the Associated Press (via KTBS) notes, head coach Bret Bielema and new offensive coordinator Dan Enos are counting on guys like JoJo Robinson and Dominique Reed to step up and take some pressure off of Hatcher.
Wide receivers coach Michael Smith commended the progress of Robinson—a 5'11", 190-pound redshirt freshman from Miami—earlier in fall camp:
""The guy who's had the best camp, besides Keon, is Jojo Robinson." - @CoachMichaelSmi > http://t.co/InhJmsn64t pic.twitter.com/sdU4jOmN6e
— Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) August 12, 2015"
The Hogs are going to open up just a little bit more in 2015, and that means somebody other than Hatcher needs to emerge outside.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Tennessee Middle Linebackers
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Tennessee has one of the most talented and underrated linebackers in the country lining up outside in Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Who's going to line up next to him in the middle of the Vol defense, though, is still a mystery.
The battle for the starting middle linebacker spot on Rocky Top has been narrowed to three, according to Dustin Dopirak of the Knoxville News-Sentinel: junior Kenny Bynum, sophomore Colton Jumper and freshman Darrin Kirkland.
As Dopirak notes, Bynum is likely the front-runner, but Kirkland is putting on a charge late in fall camp, according to defensive coordinator John Jancek.
"I’ll tell you what, Darrin Kirkland did some things tonight that you just can’t coach," Jancek said. "Just instinctive things where he kind of slipped a block. He’s not robotic. He understands concepts and he kind of makes plays, maybe not exactly how it’s drawn up."
That's enormous news, because the Vols need a solid option in the middle who's reliable against the run, can get the rest of the team lined up and understands why specific plays are being called.
With a deep and talented defensive line and a veteran secondary, the biggest hole remaining on Tennessee's defense is in the middle.
6. Florida Quarterbacks
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I wrote earlier this week that first-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain needs to hurry up and name redshirt freshman pro-style passer Will Grier as the No. 1 quarterback in Gainesville.
Yet here we are with two weeks prior to kickoff against New Mexico State with the battle raging between Grier and true sophomore dual-threat Treon Harris. That has to change, because above all else, Florida has to have mastered its offensive identity when it goes on the road during Week 3 for the SEC opener vs. Kentucky.
Sooner or later, Grier is going to be the guy.
The former 4-star prospect from Davidson, North Carolina, has the big arm, can push it sideline to sideline and is the natural fit to run McElwain and new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier's system.
If that identity isn't established quickly, it could be another long season in Gainesville.
5. Auburn Running Backs
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In a perfect world for Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, the Tigers would settle on one No. 1 running back so they can run the offense at the pace they want.
Right now, though, they have two and possibly three.
Redshirt sophomore Peyton Barber and true sophomore Roc Thomas have emerged over junior college transfer Jovon Robinson during fall camp.
"They're both going to play. Who's going to be in there first? I couldn't tell you. I don't know if that's really important," running backs coach Tim Horton said, according to Charles Goldberg of AuburnTigers.com.
That's not the biggest issue in the world. After all, Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne split carries early in the 2013 season before Mason took off and rode a wave of momentum all the way to New York City as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
The Tigers opened with Washington State and Arkansas State that year—not the most daunting defensive teams in the world. This year, though, things change a little bit with the stout Louisville defense looming in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
That should press the staff to settle on a No. 1 a little earlier than it did the last time it had a running back battle on its hands.
4. Ole Miss Running Backs
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Forget the Ole Miss quarterback battle. Whether it's Chad Kelly, Ryan Buchanan or DeVante Kincade taking the No. 1 snaps in Oxford, head coach Hugh Freeze is going to find someone to make that offense click. After all, it's not like former quarterback Bo Wallace was Joe Montana.
The running back position will be what makes the Rebels either a contender or pretender.
Edge threat Jaylen Walton is a known commodity, but it got so bad between the tackles last season that Ole Miss virtually gave up trying to pound the rock inside. Jordan Wilkins is back along with Akeem Judd and Eugene Brazley to try to shore up Freeze's biggest offensive problem.
So far, it seems like Judd—a 5'11", 222-pound junior college transfer who redshirted last year—appears to be the man inside, according to what Freeze told Bo Bounds of 105.9 in Jackson, Mississippi:
"Akeem Judd "emerging" as the physical back #OleMiss is looking for according to Hugh Freeze. @Riley_Blevins @clarionledger
— Out of Bounds (@bobounds) August 20, 2015"
Whether it's Judd or one of the other contenders inside, somebody has to not only step up but play well. With the Alabama front seven looming in Week 3, the running game has to be clicking on all cylinders in September.
3. Georgia Defensive Line
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The star power on the Georgia defense is clearly at outside linebacker, where Lorenzo Carter, Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd are some of the best in the college football business. A few feet in front of them, though, there's quite a bit of uncertainty.
Reserves Sterling Bailey, John Atkins and Chris Mayes have played plenty of football on a rotational basis, but are they ready to step up and take on more responsibility? Will No. 1 overall prospect Trent Thompson elbow his way into the starting lineup?
One luxury for defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt is that Jenkins has dropped his hand in the dirt and played end at times. But the new-look defensive line is going to have to step up if the Bulldogs are going to win the SEC East in 2015.
2. Alabama Quarterbacks
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The Alabama quarterback battle is the college football version of a roulette wheel. Spin it, and you never know what you're going to land on.
Senior Jake Coker is back from a foot injury that kept him out of a few practices this week, and head coach Nick Saban is keeping everybody guessing on who has the edge in the battle that includes Coker, junior Alec Morris, sophomore Cooper Bateman, redshirt freshman David Cornwell and true freshman Blake Barnett.
According to Marq Burnett of the Anniston Star, Saban praised Morris, Bateman and Barnett this week:
"He also mentioned Blake Barnett as a young guy who's done some good things. https://t.co/w9anTSMpRO
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) August 19, 2015"
"FWIW, Saban is still calling Alec Morris, Alex. At some point, Morris just needs to legally change his name.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) August 19, 2015"
Should it be a bit concerning that Saban doesn't know the name of one of his quarterback contenders? It's probably not ideal, but it is a reflection of just how much this battle moves on a day-to-day basis. If you write out a top five today, do it in pencil. It's going to be wrong tomorrow.
1. LSU Quarterbacks
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There are plenty of important position battles in the SEC, but nothing is bigger than the battle to become LSU's starting quarterback.
Sophomore Brandon Harris has a slight lead over junior and returning starter Anthony Jennings midway through fall camp, which is great news for the Tigers. Harris has a big arm, is dynamic on the ground and has a much higher ceiling than Jennings, who completed 48.9 percent of his passes a year ago.
Has he really matured and is he ready to lead the offense, or would head coach Les Miles simply be rolling the dice with Harris knowing what he's going to get out of Jennings?
That's the $64,000 question, which will be answered early this season when the Tigers head to Mississippi State in Week 2 and host Auburn in Week 3.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83.
Follow Barrett on Twitter: @BarrettSallee.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
