Ad Disclosure
The first glimpses of the three teams with new head coaches, not to mention several other coordinator debuts, will be on display for spring games in just weeks.
That’s just some of what we’re interested in watching this spring.
Alabama
Not many other teams have the dueling quarterback and running back competitions to rival the Crimson Tide. Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett at quarterback, and Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris at running back.
Uncertainty has become an annual part of spring practice in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as it will be the third year for a first-year starter at quarterback.
Bateman started the Ole Miss game last season, and was benched after an interception; Barnett is a former five-star recruit.
Former linebacker Reggie Ragland told AL.com of Barnett, “He’s going to be a monster in college football.”
Georgia
New coach Kirby Smart has encouraged fans at nearly every public speaking appearance that he wants fans to pack Sanford Stadium at 92,00o-plus for the spring game.
The Bulldogs also have a quarterback battle, and while the snaps will likely be pre-determined, the armchair and barstool analysts will dissect every decision and even the body language of early enrollee QB Jacob Eason.
Questions remain at receiver, running back and linebacker, which all have either players returning from injury, or young former star recruits who are stepping into leading roles.
The spring game also could offer some clarity on Georgia’s kicking situation.
“At field goal kicker, we want to find out what we have here in the spring,” Smart told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We really don’t know as a staff what we’ve got.”
The crowd turnout could be an indication of the support or endorsement for Smart after a considerable segment of the fan base disagreed with the firing of Mark Richt. Will those fans put aside their disagreements, or wait for measurable results from Smart?
South Carolina
An offseason dogged by questions of Will Muschamp’s Florida experience translating to South Carolina will finally see some on-field results.
“I wish I had a dollar every time someone has asked me what I’ve learned,” he told USATODAY. “What did I learn? You need to score more points. It’s real simple. We’re not splitting the atom.”
Yet another quarterback battle is about as complicated as it gets with five in the running, and being coached by Kurt Roper, who has said he’s open to two-quarterback systems, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
How much of his playbook will Roper reveal?
And though he’s given interviews since stepping down, Steve Spurrier made a concerted effort to stay away from the football program, by and large. Will he make a cameo before or during the game?
Missouri
New coach Barry Odom is charged with tamping down outside distractions that have marked the past several months, including campus unrest, dismissing the team’s most experienced quarterback and a 5-7 record.
The long view is that the Tigers are looking to get back to the five 10-win seasons from 2007-14. Odom will have to do it while also building continuity and stability that the program was known for under Gary Pinkel.
Following the dismissal of Maty Mauk, new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel will try to ease QB Drew Lock’s first crack at the starting role to show what he’s capable of.
Texas A&M
The first spring game open to fans for the program since 2013 kicks off a supposed make-or-break year for coach Kevin Sumlin, who experienced an offseason full of turmoil between quarterback and coordinator departures.
He will be at the top of any “hot seat” lists this offseason.
Disappointing results, especially when viewed with high preseason expectations, is developing into a trend. A $450 million upgrade to Kyle Field and a 1-7 record against Alabama and LSU puts the pressure squarely on Sumlin.
Questions loom at several positions, but most notably at quarterback with Trevor Knight battling Jake Hubenak.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
