SEC Fall Camps: Key storylines in second scrimmages

By Chris Marler

This time next week we will be watching two ranked teams from the Midwest travel to Ireland while Pat McAfee drunkenly yells from behind the desk at College Gameday. I can’t wait. 

Until then, it’s still fall camp for every SEC team, as most of the teams around the league will be holding their second scrimmage of the preseason. Here’s what I’m hoping to find out from several spots around the SEC.

LSU

LSU will hold a closed scrimmage Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. Brian Kelly told the media the primary reason for the venue change is so they can start working on things they’ll see during their trip to Clemson. Things like stadium noise, LED board signs flashing, and other “distractions” as he referred to them on Friday when he met with the media. 

Granted since the practice is closed we won’t be able to see anything inside Tiger Stadium. What I’m hoping to learn afterwards is who gets the lionshare of reps at the guard positions, and how effectively they’re able to run the ball against a defense that has seemed to have the upper hand in most every opportunity they’ve had against the offensive line. During the initial practices and first week of fall camp it felt like the offensive line was an absolute liability heading into the season. 

While it’s definitely still the weak link of the position units, it now feels like that’s the case more so because of how strong the other units are, not just the offensive line being behind.  

Florida 

We could honestly copy and paste what we wrote a week ago because the answer is the same – DJ Lagway. Will we see him scrimmage on Saturday and if so, in what capacity? It’s no secret at this point that his health has been the biggest storyline of Florida’s fall camp. I doubt we see any issues or anyone besides No. 2 trot out at quarterback for the Gators in the opener against Long Island. However, how close to 100 percent is he with just two weeks until the season begins? 

South Carolina 

What is the linebacker rotation going to look like? A lot has been made about how much South Carolina lost on the interior defensive line, and rightfully so. However, the linebacking group is as big of a concern. South Carolina lost all three of their linebackers from a season ago which accounted for three of their top four leading tacklers and 212 tackles combined. 

They’ve recruited the position well and former four star Fred Johnson is physically ready to take over one of the spots. The other two frontrunners appear to be a couple of transfer portal players that both spent time at Alabama. Sophomore Justin Okoronko and junior Shawn Murphy should be the latest portal players to be big impacts for Shane Beamer and Clayton White’s defense. 

Tennessee 

Tennessee already completed their second scrimmage early Friday morning, but the main question everyone wants to know is if Josh Heupel is any closer to deciding who will start at quarterback? Unfortunately for the Vols, the schedule doesn’t exactly permit them to have this competition continue into the season by easing into the first couple games against inferior opponents. The Vols play Georgia in week three and a Syracuse team that won ten games last season. So either transfer Joey Aguilar and freshman Jake Merklinger need to emerge as the guy and emerge quickly.