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Post-spring SEC power rankings for 2019 (247 Sports)
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:43 am
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:43 am
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Are there any teams in the SEC this season equipped to push Alabama and Georgia off their respective thrones as the kings of each division?
Exiting spring practice, there's a couple nationally-ranked possibilities trying to barge their way into the top-tier but as a whole, there are more questions than answers league-wide as we approach four months until kickoff.
With top position groups and individual players in mind, we've grading strengths and weaknesses at each program heading into summer to form our post-spring power rankings from worst to first in the SEC. In no way is this indicative of how we think teams will finish in the SEC standings this season, but more so a depiction of where teams stand based on roster potential, depth and possible holes.
The SEC could boast as many as seven teams inside the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 when that poll arrives in August, but there's not seven College Football Playoff-caliber squads out there — at least not from what we gathered during the spring.
Here's a look at league-wide power rankings heading into summer:
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14. Arkansas Razorbacks: A radio host who covers the Hogs recently asked me if I thought Arkansas would improve upon last season's win total this fall. I'll give a resounding yes, though it may not mean much in terms of SEC standings. This team is better equipped to handle a tough schedule for Chad Morris with more talent at the skill spots and what I think will be much-improved production at quarterback. Some of those newcomers flexed in the spring game. But what's the ceiling after a two-win season? Maybe four victories?
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13. Vanderbilt Commodores: Two bowl trips over the past three seasons is above average at Vanderbilt, a program that won nine games for the first time in nearly 100 years during the 2012 season (then repeated that number the following year under James Franklin). Derek Mason has kept the Commodores on a steady trajectory during his tenure and recently said his motto this fall is "upgrading expectations" but that's easier said than done against a schedule featuring Georgia, Purdue and LSU out of the gate. Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Kalija Lipscomb skipped an NFL opportunity to return and will headline a talented offense.
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12. Ole Miss Rebels: Quarterback Matt Corral is going to turn heads for the Rebels in a scheme conducive to his skill set alongside five-star tailback Jerrion Ealy, but this team's overall value will be determined on defense where new defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre is helping Ole Miss transition out of a 4-3 scheme into a 3-4 look. Six wins feels obtainable in Oxford this fall.
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11. Kentucky Wildcats: Kentucky thrives off no respect in the offseason and here's another example. But losing SEC Defensive Player of the Year Josh Allen, all-time leading rusher Benny Snell and a talent-rich secondary to the NFL opens a few noticeable voids in key spots. However, A.J. Rose could be a star in the backfield and the Wildcats will lean on him if Terry Wilson once again proves inconsistent at quarterback. These three East teams ranked Nos. 9-11 are interchangeable exiting spring.
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10. South Carolina Gamecocks: Will Muschamp can say this season's schedule is challenging as always playing in the SEC, but even that's a bit of a misnomer. Easily the toughest of the decade for the Gamecocks, South Carolina plays four preseason Top 10 teams including each of the the projected Top 3 in Clemson, Alabama and Georgia. Muschamp has a talented group and returns three-year starting quarterback Jake Bentley, but it'll be an uphill climb throughout.
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9. Mizzou Tigers: How good is Kelly Bryant and will the Clemson graduate transfer emerge as one of the SEC's top newcomers this season? Good news for the Tigers is that this year's schedule is extremely favorable. There's a strong chance Mizzou will be favored in every contest leading up to the showdown at Georgia on Nov. 9 and won't play a single nationally-ranked team during the first two months of the season unless South Carolina is able to pull off a shocker vs. Alabama.
9
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:43 am to TideSaint
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8. TENNESSEE VOLS
Strengths: The good news? The Vols expect to be in great shape at the skill positions during Jeremy Pruitt's second season in Knoxville. Ty Chandler is arguably Tennessee's top weapon on offense while the trio of Marquez Callaway, Jauan Jennings and Josh Palmer might be the best in the SEC East. Add returning starter Jarrett Guarantano at quarterback and first-year OC Jim Chaney has a lot to like on his side of the football.
Weaknesses: From a make or break standpoint in getting to bowl season and perhaps exceeding that .500 threshold, Tennessee has to be solid up front. The Vols did a poor job protecting Guarantano last season and at times this spring, those struggles resurfaced. Five-star freshman Wanya Morris and 6-foot-5, 330-pound redshirt sophomore K'Rojhn Calbert performed admirably this spring and will be high-impact players. In the trenches on the other side of the ball, Tennessee badly needs an answer on Michigan transfer Aubrey Solomon, a likely starter, on whether he'll be granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA to play this season.
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7. MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Strengths: Defined by defense during Joe Moorhead's so-so first season in Starkville, Mississippi State should once again be solid on that side. Despite losing three key starters in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, linebackers Erroll Thompson, Willie Gay and Leo Lewis are as talented as any three-headed pack at the position you'll find in the SEC and will be asked to lead.
Weaknesses: The Bulldogs must find a consistent passing game and at least make opposing teams wary of a downfield threat. They struggled in that department last fall with Nick Fitzgerald manning the offense and projected 2019 starter Keytaon Thompson has had his struggles with consistency as well. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound signal caller played in nine games last season, completing 18 of 39 passes for 458 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. He'll be pushed by freshman Jalen Mayden, but for now, Thompson has the keys to this offense.
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6. AUBURN TIGERS
Strengths: Anchored by projected first-round pick Derrick Brown and a couple other potential early-round selections, Auburn's defensive line will be a difference-maker this fall. Controlling the line of scrimmage is priority No. 1 in the SEC and the Tigers believe they'll have the bodies to do so, at least on that side of the football. There's also a good chance Auburn starts five seniors along the offensive line and not many teams in the SEC will have that luxury.
Weaknesses: Calling the quarterback spot a weakness gives me great hesitancy based on the play of Bo Nix and Joey Gatewood in Auburn's spring game, but it's tough going into any season with uncertainty in that spot. Both players are capable of leading this offense and are in good hands with quality backs Boobee Whitlow and Kam Martin aiding in the run game, but the Tigers need production and good decisions in the passing game against a brutal schedule.
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5. TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Strengths: Considered one of college football's Top 15 teams coming out of spring, expectations are high in 2019 for the Aggies, who are looking to build on last season's success despite one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Aggies welcome back quarterback Kellen Mond, his corps of wideouts which includes Quartney Davis and Kendrick Rogers, and four players with starting experience on the offensive line back on offense.
Weaknesses: Replacing six starters out of the front seven on defense is something Texas A&M must straighten out in fall camp, but the Aggies coaching staff was encouraged by defensive line play and the depth they had there during the spring. Kevin Sumlin used to always call the SEC a 'line of scrimmage league' and that mindset hasn't changed under Jimbo Fisher's regime.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:43 am to TideSaint
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4. FLORIDA GATORS
Strengths: Heading into Dan Mullen's second season, Florida's skill talent is beginning to resemble some of the great Gators teams of old with speed, athleticism and big play ability at wide receiver and running back. Van Jefferson, Trevon Grimes and Tyrie Cleveland each other a different skill set as potential field-stretchers while Kadarius Toney will be used in a variety of ways ala Percy Harvin. Tailback Lamical Perine is ranked inside our Top 25 ballcarriers nationally heading into the season and should be in for a 1,000-yard campaign.
Weaknesses: The lack of depth up front and rash of injuries has pushed Florida's offensive line to a chief problem area entering the season, a position group Swamp247 analyst Thomas Goldkamp believes will make or break the Gators' season as a potential division threat to Georgia.
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3. LSU TIGERS
Strengths: As always, LSU is loaded on defense despite losing two of the anchors from last season's impressive unit in Devin White and Greedy Williams. Linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson is one of our picks for the SEC's breakout player of the year, a special talent with a chance to be one of the nation's leaders in impact plays off the edge. He's returning from injury and should help the Tigers in a big way. And from top to bottom, this wide receiver group in Baton Rouge is one of the league's most talented.
Weaknesses: It's clear that LSU will be a legitimate College Football Playoff contender situated just outside 'The Big 3' nationally, but the Tigers still have to find a way to overcome the mental block that has become the Alabama game. Ed Orgeron's squad beat several nationally-ranked teams last fall en route to a 10-win season, but their primary rival is the season-defining matchup that has kept LSU from the title picture.
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2. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Strengths: Whatever "it" is, Jake Fromm possesses it. We know the Bulldogs will be strong on offense with the best unit in the East at quarterback, offensive line and running back, but can Georgia maintain its status as the nation's perceived third-best team behind Clemson and Alabama with half of its defense being first-year starters?
Weaknesses: This season's schedule is loaded at the back end with potentially four consecutive games against nationally-ranked competition without a break — Florida, Mizzou, Auburn, Texas A&M. Getting back to the SEC Championship Game is the immediate goal, which in turn puts the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff picture if they can find a way to beat a West titan — likely Alabama — in Atlanta.
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1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Strengths: With potentially eight first-round picks within the starting 22, this year's Alabama team will be one of Nick Saban's most talented ever. Then, there's the revenge card they'll be playing all season long in hopes of getting another crack at Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Crimson Tide grade out better than most nationally at every position group and should be favored in every game thanks to a not-so-challenging slate.
Weaknesses: Pressure to succeed? Admittedly, it's hard finding a weakness at Alabama, but there are chinks in the armor — after all, this program is coming off its worst loss in a decade under Saban. There's undoubtedly going to be some emotion there, playing week to week with the same ferocity shown four consecutive years in the Playoff. The games only get bigger as the season progresses and the Crimson Tide will be a marked team entering the final month, easily the toughest stretch of the 2019 campaign.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:44 am to TideSaint
Big 3
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:45 am to TideSaint
Switch #1 and #3
Then switch the new #3 with #13
Then switch the new #3 with #13
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:46 am to TideSaint
LOL, they have lost their mind regarding Mizzou.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
Vols over Mizzou?
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:50 am to bigDgator
Author is from Carolina. They don't even know how to BBQ.
I love how he list all the reasons Carolina will struggle against a difficult schedule and bumps em up to 10. No mention of their entire offense leaving (Deebo)
I love how he list all the reasons Carolina will struggle against a difficult schedule and bumps em up to 10. No mention of their entire offense leaving (Deebo)
This post was edited on 5/1/19 at 10:53 am
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:57 am to TideSaint
mizzou should be ahead of state, auburn, and absolutely, most definitely, ahead of tenny.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 11:18 am to TideSaint
Oh look Bama is out for “revenge”.....again
Posted on 5/1/19 at 11:22 am to mizslu314
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mizzou should be ahead of state, auburn
Posted on 5/1/19 at 11:26 am to TideSaint
Bama too low. Otherwise , pretty accurate.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 11:49 am to WilliamTaylor21
You think Vandy is the 3rd best team in the conference?
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:08 pm to Goombaw
Yes
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:19 pm to TideSaint
Auburn* projected 4th in the SEC West.
No wonder they want to move to the East.
No wonder they want to move to the East.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:21 pm to WilliamTaylor21
Well,at least you think more highly of us than Arkansas.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:24 pm to TideSaint
Yet again, no respect for the cats. It’s comical how USClite is always ranked ahead of us in the off-season.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:25 pm to Goombaw
Don't bother with that clown. Dude thinks he's a god tier troll but Willie just has a learning disability. He never graduated high school, unfortunately.
He brings nothing to the board but half arse troll attempts that make zero sense. He tells himself that he's "winning" by getting under people's skin but in reality it's all make believe garbage that no one finds funny except his other legion of corn dog trolls.
He brings nothing to the board but half arse troll attempts that make zero sense. He tells himself that he's "winning" by getting under people's skin but in reality it's all make believe garbage that no one finds funny except his other legion of corn dog trolls.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:26 pm to TideSaint
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But what's the ceiling after a two-win season? Maybe four victories?
Lmao that’s brutal
Posted on 5/1/19 at 12:31 pm to TideSaint
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14. Arkansas Razorbacks: A radio host who covers the Hogs recently asked me if I thought Arkansas would improve upon last season's win total this fall. I'll give a resounding yes, though it may not mean much in terms of SEC standings. This team is better equipped to handle a tough schedule for Chad Morris with more talent at the skill spots and what I think will be much-improved production at quarterback. Some of those newcomers flexed in the spring game. But what's the ceiling after a two-win season? Maybe four victories?
Football is stupid.
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