SEC Spring Practice Primer

By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Spring football begins in the SEC next week when LSU begins defense of its SEC title.

Spring football begins in the SEC next week when LSU begins defense of its SEC title. Let's look at some of the major storylines across the conference as teams hit the field over the coming weeks.

ALABAMA

Practice Opens: TBD

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Will a wide receiver step up? Kevin Norwood was brilliant in the BCS Championship Game, but they’ll need more consistency from a receiving corps that must replace Darius Hanks, Marquis Maze, and tight end Brad Smelley. Ohio State transfer Duron Carter is finally eligible for the spring, and the talented but troubled former Buckeye has a golden opportunity to shine. True freshmen Chris Black and Amari Cooper, both already in school, could fight for playing time as well.

ARKANSAS

Practice Opens: March 14th

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Is Knile Davis healthy? After missing the 2011 season with a broken ankle, Davis should be close to 100% for the spring. With its top three receivers off to the NFL, the Razorbacks will need a more a balanced offense in 2012. Bobby Petrino teams will always have a certain level of explosion, but the Hogs struggled in short-yardage situations a year ago. That’s where Davis can truly be a difference-maker.

AUBURN

Practice Opens: March 21st

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Who emerges in the quarterback battle? True freshman Zeke Pike is enrolled for the spring, but appears to be a year away from seriously contending for the starting role after a disappointing final season in high school. With Barrett Trotter gone, it’ll be between Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier, who both saw significant playing time last season. Moseley may be the better fit than the more talented Frazier in new coordinator Scot Loeffler’s system.

LSU

Practice Opens: February 28th

Spring Game: March 31st

Biggest Storyline: Where is the mental state of this team? The Tigers appeared broken after losing the national title game to Alabama. With as much talent returning as anyone in the country, LSU must put the events of early January behind them. Saying goodbye to Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee should improve the situation, as the locker room can now fully get behind Georgia transfer Zach Mettenberger.

OLE MISS

Practice Opens: March 23rd

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Where will the leadership come from? Brandon Bolden, Bradley Sowell, and Kentrell Lockett are all gone, so it’ll be up to some of the younger players to instill some confidence in a team that has won just one SEC game since 2009. Sophomore receivers Nickolas Brassell and Donte Moncrief are the Rebels’ most talented players, but it would be beneficial for one of the quarterbacks to win over a locker room after Randall Mackey was twice suspended last season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Practice Opens: March 22nd

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Can LaDarius Perkins be a No.1 running back? Vick Ballard never quite got the credit he deserved for helping lead the Bulldogs’ resurgence over the past two seasons. With Ballard’s career complete, Perkins, a rising junior who rushed for 422 yards last season, will be asked to carry much of the load. Not helping matters is quarterback Chris Relf’s departure, as Tyler Russell, despite a better arm, won’t be able to match Relf’s production on the ground.

TEXAS A&M

Practice Opens: March 31st

Spring Game: April 28th

Biggest Storyline: How good is Jameill Showers? The redshirt sophomore will be given the first crack at replacing Ryan Tannehill. New coach Kevin Sumlin tried to recruit him when Sumlin was at Houston. He’s still raw and must improve his accuracy, but has the arm strength to succeed in the SEC. True freshman Matt Davis is in school for the spring and could push Showers.

FLORIDA

Practice Opens: TBD

Spring Game: April 7th

Biggest Storyline: How quickly can Brent Pease get the offense clicking? It’s Year 3 A.T. (After Tebow), and the Gators’ offense has been lifeless for the past two seasons. Bringing in Pease from Boise State won’t be an overnight fix. Even against Big 12 defenses, Pease’s former boss, Bryan Harsin, struggled in his first year running the Texas offense. The main problem? The Longhorns didn’t have an elite quarterback. Right now, the Gators don’t have one either.

GEORGIA

Practice Opens: March 20th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Can the offense become more consistent? Overall, 2011 was a success for the Georgia offense. However, the Bulldogs can’t suffer a repeat of the SEC Championship Game in which they failed to score a point over the last three quarters. Isaiah Crowell showed plenty of talent, but not necessarily the toughness to succeed in the SEC. After being handed the job a year ago, getting a challenge from freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall should push Crowell.

KENTUCKY

Practice Opens: March 21st

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Can Danny Trevathan be replaced? While the Wildcats only won four SEC games in the past two years, they may not have won any without their star linebacker Trevathan. There’s still no explosiveness offensively, so Kentucky will again have to rely on its defense. It was enough to end a 26-year losing streak to Tennessee, but without No. 22, it may not be enough to save Joker Phillips’ job.

MISSOURI

Practice Opens: March 6th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Will any philosophical changes accompany the move to the SEC? We’ve routinely seen Big 12 offenses shut down by SEC defenses, and now the Tigers offense will face an SEC defense on a weekly basis. Missouri won’t deviate from its spread offense, but some more subtle changes may be on the way. Missouri has some concerns in its backfield with De’Vion Moore gone and Henry Josey’s future uncertain after a knee injury, but Franklin won’t be able to carry the ball 217 times again in the SEC.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Practice Opens: March 12th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: Who replaces Alshon Jeffery? True freshman Shaq Roland may be the best candidate, but he won’t be in Columbia until the summer. Ace Sanders and Nick Jones are the top returning receivers, but neither top 5’9”. Senior D.L. Moore has good size at 6’4”, and will have to improve his consistency until Roland is ready to be a full-time player. Having a mobile quarterback in Connor Shaw will help, but Marcus Lattimore isn’t close to being fully healthy after an ACL tear in October.

TENNESSEE

Practice Opens: March 21st

Spring Game: April 21st

Biggest Storyline: Is this the best passing game in the SEC? With junior college star Cordarrelle Patterson on board and Justin Hunter set to return from a season-ending injury, quarterback Tyler Bray has a plethora of riches at his disposal. There are major improvements needed in the running game with Tauren Poole gone and a new offensive line coach, but a snake-bitten program could be close to turning the corner.

VANDERBILT

Practice Opens: March 16th

Spring Game: April 14th

Biggest Storyline: How high is the ceiling? Reaching a bowl game in James Franklin’s first season showed the Commodores can hold their own in the SEC, but how much further can they progress? Vanderbilt has a lot of pieces to replace, especially on defense, but the SEC East will never be more up-for-grabs than it is currently. Franklin has instilled a swagger within the program, never more so evident than in the Commodores’ brief brawl with Georgia last season. Now it’s time to become more consistent and take the next step.

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