SEC PRIMER (2022 MEDIA DAYS): A full dance card awaits in Hot-lanta
By GRAHAM DUNN
Is it that time again?
It seems like it was just a few days ago we were crowning Georgia as national champions and Kirby Smart the Heir apparent to the throne as the greatest football coach in the country.
Kiss the ring when you say that….
Here we are, ready and waiting for another dance card to arrive and lead us to the Promised Land known as the college football season. We spend all winter and spring putting up with other sports (congrats to Ole Miss for finally winning a national title in something) to get to July, or six more weeks of waiting for kickoff… Oh, wait, only five weeks with Vanderbilt getting an early vacation to Hawaii to chase Rainbow Warriors.
Before we get to the festivities a.k.a. SEC MEDIA DAYS (actual name is SEC Football Kickoff Media Days but who wants to type all that), let’s review 2021.
Start with the Dawgs, who ended 42 years of doubt and drought without a national championship. They did it with a walk-on quarterback, a premium defense and a coach that can rest easy now that he’s beaten his master.
Speaking of master, Alabama didn’t win the national title, which is almost as big news as winning it. But they really didn’t want it anyway, right Bama fans?
We had two coaches replaced (Florida and LSU) and almost another (Auburn) and a host of players hit the transfer portal before the Thanksgiving turkey was turned into hash.
We await the entrance of Texas and Oklahoma (which may come earlier than expected) as we head into the ’22 show. We also await the scramble to see if the remnants of other conferences will spin the wheel and merge or add to their numbers, if only to say they are a thriving unit.
We move this party to Atlanta where the event will get some mention of arrival on local websites and radio shows. That is, in between talk of Braves’ all-star snubs and who the Hawks will sign in the off season.
If we sound bitter, we are. It was easy to ride 85 miles to the Magic City (or just south of it) and enjoy a couple of days in what was once an icon of a mall.
But to keep it within tune of what to expect this week, the answer should be obvious:
Who will flinch in the new battle between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher?
We do have a lot to be thankful for as we head into another season. Once again, it’s nice to be on top of this world and watch as other leagues beg for mercy in the cavities of NIL and the transfer portal. They will catch us some day. Maybe.
But this league has its own set of problems and they can’t be denied. The aforementioned Texas A&M coach who seems to be peeved every time he gets near a mic, for one. Fisher is gaining a bigger reputation as a hot head than a hot-read playcaller.
But he’ll be all smiles come Thursday when he takes the podium.
And can we do something about the fake injuries? Yeah, its system-wide and not just the SEC, but it seems like it originated in this league.
Now, on to our contestants… (in the order of finish last year in their respective divisions).
EAST
GEORGIA (Last season: 12-1/ 8-0 — 2021 National Champions)
Media Day assignment - Wednesday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: QB Stetson Bennett; LB Nolan Smith; OL Sedrick Van Pran
Toughest opponents: Oregon (Sept. 3); Tennessee (Nov. 5); at Kentucky (Nov. 19)
Three questions… we want answers…
Is the job of Stetson Bennett safe this time or does he have to prove himself (again)?
Can you replace five NFL first-round picks on the defense and not miss a step?
How would you rate the national championship celebration, on a scale of 1-10?
Predicted ’22 finish: (12-0/8-0 CFP contenders again)
KENTUCKY (10-3/5-3 - Citrus Bowl champs)
Media Day assignment - Wednesday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: QB Will Levis; LB DeAndre Square; OL Kenneth Horsey
Toughest opponents: at Florida (Sept. 10); at Ole Miss (Oct. 1); Georgia (Nov. 19)
Three questions… we want answers…
Can QB Will Levis prove to be the first-round pick he is predicted to be?
Will the Wildcats ever get past the brick wall of second place in the division?
Is there a play-by-play announcer in the country that knows how to correctly pronounce former Wetumpka HS great Kavosiey Smoke’s first name?
Predicted ’22 finish: 8-4/4-4 (Another New Year’s Day in sunny Florida)
TENNESSEE (7-6/4-4 - Went bowling for first time since ‘19)
Media Day assignment - Thursday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: S Trevon Flowers; QB Hendon Hooker; WR CedricTillman
Toughest opponents: at LSU (Oct. 8); Alabama (Oct. 15); at Georgia (Nov. 5)
Three questions… we want answers…
Will QB Hendon Hooker improve on his school record for passing efficiency (31 TD/3 INT)?
Can the Orange Slush defense find a way to limit opponents to less than 42 points per game?
Just how many times can the UT band play “Rocky Top” in a single game?
Predicted ’22 finish: 8-4/4-4 (A bowl game outside the Tennessee state line for a change)
MISSOURI (6-7/3-5 - Narrow loss to Army West Point in the Armed Forces Bowl)
Media Day assignment - Monday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: WR Barrett Banister; DB Martez Manuel; DL Isaiah McGuire
Toughest opponents: at Auburn (Sept. 24); Georgia (Oct. 1); Arkansas (Nov. 25)
Three questions… we want answers…
Will the Tigers’ 15th-ranked recruiting class reap benefits this season?
Is there anyone on the roster who can replace RB Tyler Badie?
Can the Tigers win a game they aren’t expected to (Last time - they were a 20-point dog against LSU in 2020, winning 45-41)?
Predicted ’22 finish: 4-8/1-7 (Eli, they’re coming… hide yo’ heart!)
SOUTH CAROLINA (7-6/3-5 - Impressive win over UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl)
Media Day assignment - Tuesday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: WR Dakereon Joyner; DL Zacch Pickens; OL Jovaughn Gwyn
Toughest opponents: Georgia (Sept. 17); at Kentucky (Oct. 8); at Clemson (Nov. 26)
Three questions… we want answers…
Is transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler the answer to lifting the Gamecocks to the next level?
Can the nine players gained from the transfer portal make SC a contender in the East?
Will SC sleep on Georgia State (Game 1) like Auburn did a year ago?
Predicted ’22 finish: 6-6/3-5 (Expectations take a dip)
FLORIDA (6-7/2-6 - A poor season ending with a poor performance against UCF)
Media Day assignment - Wednesday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: QB Anthony Richardson; OL Richard Gouraige; DL Ventrell Miller
Toughest opponents: Utah (Sept. 3); Georgia (Oct. 29); at Texas A&M (Nov. 5)
Three questions… we want answers…
Will Florida fans have patience and let Billy Napier do his thing?
Will we see a little more discipline from the Gator defense this season?
Can Napier sell his philosophy better than his predecessor, Dan Mullen?
Predicted ’22 finish: 7-5/4-4 (Good enough for a bowl but will it ease Gator fans’ pain?)
VANDERBILT (2-10/0-8 - The ugly continued)
Media Day assignment - Tuesday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: TE Ben Bresnahan; LB Anfernee Orji; QB Mike Wright
Toughest opponents: All of them
Three questions… we want answers…
Is it possible Vandy can start the season 2-0 (hasn’t happened in five years)?
Can Vandy at least be competitive against the conference foes such as Missouri, South Carolina and Ole Miss?
Wouldn’t we rather see a Scholar’s Bowl instead of a football game between Wake Forest and the ‘Dores?
Predicted ’22 finish: 3-9/0-8 (Hooray! A one-game improvement from a year ago.)
WEST
ALABAMA (11-2/7-1 - CFP runner-up and SEC Champs)
Media Day assignment - Tuesday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: DB Jordan Battle; LB Will Anderson, Jr.; QB Bryce Young
Toughest opponents: at Arkansas (Oct. 1); Texas A&M (Oct. 8); at Ole Miss (Nov. 12)
Three questions… we want answers…
Can QB Bryce Young be the second player to win the Heisman Trophy in back-to-back years, or will his teammate, Will Anderson, Jr., beat him out?
Can the offensive line show improvement or will it be a work-in-progress like last season?
How many cameras will be on hand at midfield when the traditional pregame handshake between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher takes place? Better yet, will there be a pre-game handshake?
Predicted ’22 finish: 12-0/8-0 (It’s an automatic prediction every year)
OLE MISS (10-3/6-2 - First 10-win regular season in school history)
Media Day assignment - Monday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: OL Nick Broker; DE Cedric Johnson; WR Jonathan Mingo
Toughest opponents: at LSU (Oct. 22); Alabama (Nov. 12); at Arkansas (Nov. 19)
Three questions… we want answers…
Will transfer Zach Evans (TCU) add a spark to what was a pretty decent rushing attack?
Can the Ole Miss defense improve despite replacing four NFL draft picks or will it revert back to the train wreck it was back in 2020?
Although his average stay at at school is three years, will Lane Kiffin buck that trend and remain at Ole Miss past this upcoming season?
Predicted ’22 finish: 8-4/5-3 (New Year’s Day bowl will be in play again)
ARKANSAS (9-4/4-4 - First winning season in eight years)
Media Day assignment - Wednesday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: DB Jalen Catalon; LB Bumper Pool; QB KJ Jefferson
Toughest opponents: Texas A&M (Sept. 24); Alabama (Oct. 1); at Auburn (Oct. 29)
Three questions… we want answers…
How good is QB KJ Jefferson and does he have enough moxie to lead the Razorbacks to an upset or two (Alabama) this season?
Will DB Jalen Catalon return from injury and become the top draft pick he was destined to be?
Will LB Bumper Pool allow us to see his birth certificate to prove that is actually his name?
Predicted ’22 finish: 10-2/7-1 (Really - 10 wins? Yep with a possible shocking win over the Tide)
MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-6/4-4 - A good season that could actually have been better)
Media Day assignment - Tuesday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: DL Jaden Crumedy; LB Nathaniel Watson; WR Austin Williams
Toughest opponents: Texas A&M (Oct. 1); at Alabama (Oct. 22); Georgia (Nov. 12)
Three questions… we want answers…
How many passing records will QB Will Rogers break this season?
Can the MSU pass defense continue to climb statistically despite losing its top corner to the NFL (Martin Emerson)?
Will a brutal schedule mean a losing season for the Bulldogs?
Predicted ’22 finish: 5-7/1-7 (The schedule from hell might create doubt about Mike Leach’s chances in the SEC.)
TEXAS A&M (8-4/4-4 - A win over Bama and a loss to Miss St in the same year… you figure it out.)
Media Day assignment - Thursday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: DB Demani Richardson; OL Layden Robinson; WR Ainias Smith
Toughest opponents: Arkansas (Sept. 24); at Alabama (Oct. 8); LSU (Nov. 26)
Three questions… we want answers…
Is the quarterback situation a problem or is Max Johnson the answer? Or Haynes King? Or true freshman Conner Weigman?
Will any of the 5-star defensive lineman recruits (four of them) make an impact this season?
Can we expect any more bold predictions from Fisher in the preseason since the last one came true?
Predicted ’22 finish: 9-3/5-3 (Fisher won’t be fired if he doesn’t win the SEC this season, but he will be one step closer.)
AUBURN (6-7/3-5 - First losing season since 2012)
Media Day assignment - Thursday, a.m.
Players attending SECMD: RB Tank Bigsby; DE Derick Hall; TE John Samuel Shenker
Toughest opponents: at Georgia (Oct. 8); Texas A&M (Nov. 12); at Alabama (Nov. 26)
Three questions… we want answers…
Will the loss (transfer) of QB Bo Nix be more detrimental than we originally thought?
Does RB Tank Bigsby have enough to make it through the season without injury and can Auburn improve if he doesn’t?
Is it a forgone conclusion that Bryan Harsin will be fired if the Tigers falter again?
Predicted ’22 finish: 6-6/2-6 (Probably not good enough to extend the Harsin experiment.)
LSU (6-7/3-5 - Swan song for Ed Oregon)
Media Day assignment - Monday, p.m.
Players attending SECMD: WR Jack Bech; LB Mike Jones, Jr.; DE BJ Ojulari
Toughest opponents: at Georgia (Oct. 8); Texas A&M (Nov. 12); at Alabama (Nov. 26)
Three questions… we want answers…
How good can LSU be in the first year of Brian Kelly?
Is QB Myles Brennan good enough to lead the Tigers back to respectability?
Would the LSU official video board controller at Tiger Stadium play the “Brian Kelly dance” after every Tiger TD this season?
Predicted ’22 finish: 8-4/4-4 (The SEC’s biggest question mark for 2022… does Brian Kelly have the magic?)