WBN SEC Power Rankings: 08-25-2013 Edition
By Wayne
Jul 17, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops talks with the media during the 2013 SEC football media days at the Hyatt Regency. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
8. Mississippi State University (0-0; 0-0)- If Dan Mullen is going to have much success at MSU, it should be this year. He is returning senior gun slinger Tyler Russell but he needs decent protection and some sort of a running game to compliment that arm. Russell will need Brandon Holloway to step it up, possibly as a RB option out of the back field. The kid can run with a sub 4.3 40. That provides them with a lot of offensive versatility. State’s best defensive options will be run stoppers Deontae Skinner and Benadrick McKinney. Other than them, there isn’t much to write home about on that side of the ball which explains why they are only projected stronger than only six (6) other teams, four (4) of which have first year head coaches.
9. Vanderbilt Commodores (0-0; 0-0)- James Franklin finally has some consistency to build after years of Vandy being in the SEC gutter. Returning WR Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd should make Austyn Carta-Samuels transition to starter much smoother. The real issue comes at the RB position as Zak Stacey is no longer there. It’ll be a committee approach which traditionally doesn’t work well unless you are Nick Saban and Alabama.
10. Missouri Tigers (0-0; 0-0)- After and incredibly dismal inaugural season in the SEC, it looks as if they could challenge Kentucky for the bottom in the SEC East which doesn’t bode well for head coach Gary Pinkel. The spread offense didn’t work so well last year and unless that changes, he’ll be looking for work elsewhere. On the other hand, James Franklin has some competition with Maty Mauk so maybe their offense won’t be as offensive as their D last year.
11. Auburn Tigers (0-0; 0-0)- As the concept of “full circle” is widely thought of, first year head coach Gus Malzhan embodies it. He’s returning after a stint as the head coach at Arkansas State to replace his former boss. It really was a no brainer as he was the architect of their 2010 National championship team that saw Cam Newton win the Heisman. They don’t have a returning QB as Kheil voluntarily moved to Safety and their only real offensive threat is RB Trey Mason. On the defensive side, LB Justin Garrett is their only star to watch. Gus has his work cut out for him but I expect them to have greatly improved as the season ends.
12. Arkansas Razorbacks (0-0; 0-0)- New year, new coach. Brett Bielema couldn’t really hack it at Wisconsin so this should be interesting. He inherited a team that has no starting QB, RB’s or WR’s returning that had any significant offensive impact. The only possible bright spot is on the defensive side with Chris Smith, Trey Flowers, Tevin Mitchell, and Eric Bennett all returning. If they can’t get to the QB and in the backfield with the same consistency as last se they will have a tough row to ho.
13. Tennessee Volunteers (0-0; 0-0)- Butch Jones is walking into a similar situation as Malzhan at Auburn in that he has virtually no returning starters of offense, namely the QB and WR corps of Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter and Cordarelle Patterson. Instead they’re going to be relying on a RS Frosh or a Junior to play pitch and catch with Cody Blanc and Jason Croom. Expect Rajion Neal to be worked to death in the running game because that’s all they’ll really have on that side of the ball. They won’t likely be horrible on D as they have returning Second Team SEC LB A.J. Johnson and Safety Byron Moore hawking the ball in the secondary.
14. Kentucky Wildcats (0-0; 0-0)- The Wildcats are one of four (4) teams who are ushering in a new head coach, system and players so despite how much hype Stoops and Co. have brought to the Bluegrass, I wouldn’t bet the farm on lots of victories. Having said that, the program finally seems to have its bearings straight and are considering running a two (2) QB system with Maxwell Smith and Jalen Whitlow. Couple that with RB Raymond Sanders and WR Javess Blue and Jeff Badet and Neal Brown’s “Air Raid” offense should take off. It doesn’t hurt having Za’Darius Smith coming off the end, pressuring the opposing QB.