It is not even Halloween and already college football fans from certain SEC schools are ostensibly making plans to go bass fishing in late December or early January.
The SEC is scary enough every season but 2024 … hoo boy! There are going to be some spectacular train wrecks every Saturday.
photo courtesy of Back to the Future
Have you seen Florida’s 2024 schedule? [gulp]
Forget chomp chomp. It is time to clutch pearl necklaces.
Usually, the SEC is The Holy Grail of combat zones—apparently Missouri got a hall pass this season—and like to eat its own. But because of transfer portal-loving players and hot seat head coaches, things have gotten even more combative in the SEC.
The Big Ten finally decided to flex its muscle and become a black-and-blue conference and suddenly, the SEC lost some Cowbell.
Fear not, SEC fans. Everything looks just fine. For some schools.
True freshmen are now threatening upperclassmen’s reps with the 1s and 2s in practice. Coaches are doing this because who wants to lose their 5-star player to the transfer portal because of lack of playing time or a fired/transferred coach?
Am I right, Aggie fans?
With college football coming to your city within the next two weeks, we take a look at some incoming freshmen who probably will not be sitting on the sidelines holding clipboards or play-calling signs with Beyonce’s face.
These grown men are my chosen few who should be playing right away in the SEC. Perhaps even starting.
Whether it be in specific down-and-yardage plays, special packages (come on, we all love the jumbo package!) or even just as back-ups at skilled positions, these warriors have the right stuff.
photo courtesy of Robinson family
Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
The SEC loves to brag about its defenses. Okay, last year… not so great. (Yes, SEC fans, Rutgers had better D than the Tide.) There were a lot of discipline issues with a few *cough* teams.
Georgia, who was ranked No. 9 in total defense last season, has been very proactive in avoiding a secondary fall-off due to attrition. Head coach Kirby Smart’s “go big or go home” attitude was validated with the addition of Robinson.
The top-ranked cornerback of the 2024 class, this freshman was ranked second nationally, overall. In fact, he rated a perfect 100 score on 247Sports.com.
He runs a 4.5 in the 40 and has a 36-inch vertical leap. He’s comfortable in man-to-man coverage (uh-oh, Texas) and has a favorite hobby: making picks. He is a menace in the backfield and we cannot wait to watch him pick-6 a few passers.
photo courtesy of GatorsBreakDown
LJ McCray, DL, Florida
McCray was the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall recruit. Will he get playing time? Maybe. It all depends on how scorched head coach Billy “Hot Seat” Napier’s skivvies get during the season.
The biggest question mark with most freshmen linemen is that—unlike most skilled position players—they tend to need at least a year of development. His position coach will probably need to tweak his footwork and correct any technique deficiencies.
But this guy is a beast (6-6, 260 lbs and 79-inch wingspan!) at stuffing the run and an absolute nightmare for any quarterback who chances more than two seconds in the pocket. He has that Junior Seau gift of anticipating the play and leveling the ball carrier. Or passer.
Bonus: can we talk about his name? Prediction: His nickname will be Cray Cray McCray. Pass the popcorn.
photo courtesy of AuburnObserver
Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn
This 5-star receiver decommitted from Texas A&M and made Hugh Freeze’s Christmas a lot more merrier when he signed with Auburn in December. Coleman was rated the top receiver (ESPN) in the country and No. 6 overall prospect.
He does need to bulk up a bit (6-3, 188 lbs) which could help him get more push off the blocks, but his route-running is top-notch. He creates great separation so his yards-after-catch should be eye-popping. He regularly practices with the 1s so his odds of seeing significant action early in the games—not just during garbage time—are good.
Coleman also played basketball so his jumping ability will be a factor on corner fades or Hail Marys. (Are you listening to me, Coach?)
How good is this dude? He had four catches for 92 yards in Auburn’s spring game and was a finalist for Alabama’s Mr. Football Award.
Boom.
photo courtesy of GatorCountry
DJ Lagway, QB, Florida
The rich keep getting richer in Gainesville. Alas, if only they knew how to enhance those investments.
The 6-3, 241 lbs, 5-star prospect Lagway is a prototype athletic quarterback. At 19 years old, he has more maturity than most true freshmen.
Lagway set a “Texas class 6A single-season record for touchdown passes all while leading the program to its best record in over 60 years,” per 247Sports.
Lagway was an early enrollee and was quite impressive in spring camp. He, not projected starter Graham Mertz, was the first quarterback to handle the offense.
“He’s made impressive growth,” Napier told GatorCountry. Napier noted his improvement on reads and ball control as key factors in his growth. Technique such as foot work—a lifesaver while in the pocket— has also been cleaned up.
“DJ has a cannon for an arm because he’ll launch it,” added tight end Arlis Boardingham.
While he is expected to back up Mertz, his escapability and ability to extend plays may remind fans of Tim Tebow. Gator fans may be campaigning for him to start if Florida struggles offensively.
photo courtesy of rivals.com
Jaylen Mbakwe, CB, Alabama
How fast is this cornerback? He ran a 10.46 in the 100-meter dash in high school.
It’s a good thing he’s fast because the Tide’s secondary took a major hit losing Kool-Aid McKistry, Terrion Arnold and Caleb Downs. Mbakwe may be called up early to shore up the defense.
At 5-11, 192 lbs, Mbakwe was ranked 12th nationally and 2nd at his position. While Alabama always has talent waiting in the wings, this season will look and feel different.
The Tide added USC’s Domani Jackson via the transfer portal but can we just pause and reflect on what the Trojans’ D looked like last year?
OK, good feeling gone.
photo courtesy of TDAlabamaMag
Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams was ranked 3rd at his position, 8th overall nationally.
I could go on and on about how much I am crushin’ on him but I’ll leave you with this little tidbit: Williams had 4,600 all-purpose yards and 65 touchdowns at his high school’s final seasons.
Play. Him. Now.
photo courtesy of Yahoo!
Walker White, QB, Auburn
Time to get excited Tiger fans. The next coming of Cam Newton has arrived on the Plains. White is a big, strong athletic runner at 6-3, 220 lbs. He has a fearless quality about him—running up the middle to him is akin to picking roses in a field of quicksand; he finds the sweet spots and avoids the traps.
White will be working on accuracy and touch consistency when he is in the pocket. In other words, he inner-channels his Brett Favre. But with some serious reps and confidence-building wide-outs, White will make Auburn fans smile again.
His real strength will be throwing on the run or play-actions but do not discount OC Derrick Nix designing blasts or power running plays for him on short-yardage situations. Perhaps he will be brought in for special packages.
Can you say Wildcat?
At Little Rock Christian Academy, White threw for 2, 282 yards, 29 TDs, 8 INTs and rushed for 346 yards and 9 TDs.
Feed him the ball, Coach.