What beat writers learned about the SEC East this spring

The curtains have closed on spring practice for the SEC East.

After a brief, vanilla glimpse at the seven programs, we’re in the dark, more or less, until fall practice resumes in August.

We’ve spent several hours reading boots-on-the-ground beat writers for each team, gleaning what we can from their spring observations. I’ve attempted to summarize our findings on each program below.

FLORIDA

• Every beat writer (and based on Twitter, every fan) seemed ready to make two clear proclamations after spring practice: a) Luke Del Rio is the best quarterback on the roster for 2016 and will start for the Gators, and b) Eddy Pineiro is the answer at placekicker. Whether that proves correct this fall, it sure did fire up the fan base on the Friday night of the spring game.
• Kyle Trask, a backup quarterback for most of his high school career, caused some head-scratching among some members of the Gators faithful. But he looked like a more mature passer than touted signee Feleipe Franks in the spring game. Trask may never start at Florida, but he proved he belongs.
• Defensive back Duke Dawson and linebacker Kylan Johnson emerged as names to know on a defense losing some star players to the NFL.
• Florida hopes that its offensive line will take a step forward in 2016, but judging by the spring game, there’s still work to be done — especially in pass protection.

GEORGIA

• Jacob Eason already looks like the most talented quarterback on Georgia’s roster. But most beat writers are predicting that Greyson Lambert will start the season opener against North Carolina.
• Beat writers are calling Nick Chubb’s health “the biggest football story of Georgia’s spring.” Thus far news has been positive, but Bulldogs fans, coaches and players will continue to monitor his progress until he’s safely back on the field making opposing defenses look silly.
• Although there are some intriguing young names, there are some big questions about the pass-catchers behind Terry Godwin and Isaiah McKenzie. Reporters in Athens, though, are saying the 5-foot-11 Godwin looks every bit the part of a No. 1 receiver.
• Aaron Davis did return an interception 98 yards for a touchdown during the G-Day game, but the UGA secondary hasn’t played well this spring. The secondary deflected a combined six passes through the entirety of the spring game.
• Tight ends again appear to be part of the offensive game plan. That’s good news for five-star signee Isaac Nauta.
• The turnover in the defensive front seven shouldn’t be cause for panic, considering the way Georgia has recruited. But there may be some depth concerns along the defensive line and at linebacker.

KENTUCKY

• Many folks view “Air Raid” as synonymous with passing the football. But UK’s backfield may be the strongest position on the team. Boom Williams continued to miss time this spring due to an elbow injury. Jojo Kemp is a nice complimentary player. But Sihiem King, all 172 pounds of him, stole the show Saturday.
• JUCO transfer QB Stephen Johnson pushed him for a good part of spring and impressed beat writers with his running ability Saturday. But Drew Barker more than earned the confidence of the team in addition to the starting job.
• Offensive tackle remains an area of concern, and the receivers continue to struggle with drops.
• Coach Mark Stoops raved about his secondary, particularly corners Chris Westry and Derrick Baity. Denzil Ware’s outstanding spring game helped temper concerns about the team’s pass rush.

MISSOURI

• Mizzou didn’t look all that different from the team we saw at the end of the 2015 season, especially on defense. Despite missing several starters along the defensive line, that unit got the better of the offense during the spring scrimmages.
• By all accounts, Drew Lock played a strong spring game, including an encouraging 64-yard touchdown to J’Mon Moore. Still, Lock looked fantastic in fall practice in 2015, according to beat writers. So his challenge will be to carry over that comfort level and confidence into actual games.
• Defensive end Walter Brady, a standout newcomer in ’15, left the spring game in the second quarter due to injury. But it sounds like Brady will be fine. Alabama transfer receiver Chris Black also left the game early due to injury. The Tigers are hoping he’ll be a significant factor in the passing game, but he’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.
• New head coach Barry Odom is being as secretive as possible this spring, perhaps even more so than other SEC coaches.
• It sure looks like Mizzou is going to use its tight ends more often and in different ways under Odom.
• Redshirt freshman cornerback T.J. Warren is making a strong push for a first-team spot.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Brandon McIlwain appears to be the frontrunner at quarterback. A pair of injuries this spring and the fact that offensive coordinator Kurt Roper seemingly will be allowed to run the system with which he succeeded at Duke are working in his favor.
• Linebacker seems like a position of strength yet again, with the return of Skai Moore and Jonathan Walton (who missed the spring game due to the birth of his child). T.J. Holloman and Bryson Allen-Williams are other players to watch at the position.
• The skill positions look pretty barren for the Gamecocks exiting spring. But freshman Bryan Edwards looks promising, and caught two touchdown passes in the spring game.
• The Will Muschamp era seems media friendly. South Carolina embedded multiple media members during preparations for the spring game.

TENNESSEE

• Despite a rash of injuries among the Vols’ scholarship pass-catchers, Ethan Wolfe, Preston Williams and Jeff George all made plays downfield. UT somehow still managed to give fans hope for an improved downfield passing game.
• Tennessee played its spring game without 24 players, who sat out due to injury. Coach Butch Jones suggested that in past years the team would’ve had to cancel the game, implying that he likes the depth that he’s accumulated for Team 120.
• Running back John Kelly made an impression this spring. He may not get many carries in ’16 if this season goes to plan. But his progress bodes well in the likely event the team needs to replace Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara next year.
• Allen Iverson made an impromptu appearance at the UT spring game. It turns out he was in Knoxville on Friday for a basketball event and decided to drop in.

VANDERBILT

• Sophomore-to-be Kyle Shurmur looked sharp in the spring game, separating himself from the competition at quarterback. He’ll enter the fall as a first-team player.
• Khari Blasingame switched from linebacker to the offensive backfield this spring. He got some good work, especially near the goal line. The Commodores sat Ralph Webb to protect him from injury and try to find another player or two who can become complimentary pieces to him.
• C.J. Duncan, who missed all of last season, is healthy again. He should be an important piece as Vandy tries to improve its passing game.

Christopher Smith

An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.