Spring Game Questions (April 6th Edition)

by Chris Paschal

This Saturday, April 6th, four SEC programs (as well as Clemson) will have their annual Spring Games. These games come at the conclusion of spring practices. It is a time to show fans how the roster has progressed over the long winter. I’ll breakdown what I need to see from each SEC program (LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and South Carolina) and Clemson this weekend for me to deem this Spring a success.

LSU – SEC Network (2 PM Eastern)

The Tigers had one of the toughest schedules in the country last season and finished an impressive 10-3. While a lot of talent rolled off the roster this is not something LSU is new to. This team still has one of the faster, more talented rosters in the country.

Cool-headed Joe Burrow returns as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, a luxury LSU rarely has had since the days of Zach Mettenberger. Burrow finished 2018 with a dynomite performance in LSU’s bowl win. The Tigers also return one of the better receiving corps in the SEC. Plus they add five-star running back signee, John Emery Jr. this summer, and we know the defense will be fast with Chaisson returning at the edge, Marcel Brooks and Derek Stingly signed in the 2019 class, and most of the defense returning.

Offensive Line

All that said, I need to see improvement along the offensive line. LSU had a downright pitiful offensive line at times last season, and that needs to change if LSU has any shot at entering the Alabama game undefeated.

This 2019 schedule has road visits to Texas and Mississippi State, and home contests against Auburn and Florida before the Tigers face the Crimson Tide. There is a lot of experience returning for LSU this season. I need some nastiness up front in this year’s Spring Game for me to be confident that the Tigers have a shot of sneaking into the College Football Playoff. I am excited to see how tackle Saahdiq Charles (6-5, 330) and guard Damien Lewis (6-3, 320) perform. Both flashed a lot of strength and athleticism last year. Now they need consistency.

Arkansas – ESPNU (4 PM – Eastern)

The Hogs are coming off possibly their worst season in the history of their proud program. That being said, it’s not time to panic for Arkansas fans. Head coach Chad Morris pulled in a pretty dang good 2019 recruiting class, and is starting strong on 2020’s. When you lose ten games, it’s hard to put the blame on one position.

Quarterback

However, I am excited to see how quarterback Connor Noland plays. Noland, an Arkansas native, returns as the only quarterback with some meaningful snaps under his belt. If he opens things up and plays well this Spring, I think this offense takes a positive step heading into Fall camp.

That being said, if things don’t go well, don’t be surprised if SMU-transfer, Ben Hicks gets a look. Hicks played for Morris a couple of years ago at SMU, and he put up some serious stats.

Further, this summer, true freshman quarterback KJ Jefferson will enroll and the dude can play. Jefferson was considered one of the best (and most under-appreciated) dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2019 class. The job is Noland’s to lose… until it’s not.

Ole Miss – SEC Network (4 PM – Eastern)

What in the world will this offense look like? That’s what I need to know before I deem this Spring a success. Think about who all Ole Miss is losing from last year’s offense.

Gone is starting quarterback Jordan Ta’amu who was one of the more underrated passers this league had to offer. Also gone are wide receivers AJ Brown, DaMarkus Lodge, and DK Metcalf. Throw on top of that some inexperienced offensive linemen, and a new offensive coordinator in Rich Rodriguez and I have a lot of questions. Scottie Phillips isn’t going to be able to rush the ball forty times.

I am really interested to see how new quarterback, Matt Corral, will perform with all these question marks around him. Rodriguez has the reputation, and he has a thousand yard back at his disposal… what he does with the rest of the pieces is the million dollar question.

South Carolina – SEC Network (Noon – Eastern)

Most of the defensive line is back. The offensive line is talented. The offensive skill positions are savvy veterans. The defensive secondary is probably the most athletic and long it has been in Columbia since 2013. Quarterback returns Jake Bentley, athletic, dual-threat options in Jay Urich and Dakereon Joyner, and one of the top 2019 quarterback prospects in true freshman Ryan Hilinski. What’s that leave?

Rushing Game

The rushing attack on offense and the rush defense on defense. I am interested in seeing is how the South Carolina running backs and linebackers perform. Specifically, I am interested to see Deshaun Fenwick at running back and Derek Boykins at linebacker.

Fenwick returns as a redshirt freshman who only played in two games last season. But in the two games he played in, he played well, including rushing for over 100 yards in the second half of his first ever contest. Fenwick has great size (6-1, 225) and has been getting a ton of snaps – AJ Turner is splitting time at defensive back and Rico Dowdle nursing a groin injury. I want to see Fenwick play with urgency and poise in his second ever spring game.

At linebacker, Derek Boykins (6-1, 225) really excites me. Watching his film, he looks like an SEC linebacker. He is fast, instinctive, and likes to play physical. Boykins has been getting a ton of reps at middle linebacker, but I think he has the athleticism to play all three linebacker positions. If Boykins can step up at linebacker and help a group that struggled last year, South Carolina’s rush defense should improve, as well.

Clemson – ESPN 2 (2:30 – Eastern)

The amount of talent the reigning National Champions return on offense is absolutely absurd. I repeat… absurd. And while there is a lot of talent returning on the defensive side of the ball, it’s a lot of young talent.

KJ Henry, Clemson’s edge rushing stud from the 2018 recruiting cycle, redshirted last season. He probably would have started at most ACC (heck, SEC) programs last season. Henry is long, fast, and athletic. I’m excited to see how he performs, as well as how defensive linemenTyler Davis, Xavier Thomas and the host of other young, former blue-chip prospects that Clemson has on their roster perform on Saturday.

If this defense can flash its talent against possibly the best offense in college football, it could be a long season for ACC foes this upcoming Fall. And with a plethora of young, 2020 recruits on campus for the premier Spring Game in the South, the rich could get richer.