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| Graham Mertz, Florida |
Power Rankings
9. Kentucky Wildcats
Offense: Following Liam Coen's decision to return to the NFL, Mark Stoops acted quick to name Boise State's Bush Hamdan the new OC in Lexington. Hamdan is still likely to lean on a power-run attack, but the Wildcats will look to pick up the pace this year, and with new QB Brock Vandagriff, potentially test defenses vertically.
Vandagriff is the presumed starter after transferring in from SEC foe Georgia, where he spent three seasons but was unable to break through. He's a former blue-chip recruit with all the physical tools, but it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to a new scheme and being the face of the offense. Another transfer quarterback, Gavin Wimsatt, also arrives from Rutgers and brings experience to the equation after 19 starts with the Scarlet Knights.
Kentucky will have a new tailback next to Vandagriff in the backfield after Ray Davis and his 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns graduated. They'll likely lean on transfers here, too, with Chip Trayanum from Ohio State and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye from NC State likely to see the most action. Sumo-Karngbaye did average seven yards per carry in limited usage with the 'Cats last fall and Trayanum had 373 yards with Ohio State, but it does feel like a slight stepdown at the position. Fortunately, they'll run behind an offensive line that brings back four starters, including stalwarts Marques Cox and Jager Burton.
The combination of Barion Brown and Dane Key out wide is among the most underrated in the country, with both looking to take off during their third seasons with the program. Key led the team in yardage and touchdowns, but Brown has proven to be a steady presence during his time in Lexington. add in Ja'Mori Maclin from North Texas, this could be an explosive passing game if Vandagriff can acclimate quickly.
Defense: The Wildcats reload on this side of the ball just about as well as anyone in the SEC but this fall, there won't have to be much reloading. Just about every major piece is returning, with one major exception - Trevin Wallace left for the NFL after recording 80 tackles and 5.5 sacks a year ago.
Even without Wallace, this front seven is going to be nasty. Nose guard Deone Walker is fresh off an All-SEC season and will cause damage on the interior, while ends J.J. Weaver and Keeshawn Silver terrorize opponents off the edge. Add in tackle Octavious Oxendine, the perfect balance to Walker on the inside with his quickness, and this may end up being the best defensive line group in the SEC.
The linebacker corps will undoubtedly miss Wallace, but veterans Jamon Dumas-Johnson and D'Eryk Jackson should ensure there's no major slippage in 2024. Jackson led the team in tackles last fall, while Dumas-Johnson joins Vandagriff in coming over from Georgia after 24 starts in the last three seasons.
The Wildcat pass defense took their lumps a season ago, but there's reason to believe this could be an improved group this year. Three starters are back in the fold, including standout corner Maxwell Hairston Jr., who picked off five passes last season. The staff also worked to add in some reinforcements through the portal in the form of Michigan transfer D.J. Waller and Alabama's Kristian Story.
Bottom Line: The ever-steady Wildcats are bound to look quite different on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, at least in the backfield, but the core of the program has not changed. Mark Stoops has an experienced team that will battle in the trenches and be an absolute pain to play on any given Saturday. The schedule is a difficult one, so the Wildcats will have an uphill climb, but this is a program you can trust to go out and win 7-8 games consistently. And who knows, if Vandagriff ends up being the real deal, they could be quite the dark horse near in the middle-of-the-pack in this conference.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
Offense: The Bobby Petrino experiment actually ended up being a mild success despite the external forces working against him, with Conner Weigman going down for the season after four games and Jimbo Fisher's eventual demise. But, there was no chance new head man Mike Elko was going to hold onto him, instead convincing Collin Klein to leave his alma mater, Kansas State, to run the show.
The hope is that Weigman is ready to go after after flashing significant upside in eight starts in his first two seasons in College Station. Weigman has the tools, a 6'3", 215-pounder with running ability and a crisp arm, and he looked well on his way to something big in 2023 before the injury. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be one of the SEC's breakout stars.
Weigman will have to even more this season after the unfortunate news that tailback Rueben Owens would miss most of the 2024 season with a foot injury suffered in fall camp. Junior Le'Veon Moss is more than capable, but losing a potential workhorse like Owens stings. It may, however, afford further opportunities to newcomer E.J. Smith and Amari Daniels, who was actually A&M's top rusher in 2023.
With Ainias Smith off to the NFL and Evan Stewart transferring out, finding new weapons at receiver for Weigman will be key. Senior Jahdae Walker is the most proven option right now, but Klein and staff are also hoping for more from junior Noah Thomas and veteran Moose Muhammed. Transfers Cyrus Allen from Louisiana Tech and Jabre Barber from Troy will also be counted on, and A&M is hopeful sophomore tight end Donovan Green returns to form after missing the entire season last fall.
The Aggies do lose a pair of starters up front in Layden Robinson and Bryce Foster, which will hurt him on the interior, but the unit appears to still be in fine shape as they gear up for the fall. Left tackle Trey Zuhn is an All-SEC possibility, while sophomore Mark Nabou is expected to take over for Foster at center after primarily playing left guard.
Defense: Jay Bateman was who Mike Elko selected to run the A&M defense in 2024, although there's little doubt Elko will also have his hands in it considering his background. They'll take over an Aggie defense that was consistently strong under Jimbo Fisher, and should be in a good spot once again as we look ahead towards this fall.
The two Shemars, Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner, are quite the starting point on the defensive line and A&M further bolstered this group with the addition of Purdue transfer Nic Scourton. A potential first-rounder next spring, Scourton had 10 sacks for the Boilermakers a year ago and will require constant attention off the edge.
There are some notable departures in the back seven, but plenty still returns, and Elko and this staff plugged holes through their work in the portal. At linebacker, Pitt transfer Solomon DeShields could come in and be a Day One starter next to Taurean York, with Edgerrin Cooper now in the NFL. However, Florida transfer Scooby Williams is expected to push him at weakside linebacker, a position to watch into the regular season.
Veteran cornerback Tyreek Chappell leads the secondary, which also brings back rising junior Bryce Anderson. The two spots that will be interesting to watch will be the corner spot opposite of Chappell and free safety, where transfers have a fairly good chance to start immediately. Will Lee, a long and sturdy corner who started nine games at Kansas State in 2023, is likely to pair with Chappell at corner.
Bottom Line: Following the epic implosion that was the Jimbo Fisher era, Mike Elko seems like a shrewd hire by Texas A&M brass. He's not going to be as flashy in the way he does things as Jimbo and may not bring in the nation's top recruiting class, but he's an elite football mind who knows the program well and understands its culture. Year One will surely have its share of growing pains but the roster remains talented, and a healthy Weigman provides A&M with plenty of upside. Replicating last season's seven wins is a fair goal and with the way the schedule breaks, even greater things could be expected.
11. Florida Gators
Offense: For all the negativity surrounding Graham Mertz during the end of his Wisconsin career, he came to Florida and put together a marvelous first season for the Gators. Mertz completed 73% os his passes for 2,903 yards and a 20-3 TD-INT ratio, playing with a command and confidence we didn't see often with the Badgers. Even with the addition of prized recruit D.J. Lagway, Mertz is clearly the guy as the Gators enter 2024.
Mertz should also benefit from a strong receiver corps surrounding him, although the absence of Ricky Pearsall is a tough one. Sophomore Eugene Wilson was a pleasant surprise a year ago and hopes to take up the mantle as the team's No. 1 option. The staff also brought on a former Badger teammate for Mertz to throw to in Chimere Dike, and Arizona State transfer Elijah Badger will hope to replicate the path Pearsall took when he started his career in Tempe.
The ground game took a hit when Trevor Etienne opted to transfer, although steady Montrell Johnson returns after rushing for 817 yards in 2023 when splitting time. However, depth is a concern beyond Johnson and sophomore Treyaun Webb, which could make all the difference once Florida hits the meat of their schedule.
Fortunately, the ground game will benefit from what should be a solid O-Line, returning most of its key pieces. Jake Slaughter, Damieon George, and Austin Barber are a great starting point, with the staff hoping others can cement the right tackle and left guard spots.
Defense: There were some bright spots for coordinator Austin Armstrong in his first season running the Gator defense, but it became clear work had to be done after a frustrating back-half. In fact, Florida surrendered a school record 701 yards in a 52-35 loss to LSU in early November.
The Gators are hopeful that a full offseason with Armstrong will help turn the tide, and Billy Napier also hired on veteran coordinator Ron Roberts, who spent 2023 with Auburn. Those two factors, combined with the fact Florida returns six starters could have this side of the ball looking up.
The front seven did see several likely 2024 contributors hit the portal over the offseason, but the defensive line has three starters back, plus behemoth Desmond Watson at tackle. Junior end Tyreak Sapp is likely to be their top pass rusher, but the staff seems high on sophomore T.J. Searcy, who flashed last year and takes over the end spot left absent by Princely Umanmielen.
Shemar James is a familiar name at linebacker after making eight starts last fall, but middle linebacker is one of the greatest question marks on this defense. The assumption is that either holdover Derek Wingo or South Carolina transfer Grayson Howard will take things over at the position, but it could be an X-factor for this unit.
Cornerback Jason Marshall is a program staple on the back-end looking to finish off his Florida career in a big way, and sophomore safety Jordan Castell led the team in tackles in 2023. Asa Turner looks to come in and lock down a starting spot after five years at Washington, while the other corner spot is another position to watch. Could former five-star Cormani McClain come in and start after a disappointing debut season at Colorado? He certainly seemed like a guy who desperately needed a change of scenery, but is he ready?
Bottom Line: Billy Napier's third team is undoubtedly his best and on paper, I believe this is a top-half team in the SEC. There's just one huge roadblock standing in their way: the toughest schedule in all of college football. Beyond just the conference slate, which includes Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, at Texas, and at Tennessee, the Gators must also contend with a very tough non-conference that includes the other three major programs in the state - Miami, UCF, and Florida State. It's not crazy to think Florida hits their bye in late October either undefeated or with one loss and proceeds to lose their final five games - the back half is just that difficult. Perhaps the Gators find a way to persevere and surprise some folks, but this team's ceiling is capped with that slate. It's disappointing, too, because I do believe this could have been the breakthrough for Napier in a normal year.
12. Auburn Tigers
Offense: After a decade-and-a-half at Ole Miss, Derrick Nix reunites with Hugh Freeze as Auburn's new offensive coordinator. He'll look to jumpstart a Tiger offense that had a rollercoaster of a 2023 season. There were the occasional great moments but for the most part, the team struggled to get things going in Year One of Freeze.
Heading into 2024, there's good and bad news for Nix. On the bright side, tailback Jarquez Hunter is among the SEC's best, a reliable ball-carrier who notched 909 yards in 2023. He'll be counted on to keep the chains moving early and often this season. In addition, Auburn greatly improved the receiver position by bringing in one of the nation's top recruits at the position, Cam Coleman, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith from Penn State. Those additions, along with the arrival of ultra-versatile Sam Jackson from Cal, completely overhauls a passing attack whose top pass-catcher, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, finished with just 394 yards.
On the negative side of things, Auburn still needs to identify a quarterback. Payton Thorne just hasn't gotten the job done since a huge 2021 for Michigan State back in the day, but nobody else has overtaken him for the starting job. Hank Brown did impress in the bowl and Walker White arrives with plenty of hype, but it's Thorne's job until further notice.
Much like the offense as a whole, it's a mixed bag on the O-Line for the Tigers. Sophomore center Connor Lew is tremendous and an elite anchor, but three starters depart. Look for Percy Lewis, who comes over from Mississippi State, to start at the ever-important left tackle spot.
Defense: D.J. Durkin and Charles Kelly are two veteran defensive coordinators who will look to build on a promising 2023 campaign for this Auburn defense. The defensive line loses a pair of NFL linemen, but boasts a rising star in end Keldric Faulk, and was bolstered through the portal. Look for Isaiah Raikes from Texas A&M, DeAngelo "Trill" Carter (Minnesota & Texas) and Philip Blidi (Indiana) to all contribute.
Eugene Asante made plays all over the field for the Tigers in 2023 and returns to spearhead the linebacker corps, which also includes newcomers Dorian Mausi from Duke and hyped true freshman Demarcus Riddick. Mausi made 27 starts over his Blue Devil career, while Riddick arrived in the spring and immediately captured the attention of onlookers.
The pass defense was a bright spot last fall, but the secondary experiences plenty of turnover. Names like Jaylin Simpson and Nehemiah Pritchett, who were with the program for years, have departed and leave the Tigers scrambling for answers.
Senior corner Keionte Scott was a crucial returnee despite some NFL interest, and he will have to play a leadership role. Add in Jerrin Thompson from Texas, who made 31 starts for the Longhorns, and that's a fine starting point. But, the other spots are all up for grabs, and may have to lean on youngsters early and often in 2024.
Bottom Line: Earning a bowl berth, despite the eventual loss, was a fine debut for Hugh Freeze, but so much more will be expected in 2024. The Tigers fixed numerous holes in the portal and also brought in a strong recruiting class, which has elevated expectations for a program that hasn't won more than six games since 2019. But with questions at quarterback and the secondary still looming, it feels like Auburn is still a year or two away from being considered much of a serious contender in the SEC. Building on six wins should be the goal, but anything beyond that feels uncertain at this point in the Freeze era.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
Offense: Redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers will take over as South Carolina's starting quarterback after Spencer Rattler threw for over 3,000 yards on the 2023 campaign. Sellers is a different athlete than his predecessor, but the staff seems very high on his upside. Sellers has played just three games in his Gamecock career up to this point, so it's a near certainty he'll need time to adjust to his new role.
Finding new playmakers around Sellers will be the goal early on for South Carolina, as they lose their top three rushers and top three pass-catchers from the 2023 team. Look for a pair of transfers, Oscar Adaway from North Texas and Raheim Sanders from Arkansas, to see the bulk of the action in the backfield. Sanders ran for 2,230 yards over the course of his Razorback career, so comes to South Carolina with a proven pedigree.
It's hard to know who will emerge at receiver, although the Gamecocks are hopeful that this could be the coming out party for sophomore Nyck Harbor, a supremely talented athlete who flashed last fall. At 6'5", 240 pounds, Harbor can line up just about anywhere, but his top-flight speed makes him a real deep threat. Surrounding him are several transfers, including Gage Larvadain from Miami Ohio and Jared Brown from Georgia State, while holdovers Luke Doty, a converted QB, and tight end Joshua Simon also look to make their presence felt.
Any hopes of an improved offensive season will hinge on the Gamecocks improving at the line of scrimmage. Between injuries and overall inexperience, Rattler was constantly under heat last fall, with South Carolina surrendering a total of 41 sacks. The good news is that this unit should be healthier this fall with four starters back, and they added depth with the addition of FCS All-American Torricelli Simpkins at center.
Defense: After taking their lumps throughout the first half of 2023, this defense finished the year on a high note, which they have to hope will carry over into this season. The front seven in particular has a chance to be very strong, as three starters are back on the defensive line and senior linebacker Debo Williams gives them an excellent starting point at linebacker.
Kyle Kennard, Tonka Hemmingway, and Alex Huntley are all familiar faces on the line, but it will be interesting to see who rounds out the starting lineup in this 4-2-5 look. Gilber Edmond is back in town after a one-year pit stop at Florida State, but the staff is very high on incoming freshman Dylan Stewart, a 6'5", 245-pounder who is lightning quick off the edge.
The Gamecock secondary was one of the best in the SEC in 2022, but seemed to take its hits last fall. The good news is that three starters are back, with the lone exception being corner Marcellias Dial, who is now a New England Patriot. Look for senior O'Donnell Fortune to take over as the top CB on the roster, while Jalon Kilgore, Nick Emmanwori, and D.Q. Smith will also play key roles.
Bottom Line: South Carolina defied expectations in both of the first two seasons of Shane Beamer's tenure, but 2023 felt a bit like a wake up call as they slid back to 5-7. To return to a bowl, the Gamecocks will need Sellers to learn on the fly but more importantly, others to emerge at the skill positions. The defense gives them a solid starting point but a tough schedule will again test what this program is able to do. There is enough here for this team to still be a threat, but it may take some time for things to get going as they prepare for the 2024 campaign.
14. Arkansas Razorbacks
Offense: Over a decade since he was dumped as Arkansas head coach, Bobby Petrino returns to Fayetteville, this time as the Razorback offensive coordinator. He will be tasked with jumpstarting an Arkansas offense that managed under 27 points per contest in the lost 2023 season.
Identifying a new quarterback after K.J. Jefferson's transfer will be priority No. 1. The expectation is that Boise State transfer Taylen Green will run the show after a strong spring, giving the Razorbacks a big, athletic signal-caller to run Petrino's system. Green started 22 games over his Bronco career and had his moments despite inconsistent play, but may need time to adjust to the level of SEC ball.
There will be a new backfield mate for Green as Arkansas brought in Utah's Ja'Quinden Jackson, a converted quarterback who ran for nearly 800 yards with the Utes a year ago. He bring about improvement for a ground game that struggled mightily a year ago - Jefferson finished as their leading rusher with just 447 yards.
There are plenty of weapons for Green to throw to, including senior Andrew Armstrong and sophomore Isaiah Sategna. Transfers Khafre Brown from USF and Tyrone Broden from Bowling Green could also add much-needed explosiveness. But, the most important "addition" for this Razorback attack is actually the healthy return of sophomore tight end Luke Hasz, who was well on his way to a big year before injury after five games. He has the talent to be one of the best in the SEC.
Defense: The defense improved across the board in 2023 and should be the strength of the team, even if Petrino is able to turn things around on the other side of the ball. It starts up front for the Razorbacks, where they have three starters back on the line, led by end Landon Jackson, who earned All-SEC honors after tallying 6.5 sacks a year ago.
At linebacker, it's likely Arkansas will lean transfers heavily, with Stephen Dix coming in from Marshall at middle linebacker, and Xavian Sorey (Georgia) and Doneiko Slaughter (Tennessee) rounding things out, with Slaughter playing the hybrid "Hog" position. Although the group will need time to gel, all three starters do bring experience to the equation, and Sorey may have untapped potential he simply wasn't able to show while battling for snaps at Georgia.
Safeties Hudson Clark and Jayden Johnson are established veterans who could form one of the better safety combos in the conference, but the Razorbacks will need defenders to emerge at the cornerback spots. Sophomore Jaylon Braxton looks up for the challenge, with Kee'Yon Stewart the potential starter opposite of him.
Bottom Line: Sam Pittman came in and turned things around in short order after the disaster that was the Chad Morris era, but since the 9-4 2021, it has been two straight seasons of diminishing returns, including the frustrating 4-8 2023. Now firmly on the hot seat, Pittman is hopeful the hiring of Petrino can help turn the tide, but the Razorbacks are still up against a brutal schedule. They do fortunately miss Georgia and Alabama this year, but from mid-October on, face a stretch that includes LSU, at Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas, and at Missouri. Add in the fact Arkansas must square off with Oklahoma State in the non-conference, it's difficult finding enough wins to think this team could return to bowl eligibility. No, the more likely scenario is another 4-5 win season, likely leading to Pittman's demise, and a new head coach once things kick off in 2025.
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Offense: Jeff Lebby has run some explosive offenses throughout his coaching career at previous stops at UCF, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma, and now he'll call plays for Mississippi State as their head coach. At the very least, Lebby will bring an identity back to the Bulldog offense after they were stuck in purgatory in 2023 due to the unfortunate passing of Mike Leach.
With Mississippi State's all-time leading passer, Will Rogers, now a Washington Husky, it will be Baylor transfer Blake Shapen at QB. Shapen made 23 starts over the course of his career with the Bears, and was solid, but it will be interesting to see if Lebby can unlock another level in him. He's likely to take more shots down the field in this offense than he did at Baylor.
Surrounding Shapen is a receiver group with upside, but lacking proven weapons. Jaden Walley is still in town, but has seen his role diminished - it's likely sophomore Creed Whittemore or Jackson State/Louisville transfer Kevin Coleman will be the feature options. Tight end Seydou Traore could also be used in some interesting ways, as he hauled in 655 yards with Arkansas State back in 2022.
It's hard to know who will lead the way at tailback, with a committee approach the most likely outcome. Seth Davis is their top returning rusher, but watch for Jeffery Pittman and Keyvone Lee. They'll have their work cut out for them working behind an offensive line that loses all five starters, and will surely lean heavily on transfers.
Defense: Although he clearly wasn't the right fit as head coach, Zach Arnett did do a fine job with this Mississippi State defense. Lebby and new DC Coleman Hutzler will have their work cut out for them with significant losses throughout the lineup.
The defensive line isn't in terrible shape, but it's hard to know how it will look against SEC defenses. Veteran defensive end De'Monte Russell should give the Bulldogs a threat off the edge, while Deonte Anderson leads the interior. North Carolina transfer Kedrick Bingley-Jones could be a name to watch as a talented linemen who simply couldn't break through in Chapel Hill.
New faces dot the back seven, with linebacker in particular a group that is going to rely on transfers. Stone Blanton comes over from South Carolina and should start right away at middle linebacker, while the staff is hopeful Branden Jennings can live up to his former billing as a blue chip recruit after several previous stops.
Senior safety Corey Ellington is going to have to play a leadership role in the secondary as one of the few key contributors back. He notched 66 tackles for the Bulldogs last fall, the returning leader with the losses around him. Junior Chris Keys could line up next to him at free safety, or hard-hitting senior Jordan Morant.
Bottom Line: The passing of Mike Leach threw Mississippi State into disarray, and it was not a surprise the team struggled during the 2023 campaign. The hope is that the hiring of Lebby gives them direction again, but it will be likely be a tough debut with all the losses throughout the roster. This team should put up points and be a fun watch, but it's likely they'll have to scratch and claw to make a bowl. Even if they are able to go undefeated in the non-conference, finding two wins on this conference schedule is tough - a repeat of last year's 5-7 mark seems the most likely outcome.
16. Vanderbilt Commodores
Offense: Quarterback Diego Pavia followed his former offensive coordinator, Tim Beck, and former head coach, Jerry Kill, across the country from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt over the offseason. Beck will run the Vandy offense as OC, with Kill set to take an off-field role after an impressive turnaround at NMSU.
Familiarity with this offense will be huge for Pavia after he accounted for nearly 4,000 yards of total offense for the Aggies, but he will still have to fend off another new transfer, Utah's Nate Johnson. Johnson made three starts for the Utes last fall and still remains in the mix at the position entering the fall. At the very least, it's likely we see the speedy Johnson in some type of package for the Commodores in 2024.
For Pavia and the offense as a whole to succeed, the Commodores need more from their skill positions. Sedrick Alexander had some moments at tailback as a true freshman but wasn't helped by an overmatched Vanderbilt offensive line, leading him to average under four yards per carry.
At receiver, Vanderbilt lost their top three pass-catchers from 2023, so they'll have to rely on a new looking cast. Sophomore Junior Sherrill is their top returnee and looks to be their most likely weapon, but it will be interesting to see who else emerges, as there are opportunities here. Senior Quincy Skinner has been with the program for some time, while Micah Bell from Notre Dame brings a certain pedigree to the table. Tight end Cole Spence is another name to watch, as is converted QB Eli Stowers, a former A&M trransfer.
The best news for this offense is the fact the O-Line has a chance to be really solid, as they bring on several contributors from last fall and plugged holes through the portal. The interior will have to gel in short order, but tackle Gunnar Hansen should anchor the unit on the edge.
Defense: Clark Lea got this head coaching job at his alma mater because of his work as Notre Dame defensive coordinator - now it's time to prove he can turn things around for the Commodore defense after they surrendered over 36 PPG in 2023.
This isn't your typical SEC defensive front, but the front seven could actually be decent this year. There's plenty of experience returning, and junior linebacker Langston Patterson is a legitimate difference-maker who led the Commodores in tackles last season.
Beyond Patterson, Vanderbilt is hopeful tackles Yilanan Ouattara and Devin Lee can create chaos up front, while junior Miles Capers comes off the edge after notching 3.5 tackles for loss in 2023. Former Stanford transfer Aeneas DiCosmo should also be counted on up front after starting 12 games for Vanderbilt last fall.
This was among the worst pass defenses in power conference football last season. Lea and staff worked the portal hard to try and bring in reinforcements, but it's hard to know how successful they will be with such a quick turnaround. Senior corner Tyson Russell is a strong starting point as a returning starter, but it's unclear who will start opposite of him. On the back-end, safeties C.J. Taylor, and De'Ricky Wright are both back in town.
Bottom Line: Things were looking up in Nashville when Lea won five games in his second season on campus, but the good vibes were quickly erased with the stinker 2-10 2023. There's little doubt that this is one of the toughest jobs in all of FBS football, but Lea still needs to show some traction in a pivotal Year Four if he is to survive into 2025. There are some interesting pieces on the roster and they should be a better watch than they were a year ago, but the Commodores are just at such a distinct disadvantage in the SEC. They have a good chance to win three of their four non-conference games so a win improvement may be in the cards, but anything beyond that would come as a surprise this fall.
All-SEC Teams
First Team
QB Carson Beck, Georgia
RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
WR Luther Burden II, Missouri
WR Bru McCoy, Tennessee
TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
OL Tate Ratledge, Georgia
OL Cooper Mays, Tennessee
OL Tyler Booker, Alabama
OL Will Campbell, LSU
DL James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
DL Deone Walker, Kentucky
DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DL Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
LB Harold Perkins, LSU
LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida
CB Daylen Everette, Georgia
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
S Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Second Team
QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
RB Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma
RB Justice Haynes, Alabama
WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
WR Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
TE Mason Taylor, LSU
OL Emery Jones, LSU
OL D.J. Campbell, Texas
OL Connor Lew, Auburn
OL Marques Cox, Kentucky
OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
DL Landon Jackson, Arkansas
DL Damonic Williams, Oklahoma
DL Tim Smith, Alabama
DL Mykel Williams, Georgia
LB Smael Mondon, Georgia
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
LB Debo Williams, South Carolina
CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
CB Keionte Scott, Auburn
S Malachi Moore, Alabama
S Joseph Charleston, Missouri
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn
SEC Championship Game: Georgia over Texas
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