College Football: 2023 SEC Spring Preview

College Football HQ previews what you should watch as the SEC kicks off spring football practice

James Parks | Mar 15, 2023

College Football: 2023 SEC Spring Preview /

No other conference has thoroughly dominated college football like the SEC has in recent memory, winning 13 of the last 17 national championships.

And that includes the last four straight natties.

The latest dynasty to control the league and, by extension, the sport is Georgia, the reigning back-to-back College Football Playoff national champion.

Have the Bulldogs finally unseated Alabama as the undisputed kings of the SEC? They come into this season with a chance to pull off the rare three peat — something that hasn't been done since the 1930s.

One major theme around the SEC this preseason is the quarterback position, as several major programs come into the spring needing to make decisions there, including the defending national champs.

College Football: 2023 SEC Spring Preview

Here's what you need to know about the SEC coming into spring football.

South Carolina

Major storyline: Getting tough at the line of scrimmage

What to watch: Generating pressure from the defensive front seven and getting to the quarterback continues to be a weakness for the Gamecocks, and it didn't get any better after losing former five-star edge rusher Jordan Burch in the transfer portal.

In addition, Carolina has to replace three of its four starters on the line and it has to develop its new rotation in the absence of Jordan Strachan, who tore his ACL early last year and is out for the spring.

Auburn

Major storyline: Building a strong foundation

What to watch: Hugh Freeze has no shortage of things to work on as he embarks in his debut season as head coach, especially when it comes to building a more aggressive, physical approach on both lines of scrimmage.

But it all begins at quarterback, a position that accounted for all of nine touchdowns last season and was last in the SEC in passing production. Robby Ashford is the likely favorite this spring after the school didn't secure any transfers at the position.

Kentucky

Major storyline: Protecting the quarterback

What to watch: Mark Stoops' best teams at UK coincidentally also played their best football on the offensive line of scrimmage, but that wasn't the case last season. Kentucky was below average blocking for the run and was one of the SEC's worst pass-blocking formations.

Now it brings in Devin Leary, a quarterback of proven skill but also one prone to injuries. Uniting him with play-caller Liam Coen won't be very productive if Leary's running for his life.

Vanderbilt

Major storyline: Defending the deep field

What to watch: Clark Lea's team made a lot of important structural improvements in Year 2, enough to win five games after a rare 2-0 start, but one thing the Commodores didn't do well was defend the pass, ranking 128th in college football in air yards surrendered and 126th in pass yards per play.

Vandy returns some experience on defense, but is still very young in a defensive back rotation that has the potential to take a step forward this fall.

Missouri

Major storyline: Can Jake Garcia take the job

What to watch: Brady Cook won't have much of a chance to lay claim to the starting quarterback job he had last season thanks to a torn labrum he's still recovering from, plus the emergence of Miami transfer Jake Garcia.

A once highly-touted recruit, Garcia threw for 803 yards with 5 TDs and 4 INTs last season and inherits a new play-caller and 5-star receiver Luther Burden to work with.

Ole Miss

Major storyline: Who's the quarterback

What to watch: College football's biggest quarterback competition is set to kick off between incumbent Jaxson Dart and veteran transfer Spencer Sanders.

The former struggled down the stretch a year ago and the latter brings plenty of production and one year of eligibility left. Sanders is a capable runner, which should give him a leg-up in the Rebels' run-friendly offense.

Mississippi State

Major storyline: Starting over

What to watch: The shocking death of Mike Leach leaves a giant hole at the center of the program, one that Zach Arnett, Leach's defensive coordinator who was promoted to head coach, will have to fill with his own identity.

MSU's defense should be on strong footing going forward, but it's expected the team will retire the Air Raid offense and move into a more balanced approach.

Florida

Major storyline: Finding and then protecting the quarterback

What to watch: Two main questions stick out as the Gators embark on Year 2 under Billy Napier: the condition of the team's offensive line and the big decision at quarterback. Florida loses four starters on the front line and needs coordinator Rob Sale and line coach Darnell Stapleton to do their best finding the right rotation, something Napier has been able to do well in his career.

Block well enough and the Gators' talented running back room will have more room to work, but they also need for the offense to be balanced and that means more capable quarterback play. Graham Mertz, the veteran Wisconsin transfer, and Jack Miller, the inexperienced Ohio State transfer, will battle for the job. Mertz is the likely favorite, but his numbers don't exactly jump off the page.

Arkansas

Major storyline: Defensive improvements

What to watch: The Razorbacks regressed somewhat a year ago from their 9-win 2021 campaign and much of that was attributable to struggles on the defensive side of the ball. Arkansas ranked 120th in total yards per play allowed and was 124th in yards per pass attempt surrendered.

The linebacker position should be a primary focus for first-year coordinator Travis Williams and co-coordinator Marcus Woodson. Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool were the team's saving grace on defense, but both are out and the Hogs need to find replacements. USF transfer Antonio Grier is an important building block.

Texas A&M

Major storyline: Bobby Petrino's contribution to the offense

What to watch: Maybe no team in college football underwhelmed more when compared to expectations than the Aggies, who won two SEC games and lost a ton of transfers after season's end. One big problem was the team's ability to consistently generate the offense to threaten opponents in any phase.

As a result, Jimbo Fisher appears to be surrendering play-calling duties and giving them to Petrino, one of college football's more highly-regarded figures in that role. Conner Weigman, the Aggies' five-star quarterback prospect, showed flashes down the stretch and should fit well in what figures to be a more aggressive, pro-style scheme.

Tennessee

Major storyline: Replacements

What to watch: College football's top-ranked offense lost its quarterback and top receiver as Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt both turned pro. Into the former role likely steps Joe Milton, the now-sixth year collegian entering his third season on Rocky Top with a major arm who can break games open on any play.

That is, unless incoming five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a top-five prospect at the position in the 2023 recruiting cycle, has something to say about it. In all likelihood, he'll sit behind Milton, but he'll still use the spring to make a good first impression.

LSU

LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers on a play during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Major storyline: Incorporating the transfers

What to watch: The defending SEC West champs come in with a bullseye on their backs now after Brian Kelly's debut season went so well, but LSU is equipped to handle the pressure, returning the bulk of its roster, including its entire offensive line, its quarterback, much of its running back group, and important parts of the defensive front seven.

But it can stand some improvement at defensive back, and that's where some key transfers come in, chiefly Denver Harris, the former Texas A&M pledge and five-star recruit, former All-American freshman Duce Chestnut, and FCS All-American Zy Alexander to coordinate the deep field coverage.

Alabama

Major storyline: Quarterback battle

What to watch: Bryce Young is out of the picture and now it's up to Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson to duke it out for the right to replace him. Milroe showed real flashes last season in Young's injury-induced absences, showing off mobility and accuracy. Simpson is low on snaps, but high in pedigree, emerging as a five-star prospect a year ago.

Alabama brings two new coordinators into the fold: Tommy Rees on offense, and Kevin Steele on defense. Rees needs to locate and develop his quarterback, build a more balanced rushing attack around him, and create more chances for these receivers; Steele has to generate more pressure from the front seven and create more turnovers.

Georgia

Major storyline: Find a quarterback and avoid regress on offense

What to watch: Stetson Bennett and Todd Monken are out of the picture, leaving Georgia with a decision to make at the quarterback position and a chance to give this offense new life under coordinator Mike Bobo.

Bobo was the OC from 2007-14 and inherits plenty of pieces to work with, including Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, in addition to key transfer receivers in RaRa Thomas and Dominic Lovett, who will bring needed stability to this WR room.

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Published Mar 15, 2023

JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He previously covered football for 247Sports and CBS Interactive. College Football HQ joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022.