SEC Football Q&A: What 1-for-1 Trade Would Benefit Both Teams?
It's the offseason, which means it's time to get a little weird.
What if trades were allowed in college football?
We're not talking about the pseudo-trade that landed former Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight at Texas A&M and former Aggie signal-caller Kyler Murray with the Sooners. We're talking about real, actual trades that could benefit both teams.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Which players could trade uniforms and make teams better within the SEC? That question and more are answered in this edition of SEC football Q&A.
This could be a lot of fun, because I'm sure that Arkansas would love to have Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara on the roster, and Tennessee wouldn't mind nabbing Dan Skipper to further solidify its offensive line.
But this is a hypothetical, so we have to think big with some quarterbacks.
Let's trade LSU starting quarterback Brandon Harris to Auburn for Tigers part-time starter Sean White. Of course, since Harris is a bit more experienced, Auburn might have to offer some cash considerations.
This trade would be huge for both teams.
Harris, formerly the third-best dual-threat quarterback in the country as a high school senior in the Class of 2014, is a fish out of water in the ultra-conservative offensive philosophy that LSU head coach Les Miles employs and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron runs. His mobility has been hidden to the point that, when he's asked to run the zone read or other more exotic plays at LSU, it's clear that he's uncomfortable with it, because it's not something that's a priority at LSU.
At Auburn, it would be.
Head coach Gus Malzahn has been most successful with a mobile quarterback, including the year he won the national title as the Tigers' offensive coordinator in 2010 with Cam Newton and when he won the SEC title and nearly another national title as its head coach with Nick Marshall taking the snaps in 2013. Put Harris in that offense, and Auburn would be right back in the thick of it.
At LSU, White would be a star.
The 2013 Elite 11 MVP in 2013 and Under Armour All-American Game MVP in 2014 while in high school has tremendous arm strength, was more accurate than Harris last year (58 percent to 53.6 percent, respectively) despite being thrust into action on the fly due to Jeremy Johnson's struggles, and he could be even better with a true pro-style attack like LSU's.
He can make the timing throws over the middle on short drops, can stretch the field deep and push the ball consistently sideline to sideline, which would take pressure off running back Leonard Fournette and make LSU a legitimate national title contender, because he actually fits the philosophy in Baton Rouge.
Last year was last year, and the last 11 years were the last 11 years. They have nothing to do with this year, and this is one offseason talking point that absolutely drives me crazy.
With that said, though, you're right about Florida's quarterback and kicking game helping vault the Gators back into the discussion.
Luke Del Rio looked like he can manage a game very well in the Orange and Blue Debut, when he completed 10 of his 11 passes and tossed two touchdowns. Additionally, the kicking game—a massive sore spot for Florida last year to the point that the Gators held open kicker tryouts midseason—seems to be in good hands thanks to YouTube legend Eddy Pineiro.
But that doesn't change the fact that Tennessee is loaded with depth everywhere outside of wide receiver, generated more with a stellar recruiting class that includes junior college transfer and potential red-zone receiver threat Jeff George and gets to play the Gators in Knoxville.
Tennessee was one 4th-and-long away from beating Florida and winning the SEC East last year and should be even better. Florida has solved some pressing issues but is still working to fix the offensive line and needs Mark Thompson, Jordan Scarlett or Jordan Cronkrite to solidify the running game.
Florida's spring success does make me think that the game between the Gators and Vols will be the de facto SEC East title game, rather than Georgia vs. Tennessee deciding the division.
Barring injury, no, Auburn won't use a two-quarterback system in 2016 (except, of course, a Wildcat quarterback who's used in specific packages).
There will be one player who takes the snaps, and Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will build the offense around him.
If it's junior college transfer dual-threat John Franklin, it'll be more of a multidimensional rushing attack based similar to the one Marshall ran with the Tigers. Franklin's arm isn't what White's or Johnson's is from an accuracy standpoint. But he does have raw arm strength, which is something the staff successfully harnessed with Marshall by figuring out the few things that he does well and rolling with them all the way to Pasadena.
If it's White or Johnson, the staff will want to breed confidence in their guy and will only replace him if things go south again. The players need to know and work on a scheme, and White and Johnson would bring more of a traditional attack that still spreads defenses out and utilizes tempo.
With a pro-style attack, Franklin could certainly be used as that Wildcat quarterback who comes in during red-zone and short-yardage situations to run the zone read. But that would likely be the extent of it.
A true two-quarterback system would be one that gives dedicated series to different quarterbacks, and I don't see Malzahn doing that in such a critical year for his career.
"@BarrettSallee If Sumlin, Miles or Malzahn is let go.Do you think Tom Herman is the coach they'd go after??
— Josh Knox (@Joshknox31) May 5, 2016"
Without a doubt, if any (or all) of those jobs become open, Houston head coach Tom Herman will be the first call for all of them.
Herman led the Cougars to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and knocked off Florida State last year—a year in which he finished 13-1 (with an inexplicable loss to UConn) and not only made a New Year's Six Bowl but knocked on the door of the College Football Playoff.
This was one year after Herman helped lead Ohio State to the national title in the face of massive quarterback issues that ultimately led to former third-stringer Cardale Jones leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten, Sugar Bowl and national titles.
He's the next big thing in major college football if and when he decides to move on from Houston, and he will likely wait until the perfect situation pops up before making a move.
LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M would all satisfy that requirement, not only because of their ability to recruit at an elite level, but because offensive questions plagued all three last year.
Herman could provide that spark.
The thought of Herman at any of the SEC West schools with coaches on the hot seat would and should terrify those still in the conference.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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.
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