Since it has been a month since this college football season has ended, I thought it was time to go over what happened with each team. While doing that, I also would like to look ahead to next year. Some teams may be excited while others are dreading it. In this article, I will review each SEC team’s 2018 season, and discuss what they have to look forward to in 2019 as well as what to be concerned about.

Alabama

Last Season in Review

During the regular season, it would have been hard for Alabama to have looked more unbeatable. The Crimson Tide went 12-0 in the regular season, and did not win a game by less than 22 points. In that time, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looked practically immortal. Tua led an offense that surpassed 50 points eight times in the regular season, and barely broke a sweat. Alabama’s offense was also led by Biletnikoff award winner Jerry Jeudy, who amassed 1,315 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. While their offense set the world on fire, their defense was very good as well. Quinnen Williams was nearly impossible to block without double or even triple teams as an interior defensive lineman. Deionte Thompson proved himself worthy of his high draft projections at safety, and Isaiah Buggs became another threat at defensive line.

Alabama’s sheer dominance did eventually come to an end. Against Georgia in the SEC Championship, they fell behind, but were able to rally and win with the help of backup quarterback Jalen Hurts. Against Oklahoma in the Playoff Semifinals, Alabama had a dominant first half, but began to let Oklahoma back into the game. Alabama still won that game 45-34, and looked fully ready to take down Clemson in the National Championship. Alabama was unable to stop a very talented Clemson defensive line from wreaking havoc, and just saw the game get away from them.

What to Look Forward to

Alabama returns Tua Tagovailoa, who will likely be the favorite to win the Heisman in 2019. Thankfully for Tua and the Crimson Tide, they also return their top thre leaders in receiving yards from last season in Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, and Henry Ruggs. Najee Harris also returns at running back. Harris was the number one overall recruit in the class of 2017, and will finally become the lead back in Alabama’s offense. Alabama’s skill position talent should be the best in the country. Alex Leatherwood looks to be the key piece on the offensive line. On defense, Anfernee Jennings and Raekwon Davis are likely to step into star roles on the defensive front. Dylan Moses also continues to improve at linebacker as he had a very solid sophomore season as he led the Crimson Tide in tackles. Patrick Surtain also will look to make a leap as he earned a starting role at cornerback as a true freshman this past season. Alabama also brought in the top recruiting class in the country, (as of the time this is written) that includes the top offensive tackle, running back, and strong side-defensive end in the country as well as two four star quarterbacks.

What to be Concerned About

At some point, the regular attrition Alabama has on their coaching staff, especially their coordinators, will catch up to them. Alabama comes in this season losing offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, Co-Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis, Defensive Coordinator Tosh Lupoi, and Quarterbacks Coach Dan Enos. What is also concerning to me is that only Locksley took a job that is a clear step up from his current position. Enos was named offensive coordinator after Locksley left, but decided to take the same job at a rebuilding Miami team. I do not believe they are true, but there are rumors circulating now that Alabama is now seen as a place that is not fun to coach at. Offensively, Alabama loses their two most used backs in Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs. Tight End/H-back Irv Smith Jr. has declared for the draft, and I believe he was a very underrated part of Alabama’s offense. Alabama also must replace Jonah Williams, who was an outstanding offensive lineman. Quinnen Williams will also be tough to replace at defensive tackle as he was one of the best defensive players in recent memory for Alabama. Alabama will have to rely on some younger players to step up at linebacker with Mack Wilson and Christian Miller gone. Alabama also still has not seemed to solve their kicking woes.

Goals for the 2019 Season

This Alabama team will come into the season as one of the most it would be ridiculous for their loss to Clemson to lead to the assumption that they are not capable of winning the National Championship next season. They will be one of the favorites again next season, and it should be their goal to house the National Championship trophy next season. It is definitely an attainable goal for Alabama.

Arkansas

Last Season In Review

So now we turn from the best team in the SEC last season to the worst. The cupboard was left quite bare for first year head coach Chad Morris. Arkansas went 2-10 this past season, and did not win a single SEC game. Their two wins were over Eastern Illinois, an FCS team and Tulsa, who finished 3-9 in the AAC. Arkansas lost to Colorado State, who went 3-9 in the Mountain Weat in non-conference play. The likely high point of their season was losing to LSU by only seven points. Needless to say, there were not too many good memories of this past season for Arkansas.

The Razorbacks started at quarterback as they were not able to find anyone who could fill in well as both Ty Storey and Cole Kelley struggled. One bright spot of the offense was Rakeem Boyd’s solid play at running back. Boyd started the season off third on the depth chart but worked his way up and became the lead back. Boyd ran for 734 yards, averaging six yards per carry. Hjalte Froholdt was another bringer spot as he was named first team All-SEC at offensive guard. De’Jon Harris was another consensus first team All-SEC player at linebacker as he led the defense with 118 total tackles. Ryan Pulley was also a solid player at cornerback.

What to Look Forward to

Arkansas hopes to have solved their quarterback as Ben Hicks is transferring in from SMU. Hicks had some struggles with completion percentage at SMU, but still should be an upgrade over what they had last season. Rakeem Boyd returns at running back and will look to be a workhorse back in the Razorbacks offense. Arkansas also returns five of their top six leaders receiving yards from last season. On defense, De’Jon Harris returns at linebacker. Harris oftentimes was carrying the defense last season so it will be good to have him back. Despite a disastrous season, Arkansas had a decent recruiting class that was ranked ninth in the SEC. While the defense did struggle last season, I believe John Chavis will be a good defensive coordinator as he has had success in the same position at LSU. Arkansas also has a very favorable non conference schedule next season as they play three G5 teams who had losing records last season, and an FCS team. All four of those games are also at home.

What to be Concerned About

While I still think he is an upgrade, expecting Ben Hicks to single handedly change the offense is definitely a stretch. Hicks only completed 56% of his passes last season, and will be facing tougher competition this season. Arkansas did not have a single receiver with over 500 receiving yards last season and their leading receiver had just 30 catches. The Razorbacks defense was also a bit disastrous at times. They allowed over 34 points in eight of their 12 games, and six of their eight SEC games. Arkansas also plays in an extremely tough division, and will have a very hard time winning games in conference. It is hard to say if this is good or bad, but head coach Chad Morris recently barred players from using the new locker room that was recently built and also forbid them from wearing Arkansas football related gear as a way of punishing them for their poor season. Morris said they need to earn these things back. While this might could motivate the team to work harder, it also draws signs of desperation and grasping at straws.

Goals for the 2019 Season

No reasonable person should expect Arkansas to make too much noise in the SEC next season. A trip to a bowl game would honestly be a big surprise to me. It might sound like a copout answer, but Arkansas just needs to show tangible progress in 2019. They need to be able to make some key stops on defense or pass the ball effectively. Being able to compete in games against mid level SEC teams will be a step in the right direction for Arkansas. Also winning an SEC game would be a good added bonus.

Auburn

Last Season in Review

Auburn’s 2018 season started off strong with a win over Washington in the season opener. Their loss by one point to LSU was disappointing, but understandable. We finally realized this team was not all it was hyped up to be after they lost back to back games against Mississippi State and Tennessee. Auburn finished out the rest of the regular season alright, losing to just Georgia and Alabama the rest of the way, but they just felt a ways behind the SEC’s elite. Their blowout win over Purdue in the Music City Bowl was impressive, but it does not hide the fact that this was a very flawed team.

The offense was carried by quarterback Jarrett Stidham and while he was great at times, it is hard for one player to carry an offense in the SEC. They eventually found a lead back in JaTarvious Whitlow, but the run game suffered until he came along. Auburn’s offensive line was a problem all season, and it was a major hindrance to their offensive success. Auburn should be thankful their defense was strong enough to win some games for them. Derrick Brown was a beast at defensive tackle, and caused major disruption, and Deshaun Davis (it is still a mystery as to how every Auburn team has at least two of three key players with the last name Davis ) was always there to get the tackle at linebacker.

What to Look Forward to

Auburn’s defense next season should be very good. They return many key contributors. Derrick Brown, a force on the defensive line, surprised many people by deciding to return to school. Marlon Davidson looks to take the next step at defensive end, and Nick Coe will also play a bigger role in the defense along the line. The back seven of the defense lacks a star, but will have many experienced players ready to step up. JaTarvious Whitlow returns at running back and should improve upon his numbers from his freshman season. Kam Martin also returns and should be a contributor in the backfield. While their offensive line did struggle, Auburn returns all five starters from last season on it. Auburn also has signed Owen Pappoe, the nation’s top outside linebacker in this class. Dual-threat quarterback signee Bo Nix will also look to compete for the starting job at quarterback.

What to be Concerned About

Auburn does not have a clear answer at quarterback for not season. Malik Willis, last year’s backup, has attempted 14 passes in his entire career so it is hard to get a read on how successful he can be. Bo Nix is a five star recruit but he will be a true freshman this coming season. With an offensive line that is far from elite, the quarterback in this offense will have a lot asked of them, so this is not a small matter. Auburn also loses their two leading receivers from last season in Ryan Davis and Darius Slayton. Auburn does return all five starters on the offensive line, but they will need to improve a bit, especially when they play against schools like LSU or Alabama. Deshaun Davis’s contributions at linebacker will also be tough to replace. While they do get Alabama and Georgia at home, Auburn’s still does have to play five top tier programs in Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and Oregon this season. With this tough schedule, I think Gus Malzahn’s job will definitely be called into question.

Goals for the 2019 Season

It will take a borderline miracle for the Tigers to get to eight wins in the regular season, but I think that might be what is needed for Gus Malzahn to save his job. Things will look good if Auburn can find solid play at the quarterback position and improve on the offensive line. While the record might not show it, this team needs improvement to really contend in the SEC. with LSU, Georgia, and Florida on the rise, Auburn needs to not be left in the dust.

Florida

Last Season in Review

At the beginning of the season, Florida looked to be about the same as they have been in recent year after losing to Kentucky for the first time since 1986. Surprisingly, they won five games in a row after that loss, including a win over then fifth ranked LSU and finished the regular season 9-3. Florida was awarded a spot in the Peach Bowl, and were considered an underdog against Michigan. Florida surprisingly won the game 41-15.

Florida’s offense was led by the Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett. The two combined for 1,602 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the season, as both were pretty physical backs who did some damage against any defense they faced. Florida also was backed by a strong and experienced offensive line that gave the backs room to run. Quarterback Feleipe Franks was inconsistent, but improved. Defensively, Florida had quite a bit of star power. Defensive end Jachai Polite emerged as an elite pass rusher, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was great at cornerback. This season was a pleasant surprise for the Gators in Dan Mullen’s first year at the helm.

What to Look Forward to

Florida returns their main group of receivers from last season, which will be a help to whoever plays quarterback. Feleipe Franks definitely improved from last season, and should hope to make even more strides. Lamical Perine, the leader in rushing yards for the Gators, returns. On the defensive line, Jabari Zuniga returns after a solid season, and looks to make a bigger impact. CJ Henderson returns at cornerback after getting All-SEC nominations last season. Florida also returns a stellar punter in Tommy Townsend (which I feel like makes it the 22nd straight year a member of the Townsend family has started at punter for Florida).

What to be Concerned About

Florida loses four out of their five starters on the offensive line from last season. This will make it more difficult for their offense to be effective, especially with the talent they had on that unit. Florida’s hesitancy to commit to a quarterback last season was also concerning. Feleipe Franks started the season, but it became clear he was not what Dan Mullen hoped. They eventually rode it out with Franks after deciding they wanted to preserve a redshirt for Emory Jones, and Kyle Trask suffered a season ending injury during practice. Not committing to a quarterback will likely just hurt the confidence of everyone involved and I worry that this battle will have a negative impact on the following season. Jachai Polite’s impact on the pass defense will be sorely missed. Polite wreaked havoc on opposing offensive lines, and Florida will need to find a way to get to the quarterback next season if they want their defense to be nearly as effective next season.

Goals for the 2019 Season

I hate to say it to Florida fans, but this season seems like a natural step back. I am not saying they will go 5-7 or that they will never be back to their form from 2018, but they have lost too much for 10 wins to be the expectation. I think that Florida should aim for nine wins, and to show improvement throughout the season. If they can beat Florida State and Miami, (those three need to all play each other every year) and at least one of Auburn, LSU, and Georgia, (probably Auburn) this should be a good season. Florida should aim for a NY6 Bowl return, but be satisfied with a Citrus Bowl berth. Florida will be a mainstay in the SEC, but this coming season might need some slight rebuilding.

Georgia

Last Season In Review

Georgia came into this season as a pick by many to win the National Championship after falling just short in 2017. Georgia started off this season 6-0, rolling through the first half of their schedule. The Bulldogs were then steamrolled 36-16 at LSU, which led to great concern from their fan base. Georgia pulled it together though and won against rival Florida, Kentucky, and Auburn in the following games. Georgia finished the regular season 11-1. Georgia’s offense was playing a big part in this great start led by quarterback Jake Fromm, and the running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield. Their defense did their part as well led by Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) winner Deandre Baker.

The SEC Championship started off well for the Bulldogs, but they eventually collapsed and lost 35-28. That loss kept Georgia out of the playoffs despite many fans and players (who were wrong) thinking they should have been included. Those players (who again were wrong) proceeded to express those thoughts on social media as Notre Dame was pounded by Clemson in the Playoff Semifinal. This, along with Bevo, Texas’s live longhorn mascot, nearly killing Georgia’s live bulldog mascot Uga, put even more hype around their Sugar Bowl matchup with Texas. The Bulldogs clawed back a bit at the end but lost 28-21. It was a disappointing end to a pretty good season from a very talented team.

What to Look Forward to

Georgia returns quarterback Jake Fromm, who improved from being a game manager his freshman year, to someone who could be counted on to make plays. Fromm has experience in the offense, and always makes the smart throw. Georgia will also see D’Andre Swift, who broke 1,000 rushing yards, returning. Swift will expect to play an even bigger role in the ground game this season. At running back, Georgia will also hope for Zamir White, the top running back in the 2018 recruiting class, to make his debut after missing last season with a torn ACL. All-SEC left tackle Andrew Thomas is also returning. Former five-star recruit Demetris Robertson is back at receiver and will look to lead the receiving corps along with Lawrence Cager, a graduate transfer from Miami. Defensively, safety Richard LeCounte returns after leading the Bulldogs in tackles last season. LeCounte and JR Reed will lead the secondary, which will be the strength of the defense. The Bulldogs bring back Rodrigo Blankenship, one of the best kickers in the country. Georgia did well recruiting again, bringing in the second ranked recruiting class in the country led by four five star recruits and Nolan Smith, the number one player in the country, at defensive end.

What to be Concerned About

On the coaching staff, Georgia will be replacing both their offensive and defensive coordinators. Georgia loses four of their top five leading receivers from last season. Elijah Holyfield may not have been the lead back in the offense, but his absence will decrease the depth in the backfield. Georgia also takes a major hit at linebacker as they lose Natrez Patrick, D’Andre Walker, and Juwan Taylor to graduation. Jonathan Ledbetter graduating will also leave a hole at defensive end. Deandre Baker was also relied upon as a shutdown corner, and will be missed. While their non-conference is mostly workable, they will have to play Notre Dame, which will not be an easy win.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Georgia has no reason not to expect to win the SEC East. The division will likely be down from last season, and Georgia has a talent advantage over everyone else. It is a bit unfair to ask, but Georgia is going to need to beat Alabama sometime soon. For the last two seasons, they have been close, but they need to pull off a win in order to be taken more seriously as a National Championship contender. I am not sure if it should be expected this season, but it should be expected within the next couple. Georgia wants to contend for a National Championship and in order to do that, they need to take down the premier program of this decade.

Last Season in Review

Kentucky came out of the gay pretty hot, starting the season 5-0. One of those wins being their first victory over Florida since 1986, and their first in Gainesville since 1979. Kentucky went through a bit of a lull after that. They blew a game at Texas A&M, struggled to get wins against Vanderbilt and Missouri, then lost to Georgia and Tennessee in back to back weeks. The Wildcats got their mojo back enough to beat Louisville in the regular season finale, then capped off this season with a win over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. In this season, Kentucky had a lot of experience on their roster and they used that to capitalize on a season where the SEC lacked a middle class and went 10-3.

This Kentucky team was built around two standout players, one on each side of the ball. On offense, running back Benny Snell completely elevated the entire unit while getting a lions share of the carries. Snell would carry the ball 22 times per game on average, but had 1,449 rushing yards on the season. Snell, and a very good offensive line were the main reasons Kentucky could make any plays offensively. On the other side of the ball, defensive Josh Allen made the any opposing offensive tackle’s life miserable. Linebacker Kash Daniel also stood out partly due to his toughness and intensity but also because he made 84 total tackles. Safety Darius West also made an impact.

What to Look Forward to

Kentucky returns three out of five starters from an offensive line that often paved the way for the offense. Quarterback Terry Wilson returns after making pretty big strides during his first season with the Wildcats. Wilson still has some shortcomings as a passer, but can definitely impact the game with his legs. Kentucky has Lynn Bowden, their speedy receiver and return man who led the team in receiving yards, coming back. On defense, linebacker Kash Daniel will be back. Kentucky’s schedule this season pretty workable as the only P5 team they play in non-conference play is Louisville, and that game is at home.

What to be Concerned About

I think it can not be overstated how much that Josh Allen and Benny Snell made an impact on this team. Allen led the team in solo tackles, total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries. Snell ran for over 1,000 yards for three straight seasons, and had four times as many rushing attempts as the backup running back. Snell could be a near guarantee to gain at least three yards every time he touched the ball, and was always hard to bring down. Kentucky also loses the entirety of their starting secondary from last season. While they did recruit there heavily, it is still a significant loss. Kentucky will struggle quite a bit more this season, especially in the first few games with such little experience returning there. While Lynn Bowden returns, their next best returning receiver had 115 receiving yards last season. This is even worse considering quarterback Terry Wilson often struggled throwing the ball downfield.

Goals for the 2019 Season

I think anyone would be delusional to think Kentucky will not regress at least a little bit this season. The Wildcats have a pretty workable schedule in 2019 but I have extreme doubts they will reach a 9-3 record time they did in the regular season in 2018. If they can get to 8-4 and make improvements throughout the season, fans should be happy. There are many team vying for the spot of third in command behind Florida and Georgia in the SEC East. For this season, Kentucky should expect to clearly in that mix, be happy with being third, and hope to beat Florida.

LSU

Last Season in Review

LSU came into the 2018 season expected by many to struggle a bit. LSU quieted those doubters in their opening game by dominating Miami 33-17 in a game where the score made it look closer than it was. LSU built upon the hype by winning at Auburn in their third game. LSU suffered their first loss of the season against Florida but followed that up by winning against Georgia and Mississippi State with their defense dominating in both. Those results brought a lot of intrigue about how they would fare against Alabama. Unfortunately for the Tigers, their offense completely stagnated and they lost 29-0. LSU won their next two games and headed to Texas A&M with a 9-2 record. LSU lost that game 74-72 in seven overtimes where they definitely had moments where they could have flipped the result. Thankfully for the Tigers, they were able to end the season on a good note by beating UCF 40-32 in the Fiesta Bowl.

LSU’s success defensively is definitely mostly because of the elite secondary they had this season. Greedy Williams essentially took away an entire side of the field with his ability as a shutdown corner. Grant Delpit was also a do everything safety that could defend the pass or step up and make plays at the line. Linebacker Devin White showed elite athleticism and led the team with 123 total tackles. On offense, Joe Burrow stepped up at quarterback. This season, Burrow became the Robert Horry of college football quarterbacks where might look pretty mediocre during the game, but would always step up and make a play when he was needed (I am immensely proud of this comparison). Nick Brossette stepped nicely into the role of lead back and broke 1,000 rushing yards. LSU also had the benefit of having a great kicker in Cole Tracy.

What to Look Forward to

On defense, I expect Grant Delpit to be the best defensive back in the country, and the lead contender for the Nagurski Award. Delpit managed to lead the Tigers in pass deflections, interceptions, and sacks. I highly doubt there are many people who can lay claim to that for an FBS football team. Linebackers Michael Divinity and Jacob Phillips return after showing promise last season. Defensive end Rashard Lawrence will lead the defensive line as he returns for his senior season. Joe Burrow will return at quarterback and should improve as he will be more exposed to the Tigers offense after a full season as the starter, and with the program. Clyde Edwards-Helaire looked good in spots at running back this season, and I think he will look better as he will likely get more carries this season. LSU returns all of their starting receivers from last season as well as four out of five starters on the offensive line. LSU also brings in a very good recruiting class that includes Derek Stingley, the top cornerback in the country, angling with running back John Emery, and outside linebacker Marcel Brooks, who are both five star recruits.

What to be Concerned About

The impact that Devin White had on the defense this past season can not be overstated. White was 36 tackles clear if the second place finisher on the team. His athleticism will be missed. LSU will also miss Greedy Williams at cornerback as he was so dominant he rarely saw balls thrown in his direction. The Tigers did not really have a good pass rushing threat last season, and I do not know if they have one this season either. The graduation of Nick Brossette means that LSU will again have to replace their lead back. Clyde Edwards-Helaire should be good, but they look to still miss having a star running back like Leonard Fournette (although they do have his brother and I am completely serious when I say that his brother’s name is Lanard) or Derrius Guice. This means Joe Burrow might be asked to play a bigger role this season. Tight end Foster Moreau was an underrated contributor and will be missed in 2019. Although it may seem insignificant, Cole Tracy was an excellent kicker, and a reliable kicker is a great thing to have in SEC play when games can turn into defensive slugfests pretty quick. LSU also has a pretty tough non-conference schedule. They travel to Texas the second week of the season which will be a tough game (As a Longhorns fan, I love getting to say that about my team again). LSU also plays Georgia Southern, who is always a tough out with their Tripp’s option offense, and Utah State, who went 11-2 in the Mountain West last season and was nationally ranked for a brief time.

Goals for the 2019 Season

LSU as a program is in a bit of an awkward spot. They are an elite program and one that you can reasonably expect to win at least nine games every season, but they are not quite a playoff contender. While that transition is not easy and should not be expected this season, it is a step that LSU should expect to take sooner rather than later. With Ed Orgeron’s ability to recruit, and how they exceeded expectations last season, I think it can be done. For 2019, LSU should expect to return to a NY6 Bowl, and keep their stronghold over the second spot in the SEC West. Being competitive against Alabama would also be nice.

Mississippi State

Last Season in Review

2018 marked the first season of Joe Moorhead’s tenure as coach of the Bulldogs after Dan Mullen left for the head coaching job at Florida. Mississippi State started off the 2018 season 3-0. After that, they had to go through a gauntlet of games against Kentucky, Florida, Auburn, LSU, and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs finished a respectable 2-3 in those five games. What was not respectable was that they scored 16 combined points in their losses against Kentucky, Florida, and LSU. Mississippi State finished out the regular season 3-1 in their last four games with their lone loss being a 24-0 defeat to Alabama. Most importantly for them, they dominated Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl 35-3 in Oxford. A close loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl capped off the season. Mississippi State should always be satisfied with going 8-5, but this season felt like their chance to make some noise in the SEC. I think many fans are satisfied with this season, but disappointed that the Bulldogs could not have done more.

Mississippi State’s success this season has a lot to do with their stout defense. This defense only gave up 12 touchdowns in the entire regular season. Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat made up an elite defensive line unit that combined for 32.5 tackles for loss. Strong safety Johnathan Abram led the team in total tackles and was strong in pass defense. Linebacker Erroll Thompson and cornerback Cameron Dantzler were also key contributors. On offense, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has some struggles with passing accuracy, but was a very good runner, and was able to be much more effective once Joe Moorhead figures out how to use him effectively. Kylin Hill was an effective running back as well, and capped off a good ground game.

What to Look Forward to

On defense, the Bulldogs return everyone of their starters at linebacker from last season. That group should step up this season and become the strength of a defense that will still be good. Cornerback Cameron Dantzler also returns after being named second team All-SEC last season. On offense, Kylin Hill came into his own at running back later on in the season, and can be expected to take a leap in 2019. While Nick Fitzgerald will be missed as he is graduating, Keytaon Thompson has experience as a starter and will likely be a better fit to Joe Moorhead’s offense. Mississippi State also has a favorable non-conference schedule as the only P5 team they play is Kansas State and that game is in Starkville. Alabama and LSU have to make the trip to Starkville, so there is a good opportunity to pull off an upset. While Mississippi State’s recruiting class is not too great at 11th in the SEC, they did sign a five star offensive tackle in Charles Cross.

What to be Concerned About

On defense, the Bulldogs will lose two great defensive linemen in Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons. Simmons and Sweat made it nearly impossible for teams to run the balk effectively against them and were the main reasons why this defense was so good last season. Johnathan Abram, the leading tackler last season, will also be gone. As a matter of fact, Mississippi State loses four out of five starters in the secondary. It is also not a guarantee that Mississippi State will be able to pass the ball very well as Keytaon Thompson completed less than 50% of his pass attempts. Tight end Justin Johnson is graduating and will leave behind a good security blanket for a weak passing attack. Joe Moorhead is undoubtedly a good offensive mind, but his ability to adapt a playbook also should be questioned.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Mississippi State is a team that will have to endure quite a bit of attrition this offseason. Joe Moorhead will be facing a tougher job this season. Last season, the Bulldogs went 8-4 in the regular season. I think 7-5 should be expected and 8-4 would be happily welcomed. This team will be inexperienced, and Joe Moorhead’s ability to coach up players and develop the right system will be tested this season, and we will know a lot more about his ability to be a head coach after this season.

Missouri

Last Season in Review

Things started off well for Missouri’s 2018 season. The Tigers were firing on all cylinders offensively and won their first three games while scoring 40 or more points in all games. Once SEC play began, Missouri started to fall apart a bit. They hung with Georgia before eventually falling by 14, lost a back and forth game against South Carolina, and then were obliterated at Alabama. Their one point loss to Kentucky in the final play of the game gave them an 0-4 record in SEC play. The Tigers found a way to rally though, and won their last four regular season games starting with an upset win at Florida, then taking down Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Their 38-33 loss in the Liberty Bowl to Oklahoma State made them 8-5 to finish the season.

Missouri had a very strong offense this season led by NFL hopeful quarterback Drew Lock. Lock showed poise and confidence this season, and threw for 3,498 yards and 28 touchdowns. Emmanuel Hall and Johnathon Johnson were main beneficiaries of Lock’s arm talent as they were the two leading receivers on the team. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam also came into his own later on in the season and became another primary target for Lock. The run game was led by 1,216 yards from Larry Rountree III. Rountree’s ability at running back was vital for the offense as he prevented teams from being able to solely focus on the passing game. Damarea Crockett was another big piece in the run game with 709 rushing yards. Guard Tre’Vour Wallace-Sims also had a nice season, being named first team All-SEC. Unfortunately for Missouri, their defense struggled to keep up with their offense. They did have some talent as Christian Holmes and DeMarkus Acy were a solid duo at cornerback, and Cale Garrett played well at linebacker. Their defense just did not have enough to run with the better offenses they played.

What to Look Forward to

Missouri landed former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant as a graduate transfer. Bryant started for Clemson in 2017 before leaving the team after getting benched in favor of Trevor Lawrence. Running back Larry Rountree III is returning after a promising season in 2018. Johnathon Johnson is returning and expects to take the role of number one receiver for his senior season. Johnson also has made an impact in the return game. Albert Okwuegubnam returns as well and will likely be the best tight end in the SEC. On the offensive line, Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms is back in 2019 and looks to build upon his All-SEC season in 2018. On defense, Cale Garrett returns after leading the Tigers in tackles last season. The duo of Christian Holmes of DeMarkus Acy were very solid in pass coverage last season and look to make more of an impact this season.

What to be Concerned About

While signing Kelly Bryant is definitely a good thing for Missouri, he will be worse passing the ball than Drew Lock was, especially with deep accuracy. Damarea Crockett declared for the NFL Draft early and while he was not the main running back, there is less depth at the position now. Emmanuel Hall will also be an unfortunate loss as he led the Tigers in receiving yards. On defense, Missouri loses their best defensive lineman in Terry Beckner. Linebacker Terez Hall, who led the team in sacks and was second in total tackles, also has graduated.

Last week, Missouri received a bowl ban for this season. This ban was due to the fact that a tutor admitted to completing classwork and tests for athletes, including some members of the football team. While none have yet, players entering their senior season are free to transfer without losing eligibility. I also believe that it is difficult for a team to stay motivated throughout the season, or be as keen to overcome adverse times when they know they have no postseason to play for.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Missouri is one of a few teams in the SEC East who are capable of and looking to make a leap. Missouri should be looking to make that leap this season. They might not be able to play in a bowl game, but if they can finish top three in the SEC East, that will mean something. I was about to predict Missouri to go 9-3 this season, but without a bowl game to work for, I think I have to tamper those a bit. I think the goal should be 8-4 for the Tigers this season, although they are capable of adding another win to that total.

Ole Miss

Last Season in Review

Ole Miss had a solid start to last season, starting off 2-0. In their third game against Alabama, the Rebels scored on the first play. After that, their season never got any better than it did at that point. After going up 7-0 against Alabama, they lost 62-7. They rebounded a bit after that, starting off 5-2 and losing to just Alabama and LSU. But once they had to face the hard part of their schedule, everything came apart for Ole Miss. They lost to Auburn, and then fell in a shootout to South Carolina, then suffered a 38-24 loss at Texas A&M. With two games left, it seemed likely that the Rebels would be able to at least avoid a losing record. Those chances were significantly lessened when they lost at Vanderbilt. This loss was even more painful as it was in overtime, and had a crucial and controversial call go against Ole Miss. The season ended on an even bigger sour note when they suffered a 35-3 loss at home against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Ole Miss did nothing of importance in this game besides get into a fight and have every player on their team get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Mississippi State danced on the grave of the Rebels by having their band play Baby Shark as an ode to Ole Miss’s landshark mascot. This past season for Ole Miss will be considered to be a bit of a waste. While they were facing a bowl ban, this team had so much talent on offense that it is hard to imagine how they had a losing record.

What might not be realized about this mediocre Ole Miss team was that they had what was likely the most talented group of receivers in the country. The trio of AJ Brown, DaMarkus Lodge, and DK Metcalf. This group is filled with NFL talent, and took a big hit when Metcalf went down midway through the season. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was in his first full season as a starter and was aided greatly by having such skill position talent. Offensive tackle Greg Little was also a big help for Ta’amu. Junior college transfer Scottie Phillips also looked promising at running back. Where Ole Miss ran into problems was on the defensive side of the ball. Their defense was the worst in the SEC in terms of yards given up per game. Mohamed Sanogo was a decent linebacker, and Qaadir Sheppard made some plays at defensive end, but all in all this was a pretty bad unit that allowed Ole Miss to lose games they should have won.

What to Look Forward to

To start things off, Ole Miss can now play in a bowl game this season. As I said when I talked about Missouri, I am sure this team will come out more motivated now that they have the incentive of being able to play in a postseason game. Ole Miss will definitely be happy to get these punishments behind them. Now on the field, this team still returns some talent. Scottie Phillips will look to improve upon his first season with the Rebels and take more of a central role in the offense. Matt Corral looks to step in as the starting quarterback and played good in spots during 2018. Corral was a four-star recruit in 2018, and has a cannon for an arm. While they lost three star receivers, the cupboard is not totally bare as Elijah Moore the the top recruit signed by Ole Miss in 2018, and should do well with much more opportunities at receiver. Ole Miss returns eight starters on defense from last season. That includes Mohamed Sanogo, last season’s leader in total tackles, Qaadir Sheppard, last season’s leader in tackles for loss, and Myles Hartsfield, last season’s leader in pass deflections. The Rebels also bring in Mike MacIntyre as defensive coordinator, who has head coaching experience and could be a solid addition. On offense, they bring in Rich Rodriguez who had some offensive success at Arizona.

What to be Concerned About

All three of Ole Miss’s outstanding trio of receivers are now gone. Those three receivers did great with easing in a new quarterback, and gave opposing defensive backs fits. It also means this new crop of receivers will be less experienced. This means the offense will definitely take a big hit. Tight end Dawson Knox also has left school early meaning all starting pass catchers for the Rebels in 2018 will be gone. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu will also be gone just as he stepped into the offense. Greg Little will also be missed just as any first round talent will at offensive line. This will also force a new quarterback to lose their security blankets at receiver, and bodyguard at offensive line. This also raises concern about how Scottie Phillips can perform at running back as he will now likely be a bigger focus on the offense, and someone defenses can afford to key in on. On defense, both starting cornerbacks from last season are also gone. While Ole Miss was happy to sign five-star running back Jerrion Ealy, it is likely he will not play a down for the Rebels as he will likely choose to play baseball instead.

Goals for the 2019 Season

If Ole Miss can get to a bowl game for the first time since 2015, it will be a huge win for the program. Unfortunately, that will be an uphill battle for this team. On the other hand, head coach Matt Luke will probably need six wins to save his job. Ole Miss fans should expect for a passable defense, and some players to emerge on offense with so much new blood coming in. Winning more than one SEC game will also be a plus. All in all, Ole Miss should hope for a bowl berth. They should at least expect progress as a team, and for them to play with more intensity and spark. If neither of those come to fruition, they can settle for a victory in the Egg Bowl.

South Carolina

Last Season in Review

This past season was an interesting one for South Carolina. This team came into the season with a lot of hype, but ultimately fell short of it. These suspicions first arose when the Gamecocks fell 41-17 to Georgia at home. South Carolina split their next two games, and then played one of the most intense five game stretches a team could play. It started with a tight 37-35 win over Missouri, and was followed by a close loss to Texas A&M. South Carolina then took down Tennessee and Ole Miss in the only win or loss streak to extend beyond one game for the entire regular season. South Carolina held a lead against Florida for awhile, but ultimately blew it away. At the end of it all, the Gamecocks played in five straight games decided by four or fewer points. The regular season finished with a loss to Clemson that was sandwiched between two non-conference wins. South Carolina then went to the Belk Bowl, where they were promptly blown out by Virginia. This season was a crazy one for the Gamecocks, and will ultimately feel like one where they could have done a little bit more.

On offense, South Carolina’s main playmaker was receiver Deebo Samuel. Samuel was athletic, and someone that was tough to cover. Quarterback Jake Bentley also did well this season as the passing game was the main focus of the offense. Rico Dowdle led a ground game that was a bit disappointing. Bryan Edwards did well as a second option at receiver. Linebacker TJ Brunson was a nice multifaceted talent. Javon Kinlaw was a bit hampered by injury, but still had a solid season at defensive tackle. Rashad Fenton and Jaycee Horn led the secondary for the Gamecocks.

What to Look Forward to

Jake Bentley will be back for his senior season, and will be a leader of this offense and the team as a whole. Rico Dowdle returns and should expect to take a bigger role, as will backup running back Mon Denson. Bryan Edwards will be taking the spot of number one receiver, and looks ready for it. Shi Smith also will return, and slide into the number two receiver spot. South Carolina also returns all four of their starters at defensive line from last season. TJ Brunson also returns, and looks to build upon his past season of leading the team in total tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Joseph Charlton will also return after being named second team All-SEC at punter. South Carolina also brings in a pretty solid recruiting class headlined by five star defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, (I am aware that there is one too many c’s in his name) and Ryan Hilinski, the second ranked pro-style quarterback in the country.

What to be Concerned About

The loss of Deebo Samuel is definitely a big one. Samuel was a great all around athlete who had the ability to blow the lid off of opposing defenses. Losing a receiving threat like that will be tough. I think it is no coincidence that South Carolina’s offense was shut out in the Belk Bowl when Samuel did not play. Guard Zack Bailey was the only player on offense or defense from South Carolina besides Samuel to be on the first or second team All-SEC and he has also graduated. South Carolina loses five players from their back seven on defense, a defense that was not very good last season.

It also must be mentioned that South Carolina’s 2019 schedule is an absolute murderer’s row. The Gamecocks play Alabama and Clemson at home, and have to travel to Georgia. Anytime someone has to face the three teams who are likely college football’s heaviest hitters recently, it does not look to be a fun season. Add on to that the fact that they also play Florida, have to travel to College Station to play Texas A&M, and giant killer Appalachian State and you have a schedule that is a complete nightmare.

Goals for the 2019 Season

I hate to burst the bubble of South Carolina, but the days of success with Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Lattimore, and Stephen Garcia (the only player to shred through Alabama and also be tackled by a ref) with Steve Spurrier coaching are a ways behind us. Will Muschamp is a fine coach and can go things at South Carolina, but it will be a long time before the Gamecocks reach that sort of prominence with both Clemson and Georgia in such good positions. If South Carolina can make a bowl game with the monstrous schedule they have, the season should be called a success. Brighter days can be found ahead for South Carolina, but they will have to take their lumps from Clemson and Georgia before they get there.

Tennessee

Last Season in Review

Tennessee came into this season with low expectations. In Jeremy Pruitt’s first season as head coach, the cupboard was left pretty bare. This was evident in some games, like when they started off the season 2-3 with their losses being blowouts against West Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. The Volunteers pulled an upset win over Auburn, but then fell to Alabama. After they found their way into another upset win over Kentucky, they just needed to beat one of Missouri or Vanderbilt in their final two games in order to secure a bowl berth. Unfortunately for Tennessee, they were blown out in both of those games and finished 5-7. This season was considered a likely rebuilding year so while the end was disappointing, I do not think there can be anything held against Jérémy Pruitt quite yet.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano showed some improvement in his second season as a starter. Guarantano is not the flashiest quarterback, but he does well at keeping boneheaded plays to a minimum. Marquez Callaway, Josh Palmer, and Jauan Jennings were the main targets for Guarantano. Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan split carries in the run game, but Chandler seemed to be the slightly better back. On defense, linebacker Darrell Taylor was the best on the team at generating big plays, while Daniel Bituli led the team in tackles. One surprise contributor was defensive tackle Emmit Golden as he was second on the team in tackles for loss and only played in 10 games.

What to Look Forward to

On offense, Tennessee returns all 11 starters from last season. This continuity will be huge for a team in their second season under Jeremy Pruitt. On defense, Tennessee returns their leading tackler, leader in tackles for loss, and leader in sacks from last season. They also bring in transfer Aubrey Solomon, a five star recruit out of high school in 2017 and a starter at defensive tackle for Michigan last season. Solomon is appealing to eligible immediately, but his impact will be felt regardless. The Volunteers welcome the 12th ranked recruiting class which is impressive for a team that is coming off of two straight losing seasons. Tennessee has a pretty easy schedule in non-conference play as they do not play any P5 teams and do not leave Knoxville in their four non-conference games. The Volunteers have a new offensive coordinator as they were able to lure Jim Chaney away from Georgia. Being able to hire someone from a marquee school is a good sign for Tennessee.

What to be Concerned About

Tennessee loses five starters on defense, including three starters on the defensive line. Tennessee also saw three players transfer out and another three who are still in the transfer portal. While there are some players transferring to Tennessee as well, it might be a bit concerning for a team to have a lot of movement. The SEC East is also a division that is starting to develop a strong middle class. With that, it will be harder for the Volunteers to work their way out.

In all honesty, Tennessee has little to be concerned about when you compare them to last season. That does not mean they will go 12-0, but Tennessee is in my opinion the most likely SEC team to improve upon their 2018 season.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Like I just said, I would be very surprised if Tennessee does not improve in 2019. Expectations should hover around seven wins in year two for Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee has good moments last season, but consistency will be key this season. A bowl berth, and some competitiveness in SEC play will go a long way.

Texas A&M

Last Season in Review

2018 started out tough for the Aggies as they played the first and second ranked teams in the country in their first four games. They played Clemson to their closest game all season, and showed signs against Alabama. They may have lost those two games, but it was clear this team was no pushover. Texas A&M finally got their win over a ranked team as they beat them undefeated Kentucky at home in overtime. That win was also in the middle of a three game win streak that really got the ball rolling for Texas A&M. What stunted that run quickly was the fact that they lost their next two games to Mississippi State and Auburn. The loss to Auburn had to especially sting as the Aggies were ahead for most of the game. The Aggies were able to get it together though and finished the regular season on a three game win streak. Their first two wins were against Ole Miss and an actually dangers UAB team. Their regular season finale was an instant classic that went to seven overtimes and ultimately resulted in a win for the Aggies (I will try to not bring up the fact that LSU should have won the game in the first overtime but a bad call ruined that because if I do, I will just sound like an upset Texas fan, and I would sound like one because I am). Texas A&M built further upon that by dismantling North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl. This season had some highs and lows, but all in all it was a good season to start the Jimbo Fisher era with.

Texas A&M’s offense was led by one of the best running backs in the country in Trayveon Williams. Williams ran for 1,760 yards this season and accounted for a lion’s share of the total rushing yards and touchdowns for the Aggies. Kellen Mond stepped up well in his first full season as the starter at quarterback, and showed flashes of greatness but will need to be more consistent. Tight end Jace Sternberger was a very good target for Mond, as was receiver Quartney Davis. Although his numbers are not quite as eye popping, Kendrick Rogers always seemed to make a big catch when the game was on the line. On defense, linebacker Otaro Alaka led the way. Texas A&M had a strong ability to make big plays as they had five players with at least 10 tackles for loss. The Aggies were also good on special teams as they had possibly the best punter in the country in Braden Mann.

What to Look Forward to

Kellen Mond will return at quarterback and should look more experienced and improved as he has now had a full season as a starter and being a part of Jimbo Fisher’s system. The Aggies also return their entire two-deep at receiver. Their receiving corps did not have a standout, but were a very solid group that should be a legitimate threat this season. Justin Madubuike will look to step up at defensive end now that he will see more reps, and Charles Oliver will look to do the same at cornerback. Texas A&M also returns Braden Mann, who could be the best punter in the country (but nowhere near as good as Longhorn legend and 2017 Texas Bowl MVP Michael Dickson). Texas A&M also brings in the fourth ranked recruiting class in the country led by five star defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal, and five star offensive tackle Kenyon Green. I do not think I can compliment Texas A&M anymore without wanting to vomit, so how about we go to the part where I can be cynical.

What to be Concerned About

The loss of Trayveon Williams will be no easy hole to fill up. In 2018, Williams had more carries than every other player on the team combined, and almost twice as many yards as every other player combined. Needless to say, he will be tough to replace. Jace Sternberger was only around for one season, but he will also be tough to replace. The Aggies also lose seven starters on defense, which is a loss that will be felt when they play the tougher teams on their schedule. Speaking of their schedule, it is probably the toughest in the country. Texas A&M has to travel to play Clemson, Georgia, and LSU. They also play Alabama and Auburn at home (playing Auburn at home is also bad because until this last season, the home team had lost every matchup between these two teams). It is entirely possible this team performs below their actual ability when it comes to wins and losses.

Goals for the 2019 Season

As I have just said, their schedule will make this team look worse than they are. It is likely this Texas A&M team is a 9-3 team that actually finishes 7-5, then absolutely demolishes Pittsburgh in the Belk Bowl. The same might could have been said about their 2018 team to be honest. If the Aggies can win one of their games against LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson, fans should be happy. If their 8-4 record from last season is repeated, that means great rings are likely ahead (this article was way too positive and I do not like it, and now I think I need to watch Justin Tucker kick the game winning field goal against Texas A&M in 2011 in order to feel happy again).

Vanderbilt

Last Season in Review

Things started off well for Vanderbilt last season as the win their first two games by considerable margins. Their 22-17 loss against Notre Dame even sparked a lot of optimism as they played things close. Things then took a turn quick as the Commodores dropped five of their next six games. What can make this seem better is that four of those games were against top 15 teams, and they held a lead over Florida, and were close with Kentucky. After that, Vanderbilt needed to win three of their last four to secure a bowl berth. The Commodores won against Arkansas, but dropped their next game against Missouri. This meant they had to win their next two games to secure a bowl berth. They did win those two game against Ole Miss and Tennessee. In their bowl game against Baylor, they ultimately fell short, but salvaging a bowl berth is still good for Vanderbilt after their tough middle stretch.

Vanderbilt’s offense was led by running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, the Illinois transfer who put up 1,244 rushing yards. Kyle Shurmur was a solid quarterback who had experience as a three year starter. Kalija Lipscomb was the leader in receiving yards for the Commodores. Tight end Jared Pinkney was a good source of offense as he was second in receiving yards and was second team All-SEC. On defense, Joejuan Williams and Frank Coppet were a nice duo in the secondary. Williams was the best player on the defense as he had four interceptions, 13 pass deflections, and 48 solo tackles at cornerback. Linebackers Jordan Griffin and Dimitri Moore led the team in tackles.

What to Look Forward to

Vanderbilt has quite a bit of continuity on the offensive side of the ball as they return seven starters. Ke’Shawn Vaughn elected to return to school, which will be a big help for Vanderbilt’s offense. Vanderbilt also landed transfer quarterback Riley Neal, who was granted a medical redshirt after being a four year starter at Ball State. Having a quarterback with experience as a starter will be good as they replace Kyle Shurmur. Jared Pinkney and Kalija Lipscomb also return. Dimitri Moore and Caleb Peart return at linebacker after they each put up solid numbers in 2018. Vanderbilt also has a pretty easy non-conference schedule. The toughest team they have to face is Purdue, but the other three games all should be wins.

What to be Concerned About

While they return a lot on offense, Vanderbilt loses eight starters on defense. That includes both cornerbacks, and four of the five leading tacklers from last season. Vanderbilt’s defense was average last season, and looks like it could be noticeably worse. The graduation of Kyle Shurmur does leave a home at quarterback. Riley Neal should be the starter, but regressed in his last season at Ball State. The Commodores also lose three of their five starters on the offensive line. Vanderbilt also brought in the worst recruiting class in the SEC, and did not sign any recruit over three stars.

Goals for the 2019 Season

It is not ever expected for Vanderbilt to be a contender in the SEC, or do more than play in the Music City Bowl. Last Season was a rare opportunity for the Commodores to make a bit of noise in the SEC East, and they did get into a bowl, but did no more than that. That prior team also had a bit more experience. If Vanderbilt can get back to a bowl game, this season should be considered a success.

Next up, I will do this same thing with the ACC + Notre Dame.

To be notified when I post follow me on social media.

Twitter: @BlogBoyBeathard

Instagram: @impassionedsportsnerd

On my Instagram I will give my very early predictions on the order of finish in each SEC division.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

Like this: Like Loading...