Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Things have changed. I have to start of with the fact that it is the first year of the new college football playoff. We really don’t know what to expect until we at least have one year of experience with it.
Anyways, about the SEC. This is the first season in a while where an SEC team isn’t the defending National Champion. We already witnessed a change of the guard after first couple weeks. Several teams will have to start a new era after losing game-changing quarterbacks to the NFL.
I’ll start with Georgia. They have to go about things differently without one of the SEC’s best passers, Aaron Murray. Although he wasn’t taken in the draft until the 5th round, he sure did leave his mark in his college days. Hutson Mason has some big shoes to fill as he is the new starter for Georgia. Although he doesn’t have much experience starting, Mason is a senior who has waited patiently for his chance.
And then of course there is AJ McCarron. He did more than most quarterbacks can say. He won back to back national championships as a starter. There is now a two man QB battle in Tuscaloosa between Blake Sims and Jacob Coker.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
There is also a man that goes by “Johnny Football.” He sure did leave his mark on college football, whether in a good way or bad, that’s up to your own personal opinion. After winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy his freshman season, he finished as a candidate in his sophmore year, after another impressive season. He only started two years at A&M before leaving for the NFL since he was red shirted and had been at Texas A&M for three seasons. He was then drafted with the 22nd pick by the Browns. He is replaced by Kenny Hill, who is already on the short list for the Heisman Trophy.
The Gamecocks of South Carolina are without Connor Shaw who is replaced by Dylan Thompson, a 5th year senior. LSU lost Zach Mettenberger who unfortunately tore his ACL at the end of his senior season. He is now apart of the Tennessee Titans. Mettenberger is replaced by two battling quarterbacks, which are Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris. The other Tigers from Missouri lost James Franklin who led them to the SEC Championship in 2013 where they lost to Auburn. Franklin is replaced by Maty Mauk who is a sophomore.
Returning starters are Patton Robinette (Vandy), Nick Marshall (Auburn), Bo Wallace (Ole Miss), and Jeff Driskel (Florida). Big time play-making running backs T.J. Yeldon from Alabama and Todd Gurley from Georgia are returning to their squads. The SEC has an interesting season ahead of it, as well as all of college football, with the new playoff system.
