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Day two of SEC Media Days is in the books. While the first day focused more on broader issues surrounding the SEC and college football as a whole – namely NIL rights and COVID vaccines – the second was a bit more topical on a team-based basis. team. Four coaches spoke on Tuesday: Kirby Smart of Georgia, Josh Heupel of Tennessee, Mark Stoops of Kentucky and Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss. There have been updates on key transfers, quarterback competitions and even a bit of talk about Alabama, although the Crimson Tide is only in attendance on Wednesday.
Let’s take a look back at everything SEC from Tuesday’s interviews with a recap of the biggest storylines.
Georgia TE Arik Gilbert on track to be eligible
It didn’t come as a huge surprise, but Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has confirmed that Gilbert is on track to be eligible to play this fall after being transferred from LSU last season. The NCAA’s one-time transfer exemption coupled with the SEC’s intra-conference eligibility would normally have paved the way for Gilbert, a close friend with the Tigers in 2020, to play straight away without hesitation. But questions remained as to his academic level, however. Consider the answers to those questions, and now, barring a setback, Georgia is entering the season with a talented crop of wide receivers, even without wide star George Pickens. Gilbert, a former five-star rookie, appeared in eight games for LSU in 2020, capturing 35 passes for 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Will Matt Corral be the SEC’s best quarterback?
Ole coach Miss Lane Kiffin certainly seems to think so. He’s biased, of course, but there’s at least one argument to be made that Corral is the SEC’s best returning player in that position for 2021. Last year, Corral thrived in Kiffin’s offense, throwing for 3,337 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 picks – but turnovers were a problem. A week after playing well against Alabama, Corral recorded six interceptions, a season-high, in a loss to Arkansas.
Getting more consistency from Corral will be key for Ole Miss if they are to become an actor in SEC West.
“He’s never had a second year of a system, I think it’s been good for him,” Kiffin said of Corral. “I think we were still trying to figure out ourselves too, without having any resilience – not just him, but our offense. We weren’t even sure if he was going to be the starting QB when we entered camp.
“So he did a great job from a leadership point of view. He’s a very confident kid. So we have to make him play more consistently because like we said he played well sometimes and then he played well. sometimes played very badly. “
Tennessee brings Joe Milton into QB battle
First year coaches love open competition – or at least tell a room full of reporters that every post is up for grabs. But for Tennessee and coach Josh Heupel, there is a compelling quarterback battle that is expected to continue throughout the season. Freshman Harrison Bailey seemed to have a head start after the Spring Prom, but transfers Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech) and Joe Milton (Michigan) will have the opportunity to take the job. Milton, however, didn’t join the squad until after spring, so he’s only now acclimating to his new squad. Still, Heupel likes what he saw from the former Wolverines starter.
“Joe has a unique skill set, a strong arm, a precise passer,” Heupel said. “I think he’s a very bright young man who has understood very well what we’ve done so far. He’s talented. He can stretch the football field from row to row and vertically, and has a unique skill set with his size and mobility to also use his feet as a weapon. “
Mark Stoops does not support extending the SEC calendar
There has been a multi-year debate as to whether the SEC should increase its number of conference games from eight to nine. In 2020, SEC teams played a 10-game conference schedule only out of necessity due to COVID-19. This experience gave a taste of what everyone’s life could be like if the conference finally decides to increase its number of conference games. Well, count Kentucky coach Mark Stoops among those who are not in favor.
“I wonder if people watched last year. There were quite a few people who struggled. That’s how I feel,” Stoops said bluntly.
The Wildcats were 4-6 in the regular season, and by Stoops’ point, nine of 14 SEC teams finished with a record of 0.500 or worse (including five of seven in the Eastern Division). That’s probably enough on its own to deter a coach from wanting more SEC games, but Stoops’ contract extensions are also explicitly tied to winning seven games. Substituting a non-conference – and probably winnable at that – game for another SEC game is a tough job for many teams that aren’t called Alabama or Georgia right now.
Lane Kiffin blown away by Bryce Young’s newfound wealth
One thing you can say about Kiffin is that he always seems to be in control. It’s really hard to hit him for a loop when he’s in front of the media. But when Kiffin heard Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was bringing in nearly seven figures in NIL deals, Ole Miss’s coach was almost speechless.
“That number blew me away. You didn’t prepare me for that. It’s amazing,” Kiffin said. “He’s won a million bucks and hasn’t started a game yet? Wow, I don’t even know what to say to that, but good for him.”
A few questions later, Kiffin was asked about an injury to an offseason player, to which he replied, “I’m still blown away by that Bryce Young. The guy has already won a million bucks? well, man. He doesn’t need to play next year against us, then. I mean, it’s mind blowing. “
Kiffin usually has something up his sleeve when it comes to talking about Alabama and Nick Saban. It is one of his favorite subjects. But this one really left him off guard.
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