John Adams: Jarrett Stidham Auburn's best hope for overtaking Alabama
The SEC West probably was all in on Alabama in the national championship game on Monday. But not out of conference loyalty.
Better for the rest of the West if Alabama had won back-to-back national titles. Having failed, it will be more motivated than ever to win in 2017.
And that’s bad news for everyone else in the division.
John Adams: Tennessee will be in the middle of SEC East
Here’s an early, early look at how the division race could play out in 2017.
Alabama: After breaking in a new quarterback for three consecutive seasons, Alabama will have the luxury of an experienced quarterback returning. A dynamic runner, Jalen Hurts has work to do as a passer, though.
He will be surrounded by All-SEC-caliber players. And there’s more firepower on the way, including Najee Harris, the No. 1 running back recruit in the country.
You know great defensive players are waiting in the wings at Alabama, but that doesn’t mean the next defense will be as good as this one. The 2016 defense was one of Alabama’s best ever, although you couldn’t prove it against Clemson.
East opponents: Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Auburn: Baylor transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham will give the Tigers their best passer since Cam Newton. The return of Kamryn Pettway should take care of the ground game.
Also, four starters will return in a solid offensive line and so will much of the defense. All-SEC placekicker Daniel Carlson will be back, too.
East opponents: Missouri and Georgia.
LSU: New coach Ed Orgeron infused the program with energy as an interim coach. That could carry over into next season.
Derrius Guice will give LSU’s one of the best running backs in the country, but Danny Etling won’t give it one of the best quarterbacks.
The Tigers will lose All-SEC linebacker Kendell Beckwith and half its secondary to the NFL. But like Alabama, they never run out of defense.
East opponents: Florida and Tennessee.
Texas A&M: The Aggies will have one of the league’s premier players in wide receiver Christian Kirk, and running back Trayveon Williams rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a true freshman.
But veteran quarterback Jake Hubenak doesn’t provide the running threat that Trevor Knight did, or that recruit Kellen Mond could.
The defense struggled with All-American Myles Garrett in the lineup. How can it be better without him?
East opponents: South Carolina and Florida
Arkansas: Quarterback Brandon Allen and running back Rawleigh Williams will head up the offense, which also will return four starting linemen. But the defense will lose five starters and wasn’t that good to begin with.
East opponents: South Carolina and Missouri.
Ole Miss: Freshman quarterback Shea Patterson showed great potential as a freshman, but the running game will need help.
The Rebels also will lose a number of key players on defense. And the recruiting class is ranked lower than any other on coach Hugh Freeze’s watch.
East opponents: Vanderbilt and Kentucky
Mississippi State: Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald excelled as a runner in his first season as a starter. He didn’t have enough help, though.
He might have even less help next season since the Bulldogs will lose three starting offensive linemen and leading receiver Fred Ross.
East opponents: Kentucky and Georgia.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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