SEC football: Fall camp quarterback battles heating up around the conference

Some SEC football news, notes and links:

Jalen Milroe takes Alabama quarterback lead. “The good news is Milroe seems to have separated himself at least initially,” writes John Buhler of Fansided. “The bad news is I feel this quarterback competition is far from over and could potentially carry on well into the season. I expect all three will see meaningful snaps for the Crimson Tide this year. Having multiple quarterbacks is never a bad thing at the college level, but none seem ready to rock like (Bryce) Young did.

Alabama opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 versus visiting Middle Tennessee at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Crimson Tide plays at Kentucky on Nov. 11.

Florida names Graham Mertz starting quarterback. “Florida football named Graham Mertz as its starting quarterback for the 2023 season, hoping his leadership and experience as a Big Ten starter will translate into new surroundings in the SEC,” reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun. “Mertz started 32 games in three seasons at Wisconsin, passing for 5,405 yards with 38 TDs to 26 interceptions.”

Florida opens the season Thursday, Aug. 31 at Utah at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

The Gators play at Kentucky on Sept. 30.

Missouri quarterback battle continues. “Perhaps the most valuable question to the trajectory of Mizzou’s season remains unanswered, as Drinkwitz remained adamant in his decision to not name the team’s starting quarterback,” reports Brandon Haynes of the Columbia Missourian. “The competition is centered around returning starter Brady Cook, redshirt freshman Sam Horn and Miami transfer Jake Garcia, each of whom have impressed in different ways during camp.”

Missouri opens the season Thursday, August 31 against visiting South Dakota at 8 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Tigers play at Kentucky on Oct. 14.

AJ Swann heavy favorite at Vanderbilt. “t’s no surprise that Swann is the heavy favorite for the starting job,” writes Aria Gerson of the Tennessean after Saturday’s scrimmage. “He certainly looked the part Sunday and was the best quarterback on the field. He led three of the five scoring drives the offense had: two for touchdowns and one for a field goal. Seals also led a touchdown drive and Taylor led a field-goal drive.”

Vanderbilt opens the season Saturday, Aug. 26 against visiting Hawaii at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Commodores play host to Kentucky on Sept. 23.

Hugh Freeze undecided on Auburn quarterback. “Freeze did not confirm if the competition had been cut, but he did say that Robby Ashford, Holden Geriner, and Payton Thorne had good days,” writes Taylor Jones of Auburn Wire. “Two of the three quarterbacks in the competition threw touchdown passes.”

Auburn opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 versus visiting UMass at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Kentucky’s Deuce Hogan was on the show QB1. “First-round NFL Draft picks Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson might be getting most of the attention from the fourth season of the documentary show ‘QB1: Beyond the Lights,’ but the third quarterback featured in the show is still playing football as well,” writes Jon Hale of the Herald-Leader. “Former Texas high school star Deuce Hogan began his college career at Iowa but has since transferred to Kentucky. Here is a closer look at how Hogan’s career has gone since his season of QB1 was filmed in 2019.”

Kentucky opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 versus visiting Ball State at noon on the SEC Network.

Georgia held first scrimmage in a 106-degree heat index. “I think we were able to identify some guys who are maybe ready to play versus some guys who want no part of it,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart told Dawg Nation, “because they can’t sustain and keep their level of focus up during the scrimmage.”

Georgia opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 against visiting UT Martin at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs play host to Kentucky on Oct. 7.

Mississippi State adjusting to new offense. “Perhaps the player who is the happiest about the transition to a more run-heavy offense is senior running back Jo’Quavious ‘Woody’ Marks,” reports Jacob Bain of Cowbell Corner. “Marks is another three-year starter for the Bulldogs and has plenty of film for NFL scouts to see him catching the ball out of the backfield.”

Mississippi State opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 versus visiting Southeast Louisiana at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Bulldogs play host to Kentucky on Nov. 4.

South Carolina running back battles heating up. “The competition at running back remains heated, with no returning starter in the group,” reports Michael Lananna of The State. “Former quarterback-turned wide receiver-turned running back Dakereron Joyner is the favorite to open the season at tailback, but a few backs made a splash during the scrimmage.”

South Carolina opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 versus North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. The game will be played in Charlotte.

South Carolina plays host to Kentucky on Nov. 18.

Tennessee linebacker receives shout-out. “McCallan Castles stood at the podium inside the north studio of the Neyland-Thompson Athletics Center last Wednesday,” writes Noah Taylor of Vol Report. “The tight end listed off a number of defensive players that he has faced over the last two weeks of Tennessee football fall camp. The usual names were mentioned—Aaron Beasley and Keenan Pili, but Castles immediately named freshman linebacker Arion Carter.”

Tennessee opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 2 versus Virginia at noon on ABC. The game will be played at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

The Volunteers play at Kentucky on Oct. 28.

SEC football schedules

LSU is working on its secondary. “(Zy) Alexander is a particularly interesting player,” writes Tyler Nettuno of LSU Wire. “A standout at Southeastern Louisiana, there were questions about whether the FCS transfer would be able to cut it in the SEC. However, he’s impressed in camp and seems to be in line to win a starting job on the outside.”

LSU opens the season Sunday, Sept. 3 against Florida State at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. The game will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Dominique Johnson stars in Arkansas’ first scrimmage. “Dominique Johnson has had a tough go of it at the University of Arkansas since busting out in 2021 with 575 rushing yards and a team-high seven rushing touchdowns while taking the starter’s reins from Trelon Smith,” writes Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “But the junior tailback had one of the biggest moments in Saturday’s first scrimmage of fall camp at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.”

Arkansas opens the season Sept. 2 against visiting Western Carolina at 4 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

What is Ole Miss getting in Jam Griffin? “Jam Griffin has a lot of the marks a team looking for depth would desire out of the transfer portal, and he’s made a solid impression during his first few days at Ole Miss,” writes Chase Parham of Rebel Grove. “The Rebels, who had three scholarship running backs prior to Griffin’s addition, were searching for an extra option and got it with the Oregon State product who started his career at Georgia Tech. The graduate transfer has two years of eligibility remaining.”

Ole Miss opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 against visiting Mercer at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

Texas A&M loses tight end for season. “Texas A&M sophomore tight end Donovan Green is expected to miss the 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL in his knee during the team’s first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday, a source told GigEm247,” reports Cater Karels. “The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Green seemed to be primed for a breakout season this fall. He showed plenty of flashes as a true freshman last season. Across 10 games with four starts, Green ranked fourth on the team in catches (22) and receiving yards (233) while totaling two touchdowns.”

Texas A&M opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2 against visiting New Mexico at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

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