Biggest Remaining Offseason Question for Every SEC Team
Once players return for summer semester, "optional" summer workouts will set the leadership tone for the 2016 season and serve as the opening act for some key fall camp position battles.
What must Alabama do to repeat as national champs? Who must step up for LSU to vault back into SEC West contention? What will solidify Tennessee as legitimate SEC East and national title contenders?
Our biggest remaining offseason question for every SEC team based on how spring wrapped and leftover needs from 2015 are in this slideshow.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Center
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For the last three seasons, former Alabama center Ryan Kelly solidified the Crimson Tide offensive line and helped the offense overcome massive roster turnover year-to-year to remain in the national title picture.
Every time he went out or was questionable, "red flags" went up, including the 2013 "Kick Six" Iron Bowl (when he was out), the 2014 loss to Ole Miss (when he hurt his knee in the third quarter) and the 14-13 win over Arkansas the following game (when he was out).
He has been the stabilizing force up front that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin trusts to make the right reads and adjust the protection at the line of scrimmage to make sure the quarterback—who was short on experience in each of the last two seasons—was well-protected.
Ross Pierschbacher started at guard last year and is expected to slide one spot over, according to Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh in his post-spring depth chart, but can he provide that same kind of stability?
If he can, the running back and quarterback holes will fill themselves. If he can't, things could get a little dicey in Tuscaloosa.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Offensive Line
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Arkansas has some massive holes to fill all over the offense, including at quarterback, running back and tight end thanks to the departures of Brandon Allen, Alex Collins and Hunter Henry, respectively.
No holes are bigger than along the offensive line, where the Razorbacks lost tackle Denver Kirkland, guard Sebastian Tretola and center Mitch Smothers.
Dan Skipper is back at tackle, with Brian Wallace or Colton Jackson anchoring the right side of the line, Frank Ragnow moving over to center and Deion Malone and former defensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt at the two guard spots, according to Eric W. Bolin of the Arkansas News Bureau.
Can they keep quarterback Austin Allen off of his back and open up holes for the running backs? It didn't look like it in the spring game, when the Hogs gave up nine sacks.
"Arkansas’ defensive line racked up nine sacks in the Red-White game. https://t.co/0D6CSukR56
— WholeHogSports (@wholehogsports) April 24, 2016"
The Hogs have to get better up front if head coach Bret Bielema's crew is going to jump into the SEC West race in 2016.
Auburn Tigers: Quarterback
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Auburn's biggest offseason question is the obvious one—quarterback.
Jeremy Johnson tossed six interceptions in the first three games of 2015 before being benched for Sean White, who was decent in a pinch but hardly proved to be a difference-maker.
What will happen in 2016? The duo is back and battling for the top spot on the depth chart, along with junior college transfer dual-threat John Franklin III—who served as former Tiger Nick Marshall on the Florida State scout team leading up to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game between the Tigers and Seminoles.
"We're going to name somebody," head coach Gus Malzahn said earlier this month at the College Football Hall of Fame. "Hopefully sooner rather than later once we start fall camp."
With a defense that should be improved thanks to the healthy return of veteran defensive end Carl Lawson and a more experienced secondary, and a running game that always thrives under Malzahn, a marginal threat at quarterback—whether that be through the air or on the ground as a running threat—is all Auburn needs to jump back into the SEC West conversation.
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Florida Gators: Offensive Line
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Florida won the SEC East last year despite finishing last in the conference in sacks allowed with 45 and giving up a whopping 24 over the last six games of the year.
Granted, a lot of those key contributors like former hot-shot prospect Martez Ivey were youngsters who were pressed into action early due to either inexperience or injuries (or both), and a step forward in 2016 should be expected.
How much of a step, though?
Florida has to face several fearsome fronts this year, including LSU, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida State and Vanderbilt. How consistent will that group be?
If they are just a little bit more consistent, head coach Jim McElwain will find a quarterback (likely Luke Del Rio) who can move the chains and develop an effective running game behind talented backs Mark Thompson, Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite.
If they can't, the Gators could take a big step back.
Georgia Bulldogs: Defensive Line
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Whether head coach Kirby Smart wants to admit it now or not, he solved his quarterback issue this spring. It'll be true freshman Jacob Eason.
The defensive line, however, is still a work-in-progress.
John Atkins is the most experienced member of Mel Tucker's 3-4 defense but only had 12 tackles a year ago as a reserve. Trent Thompson is a potential star at end, and Jonathan Ledbetter should also make an impact. But the depth and size that Smart wants from his big men up front simply isn't there yet.
"We have to do a great job of getting more physical in all areas, especially up front on the offensive and defensive lines," Smart said after the spring game. "First of all, we're not as big as we need to be, but we don't play as tough and as physical as we need to."
With an offense that's going to go through some ups and downs thanks to Eason's inexperience and a wide receiving corps that needs to develop a playmaker, a solid defense is a must for Smart. That starts up front.
Kentucky Wildcats: Front 7
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Six of Kentucky's seven top tacklers (including three linebackers) from a year ago are all gone from a group that was 12th in the SEC in yards per play (5.55).
Yikes.
Nose guard Matt Elam is back for his junior campaign in Lexington after notching 23 tackles in 2015. In a perfect world for Wildcat head coach Mark Stoops, it'll finally "click" for the former hot-shot prospect who's being counted on to be one of the centerpieces of the front seven in 2016.
"He can be as good as he wants to be," defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh said of Elam in February, according to Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader. "He can be the best player in this league if he wants to be. It’s all up to him."
LSU Tigers: Offensive Philosophy
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What will LSU's offense really be in 2016?
Will it be the ultra-conservative, run-based attack behind back Leonard Fournette that is effective as a "Plan A" but woefully unprepared for a "Plan B" when teams slow him down enough to force the Tigers to do something else?
Or will head coach Les Miles recognize that the scare he received at the end of last season could repeat itself if he doesn't open things up, and that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron needs to be be a bit more flexible with the offense and quarterback Brandon Harris?
We simply won't know until toe meets leather in 2016.
With so much talent back on both sides of the ball, a competent offense that at least poses a threat of an effective second dimension is the biggest hurdle standing in the way of LSU and SEC West contention.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Front 7
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Figuring out who'll take the snaps in the post-Dak Prescott era will dominate headlines in Starkville, but figuring out the defensive front seven is a far more vital issue in determining what to make of Mississippi State in 2016.
Defensive linemen Chris Jones and Ryan Brown are gone, as is linebacker Beniquez Brown. Gone too is the entire on-field defensive coaching staff from a year ago, including former coordinator Manny Diaz.
Defensive end Johnathan Calvin looked like a monster in the spring game with four sacks in the spring game and former hot-shot recruit Leo Lewis had seven tackles and a pick. Along with veteran linebacker Richie Brown, the duo should be solid for head coach Dan Mullen.
But how good will they be, and how good will Mullen need them to be as he breaks in a new quarterback?
Missouri Tigers: Running Back
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Missouri's defense was incredible last year and kept the Tigers in games, even though its offense couldn't do much with those games in a 5-7 season in Columbia.
Quarterback Drew Lock will likely take the snaps after stepping in as a freshman last year for Maty Mauk, and an improvement from last year's 90.54 passer rating should be expected.
A solid running game will help take pressure off Lock and an inexperienced wide receiving corps and keep Missouri competitive in Barry Odom's first year at the helm.
Ish Witter is Missouri's top returning rusher after 518 yards and a touchdown last year, but he hardly has "superstar" written all over him. Witter, a 5'10", 190-pounder, is more likely to be part of a committee that includes junior college transfer Nate Strong and—potentially—Oklahoma transfer Alex Ross, who signed financial aid papers with the program, according to Pete Scantlebury of PowerMizzou.com.
This group needs to consistently move the chains—something Missouri didn't do a lot of last year (15.1 first downs per game, according to CFBStats.com)—if it is going to get back to a bowl game.
Ole Miss Rebels: Running Game
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It feels like a broken record, but Ole Miss hasn't been able to run between the tackles very well over the last couple of years.
Sure, the Rebels finished seventh in the conference last year (183.08 yards per game), but quarterback Chad Kelly was the primary inside threat with recently departed edge threat Jaylen Walton as the speed guy outside. In the previous two seasons, it was former signal-caller Bo Wallace providing the majority of the production inside.
Jordan Wilkins has some experience, Akeem Judd (5'11", 222 lbs) has the size to take the punishment and redshirt freshman Eric Swinney could soar up the depth chart this summer, but it's hard to trust that it'll click for Ole Miss between the tackles after so many years of questions.
If they do, it'll take pressure off Kelly and the new wide receivers and keep Ole Miss in a place it's been for the majority of the last two seasons—SEC West contention.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Quarterback
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True freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain is all the rage at South Carolina after completing 19 of 26 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game, elevating himself into the thick of the quarterback battle.
"He had a lot of command and a lot of maturity," head coach Will Muschamp said after the game."Obviously, he’s a very good athlete, but he throws the ball extremely well. He made a couple really nice throws today. His decision-making was really good, and he’s continued to improve from practice one until now."
But part-time starter Perry Orth was out with an injured collarbone and will be back this fall to make his case.
Who will it be? How effective will the eventual winner be in a lineup that lacks experience at the offensive skill positions? Can McIlwain limit freshman mistakes and move the chains?
The Gamecocks need stability at quarterback in a bad way in Muschamp's first year as their head coach.
Tennessee Volunteers: Wide Receiver
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Tennessee's passing game was average at best and mediocre at worst last year when quarterback Joshua Dobbs finished 10th in the SEC in yards per attempt (6.7) and eighth in passer rating against ranked opponents (105.7), according to CFBStats.com.
But part of that is on the wide receivers, who were inconsistent and often banged up in 2015.
"Everyone always says, 'accuracy, accuracy, accuracy,' but a lot of you guys don't realize, it is a two-way street," Dobbs said after the spring game. "Obviously it helps to play a lot with the receivers. Do they get a good release, how they get open. The receivers are working hard every day."
Preston Williams should blossom into a star in 2016 after a strong offseason, Jeff George is a 6'4" red-zone weapon, Josh Malone has all of the potential in the world and Josh Smith should provide a reliable threat in possession situations.
Who will be the downfield threat that keeps defenses honest and takes pressure off the multidimensional rushing attack?
Williams had three catches for 77 yards in the spring game and is the early favorite, but that has to show up in the fall if Tennessee is going to contend for a playoff berth.
Texas A&M Aggies: Offensive Line
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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin hired a familiar face up front this offseason, former position coach Jim Turner, to turn around an Aggie offensive line that gave up 37 sacks a year ago—the second most in the SEC.
What's more, tackle Avery Gennesy is they only full-time starter he has to work with in 2015, with part-time starter Keaton Sutherland joined by Jermaine Eluemunor at guard, Erik McCoy at center and Koda Martin at right tackle.
Will this group be more physical and dominate the line of scrimmage like Turner wants?
"I’m happy with their progress," Turner said in April, according to Brent Zwerneman of the San Antonio Express-News. "But there’s a long way to go with this group."
With an insanely talented wide receiving corps, a solid one-two punch at running back with James White and Keith Ford and Trevor Knight entrenched at quarterback, the offensive line has to be better if the Aggies are going to push for a division title and save Sumlin's job.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Quarterback
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Vanderbilt has a great running back in Ralph Webb and one of the top defenses in the country in third-down and red-zone situations.
Now if the Commodores could only solve that quarterback riddle.
Kyle Shurmur is the favorite to win the job in 2016, but he only completed 42.7 percent of his passes (44 of 103) last year as a true freshman in place of Johnny McCrary. A former 4-star prospect, Shurmur has plenty of upside that needs to show up this fall.
He doesn't have to look like former Commodore Jay Cutler all of the time. As long as he poses that threat some of the time, it should take pressure off Webb and the defense and vault head coach Derek Mason's crew back to a bowl game for the first time since 2013.
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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