Five Must Know Observations

by Chris Paschal

We are one month into the SEC Football Season. Here are five things that have caught my eye.

1. Kentucky Gets It

We are now in the age of instant satisfaction. The social media era. “Make me happy right this very second or I am through with you” – said in teenage girl voice. This mindset has found its way into college football. Kentucky didn’t give into that mindset. After three years with Mark Stoops at the helm, Kentucky had gone 12-24. In each of the next two season, Kentucky finished a mediocre 7-6 in a bad SEC East. Through it all, the Wildcats have stuck with him. They let him build his roster, his program, his culture. Now, the Cats are 5-0 heading into College Station. I thought they would be 2-3. This team plays like their head coach – tough, in-your-face, and physical. This defensive line has played much better than I thought they would, the defensive backs are physical, and the linebackers play with their hair on fire. And then of course there is Benny Snell, Asim Rose, and Terry Wilson, all three of which pose a threat in the running game behind a big offensive line. Lynn Bowden makes some plays, CJ Conrad is a stud at tight end. They ain’t beating Georgia, but this is the second best team in the East.

Rumbling, stumbling, thumping. Snell is an elite back. Image from Kentucky Athletics.

2. Ed Orgeron Is So Crazy… He Might Just Work Out

Think about the SEC West for a second. There is Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher, Gus Malzhan… and then there is Ed Orgeron. The other three have won National Championships and SEC Championships. They are intense, well-known, top-10-coaches-in-the-game-today personalities. Meanwhile, there is this crazy Cajun guy down in Baton Rouge who you can’t understand and who looks a couple of days unshaven away from being a Shrimp Boat Captain. And it is kind of working. The Tigers are 5-0, top 5 in the country with wins over Auburn and Miami, and it looks like they have found their identity. They have a quarterback who competes hard and gives them balance, they have a defense that flies around and makes plays, and they are recruiting at a high level. This schedule is about to get cranked up, but even if LSU finishes down the stretch around .500, I think Orgeron has cemented himself in Baton Rouge for a while. And I think we are just beginning to see what those teams will look like.

LSU’s defense is abusing offenses. Image from NBC.

3. Florida’s Defense is Starting to Heat Up 

I said in the season preview that if “Dan Mullen can put a little shot into this offense, this defense is good enough to compete in the SEC.” This defense is pretty dang good. Cece Jefferson is starting to come on after being sidelined by injury to start the season, Polite, Zuniga, Stewart, Reese, Joseph, Henderson, Stiner, Edwards, Ancrum, and Garnder are all playing at a high level, and this defense is forcing turnovers and getting sacks. They will have a big test this weekend when the 5-0 LSU Tigers come to Gainseville, but I think this defense will be ready for them. If this offense can just get going…

Tedarrell Slaton may not show up on the stat sheet. But he is a force inside. Image from Florida Athletics

4. Pruitt and Fisher Are the Answers

First, Jimbo Fisher. He got in a little heat over the way he grabbed Tyrel Dodson. Was it right of him to do that? Probably not. But does it matter? Not at all. Texas A&M has not had the intestinal fortitude to finish seasons (sometimes games) in the recent past. Fisher isn’t going to let that happen. He is the epitome of an uncompromising football coach. It’s either his way or you’re off the team. He will not let these boys ease up for a single second, something this program needed. Currently, the Aggies have the second best 2019 recruiting class in the entire country. He is establishing expectations and laying the groundwork for this program… with Sumlin’s guys. Once he gets his players, this will be a good football program.

Jimbo fits in well with Texas A&M. Image from 247 Sports.

Second, Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt got some chuckles from opposing fanbases when he got emotional over the heart and toughness of his team during a 38-12 loss to Georgia. I say get your laughs in now. It’s funny, the Vols are now 0-2 in the SEC with both losses by a significant margin, and I am actually more optimistic for Tennessee Football than I was before those two losses. This is not a good football team. I don’t know if Butch Jones didn’t have a weight trainer or if he was slowly poisoning his players, but a lot of these guys did not develop into SEC starters. Pruitt, like Jimbo, came in and made this a tougher football program. Tennessee gave great effort against Georgia. I literally watched the entire thing. They could’ve rolled over and they didn’t. Plus, Pruitt is recruiting at a high level. Pulling the top-ranked offensive tackle prospect out of Georgia’s backyard shows people are buying what he is selling. Tennessee needs to take a page out of Kentucky’s Book. Let Pruitt build this thing. Give him 5-6 years. Be patient.

Jeremy Pruitt is building a tougher program. Image from Tennessee Athletics.

5. Speaking of Patience… South Carolina Fans. Chill. 

Shocker, South Carolina is not in the same conversation as Georgia and Alabama. Why would they be? Those are programs that have had years and years and years of high-level recruiting. Those are programs that have established a culture that wins football games. I get it stinks to lose to Kentucky five straight years. It does. But you have to be in this thing for the long haul. Each recruiting class Muschamp pulls in is stronger and better. Plus, he is still trying to get his staff perfect. Wait until Ryan Hilinski gets his shot.

Ryan Hilinski is currently rated the top quarterback prospect in the 2019 Recruiting Class, according to ESPN. Image From SEC Country.

Wait until Dakereon Joyner gets his shot. Wait until Belk, Sandidge, and Pickens get their shot. You can already see the difference in mentality from the younger guys vs. the older guys. The older guys have done great things for South Carolina’s program. They came when South Carolina looked dead in the water. But their ceilings are 7-9 wins. Shi Smith is a sophomore and is a baller. Jaycee Horn might be the best defensive player for the Gamecocks and is a true freshman. The more South Carolina has players that come in that were also heavily recruited by Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and Florida, the more South Carolina will have players that think they can play with the tougher opponents on the schedule. Be patient. I thought this team would be better this season, too, but I also circled 2020 as the year that South Carolina will know what kind of program they have. Give Muschamp time. Three years is not enough for a historically inept football program to be in the conversation for SEC Titles.