Spring Practice News

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A number of schools are already into their spring drills with many others ready to start
in the next few weeks. Each school gets 15 practices, 8 of them in pads. If you have
any SP news...please share it here.

*Tremendous interest in the quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa. It will be interesting to
see how Saban and staff handle this situation. Who comes out the leader?

*Nebraska's spring game is already sold out. Interest high in Scott Frost's first SP.

*Another key quarterback battle at Ohio State this spring.

*A lot of eyes on Oregon's SP as new coach Mario Cristobal takes over. Cristobal is the
Ducks third HC in as many years.

*Clemson is locked and loaded at most positions but this spring's QB will be something
to watch. Last year's starter versus two young 5 star studs.

*Important spring for LSU's Ed Orgeron. New offensive coordinator trying to find a QB
and get the offense on track.

*Michigan State has 20 starters returning. The question is how many will lose their
starting roles during spring drills.

*Jimbo Fisher will be installing a new offense at Texas A&M. Who will be the quarterback
to direct it?

Welcome any news that might be of interest to the forum........................
 

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SEC Spring Practice Schedules

EAST

Florida: Practice, March 16. Game, April 14
Georgia: Practice, March 20. Game, April 21
Kentucky: Practice, March 5. Game, April 13
Missouri: Practice, March 6. Game, April 14
S. Carolina: Practice, March 6. Game, April 14
Tennessee: Practice, March 20. Game, April 21
Vanderbilt: Practice, February 26. Game, March 25

WEST

Alabama: March 20. April 21
Arkansas: March 1. April 7
Auburn: March 1. April 7
LSU: March 11. April 21
Miss St.: February 27. April 7
Texas AM: March 19. April 14
Ole Miss: February 27. April 7
 

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Michigan: Shea Patterson's transfer request to become eligible immediately at Michigan
is at a "standstill" according to his lawyer. Patterson requested transfer waivers after Ole
Miss was hit with NCAA sanctions on December 1, 2017. Michigan is anxious for a resolution
as spring practice starts March 23. Patterson is a difference maker and quarterback help
is needed for a loaded Wolverine team.

Patterson was one of six players who choose to transfer after Ole Miss was put on probation.
 

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Michigan: Shea Patterson's transfer request to become eligible immediately at Michigan
is at a "standstill" according to his lawyer. Patterson requested transfer waivers after Ole
Miss was hit with NCAA sanctions on December 1, 2017. Michigan is anxious for a resolution
as spring practice starts March 23. Patterson is a difference maker and quarterback help
is needed for a loaded Wolverine team.

Patterson was one of six players who choose to transfer after Ole Miss was put on probation.

UF is also waiting on Ole Miss WR transfer Van Jefferson's determination.
 

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GEORGIA will open spring practice next week looking for some linebackers. The Dawgs lose
Roguan Smith, Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy and Reggie Carter. Smith was All-SEC and All
American. Carter was an All SEC selection. Key losses to say the least. Spring practice will
be key to finding the right players for the right LB spots.
 

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UF opened yesterday w/ Franks taking 1st team snaps....Kyle Trask taking 2nd team.....and EJ Jones and Jake Allen sharing 3rd team. Yesterday and today are open to the public.
 

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Yesterday and today are open to the public.

Opening practices to the public - what a novel idea. Completely unheard of this day and age.

Malzahn is so damn paranoid he only lets the press in for a few minutes a few times a week before kicking them out. And on donor weekend he waters the practice down so much it isn't worth attending anymore.

Nice to see Mullen is taking a different approach. After all, building goodwill with the fan base is never a bad idea.
 

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Alabama opens spring drills tomorrow (20th) with a lot of public interest in the quarterback situation.
For the coaches, spring workouts will be about finding players for a secondary who lost six players
who played the majority of time last year. This will be a very inexperienced secondary the coaches
have to deal with. Plenty of talent but also lots of inexperience.

Another area of importance is finding a new punter and kicker. Freshman Skyler Delong will be given
every opportunity to win the punting job. Grad transfer Auston Jones (Temple) and Joseph Bulovas who
was the top kicker in the 2017 class according to Rivals will battle for the kicking positions.

It will be an exciting ST for the tide.
 

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Opening practices to the public - what a novel idea. Completely unheard of this day and age.

Malzahn is so damn paranoid he only lets the press in for a few minutes a few times a week before kicking them out. And on donor weekend he waters the practice down so much it isn't worth attending anymore.

Nice to see Mullen is taking a different approach. After all, building goodwill with the fan base is never a bad idea.

I can see not opening all practices, I get it - they want some 'private' interaction. But the paranoid reasons are such BS. I think it's a boost for the players and it's positive for the fans.

In this day and age, many coaches and admin's forget what they are in it for and why they make the big bucks: demand (from the fans). If the fans didn't exist, they wouldn't make what they're making. If it was up to most coaches, they'd play games in the Indoor Practice Facility w/ just the coaches and training staffs on hand!

UF announced they're opening one more practice, this coming Saturday. So that'll be 3 open practices, plus the Spring Game....plus they are doing one day for UF staff/employees/teachers, etc.

It's a good PR move after 7 years of Muschamp and McElwain completely tarnishing the Gator "brand". It's definitely a damaged brand, so getting in the good graces of the fans can't hurt.
 

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Other news out of Gainesville: UF hosted about 10 recruits over the weekend, including the #1 overall recruit (LB out of California) and the #6 overall recruit, RB Trey Sanders from IMG Academy. Interestingly, UF took a commitment from a 2018 JUCO LB - Umstead Sanders (Trey Sanders older brother). He's a 6'2 240lb LB prospect who will enroll in the summer. Was this a 'package deal'? The kid wasn't highly recruited, it seemed Texas A&M was interested. He had a lot of offers to smaller/FCS schools. If anything, he could be a ST's body.
 

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Grad transfer QB Gardner Minshew announced he will not be attending Alabama but rather
will transfer to Washington State where he can compete for the starters job.

After losing Minshew, QB Tua Tagovailoa injured his thumb in the first practice and was taken
to Birmingham for further evaluation. How long he will be sidelined remains to be seen. This
leaves the team with just two scholarship quarterbacks for spring drills.
 

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injuries highlighting the Bama camp. Tua, Lewis, Jacobs, Jennings, Womack, Randolph, and Anderson all out now ....

big kid #18 seen tossing the ball around yesterday. all i know is his last name is Howard and he's a walk-on
 

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Alabama: The Tide held their third practice of the spring Saturday in shells and
shorts. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was back at practice after fracturing his index
finger on his throwing hand earlier in the week.

Florida: Redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks continues to look like the front runner
at quarterback, though fellow RS sophomore Kyle Trask has had some good moments
this spring and rotated with the first team offense during Saturday's practice. Highly
touted four-star recruit Emory Jones has looked somewhat erratic throwing the ball
so far this spring.

Auburn: Gus Malzahn wasn't very happy with his offense after a turnover filled first
spring scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday. One of the few bright spots during
the scrimmage was RS freshman JaTarvious Whitlow. Whitlow is one of five scholarship
running backs vying for the starting job this season. He broke one 70 yard TD run.

Tennessee: Coach Jeremy Pruitt was very pleased with the Vols third practice Saturday
on a cold, rainy day. Pruitt stated he saw a bunch of guys who are hungry and maybe
a chip on their shoulder. So far, the new coach has been impressed with the attitude and
energy of his players.
 

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Bama bringing in a JUCO DL who will never play but need him just to boost the numbers since we're down 4 on the DLine. He has 3 years to play 2, Tevita Musika. He clocked in a 6'2", 340 when he was onsite so has a lot of work to do
 

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Florida-Atlantic: At the end of practice Tuesday, Lane Kiffin had his starting offense switch to defense
and his starting defense move to offense. He put the ball on the five yard line giving the offense five
plays to score. All-Conference safety Jalen Young played quarterback and scored on the final two plays.
The team went wild pulling for their respective teams. Good for Kiffin trying to put some fun in practice.

Ohio State: Urban Meyer said recently he is more worried about the center position than he is about
quarterback. Meyer said he thought the quarterback position would be fine but he didn't know who was
going to take the center job. Some uncertainly at that spot.

Clemson: The Tigers may just have the best young quarterbacks in the country. Kelly Bryant started last
year and is expected to be the starter week one of this season but he is being pushed by Hunter Johnson
and five-star early enrollee Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence who was recruited out of Georgia has really turned
some heads. Head coach Dabo Swinney said Lawrence has great poise, confidence, awareness, is a quick
learner with a great arm. Pretty stout praise from the head man. The quarterback situation will be interesting
to watch as the season progresses.
 

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Thanks for posting.... great read my friend :toast:
 

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Auburn has had two WR's tear ACL's this spring. One, true soph Eli Stove, is a rising star. These kids may not be back in time for fall camp.
 

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Auburn has had two WR's tear ACL's this spring. One, true soph Eli Stove, is a rising star. These kids may not be back in time for fall camp.

Coach, spring practice has been a disaster from an injury standpoint for AU. Malzahn said it is a possibility Stove returns by the start or at some point during the 2018 season. I guess anything is possible but normally it takes 9 months or more before returning from this type of injury. Stove did a nice job last season, especially running the jet sweep, so his contributions will definitely be missed.

Will Hastings is the other injured receiver. Hastings injury is more severe and he is not expected to return before 2019. In my opinion, this is a much bigger loss for AU. Hastings averaged over 20 yards per reception last year and has an uncanny ability to get open. There is also very limited depth behind Hastings.

AU also lost Nick Brahms (broken leg) for the season. Going into spring one of the biggest questions needing answered was the center position. Brahms probably wouldn't have won the starting job but his injury has really limited the possibilities. What was a three man competition (Brahms, Brown, Kim) is now pretty much a one man competition with Brown missing numerous practices with injuries and Brahms now gone for the season. Kim will no doubt end spring as the number one, but I believe next fall AU will move Horton from guard to center.

Other springs news - the offensive line continues to be a work in process. Although a train wreck waiting to happen might describe it better. Left tackle and both guard positions are pretty much locked down (if Horton remains at guard). The center position doesn't need more discussion - doesn't matter who ends up starting, it will be a major weakness. Right tackle continues to be a huge question mark. Most people expected Ashley to take command of the position this spring, but the exact opposite has been the case. Troxell is now working with the ones and Ashley is treading water. Troxell doesn't have Ashley's God given ability but the kid is tough as nails. It probably doesn't matter who ends up starting, both will be in over their heads against almost anyone they go up against.

Running back was the other big question mark going into spring. Up to now nothing positive has occurred. Asa Martin is by far the most talented but it is highly unlikely Malzahn goes with a true freshman to start the season. Whitlow continues to be impressive but he is extremely inconsistent. None of the backs can pass protect a bit. Best guess at this point, Kam Martin starts the season with Asa Martin gaining more and more playing time as the season progresses.

On a positive note - there will not be many better defensive fronts in the country and the linebackers/buck have performed very nicely all spring. The corners are decent - not great. The biggest weakness will be at safety. If the corners and safeties hold up, AU's D will be nasty. It will have to be with so many question marks on the O side.
 

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Coach, spring practice has been a disaster from an injury standpoint for AU. Malzahn said it is a possibility Stove returns by the start or at some point during the 2018 season. I guess anything is possible but normally it takes 9 months or more before returning from this type of injury. Stove did a nice job last season, especially running the jet sweep, so his contributions will definitely be missed.

Will Hastings is the other injured receiver. Hastings injury is more severe and he is not expected to return before 2019. In my opinion, this is a much bigger loss for AU. Hastings averaged over 20 yards per reception last year and has an uncanny ability to get open. There is also very limited depth behind Hastings.

AU also lost Nick Brahms (broken leg) for the season. Going into spring one of the biggest questions needing answered was the center position. Brahms probably wouldn't have won the starting job but his injury has really limited the possibilities. What was a three man competition (Brahms, Brown, Kim) is now pretty much a one man competition with Brown missing numerous practices with injuries and Brahms now gone for the season. Kim will no doubt end spring as the number one, but I believe next fall AU will move Horton from guard to center.

Other springs news - the offensive line continues to be a work in process. Although a train wreck waiting to happen might describe it better. Left tackle and both guard positions are pretty much locked down (if Horton remains at guard). The center position doesn't need more discussion - doesn't matter who ends up starting, it will be a major weakness. Right tackle continues to be a huge question mark. Most people expected Ashley to take command of the position this spring, but the exact opposite has been the case. Troxell is now working with the ones and Ashley is treading water. Troxell doesn't have Ashley's God given ability but the kid is tough as nails. It probably doesn't matter who ends up starting, both will be in over their heads against almost anyone they go up against.

Running back was the other big question mark going into spring. Up to now nothing positive has occurred. Asa Martin is by far the most talented but it is highly unlikely Malzahn goes with a true freshman to start the season. Whitlow continues to be impressive but he is extremely inconsistent. None of the backs can pass protect a bit. Best guess at this point, Kam Martin starts the season with Asa Martin gaining more and more playing time as the season progresses.

On a positive note - there will not be many better defensive fronts in the country and the linebackers/buck have performed very nicely all spring. The corners are decent - not great. The biggest weakness will be at safety. If the corners and safeties hold up, AU's D will be nasty. It will have to be with so many question marks on the O side.

Wow. That's a ton of injuries. Auburn has good/solid depth, but losing studs is never good. Hell, losing 2nd team guys/depth is bad especially when the numbers grow.

Auburn is going to have a badass DL this year, that will help them go a long way. They return a stud QB, so they have the ingredients for a top 10 team this year. Will be interesting to see if these guys return in time....and how they handle filling their spots. I think they'll be fine, but will surely miss those guys if they don't make it back this year.
 

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no doubt barn's DL is very strong but Clemson might have one of the best in history. Right now, 3 of their dlineman are projected in top 20 in the draft....that's just silly

no clue how venables is still a DC ...
 

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