Injuries, transfers, lineup depth and more: Where each post-spring Leading

“100%”/ > Question mark: Pass rush Georgia lost just one game last season and led the SEC in scoring defense (15.6 points)and overall defense(289.1 lawns). But the Bulldogs had a hard time to consistently produce a pass rush, and coach Kirby Smart has actually emphasized finding ways to disrupt opposing quarterbacks throughout the offseason. Georgia had 30 sacks in 2023, which ranked ninth in the SEC.Junior Mykel Williams is thought about a potential first-round choice in the 2025 NFL draft after producing 7 1/2 sacks in his very first two seasons. He’ll play more at outdoors linebacker in 2024, a move the coaching personnel hopes will free him as much as hurry the passer more regularly.– Mark Schlabach Enigma: Quarterback The Buckeyes might own the best overall roster in the country. The quarterback position, however, stays one of the only lingering concerns going into the season. All signs point to Kansas State transfer Will Howard winning the job in the preseason. Howard posted a really strong 77.8 integrated QBR over the past 2 years in Manhattan. If he matches or exceeds that level of play, the Buckeyes could show to be the nation’s team to beat come playoff time.– Jake Trotter Enigma: Pass defense The Longhorns ranked 116th in pass defense last season, quiting 254.4 yards per game, with Michael Penix Jr. completing 76 %of his efforts for 430 yards against the Longhorns in the CFP semis at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The quarterbacks lit it up once again in the spring game, which is both expected from Steve Sarkisian’s offense, but also an issue for the pass defense. Terrance Brooks, a corner who made 19 starts and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention last year, left for Illinois soon after that.The Longhorns were enjoyed add sought after transfer security Andrew Mukuba from Clemson to help, as ought to the pass rush additions in advance

with UTSA transfer Trey Moore(14 sacks last year) and five-star freshman edge rush Colin Simmons to include zest to a pass rush that ended up 63rd in sack rate.– Dave Wilson Enigma: Safeties Editor’s Picks 2 Related Oregon’s safeties are not a lot a weakness as much as they are a question mark. The Ducks lost Evan Williams,Steve Stephens IV and Bryan

Addison at the position from last year but

added Kobe Savage, who need to move into a starting spot, from Kansas State. After Savage, nevertheless, the depth is murky. Tysheem Johnson has shown possible however likewise of uninspired play, which could open up a window for a more youthful player to step up this season.– Paolo Uggetti Question mark: Wide receiver There’s room for optimism with this receivers corps, that includes the addition of transfers Beaux Collins( Clemson )and Kris Mitchell (FIU), together with holdovers Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse and Jayden Thomas

. However in 2015’s leading wideouts, Chris Tyree and Rico Flores Jr., both transferred, and it was a system that had a hard time typically even with them. No wide receiver caught more than 27 passes in 2022 or 2023. Notre Dame hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver considering that Chase Claypool in 2019. With Riley Leonard’s legs, a huge O-line and a gifted backfield(not to mention a blossoming star in tight end Mitchell Evans ), there’s not a lots of pressure on the receivers to set up earth-shattering numbers, however authentic development will be vital to an Irish offense that lost 3 games last season– all scoring 23 points or less. In those 3 games, the pass receivers integrated for just two goal grabs and none had more than four catches in any one game.– David Hale Question mark: Lineup depth The best news for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels is that there aren’t any obvious weak points, thanks primarily to Kiffin’s capability to work the transfer portal and generate players at essential positions. But among the concerns is whether they have sufficient quality depth throughout the board to

compete for an SEC champion

. The Rebels are much deeper than they have actually remained in recent years, however it stays to be seen how they will hold up in spots such as the offensive line and cornerback, where brand-new faces from the portal will be counted on greatly.– Chris Low WR Kobe Prentice goes into the fall as Alabama’s most proven returning receiver after capturing 18 passes, consisting of 2 touchdowns. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Enigma: Returning receivers While Alabama likes the capacity of its receiving corps, there’s very little returning production. Transfer Germie Bernard had 419 getting backyards last season at Washington and is a flexible playmaker. Promoted real freshman Ryan Williams is oozing with skill, however didn’t get on campus until after spring practice.Kendrick Law has actually shown the capability to do a little of everything, and Jalen

Hale’s status is unsure after suffering a knee injury. Kobe Prentice is one of the most shown of the receivers on in 2015’s Alabama lineup. He caught 18 passes, including 2 goals, and balanced 17.4 backyards per catch. Advancement will be crucial for the Tide’s pass catchers.– Low Question mark: Defense Eliah Drinkwitz worked overtime this offseason to restock his defense through the transfer portal after several key losses to the NFL, consisting of three starting defensive backs. As Corey Batoon takes over for Blake Baker as Missouri’s protective organizer, Batoon’s most pushing challenge will be ensuring that the Tigers can hold up versus the pass, especially when it pertains to removing explosive plays. It’s not just pass protection that looms as an enigma. Missouri’s

best pass rusher , Darius

Robinson, was taken in the first round of the NFL draft.– Low Enigma: Quarterback and O-line It’s far prematurely to state this is a weak point for the Utes, however the mix of how Webcam Increasing returns after a year off due to an injury and an offending line that lost two of its finest players from in 2015, including its center, might be an enigma heading into the season. In spite of some key departures, there’s a lot of promise and talent in the Utes ‘line, consisting of redshirt freshman Caleb Lomu and juniors Tanoa Togiai and Jaren Kump, so it will likely come down to how well the group jells as the

season advances.– Uggetti Question mark: Pass receiver The Wolverines have a wide-open quarterback competition heading into the fall, however they likewise have big questions at receiver. All-American tight end Colston Loveland will ease the pressure on the receivers. Tyler Morris, who just had 13 catches last season, will require to have a big year as the headliner of a reasonably unverified group that consists of Semaj Morgan, Fredrick Moore, Kendrick Bell and Youngstown State transfer C.J. Charleston, among others.– Trotter Question mark: Depth at receiver and linebacker The Seminoles lost essential contributors at almost every position, however the two

areas where they will have to develop are not only beginners but depth: receiver and linebacker. Florida State signed Alabama move Malik Benson and LSU transfer Jalen Brown to assist change the departed Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson.There are numbers here, but players such as Hykeem Williams, Ja’Khi Douglas, Deuce Spann and Kentron Poitier will be depended on more to produce more consistently. At linebacker, Florida State need to replace two highly efficient players in Kalen DeLoach (the unsung hero on defense) and Tatum Bethune. There is young talent at the position as well

who will be relied on to step up.– Andrea Adelson Drew Shelton has huge shoes to fill as Penn State lost two of its beginning offensive takes on to the NFL draft. Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire Enigma: Offensive take on The Nittany Lions need to replace their two starting offensive deals with from last season in first-round choice Olumuyiwa Fashanu and third-rounder Caedan Wallace. Penn State will be counting on Drew Shelton, who missed out on the spring with an injury, and Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci, an ESPN top-40 recruit in 2021, to shore up its bookend pass defense for quarterback Drew Allar. If Shelton and Rucci step up, offending tackle could quickly end up being a strength again.– Trotter Question mark: Running back Possibly we’re ignoring the impact transfers Jordan Waters(Duke)and Hollywood Smothers(Oklahoma)will have this season, but at NC State, the ground game has actually been a huge concern for a few years. In 2023, the Wolfpack’s leading rusher was the quarterback. Their second-leading rush was a broad

couple of crucial cornerbacks from the transfer portal– Oregon State’s Jermod McCoy and Temple’s Jalen McMurray– to assist refill the back end of the defense. After the spring, Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas is in line to begin at totally free safety after the spring, and freshman Boo Carter is the No. 1 strong safety.– Schlabach Enigma: Quarterback Here’s a mind-blowing stat: From 2015 to 2020, Clemson had the ACC’s best Total QBR against FBS challengers. From 2021 to 2023, the Tigers ranked dead last. Cade Klubnik isn’t responsible for all of that, and there are certainly other factors at play (O-line, wide receiver), however if there’s one big overarching concern that has actually kept Clemson from the playoff the past 3 years, it’s the quarterback

. Klubnik had his share of

strong moments in 2023, but he likewise made some doubtful decisions versus Duke and Florida State that likely cost the Tigers wins.Klubnik and backup Chris Vizzina struggled in the Tigers’spring game, including more concern from a currently nervous fan base. Of course, Klubnik was also a previous first-class hire, and Dabo Swinney has continued to sing his quarterback’s praises. Could he take a big leap forward in his second complete season as the starter? If he does, it might be Clemson’s ticket back into nationwide title contention.– Hale Question mark: Depth at linebacker The Wildcats have a relatively constant build on both sides of the ball. If we’re quibbling(and itseems like it), you could want to the

linebacker space and prefer more depth. There is certainly skill in the room with 2023 All-Big 12 second-teamer Austin Moore, 2023 All-Big 12 respectable reference Desmond Purnell and the addition of Jordan Riley from Ball State. But injuries forced this group to play more players than anticipated and may be a bigger problem this season if it deals with those exact same obstacles.– Harry Lyles Jr.Question mark: Offensive line The Sooners lost their entire beginning offending line, consisting of first-round choice Tyler Guyton, and nine O-lineman in total. They included Spencer Brown from Michigan State, Geirean Hatchett from Washington, Febechi Nwaiwu from North Texas and Michael Tarquin from USC along with four inbound freshmen, then added a big piece in SMU center Branson Hickman after the spring portal.Brent Venables stated they will need contributions from all of them, but added that he has total self-confidence in line coach Costs Bedenbaugh, who has assisted produce 13 NFL draft picks in the past ten years. But with a difficult schedule in Year 1 in the SEC, it’s not an ideal time for an offending line reconstruct.– Wilson