Spring has sprung and fall’s not here yet, but that’s no excuse for not taking a look at how SEC football teams came out of spring practice.
Just as it is on fall Saturdays, there are winners and losers in spring football practice. The USA TODAY Network’s team of experts who cover SEC teams take a look at who won and lost big this spring.
SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Sign up now for daily updates sent to your inbox
NFL MOCK DRAFT: New No. 1 pick is just one of many late changes to first round
Here are their takes:
ALABAMA
2021 record and finish: 13-2 overall, 7-1 SEC (won West, won SEC championship)
2022 first game: Sept. 3 Utah State
Winner: Jahmyr Gibbs transferred from Georgia Tech after Alabama starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. went to the NFL Draft. Gibbs showed on A-Day that he can be an electric addition for this offense.
Loser: Agiye Hall had a prime opportunity to play in 2022 with Alabama needing two new starting receivers, but he couldn’t take advantage. Hall was suspended for violating team rules before he entered the transfer portal, landing at Texas.
— Nick Kelly
Apr 16, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Head coach Nick Saban yells at defensive players during the A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
ARKANSAS
2021 record and finish: 9-4 overall, 4-4 SEC (third in West)
2022 first game: Sept. 3 Cincinnati
Winner: Linebacker Drew Sanders, who transferred from Alabama, was a standout on defense in the open spring scrimmage. Sanders and returning star Bumper Pool look like a strong duo in the middle of the defense.
Loser: Receiver Warren Thompson struggled with drops in some spring practices, and coach Sam Pittman said transfer Jadon Haselwood looks likely to become Arkansas’ new “bell cow” in place of NFL Draft prospect Treylon Burks.
— Christina Long
AUBURN
2021 record and…
..
