One big question on every team following SEC Media Days

by:Aaron Torres•07/22/21

After four long days, the spectacle is over and SEC Media Days has officially come to an end. And with it, we are one step closer to the season actually beginning.

Our KSR crew crushed its coverage over the last few days, but with the fellas now back on the road from Hoover to Lexington it feels like a good time to put one, big bow on what we saw this week.

We have now heard from the coaches and players from all 14 SEC teams.

Now, here is one major question for each:

SEC West

Alabama Crimson Tide

Question: How much attrition is too much attrition? 

So at this point, it’s pretty obvious: Alabama doesn’t rebuild, they reload. The Tide could literally lose their entire starting 22 and coaching staff, and we’d all still be like “Yeah, I kind of like them to win the league.”

Yet at the same time, it’s hard to imagine that at any point in Nick Saban’s career has he replaced quite as much as he will this fall.

The Tide lost six total first round NFL Draft picks (which tied an NFL record). That included a first round quarterback who literally set an NCAA completion percentage record (Mac Jones). A 1,000 yard rusher (Najee Harris). A Top 10 pick at wide receiver, in addition to another Top 10 pick at wide receiver who… WON THE HEISMAN TROPHY LAST SEASON!!! That would be Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith of course.

Oh, and if that weren’t enough, Saban lost his offensive coordinator, who just so happens to be the new head coach at Texas (Steve Sarkisian).

Yes, there is still more talent on Alabama’s roster than most NFL teams.

But at the same time, if there was ever a year to catch and surpass them, this would have to be it, right?

Also, another, less serious question: Did Nick Saban and KSR’s Adam Luckett just become best friends?

Auburn Tigers

Question: Is Bo Nix improved? And if not, how much longer can you stick with him?

For those who’ve forgotten (or were reminded this week) Auburn has a new head coach, as Boise State’s Bryan Harsin is the man in charge on the Plains, replacing Gus Malzahn.

Unfortunately for Harsin his first big task is answering the question that Malzahn never seemed to the last few years: Are we sure Bo Nix is really the right guy at quarterback for Auburn?

Now to be clear, I get no  joy of tearing down young college kids, but, sometimes the truth hurts. And the truth is that Nix regressed in just about every way imaginable last year. His completion percentage dropped to 57 percent (it wasn’t all that good at 59 percent the year before), he averaged just 6.8 yards per completion, threw for just 12 touchdowns in 11 games, a stat which included an abysmal 3-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in Auburn’s final five games of last year.

So yeah it wasn’t good.

On the one hand, maybe a new coach and coordinator (Mike Bobo) is just what the doctor ordered.

On the other hand, Harsin isn’t tied to Nix like Malzahn was. And he already brought in another quarterback through the transfer portal (LSU’s TJ Finley).

It doesn’t seem as though Nix will have a particularly long leash this season.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Question: Can the Hogs survive arguably the toughest schedule in college football?

Shout out to Sam Pittman (or “The Pit Boss” as they call him in Fayetteville), who completely flipped the Arkansas program in his first season as the team’s head coach. A school which hadn’t won a single SEC game in the entire Chad Morris era was, at one point, 3-3 last season. They also lost three other games (Auburn, Missouri and LSU) by three points or less, and could’ve won each.

It was an incredible turnaround, and an incredible testament to the work Pittman put in Year 1. But to improve on it, the Hogs will have to overcome arguably the toughest schedule in college football.

In Week 2 Arkansas hosts Texas in the out of conference, and a few weeks later plays Texas A&M in Dallas for their annual rivalry game. And that’s the easy part, as after October 1, they will play at Alabama, at Georgia, at LSU and at Ole Miss. The first three will start the preseason in the Top 20, and the fourth, will be a dangerous team capable of beating anyone because of their offense (more on the Rebels coming).

Pittman did great work in Year 1. If he can get to 6-6 and a bowl game in Year 2, that might be an even more impressive feat.

This is a big season for Ed Orgeron. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Getty Images)

LSU Tigers 

Question: Was last season an aberration? Or was it actually the 2019 season?

It’s been a wild two years on the Bayou.

The 2019 campaign was the one where all the stars aligned – the right coach, coordinator, quarterback and complimentary parts led the Tigers to a national championship.

Then there was last year, where just about everything that could go wrong did. LSU lost 14 players to the NFL Draft off that title team and then several more to opt outs in the preseason (including eventual Top 10 pick JaMarr Chase at wide receiver). From there, the Tigers’ starting quarterback got hurt just a few weeks into the season. Oh, and they made a historically bad hire at defensive coordinator (Bo Pelini), one that led to the Tigers finishing 127th in total defense in college football last year. Even Coach O admitted at Media Days this week that he screwed up.

So which season was actually the aberration? The 2019 title run? Or the 2020 campaign where everything bottomed out?

We’re about to figure it all out pretty quickly.

That’s because as bad as last year was, the Tigers return a ton of talent off their 2020 squad, one that did win their final two games of the season. They have changed both their offensive and defensive coordinators and schemes. They signed another top ranked recruiting class. And with a manageable schedule (Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M are all home games) the Tigers could, in theory, be a sleeper team heading into 2021.

After a title run in 2019 Coach O got a pass last season. He won’t be afforded the same luxury in 2021.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Question: Is Mike Leach really cut out for the SEC?

Oh, it all started so nicely for the Pirate. In his first game at Mississippi State, Mike Leach’s offense picked apart LSU’s overwhelmed defense, with quarterback KJ Costello setting an SEC passing record with 623 total yards.

Then from there, the bottom fell out.

Want a crazy stat? After the Bulldogs scored 44 points in their SEC opener, they scored a grand total of 30… the entire month of October.

THE ENTIRE MONTH!?

Only games against Vanderbilt and Missouri late made Mississippi State look even remotely respectable.

Which brings us to 2021, and the question: Does the SEC have Mike Leach figured out?

It won’t take too long to find out.

Ole Miss Rebels

Question: Can anything slow down the Lane Train? And can they slow down anyone?

Yes, Lane Kiffin has become a bit of a caricature on Twitter, but the one thing we learned in his first season at Ole Miss last year is that he is probably a better football coach than any of us give him credit for. In his first season, with no spring practice to implement his system, the Rebels were one of the most explosive offenses in college football. They finished third in total yardage, and averaged a cool 39 points per game. They also gave Alabama more trouble than anyone during the regular season.

Of course the downside to that is, well, their offense wasn’t all that good. The Rebels may have scored just under 40 points per game. But they gave up over 38 per game as well.

Which brings us to 2021.

With Kiffin calling plays and Matt Corral under center, the offense isn’t slowing down. The question now: Can the defense just be a tiiiiiiiiny bit better?

If it is, watch out. The Rebels might not be an SEC title contender. But they’re capable of beating anyone.

Texas A&M Aggies

Question: Is Haynes King the answer at quarterback?

While it’s easy to forget now, Texas A&M actually finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in the country. There was a real debate over whether the Aggies or Notre Dame should get the fourth spot in the College Football Playoff. And after the committee ultimately chose the Irish, A&M responded by steamrolling North Carolina in the Orange Bowl.

And here’s the crazy thing: Even off its best season in decades, the Aggies could be better this season. They return nine starters off a Top 10 defense in America. They return one of the most punishing running backs in college football, Isaiah Spiller (if you forgot his fine work, check below). They return a stud wide receiver (Ainias Smith) and one of the best tight ends in the sport (Jalen Wydermyer).

Just about the only question that A&M really has is at quarterback, where four-year starter Kellen Mond is out and will be replaced by redshirt freshman Haynes King. On the plus side, King is a former four-star quarterback who chose the Aggies over a bunch of other SEC schools including Tennessee and Auburn. On the negative, he has thrown four passes… total in a college uniform.

So how good will King be? It could ultimately determine whether Texas A&M is a true SEC title contender or not.

Until we figure that out though, let’s enjoy some Isaiah Spiller highlights.

SEC East

Georgia Bulldogs

Question: If not now, then when?

I know, I know, this is the same question we ask about Georgia every year.

But, is it totally unfair to ask again? I don’t think so.

First off, we know Georgia has been on the cusp before: They fell just short in the title game in Kirby Smart’s second year in Athens, and then followed it up by finishing in fifth place in the final playoff poll in both 2018 and 2019. Last year, they went a respectable 8-2, but lost to the two best teams on their schedule (Alabama and Florida).

But here’s the thing though: That stat is a bit misleading, since they lost both of those games with a former walk-on (Stetson Bennett) at quarterback. And they completely took off once former five-star, USC transfer JT Daniels came back from injury and was inserted as the starter. Georgia scored 30+ points in each of their final three regular season games, before a Peach Bowl versus Cincinnati.

Which brings us to 2021, and why the hype is different this year: It’s because, well, Georgia has a real quarterback. And when you plug him with an elite running game, and the traditionally strong Georgia defense, what you get is Smart’s most complete team since he got to Athens.

So yes, I believe this is Smart’s best team since he got to Athens and I truly believe that Smart thinks so too. Want proof that all the chips are in the middle? Georgia added two sorta-questionable, but insanely talented transfers late in the process. The Dawgs signed for LSU tight end Arik Gilbert (who opted out last season, then announced he would transfer to Florida, before he ended up at Georgia) and Derion Kendrick, a cornerback who was thrown off Clemson in the spring.

Point being, it sure feels to me like Kirby Smart is going for broke this season.

Which again leads to the question: If not now, then when?

Florida Gators

Question: Did Dan Mullen already miss his best shot at success in Gainesville?

Florida certainly made plenty of non-football headlines early last season. There was Dan Mullen publicly campaigning to fill the Swamp after a visit to Texas A&M (which was followed days later by a Covid outbreak on his team), a brawl with Missouri, Mullen showing up dressed as Darth Vader at a press conference, on and on.

And in case you forgot, yes, that last one happened.

But you know what? None of it mattered, because on December 5th, the Gators were 8-1 and very much in playoff contention.

Then they lost to LSU as a 24-point favorite at home.

Then they lost to Alabama in the SEC title game.

Then they lost to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.

Then they lost Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, Kedarius Toney and Trevon Grimes to the NFL.

Which leads to the question, if the Gators were an 8-4 football team with a veteran quarterback and two first rounders at the skill positions, what will they be with an inexperienced quarterback and inexperienced talent around him?

Tennessee Volunteers

Question: Does Josh Heuepel have any magic up his sleeve?

Listen, we don’t need to re-discuss everything that happened at Tennessee last season. Disappointing season, Jeremy Pruitt fired, McDonald’s bags of cash, NCAA investigation, on and on.

Those things all made headlines, but what has been less discussed is how much talent the Vols lost through the transfer portal following Pruitt’s departure. Their two top rushers (Eric Gray and Ty Chandler) are now at Oklahoma and North Carolina respectively, their two starting offensive tackles (Wayna Morris and Jahmir Johnson) are at Oklahoma and Texas A&M and their top two linebackers (Henry To’o To’o and Quavarus Couch) are at Alabama and Michigan State.

I could keep going, but you kind of get the point.

It also leads to a fascinating subplot heading into Year 1 of the Josh Heupel era at Tennessee: Heupel’s teams have always been able to put up points and yards since he became a head coach. And while no one expects them to be UCF on Day 1, Tennessee should be able to score.

But will they be able to stop anyone? That remains to be seen.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Question: Will Shane Beamer’s swag translate to the field

Can’t lie, Shane Beamer’s hiring at South Carolina last fall was about as inspiring to me as a trip to the dentist.

Yes, I know Beamer has a famous last name, and was at South Carolina during the glory days under Steve Spurrier. But when you have a candidate pool that (at least on paper) included Hugh Freeze, Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell and others, it’s hard to be fired up about hiring a guy that was Oklahoma’s associate head coach and has zero head coaching experience.

My opinion on the Beamer hire really hasn’t changed since then… at least until Monday when he pulled off the iconic “Spurrier pose” following his media days appearance.

Now admittedly, did the move really change my opinion on Shane Beamer or South Carolina football. Not really.

But it was a heck of an introduction to SEC football.

And if he can channel 1/100th of that swag once the games kick off, South Carolina might be better than expected.

Missouri Tigers

Question: So, is Eli Drinkwitz actually a good coach?

You know how I just said I had no strong first opinion of the Shane Beamer hire at South Carolina? Well, I did of Drinkwitz last fall. I kind of looked at him, shrugged my shoulders and said “Eh.” Nothing really stood out that made me feel like he was going to be the guy to get Missouri back to the top of the SEC East.

Then the season started, and well, the Tigers… weren’t bad. They weren’t great either, but they weren’t awful. In Drinkwitz’s first season, Missouri went 5-5, upset the defending champion LSU Tigers, largely beat the teams they were supposed to, and largely lost to the teams (Alabama, Georgia, Florida) they were expected to as well.

Which brings us to 2021.

The Tigers are in a division with three new head coaches at the bottom (Josh Heuepel, Shane Beamer and Clark Lea) and have a manageable schedule with seven home games and no Alabama, LSU or Ole Miss in cross-division games. They also have a returning, experienced quarterback with Connor Bazelak

So is Eli Drinkwitz actually a good coach? We’re about to find out.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Question: Will they win a single SEC game this season?

Another team, with another unknown, unproven head coach. Like South Carolina, the new head coach (Clark Lea) is well-respected, as Notre Dame’s former defensive coordinator who also is a former Commodore football player himself.

Still, it’s hard to say that things are off to a quick start  under Lea since… umm, he took away uniform numbers from the team in the spring and now headed into fall camp. His reasoning? Players had to “earn” those numbers.

Yes, this is a coaching trick as old as time (I think Coach K has pulled this move a few times in recent years). But it’s not exactly inspiring.

And frankly, if the Commodores – which are 1-15 in the last two seasons in the SEC – win one conference game, that should probably be considered an accomplishment.

Kentucky Wildcats

Question: What if Liam Coen, Will Levis and Wan’Dale Robinson as good as advertised?

“Cohn, Levis and Robinson” sounds like a heck of a law firm, but we all know that realistically they hold the key to Kentucky’s success this season. It’s no secret that the Kentucky pass game was, umm, lacking under Eddie Gran, and it’s no secret that Liam Coen was brought in to spice it up.

Well, with a new (presumed) starter under center in Will Levis, and an explosive play-maker in Wan’Dale Robinson, we should find out quickly just how different this Kentucky is, and is capable of being.

If the trio is as good as advertised, watch out: The Wildcats could be a dark horse SEC East contender.

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