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SEC Preview Ep. 1 · The Saturday Slate Football Show

• Canon Stogner: And we are live. Welcome to the very first episode of the Stogner Wright College Football Show. I'm Candace Stagner, your host, joined by Andrew Wright, your co-host, and we are very excited to get this thing going. we're gonna talk about football, give our opinions, maybe argue about things we probably should be arguing about, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way. today we're gonna kick things off by talking about SEC football. as you can tell, we are South Carolina fans. Andrew Wright: Well Canon Stogner: So that is what we know most about. That is what we're gonna talk most about. And that is also probably the best conference that everybody agrees with mostly. So it's probably the most exciting podcast to talk about or conference to talk about. we're gonna talk about who's being overlooked, who's getting way too much hype, and what to expect this season. There's something you want talk to us about or have a question that you want us to answer, we will have a voicemail box opening by the time our next podcast is put out. or you can also leave a comment on the YouTube page, or we'll also be posting clips on Twitter or X and Instagram and TikTok. So if you have any questions or any comments you would like to make, please reach out and hopefully we'll see it and talk about it. so with that being said. Let's get right into it. How are you feeling, Andrew? Andrew Wright: Canon, I'm great. Glad to be here, excited about this, looking forward to some good discussion. Canon Stogner: It feels like this is a long-awaited podcast. Andrew Wright: Long long time coming. Long time coming. Canon Stogner: for those of you who do not know us, me and Andrew went to school together in college. we also went to high school together and middle school all throughout our life. we played Andrew Wright: And and and elementary. Canon Stogner: and elementary, yeah, of course. and it seems like everything that we do in our life is surrounded by sports. We get a lot of arguments about sports, we have a lot of disagreements. We also have a few things that we agree on, which is Andrew Wright: Yep. Yep. Mm-hmm. That's right. Canon Stogner: South Carolina football, which is very rare for South Carolina fans. Andrew Wright: That's right. Canon Stogner: Okay. Which I'm glad we're talking about that because I am going to speak for all South Carolina fans on the very first episode. I'm sure most fans who are listening to this will be people that know us, and most of them are South Carolina fans anyways. So that is what we're going to talk about. Okay. I think there are three questions that fans want to know. That have been unanswered, I would say for probably last two or three years in Beamer's tenure. and I think the first question is: how is the offensive line going to be? and I am here to tell you, I expect them to be a lot better than past year or maybe past two or three years. they notoriously always have a bad offensive line. Okay. but I think they'll be different. They brought in a lot of transfer guys. They retained a few guys that's were on the team last year that started, Josiah Thompson. Although he is not expected to play this year, I think he'll be good for the locker room as this is his third year there. they also have Shed Surratt who was a freshman last year and filled in some big shoes and actually was probably the best offensive lineman we had last year. We also brought in the top ranked offensive tackle from NC State to carry us peak. He is expected to have a big season. Now he is a little banged up right now because of a knee injury playing in the football team's basketball tournament they always do. not sure that was the greatest idea, but here we are. He is expected to be ready by the time the season starts, which is what, how many days are we away? Andrew Wright: We are if you count week zero, we are I believe fifteen days away. Canon Stogner: Okay, so we're fifteen days away. Is that Thursday or Saturday? Andrew Wright: should be a Saturday, which means it'd be thirteen, not fifteen. I can't do math. Canon Stogner: Okay. So that means we're about twenty days away from South Carolina's kickoff against Kent State. Andrew Wright: Yep. Yep. Canon Stogner: so, anyways, back to the offensive line. They brought in a lot of transfer guys from JUCO and D2 schools and a lot of smaller schools. However, I think one thing that's very important nowadays is the transfer portal. And if you look at Indiana, the team who won the championship last year, their offensive line, their entire roster of offensive linemen. Have a total number of the highest amount of snaps over anybody in the rest of college football. Well, funny, South Carolina actually has the has retained the top spot on that list. Everybody on that team tallies up to the most overall snaps in college football. And I think that is very important. Now, SEC snaps are a little bit different than D two JUCO snaps, but the experience that you get playing football is very important. And I think If older guys are a lot more mature, they're stronger, they're older, you know, they just understand the college football lifestyle a little bit more and hopefully they can have a camaraderie in the locker room that is important for the younger guys and even for all the new guys that are always joining the team every year. I think that's important. So I do think the offensive line will be a lot better this year, more much more improved. They have a new offensive line coach, Randy Clements. I think He is good. He seems more of kind of like a, you know, toes in the dirt, mean guy that is probably good for the team because they're notoriously soft. but I also think, I mean, Shane Beamer has talked a lot about how a lot of sacks last year were on Lenore Sellers, which I know there are a couple clips that have been, you know, going crazy on Twitter about him staying in the pocket a little too long or looking to run too fast, not going through his reads. But I do think A lot of that has to do with how bad the offensive line is. I mean, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: if you're snapping the ball and automatically seeing a big defensive tackle right in your face, it's hard to go through your progressions and not just want to run immediately. but I mean, as you saw two years ago, you could see his talent a little bit more, especially the last couple of weeks in the season. And he was a lot better. I think the offensive line was a lot better two years ago. but yeah, I think defenses are playing a little bit different, which Why I think the second question fans won't answer is how can Lenora Sellers and Kendall Browles, the new offense coordinator, mend together and make them a better offense? last year they had a really hard time running the ball, which means you get into these second and nine, second and eight, second and long plays where it's a passing down. And I think Lenora Sellers is very easy to defend when it is an obvious passing down. the receiving core is not great. The tight ends aren't very fast, they're not getting vertical, and the offensive line isn't blocking for that long. So I think just a mix of that and bad calling with Shula was just a bad mix altogether. And I think Kendall Browles, I mean, I think he would be a lot better this year than Mike Shula. I mean, a lot of fans didn't like him. Apparently, a lot of the players didn't like him. And Kendall Browles has a better track record. I mean, he brought KJ Jefferson in Arkansas to a very good team and they they were contenders, not an SEC championship contenders, but they were a pretty good team. he also had Jaden Hasselwood, who was a great receiver at Arkansas. I mean, I think Nick Harper's probably got a little bit better talent than he does. So I think that is important. which I also think the running game now Kinda Brawls Rocket Sanders at Arkansas, and he was very good. Rocket Sanders transferred to South Carolina, and he had a very good year for South Carolina. But last year they lagged in the running game category, and that is one thing this year that I don't think they improved much on. I think they have a deeper depth and a lot more talent back there, but I don't think there's any top dog or anybody who's just going to run away in the running back room. so I think. Any game could be anybody's running the ball or toting the rock that has the most carries out of anybody. so I think the running game is important for Lenore Sellers. I think it's important for the offensive line. I just think overall the offense should be better this year. only time will tell. a lot of receivers stayed. I think they only lost one receiver from last year. That didn't get go to the draft. That was too old in Brian Ru. But other than that, I think the receiving core is a lot older, probably a lot more athletic and faster. so I think that would be good. And then number three is who is going to replace Nick Eminemori? Now, I know this will be the second year without him, but last year I think that was their biggest hole on defense was they didn't have nobody that brought a mean attitude and physicality to the defense, especially on the back end playing safety. but I think this year will be. A lot better. they have safety, Josevion Currents from South Point. I think he's expected to get playing time. They have Peyton Williams, who's under his third year of experience, or maybe fourth year. I think he may be a senior. so I think that's the three big questions that need to be answered is offensive line, how Lenorris and Kendall Brawls will mend together, and who's going to replace Nikki Mi Wari. Now, I will say one thing about the defense. Obviously, everybody talks about Dylan Stewart, but I think a very underrated aspect of the defense is the linebackers. last year they were very young and everybody was new to the system and the team. But this year they have J.R. Johnson who's returning. He was a starter last year. They have Sean Murphy, who was played a lot of snaps last year. Justin Okaranku or whatever his name is from Alabama. This is his second year. They're a lot older. they put on a lot more muscle in the weight room. So I think they're Defense will be pretty good this year. They brought in a top defensive tackle from Illinois. so I think besides who's gonna play safety, the biggest question is who's gonna be the opposite of Dylan Stewart. Can somebody get pressure? Because you know Stuart's gonna see a lot of bodies on the on his side. and hopefully he's healthy. I know he hasn't practiced at all since he's Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: since he's been with South Carolina this all season, but Beamer said he's gonna be available, but who knows? And one thing about South Carolina I think has been flying under the radar is last year they did not have a kicker. Okay. He was very shaky. He couldn't kick it deep. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: He couldn't keep kick it far. I think this year having a kicker who's more talented or has more experience is going to be very important for them. I mean, last year a lot of games going into halftime, they'd be fifty yard have a fifty yard field goal and they couldn't kick it 'cause he couldn't get it he couldn't get it there. Or, I mean, he would even miss 40 yarders. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: they brought in Upton Bellanfont, I think is his name. He started at Buffalo with Pete Lembo and then he transferred to Texas Tech. He only kicked six field goals last year. he did go six for six, but he also had like a 90 field goal percentage at Buffalo the year before. I think he went twenty-four for twenty-seven or something like that. So I think he's a lot more consistent, a lot more accurate. He has experience. Which is important for kicking. So I think even special teams is something that you have to talk about and pay attention to because there was a lot of times last year where they just missed out on three points for easy points when drive stalled. so Andrew, what do you have on South Carolina? Andrew Wright: Just the the thing with like you said with Browse and Norris getting them together and Mendy we've kinda heard Beamer talk about it, kind of the conversation he had with Norris, Hey, who are some guys you like? Kinda let me know. And the fact that Shane was on the way to meet with Kendall Browse when Norris Texas said, Hey, Kendall Browse, I love this guy. Like that tells you they should be able to get in sync pretty well together. I think they probably have, should have by now. it will be kind of tough to tell that I would say, with Towson and Kent State in the first two weeks. Like you're not gonna know. We're not opening the playbook to page six against Towson and Kent Canon Stogner: Right. Andrew Wright: State. Like it's gonna be very vanilla. So yeah, just seeing them at least progress through the small things in the first two weeks of the season leading into Mississippi State in week three. And then with the special teams. Like Beamer Ball. That's what we've heard since twenty twenty one. Beamer ball, beamer ball, special teams. And it's it's been prevalent for the most part the first four seasons. And then last year, Vicari Swain the first two weeks of the season, like beamer ball. It's still here. It's still here. Canon Stogner: Exploded. Andrew Wright: And then it disappeared. Absolutely disappeared the rest of the season. So yeah. A kicker making plays on special teams, block punts, block kick, but that has to come back at some point. You can't keep priding yourself on beamer ball and special teams without those kind of things. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right. I think the first two weeks they're going to be very vanilla. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: I mean, they'll be lucky if they can get Lenoris out of there in the third or fourth quarter. they are yeah, they always they always struggle Andrew Wright: Yeah, we we've seen them struggle against those kind of those bad teams early in the season. Canon Stogner: against those bad teams. which is funny, but they do. especially the first half. They always come out Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: slow and you know, it's but I mean that's understandable. You have a new system, new players Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: all around you with the transfer portal now. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: So that's expected, but yeah, so you probably won't have a lot of answers or questions answered the first two weeks, but I think you'll have a better feel of what the team will look like and what type of team it's going to be. starting week three, week four, week five. 'Cause I think Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: the those three games is Mississippi State, Alabama, and Kentucky and Andrew Wright: Mississippi State, Alabama. Yep. Canon Stogner: Kentucky. So I mean that's a pretty open that's a pretty big open stretch in the SEC because those are very winnable games. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: even Alabama. Alabama's not I don't think they're nearly as good as they were, obviously Andrew Wright: Not Canon Stogner: as good as Alabama's supposed to be. right now they have a QB position open. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: four-year starter or four-year backup who's been with Kellanda Board for a while. and then I think they have a freshman, Keelan Russell, who is also fighting for the job. So they really don't know who their quarterback is. so yeah, I think getting those starting out five and maybe four and one. in those first five games is important leading into the tough stretch of the schedule Andrew Wright: Bruh. Canon Stogner: because it gets really tough. They have AM, they have Tennessee at home. they have Oklahoma. They go to Oklahoma correct. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: and then they'll finish off with Georgia and Clemson, Andrew Wright: It clumson, yeah. Canon Stogner: which obviously Clemson's a non-conference game, but that two years ago it had very big stakes for the College football playoff. Now, obviously, South Carolina ended up winning that game and still didn't make it to the playoff, and Clemson did. But that game could be very important at the latter part of the year. So yeah, I think hopefully that answers a lot of the questions about South Carolina. but even for us, I think time will tell what they exactly look like. so Andrew, let's head into our coaches' rankings. So we are going to rank Andrew Wright: All right. Canon Stogner: The coaches from 16 to 1. So how you want to think about this is if or you want to have the coach who you would want coaching your team. Okay. So it'd be Kirby Smart, coaching Arkansas, or you know, anybody. You just put in which coach do you think is the best coach in SEC conference? I'll start. So at number 16, I think this is pretty easy. I don't know a lot about him. I know he came from Memphis and he actually had a very good record at Memphis. Now the teams are playing, it's a little bit different, but I would say Ryan Silverfield from Memphis, who is the head coach at Arkansas now, is probably sixteenth on my list. Don't know a lot about him. Arkansas did not have a great recruiting class. They also have the third toughest schedule in the SEC. So I think he's going to be off to a slow start. But luckily for him, they'll keep him for a while because Sam Pittman was well past his time Andrew Wright: Ha Canon Stogner: and he was still coaching for years and years and years. So yeah. Who do you have at sixteen? Andrew Wright: I also have Ryan Silverfield, like you said, coming from Memphis in the AAC. Don't know a lot of about him. It's it's tough to go from AAC to Arkansas to the SEC. So yeah, like you said, tough really tough schedule. Not a great recruiting class. Number thirty three, transfer portal class, just gonna be a tough learning year for him. Canon Stogner: Yeah. you're absolutely right. Now who'd you have at fifteen? I had Alex Golish at Auburn. Andrew Wright: fifteen I went I went Will Stein at fifteen at Kentucky. Really, really Canon Stogner: Okay. yeah, so I went Andrew Wright: really good portal class for him, but it's like I still don't know a lot about him. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I not a fan of Will Stein. I thought what he said at the SEC Media Day was very cocky and I think things are going to be eye-opening for him. Will Stein, the head coach of Kentucky. somebody asked him, like, why do you think things will be different this year at Kentucky as opposed to other years? And his response was, Because I'm here. And I think that was a very bold statement. I mean, he's coming from Oregon. which Oregon obviously always recruits well. Their Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: schedule's always middle of the pack. They play some tough teams, especially now being in Big Ten, but then they also have a very easy schedule in the Big Ten. So he really doesn't have to show much, but I mean, he was offense coordinator against Indiana and I mean he was he got embarrassed against Indiana. He was the offense coordinator against Texas Tech and I think that game was what, thirteen to ten or ten to six or something like that. so Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Very, very, very low score. Canon Stogner: I think he was very bold to talk like that. especially his quarterback his starting quarterback this year has passed for less than two hundred yards in his career. Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: th he's this is his third year in college and he has no SEC experience. He's coming from Notre Dame, I believe. So I think that's going to be very eye opening. They also had the worst recruiting class in the SEC. They had a top ten transfer class, but overall, high school and transfer portal, he had the worst recruiting class in the SEC. So I think things can be tough for them. And they also have the fourth hardest schedule. they are at AM, they Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: are at Oklahoma, they're at Texas, and then they also have Alabama LSU and a non conference game, Louisville at home. So those are all very Andrew Wright: That's that sounds like one six to me. Canon Stogner: those are very tough games. And I mean even the South Carolina fans, they struggle against us. I mean South Carolina Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: beat thirty five fourteen last year or something like that. So Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: I just think for him to say that at SEC Media Days sets himself up for very little success. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: And when you say things like that, your fan base expects you to win immediately. So that's that's who you had at fifteen. I had Alex Golish at fifteen from Auburn. He's another guy I don't know much about. He came from UAB or US F Andrew Wright: South South Florida, yep. Canon Stogner: Yeah, he came from US F. I don't know much about him. Auburn has the 12th hardest schedule in the SEC. So they're at the lower part of the pack, sort of easy schedule. But obviously, any team in the SEC does not really have an easy conference schedule. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: So I think things would be pretty tough with him. He brought a lot of guys from USF with him. He brought his quarterback Bryant Bayern Brown, who is a dual threat quarterback. He's very good. He can run very good. His passing's a little bit shaky, I think. So I think he was probably he's fifteenth on my list. so heading into fourteen, I have Jeff Levy at Mississippi State. Which Andrew Wright: Yep. I as I have Jeff Levy as well. Canon Stogner: yeah, which I put him at fourteen, which is obviously the bottom half of the group. But I think this year could be a very sneaky year for Mississippi State. their quarterback, Comario Taylor, a lot of people do not know about him, but he is very good. he will probably be in the same like dynamic as Lenora sellers, Marcel Reed. I mean, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. So read. Yep. Canon Stogner: he played last year against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl and he lit them up. And you know, Ole Miss made it all the way to the semifinals this past year, right? Or the Yeah. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: So I think Camario Taylor will help him out a lot. Mississippi obviously just struggles with recruiting. They may be able to get more recruits now that Lane Kiffin's gone because everybody knows the recruiting track that he has, but I still that's who I had at fourteen. Is that who you had? Andrew Wright: I did. I just think like they they're sneaky, like you said, they it's a sneaky year. Means you just look back at last year, the game they're up by seventeen on Texas with what, six minutes left in the game. Like Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: if if they win that game, I think we look at Jeff Levy a lot differently than we do right now. But they didn't. Canon Stogner: Yes. Andrew Wright: So he like he he doesn't have the respect to move up. Like you can't you can't lose that game at home. Canon Stogner: Yeah, and then I'm absolutely right. Even as a South Carolina fan, I mean that's who that's South Carolina's first SEC game. It's at home for South Carolina, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: but I think a lot of fans are overlooking that, including me, just because we look at we Andrew Wright: Right, yeah. That's not one yeah. Canon Stogner: we we look at the A and N's and the Georgias and the Tennessees, but Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: Mississippi I think they're gonna surprise a lot of people this year. Now, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: they could still very well go, you know, five and four or four and five in the SEC, but I don't think they're gonna Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: be no you're no rollover. Andrew Wright: Right, no, not at all. Canon Stogner: at thirteen, who'd you have? Andrew Wright: I went goal, I Alex Goelish at thirteen. if you would have asked me about Alex Golish before last season, would have probably had him at fifteen or sixteen. But he got USF off to that hot start, beating Florida on the road. Like so I think that experience will already help him. He's he's beaten an SEC team. So at least that little jump gives him the experience. like you said, brought Byron Brown with him, who at his full potential could be one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in college football. Just improve on the Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: passing. really good portal class, number nine in the country. And like Auburn's gonna get players. Like that's always gonna be a thing. So Canon Stogner: Correct. Yeah. Andrew Wright: yeah, I mean, he's got a lot of talent he brought with him. Auburn's I Auburn's a sneaky team this year, if if they can get consistent play from Byron Brown and kind of what Goalish brought with him. So I I have Goalish at thirteen. Canon Stogner: Yeah, they have the twelfth easiest schedule. Or the twelfth hardest schedule, the fourth easiest Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: schedule in the SEC. So I mean they have a favorable side of the conference. so yeah, that could be interesting. I had Clark Lee at Vandy. Now he was I questioned where I was gonna put him, either at nine or thirteen, somewhere between there. I just think this year he's probably Gonna take a step back without Diego Pavia and a lot of those guys. He lost his two tight ends. I think he lost his leading receiver. I think they're used to being the rollover team in the SEC. I don't think they have been recently, but I do think they will take a massive step back this year. I definitely don't think you'll see a full crowd by the end of the game by Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: the end of the season. number twelve, this is the one I was most excited to talk about. I had John Summer on here. And I think John Summerl can be a great coach. He's obviously at a good school where you can recruit well and has national championships in their past. But I think a lot Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: of people have been praising Florida and been giving them a lot of credit and you know, just talking so good about John Summer and everybody else on that team. And they do have a decent offense, except for the most important part, the quarterback. Andrew Wright: Mm. Yep. Canon Stogner: They don't know who their quarterback is yet. And Two guys that are fighting for it are not having like zero experience in the SEC or if at any college football. So I think Florida is being well overlooked or well overpraised. they have the sixth hardest schedule. They're playing at Texas, which is probably a loss. They're playing at Georgia, and you know Georgia doesn't lose at home. They play Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and they had the eighth best recruiting class in the SEC, which Hopefully Florida fans will hope he's a little bit higher. so yeah, that's who I had, John Summer. Now I will say he is a great speaker at the podium and Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: he brings this very intense vibe and you know, moving turf out of the weight room because they have it right outside the building. But Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: I think he's going to, you know, his eyes will probably be open very early as well. And they also their non conference games Florida State. So Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: they have a very hard schedule. Andrew Wright: So yeah, I I have Summerall at twelve as well. I definitely think we disagree on Florida's outlook to the season. You kinda think they're a little overhyped. I kinda have was a little underlooked, maybe. Like you did mention the schedule, but I think I think they kinda lucked out on the road games. Like at Texas obviously is a tough game and Georgia's obviously a tough game. But I think they really lucked out on schedule and Florida State, I don't think anybody's scared of Florida State in twenty twenty six. Norvale'll probably be fired by the by that game. Thanksgiving weekend. See, I mean, once again, another guy, no SEC experience yet. Did get two lanes to the playoff last year. Now he got boat raced, but he was managing two teams at once. We gotta remember that. Managing two teams at once. Yeah. Canon Stogner: Mm. Andrew Wright: Goalship twelve makes it not a lot of experience, but I think I think Ford is in for a sneaky good year if they can figure out that quarterback situation. And that's a big F because you gotta have a quarterback winning an SEC. Canon Stogner: That's you're absolutely right. number eleven, I have Will Stein. I've already thought about him though. Andrew Wright: eleven. Hurt my heart to do it. I had Shane Beamer at eleven. There's just too many too many ebbs and flows with him. You know, w he me he g he gets there in twenty what twenty one first year. And since then it's been bad, good, bad, good, bad, good. It's just I need I need ca I need I I need consistency Canon Stogner: Well, bad. Last year was bad, so this year shi Andrew Wright: from Shane Beamer. well we got into it again. Beamer ball, that's gotta come back. just gotta be more consistent all around. like see if if you ask if you ask Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean Andrew Wright: me Shane Beamer. after the twenty twenty four season, he's up there in the top five, six, seven coaches in the SEC. And then he goes out and w lay an egg last year. Like that's he's gotta slide down the list a little bit. Canon Stogner: Correct. And I have him Shane Beamer at ten. but I will say one thing, Shane Beamer is not known for any side of the ball. He's known for the special teams, which is cute and all, but if you look at the rest of my list, every single coach that is above him has a specialty. And Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: I can talk about that here in a minute, but every coach that is below Shane Beamer on this list is has a specialty, whether it's offense or defense. And I think Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: that's important. so yeah, I think Shane Beamer is a great recruiter. I think he's Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: a great motivator. He has done a great job at retaining most players, and even the guys that Andrew Wright: Right, absolutely. Canon Stogner: even the guys that he's lost has, you know, went to another school and did not play as much as they did at South Carolina or didn't get drafted, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: Juice Wells, or Jaheen Bell. Andrew Wright: Think about it Canon Stogner: But he has done a very good job of retaining Lenore Sellers, who I think Auburn was a team that threw a bag at him. He's done a very good job retaining Dylan Stewart. Nick Harbor. Andrew Wright: Nick Harbor. Yeah. Like in in today's world in today's world it's so hard to retain your really good star players and I mean he's done it. Canon Stogner: And also another thing about him is I w I think this is the best staff he's had yet. He is very, very fortunate and lucky that he has retained Clayton White for as long as he Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: has. Clayton White's the top defense coordinator in college football. And he has Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: proven that. He's kept South Carolina in a lot of games. And then you also have Kendall Browse, who, like I said, he has a track record of being a great offensive coordinator. Lane Kiffens spoke highly about him. So I do Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: think this is the best staff he's put together. obviously the fans care about what's on the field. So I did have him at ten and that's really no slouch at him because the guys under him are, you know, top coaches Andrew Wright: Mm. Right. Canon Stogner: that any school would rather have over their coach that they have currently. so number nine I have Eli Drankowicz. Andrew Wright: I had drinkwoods at ten. I just ca I I I have nothing good to say about Eli Drinkwoods. Not a thing. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I'm not I'm not a fan of Drankowitz. I don't like his actions or the things that he says. however, he has recruited pretty well. He recruits well out of the high school and transfer Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: portal, but he also finds talent from the smaller schools. I mean, Amad Hardy Amod Hardy is probably the best running back in college football. If Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: if not the best, he'll probably be the first running back drafted. he is very good. Now I do think His quarterback position is a little shaky. He has Austin Simmons this year who transferred from Ole Miss, which we didn't see much of him last year because he got hurt. And I don't want to say it was his job to lose, but obviously he had Trinidad waiting behind him who when he took the job, he just never gave it back. So I think that will be an interesting dynamic to see this year. he is definitely a pretty good coach. I do not like the things that he says or the things that he Andrew Wright: No. Canon Stogner: does, but That's what I have it nine. number Andrew Wright: I yeah, you look you look up you look up every year and they're seven and two and they're in the top twenty five. Like it it makes zero sense. But yeah, I mean he's obviously definitely Canon Stogner: Yeah, they they had the third Andrew Wright: a good coach somehow, but I just don't I just don't like him. Canon Stogner: They have the fourth easiest schedule this year too. So I mean they're definitely they're definitely probably gonna finish pretty good and it'll sneak up on teams. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Always. Canon Stogner: number eight, I had Calen DeVore. Andrew Wright: I had Hypo at nine and I had Brent Venable at number eight. Canon Stogner: Okay. Kellen De Boer, let's just talk about him real quick. unfortunately for him, he had to take that job leaving Washington. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: I don't know who's not gonna take a job that Nick Saban left. which also leads to the most pressure job is filling Andrew Wright: Right. He to he put the hardest job in the world. Canon Stogner: yeah, filling in behind Nick Saban's shoes. And I really hate that form. I think he's a pretty good coach. I think he's Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: a great guy. And I think a lot of times he lets the pressure that fans and the media puts on him show. But I do think one day he will turn it around. Now, do I think that would be this year? Probably not. Like I said, they don't know who their quarterback is yet. they have a pretty favorable schedule. They also had the number one recruiting class in the SEC. So he definitely has some guys coming in. But like we said earlier, quarterback position is the most important. And When you're heading into August and September when the season's about to start, less than a month away, and you don't know who your quarterback is, that's not good. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: so that's who I had at eight. Now who'd you say you had you had Brent Venables at eight? Andrew Wright: so if I had yeah I had yeah, Josh Heifel at nine, just again just to touch on him quickly. Just another person just don't really like. I mean, soccer on Tennessee Ravaly is a real thing. And but once again, I mean Hippel's gotten them to a playoff. he lost his quarterback in April last year. Like that's that's a tough thing to navigate. Just yeah, just real quick, Heifel at nine, yeah, Brent Venable at eight. he's kinda like sh Shane Beamer in regards. good season, bad season. obviously last year getting Oklahoma to the playoffs, but again You're up seventeen nothing on your home turf and you lose that game, like you're gonna you go have to slide down the list a few spots. You cannot lose that game as a home team in the playoffs up three scores. And so for and then with Canon Stogner: Yeah, I you're absolutely right. Yeah, I'd Andrew Wright: the boy being the coach of the team that came back, he flipped up my list quite a few spots. Canon Stogner: I did have Brent Venables at number three. Andrew Wright: I had Kay Wynn DeBoy at number three. Canon Stogner: I don't think we see eye to eye, but I did clarify before this segment started, who do you want coaching your team? And I Andrew Wright: That's right. Yep. Canon Stogner: think Brent Venables would be awesome at South Carolina or any other school that I cheer for. However, this year you could be right because they do have the second hardest schedule. They're at Georgia. They play Texas, they're also Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: at Michigan for a non conference game. So, and I think Michigan be better this year too. So I I do think Brent Venables has a very tough job this year, but he retained a lot of players. He has John Matir. You know his defense is always going to be really good. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Always going to be really good. And I don't know who it is, but their offense coordinator is very good. He runs very creative and like widespread and he throws the ball down the field a lot. So I think Oklahoma is probably the most interesting team. Cause like I said, they do have a very hard schedule, but they also have a very good roster and very high expectations. so yeah, I did have him at three, but number seven, I had Pete Golding. Now we only saw what three games of him last year. Two Andrew Wright: Yep, just to play off. Canon Stogner: two two three games of him last year. but he is you know, the Nick Saban tree, he's from the Nick Saban tree. He retained Trinidad. Who I think is the best quarterback in the SEC this year. Andrew Wright: Yep, as do I. Canon Stogner: he's a defensive guy, minded guy, and he retained a lot of his players. They only lost one player, one starter this year. So I think they are going to be really good. And they have the seventh hardest schedule. They do have Georgia at home. They had had to play at Oklahoma, but that is really their only tough elite game on the road. So I do think Pete Golding is probably You know, I think that Ole Miss will have a good year. Andrew Wright: I had I had Clark Lee at seven. just obviously having a quarterback for the first time in maybe the history of the program that was actually decent helped. But man, you gotta do some kind of special work to get Vandy out of the slums. Well was well Canon Stogner: Yeah, you're right. Andrew Wright: it was was Derek Wool was goodness, what was their coach's name? Derek What? Canon Stogner: Derek not Derek Lee. Derek Mason. Andrew Wright: Derrick Mason, like Derek Mason carried himself a certain way, but they weren't winning. Clark Lee Canon Stogner: Yeah, but Andrew Wright: Clark Lee carries himself a certain way and they won. Somehow, some way Clark Lee got those guys to believe and be out of freaking Bama. Canon Stogner: But here's the thing about Vanderbilt, Andrew. Obviously, they are a very smart school. Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: And you know, I don't know what it is, engineering or whatnot, but they are they are very thought-of school outside of football or athletics. Like their education is very big. I Andrew Wright: Right. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: just think when all the transfer portal and NIL stuff was illegal, they were doing things the right way. Because Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: Vanderbilt has a lot of money. I mean, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: you you can imagine all these doctors and people that live in Nashville. Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: Donating to now. And I think ever since NIL has been illegal, Vanderbilt has been really good. Or not Andrew Wright: Right, it certainly it definitely has helped. Canon Stogner: yeah, I mean they've they compete with teams. They're usually the team that you pray to have on your schedule. But the last couple Andrew Wright: Yeah. Absolutely. Canon Stogner: of years I think people were, you know, kind of nervous to play especially when they upset Alabama. They beat the crap out of South Carolina last year. Andrew Wright: Ten they beat the crap out of Tennessee last year as well. At Tennessee. Canon Stogner: Yeah. So so I do think just ever since NIL came around and, you know, everything was made legal, they have really took taken off. Andrew Wright: Right. And I'm kinda with you. I I feel s feel very strongly they will take a step back this year, but I don't think Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: it'll be because of Clark Lee. Canon Stogner: Right. at number six I had Josh Hypo. I know we got into him. he very he runs a very different offense than everybody else. They're very fast. They spread everybody out. They use all fifty three and a half yards or what however wide Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: a football field is. however I don't know about them this year. Their quarterback question is still unanswered. They have I think his name's George McIntyre or something McIntyre. He's a red shirt freshman or a red shirt sophomore. They also had a a four or five star quarterback come in who I think from reports I've seen he is leading to start. But like I said earlier, now that we're playing nine SEC games, that SEC schedule is a lot tougher. You have to show up every week and you know play your best football because nobody's a slouch. but they do have the 14th e or the third easiest schedule. So I think that could help their quarterback position a lot. obviously playing at Tennessee's very difficult. They're one of the biggest sta stadiums. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Tennessee's also a very you know, they recruit very well. I mean, I told you my dad has always said he's a diehard Game Cop fan, but he's always said if he was a five star recruit and he didn't go to South Carolina, he would go to Tennessee. So Tennessee Andrew Wright: Yeah, yeah. Canon Stogner: is Tennessee is very attractive. so I do think Josh Hyper should be very high on that list. number five, who do you have? Andrew Wright: six, Pete Golding. We kinda touched on him. five, I have Mike Elko at Texas A and Canon Stogner: Me as well. I had Mike Elko. you know, l he had a heartbreaker last year as well at home against Miami in Andrew Wright: Yep. Miami. Yep. Canon Stogner: the playoff game. but he did lose. I think he lost the most amount of people to the draft this past year. Andrew Wright: Yeah, they lost they lost ten starters to the draft this year. Canon Stogner: Yeah. However, he did keep Marcel Reid, who's one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. so you never know with them. They're obvious obviously very good at home. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: they play a little bit different football with Mike Elko. This will be his third year there, correct? Andrew Wright: Believe so. Canon Stogner: So this will be his third year there. They run the ball a lot. They have very big, strong, big offensive line guys that block very well. so I had him at number five, obviously. The money that AM has, the fan base they have, and you know, in the state of Texas, they really just have everything going right for Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: So it's a matter of can they win? number four. Now I I have a feeling you may disagree with this, or Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: maybe Texas fans will disagree with this, but I had Steve Sarkeesian at number four. I'll be honest with you, I'm very excited to watch Texas this year. They Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: brought in an incredible class. obviously everybody talks about Arch Manning. I do not think Arch Manning is very good. He is not Andrew Wright: I'm a hundred percent hundred percent with you on that. Canon Stogner: he I will not be spoiler alert, he did not make my top five SEC list, quarterback list. and I think even in the games they won last year, I know they got hot towards the end of the year, they kinda already lost out on the playoff, but Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Towards the end of the year last year, they were playing A and and he had a guy wide open the end zone. And all he had to do was literally just hand it to him and Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: he almost overthrows him. The guy has to make a like one handed catch it back at the end zone, like toe tap. It wouldn't have been a catch in the NFL. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: so I do think Arch Manning has a lot of pressure on him. I think people are expecting a lot of him. They brought in the number one receiver, Cam Coleman from Auburn. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: but I think a lot of people are right in Texas into the college football playoff. I'm very hesitant on that due to the fact that they have the hardest schedule. They play Ohio State. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: They play at AM and at LSU, which AM and LSU are the two hardest statements to play at. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Brutal schedule. Canon Stogner: And you're bringing Arch Manning, who has, I hate to say it, he has folded under pressure many a times. Now, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: I do think. A lot of teams will play him differently this year, kinda like they do Lenora Sellers or quarterbacks that are run heavy. I do think he has proven that he has legs that can escape and, you know, break out big plays. So I do think teams will play them a little different this year and make him stay in the pocket. So I think it'll be very interesting to see how he, you know, can throw the ball down the field because this is Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: this is his year to get drafted. a lot of people are writing him in for the mock drafts as number number one, number two quarterback being drafted. who do you have? Andrew Wright: I I d I don't I don't hate Sark at four. I had Lane Kippen at four. Just and I think really two through four probably on our list. You could flip flop any way you wanted to. obviously we know what kind of coach Lane Kiffin is. I mean he took Ole Miss to one of the most relevant programs in the hist like in their history, regardless of how you feel about what he did, leaving. He's an excellent football coach and L S U should have very good success. Lane Kiffin could coach anybody. Canon Stogner: And you're yeah, he could. I I hate to say it for the old Miss fans. I do think he did the right thing taking the LSU job. That's a pr Andrew Wright: Right, a hundred percent. Canon Stogner: that's a high profile job that most coaches would take. I do think Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: the way that it was handled was probably a little poor. However, I don't think Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: much of that was his fault. I think a lot of it was the old Miss athletic director and their Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: front office or whatnot. so I do think, yeah, LSU would be very good. Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: He had the number one recruiting class, which he or number one transfer class, which he always recruits well. He Andrew Wright: Proclassic. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: brings in a lot of guys that everybody else is after, but he also finds talent from smaller schools like Trinidad, who Andrew Wright: I can't, yeah. Canon Stogner: yeah. So I had a I had Lane Kiffin at two. I think Lane Kiffin's the top three coach in college football. I think you would only put who I had number one on the list was Kirby Smart and Ryan Day over him. Andrew Wright: Yep. Absolutely. Canon Stogner: So you had Kirby Smart at one. Andrew Wright: I had Kirby at one, yep. We said you had you had Bren Venable at three, correct? Yeah, I had Deborah at three, and then I had Sarkeesian at two. Canon Stogner: You had Kill on the board three? Andrew Wright: I heard I like we said he took he took the hardest job probably any coach has ever had to take in college football. And no they haven't been twelve and Alabama. But man, he's gotten them to back to back playoffs, right? Canon Stogner: Yeah. And he won last Andrew Wright: Like that's Canon Stogner: year. Andrew Wright: yeah, like that cut seventeen nothing on the road, like there's something in there. Like they're not they're not Canon Stogner: I mean he Andrew Wright: twelve and They're not winning the SEC every year. But like he's getting the playoffs. Canon Stogner: Nob nobody's nobody in the SEC nowadays is going twelve and Andrew Wright: Right. He's skipping the playoffs though. Som something's there. Canon Stogner: I mean, he got his quarterback drafted to the Rams, who is probably the team the only team in the NFL Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: that you would think would not draft a quarterback in the first round. Andrew Wright: Right. Like he he's doing something right. Canon Stogner: Yeah, so all right. I mean, yeah, that's interesting. We'll definitely clip that one. Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: but yeah, I see what you're saying. I we both had Kirby Smart on the list. I think that was very obvious, very easy. I Andrew Wright: Yeah, nobody nobody should argue that ever. Canon Stogner: I think everybody would put him on there. He obviously is a defensive minded guy, but the amount of talent that he produces every year for guys that you've never heard of and are all of a sudden getting drafted top ten. I mean, Andrew Wright: Right. Yep. Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: he loses almost the most players every year to the draft. And he does a great job at retaining and recruiting and bringing in better players. Now I do think a big question this year is their quarterback, Gunnar Stockton. I I think he's pretty good. He's on my list, but Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: I think he's the one who, you know, tells where the season goes. Andrew Wright: Right, absolutely. Canon Stogner: all right, so let's get into what team is on Fraud Watch this year? Andrew Wright: I give you the first one. I have two written down. we kind of mentioned these reasons with kind of both of these teams. the first one I put down here, Texas A and I mean, like I said, we we know the home food advantage they have, like we saw unfortunately last year down thirty to three at halftime against South Carolina. They're never out of a game. But man, you lose ten starters to the draft. That's so much to replace. four of those starters were offensive linemen. Like say they can they can replicate that in the portal, but that's that's yet to be seen whether they have. I mean they had the number twelve portal class, which okay, that's that's pretty solid. But I think there's just too many questions there and then the schedule. Three of their last five games are away from home. So kind of they're gonna have to kind of get themselves in a really good spot through that seven game start to the season to get to a point where they can maybe afford a loss on the road in those last three games. So yeah, Tex A and was definitely Canon Stogner: Yeah, and I Andrew Wright: one to look out for for me. Canon Stogner: And they've lost what, their last two games at South Carolina? Andrew Wright: Yep. They don't they they don't they don't play well there. Canon Stogner: Yeah. yeah, all right. I had Texas as my team. I know I've already kind of dove Andrew Wright: Texas Texas was my second team. Canon Stogner: I think I already kinda dove into that. like I said, they had the hardest schedule out of any team in college football 'cause they play Ohio State and then obviously had the SEC Gauntlet. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: So I think a lot of people writing into the playoff and I'm not sure it's gonna be like that. Andrew Wright: Nope. Not at all. Canon Stogner: but fortunately for them they will start, you know, top two in Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: the poll. So that's very Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: important. I try to tell people all the time. People always say preseason rankings don't matter. That is not true because Andrew Wright: No. Canon Stogner: if if you're ranked twenty-fifth and you lose, you're unranked. If you're ranked first and Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: you lose, you drop to depending on who it is, probably either from five to ten. You're still in the top ten. Andrew Wright: Yeah. And you're in a great spot. Yeah. Canon Stogner: Yeah. So I think people that say the rankings do not matter in the preseason is very foolish. And Not exactly sure how the rankings work. especially Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: with the people inside the committee now. You never know who's gonna make it in. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Right. Canon Stogner: so and that was fraud watch. Who did you have Andrew Wright: Mm hmm. Canon Stogner: at overrated? Andrew Wright: Tennessee. I just think there's I just Canon Stogner: May as well. Andrew Wright: think there's too many I just think there's too many questions. I think eighteen in the coaches poll is just way too high. I just I just don't think there's enough answers to the questions about Tennessee and the quarterback situations to have them ranked inside the top twenty in college football. Once again, one of one of the better home foot advantages in college football, but V Vanderbilt marched in there last year and basically took over the stadium. So what kind of home foot advantage still is that? Do they have a quarterback? What can Hypool do? Yeah, Tennessee is my overrated team heading into the season. Canon Stogner: Yeah, that's who I had. I guess I'll say Florida. I'm not sure how good they'll be be this year. I don't know if anybody's expecting them to make the playoffs, but I do think people are expecting them to be pretty good this year. but like I said, they have the six hardest schedule. Not sure who their quarterback is. They have a very good running back, very good receivers, but I do think they are overrated. Maybe slightly, but they are overrated. now underrated. Who do you have as underrated? Who which teams most underlooked? Andrew Wright: I had Florida as underrated. I had Florida. I just think I think they lucked Canon Stogner: Okay, okay. Andrew Wright: out with the road I think they lucked out with the road schedule. I think I think Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: with they get Van D coming to Gainesville, they get Florida State coming to Gainesville. One of Euro games is at Kentucky. That that week three or not I'm sorry, not week three. I believe this week four when Florida and Auburn played, that will tell us a lot about both of their seasons and kind of what direction each of those two teams are headed. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean I'm looking at the schedule now and I'm seeing at Texas, which is probably gonna be a loss, at Georgia Andrew Wright: Tough game, real yeah, really tough game. Canon Stogner: at Georgia at Georgia's a loss. They play Ole Miss, probably a loss, and play Oklahoma, which is probably loss. If they lose those four, they're not getting in. Maybe if they they had to they had to go Andrew Wright: Yeah, that's but right. And I d I don't think they're a playoff team either. Canon Stogner: Yeah. So I had Missouri as my most underrated team. I know I've spoken to them earlier. I I do not like drinkets, but They have a very easy schedule, very the easier part of the SEC Gauntlet. and they do have the best running back. I think their defense is going to be really good. They had a very good transfer class. so I do think they are probably the most underrated team. Now, who did you predict to be in the SEC championship? Andrew Wright: I went with the favorites, Georgia to be there. Obviously, I just I think it's Georgia's league until somebody can knock off. And then I had Georgia meeting up with Ole Miss. I know obviously the two the two b the two big favorites are Georgia and Texas, but I think we kind of see Texas in the same light. I don't think they're just a shoe in filling to get there. So yeah, I I got I got Georgia and I got Ole Miss with Pete Golding getting them there. Canon Stogner: I have the very exact same prediction. I do think Georgia will be there. I mean, they're obviously always loaded. They compete against anybody, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: but they have the second easiest schedule. and then I did have Ole Miss who's seventh on the schedule. but they do play Texas and Georgia, and then they go to Oklahoma. So I think if they can at least win one of those games, that only gives them Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: two SEC losses. And if they go two on one, it gives them one. So I mean We saw even last year what, one two lost teams make it to a SEC championship. I mean Andrew Wright: Yeah. I thought it was Georgia and Alabama. Canon Stogner: Could be right. We'll delete that. Andrew Wright: I think it was Georgia Bam did Bama not win SEC last year? Canon Stogner: Not sure. Andrew Wright: Check Canon Stogner: We do apologize. It has been a very long time since football has started or been played. So we do forget. Andrew Wright: Yeah. I'm sorry, Georgia beat Alabama, twenty eight to seven. Canon Stogner: Okay. So AM did not make it. They only have one loss though. They lost they lost the very last game to Texas Andrew Wright: Right, yep. Canon Stogner: and missed out on the playoffs. So yeah, I mean so I mean you really have room for one, maybe two losses in the SEC this year. Now I do Andrew Wright: Yep. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: think the SEC will be a lot more balanced this year, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: from top to bottom, but I do think you you really have room for one or two losses. let's see. Let's get into our top five quarterbacks. Andrew Wright: Okay. Wanna go five to one? Canon Stogner: Yeah, sure. I was split between two here. Andrew Wright: Yeah, I kinda I got stuck between two here as well. I went John Mateer. he was he was really good last year before he got hurt. He got hurt back for the Red River round game. Kinda pr basically cost him that game, played very poorly and just did not play great the rest of the season. But I think a full offseason at health, I think he'll get back to kind of what he was before the injury. That that week two game at Michigan is huge for him and kinda how we view him heading into SEC play. So I had John Materi at number five. Canon Stogner: Yeah, before. Andrew Wright: I had Gunnar Shotgun, number four. just very experienced. I don't think anybody would argue that he's just got this otherworldly talent, but I just think when you look at him he's a Georgia quarterback. I don't really know how else to put it. He just kind of fits that mold. Gunner, Carson Beck. I mean I wasn't gonna go back as far as Aaron Murray, just a very stereotypical Georgia quarterback is what Gunner kind of looks like. He does what your offense needs him to do. He'll stick his head in there, he'll run the ball when he needs to. I just He's not gonna blow you away with his talent or his speed, but he's what they need. see number number three, I had Lenore Sellers, twenty twenty four. We saw all the talent in the world with him. Thought he was gonna get him to the playoffs with those last couple of weeks. And then last year, like we kind of touched on earlier, the sacks, the offensive line, bad play calling. Kinda I mean, there was talks he was gonna leave and go to the draft before last season. And now he's Canon Stogner: Mm-hmm. Andrew Wright: back. There's a reason he's back, obviously, with those preseason expectations. So hopefully, obviously for us, we obviously hope that the line is better, the play call is better, and he does showcase that talent that we saw in twenty twenty four. number two, Marcel Reid, another dual threat guy, got him to the playoffs. I mean, I know they had the clunker against Miami in a ten to three game. I mean, all it takes is two touchdowns to win that game and it was a really, really big struggle for them. But he's he's got all the talent in the world. I mean the thirty to three South Carolina game last year. There's not a lot quarterbacks that are coming back and winning that game. So I think another season under Elko. What's the offensive line look like? That's gonna be big for him, but like fortunately enough for him, he's got the legs that he can get away from that. And then I know we both had number one, Trinidad Chambless. I mean, wasn't even supposed to be the starter last year. Also Simmons gets hurt and then boom, they go on a magical run, regardless of how it ended with Lane. It was a magical run for them and now Court ruling had to get him back. Lotta lot of court ruling was there to get Mr. Chambless back this season. Don't know what they look like Canon Stogner: Yeah, he should Andrew Wright: without him. But he's got all the talent in the world and I think everything is laid out in front of him for him to succeed. Canon Stogner: Yeah, he should definitely be in the draft, but he's not. So Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: all right, number five, I had I was split between Camario Taylor from Mississippi State and Sam Levitt. I Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: do think Mississippi, Camario Taylor, I'm not sure a lot of people will be focused on him or watching him. And I'm also not sure a lot of games will be won or lost because of him. I think a lot of it depends Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: on who else is around him. But I do think if he was quarterback of my team, he would probably be fifth on my list. I also had Sam Levitt. I'll be honest with you, he's a pretty boy. And he's Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: at Elliship with Lane Kiffin. And Lane Kiffin makes all quarterbacks look good. I mean, you look at Matt Corral, you look at Jackson Dart, you look at Trinidad. I mean, he has these guys playing a very like attractive style quarterback. They throw the ball down the field, they play fast, they hit the open receivers, they just do a lot of things right. So I did have Sam Levitt on there. We did not see a lot from him at Arizona State. I know he made the playoff two years ago, but a Andrew Wright: Nope. Yep. Canon Stogner: lot of that was carried by Cam Scatabo or Scataboo, Andrew Wright: Mm. Canon Stogner: whatever, no pun intended. and then last year, Arizona State just fell off. so Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: I don't think he was that great. So I'll be interested to see how he plays. I did not put John Matir on that list. Some people are saying that maybe he's gotten a little too bulky this offseason. Have you s have you seen have you seen the pictures? Andrew Wright: d okay. I have not I have not seen that John Matier is too bulky. Canon Stogner: He looks like a refrigerator. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: I mean, people are saying that you don't know if your quarterback you want your quarterback being that big. I mean, you know how tight you Andrew Wright: I mean yeah, how how what my looking like a refrigerator? Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, you know how tight you get and you throw the ball downfield. I mean, he's it might look a little awkward this year. I mean, I wouldn't want to tackle him if I was playing defense, but quarterbacks Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: main job is to throw the ball. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: and also I didn't see him he didn't really, you know, do anything for me last year against Alabama. I mean Andrew Wright: No, he was not much. Canon Stogner: Yeah, so not very high on him. number four I did I was split between three and four. I had Marcel Reid at number four. I do think a lot of people think he is a running quarterback, kind of like Lamar Jackson. but one of the things he said at SEC Media Day was a guy asked him, like, what do you say to people that say you're a running quarterback first? And he said, I threw for 400 yards my first SEC game. So I mean, I think that was a pretty you know, like pretty confident statement to make. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: That you have a lot of confidence in your throwing ability. I mean, like you said, the Sarana game last year. he's a very good quarterback. He knows he can throw the ball, he knows how to find his receivers, he can read a defense very well. and he's obviously probably the most exciting quarterback to watch when he runs the ball. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: number three, I had Lenore Sellers. the season goes as Lenoris goes. like you said, we saw his talent two years ago. One thing about Lenors is he does have to stay healthy. Andrew Wright: Mm mm. Canon Stogner: He has, you know, last year against Vanderbilt, he got knocked out of the game with a concussion. The year before, he got knocked out of the game against LSU. he has to learn how to slide. but one thing I think he does need to improve on is knowing when to fight for the first down. I think a lot Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: of times he just his coaches were telling him to, you know. Like don't get hit or, you know, go out of bounds before getting hit to keep yourself safe. But when it's third and eight and you have seven yards and then you just slide or go down, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: that could cost the team to drive. So I do think Lenoris is on there. He is a very good deep ball thrower. So Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: I think if his receivers can get open and his line can block, he will be able to show his full ability of this year again Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: and hopefully get drafted in the first round. Number two, I had Gunner. I know you spoke very highly of him. one thing that he is, he is a winner. I don't think any of the guys on this list, he is better than running the ball or throwing the ball. but I do think he is the toughest of the bunch. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: And like I said, he is a winner. He knows how to win. He has experience now. This will be his second and a half year, third almost third year, playing Andrew Wright: Yep. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: quarterback. He's watched a lot of guys in front of him. So I do think Gunner is probably number two on my list. And then obviously number one was Trinidad. Trinidad is a winner. Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: He's very exciting to watch. He's a he can run the ball. He can throw the ball. He has a lot of experience. He he'll probably be the oldest guy on the field of every Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: game they play. so yeah, that's who I had number one. let's get into our last segment. Now, I do think we'll have very Good things and bad things to say about the coaches media or coaches poll for the SEC's Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: standings. this is the preseason predictions that each coach votes on and talks about where teams will finish off in the conference. I think the first thing that stands out to me is you have Georgia who ha received the most votes, Texas, Ole Miss, AM. Alabama, Oklahoma, and LSU also received votes. The one thing that stands out to me on this list for teams to win the SEC Championship is some coach voted for Kentucky to win the SEC Championship. Now, their coach Will Stein did say that the reason Kentucky football will be different this year is because he is here. So he is self-proclaiming himself. as a winner. However, I think the person that said or voted Kentucky to win the championship should probably come out and make themselves public. I don't know if it was Dan Lanning. I don't know if him and Will Stein are very good friends and he'd voted that. I don't know who could have done I don't know if somebody made a mistake, but it is right there on the poll that a Coach did vote Kentucky to win the SEC championship. I do think it is also very overlooked that LSU only got two votes. I would I think LSU is probably my third favorite to win the SEC over Texas and AM. I think it's Georgia, Andrew Wright: I would would completely agree with that. Canon Stogner: Ole Miss, and LSU. I think it was very odd to see they only received two votes. I don't know if it's because a lot of people just don't like Lane Kiffin, or a lot of people obviously know how a lot of first years. go with first year coaches at a new team. But I did think it was very odd to see that he only received two votes. so yeah, what'd you think of the champion Paul who predicted win championship? Andrew Wright: y yeah, kinda like you, I kinda looked over this and I'm looking and I'm like, man, Kentucky just sticks out like a sore thumb. I c I guess somebody heard Will Stein got fired up and said, Coach is here, they go win the dang thing. So I mean I I I'm kinda like yeah, I w I wish somebody would come out and kinda hey, that was me. I just wanna know what Canon Stogner: Ha ha ha. Andrew Wright: they were thinking. I just wanna ask why. Like our good buddy President said, I just wanna ask why. Canon Stogner: Yeah yeah. Yeah, 'cause I wanna know if it was an accident or not. Andrew Wright: Yeah, like s what is w like was somebody voting for last place in SEC or thought they were and they gave Kentucky to vote for a championship instead of last place? Canon Stogner: Yeah, they're projected other coaches voted them to finish third and or third to last. Andrew Wright: I mean they're third to last. So like yeah, well like was it an accident? I'm kinda like you and then yeah with L S U, I think we kinda share the same opinion on the SEC really. Georgia, Ole Miss, L S U. And I think like you said, I think it's a combination of things with L S U getting two votes. I just think a lot of people really dislike Lank. And like it's reflected in that I think. And then again, it's hard to win in the SEC. Like very, very hard to win in the SEC. And I so I think it's a combination of that as well. Just a dislike for him along with the fact that it's hard to win. But like they have so well you have Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, A and Alabama all ahead of them. So they're tied for sixth with Oklahoma with the two votes, but they're projected to finish fifth in the SEC. So like something's not something's not lining up there with the correlation, the fifth Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: and SEC but the sixth most votes to win the conference. So that that was a little confusing. Canon Stogner: Yeah. I don't know if people, you know, don't trust Sam Levitt. I don't know if people don't trust the rest of the offense or the offensive line. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: I do know his daughter's boyfriend, Wit Weeks, is back and he was first SEC team linebacker Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: this year. they have DJ Pickett who plays safety, corner, nickel type guy. I don't think their defense will be that bad. I was very surprised and a lot of their games at home are Pretty easy. So, Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: or I mean, even the tough teams they play are at home. So very interested to see how the season pans out. that is our SEC preview before the season starts. we will be publishing episodes every Monday and Thursday. So the Monday will be a recap of the previous weekend of football, and then the Thursday will be the preview of what's to come for the upcoming weekend. so yeah, we'll be publishing every Monday and Thursday on YouTube. You can listen to us on Spotify. We'll also be on Apple Podcasts, all the things. we will also have the voicemail numbers set up where you can call in or leave a comment on the YouTube and give us something to talk about. but for Thursday's podcast, we are going to be talking about the Big Ten and the Big Ten preview. we'll probably be a lot closer on And have a lot more agreements on those things and those predictions. But I do think the Big Ten is gonna be very interesting. and we'll also talk about which conference do we think is better. Cause I think that is probably the most talked about thing right now before football starts. Andrew Wright: Yep. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: I know a lot of coaches have been going at it between each other, making comments, taking subtle shots at each other. So we'll talk about that. Share this with your friends, share this with your family, let them know, give us a try, tell us what you think, and we'll see ya. Andrew Wright: Yep. See y'all.