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Spring practice is behind us, with all 14 SEC teams having finished out their 15 allotted practices for the spring. As we head into summer, let’s take a look at what’s ahead between now and the first game of the season, when South Carolina takes on North Carolina in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 3.
April 30 – May 2: NFL Draft, held in Chicago — SEC players invited to attend include LSU OT La’el Collins, Alabama S Landon Collins, Kentucky OLB/DE Bud Dupree, Florida OLB/DE Dante Fowler Jr., Georgia RB Todd Gurley, Florida OT D.J. Humphries, Mississippi State LB Benardrick McKinney, and Missouri OLB/DE Shane Ray. The SEC has as many as 11 former players projected to go in the first round in mock drafts, with dozens more prospects from the conference that could be chosen over the course of the weekend.
May 26-29: SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla. — The top SEC officials will meet for four days to discuss pertinent issues for the conference. One of the biggest issues expected to be discussed this year is the rise in “satellite camps” in other conferences, where coaches travel the country to make appearances at camps.
May 31: Recruiting evaluation period ends — The evaluation period began on April 15; stipulations include no home visits to recruits, although school visits are allowed for evaluation purposes. Recruits can visit schools during this time and receive written and electronic communication. Many scholarship offers go out during this period.
June 1 – July 31: Recruiting quiet period — Schools are not permitted to have off-campus contact with recruits. Many unofficial campus visits will take place during this period.
June 8-10: Major League Baseball draft — Texas A&M signee Kyler Murray is the biggest name for SEC fans to watch. The five-star quarterback is a potential first round selection, having played shortstop and designated hitter at Allen High School. Murray dealt with a shoulder injury during his final high school baseball season that could affect his draft status.
June 29 – July 12: Recruiting dead period — Coaches are not allowed to have in-person contact with recruits, even if a prospect visits a campus during this time. Written and electronic communication is still allowed.
July 13-16: SEC media days — SEC officials, all 14 coaches, a few dozen players and, of course, the media members who cover the SEC gather in Hoover, Ala. to officially kick off football season.
Aug. 6-13: SEC teams are eligible to begin fall practices — After media days, there are only a few weeks until teams can begin their fall practices. The NCAA bylaw on the matter is a bit complicated, so we’ll do our best to explain it here. The NCAA allows each team 40 “units” for practice before the season begins. Once classes start or a school gets within a week of its opening game, each day is worth one “unit.” Prior to the start of classes, a day is worth two “units.”
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
