SEC 2018

SEC 2 18 The Jimbo Fisher Era begins in Aggieland SEC team previews and schedules Expert predictions and analysis

READY FOR MORE Cullen Gillaspia adds new duties to his role as the 12th Man

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INSIDE SEASON OF CHANGE

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Robert Cessna writes that Jimbo Fisher should be able to build Texas A&M into a national power.

NEW OFFENSE

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The coaching change means a shift in offensive philosophy. Out with the spread, in with pro-style.

COVER STORY

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Cullen Gillaspia has been a playmaker on special teams, and now he adds fullback to his 12th Man duties.

TEAM PREVIEWS

17-37

Dig into each SEC team’s outlook, schedule and key returning players.

NEW DEFENSE

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Mike Elko has a strong track record as defensive coordinator in his days at Wake Forest and Notre Dame.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

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BY THE NUMBERS

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A look at notable statistics related to A&M football.

EXPERT PREDICTIONS

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Sports writers sound off on expectations for the Aggies.

ALL-NAME TEAM

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Kingsley Keke will help anchor the A&M defensive line.

STAFF Crystal Dupré PUBLISHER

Sean Lewis SALES DIRECTOR

Linda Brinkman ADVERTISING MANAGER

Darren Benson EDITOR

Rob Clark MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Cessna EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR

This year’s crop of fun and interesting monikers.

SEC MIX TAPE A playlist inspired by A&M and the SEC, from “Weird Al” to Queen.

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ON THE COVER Cullen Gillaspia at Kyle Field. Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie.

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fresh start

AP photo

Fisher’s resume has Aggies dreaming of championships Jimbo Fisher hasn’t won a game, but Texas A&M will be a national title contender by 2021 — maybe even sooner with some luck.

It seems far-fetched to think a program that hasn’t won a conference title since 1998 could be on the verge of greatness. But it’s taken the better part of two decades for A&M to get its act together. Fisher is the final piece, which just happens to be the most important.

Think about it. In 2002, R.C. Slocum — the ROBERT school’s winningest coach CESSNA — had to go, because the program had slipped. But Dennis Franchione wasn’t the answer, nor was Mike Sherman or Kevin Sumlin. They weren’t awful hires, they just weren’t good enough. Give them credit, they moved the program forward, though often at a snail’s pace.

Over the past eight seasons, the Aggies are 67-37 (.644), which is better than 73 percent of Power 5 conference teams. That’s good, but not where A&M envisions itself. Aggies believe they should be a Top 10 program.

They aren’t that far away. A&M is a Top 10 program everywhere except where it counts — on the field. Fisher can make it happen,

and he’s done it in a comparable situation.

Florida State pulled the plug on Bobby Bowden after he went 66-38 (.635) from 2002 to 2009, with one double-digit winning season. You can say the Seminoles were spoiled from 15 straight 10-plus winning seasons and two national titles, or applaud them for pushing out Bowden.

Fisher basically cleaned house. His way led to six double-digit winning seasons and a 2013 national championship.

There’s no doubt Florida State’s winning tradition made Fisher’s job easier. It also helped that the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2010 wasn’t as competitive as it is now.

But the Southeastern Conference is much tougher. The West is the country’s best division, led by Alabama. The Crimson Tide didn’t even play for the SEC title last year but won the national championship, its fifth in the past nine seasons.

Fisher walked into a great situation at Florida State. This one is even better. He signed eight straight Top 10 classes in Tallahassee, and he’ll do the same at A&M. The 2019 recruiting class is currently ranked in the Top 5. Sumlin recruited well — four Top 10 classes — but he didn’t turn them into multiple Top 10 finishes, averaging 8.5 victories per season.

Fisher needs to average at least 10 victories

a season. Sumlin never beat LSU, was 1-5 against Alabama and was 6-6 against the Mississippi schools.

The key is getting that first double-digit win season. It’s going to be tough this year.

A&M plays Clemson in Week 2 and Alabama in Week 4. A three-game road stretch — at South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn, with a bye between the first two — will be a challenge. Ten wins? Probably more like seven.

Fisher was Auburn’s offensive coordinator in 1993 under first-year coach Terry Bowden.

The Tigers went 11-0, the only unbeaten team in Division I that year, but missed out on a bowl because of NCAA probation.

Auburn, which had been 5-5-1 in ’92, capped the season by beating defending national champ Alabama.

Fisher went to LSU in 2000 as offensive coordinator for Nick Saban, winning a national championship in 2003. Fisher’s national championship at Florida State came in his fourth season as head coach.

“You don’t know how each guy’s going to respond and what’s going to happen and the chemistry of your unit, the camaraderie of the unit and your coaching staff,” Fisher said. “Hopefully we’ll do it as quickly as we possibly can.”

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Kellen Mond completed 19 of 26 passes for 180 yards with three touchdowns in the annual Maroon and White Game.

Eagle photos by Laura McKenzie

a new system Fisher moves the Aggies into a pro-style offense

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com Jimbo Fisher’s expertise is calling plays on offense, but it means little if the defense doesn’t play well.

“We should never think offense or defense,” Fisher said. “I look at it as team — offense, defense, special teams.”

Many variables go into Fisher’s weekly game plan and some have nothing to do with offense. He emphasizes controlling the tempo of the game, and said that momentum is “as critical as any play.”

It’s about winning games, he said, not how many points you can score. And he believes a pro-style offense gives him the best chance to win.

The foundation for Fisher’s base offense comes from time spent with the Bowdens.

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He played and coached for Terry Bowden at Samford, then followed him to Auburn. He coached under Terry’s legendary father, Bobby, at Florida State before succeeding him in 2010. Fisher also studied what Bill Walsh did with the San Francisco 49ers and the work of longtime NFL offensive coordinators Ernie Zampese and Norv Turner.

Under former coach Kevin Sumlin, A&M ran a spread offense with a base of one running back and four wide receivers. The quarterback lined up in the shotgun formation. Fisher’s offense includes elements of the spread, but also uses tight ends and fullbacks. The quarterback will be under center about 50 percent of the time.

The offense requires a thick playbook, but as Fisher said, “… I don’t think it’s tougher [to learn].”

“We just make them do more,” he said.

“There’s a lot to it, but there’s a lot of answers to it. It’s just like a library. You don’t use all the books all the time. You only gotta pull them out when you need them.”

Former A&M quarterback Stephen McGee, who played three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, anticipates an expanded running game. He also sees the quarterbacks being able to make adjustments, once they learn the system and how to read defenses at the line of scrimmage.

McGee believes veteran offensive line coach Jim Turner — one of two assistants Fisher retained — is better suited to teach a pro-style attack. Improvements in the running game will benefit the quarterbacks.

“It will allow them more opportunities to showcase an NFL skill set than previous offenses,” McGee said. “They’re going to have Continued on Page 10

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“It’s just like a library. You don’t use all the books all the time. You only gotta pull them out when you need them.”

— Jimbo Fisher

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Continued from Page 8

to learn to take drops from underneath center.

They’re going to have to learn to read defenses and they’re going to have to learn to anticipate throws.

“The spread offense, all these other things they’ve done, they don’t do that. So they come in behind the 8-ball when they get to the NFL. In my opinion, [pro-style is] quarterback-friendly from the developmental process, and the thinking process of a young quarterback. That’s a huge opportunity for these guys to be exposed to NFL-level offenses.”

At Florida State, Fisher guided three quarterbacks who were drafted in the first round of the NFL draft: Christian Ponder, E.J. Manuel and Jameis Winston. Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, was the top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He said he took notes to get better while learning Fisher’s offense.

“He always taught us about the why,” Winston said. “If we knew why we were doing things, we were going to be successful.”

A&M sophomore quarterbacks Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond had a busy spring adapting to the new offense.

“It’s completely different than what we

were running,” Starkel said. “We would have two-word plays and everyone knew what to do in our old offense. Now it’s a paragraph when you’re saying a play, and then check, and then it’s another paragraph.”

“It’s been insane how much I’ve learned from [Fisher],” Mond said, “breaking down one play so much more than what I’ve seen before.”

It’s all about options, McGee said.

“Whereas in a spread offense you come up and say hut, you can run a limited amount of plays,” McGee said. “But you try to play with a lot of tempo. I think Jimbo’s offense will allow these guys to huddle, get up to the line of scrimmage, where the quarterback can be real basic here.

“If it’s a two-high safety, you run a run play, because they don’t have as many guys in the box. You got a single-high defense set with the safety down in the box — what do you do? You run the pass play. So you allow the quarterback to put the team in the best position possible. Will these young quarterbacks be able to do that in the early weeks? I don’t know. That’s a lot to ask.”

The first glimpse of Fisher’s pro-style attack at A&M came in the spring game.

Tight end Jace Sternberger had eight catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Starkel and Mond combined for 553 yards passing and five touchdowns.

Though there is optimism, McGee warned about the expectations.

“There’s no magic sprinkle dust when it comes to the game of football,” he said. “You just don’t show up and win games. It’s going to take time for him to build his personnel. I think from an offensive standpoint, systematically, you have to remember that even though you have experienced guys who have taken snaps at the quarterback position, they’re still young, but they’re learning a brand new offense. So, all these terms are new.”

Add in making protection checks and lining everyone up and it can become overwhelming, McGee said.

“It almost becomes this paralysis by analysis,” he said. “You start to slow down, you don’t play free and athletically, because you’re thinking too much. In my opinion, if these guys don’t have the ability to pick up the offense in year one, and they’re playing slow, that’s going to be a huge problem in the SEC, because you know the defenses in the SEC are anything but slow. So trying to keep this complex offense simple so these guys can play fast, in my opinion, is going to be a challenge.”

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KEY RETURNING PLAYERS ON OFFENSE Nick Starkel

Redshirt sophomore, quarterback

Kellen Mond

Sophomore, quarterback

• After splitting time at quarterback because of injury and inconsistent play last season, Starkel and Mond are again atop the depth chart.

Mond rushed for 340 yards with three touchdowns. Starkel played well in the Belk Bowl, throwing for 499 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-52 loss to Wake Forest.

Trayveon Williams

Junior, running back • After a freshman campaign in

which he rushed for 1,057 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry, Williams was slowed by injuries in 2017, rushing for 798 yards and 4.6 yards per carry. He did score eight touchdowns, the same as he did in 2016. With Keith Ford gone, Williams could take on an even larger role in his junior season.

Erik McCoy

Jhamon Ausbon

Sophomore, wide receiver • With Christian Kirk and Damion

Ratley in the NFL, Ausbon is the Aggies’ leading returning receiver.

He had 50 catches for 571 yards and three touchdowns, and made the SEC All-Freshman Team. The sophomore will be the top option on a young and talented receiving corps that includes Camron Buckley and Roshauud Paul.

Junior, center

• McCoy has started all 26 games over the past two seasons. The line’s inconsistent play contributed to less production in the run game last season, so McCoy’s leadership will be vital for a potential turnaround.

His versatility could allow him to play guard, making the unit stronger.

— Jeff Perkins

AP photo Trayveon Williams ran for 798 yards in 2017.

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Cullen Gillaspia stands by the 12th Man statue at Kyle Field.

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie

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Cullen Gillaspia celebrates after blocking a punt in the end zone for a safety against Alabama on Oct. 7, 2017.

AP photo

making his move

Gillaspia’s 12th Man role is evolving to a new spot at fullback

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By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

ullen Gillaspia is a 21st century 12th Man, answering multiple needs for the Texas A&M football team.

E. King Gill, the original 12th Man, was ready to enter the 1922 Dixie Classic against Centre College, but didn’t play. Gillaspia has now made the switch from linebacker and special teams to fullback, a vital position in first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher’s offense.

“Gilly does a good job,” Fisher said. “Gilly’s got a chance to be a good fullback if he’ll develop into it, because he’s got really good running skills, he catches the ball very well, he’s really good with the ball in his hands and he’s physical.”

The 12th Man tradition started with Gill, a former football player who was playing basketball at the time the Aggies prepared to play unbeaten Centre College. After multiple

injuries during the game, A&M coach Dana X. Bible was worried about having enough players to finish. He called Gill from the stands to suit up and be ready. Gill didn’t enter the game, but was the last healthy man on the sideline when it ended. And the spirit of the 12th Man was born.

Former coach Jackie Sherrill took the 12th Man to a different level in 1983, starting a 12th Man Kickoff Team comprised of all walk-ons, except for the kicker. The unit was exceptional, allowing only 13.1 yards per return, the first of five straight seasons the Aggies ranked in the Top 5. But when the unit gave up its first touchdown in 1990, and with the NCAA moving kickoffs back, Sherrill’s successor, R.C. Slocum, opted in 1991 to have the kickoff team include one walk-on who would wear No. 12 and represent the student body.

Gillaspia has served as the 12th Man for 26 straight games, and earned a scholarship for

his work on special teams and at linebacker.

He’s in position to break the record for games by a 12th Man of 38, set by Sam Moeller from 2013 to 2015.

“Actually, when I joined the football team my freshman year, I watched Sam Moeller — the way he represented the 12th Man,” Gillaspia said. “It kind of led me to research what it was about, more into the actual depth and history of it. Really, the way he represented the number, I knew that’s something I wanted to be able to do for this university.”

Moeller set a high standard, becoming the first 12th Man to block a punt. He did it twice, in a 51-41 victory over Mississippi State in 2013 and again in a 25-0 victory over Vanderbilt in 2015.

“Me and Sam are still good buddies,” Gillaspia said. “We have friendly banter back and forth about who’s the better 12th Man and Continued on Page 14

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Eagle file photo Cullen Gillaspia knocked the ball from Tennessee defensive back Evan Berry on a kick return in 2016. The Aggies recovered the fumble.

Continued from Page 13

whatnot. For our friends, we still say he’s the GOAT [“greatest of all time”] 12th Man, the best one of all time.”

Gillaspia has built a similar resume. As a sophomore he had six tackles on special teams, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Last year, he blocked a punt against Alabama for a safety and he blocked a second punt against Florida. He added eight tackles on special teams. He could make an even bigger impact at fullback.

“Gillaspia is a guy who can make things happen with the ball, so I’m excited to see what he can do for us,” said junior running back Trayveon Williams. “He’s carrying the energy over to the offensive side. Throughout the spring he was a big first-down converter for us, whether it was running out in the flat making a catch or running the fullback dive.

It’s him being a leader. He brings so much not just to this offense, but to this team.”

Gillaspia might be the most recognizable 12th Man because of his energy and long hair.

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He said “everything’s changed” for him on campus.

“You start on as a walk-on, nobody knows you,” he said. “Now, you walk across campus and people say hi to you all the time. It’s very humbling, and very cool just to see the impact you can have on people and this university.”

He said it’s gratifying to see young people wearing No. 12.

“There’s a kid who came all the way down from Alaska to see me,” Gillaspia said. “And he had grown his hair out just like me. I went and saw him after the spring game. It’s stuff like that you can’t really explain, but it kind of gives you a sense of pride that you get to wear that number.”

Because of the walk-on origin of the 12th Man, there are some who believe Gillaspia shouldn’t wear No. 12 because he’s on scholarship.

“You know, no one’s actually came to me personally and said that, [but] I’ve seen that on the message boards and online,” Gillaspia said. “I don’t think it necessarily matters if

you’ve earned a scholarship or not. When you come in as a walk-on, you’re always a walkon.”

This will be the fifth consecutive season that the 12th Man will be on scholarship.

Sherrill recalled offering scholarships to two players on the first 12th Man Kickoff Team.

“And they both asked the same question,” he said. “‘Does that mean I can still be on the 12th Man Kickoff Team?’ And, I said, ‘No. If you’re on scholarship, you can’t be on the 12th Man Kickoff Team.’ So they declined the scholarship. It was more important to them to be on the 12th Man Kickoff Team.”

Though Sherrill doesn’t think the 12th Man should be a scholarship player, he says it’s up to the coach. “That’s their prerogative to do what they want,” he said.

Fisher wants Gillaspia wearing No. 12.

“He was the 12th Man, that’s how he earned it,” Fisher said. “And he’s still the 12th Man, even though he earned the scholarship.

In my mind he’s still an original 12th Man for what goes on and what we have.”

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Courtesy of Cushing Memorial Library

The original 12th Man E. King Gill’s readiness to suit up and play for Texas A&M in the 1922 Dixie Classic would become a major part of the university’s identity. “I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown,” he later said in an interview with The Houston Post.

“But I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me.”

Eagle file photo Jackie Sherrill introduced the 12th Man Kickoff Team in 1983, and it continued through 1990.

12th Man longevity The players with the most games as the 12th Man. Sam Moeller, 38 (2013-2015) Nick Lamantia, 30 (2006-2008) Cullen Gillaspia, 26 (2016-present) John Ray, 23 (2004-2005) C.J. Jones, 21 (2010-2012) Eric Stanford, 17 (1999-2001)

Sam Moeller blocked a punt against Mississippi State in 2013.

Eagle file photo

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Damarea Crockett Missouri

Martez Ivey Florida

Raekwon Davis Alabama

A.J. Brown Ole Miss Greedy Williams LSU

Jarrett Stidham Auburn

Jake Fromm Georgia

TEAM PREVIEWS

Robert Cessna and Travis L. Brown tackle the conference with schedules, key players and coach quotes • P. 18-37

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ALABAMA (2017 RECORD: 13-1)

Nick Saban (223-62-1; 132-20 in 11 seasons at Alabama) • Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)

SEASON OUTLOOK

TIDE RELOADS AGAIN AFTER CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON QB situation could be key to team’s fortunes

Alabama could start as many as five sophomores on offense this year, making the leadership of senior running back Damien Harris as vital as his physical ability.

“Now that I am the old guy on the team, I have to positively affect everyone on the team,” Harris said after the spring game. “I have to be that guy that brings a lot of energy and point people in the right direction.”

Harris typically runs the right way on the field, leading the Crimson Tide with backto-back 1,000-yard seasons and averaging 7.2 yards per carry. That reliability will be an asset to the quarterback, whether it’s two-year starter Jalen Hurts or sophomore Tua Tagovailoa, the hero of the 26-23 National Championship overtime victory over Georgia.

Their starting battle was put on hold during spring drills when Tagovailoa injured his left thumb in the first practice

DAMIEN HARRIS AP photos

9/1 vs. Louisville Camping World Stadium, Orlando 9/8 vs. Arkansas State Bryant-Denny Stadium 9/15 at Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 9/22 vs. Texas A&M Bryant-Denny Stadium 9/29 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Bryant-Denny Stadium 10/6 at Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium 10/13 vs. Missouri Bryant-Denny Stadium 10/20 at Tennessee Neyland Stadium 11/3 at LSU Tiger Stadium 11/10 vs. Mississippi State Bryant-Denny Stadium 11/17 vs. The Citadel Bryant-Denny Stadium 11/24 vs. Auburn Bryant-Denny Stadium

and was limited thereafter.

“The most important thing is to play the best guy,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban

QUOTABLE

KEY PLAYERS RB Damien Harris (1,000 yards, 7.4 avg., 11 TDs), QB Jalen Hurts (154-of-255, 2,081 yards, 17 TDs, 1 INT, 855 yards rushing), QB Tua Tagovailoa (49-of-77, 636 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs), DE Isaiah Buggs (51 tackles, 4 TFL, 7 QBPs), LB Anfernee Jennings (41 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 FF), WR Henry Ruggs III (12 receptions, 229 yards, 6 TDs), NG Johnny Dwight (9 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 QBP), LB Mack Wilson (40 tackles, 4 INTs, 4 QBPs)

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“

SCHEDULE

The players are going to be committed to creating the kind of identity we need for this team. Forget about what happened last year. There’s no looking back at that.

It’s what we’re going to do moving forward.

Nick Saban, head coach

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told ESPN’s Chris Lowe. “And if both guys can play winning football, it’s not out of the question that we’ll find a role for both guys, in fairness to both guys. I don’t know that there’s any more to it than that.”

Whoever lines up under center will have at his disposal Harris and a talented, physical line anchored by returning starters Jonah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher.

Alabama’s concern on defense is the secondary, which lost five players who combined for 119 career starts, including playmakers Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison.

First-year defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi might opt for more pressure until the secondary gains some experience. Lupoi has experienced disruptive ends in Raekwon Davis and Isaiah Buggs, along with talented outside linebackers in Terrell Lewis, Christian Miller and Anfernee Jennings.

HALL OF FAME

QB Joe Namath led the Crimson Tide to a 29-4 record in three seasons in Tuscaloosa, including the 1964 national championship.

ARKANSAS (2017 RECORD: 4-8)

Chad Morris (14-22; first season at Arkansas) • Stadium: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)

SEASON OUTLOOK

MORRIS BRINGS NEW PATH FOR RAZORBACK PROGRAM

Arkansas opens up offense with spread attack Arkansas fans want to forget the Bret Bielema era, but still hope that some of the best players from his tenure remain.

Bielema started only six seniors in an era-ending 48-45 loss to Missouri. Ten starters were freshmen or sophomores.

“They played a lot of young players last year due to injuries,” said first-year head coach Chad Morris on The Paul Finebaum Show. “[It was] bad at the time, good now.

A lot of young guys got some quality experience.”

Morris, a spread-offense disciple, spent the spring converting the Razorbacks from Bielema’s ground-oriented, shorten-the-game approach to a no-huddle, up-tempo spread.

“In practice all the time, the faster we go, we break big plays because we’re going so fast,” said sophomore quarterback Cole Kelly after the spring game. “I really like the pace of play we’re going at right now.”

JONATHAN NANCE AP photos

KEY PLAYERS WR Jonathan Nance (37 receptions, 539 yards, 5 TDs), RB Devwah Whaley (559 yards, 7 TDs), LB De’Jon Harris (115 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks), LB Dre Greenlaw (103 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 4 QBPs), OL Hjalte Froholdt (25 career starts), WR Jared Cornelius (5 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD), S Santos Ramirez (63 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PBUs), DL McTelvin Agim (37 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 FF), TE C.J. O’Grady (21 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TDs)

“

SCHEDULE 9/1 vs. Eastern Illinois

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

9/8 at Colorado State Canvas Stadium 9/15 vs. North Texas

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

9/22 at Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium 9/29 vs. Texas A&M AT&T Stadium, Arlington 10/6 vs. Alabama

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

10/13 vs. Ole Miss War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock 10/20 vs. Tulsa

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

10/27 vs. Vanderbilt

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

11/10 vs. LSU Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

11/17 at Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium 11/24 at Missouri Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field

Remnants of Bielema’s offense that should benefit Morris are power running backs Devwah Whaley and Chase Hayden, and physical

QUOTABLE We have a great group of young men in our locker room that have looked and worked extremely hard, locking arms with a brand-new coaching staff, buying into a culture.

Chad Morris, head coach

tight ends Grayson Gunter and Jeremy Patton.

Veteran wide receivers Jared Cornelius and Jonathan Nance should flourish in the new system. Nance had 37 receptions for 539 yards and five touchdowns last season to lead the team in all categories, stepping up after Cornelius injured his Achilles tendon against Texas A&M. Morris hired as his defensive coordinator SEC veteran John Chavis, who after three rocky seasons at A&M will try to regain the magic he had at Tennessee and LSU. “He’s a guy that’s extremely motivated and driven now more than ever,” said Morris to reporters at the SEC spring meetings. “This is the first time in his career he’s been able to come in on the start at the front end, and that’s really exciting for him.”

The confident Morris sold Chavis on Arkansas by telling him, “If you can defend us offensively, you can defend anybody in this conference.”

HALL OF FAME

Steve Atwater, the quarterbackturned-safety, was a two-time AllAmerican, three-time All-Southwest Conference player. and holds the school record for career interceptions with 14.

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AUBURN (2017 RECORD: 10-4)

Gus Malzahn (54-25; 45-22 in five seasons at Auburn) • Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)

SEASON OUTLOOK

STIDHAM’S PERFORMANCE HAS AUBURN THINKING BIG

Baylor transfer emerged as a star for Tigers Auburn coach Gus Malzahn can’t help but smile when talking about quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

Last season, the Baylor transfer threw for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He was the Southeastern Conference’s most accurate passer, completing 66.5 percent of his passes.

He was even better in victories over Alabama and Georgia, completing 72.5 percent of his passes (37 of 51 for 451 yards) with no interceptions.

The Tigers were the only team to beat both participants in the national championship game.

“I think this is only the second time that I’ve been in this league and had a returning quarterback coming back, so that’s a really good feeling security-wise,” said Malzahn at the SEC spring meetings.

Actually, Stidham is the third returning starting quar-

JARRETT STIDHAM AP photos

9/1 vs. Washington Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 9/8 vs. Alabama State Jordan-Hare Stadium 9/15 vs. LSU Jordan-Hare Stadium 9/22 vs. Arkansas Jordan-Hare Stadium 9/29 vs. Southern Miss Jordan-Hare Stadium 10/6 at Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium 10/13 vs. Tennessee Jordan-Hare Stadium 10/20 at Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 11/03 vs. Texas A&M Jordan-Hare Stadium 11/10 at Georgia Sanford Stadium 11/17 vs. Liberty Jordan-Hare Stadium 11/24 at Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium

terback for Malzahn. Nick Marshall in 2014 was the first. Sean White, who started 10 games in 2016, was the

QUOTABLE

KEY PLAYERS QB Jarrett Stidham (246-of370, 3,158 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Kam Martin, (453 yards, 2 TDs), WR Ryan Davis (84 receptions, 815 yards, 5 TDs), WR Darius Slayton (29 receptions, 643 yards, 5 TDs), LB Deshaun Davis (82 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks), DE Dontavius Russell (46 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 5 QBPs), LB Darrell Williams (57 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 QBPs), WR Eli Stove (29 receptions, 265 yards), CB Javaris Davis (29 tackles, 2 INTs, 6 PBUs)

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second, but he lost out in fall camp last year and eventually was dismissed from the team.

Stidham quickly made White a trivia question by winning 10 of his first 12 games as Auburn scored 40 or more points eight times. Stidham helped the Tigers climb to No. 6 in the country before falling to Georgia in the SEC title game, and to Central Florida in the Peach Bowl.

“That fact he was as successful as he was last year with a new offense, with a new coordinator, new teammates, I think that was good,” Malzahn said.

“He’s looking forward to this season.”

Auburn returns five other key offensive players, including wide receiver Darius Slayton, who averaged 22.2 yards per catch.

But the Tigers have to replace a pair of second-round NFL picks in running back Kerryon Johnson and offensive guard Braden Smith.

HALL OF FAME

I like our leaders. There’s nothing like experience in our league. And we experienced some highs, some lows, and, like I said, we were close.

And I just really sense urgency and a hunger from that group.

Gus Malzahn, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

As a senior, Pat Sullivan connected on 182 passes for 2,262 yards and 21 touchdowns. He won the 1971 Heisman Trophy.

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21

LSU (2017 RECORD: 9-4)

Ed Orgeron (31-33; 15-6 in two seasons at LSU) • Stadium: Tiger Stadium (102,321)

SEASON OUTLOOK

WILLIAMS, WHITE KEEP DEFENSIVE SIDE STRONG

Orgeron says 2017 results ‘not good enough’ No team sends more players to the NFL after three years than LSU. The Tigers in the last six years had a nation-leading 32 underclassmen declare early, with 26 of them drafted. That includes five first-rounders and another seven taken in the second round.

Cornerback Andraez “Greedy” Williams has a chance to join the group, though he didn’t even play as a freshman. Last year, the 6-foot-2, 182-pounder had 38 tackles, 26 of them solo. He intercepted six passes and broke up 11 more.

“He did a great job of development,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron on Knoxville radio station WNML during the Southeastern Conference spring meetings. “He got his chance [last year] and he ended up being a hell of a player for us. He’s a potential first-round pick. He’s probably going to go out.”

Williams is one of many

DEVIN WHITE AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/2 vs. Miami (Fla.) AT&T Stadium, Arlington 9/8 vs. Southeastern Louisiana Tiger Stadium 9/15 at Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium 9/22 vs. Louisiana Tech Tiger Stadium 9/29 vs. Ole Miss Tiger Stadium 10/6 at Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 10/13 vs. Georgia Tiger Stadium 10/20 vs. Mississippi State Tiger Stadium 11/3 vs. Alabama Tiger Stadium 11/10 at Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium 11/17 vs. Rice Tiger Stadium 11/24 at Texas A&M Kyle Field

playmakers for defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, the nation’s highest-paid assistant

QUOTABLE

CB Greedy Williams (38 tackles, 6 INTs, 11 PBUs), LB Devin White (133 tackles, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks), WR Jonathan Giles (2016: 69 catches, 1,158 yards, 13 TDs), S John Battle (61 tackles, 1 INT, 4 PBUs), S Grant Delpit (60 tackles, 1 INT, 9 PBUs), LB K’Lavon Chaisson (27 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks), DE Breiden Fehoko (2016: 19 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 5 QBPs), DE Rashard Lawrence (32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

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You know the expectations are high at LSU. So you invite those challenges, and you’re going to play in the SEC West, perhaps the best conference in the United States, and you’re going to play against some of the best coaches.

Ed Orgeron, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

who is expected to improve a unit that already was one of the nation’s best last season.

The Tigers allowed 316 yards per game to rank 12th in the country, and 18.9 points per game to rank 14th.

Senior Devin White, who led the team last year with 133 tackles, and sophomore K’Lavon Chaisson are a pair of imposing 240-pound linebackers.

The concern for LSU remains perking up the offense, the same issue that led to Les Miles’ firing midway through the 2016 season. The offense improved drastically under Orgeron on an interim basis, helping him get a fiveyear contract. The criticism returned last season as LSU averaged only 13.8 points in its four losses, putting pressure on Orgeron.

“It’s always a big year at LSU,” said Orgeron, a native Louisianan. “9-4 at LSU is not good enough. I know the expectations of LSU.”

HALL OF FAME

Courtesy of LSU

Y.A. Tittle was an All-SEC quarterback and set school passing records for completions (166), passing yards (2,517) and passing touchdowns (21).

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23

MISSISSIPPI STATE (2017 RECORD: 9-4)

Joe Moorhead (38-13; first season at Mississippi State) • Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium (61,337)

SEASON OUTLOOK

MOORHEAD AIMS TO KEEP BULLDOGS TRENDING UP

Fitzgerald, run game lead offensive attack

Mississippi State first-year coach Joe Moorhead doesn’t lack confidence, and believes he can make Nick Fitzgerald an even better quarterback.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Fitzgerald became one of the nation’s top dual threats under former MSU coach Dan Mullen. He threw for 4,205 yards and 36 touchdowns, along with 2,359 rushing yards with 30 touchdowns, the past two seasons.

Mullen has taken his expertise to Florida, but Moorhead also has a history of making quarterbacks and offenses better.

“I think the area we can work on the most is he’s right around a career 55-percent [completion] guy,” Moorhead said on The Paul Finebaum Show at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings. “I think what we do in the pass game and the things that we’re able to teach him relative to scheme and reading things pre- and post-[play], I

NICK FITZGERALD AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. Stephen F. Austin Davis Wade Stadium 9/8 at Kansas State Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium 9/15 vs. Louisiana Davis Wade Stadium 9/22 at Kentucky Kroger Field 9/29 vs. Florida Davis Wade Stadium 10/6 vs. Auburn Davis Wade Stadium 10/20 at LSU Tiger Stadium 10/27 vs. Texas A&M Davis Wade Stadium 11/3 vs. Louisiana Tech Davis Wade Stadium 11/10 at Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium 11/17 vs. Arkansas Davis Wade Stadium 11/22 at Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

think that will help him elevate that part of his game.”

Fitzgerald will be complemented by 1,000-yard rusher Aeris Williams and four return-

QUOTABLE

QB Nick Fitzgerald (159-of286, 1,782 yards, 15 TDs, 11 INTs), LB Montez Sweat (48 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks), S Mark McLaurin (79 tackles, 6 INTs, 6 PBUs), RB Aeris Williams (1,107 yards, 4.7 avg., 6 TDs), DT Jeffery Simmons (60 tackles, 12 TFL, 5 sacks), LB Leo Lewis (46 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack), LB Enroll Thompson (46 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 FF), OL Deion Calhoun (23 career starts), OL Elgton Jenkins (21 career starts)

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It felt very, very good where we were coming out of spring ball. As the saying goes, you can’t expect a harvest in the fall if you haven’t planted in the spring.

I think we definitely planted seeds for success during spring ball.

Joe Moorhead, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

ing offensive linemen. The Bulldogs also return three of their top five wide receivers, who should be busier in Moorhead’s offense.

While offensive coordinator at Penn State, Moorhead took over a unit that ranked 105th in the country, averaging 348.6 yards per game. The Nittany Lions jumped to 49th (432.9 yards) in Moorhead’s first season, then 19th last season (460.3).

“We can play as fast or slow as we need to,” Moorhead said. “We’re more concerned running the best play possible against the look presented than a bad play quickly.”

Moorhead has plenty of veteran players returning on defense. Tackle Jeffery Simmons and end/linebacker Montez Sweat are playmakers.

Safeties Mark McLaurin and Johnathan Abram were the team’s leading tacklers last season when the Bulldogs allowed only 306.3 yards per game, which ranked 10th in the country.

HALL OF FAME

DT Fletcher Cox was named an AllAmerican in 2011 after collecting 56 tackles and five sacks. He was a first-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2012 NFL draft.

OLE MISS (2017 RECORD: 6-6)

Matt Luke (6-6; 6-6 in 1 season at Ole Miss) • Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)

SEASON OUTLOOK

WITH COACHING STABILITY, REBELS LOOK TO MOVE ON QB Jordan Ta’amu showed promise in 2017

Matt Luke and Jordan Ta’amu were good enough to make Ole Miss fans smile and forget their predecessors last season. But will it continue?

Luke, a lifelong Rebel who found himself as interim head coach in 2017 after Hugh Freeze’s forced resignation, came through with a 6-6 season, capped by an upset of rival Mississippi State, to land the job full time.

“I may not be sitting here if I [hadn’t won],” Luke joked on The Paul Finebaum Show in May. Ta’amu helped Luke get the promotion by stepping in for an injured Shea Patterson and winning three games, along with two tough losses: Arkansas (38-37) and Texas A&M (31-24).

“I really liked where we went the last month of the season,” Luke said. “I felt like we were getting better.”

JORDAN TA’AMU AP photos

KEY PLAYERS QB Jordan Ta’amu (115-of173, 1,682 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs), S Zedrick Woods (64 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PBUs), WR A.J. Brown (75 receptions, 1,252 yards, 11 TDs), S C.J. Moore (51 tackles, 3 INTs, 2.5 TFL), OL Greg Little (17 career starts), CB Myles Hartsfield (42 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 TFL), WR DaMarkus Lodge (41 receptions, 698 yards, 7 TDs), S Jaylon Jones (34 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 FF), DT Benito Jones (29 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

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SCHEDULE 9/1 vs. Texas Tech NRG Stadium, Houston 9/8 vs. Southern Illinois Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 9/15 vs. Alabama Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 9/22 vs. Kent State Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 9/29 at LSU Tiger Stadium 10/06 vs. Louisiana Monroe Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 10/13 at Arkansas

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

10/20 vs. Auburn Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 11/3 vs. South Carolina Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 11/10 at Texas A&M Kyle Field 11/17 at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium 11/22 vs. Mississippi State Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Ole Miss has a chance to build on that, despite Patterson transferring to Michigan because of NCAA penalties levied on the program. Like

QUOTABLE I really feel like all of the experiences these young men have gone through have really brought them together as a team. So I really, really like the culture in our locker room right now.

Matt Luke, head coach

last year, the Rebels will play this season under a bowl ban.

Ta’amu had a higher passing efficiency than Patterson.

A major loss on offense was wide receiver Van Jefferson (42 catches for 456 yards and a touchdown), who transferred to Florida. Ole Miss remains deep at the position with A.J. Brown, DaMarkus Lodge and D.K. Metcalf, who combined for 155 catches for 2,596 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Brown set the school record for yards (1,252) and led the Southeastern Conference in touchdown receptions (11). It also helps that Ole Miss has a veteran offensive line, led by tackle Greg Little. But the key is Ta’amu.

“It’s his team, he’s the leader,” Luke said. “I’ve seen him grow as a leader, being vocal.

Everybody is rallying around Jordan, so I just want him to continue to be that leader, and I thought he did a great job with that in the spring.”

HALL OF FAME

LB Patrick Willis led the SEC in total tackles two straight seasons, and was the SEC defensive player of the year in 2006. He won the Butkus Award that same year.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

25

Other Events

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TEXAS A&M (2017 RECORD: 7-6)

Jimbo Fisher (83-23; first season at Texas A&M) • Stadium: Kyle Field (102,733)

SEASON OUTLOOK

FISHER’S ARRIVAL BRINGS OPTIMISM TO AGGIELAND

New staff puts premium on team toughness

Jimbo Fisher’s path to make Texas A&M a contender for the national championship starts up front.

The Aggies have to become more physical. It’s that simple.

“You got to be able to run the football in this league and you got to be able to stop the run,” Fisher said.

A&M did a poor job of that last season, averaging 155.6 yards per game rushing to rank 10th in the Southeastern Conference and 77th in the country. A&M also allowed 170.8 yards per game on the ground to rank ninth in the SEC and 70th in the country.

Fisher made changes on both sides.

Offensively, A&M is switching from a spread to a pro-style attack, utilizing a fullback and tight ends.

“As a pro-style [offense], you gotta establish the run,” said junior running back Trayveon Williams, who rushed for 1,000 yards as a freshman

TRAYVEON WILLIAMS AP photo

KEY PLAYERS LB Tyrel Dodson (105 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 INTs), RB Trayveon Williams (798 yards, 8 TDs), LB Otaro Alaka (78 tackles, 12 TFL, 1 INT), QB Nick Starkel (123-of-205, 1,793 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs), QB Kellen Mond (117-of-227, 1,375 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs), DT Kingsley Keke (54 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack), DE Landis Durham (56 tackles, 12 TFL, 10.5 sacks), WR Jhamon Ausbon (50 receptions, 571 yards, 3 TDs), OL Erik McCoy (25 career starts)

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SCHEDULE 8/30 vs. Northwestern State Kyle Field 9/8 vs. Clemson Kyle Field 9/15 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Kyle Field 9/22 at Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium 9/29 vs. Arkansas AT&T Stadium, Arlington 10/6 vs. Kentucky Kyle Field 10/13 at South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium 10/27 at Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium 11/3 at Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium 11/10 vs. Ole Miss Kyle Field 11/17 vs. UAB Kyle Field 11/24 vs. LSU Kyle Field

but slipped to 798 yards last season. “This year is going to be more important establishing the run and getting those extra yards.”

QUOTABLE I just say we have to play with great toughness. We have to play with tremendous physicality. I think the teams in this league that win, the teams that win national championships, and the success we had at Florida State, that’s how we played.

Jimbo Fisher, head coach

The Aggies had senior offensive tackle Koda Martin transfer to Syracuse, but still they return six offensive linemen who have a combined 93 career starts.

For defensive coordinator, Fisher hired Mike Elko, who was at Notre Dame last season after three seasons at Wake Forest, where he impressed Fisher.

“He was a pain in your rear end when you had to prepare for him because he did a multitude of things,” Fisher said. “[He] understood how to play the run upfront, understood the physicality part of the game.”

Toughness is a way of life in the SEC, said Fisher, who was an assistant in the league for 13 seasons with stops at Auburn and LSU. “We have to play that way,” Fisher said. “When I was in this league and we had success is when we had physical, tough teams. When I was at Florida State, and we had tremendous success because we had tough, physical teams.”

HALL OF FAME Courtesy of Texas A&M

LB Quentin Coryatt was named the Southwest Conference defensive player of the year in 1991, and unleashed the famous play known as “The Hit” against TCU that same year.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

27

FLORIDA (2017 RECORD: 4-7) Dan Mullen (69-46; first season at Florida) • Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)

SEASON OUTLOOK

MULLEN’S RETURN COULD GET GATORS BACK ON TRACK

Florida aims to move past offensive struggles Circle the date.

Dan Mullen, who spent the past nine seasons building Mississippi State into a winning program, returns to Starkville as Florida’s head coach on Sept. 29.

“I imagine they’ve already collected the fine for the cowbells for that day,” Mullen said on The Paul Finebaum Show during the Southeastern Conference spring meetings.

Mullen was 69-46 in nine seasons, reviving a program that had been 40-69 in the nine years before his arrival.

But Mullen jumped at the chance to return to Florida, where he was offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008, helping the Gators to two national titles. He takes over a team that was 4-7, the program’s worst record since 1979.

“I think it is the mindset of the team, expecting to win every single year,” Mullen said.

“But for everybody within the

LAMICAL PERINE AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. Charleston Southern Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 9/8 vs. Kentucky Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 9/15 vs. Colorado State Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 9/22 at Tennessee Neyland Stadium 9/29 at Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium 10/6 vs. LSU Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 10/13 at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium 10/27 vs. Georgia TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville 11/3 vs. Missouri Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 11/10 vs. South Carolina Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 11/17 vs. Idaho Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 11/24 at Florida State Doak Campbell Stadium

program, the process of doing that is different. I’ve noticed the last several years the con-

QUOTABLE

WR Tyrie Cleveland (22 receptions, 410 yards, 2 TDs), LB David Reese (102 tackles, 10 TFL, 1 INT), QB Feleipe Franks (125-of-229, 1,438 yards, 9 TDs, 8 INTs), RB Lamical Perine (562 yards, 8 TDs), WR Josh Hammond (18 receptions, 246 yards), S Chauncey Gardner (58 tackles, 2 INTs, 6 TFL), LB Vosean Joseph (55 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 INT), DE CeCe Jefferson (47 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks), OL Martez Ivey (36 games played).

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We’re going to come back and have an exciting football team, create the energy, create the excitement that I know The Swamp to be as one of the most intimidating stadiums in all of America. And I’m excited to get this program back on top.

Dan Mullen, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

fidence has dropped.”

That was especially true on offense, as Florida last season ranked 109th in total offense (335.9 yards per game), which was an improvement over the previous two years.

The offense got a boost when senior lineman Martez Ivey and junior running back Jordan Scarlett opted to return instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. Ivey was a secondteam all-conference pick last year. Scarlett was suspended after gaining 889 yards in 2016. Sophomore Lamical Perine led the team last year with 562 yards.

The Gators haven’t had an all-conference quarterback since Mullen was calling plays for Tim Tebow, but there are options with Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, or talented newcomer Emory Jones. Mullen said their key time would be from the end of spring drills to the start of fall camp.

“The great ones make enormous strides during that time,” he said.

HALL OF FAME

Steve Spurrier was an All-America quarterback and won the 1966 Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy. The year prior, he was the only Sugar Bowl MVP to be chosen from the losing team.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

29

GEORGIA (2017 RECORD: 13-2) Kirby Smart (21-7; 21-7 in two seasons at Georgia) • Stadium: Sanford Stadium (92,746)

SEASON OUTLOOK

BULLDOGS EAGER TO EARN ANOTHER CRACK AT TITLE

Fromm may get competition from freshman QB Jake Fromm and Georgia have a tough act to follow.

The Bulldogs made a surprising run to the national title game behind freshman quarterback Fromm, after Jacob Eason was hurt in the season opener.

Fromm threw for 2,615 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was the Southeastern Conference coaches’ freshman of the year and a big reason the Bulldogs are picked to repeat as SEC East division champs.

“We got hot at the right time, we started playing better as the year went on and developed a young quarterback,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “There’s a lot of things that have to happen for something like that to happen.”

Some believe this year’s spark could come from freshman Justin Fields, a dual-threat quarterback who enrolled early. He threw for 207 yards on 18-of-33 passing with a touchdown and

JAKE FROMM AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. Austin Peay Sanford Stadium 9/8 at South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium 9/15 vs. Middle Tennessee Sanford Stadium 9/22 at Missouri Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 9/29 vs. Tennessee Sanford Stadium 10/6 vs. Vanderbilt Sanford Stadium 10/13 at LSU Tiger Stadium 10/27 vs. Florida TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville 11/3 at Kentucky Kroger Field 11/10 vs. Auburn Sanford Stadium 11/17 vs. Massachusetts Sanford Stadium 11/24 vs. Georgia Tech Sanford Stadium

an interception in Georgia’s spring game.

Fromm, whose emergence forced Eason to transfer to

QUOTABLE

QB Jake Fromm (181-of291, 2,615 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs), S J.R. Reed (79 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 TFL), CB Deandre Baker (44 tackles, 3 INTs, 9 PBUs), WR Terry Godwin (38 receptions, 639 yards, 6 TDs), RB D’Andre Swift (618 yards, 3 TDs), DT Tyler Clark (41 tackles, 6 TFL, 2.5 sacks), DE Jonathan Ledbetter (38 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 9 QBPs), OL Andrew Thomas (15 career starts), K Rodrigo Blankenship (20-of-23 field goals)

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I think being in the SEC, we all know it’s week to week. Humility is a week away. Every team you play has the ability to defeat you. I think you see that every year top to bottom, and people can say what they want about our conference, it’s tough and physical and demanding.

Kirby Smart, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

Washington, went 19 of 38 for 200 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

“We’re excited about those opportunities to find out how much better Jake can get and how much better Justin can get,” Smart said on Birmingham’s WJOX in May. “Both of ’em do a good job managing our team. Both of ’em are great in the locker room. So, I’m excited to see where they go.”

Georgia led the SEC in rushing last season with 258.4 yards per game. Even with 1,000-yard rushers Nick Chubb and Sony Michel now in the NFL, the position is deep in talent, led by D’Andre Swift.

Georgia also returns four offensive linemen.

Even when the Bulldogs aren’t able to find the end zone, they should be able to put points on the board with Rodrigo Blankenship, who hit 20 of 23 field goals last season.

HALL OF FAME

In 1942, Frank Sinkwich became the SEC’s first Heisman Trophy winner after he rushed for 795 yards and passed for 1,392 yards.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

31

KENTUCKY (2017 RECORD: 7-6)

Mark Stoops (26-36; 26-36 in five seasons at Kentucky) • Stadium: Kroger Field (61,000)

SEASON OUTLOOK

WILDCATS CAN LEAN ON SNELL FOR RUSHING ATTACK Ten defensive starters return after tough year Kentucky doesn’t have a quarterback who has played against an FBS team. But whoever ends up under center will realize a third of the snaps better end up in the hands of tailback Benny Snell Jr. The 223-pounder had 262 carries last season.

The lone Southeastern Conference player with more was Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson.

Snell rushed for 1,333 yards, and the junior needs 1,412 yards to be the school’s alltime leader.

“Benny is always sitting on ‘G,’ waiting on ‘O,’” coach Mark Stoops said after the spring game. “He’s ready to go, and he’s always wired and has a great, strong mentality, and he’s done really well.”

Snell rushed for 19 touchdowns last season to lead the SEC. It helped that he was complemented by senior

BENNY SNELL JR. AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. Central Michigan Kroger Field 9/8 at Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 9/15 vs. Murray State Kroger Field 9/22 vs. Mississippi State Kroger Field 9/29 vs. South Carolina Kroger Field 10/6 at Texas A&M Kyle Field 10/20 vs. Vanderbilt Kroger Field 10/27 at Missouri Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 11/3 vs. Georgia Kroger Field 11/10 at Tennessee Neyland Stadium 11/17 vs. Middle Tennessee Kroger Field 11/24 at Louisville Cardinal Stadium

quarterback Stephen Johnson, a dual threat who averaged

QUOTABLE

LB Josh Allen (65 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 7 sacks), S Mike Edwards (97 tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PBUs), RB Benny Snell Jr. (1,333 yards, 19 TDs), LB Jordan Jones (64 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks), WR Tavin Richardson (27 receptions, 371 yards, 1 TD), LB Denzil Ware (47 tackles, 9 TFL, 6.5 sacks), TE C. J. Conrad (16 receptions, 286 yards, 4 TDs), WR Dorian Baker (2016: 14 receptions, 208 yards, 2 TDs), OL Jervontius Stallings (19 career starts)

32

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We expect more.

We’ve been close. We’ve done some good things.

I’m proud of the work that we’ve done, that we look forward to making a big jump this year.

Mark Stoops, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

206.2 yards total offense per game. Vying to replace Johnson are Oregon transfer Terry Wilson, who is more of a runner, and Gunnar Hoak, a pocket passer.

“I think it’s also fair to say that I need to see both of them in a game, because scrimmages are different, practices are different. And when the lights come on, and you’re in a game situation, and the bullets are flying, and you’re really taking sacks, and you’re really getting hit, it’s important to see how they play in games,” Stoops said. “That’s why I’m not in any big hurry.”

The defense is stable with 10 starters back, but the Wildcats allowed 426.9 yards per game to rank 91st in the country. The secondary allowed 251.6 yards to rank 102nd.

Kentucky is expected to start eight seniors on defense, led by safety Mike Edwards, who had a team-leading 97 tackles.

HALL OF FAME

QB Jared Lorenzen still holds the Wildcat records for career passing yards (10,354) and single game passing yards (528).

MISSOURI (2017 RECORD: 7-6) Barry Odom (11-14; 11-14 in two seasons at Missouri) • Stadium: Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field (71,168)

SEASON OUTLOOK

AFTER GREAT TURNAROUND, TIGERS HOPING FOR MORE QB Lock and run game should star for Mizzou Missouri started the 2017 season with a 1-5 record. The Tigers turned it around by closing the season on a five-game winning streak, doing it with video-game-style numbers, averaging 51.3 points per game.

The points are expected to keep coming with the return of senior quarterback Drew Lock — who threw for 3,964 yards and an FBS-leading 44 touchdowns — though scoring might not be the top priority for the Tigers.

“I’m interested in winning,” said head coach Barry Odom on Knoxville radio station WNML during the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Florida. “I’m not interested in the number of points we put up, the pace of play or all the stats. The one thing I’m concerned about is playing winning football.”

That’s why Missouri plans to slow the tempo under offensive coordinator Derek Dooley. He replaced former Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel, now the head coach

DREW LOCK AP photos

KEY PLAYERS QB Drew Lock (242-of-419, 3,964 yards, 44 TDs, 13 INTs), WR Jonathon Johnson (41 receptions, 724 yards, 6 TDs), LB Cale Garrett (105 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 INTs), LB Terez Hall (85 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 1 sack), DL Terry Beckner Jr. (38 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks), OL Kevin Pendleton (24 career starts), RB Larry Rountree III (703 yards, 6 TDs), RB Damarea Crockett (481 yards, 2 TDs), WR Emanuel Hall (33 receptions, 817 yards, 6 TDs).

“

SCHEDULE 9/1 vs. Tennessee-Martin Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 9/8 vs. Wyoming Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 9/15 at Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium 9/22 vs. Georgia Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 10/6 at South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium 10/13 at Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium 10/20 vs. Memphis Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 10/27 vs. Kentucky Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 11/3 at Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 11/10 vs. Vanderbilt Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 11/17 at Tennessee Neyland Stadium 11/24 vs. Arkansas Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field

at Central Florida, who guided the Missouri offense to more than 500 yards per game in back-to-back seasons.

QUOTABLE You talk about work ethic, commitment, the ability as a team and individuals to strain and come together with great values and fight and tenacity and trust. The things we talk about in our locker room all of the time are individual accountability and honesty.

Barry Odom, head coach

Dooley didn’t have success as a head coach at Louisiana Tech and Tennessee — a 3241 combined record — but he can help prepare Lock for the NFL because of his experience in the league, including the past five seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ wide receivers coach.

“Obviously, [Lock’s] a special-skill talented guy,” Odom said. “He can just about make any throw on the field. But the understanding of how to command the presence of running a huddle, to taking a snap under center, getting in five-step, rollout [or] play-action — some of those types of things that Derek has been around, that’s going to help him out.”

Lock should benefit from a stronger running game. The Tigers return four offensive linemen. Though 1,000-yard rusher Ish Witter is gone, sophomore Larry Rountree III and junior Damarea Crockett combined for 1,184 yards last year, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

HALL OF FAME

QB Chase Daniel finished as Missouri’s leader in total offensive yards with 13,485 and was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2007.

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SOUTH CAROLINA (2017 RECORD: 9-4)

Will Muschamp (43-32; 15-11 in two seasons at South Carolina) • Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)

SEASON OUTLOOK

GAMECOCKS LOOK TO BUILD ON 2017’S POSITIVE GAINS Muschamp’s strategy: Open up the offense If you can’t stop ’em, join ’em.

South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp had sleepless nights in his time as a defensive coordinator, trying to devise ways to slow down high-powered, up-tempo offenses. Now he’s counting on a quicker tempo jumpstarting the offense.

Muschamp, who was fired after four seasons at Florida, has done much better than expected at South Carolina in two seasons, guiding the Gamecocks to three-game improvements each year.

The Gamecocks were 9-4 last season, despite an offense that ranked 108th in yards per game (337.1) and 99th in scoring (24.2 points per game).

South Carolina just couldn’t keep the ball.

The Gamecocks averaged only 17.8 first downs per game, fewest among the Southeastern Conference’s nine bowl teams. The

JAKE BENTLEY AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. Coastal Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium 9/8 vs. Georgia Williams-Brice Stadium 9/15 vs. Marshall Williams-Brice Stadium 9/22 at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium 9/29 at Kentucky Kroger Field 10/6 vs. Missouri Williams-Brice Stadium 10/13 vs. Texas A&M Williams-Brice Stadium 10/27 vs. Tennessee Williams-Brice Stadium 11/3 at Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway Stadium 11/10 at Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 11/17 vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga

Williams-Brice Stadium 11/24 at Clemson Memorial Stadium

offense averaged 61.7 plays per game, the fewest in the program since 2005.

That futility came despite sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley throwing for 2,794

QUOTABLE

QB Jake Bentley (245-of394, 2,794 yards, 18 TDs, 12 INTs), WR Deebo Samuel (15 receptions, 250 yards, 3 TDs), RB A.J. Turner (531 yards, 3 TDs), LB T.J. Brunson (88 tackles, 4.5 TFL), DE D.J. Wonnum (57 tackles, 13 TFL, 6 sacks), CB Rashad Fenton (48 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PBUs), DT Keir Thomas (38 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks), CB Jamyest Williams (38 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INT), S Steven Montac (19 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 PBUs).

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“

SCHEDULE

Going into year three, we’ve made some progress in our program. Excited getting out of spring ball and seeing offensively. We want to be able to dictate the tempo of the game more, play faster.

Will Muschamp, head coach

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

yards and 18 touchdowns.

Muschamp came to the conclusion that Bentley needs help for the offense to get better.

“Evaluating and looking at some of the fronts we’ve got to block defensively, the only success people have had running the ball against them is with tempo,” said Muschamp after the spring game. “So you’ve got to be realistic to say, OK, if we’re going to be able to run the ball successfully against some of these fronts we got to play in our league, we’re going to have to play with a little more tempo and dictate the tempo of the game, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The offense has the pieces to be successful. Last season’s leading rushers return in A.J. Turner and Ty’Son Williams, along with three offensive linemen. Leading receiver Bryan Edwards complements Deebo Samuel, an All-America candidate who returns after suffering a broken leg in the third game of the 2017 season.

HALL OF FAME

In 2010, Alshon Jeffery was a Biletnikoff Award finalist and an All-America selection after collecting 1,517 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

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TENNESSEE (2017 RECORD: 4-8)

Jeremy Pruitt (0-0; first season at Tennessee) • Stadium: Neyland Stadium (102,455)

SEASON OUTLOOK

THE JEREMY PRUITT ERA BEGINS AFTER 2017 SPIRAL Defensive guru faces challenges in Knoxville Jeremy Pruitt’s defensive excellence got him hired at Tennessee, and he immediately tackled the program’s problems head-on.

That included too many players “flat-out” quitting in the spring football game, as he declared afterward, and too few fans showing up to watch.

“So you put 14 days into it and some guys aren’t going to compete?” Pruitt said after the game. “It doesn’t say much for them.”

If they continue doing things the wrong way, they’ll be watching, Pruitt said.

“When you get a group of guys that are kind of pulling in the same direction, you seem to be able to accomplish more,” he said at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida. “We’ve [also] got to find who the guys are who have athletic ability and have influence on their teammates and try to create some leadership within our team, so it’s

TY CHANDLER AP photos

KEY PLAYERS

9/1 vs. West Virginia Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 9/8 vs. East Tennessee State Neyland Stadium 9/15 vs. UTEP Neyland Stadium 9/22 vs. Florida Neyland Stadium 9/29 at Georgia Sanford Stadium 10/13 at Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium 10/20 vs. Alabama Neyland Stadium 10/27 at South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium 11/3 vs. Charlotte Neyland Stadium 11/10 vs. Kentucky Neyland Stadium 11/17 vs. Missouri Neyland Stadium 11/24 at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium

a little bit easier to become a team.”

Pruitt, who came to Knoxville after two years as

QUOTABLE

RB Ty Chandler (305 yards, 2 TDs), WR Marquez Callaway (24 receptions, 406 yards, 5 TDs), WR Brandon Johnson (37 receptions, 482 yards, 1 TD), LB Daniel Bituli (90 tackles, 1 INT, 3 TFL), S Nigel Warrior (83 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBU), LB Quart’e Sapp (78 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 PBU), S Micah Abernathy (81 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU), LB Darrell Taylor (27 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 QBPs), TE Ethan Wolf (24 receptions, 246 yards, 3 TDs)

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“

SCHEDULE

I know in the SEC, there’s fantastic coaches, fantastic programs, great players. You know the passion. ... It is hard to win in this league, hard to win. You have got to do things the right way all of the time.

Jeremy Pruitt, head coach

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Alabama’s defensive coordinator, did inherit a few players to build around. Running back Ty Chandler, who rushed for 305 yards as a freshman, will lessen the blow of leading rusher John Kelly leaving early for the NFL. Pruitt joked in May that he probably won’t decide on a starting quarterback until the fourth quarter of the opener, but there are solid candidates in Jarrett Guarantano, who showed promise last year as a freshman, and Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst.

Tennessee also could use more fans. The Volunteers are coming off a 4-8 season, the fifth losing season in the last eight.

Pruitt expressed disappointment in the turnout at Neyland Stadium for the spring game.

“The ones that were here, I’m proud they were here, and they were fired up,” Pruitt said. “Then there were some people that weren’t here. Why [weren’t] they here?”

HALL OF FAME

As a senior, Peyton Manning won the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Johnny Unitas Award. His career highlights include 11,201 yards passing and 89 touchdowns.

VANDERBILT (2017 RECORD: 5-7)

Derek Mason (18-31; 18-31 in four seasons at Vanderbilt) • Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium (40,550)

SEASON OUTLOOK

QB SHURMUR’S LEADERSHIP A BOOST FOR COMMODORES Mason hands ‘D’ to former Stanford assistant Derek Mason fired himself as defensive coordinator earlier this year, at the risk of possibly losing his job as Vanderbilt’s head coach.

Mason hired Jason Tarver to fix a defense that allowed 31.3 points per game to rank 89th in the country. The Commodores were worse in Southeastern Conference play, allowing 43.3 points per game, the most by any defense in league history.

“We didn’t tackle very well [and] the lack of communication at times was dysfunctional,” Mason said. The inability to rush the quarterback and make third-down stops were problems, he said: “And I take ownership of that.”

Mason knows how good Tarver is. They worked together at Stanford in 2011 when the Cardinal defense ranked 26th in total defense, helping the team go 11-2.

Mason was associate head coach

KYLE SHURMUR AP photos

KEY PLAYERS QB Kyle Shurmur (220-of380, 2,823 yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs), WR Kalija Lipscomb (37 receptions, 610 yards, 8 TDs), LB Charles Wright (43 tackles, 10 TFL, 9 sacks), TE Jared Pinkney (22 receptions, 279 yards, 3 TDs), CB JoeJuan Williams (39 tackles, 10 PBUs, 2.5 TFL), DT Dare Odeyingbo (36 tackles, 11 TFL, 4.5 sacks), DE Dayo Odeyingbo (20 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks), LB Jordan Griffin (62 tackles, 8.5 TFL

“

SCHEDULE 9/1 vs. Middle Tennessee State Vanderbilt Stadium 9/8 vs. Nevada Vanderbilt Stadium 9/15 at Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium 9/22 vs. South Carolina Vanderbilt Stadium 9/29 vs. Tennessee State Vanderbilt Stadium 10/6 at Georgia Sanford Stadium 10/13 vs. Florida Vanderbilt Stadium 10/20 at Kentucky Kroger Field 10/27 at Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

11/10 at Missouri Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field 11/17 vs. Ole Miss Vanderbilt Stadium 11/24 vs. Tennessee Vanderbilt Stadium

and defensive coordinator with Tarver as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

“It’s just like old times with

QUOTABLE

a new twist, obviously,” Mason said on Vanderbilt’s student radio after spring drills. “He’s running the defense.”

Tarver has only four returning starters, though many had significant playing time.

Vanderbilt has more experience on offense, led by senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur.

“Kyle is somebody who a coach dreams about, having a fourth-year quarterback who’s had over 30 starts,” Mason said.

“He’s going to have to do a lot at the line of scrimmage.

He’s going to have to get us out of bad plays, get it right.

Sort of what we call ‘unmucking it.’ He’s got to make sure he puts us in position for us to be successful, and Kyle is ready to do that.”

Vanderbilt averaged 243.6 yards passing per game last season, the first time to top 200 yards in four seasons.

It was the program’s highest total since Jay Cutler averaged 280.5 yards per game in 2005.

HALL OF FAME

For Commodore nation, I believe the best is yet to come. So we got to get ready to strap it up.

Starts in August. And I’m ready to go. I hope my team is, too. I know they are.

Derek Mason, head coach Jay Cutler, the 2005 SEC offensive player of the year, holds the Vanderbilt records for career passing yards (8,697) and career passing touchdowns (59).

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

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Tyrel Dodson (left), Otaro Alaka and Landis Durham will provide veteran leadership on the Texas A&M defense.

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie

new direction on ‘d’ Aggies excited about 4-2-5 scheme under Mike Elko

By TRAVIS L. BROWN travis.brown@theeagle.com It hasn’t taken long for new Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko to earn a reputation around the Aggie program.

“He knows he’s one of the smartest people in the room,” Aggie senior defensive tackle Kingsley Keke said at SEC Media Days.

It’s a heady compliment, and it’s one of the reasons new head coach Jimbo Fisher said he knew Elko was the man for the job: “They always said, ‘Who would you hire on defense?’ Well, I figure it’s the guy that gives you biggest pain in the tail when you prepare for them.”

Over the past six seasons, Elko’s defense finished in the top 50 in the nation in total defense, through stints at Bowling Green,

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Wake Forest and Notre Dame. That includes two Top 10 finishes at Wake Forest.

In his three seasons there, from 2014 to 2016, Elko and Fisher squared off in ACC play. Wake Forest failed to earn a win in the three matchups, but Elko made his mark on Florida State and its head coach.

In 2015, Elko held the Seminole offense to its fourth-lowest yardage output of the season with 329 yards. In 2016, Florida State posted its second-lowest rushing game of the season, 123 yards with a 3.2 yards-per-play average. Wake Forest forced six turnovers in the three games, which ranks second-highest for the Seminoles against any opponent in that three-year stretch.

Elko’s 2014 squad held Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston to 297 yards passing, which was the third-lowest

total of his career.

“He was a pain in your rear end when you had to prepare for him because he did a multitude of things while he was at Wake Forest,” Fisher said. “And playing the run and playing the pass … [he] understood how to play the run upfront, understood the physicality part of the game. Coach is very tough and physical, but was very diverse in the back end, which I think causes quarterbacks problems.”

The scheme Elko brings to College Station sounds different in name — a 4-2-5 alignment — but looks familiar in practice. A&M ran a base 4-3 defense under former coordinator John Chavis, who has since moved on to Arkansas. But Chavis would often send out a nickel package, utilizing safety Donovan Wilson as a nickel back in place of a linebacker.

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That package is similar to Elko’s 4-2-5 with some nuances, linebacker Otaro Alaka said during spring practice.

“Really, just getting used to the terminology is the main thing,” he said. “Scheme is a little bit different, even though it is a 4-2-5, but there is some little things here and there that is a little bit different.”

“I just know what Mike does and he does a tremendous job in what he does,” Fisher said during spring practice. “A lot of multiple looks, a lot of things in the secondary. You have to be very intelligent, but at the same time it creates a lot of opportunity for those guys.”

Wilson, a redshirt senior, will be featured in the defense, reprising the role he held under Chavis. The Shreveport native suffered a season-ending injury in the Aggies’ season-opening loss to UCLA in 2017 and took a medical redshirt in order to have one more season in Aggieland. In three full seasons of action, Wilson recorded 141 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks and six interceptions.

Along with Keke on the front line, defensive end Landis Durham returns after pacing the Aggies in sacks with 10.5 last year.

While everything on the defense comes from the same 4-2-5 formation, Elko’s intelligence shines in his ability to keep offenses guessing, Durham said.

“I know defensively, we’re running a lot more exotic looking plays,” he said. “The crazy thing about it is they all look the same. Everybody is going to get the same look, but we’re going to be doing a whole bunch of different things out of that.”

Over the past six years, an Elko defense has never allowed an average of more than 371 yards per game in a season. His 2016 Wake Forest team allowed 142 rushing yards per game, and his 2013 Bowling Green squad allowed a low of 170.9 passing yards per game.

“I’m going to be demanding in that we’re going to coach ball the right way, and we’re going to get this defense rolling, the way the people around here were used to seeing it back in the day when A&M was playing some good ball,” Elko told 12th Man Productions in the spring. “We’re going to be fast and aggressive.

We’re going to have a lot of fun doing it.”

In 2014, Fisher told Sirius XM’s College Sports Nation that Wake Forest was the best defense Florida State faced. Part of that had to do with scheme and play calling, he said, but the bulk of it was doing more with less, in terms of getting the most out of his players.

“He was at Wake Forest all those years and had great success they had there,” Fisher said at SEC Media Days. “He didn’t have as many potential players, but they took guys and developed guys and made them draft picks and did very well.”

That is enough to get A&M’s players excited to work with their new coach.

“That guy’s got a brain on him, that’s for sure,” Durham said. “I like what we’re doing up there. We’ve got a whole lot of packages and a whole lot of exotic looks and whatnot. I’m having some fun with the new defense.”

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Mike Elko led Wake Forest to two Top 10 finishes in total defense.

Donovan Wilson returns after a season-ending injury against UCLA in 2017.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

AP photo

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KEY RETURNING PLAYERS ON DEFENSE Tyrel Dodson

Junior, linebacker

• Dodson is coming off a breakout sophomore season. He led the Aggies with 105 tackles, including 11 for loss, and recorded 5.5 sacks, three interceptions and eight pass breakups. The junior, part of a muchimproved linebacker unit last season, returns in the middle for a group that could take another significant step forward in 2018.

Otaro Alaka

Senior, linebacker

• Teaming with Dodson to form a daunting 1-2 punch at the second level, Alaka led A&M with 12 tackles for loss last season and had 5.5 sacks and 78 total stops. The Aggies struggled at times against the run, but Alaka showed the ability to be a disruptive force in the backfield.

Donovan Wilson

Senior, defensive back

• Wilson returns for a second take on his senior year, after suffering a season-ending injury in last year’s opener against UCLA. The versatile playmaker can handle safety and nickelback, which will allow new

defensive coordinator Mike Elko to put the Aggies in the optimal alignment in any situation.

Derrick Tucker Sophomore, safety

• Tucker came on strong at the end of his freshman campaign. In the final three games, he recorded 36 tackles, a forced fumble, four pass breakups and an interception return for a touchdown, all against Power 5 opponents. The sophomore will look to build on that breakout stretch as he helps anchor the back end of the defense.

Kingsley Keke

Senior, defensive tackle

• Keke may not have had flashy sack numbers in 2017 (one), but the 6-4, 305-pounder recorded 54 tackles, second among linemen, and helped keep blockers off the linebackers. If A&M is going to make noticeable improvement defending the run, it’s going to start in the trenches, led by Keke.

— Jeff Perkins

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Tyrel Dodson led A&M with 105 tackles in 2017.

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Texas A&M defensive tackle Kingsley Keke was one of the three Aggie players featured at SEC Media Days in Atlanta in July.

AP photo

TEAM TOUGHNESS Keke says Aggie defense is responding well to changes

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com One of the first clues for senior defensive tackle Kingsley Keke that things were going to get tougher under new coach Jimbo Fisher came during a practice, when a fullback bulled his way straight at him.

“It coincides with [being more physical] because it’s a pro-style offense, a man-onman offense,” Keke said at the Southeastern Conference Media Days in Atlanta. “It’s a big

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difference, because Coach Fisher has his own style, a pro-style offense, compared to [Kevin] Sumlin, who had a wide-open offense. So a little different scheme.”

It’s a scheme Keke believes the players, to a man, have bought into, and just like a new wrinkle at practice, have adjusted to it well.

“It’s been since high school,” Keke said about practicing against a fullback. “It was weird at first, going through it a couple of days at practice. But after a while you get used to it because we see it every day. It’s just

a change, and it’s been good so far.”

Under Sumlin, the Aggies’ toughness was questioned, with those doing the asking using A&M’s record late in the season — a combined 5-10 record after October over his final three years — as proof.

Fisher and his staff are hoping to reverse those fortunes with an offense that keeps the defense off the field and an approach in which the Aggies are throwing at least as many punches late in the rounds as they are having to endure.

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

“[Toughness] is changing; it’s something we are really working on being great,” Keke said. “[Hearing about being soft] is not really a big issue; it’s how you react to it. That’s what is going to matter for us — how are we going to improve on being better together? And I think we are responding well. Having Coach Fisher, [defensive coordinator Mike] Elko and this staff is helping us a lot. Coach Fisher has been building a toughness and grit to help us keep it together, not just for a couple of days, but keeping that mentality throughout the whole season. We are changing things.”

Quite often a team’s toughness starts with the defensive line, and with Keke being a two-year starter and thought of highly enough to earn preseason All-SEC honors, he believes it begins with him.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Keke has shown he can hold his own in the physical SEC, piling up 82 tackles, 9.5 of which went for losses, over the past two seasons. He posted a high of eight tackles in the win at Florida last season and added six against one of the better running teams in LSU. Keke should get plenty of help along the defensive line. Landis Durham broke onto the scene last year with 10.5 sacks.

Senior tackle Daylon Mack has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career, but has been unable to find the consistency to be a star or even a starter.

“Going through workouts, Daylon has been doing really well,” Keke said.

“I think he’s in the best shape since he’s been here. Coaches are helping with his diet, and I think he will have a really good season.”

The Aggies have some holes to fill along the defensive line with the losses of tackle Zaycoven Henderson and ends Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson, all of whom were a big part of a rotation that was successful against offensive lines in the SEC. “A few guys I’ve been noticing working hard are Justin Madubuike, Jayden Peevy, Ondario Robinson, Tyree Johnson,” said Keke, who made special note of Madubuike’s combination of strength and speed. “The guys have been working hard in the offseason, and [strength] coach [ Jerry] Schmidt has done a great job with us.”

AP photos Texas A&M’s Kingsley Keke pressures Wake Forest’s John Wolford during the Belk Bowl in December. Below, Keke pursues Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta’amu in November.

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CRUNCHING

THE NUMBERS A look at notable statistics related to Texas A&M football

Nick Starkel passed for that whopping number in the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest on 42 completions. It was the highest yardage total in A&M bowl history, and second-highest overall, behind Kenny Hill’s 511 yards against South Carolina in 2014. Starkel also earned a .600 completion percentage on the year, which puts him fourth on A&M’s career list behind Johnny Manziel, Hill and Ryan Tannehill.

50 Jhamon Ausbon was the third true freshman in A&M history to reach the 50-reception mark in a season. Ausbon’s 12 receptions in the Belk Bowl put him in a tie for the fourth-most in a game.

Albert Connell holds the record with 18 in 1996.

.783 200+

Jimbo Fisher earned that lofty winning percentage in his eight years at Florida State. It is the fourth-best winning percentage among active head coaches, with a minimum of five years of experience, according to A&M Athletics.

Trayveon Williams had his second game of rushing for more than 200 yards in last year’s loss to UCLA. He is the fourth A&M running back to have more than one 200-yard game on the ground. The others: Bob Smith, Darren Lewis and Cyrus Gray.

628

Tight ends coach Tim Brewster was a standout player at that position in his college days. In 1983 at Illinois, Brewster had 59 receptions for 628 yards and two touchdowns. That is still the top yardage amount in a season by a tight end in Illinois history. He finished his college career with 111 receptions for 1,233 yards.

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Kicker Daniel LaCamera was responsible for 105 points in 2017, which is fourth all-time among A&M kickers in a season. He actually tied himself from 2016, when he also earned 105 points.

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Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie

EXPERT PREDICTIONS Writers share how they think the season will go for A&M SAM KHAN JR. ESPN.com

Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. Mississippi State; 4. Texas A&M; 5. LSU; 6. Ole Miss; 7. Arkansas Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2. South Carolina; 3. Florida; 4. Missouri; 5. Kentucky; 6. Tennessee; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 8-4 Summarize Texas A&M’s season: I think the Aggies will be a good — but not great — team this season. Transition to a new coaching staff — particularly when the contrast in offensive schemes old and new is significant — likely yields early growing pains, but as the season goes on, I think Texas A&M will get better. Few will expect the Aggies to beat Clemson or Alabama, but how they fare in the three-game conference road stretch in midseason (at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, at Auburn) will tell the tale of the season. If they come out of that stretch 2-1, that’s a good look. Might this be the year that the Aggies finally get over the hump vs. LSU? I think it could be.

Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? No. While I believe Chad Morris is a good coach and will eventually do well in Fayetteville, Fisher’s recruiting prowess will widen the talent gap between the two programs. If Jimbo can continue to recruit

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like he is now — and like he did during his time at Florida State — the Aggies will find themselves able to go toe-to-toe with the Tide before Arkansas can with the Aggies.

How does Mike Elko improve the defense? I think you’ll see similar improvements at A&M to what Elko pulled off at Notre Dame in his one year there. The biggest difference I think will be run defense. Elko’s Notre Dame squad allowed only nine rushing touchdowns in 2017 (tied with Alabama for seventh nationally) and the Aggies have been gradually developing and adding talent where it’s needed to improve in run defense (defensive tackle and linebacker). I think Elko will capitalize on that and help them get much better against the run, which will subsequently make a big difference for the unit as a whole.

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy?

Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? Or does he fall short of expectations? It’s impossible to predict. That said, my best guess is no, he won’t win a national championship at Texas A&M, but if he recruits at the level that he is right now — and again, the level he recruited at Florida State — I think he’ll get the Aggies closer than they’ve been in a long time. As long as Nick Saban is at Alabama, I think it’s just difficult to overcome them. In addition to recruiting at a top-five level nationally, he’ll have to find

a transcendent quarterback (a la Jameis Winston or Johnny Manziel) in my opinion, and those are just difficult to come by. That said, winning is about talent accumulation and he’s off to a great start stockpiling it. If he keeps that up, they’ll win some SEC West titles and perhaps a few SEC titles in his time, meaning A&M would likely be playoff bound.

What will Texas A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? Just some general fun. One thing Sumlin brought to the A&M football program in 2012 that wasn’t there prior to his arrival was a certain edge, a certain swagger.

Early in his A&M tenure the team looked like it was having a lot of fun playing football. Whether it was uniforms, adding Kanye West’s Power to the pregame team entrance, the water bottle locker room celebrations, there was always often something new, interesting, fun or different about the program. He showed that you can respect long-held traditions while also spicing it up a bit. Of course, when things went sideways, it wasn’t as much fun; losing never is.

Oh, and going for it on fourth-and-short on the plus side of the 50. That might be missed. Sumlin didn’t do it all the time, but Jimbo Fisher does it less often than any other coach in the country. So if you like going for it on fourth down, you might miss that occasionally.

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TONY BARNHART SEC Network

Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. Mississippi State; 4. Texas A&M; 5. LSU; 6. Ole Miss; 7. Arkansas Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2. South Carolina; 3. Florida; 4. Tennessee; 5. Kentucky; 6. Missouri; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 7-5 Summarize Texas A&M’s season: 4-4 in SEC with road losses at Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? No. How does Mike Elko improve the defense? With proven interior guys like Kingsley Keke. Elko will improve the defense against the run, which gave up a gaudy 4.58 yards per rush in conference games.

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy?

Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? Or does he fall short of expectations? In just a few years Texas A&M will be in the discussion as a contender to win the SEC West. Do that and the chances to make the playoffs will follow. I would anticipate that Fisher will have a chance at a national championship if he stays for more than five years. Aggie fans need to be patient.

You’re in the same division with the best coach in the history of the game. It’s going to take time.

What will Texas A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? Kevin Sumlin is a class act and represented that university well.

KIRK BOHLS Austin American-Statesman

Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. LSU; 4. Mississippi State; 5. Texas A&M; 6. Arkansas; 7. Ole Miss Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2.

Florida; 3. South Carolina; 4. Missouri; 5.

Tennessee; 6. Kentucky; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 8-4 Summarize Texas A&M’s season: A brutal, front-loaded schedule with Clemson and a road game at Alabama could reverse the pattern of slides in the second half of the season. The Aggies ought to find five easy wins in their other nonconference games as well as dates with Ole Miss and Kentucky. The Aggies have a lot of attractive parts, especially at running back, linebacker, tight end and pass rusher, but the quarterback position is unsettled and not yet dynamic, wideout Christian Kirk is a huge loss and the secondary is

yet to prove itself. Linebacker Otaro Alaka and defensive end Landis Durham are stars, as could be new tight end Jace Sternberger, but still too many holes for a spectacular season.

Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? Absolutely. The Razorbacks are due for a win over A&M, but no one can ever predict a win over the Crimson Tide.

How does Mike Elko improve the defense? He’s a proven tactician and a great motivator, so look for some stability on that side of the ball, which has been streaky.

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy?

Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? Or does he fall short of expectations? He’d better be R.C. Slocum times two, but I’m not sure he can live up to the expectations that come with a $75 million contract. He won’t win a national title, and he may win an SEC championship if Nick Saban ever retires. I think he’ll be a consistent winner and will contend for a CFP spot but fail to win the ultimate prize.

What will Texas A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? I’m thinking, I’m thinking. I guess the consistency of eight-win seasons and dominance of Arkansas.

Continued on Page 48

SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

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Continued from Page 47 DENNIS DODD CBS Sports

Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. Mississippi State; 4. LSU; 5. Texas A&M; 6. Ole Miss; 7. Arkansas Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2.

Florida; 3. South Carolina; 4. Kentucky; 5.

Missouri; 6. Tennessee; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 6-6 Summarize A&M’s season: This is clearly a transition year in perhaps college football’s toughest division, which typically feasts on transition years. There are better days ahead, Ags. Swallow hard and try to enjoy Jimbo’s first season.

Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? Yes. How does Mike Elko improve the defense? His Notre Dame unit was out-athleted at times. It’s all about the Jimmies and Joes, especially in the line. This is a line of scrimmage league and Elko just moved up to the toughest league.

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy?

Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? Jimbo’s legacy: For now, milking TAMU for the largest contract ever.

He’ll be expected to deliver at least one na-

tional championship. If not, I don’t know if he lasts 10 years.

What will A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? Consistency, which is the very reason he was fired.

SCOTT RABALAIS Baton Rouge Advocate

Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. Mississippi State; 4. Texas A&M; 5. LSU; 6. Ole Miss; 7. Arkansas Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2. South Carolina; 3. Florida; 4. Kentucky; 5. Missouri; 6. Tennessee; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 7-5 Summarize A&M’s season: Jimbo Fisher brings an excitement and a much-needed new energy to the Aggies, but talent-wise they are still behind the curve with a lot of teams.

A&M will struggle to find a signature win against the marquee teams on its schedule. The game at South Carolina will mean the difference between a winning or .500 SEC record or below.

Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? I will have to say Arkansas and Chad Morris close the gap with A&M before A&M closes the gap with Alabama.

How does Mike Elko improve the defense? From watching LSU play Notre Dame

in the Citrus Bowl, I thought Elko’s defense was very good at making adjustments as the game went on. ... And there was the goal-line stand with two minutes left that forced LSU to settle for a field goal. ... Certainly Aggie fans hope Elko can make A&M similarly tough against the run with the game on the line.

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy?

Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? I think Jimbo Fisher is a very good coach, but it’s worth remembering his best success at Florida State came with an exceptional talent at quarterback in Jameis Winston. What if he can’t bring that kind of generational (if troublesome) player to College Station? For all its wealth, Texas A&M has a long history of running with its shoes tied together. I think Jimbo finally brings the Aggies an SEC title, eventually, but eclipsing the Alabama monolith while also taking the measure of Auburn, LSU and perhaps Mississippi State on a regular basis will be a tall order.

What will A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? Probably very little, unless Sumlin is able to parlay a change of venue into a competitive Arizona team in the Pac-12 South faster than Jimbo can make the Aggies more competitive in the SEC West. Given the tough neighborhood A&M lives in, that’s a distinct possibility.

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Picking the SEC West: 1. Alabama; 2.

Auburn; 3. Texas A&M; 4. LSU; 5. Mississippi State; 6. Ole Miss; 7. Arkansas Picking the SEC East: 1. Georgia; 2.

South Carolina; 3. Florida; 4. Missouri; 5.

Tennessee; 6. Kentucky; 7. Vanderbilt Texas A&M’s regular-season record: 8-4 Summarize Texas A&M’s season: Jimbo Fisher’s players on offense have a ton to absorb in a short time, meaning a rugged September start against two of the nation’s top programs in Clemson and Alabama. The Aggies actually improve as the season wears on, however, and wrap up the regular season with a first as an SEC member: a victory against LSU. Does Arkansas beat Jimbo Fisher before he beats Alabama? Who came up with this question, an interrogator from Criminal Minds? My head is spinning. Yes, because the gap between A&M and Arkansas is tighter than the gap between A&M and Alabama.

How does Mike Elko improve the defense? He breathes. Only halfway kidding, considering former DC John Chavis was hamstrung by Kevin Sumlin’s country-club approach that left A&M’s players believing they were in, you know, a country club (and

fans feeling like they were watching ball at the “Y”).

What will be Jimbo Fisher’s A&M legacy? Will he win a national championship? An SEC title or two? Or does he fall short of expectations? He will win, and at least make the four-team College Football Playoff by his fourth season. Of course, I’ve

been wrong before. Way wrong. (See Franchione, Dennis.)

What will Texas A&M miss about Kevin Sumlin? Johnny Manziel. Kidding. That genial, personal touch with reporters, recruits and people in general. Kidding again. Perhaps the desert will help warm him up.

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SEC 2018 | The Eagle | AggieSports.com | MyAggieNation.com

PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM As voted by media members at SEC Media Days.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB: Drew Lock, Missouri RB: Damien Harris, Alabama; Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky WR: A.J. Brown, Ole Miss; Deebo Samuel, South Carolina TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama; Greg Little, Ole Miss; Martez Ivey, Florida; Trey Smith, Tennessee C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama DEFENSE DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama; Cece Jefferson, Florida; Montez Sweat, Mississippi State; Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State LB: Devin White, LSU; Anfernee Jennings, Alabama; Mack Wilson, Alabama DB: Deandre Baker, Georgia; Greedy Williams, LSU; J.R. Reed, Georgia; Deionte Thompson, Alabama SPECIALISTS P: Corey Fatony, Missouri PK: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia Returner: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina All-purpose: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB: Jarrett Stidham, Auburn RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia; Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M WR: Terry Godwin, Georgia; Ryan Davis, Auburn TE: Isaac Nauta, Georgia OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia; Lester Cotton, Alabama; Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas; Garrett Brumfield, LSU C: Lamont Gaillard, Georgia DEFENSE DL: Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia; Terry Beckner, Missouri; Derrick Brown, Auburn; Isaiah Buggs, Alabama LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky; Deshaun Davis, Auburn; D’Andre Walker, Georgia DB: Mike Edwards, Kentucky; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida; Jamel Dean, Auburn; CJ Henderson, Florida SPECIALISTS P: Joseph Charlton, South Carolina PK: Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M Returner: Mecole Hardman, Georgia

AP photo South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, top, who is returning from a leg injury, made the preseason AllSEC first team in three categories.

All-purpose: Trevon Diggs, Alabama THIRD TEAM OFFENSE QB: Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State; Jake Fromm, Georgia RB: Aeris Williams, Mississippi State; Jordan Scarlett, Florida WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama; Emanuel Hall, Missouri TE: C.J. Conrad, Kentucky OL: Matt Womack, Alabama; Zack Bailey, South Carolina; Javon Patterson, Ole Miss; Marquel Harrell, Auburn C: Erik McCoy, Texas A&M

DEFENSE DL: Dontavius Russell, Auburn; Rashard Lawrence, LSU; Marlon Davidson, Auburn; Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M; Landis Durham, Texas A&M LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama; David Reese, Florida; De’Jon Harris, Arkansas DB: Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State; Marco Wilson, Florida; Javaris Davis, Auburn; Santos Ramirez, Arkansas SPECIALISTS P: Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU PK: Tucker McCann, Missouri Returner: Trevon Diggs, Alabama All-purpose: Kadarius Toney, Florida

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names of the game This year’s crop of fun, odd and interesting monikers

By ROB CLARK rob.clark@theeagle.com Of all the names on SEC rosters this year, one fits better than the rest. The LSU Tigers have a wide receiver named Tiger Scheyd.

That would be like Arkansas having a lineman named Porky McSwine, or South Carolina having a kicker named Rooster Von Neck Wattle.

There is always an abundance of fun and interesting names in football, along with lots of connections. On the Texas A&M roster, there’s a nice similarity on defense: Kingsley Keke and Ikenna Okeke. Alabama coach Nick Saban will need to get specific when calling out one among this trio: Xavier McKinney, Xavier Williams and Xavian Marks.

Dan Mullen at Florida can top that, with defensive back David Reese and linebacker David Reese.

On the pop-culture front, fans of ’80s and ’90s R&B will be pleased to know Bobby Brown is at A&M. One of Brown’s big hits was called Roni, and coincidentally, there’s Roney Elam on the Aggie roster. Fans of rap star Drake will perk their ears up plenty this year, with Drake Beck (Ole Miss), Trae Drake (Alabama), Drake Jackson (Kentucky) and Drake Davis (LSU).

Names that relate to religion are always popular. Some of this year’s offerings include Jesus Gibbs (South Carolina), Messiah Swinson (Missouri), Noah Gatlin (Arkansas), Moses Gordon (Florida), Max Worship (Vanderbilt) and Michael Divinity Jr. (LSU).

Until the next royal wedding gets us all worked up, there’s Griffin King (Auburn), Patrick Queen (LSU) and a trio of princes: Deneric Prince (A&M), Prince Micheal Sammons and Prince Tega Wanogho (both from Auburn).

For more Euro-talk, try Austrian Robin-

son (Ole Miss), Londyn Craft (Mississippi State), Madre London (Tennessee) and Ed Paris (LSU).

As the All-Name Team rules state, players are only eligible for one year. So we bid a fond farewell to last year’s entries: Tommy Champion (Mississippi State), Sincere David (Ole Miss), Justice Bean (Texas A&M), Racey McMath (LSU), Naquez Pringle (Kentucky), Princeton Fant (Tennessee), Clifton Escort III (LSU), Kody Schexnayder (Mississippi State), Nigel Knott (Alabama), Brayden Berezowitz (Kentucky), Montana Murphy (Alabama), Wyman Baxley (South Carolina), D.D. Bowie (Ole Miss), Kordell Looney (Kentucky), Montez Sweat (Mississippi State), Britto Tutt (Arkansas), Pace Ozmint (Auburn), Edwitch Merisier (Florida), Thaddeus Moss (LSU) and Cheyenne Labruzza (Tennessee).

Check out this year’s top 20 names on the next page.

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1 Auburn Greedy Williams 2 LSU Bumper Pool 3 Arkansas SEC Fabien Lovett 4 ALL-NAME Mississippi State Big Kat Bryant Auburn 5 TEAM Rutger Reitmaier Here are our 20 6 Vanderbilt selections for this year’s Jake VanRonzelen team. All are shown 7 Ole Miss just as they are listed in the teams’ media Rip Kirk guides or official 8 Mississippi State websites.

Riley Ridley 9 Georgia Micah Baskerville 10 LSU Smoke Monday

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mix tape

AP photos

“Weird Al” Yankovic (left), Busta Rhymes and Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Songs in the key of the SEC

By ROB CLARK rob.clark@theeagle.com There are good vibes in Aggieland, question marks in Austin and a crowded trophy case in Tuscaloosa. Here’s a playlist of songs that relate to A&M, an old rival and the SEC. Jimbo Fisher You’ve Got a Friend in Jimbo by The Reverend Horton Heat (2002): We start with perhaps the perfect song for what many Aggies believe to be the perfect coaching hire.

The good reverend paints a portrait of the kind of friend everyone needs.

Lyrics: “You’ve got a friend in Jimbo / You’ve got a friend in him / The biblical name for him is James / The nickname for James is Jim / The nickname for Jim is Jimbo / What very, very special things he’ll do / Yeah, you’ve got a friend in Jimbo / If he’s got a friend in you.”

Aggie fans Getting Better by The Beatles (1967): Flash back, if you can allow yourself, to the UCLA nightmare last September, when the Aggies blew a 44-10 lead in the third quarter and lost 45-44. There were plenty of fans who were “mad at my school” or “hiding me head in the sand.” And now?

Lyrics: “I’ve got to admit it’s getting better / A little better all the time (it can’t get no worse) / I have to admit it’s getting better / It’s getting better / Since you’ve been mine.”

Florida State fans I Am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel (1965): It’s not cool to mock Seminole supporters who felt abandoned by Fisher’s departure in December. Possible exception: those fans

54

and pundits who puffed out their chests and scoffed at the notion that Fisher would even consider a move to Aggieland. Ridiculous!

Ludicrous! Preposterous! And here we are!

Lyrics: “I’ve built walls / A fortress deep and mighty / That none may penetrate / I have no need of friendship / Friendship causes pain / It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain / I am a rock / I am an island / ... And a rock feels no pain / And an island never cries.”

Ed Orgeron Smells Like Nirvana by “Weird Al” Yankovic (1992): The LSU coach’s thick drawl — and “thick” may be a massive understatement — often turns his public addresses into audible adventures. (USA Today once ran this headline: “LSU coach Ed Orgeron gives perfect pregame speech and we can’t understand a word of it.”) It calls to mind The Kingsmen’s misinterpreted Louie Louie, and Weird Al’s marbles-in-my-mouth spoof of Nirvana.

Lyrics: “Now I’m mumblin’ and I’m screamin’ / And I don’t know what I’m singin’ / Crank the volume, ears are bleedin’ / I still don’t know what I’m singin’ / We’re so loud and incoherent / Boy this oughta bug your parents.”

Nick Saban Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check by Busta Rhymes (1996): If coaches had walk-up music like in baseball and wrestling, this would be fantastic — and unexpected — accompaniment for Saban. The Alabama coach, fresh off his sixth national championship, has a resume that is worthy of Busta’s boasts.

Lyrics: “Wake up every morning, yo I must succeed / Nationwide ruckus make the world stampede / … When I step up in the place ay-yo I step correct / Woo-hah! I got you all in

check / ... Throw your hands up in the air and never disrespect / Woo-hah! I got you all in check.”

Kevin Sumlin Furnace Fan by Robert Earl Keen (2003): Good luck to coach Sumlin in his new gig at Arizona. Despite the fact that things didn’t work out here, we’ll always have 2012. But Sumlin has gone from one hot seat to another — the scorch of the Aggieland microscope to the extreme temperature of every possible seat in Tucson. (It hit 112 there in July.)

Lyrics: “I understand why lizards live in sunny Arizona / Why people do and call it home I’ll never understand / It’s hotter than a furnace fan out in Arizona / 110 ain’t nothing when you live out there you see.”

Tom Herman Somebody to Love by Queen (1976): It was one of the more puzzling moments of the summer: At Big 12 Media Days, the Texas coach was asked how many “elite players” are on the roster who can be “difference makers” and win championships. Herman sat there for a full 10 seconds, which seemed like an hour, before finally starting an odd shrug of an answer: “Some.” Despite all the Herman Hype in Austin, the man needs some more. Can somebody, anybody help coach Herman?!?

Lyrics: “I work hard every day of my life / I work ‘til I ache my bones / At the end (at the end of the day) / I take home my hard-earned pay all on my own / I get down on my knees and I start to pray / ’Til the tears run down from my eyes / Lord, somebody, ooh somebody / Can anybody find me somebody to love?”

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