SEC and college football powerhouses Alabama and LSU both saw their starting quarterbacks move onto the NFL during the 2014 NFL Draft leaving us with no doubt what the two biggest talking points have and will continue to be over the coming months.
Let’s take a look at the major position battles are in the SEC this off-season.
Alabama: Quarterback, senior Blake Sims Vs. RS junior Jacob Coker, sophomore Alec Morris Vs. RS freshman Cooper Bateman Vs. RS freshman Parker McLeod Vs. freshman David Cornwell.
Talk about a crowded battle. Sims is the obvious choice here with plenty of experience and a great showing in Alabama’s spring game (24-39, 288 yards, 2TD). However, Coker, who is transferring from Florida State after losing the quarterback position battle to Jameis Winston last fall, could make a case after working in a similar system already. Cornwell is highly-touted four-star recruit who looks the part and could secure the job for years if he wins. Ultimately, Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin have a good problem on their hands.
LSU: Quarterback, sophomore Anthony Jennings Vs. Freshman Brandon Harris.
Zach Mettenberger graduated and moved onto the NFL leaving two youngsters in charge of LSU’s future. Jennings has the edge in experience but Harris looked mightily impressive in spring practice. The sophomore threw two pick-six’s and was sacked four times during the LSU spring game while Harris threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns as well as rushing 75 yards for another.
Auburn: Left tackle, sophomore Shon Coleman Vs. junior Patrick Miller.
Second-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft Greg Robinson was a name you had never heard of at this point last year, but his meteoritic rise towards the NFL means there is a big hole to fill on the Tigers’ offensive line. Coleman and Miller split reps over the spring and, despite both looking good, neither made the position their own. Miller has 14 starts at right tackle over the past two seasons and has the advantage to claiming the position that is all the more important with Nick Marshall still studying the art of playing quarterback.
Texas A&M: Quarterback, sophomore Kenny Hill Vs. freshman Kyle Allen.
With Johnny Manziel now onto bigger and better things, Kevin Sumlin has the unenviable task of replacing the polarizing quarterback. What was a three-way battle is now down to two after Matt Joeckel transferred to TCU. Hill is similar to Manziel and likes to play mobile and a little loose while early enrolee Allen is quite the opposite and brings a pro-style skill set with his 6’4” frame and five-star reputation.
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