Brandon Harris (6) is in the running for LSU's starting QB job. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
LSU: In a mild surprise Brandon Harris may have come out of spring with a slight lead on Anthony Jennings as the starting quarterback for the Tigers. Harris outplayed Jennings in the spring game. Jennings had a jump on the job after leading the game-winning touchdown drive in the win over Arkansas late last season. He took a step back after an average performance in the Outback Bowl and during spring practice. It’s still too early to say who will start in the opener against Wisconsin.
FLORIDA: Gator fans left Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday afternoon with a lot more hope than at the end of last season. Coach Will Muschamp was pleased that new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s unit was the talk of the game. Quarterback Jeff Driskel looked more poised of all the quarterbacks. There was also plenty of evidence that several playmakers are on the verge of emerging.
GEORGIA: Bulldog fans also have to be intrigued about a future home-and-home series with Notre Dame possibly in 2018-19. Notre Dame’s last regular season game against an SEC foe was in 2005 when the Irish won at Tennessee. CBSSports.com’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier Tuesday that the schools are working to finalize a series.
Hutson Mason has proven to be a steady quarterback this spring. Mason has been accurate and dependable as he prepares for his last season. Running back Keith Marshall has also downplayed any speculation that he might redshirt this season after injuring his knee last year.
TENNESSEE: In one of the smartest TV moves so far this season, Tennessee officials announced last week that they have moved the 2014 season opener at home against Utah State to Sunday night, Aug. 31. This is a really good window for SEC or ACC teams to get some publicity since very few teams take advantage of the Labor Day night timeslot. Utah State is no pushover however. They finished 9-5 last season and have a really good quarterback in Chuckie Keeton.
Rising sophomore quarterback Joshua Dobbs made quite an impression in the Vols spring game after he threw for three scores and ran for one more. Coach Butch Jones is not ready to name a starter among senior Justin Worley, redshirt sophomore Nathan Peterman, redshirt freshman Riley Ferguson and Dobbs.
ALABAMA: Blake Sims has pushed past his younger competition to lead the quarterback competition at Alabama. Sims has the better scrimmage numbers and the respect of his teammates after biding his time behind AJ McCarron. Many Tide fans are speculating that Florida State transfer Jacob Coker could take the job over at some point before the season begins. Coach Nick Saban would be wise to play two quarterbacks this season because Sims has only one more season.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: It’s easy to be skeptical of coach Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs because they are not lived up to expectations during his tenure but this year could be different. Quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the best in the league and the defense returns 19 of 22 on the depth chart.
MISSOURI: Coach Gary Pinkel made the right move to show ultra-talented receiver Dorial Green-Beckham the door after his alleged altercation with another woman. Green-Beckham already had history of problems before the incident. School administrators are simply not going to tolerate violence toward women. Green-Beckham and Georgia’s Trey Matthews are the latest two talented starters to run out of chances with their schools. A message has to be sent to players that school’s no longer will tolerate an endless stream of ridiculous behavior.
FLORIDA STATE: The annual spring game was a busy one for quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw 56 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns against FSU’s first-team defense. He did throw a first-quarter interception to freshman defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
MIAMI: Projected starting quarterback Ryan Williams needs to rehab quickly after the dismal numbers put up in the spring game by Gary Crown and Kevin Olsen, both who threw for around 65 yards each.
CLEMSON: The Tiger quarterback situation is still unclear after the spring. Deshaun Watson did not play after sustaining an injury to his collarbone a few days before last Saturday’s spring game. Chad Kelly, who threw two picks in the game, was benched after questioning a punting decision on fourth down. Cole Stoudt replaced him and threw for two scores. The defense collected 14 sacks mostly because the quarterbacks weren’t considered live.
