Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2016 12:11:53 GMT -5
ESPN Releases 2016 SEC Preseason Power Rankings - I'd have UF at 3, Ole Miss/UT tied for 4th. and flip flop aTm with UGALY:
With the college football season quickly approaching, here's a look at where all 14 teams stand in the preseason SEC Power Rankings.
1. Alabama: Look who’s back on top. Yes, the Crimson Tide had seven players picked in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL draft, including Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. And sure, they still haven’t named a starting quarterback for 2016. But isn’t that how it is every year in Tuscaloosa? With players like Calvin Ridley, Cam Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Eddie Jackson on the roster, Alabama is still loaded and still the team to beat in the SEC. --Greg Ostendorf
2. LSU: Is this the year for the Tigers? The roster is stocked with talent, the best player in college football (Leonard Fournette) resides in the backfield and new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda provides intriguing possibilities for a defense that already is solid. The question, as it often does, centers on the quarterback: What will we see from Brandon Harris this season? The answer will likely determine whether the Tigers can make the College Football Playoff. -- Sam Khan Jr.
3. Ole Miss: With quarterback Chad Kelly running the show, the Rebels have a chance to win every game on their schedule. Kelly threw for an SEC-best 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. But how will Ole Miss handle the off-field distractions? Plus, it might be hard to survive a brutal month of September that includes games against Alabama, Florida State and Georgia. --Ostendorf
4. Tennessee: The Vols are the presumptive favorites to win the East, and with close to 20 starters returning, that sounds reasonable enough. However, Tennessee hasn't won the division since 2007, and this team gave away its East hopes last season by blowing double-digit leads in three games. Still, quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd are a tough duo, and Bob Shoop should make an already athletic and fast defense one of the conference's toughest in 2016. -- Edward Aschoff
5. Florida: The reigning SEC East champs aren't getting the respect they think they deserve. But even after winning 10 games last season, no one is quite sure what to expect from an offense with its ninth starting quarterback since Tim Tebow left following the 2009 season. Even after losing some key players, the defense should be solid once again. And head coach Jim McElwain seems to be very pleased with a more veteran offensive line, more downfield passing with quarterback Luke Del Rio at the helm and more adequate bodies at receiver. --Aschoff
6. Georgia: Mark Richt and his 9.7 wins per season are gone. Welcome to the Kirby Smart era, which begins with a handful of questions on both sides of the ball. If running back Nick Chubb gets back to his old self after last year's knee injury, the Dawgs should contend for the East. The defense returns a solid secondary, but the defensive line is a major concern -- and top linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd are gone. Don't forget that a quarterback battle is raging, with future star Jacob Eason in the mix. --Aschoff
7. Texas A&M: This should be a telling season for the Aggies, whichever way it goes. Will they struggle against the SEC's elite, as they have the past two years? Or will they take steps forward and become an SEC West contender? Defensively, this should be the best outfit Kevin Sumlin has had, potentially a top-25 unit nationally. Offensively, the skill talent is there, but what will transfer quarterback Trevor Knight provide in his first full season as a starter since 2014? --Khan
8. Arkansas: Can the Razorbacks' offense match the level it reached late in 2015? Arkansas is hoping Austin Allen, the younger brother of former quarterback Brandon Allen, can lead the unit to do just that. He has plenty of weapons to utilize, including an experienced receiving corps and a talented tight end in Jeremy Sprinkle. Defensively, the Razorbacks should be improved, with nine starters returning, a new secondary coach (former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads) and a star true freshman (defensive end McTelvin Agim). --Khan
9. Auburn: Remember when Auburn was at the top of our preseason Power Rankings at this time last year? Yeah, we’re still trying to forget that. The good news is that the Tigers typically fare better when not a lot is expected of them, and this could be one of those seasons where they sneak up and surprise some people. The defense is as good as Gus Malzahn has had since he has been at Auburn. Now he just needs to find a quarterback. --Ostendorf
10. Mississippi State: What will life after Dak Prescott look like in Starkville? Prescott was one of those rare talents at quarterback who took the program to new heights. But now head coach Dan Mullen will have to work his magic again, with Damian Williams, Nick Fitzgerald and Nick Tiano all competing to replace Prescott this fall. --Ostendorf
11. Vanderbilt: The Commodores improved last season. Can they do so again this season and, furthermore, do they have a real shot to go bowling? It would be a huge step for head coach Derek Mason if his program can do that in Year 3. The Vanderbilt defense should once again be solid, but for the Commodores to improve in the win column, they must be better offensively than they were last season (15.1 points per game, 123rd nationally). Sophomore quarterback Kyle Shurmur's progress will be key to that effort. --Khan
12. Kentucky: Head coach Mark Stoops is entering his fourth year at Kentucky, and as much as he’s done for the program off the field, fans want to start seeing results on the field. Led by Drew Barker, Stanley "Boom" Williams and others from that 2014 recruiting class, it’s time for the Wildcats to get over the hump and into a bowl game. There’s no reason they can’t get at least six wins this season. --Ostendorf
13. Missouri: There are so many questions for the Tigers, who suffered a preseason blow by losing two key defensive linemen (Walter Brady and Harold Brantley). Even with those losses, there is enough talent on defense to be confident Mizzou will be solid there once again. Offensively, they were dead last in the SEC in 2015. And the proven commodities going into this season are scarce, with a sophomore quarterback (Drew Lock), an unproven receiving corps, a returning leading rusher (Ish Witter) who had just 511 yards last season and a host of new faces on the offensive line. --Khan
14. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier didn't exactly leave Will Muschamp with a lot of talent to get his head-coaching career back on track. List the position and the Gamecocks probably have an issue there. Freshman Brandon McIlwain is making strides at quarterback and could be the present and future, but he'll need some consistency at receiver. The defense lost its best player in Skai Moore, and the defensive line and secondary are searching for more playmakers. --Aschoff
With the college football season quickly approaching, here's a look at where all 14 teams stand in the preseason SEC Power Rankings.
1. Alabama: Look who’s back on top. Yes, the Crimson Tide had seven players picked in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL draft, including Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. And sure, they still haven’t named a starting quarterback for 2016. But isn’t that how it is every year in Tuscaloosa? With players like Calvin Ridley, Cam Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Eddie Jackson on the roster, Alabama is still loaded and still the team to beat in the SEC. --Greg Ostendorf
2. LSU: Is this the year for the Tigers? The roster is stocked with talent, the best player in college football (Leonard Fournette) resides in the backfield and new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda provides intriguing possibilities for a defense that already is solid. The question, as it often does, centers on the quarterback: What will we see from Brandon Harris this season? The answer will likely determine whether the Tigers can make the College Football Playoff. -- Sam Khan Jr.
3. Ole Miss: With quarterback Chad Kelly running the show, the Rebels have a chance to win every game on their schedule. Kelly threw for an SEC-best 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. But how will Ole Miss handle the off-field distractions? Plus, it might be hard to survive a brutal month of September that includes games against Alabama, Florida State and Georgia. --Ostendorf
4. Tennessee: The Vols are the presumptive favorites to win the East, and with close to 20 starters returning, that sounds reasonable enough. However, Tennessee hasn't won the division since 2007, and this team gave away its East hopes last season by blowing double-digit leads in three games. Still, quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd are a tough duo, and Bob Shoop should make an already athletic and fast defense one of the conference's toughest in 2016. -- Edward Aschoff
5. Florida: The reigning SEC East champs aren't getting the respect they think they deserve. But even after winning 10 games last season, no one is quite sure what to expect from an offense with its ninth starting quarterback since Tim Tebow left following the 2009 season. Even after losing some key players, the defense should be solid once again. And head coach Jim McElwain seems to be very pleased with a more veteran offensive line, more downfield passing with quarterback Luke Del Rio at the helm and more adequate bodies at receiver. --Aschoff
6. Georgia: Mark Richt and his 9.7 wins per season are gone. Welcome to the Kirby Smart era, which begins with a handful of questions on both sides of the ball. If running back Nick Chubb gets back to his old self after last year's knee injury, the Dawgs should contend for the East. The defense returns a solid secondary, but the defensive line is a major concern -- and top linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd are gone. Don't forget that a quarterback battle is raging, with future star Jacob Eason in the mix. --Aschoff
7. Texas A&M: This should be a telling season for the Aggies, whichever way it goes. Will they struggle against the SEC's elite, as they have the past two years? Or will they take steps forward and become an SEC West contender? Defensively, this should be the best outfit Kevin Sumlin has had, potentially a top-25 unit nationally. Offensively, the skill talent is there, but what will transfer quarterback Trevor Knight provide in his first full season as a starter since 2014? --Khan
8. Arkansas: Can the Razorbacks' offense match the level it reached late in 2015? Arkansas is hoping Austin Allen, the younger brother of former quarterback Brandon Allen, can lead the unit to do just that. He has plenty of weapons to utilize, including an experienced receiving corps and a talented tight end in Jeremy Sprinkle. Defensively, the Razorbacks should be improved, with nine starters returning, a new secondary coach (former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads) and a star true freshman (defensive end McTelvin Agim). --Khan
9. Auburn: Remember when Auburn was at the top of our preseason Power Rankings at this time last year? Yeah, we’re still trying to forget that. The good news is that the Tigers typically fare better when not a lot is expected of them, and this could be one of those seasons where they sneak up and surprise some people. The defense is as good as Gus Malzahn has had since he has been at Auburn. Now he just needs to find a quarterback. --Ostendorf
10. Mississippi State: What will life after Dak Prescott look like in Starkville? Prescott was one of those rare talents at quarterback who took the program to new heights. But now head coach Dan Mullen will have to work his magic again, with Damian Williams, Nick Fitzgerald and Nick Tiano all competing to replace Prescott this fall. --Ostendorf
11. Vanderbilt: The Commodores improved last season. Can they do so again this season and, furthermore, do they have a real shot to go bowling? It would be a huge step for head coach Derek Mason if his program can do that in Year 3. The Vanderbilt defense should once again be solid, but for the Commodores to improve in the win column, they must be better offensively than they were last season (15.1 points per game, 123rd nationally). Sophomore quarterback Kyle Shurmur's progress will be key to that effort. --Khan
12. Kentucky: Head coach Mark Stoops is entering his fourth year at Kentucky, and as much as he’s done for the program off the field, fans want to start seeing results on the field. Led by Drew Barker, Stanley "Boom" Williams and others from that 2014 recruiting class, it’s time for the Wildcats to get over the hump and into a bowl game. There’s no reason they can’t get at least six wins this season. --Ostendorf
13. Missouri: There are so many questions for the Tigers, who suffered a preseason blow by losing two key defensive linemen (Walter Brady and Harold Brantley). Even with those losses, there is enough talent on defense to be confident Mizzou will be solid there once again. Offensively, they were dead last in the SEC in 2015. And the proven commodities going into this season are scarce, with a sophomore quarterback (Drew Lock), an unproven receiving corps, a returning leading rusher (Ish Witter) who had just 511 yards last season and a host of new faces on the offensive line. --Khan
14. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier didn't exactly leave Will Muschamp with a lot of talent to get his head-coaching career back on track. List the position and the Gamecocks probably have an issue there. Freshman Brandon McIlwain is making strides at quarterback and could be the present and future, but he'll need some consistency at receiver. The defense lost its best player in Skai Moore, and the defensive line and secondary are searching for more playmakers. --Aschoff
