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SEC newcomers and transfer standouts shake up spring football storylines—who will become household names by fall? Chris Gordy and the SEC Squad spotlight breakout candidates like Ole Miss’s Blake Purchase, Alabama’s new center Racin Delgatty, Auburn’s Byrum Brown, and LSU’s Jackson Harris while assessing major position battles, quarterback competitions, and under-the-radar threats across the conference. The roundtable debates which first-year SEC head coach—Pete Golding at Ole Miss, Alex Golesh at Auburn, Ryan Silverfield at Arkansas, Jon Sumrall at Florida, or Will Stein at Kentucky—can capture a playoff win first, and whether Texas or Oklahoma is closer to the next national championship. Smart roster moves and coaching changes, including the impact of Kendal Briles and SEC transfer portal shakeups, set the stage for a season full of intrigue. Can powerhouses like Alabama, Texas A&M, or Auburn keep pace as contenders emerge and rivals retool for an expanded playoff race?
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Hey everyone, this is Ross Jackson, one of the hosts of The Lockdown Podcast Network.
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Some new names we need to get to know as SEC Spring Ball churns on, it's time to get
our squad together.
You're talking ball with the SEC squad.
From Alabama to Tennessee, from Georgia to Oklahoma, from Auburn to Texas.
If the local experts of The Lockdown Podcast Network bringing you scoops, breaks down, and
the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming SEC weekend, it's the SEC squad and we have
a seat for you.
Perfueling some thin skin are prohibited.
Squat up, you're part of the SEC squad.
And what's everybody welcome into the SEC squad?
Sit back, grab your favorite beverage and join us as we get you ready to talk in another
week of all things SEC.
Join us this week on our squad show.
We've got John Miller from Lockdown, and the zoo.
We've got Jimmy Stein from Lockdown, and Bannes, Stephen Willis from Lockdown Ole Miss.
And I'm Chris Gordy, host of Lockdown, SEC.
And guys, we've talked a lot about Spring Ball and obviously we're into the thick of it
now only a couple of weeks left.
The zoo they're finished, but LSU and Ole Miss, they were the trailers, they're into
their Spring Ball practices and all that.
And we know a lot of the big names, there's been a lot of newcomers with incoming freshmen,
transfer, pull guys and all this, but I thought it'd be fun to kick this around.
Give me a name of a player on your team.
We may not know now, meaning you may know it, but other folks may not be talking about
this person, but we will know them later when the season comes around.
Stephen, let's start with you.
Defensive in Blake Purchase, transfer from Oregon is somebody that is going to get
after the quarterback, they're going to find a way to scheme him open.
He is definitely a name to watch for Ole Miss and another name is Keaton Thomas, the
linebacker, transfer from Baylor, both those guys are athletic enough to make an impact
their first year.
You said his name is Purchase?
Blake Purchase.
Did they give him in an IEL deal?
Yes, I'm certain they did.
It would have been really funny if he was free if he just came for a scholarship from
Lockdown.
Yeah, preferred.
Give me a name for Alabama.
Yeah, this is a fun name.
I think offensive linemen are sort of anonymous, but this is sort of fun.
Alabama need a new center last year's center headed to the NFL draft as a red shirt
juniors.
They signed an FCS center from Cal Poly.
His name is racing Delgati.
Is that fun?
It race an RACI in racing Delgati.
He had to battle two or three guys, but he appears to have quickly won the center.
His center job, despite coming from Cal Poly and FCS football, he was an all conference
player there.
He was a red shirt junior coming into this fall, 6-3-3-0-5, a lot of concern about, you know,
the transitions.
A big jump in competition from FCS to the SEC, but he's handled Alabama's defensive front
fairly well.
They haven't named him the starter at center, but it looks just completely obvious at this
point.
He'll be a brand new name for everyone and one that's fun to say, racing Delgati.
The out and new Alabama center.
Yeah.
It's almost like Bugatti racing Bugatti, yeah.
And almost, you know, we know Delgato, Carlos Delgato, you never go, you never heard
Delgati.
Delgati.
Racing Delgati.
John Miller.
And is the plural in the tie-in?
Yeah.
If he gets a pancake block, he will have Delgati yet.
I suppose we'll throw back their sports center watchers from the from the 1990s, but I'll
say from the Missouri perspective, you know, I think the Tigers went really hard into
the secondary in the portal and not so much on the defensive line, a little bit on the
defensive line, but they spent way more of their portal capital in the secondary.
So what that tells me is the Tigers have real faith and Langed and Kitchen and Derek Smith.
Now, Derek Smith, the guy Georgia fans are going to remember.
He played well for a former Missouri last year as sort of your backup.
Actually, both of these guys were backups at your sort of defensive end, you know, Jack
position, whatever you want to call it, both edge rushers, a little bit different depending
on which side you're on in the Missouri offense.
But the point is Zion Young, a guy who's expected to go at least in the second round, maybe
first round was a guy who jumped big time in sacks from his first year at Missouri to
his second.
Well, you could have predicted that based on his pressure rate, both Derek Smith and
Kitchen have good pressure rates.
We'll see if Missouri is right on their gamble to bring those guys back this coming fall.
Yeah, it's it's a it's so interesting just because the, you know, I've followed the
transfer portal every day.
It was open.
So a lot of the names I know just from kind of looking around the rosters and just tracking
where guys were going, but obviously we don't have a full slate of our squad shows here.
So I'll just pick a couple schools and throw some names out real quick for Auburn, have
heard nothing but good things about this defensive tackle Cody Sigler, who transferred
in this offseason from Arkansas state.
I think even goal is just singled amounts and he's going to be a big time player.
So look for him on the D line for Auburn, LSU has a, I mean, it's an entirely new wide
receiver room.
So you can really pick any one of those guys, but some are familiar with like Trey Wilson
from Florida.
But there's a guy that I've been told by multiple people watch out for Jackson Harris transfer
wide receiver from Hawaii of all places, going to be a little bit of a culture shock for
him going from Hawaii to playing in death Valley in front of a hundred thousand people.
So, but was close to a thousand yard receiver last year.
And then a name at Mississippi state, which you probably don't know, a ton of Mississippi
state players, but Amari Williams playing that jack position transferred from Florida
state have been told by a couple of people to watch out for him, opening up guys, is there
any other players that we do know or don't know that you think are guys?
That are going to be big splashes this year around the SEC.
Well, I do think Byron Brown is going to work out for Auburn.
That's one of my big takes.
I just think coming over there with your head coach, the cohesion there, I think it's
actually going to work out as much as I love to make fun of Auburn and he freeze and the
golf and all that.
By the way, I got a little he freeze in me the last a week or two, but this is far as
the golf game goes and not doing my job.
But no, seriously, I think that's, I think that's my take.
I like what Auburn has done this off season.
I'm really bullish on them in year one with what I think is going to be a big difference
in coaching.
You know, there's a lot of questions about whether Byron Brown, you know, and how he'll
transition the SEC, Alabama's played him twice and I wouldn't say Alabama struggled with
him in terms of he didn't go out there and put up big numbers, but he was a quality
quarterback even against Alabama's defense.
I don't think, I don't think the transition to the SEC is going to be too tall for him.
I'm expecting Byron Brown to be very productive at Auburn this fall.
And it's not a transfer per se, but Kendall Briles coming in and being the offensive coordinator
for one or sellers, that is going to be one of the bigger storylines in the SEC this year
in my opinion.
That is really intriguing.
Yeah.
You've heard nothing but, you know, positive so far.
I know Shane Beamer spoke a few days ago and said, our offense is completely new.
He's like, it's just, it's all new terminology, it's all new scheme, all that.
And so, look, one great last year, so I mean, I would say let's change the whole thing
up too, but the track record of Kendall Briles is pretty darn good.
So I would, I would trust that one other one, I mean, whoever wins a Florida quarterback
job, I think is, you know, how good are they?
What's the ceiling of Aaron Phylo or Tremel Jones, which, which everyone wins that job?
So it's interesting because they, Buster Faulkner, you know, what kind of system does
he run?
John Somarol has asked about that this week.
And he's like, really, you're going to, we're going to adapt to, you know, whoever our
best players are.
Well, I went ding, ding, ding, ding, Jayden Baugh.
They're going to run a lot of 11 personnel, I think, you know, look, they're going to run
the football.
So we'll see what happens.
I don't know the Florida quarterback situation really intrigued me.
Yeah, I'm sure there is on Florida, but yeah, go ahead, Jenny.
No, just say there's a few unresolved quarterback situations around the league, but Florida's
is the one you seem to hear less about really than the others.
I think other competitions, maybe you're a bit more noisy, but that is a fascinating one.
But you have to figure with the offensive coordinator coming with this quarterback, that
would be a decided advantage in Gainesville for filo.
Yeah, and the quarterback competition in Arkansas is timeless.
And I literally mean that they're taking, they've taken clocks off the wall.
Well, KJ Jackson, it sounds like he's going to be the guy.
And I know I'm going to call KJ Jefferson before the season's over.
But, um, but yeah, he seems like the guy.
I mean, he was at Ryan Silverfield's press conference.
As soon as I saw that, I went, oh, that's the guy.
So that, that of all the open quarterback battles, I think it's pretty, uh, pretty
evident, but the Tennessee one too is very intriguing.
Guys, because I mean, look, it's not like George McIntyre is this, you know,
has a ton of experience under his belt.
And the phase on branded kid, you know, it was a five star in this year's class.
So it's, that was fascinating.
But look, I trust Josh Hypo, he's, he's done it with all different quarterbacks.
Yeah, feels like whoever emerges at Tennessee is going to be a quality player.
Because the level of competition's good, right?
So a good player should emerge from that, uh, but we'll see.
Cause I, I could see that going in any direction.
They also have the older kid, right?
That, that came in, but I, I think it's going to be George McIntyre myself, uh, but, uh,
but we'll see that'll be a fun one to watch.
I was, one thing to look at at Tennessee is if those young quarterbacks are going
to have to be playing ball, you might want to look in the backfield to see who's
carrying the rock because that's probably going to be the most important part of that
off them to Sean Bishop.
Yeah, yeah.
No, that is the sort of, to people who don't necessarily watch maybe a ton of Tennessee
football.
Yeah, big part of the Josh Hypo offense is you do have to run it for as much as he does
like to take those vertical shots.
And I will just say, I am intrigued by the idea of a young quarterback in the Josh
Hypo offense, having multiple years to maybe branch out from just the basic stuff
that Hypo does, which does work and why you can't just plug in a guy.
But if they can actually get, hey, a second, third year quarterback down there.
And I think that's pretty interesting.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And by the way, to the point, I mean, Tennessee, as much as we always talk about the passing
game, they've always been one of the leading rushing teams in the country.
Same with Lane Kiffin, when he was at Ole Miss, they were always ran the ball well.
And absolutely.
I don't know if you guys saw just a quick note here to, and you'll see the UFL games this
past weekend, I put on a game, flip it through the channels.
AJ McCarran was a head coach.
His quarterback was Matt Corral, and he was handing the ball off to Snoop Conner.
I'm like, what in the world is this league?
It's all SEC guys.
Yeah.
And I think there's some sort of a regionalist of teams like, so the Ole Miss
players kind of matriculated towards Birmingham and some Florida guys are in Orlando
or something.
It's the only way to put people in the seats, right?
Yeah.
People that the local fans have heard of and know is just a way to get people in those
seats.
But yeah, AJ McCarran, former Alabama quarterbacks, the first time coaching anywhere at any level
head coach.
Wow.
We'll see how it works out.
Well, if you really want me to tune in, bring back T-Bo and ManZell, and I will watch
that league.
But now we're talking promotion, I love it.
I'm going to return, guys.
Which of the new SEC head coaches will win a playoff game first?
I think I know where Steven's going to go.
More locked on, SEC talking more ball next.
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All right, fellas, think it would be fun to kick around some of the new coaches in
the SEC and ask the question, which of those coaches do you think wins a playoff game
first?
And here is the pool of candidates.
I'm taking Lane Kiffin out just because look, he was out, he was already in the SEC
and Ole Miss and he went to LSU.
I think that one's an easy one to jump to.
But of the guys who are new head coaches here in the SEC, you have Pete Golding at Ole
Miss.
Alex Goldish at Auburn, Ryan Silverfield at Arkansas, John Somerol at Florida and Will Stein
at Kentucky.
Whoever wants to jump in, Steven, I know where you're going.
I'll go over.
Pete Golding, he's won two games already as a head coach.
I mean, he's tied for third all time in the SEC and playoff wins and he's never
kicked the regular season game.
So he's got to be Pete Golding at this point, right?
Yeah, I would certainly, of that list, I would, I mean, Ole Miss is the team of the moment.
They certainly have the quarterback.
They have a good starting 22 and Pete Golding now has playoff experience.
I do think it is a different, you know, it's a different job taking a team 365 days as
opposed to what Pete did at the end of last year, which was really impressive considering
all that was in his lap.
But it is a different deal being the full time head coach for your being responsible for
all of it for a year.
I'm curious to see how that plays out.
But Pete Golding would definitely be my answer here because I just think of all of those
teams that have a new coach Ole Miss is the one that's ready to win the soonest.
Yeah, along with Lane Kiff and Golding is the smart answer.
But you know what, if I'm a betting man and I am, I'm going to take, I'm going to take
the odds and give me, give me goalish, give me Auburn.
I just think that, yeah, I know we like to make fun of Auburn in the 2020s here, but what
do I know about Auburn?
I know that every once in a while it all comes together and it comes together in a big
way.
And I think, if I'm, here's the thing, obviously, hey, Trinidad, Chamblis, Ole Miss,
they got a great shot to make a huge run this year.
What if they lose this season?
What if the Golding thing starts to go off the rails for whatever reason or they're disappointing
for whatever reason?
I do think there's a decent chance here.
I don't know what the odds are for this, but again, hypothetically, give me Auburn and
Alex Goldish.
Yeah.
I wish that that iron bowl was in Auburn this year because I'd be maybe feeling that, but
the fact I got to finish the season in Tuscaloosa, just, I don't like that, but Jimmy, it was
wild the news this week with Alabama sweeping Auburn and baseball, clean sweep in the
iron bowl in the three major sports this year and football, basketball and baseball, Auburn
needs to win something against Auburn and headly women.
No, Alabama took them in gymnastics as well and softball, later in the year, I would like
Alabama's chances there.
I don't think Auburn's very good this year and Alabama looks like a real contender there.
So yes, it's been a great school year for Alabama in terms of beating Auburn and making
the postseason, really, and obviously making the coach football play off, making the basketball
sweet 60.
That's all been great.
I think Alabama fans would would like to see more championship worthy teams, particularly
when it comes to football and men's basketball, but beating the heck out of Auburn and anything,
that is a balm on the wounds of not winning at all for sure.
You know, one thing is interesting on that subject and I was talking with Cory Burton
locked on bandied day.
So if this is wrong, it's because of him apparently Vanderbilt is 11 and one this year against
Tennessee.
Wow.
That's unbelievable.
It's got to hurt.
Yeah.
Probably, I don't leave a mark.
One more note on Auburn, I saw that there was a video at practice earlier this week that
we're playing Dixieland Delight at practice and people were commenting, oh, little brother
can't big, get big brother out of their head and I said, look, I kind of like this because
it's embracing it.
Remember the storyline of Auburn camp last year at this time?
It was Hugh Freese telling his defensive coordinator, go easy on our quarterback.
Don't hit him hard.
And so I'm like, I kind of like Golis is just fully embracing it going, oh, man, we're
the hell with it.
We're diving headfirst into this thing.
I certainly believe Auburn as someone that has to pay a lot of attention to Auburn football,
they clearly upgraded to being the head coach in the head coach department.
I think Golis has a plan.
It's worked.
He did a great job at Tennessee and our Heipel.
He elevated South Florida's program.
These players that he bought to Auburn, I think in some situations or an upgrade, they're
going to be better at quarterback this fall with Byron Brown.
I think it's a good solid hire.
It's just a vicious league.
It's really tough.
It's really tough to build a winning program in this league considering who you have to
compete against every single week.
I think it's that more than anything else that eats everyone up.
I will say this about Auburn, there's going to be a competent offense put out on the
field.
And in year one at Auburn, that might be enough after what we've seen for the last
five years down there on the points, just a competent offense that can put up 30 points
of game at times.
If you can do that, I think they would be okay with a seven and five or six and six season.
And retaining DJ Durkin too.
I mean, that's, that was huge.
They had a new DC.
Maybe we wouldn't be as, you know, saying that about Auburn.
Real quick guys on the group of the, let's take, goaling out, goalish out, silver field
Sumeral Stein, which one wins a playoff game first?
Sumeral's got the best chance to win.
I mean, you know, just just historically Florida and you're recruiting, you know, recruiting
that state, the resources that Florida has.
I would go Sumeral there and let's be honest, I don't think Florida was the only program
really interested in hiring John Sumeral this past off season.
I mean, he's, he obviously several administrations think he's a thing, right?
And he, and, and let's see, I, I think some of the doubts about Sumeral, Florida just
come from the fact that this sort of feels like the Napier higher that didn't work out,
you know, the, the group of five guy from Louisiana and, and Sumeral had even less of a track
record, frankly, but, but I would take Sumeral out of that group, though I do really like
all the hires, and I think what Will Stein has done at Kentucky in a short period of time
is generate excitement in a place that's not easy to do that with football.
It's actually crazy to think about that we're just debating, like literally debating
and it's Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky.
Of course, it's going to be the Florida coach, I mean, that's the way, the way it works.
But wouldn't it be funny if it was Will Stein if he was able to put it together and kind
of Indiana this thing?
Because that's the SEC.
I love that comparison.
Yeah.
That's the SEC comparison.
So, so maybe Kentucky just kind of feels it because the perfect storm that Will Stein was
able to hit is that Pope, Mark Pope just completely craft the bed and all of that money that
they put into that roster, all of a sudden they're funding football at the moment.
And I don't know how long it's going to last, but they're doing it.
They added SEC talent, too, like Lance heard from Tennessee on the old line, C.J.
Backster, they're running back from Texas, Nick Anderson, the wide receiver from LSU.
So it'll be really interesting.
I like it.
And just in terms of the comparison to Arkansas basketball, by the way, of course, Kentucky's
the historically better program.
But of course, where did John Calapari come from, Kentucky?
As long as John Calapari is there, obviously Kentucky is going to be spending a ton of money
on basketball.
So, or excuse me, Arkansas is going to be spending a ton of money on basketball.
So that affects their football program, too.
So for all the people are like, Oh, Kentucky will never spend enough money because of their
basketball program.
That's every bit as much of an issue with John Calapari as long as he's in Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
All right, fellas.
One to return.
I'm going to pose a question to you, which of the SEC's newest members is closer to winning
a national championship?
Well, kick that around with the squad coming your way next.
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All right, SEC squad are all along here.
And guys, the SEC is two most recent additions.
Texas and Oklahoma, Oklahoma last one and last one, a national championship in 2000.
Texas last one in 2005.
I know because the longhorn network is to replay it all the freaking time.
But Texas, they made the playoff in 23 and 24 last year.
Oklahoma made the playoff.
I'll Texas just missed out.
So I ask you squad in your opinion,
which team is closest to winning a national championship first?
Texas or Oklahoma?
I'll go Texas.
I mean, I think there are more,
I think there are more of a complete team this fall.
Now, I do think weirdly, their first two years, Texas kind of was handed a schedule that was,
you know, no one in the SEC has an easy schedule.
No one does, but some are more manageable than others.
And I think Texas had a manageable schedule in years one and two in the SEC.
This year, it's not the case.
I think they do have a tough slate.
And Oklahoma's the one that's really had it tough.
I just like Texas team.
I like the transfer portal pieces they've added.
Archmaning has a lot more help this year.
Last year, completely inexperienced with no help this year.
He's experienced with a lot of help.
They have some questions on the offensive line,
but I like Texas this year as a team I would put, maybe top three in the country.
Yeah, I would agree with that.
Now, I do want to see what a second year John Mateer looks like in the Oklahoma offense.
That's kind of the wild card in this discussion,
because that defense is always going to be salty.
But how does they look offensively?
They can get it together offensively.
They have a chance to go on a little bit of a run.
And real quick on that, Stephen, it's not even in the office.
Like he's familiar with the offense,
because it's been our broccoli right at Washington State.
It's health, right?
That hand injury he never got healthy.
If Mateer's fully healthy, I mean, he looked pretty damn good earlier.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's the game changer.
And the arch that you're supposedly going to get this year is the arch that was at the end of last year,
not the beginning of last year.
And that's worth pointing out as well.
John, you used to play in the big 12 with these two teams.
Pick one.
Yeah, that's the interesting thing to me,
is somebody who does have that big 12 perspective.
You know, Oklahoma's been by far the better program in the last 20, 25 years or so.
Yeah, that 2005 national title by Vince Young.
Aside, I just think that I think that we're being maybe a little bit too dismissive of Oklahoma.
If I have to pick right now, I think, yeah, sure.
I'll go with Texas too.
If you're going to put a gun to my head, proverbially, but I do think that Oklahoma's closer than people think.
That's a program that is not going to take anything lying down as for certain.
What if we'll just flip the quarterbacks?
What if we put arch with this current Oklahoma team and material with this current Texas team?
Does that change your thoughts?
Not much.
Not really.
No, I really don't think it does.
If anything, if anything, I'd be interested to hear what you guys think if we switch the coaches.
Like, what do you guys think of Vanables versus Sarkisian?
It's really interesting that ones, you know, obviously considered one of the better defensive minds in the country, the other one and one of the better offensive minds.
To me, it's a lot about the run game.
Oklahoma could not run the ball a year ago.
They really struggled to run the ball.
Texas goes out and gets two guys in the transfer portal in Hollywood.
Some others from NC State, Relief Brown from Arizona State.
They jettisoned what was in the running back room.
I just like Texas's chances of running the ball better than Oklahoma last year.
I think Oklahoma finished around the 1-10s in rushing nationally.
You know, Alabama was even worse crazy that those teams ended up matching up in the quarter finals of the playoff with Oklahoma around 1-10 in the nation running the ball.
Alabama around 1-20 in the nation running the ball and they both made it that far.
I think both Alabama and Oklahoma have got to run the ball a lot better this year because you're not going to get that fortunate again.
We haven't had many duds in terms of the high profile NIL guys yet.
But Jay not.
I mean, we were all talking him up last off season.
What a dud that turned out to be.
So that's just fascinating.
And the first thing you said, John, when you said switch the coaches made me think,
Will Mustchamp would bust a gasket if Brett Vennibolt was yelling at him all day.
So I don't know if that would work well.
That's that's a fucking wonderful point.
Help me out.
It is.
It is. Well, he used to have Sabin yelling at him and he's he survived that.
Yeah, that's true.
Look, Sark is high on his team.
I mean, I know he was high last year, but he's made some comments.
I don't know if you saw the Chris Low interview this week and on three.
He was saying there's shades of this team that remind him of that band team.
He was coaching with Jalen Waddle and all those wide receivers.
He said in terms of the confidence and the provotto of the guys that they were jarring with those.
DBs that Alabama had studied DBs like Pat Sertain and guys like that.
He said he's kind of seeing shades of that in this Texas team.
So look, he wouldn't put it out there if he didn't feel it.
So feeding the height machine, but I don't think the height machine get cranked up any more than it will be this all season for for Texas.
I fully expect to see them.
I mean, I think it's a top three, top four in every poll along with Georgia Notre Dame Ohio State that group.
Yeah, if I read one more article that Texas is all in on 2026, I get it.
You know, they spent the money in a torch paintings last year at college.
It felt like they were all in last year.
Yeah, compared to everybody else in college football, they're absolutely all in every 100%.
I don't know down the way out of here, guys, Texas A&M.
I saw Josh Payton reviewed Mike Elko this week.
And you know, I just like Elko a lot.
He said blue collar mentality guy.
And you know, they were a playoff team last year.
Really, they should have won that game against Miami.
You're a home team against Miami in college station.
You should have found a way to win that game.
But what's your thoughts on A&M this year with as bad as last year ended for Marcel Reed?
I think Marcel Reed's got to improve.
And he's got to do it behind.
I think a rebuilt offensive line group.
I think that's the big question.
You know they can play defense.
I know they're losing guys on defense too.
They'll be more replaced easily to replace, especially with Mike Elko at coach.
I think Marcel Reed's improvement.
A lot of people are going to be looking at that.
But to me, it's about what's happening up front.
They'll have good players outside in a good back.
To me, it'll be about what happens up front.
It is Marcel Reed taking a step forward in his development for A&M to make a second consecutive playoff appearance.
Yeah, and Colin Collin being not there anymore.
That has me intrigued.
Well, it's not just that it's two new coordinators on both sides of the ball and staying in house.
They promoted Holman Wiggins as the OC and Lyle Hempill as the DC.
And those are the most Texas names I've heard.
Yeah, Holman Wiggins and Lyle Hempill.
But look, in both, every, all reports you hear is people very high on both those guys.
They think that they're both rising stars.
But it's also very risky that you stayed in house.
Because what's the normal move?
You go make the big splash higher.
Get the big name out there.
Small state in house.
Small world because you just, uh, Gordy, you just made a reference a while ago to start talking about that water receiver crew reminding him of the water receiver group at Alabama.
Waddle, Ruggs, Judy, Holman Wiggins was the water receiver coach during that period of time at Alabama.
There you go.
And Isaiah Horton, one of them is better receivers last year's now at A&M.
Yeah.
The starting tackle from Alabama last year will conform be as transferred to A&M as well.
And I was fully expect him to be a starter tackle at A&M this fall.
Yeah, obviously the Aggies hit hit big in the portal at receiver this past this past season.
If they can do it again, that's a big deal.
Because to me, I do think Marcel Reed is a little bit more of a game manager.
And I don't mean that as an insult necessarily.
I just think to read had a much better team to manage this past.
The season in 25 versus 24 offensively.
So I do think a lot of it has to do with what is tech saying input out there.
And of course, hey, if Reed can take a step forward and be more than what I think he is, then.
Well, that's a massive deal too.
And in terms of just promoting from within.
If I'm if I'm an A&M fan, I'm going cool.
Mike Elko's kind of running this defense anyway.
The offensive side of the ball, though, I'm more with Gordy's skepticism for sure.
You know, one thing that is interesting is this is kind of the frugal era of Texas A&M after the Jimbo opulence and all of that.
I'm curious, you know, they're promoting from within and not going after the splash hires and all that.
Kind of going anti Texas A&M for people that's been in the SEC for, you know, longer than two years.
So that's going to be interesting to see the important thing is don't try to make Marcel Reed into Tom Brady.
But don't try to make him into Tommy Frazier.
There's there's a fine line that you have to walk with him, but you can't take away his legs.
I'll tell me I'll defend him.
He was pretty awesome for like 75% of the season.
And then like that first half against South Carolina, he was bad second half.
He was awesome.
They rallied that comeback.
It was really the Texas game.
He wasn't great.
And then the bowl game was his worst game of the season, which was a playoff game.
I think that kind of leaves that lasting memory of where he was bad, but go look back at the rest of the season.
He was pretty awesome and a lot of those games.
So Jets, we will leave it there.
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I'm Gordie and we'll talk to you guys next week on the squad show.
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Locked On Bulldogs - Daily Podcast On Georgia Bulldogs Football & Basketball

Locked On Bulldogs - Daily Podcast On Georgia Bulldogs Football & Basketball

Locked On Bulldogs - Daily Podcast On Georgia Bulldogs Football & Basketball
