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Excitement & Expectations for Spring Games · Run After Cast: The College Football Podcast

• Aaron RAC 4: Welcome back to Run After Cast, the college football podcast. As usual, I'm Aaron and I'm joined by Chandler. RAC Aaron: Go on gentlemen. Aaron RAC 4: and Ryan. And this week we're still hanging around in March waiting for anything to happen. So we wanted to take a little time and focus on the spring games that are coming up. What our expectations are, what we're hoping to see across the board and to those three teams that are near and to our hearts. But before we have a chance to go spring breaking, we do have a lot of news this week. Ryan RAC 4: Sup guys? Aaron RAC 4: So I'm going to cut over to our fraction news anchors to fill us in on what I missed this week in the news. RAC Aaron: So last week we had a few bullet points. This week, boy, do we have a lot more. It seems like every time Teal and I opened up our phone, there was just new pieces of information coming out. So first, I wanted to put this one up first because of our passion for the gym and we're there every day. This is where we compile all of our ideas. So Texas Tech is banning all dumbbells less than 40 pounds in their weight room, which... Aaron RAC 4: You RAC Aaron: is crazy and I know it's gonna hit Aaron hard because Aaron says you should never curl more than 40 pound dumbbells. Aaron RAC 4: No reason to. I live by it. RAC Aaron: So I wanted to get your thoughts and opinions on it. Me personally, there's a lot of things if you're doing accessory work, if you're doing your triceps, your biceps, I mean, 40 pounds is a lot. And I mean, I get like 40, 45 pound curls, all that kind of stuff. But there's a lot of things you can do with less weight and still get good work in. So I thought that was a really interesting change. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I don't really like it to be honest. I think there's a lot of things that you do under 40 pounds. You pretty much can't do lateral raises, can't warm up. Yeah, lot of guys aren't curling that much, especially skill guys. I think it's more like I understand the idea of, yeah, we're a football team. I'm not going to let you get away with lifting light, whatever, kind of like a fun thing the coaches do. But even when you're warming up and stuff, you're going to do less than Aaron RAC 4: I was gonna mention that, yeah. Ryan RAC 4: 40 pounds, you might do 40 pounds and then go up to 70 or something. They can't even do that. So I'm more worried for the little guys in there that they can't make progress. can't get micro gains. Yeah, kill Zoram. You can't do it anymore. RAC Aaron: Yeah, it really kills the warmup. Aaron RAC 4: I feel like this is one of those articles that's coming out that this is going to last one week in their program. One of the strength and conditioning guys, one of the athletic brainers is going to come in and be like, where's the 25th? And they're going to be like, we got rid of them because we're too strong for them. And they're like, that's dumb. And they're going to bring them all back in. It really feels like a headline bait that they went in there and made this change because yeah, there's so many things that you're doing. with those lighter weights. There's nothing wrong with it. mean, how many times have we done, you know, walk down sets or walk up sets, warmups, lateral raises, rear delts? I mean, most of your shoulder work is going to be sub 40 if you're controlling it and you know, doing slow reps, good work. I mean, if that just seems like something I'd hear from like a high school locker room. RAC Aaron: You know, I think I have the, cracked the code of why they did it. All the NIL money they're funneling to these players like Brendan Sworesby. They had to have some budget cut. So they took out 40 and below. said, no, no, we're cutting that budget out. These guys are going to be paid to be the best. So they will be the best. They'll be lifting the most weight they can. We're promoting injury this year. We're getting them all not warmed up and acclimated to the gym. We're just going straight to it. We're going to get them all hurt. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. RAC Aaron: And that's that. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, we're all gonna have tiny shoulders, tiny triceps. I saw another thing too. They have this whole supplement stand where every seal guy has their own thing of creatine, their own thing of shakes, their own thing of fish oil, all in their own little container with their name on it. It's not a budget thing. That was very funny. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, no, it's like I said, it, it's not real. just, can't, a they're doing it with the dumbbells, which is like, you know, you're going to do some targeting stuff with it anyway. But if you're working high level guys, they're probably working on like static cable machines free, you know, they're, they're doing a lot of explosive movement stuff. So it's, it's funny to think about. is one of those crazy. feels like something I'd see more from like an Instagram or Tik TOK Jim bro. Being like, we don't have anything below 40 in this gym. Not a, not like a football program trying to go all the way, but no. RAC Aaron: Exactly. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, that's a hilarious reference. It's almost like Diamond Gym. Like, no, no, no, you're not doing 40s. We only have 60 pound dumbbells. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. RAC Aaron: So another hot topic with the rule changes, we talked about it earlier in our episodes, but now it's been denied completely. And that's the no skin below the waist rule. They were going to make it streamlined across the board where they had to follow NFL and anything below the waist had to be covered up. So you would have either long socks, you'd have your compression gear on, you'd have your high socks and compression gear, anything to cover the skin. Now. They reverted that, so now we still got the swag factor in college football. We have the customization piece, so we're good to go. So I know you guys share the same agreeance that that was a good revert to keep college separate. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I'm really glad they denied that. I didn't really know it was up for speculation. I kind of just thought they approved it originally. But like how, like I understand that it looks more professional, but how are guys gonna be drippy, you know? I understand the streamline. Every single guy looking the same does look pretty professional. But even the guys in the NFL don't like it. The modern guys, Stefan Diggs didn't wear them one game. They find him. He's like, whatever. But I think it's good that they didn't do it. How was RAC Aaron: I did too. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: Exactly. Ryan RAC 4: How are the Jalen Milros not going to wear their leg sleeve? I saw a guy the other day, he had that tape they put on the back of the arm, put it down the front of his leg and it sounds stupid, but it like pretty cool, pretty drippy. RAC Aaron: I'm gonna start doing it in the gym. Aaron RAC 4: No. Well, with my old body, we need all the, just need to tape me up. All my joints need to be locked in place, but no, I, I'm glad they reverted it. I think they originally were talking about this and I think the NFL does it for the same reason. There is the uniform aspect, but I think it's more for we're seeing more leg injuries now as we tend to hit lower than we used to. And so I think. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: All the tape support. Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. Aaron RAC 4: NFL went to the leg sleeves to help broadcast when they see a leg injury. You don't see compound fractures and you know, you lose a little bit of that. mean, we can turn back to Aiden Hutchinson last year. I think was it last year that Hutch broke his leg? Yeah. And it was like clear on tape. It was a nasty, nasty break, but because of legging, you didn't really see it. You could tell it was a compound. You can tell it was bad. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, it was last year. Aaron RAC 4: But it was completely covered. I think when we're talking college, those things kind of drip down when we're talking broadcasting, because there's that whole world that none of us are ever going to be privy to. That is all stuff that's happening in the conference rooms that everybody at the super high levels talking with broadcasters, making agreements. have so many fine rules in the contract. So I have a feeling that's what it is. And it just so happened to coincide with the season where we had kickers coming out, you know, rocking thighs, which I'm all for it. Hey, five inch inseam on, on our team. want to see it, but I like it. I like the shorts. I like the goofiness. I like being able to see the guys being young guys out there having fun. So I am glad that we're not doing it, but I understand why they thought they had. RAC Aaron: or in shorts. Hahaha Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, it's also not a terrible idea to wear them anyways, especially now lot of the fields are going to turf. You get scratched up so bad, you'll get a bunch of cuts and stuff. But I just don't understand how the whole league would try to initiate that. I understand if one coach was like, we're going to look professional, we're all going to look the same, but it should be like a team-based thing. I don't think they should govern the entire thing. It's not the NFL. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. That's, that's where my heart tells me it's a broadcast. It, because it was at that level, we didn't see anybody attempt it. No conference did it first. It was like across the board. And you know, unless they just woke up one morning, they looked at the tweet where somebody was like, we got to short these shorts are, and they were like, we got to do something about this. This is getting out of control. You know, who knows? We've seen dumber reasons for things. RAC Aaron: So speaking of that swag factor with Cam Coleman, know, or not Cam Coleman, Ryan Williams. The Coleman is his middle name now, so I combined them. So he changed his name to Ryan Coleman Williams in honor of, I think his mom's side of the family to add the Coleman last name to it. He changed his number to one. So he's doing a whole reset this year on his... image, his numbers resetting his whole outlook on his career, he wants to put his last foot and best foot forward for his last year. So what is your opinion on that? A big drastic change like that, do think it's really going to matter? Do you think it's really going to make a difference? I personally don't. I think there's other weapons on the field. I think he's proven that he doesn't know how to catch a ball and that's that. I think he was way over hyped out the gate. Ryan RAC 4: I definitely think... I definitely think he'll do better than he did last year. Hard to beat that. But... The Coleman Williams thing, I think he said his mom's like his best friend, so he's gonna add the Coleman part. But that's just like not a thing. You historically just have your dad's last name. That's a little interesting that he just decided to do that now. But I understand what he's doing. He said that he's trying to kind of rebrand himself. But a lot of this game is mental. I think a lot of his catching... last year and all his drops were mental. Something happened at FSU game. He got hit one time really hard. Yeah, and he was just never really the same. So maybe some kind of mental reset would be good for him. It just seems a little outrageous that all of these arbitrary things would make a difference, but anything that could work for him would be good. RAC Aaron: Yeah, you got popped. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. It sounds like one of the like therapy sessions over time where they're like, we've got to do some, just invent a new guy. We're starting fresh. Which I always have fallen on the line of like number doesn't matter. I know to some people it does. It's, it's part of their, to me, it was like the guys that we know the numbers of were great. And we know the number because they were great. the That didn't matter. like people that are like, want to have a unique number. want to have all that. think you got to get there first. And it doesn't matter what it is in the end. You'll, you'll brand it unless you're, you know, Oto Cinco where you make it your whole thing. The fun way to do it, but doing a name change, all that, it doesn't hurt anything to do it. I'm not going to, I'm not going to razz on the kid for doing it, but I also don't think in the end it matters. I think. It's more about the mentality. gets out there on the field. I agree. think, you know, after taking a big hit, we do see people that get the yips out there where like they just some of the core function that that fears in them and they're not going to be able to play to the standard they were. So if this is his way out of it, then awesome. Like let's see him come back strong. If it doesn't work for him, it doesn't hurt them either. RAC Aaron: No, and I'm a big superstitious guy. Like I was knocking it. I was dogging on them a little bit, but then I really thought about it and I was like, I wear the same uniform or hoodie or socks watching every single game. Like that playoff run last year or two years ago now, I was wearing, like I wore a Nashville Predators hockey pullover underneath my Jersey to the national championship game because I wore that every single playoff game and they won. So I understand the placebo and hype, the Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and I'm not- Aaron RAC 4: You RAC Aaron: Aspect of the game so if that is really a factor and it is mental so if that does you know clear his headspace and give him a mental reset then then good on him and I hope he does succeed because I Think I would you know I would do the same thing not even up to that extent but Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, yeah, and me and Chenle are baseball players. We're the most superstitious people ever. Everything you do, all the innings, your bat has to be in a certain place. You have to have the right socks for your game. Every single thing you do on game day is the most superstitious thing ever. So I can see where he's coming from. I really hope this is a good reset for him. Like, I'm an Auburn fan. I want to see him do good. You know, he's another kid. He's done way crazier stuff than this too. So, I don't know. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah Yeah, I'm obsessive compulsive disorder. So that's kind of like being superstitious. You do the same things over and over again, but no, mean, if it's changed your name personally, I would have changed my name to like Budweiser Toyota in the NIL era. you know, got that free check. But I think what was it early on during NIL we had the coldest and I was like, where is that man not getting these AC units and or like Ryan RAC 4: Hmm Aaron RAC 4: beer commercials. would... every ad agency in the world should have been fired for not giving that guy every contract that had to do with any kind of cold beverage. RAC Aaron: Mm-hmm. Ryan RAC 4: ⁓ I don't want to steal it from you. Chandler, you want to say you're arch manning one? RAC Aaron: No, you got it. Ryan RAC 4: Chandler always says this thing that Archmanding should get a McDonald's sponsorship and go to the Golden Arches. It's so good. Mm-hmm. Aaron RAC 4: Hey, they got the big arch. The CEO needs some help. Yeah. RAC Aaron: Yeah, the golden arch meal. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, maybe Ryan Williams is trying to be like Kim Coleman. RAC Aaron: See that's why I messed it up in the beginning. I was thinking Cam Coleman because the Coleman middle name. yeah, maybe he's like trying to morph his skill set to become Cam Coleman. Ryan RAC 4: I actually thought it was a joke, like they were saying Kim Kuan was his dad or something in the beginning and I wasn't re- I didn't know it was actually a real thing. So yeah, that's probably a good snipe. RAC Aaron: So now, taking a trip to the baby conferences in the ACC, ⁓ we look at the Florida state criminals and their track record. And to add on to the criminal list, we have the kicker getting arrested, I think it was over spring break, for assaulting an officer. So, mean, exactly. mean, they're early 2000 days. They've reincarnated themselves and now they're back. They're ready to go. Aaron RAC 4: You Ryan RAC 4: The criminals are back. That might be great for them though. They needed something there. You know, when you have those kinds of guys on your team, when you get on the field, you know, and they let that loose, it might be good. Aaron RAC 4: Heh. RAC Aaron: And look, he has a free ticket to transfer to Georgia if it doesn't work out at FSU. He can transfer over to Georgia, he's already been arrested, so that box is checked. So he can go over there and he can set his staple for being the arrested kicker. Aaron RAC 4: thought every player that goes to Georgia gets a free ticket. A speeding ticket, right? Ryan RAC 4: Yep RAC Aaron: Maybe not be free, but yes, it is a ticket. Ryan RAC 4: It's free to get it, but then they have to pay it off. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: Exactly, exactly. Aaron RAC 4: know, part of me just wants to chalk that up to the Florida state of mind. Because when they said assaulting an officer, I'm going to put money down that that happened somewhere in between Panama city beach and Tallahassee. And it happened probably in the hours between 11 PM and two in the morning. Yeah. Yeah. Where it is. We know how it is down here. RAC Aaron: Haha Ryan RAC 4: hehe RAC Aaron: We're like Miami, yeah. Ryan RAC 4: water do. Aaron RAC 4: We know how people get, especially around the spring break time. So somebody out there, Wylan, I think part of me backs a kicker for it. We don't get that energy out of the kickers. You know, we've seen them like a freshman kicker goes on the field. You're like, is that kid 12 years old? They, they look completely different than everybody else. look like normal young men compared to, you know, 245 pound monsters. RAC Aaron: For sure. For sure. Absolutely. Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. Aaron RAC 4: So, you know he was going hard that day. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he's dangerous. He might be out there making tackles. You never know. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. To Malibu's most wanted energy. Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: Speaking of that... Yeah, next... Yeah, that's good. Okay, but like, do you think it was really just assault and an officer? I feel like they get away with a lot for being D1. Just like the Alabama basketball guy. RAC Aaron: He's going to be the next Pat McAfee. The Pat McAfee of FSU. I think it definitely got downplayed. mean, assaulting an officer, don't get me wrong. I don't want to be on the record saying that's not bad. That is bad. But I definitely think there could be more involved like drinking or drugs or something else. considering this didn't go to court, he didn't actually probably serve any jail time and he was probably at practice like the next day if they had it. I would think they definitely went the lower route and just kind of swept into the rug and like, yeah, let's get this guy on the field. He said, sorry, he's good. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. Yep. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, cause have y'all seen Swamp Kings? RAC Aaron: Yes. Aaron RAC 4: I have not. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, they were... It's really good, but they were just talking about how back then, you know, they kind of had a ring over all of the stuff, all the lawyers and all the police and everything, and they could kind of just get away with whatever they wanted and just kind of brush everything under the rug. And I feel like it's a lot harder to do that nowadays, but I wonder if there's a little bit of that still going on. There's a lot of big lawyers and politicians down there in Tallahassee. Aaron RAC 4: They've heard it's good. RAC Aaron: Yeah. Aaron RAC 4: see, I think that's something that that's every football program at the D1 level across the nation. They all have some very expensive attorneys that just hang out in the office. Yeah. I mean, how many of we've made the joke about Georgia, how many of them have driving reckless speeds multiple times, stuff that any of us would go to jail for. RAC Aaron: Yeah, it's part of their budget. Aaron RAC 4: And you know, it may be not a long sentence, but we'd spend the weekend. So it is something where it's like, they get off most of the time. This gets buried. It, it's just, think Florida, we get a different rap because we have the sunshine law where like, if it does get any kind of paperwork behind it, reporters get access to it. I think every other college is just as bad. They have as many incidents. I mean, you've got now very wealthy. young men who have a celebrity platform and pretty much unlimited access to anything they want. yeah, incidents are going to happen and RAC Aaron: Who's to say the law enforcement officer is not a fan of that team? They're like, I'm not going to be the one that goes on record and arrests this guy and ruins our season. No, that never happened. It was just a little, little... Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he assaulted me. I'm gonna throw it out the window. He didn't assault me. There's a good chance he is a Florida State fan. He was here, so. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I mean. RAC Aaron: You never know. for the last piece of news, we're going to kick it over to the man, the myth, the legend, Ryan over here to touch on the best news that came out this week and actually today as we're recording it. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, this is crazy. There is a new fair catch kick where now teams can opt to kick a free kick field goal from a spot of a fair catch similar to how it is in the As of today of recording, it's March 20th, the NCAA approved this rule for the 2026 season that introduces the fair catch kick option in D1 football, bringing college rules into alignment with the NFL and high school football. What is this fair catch rule? After a player makes a fair catch on a punt, their team can elect to attempt a field goal from the spot of the catch. This is considered a free kick and the team can place the ball on the field, usually with a holder and attempt a field goal. But the opposing team cannot rush the kicker and the defense must remain 10 yards back. This rule is designed for situations at the end of the half. where a team makes a fair catch but has little to no time left on the clock to run a normal offensive play, allowing for a long field goal attempt without a snap or pressure. This is very interesting because I think the last time someone's used this was the Patriots and it was a while ago. And I used to see that clip and I had no idea what they're doing. RAC Aaron: Yeah, I've never heard of that. I've never seen that like on Sunday where I was like, what are they doing? And that makes me feel a lot less bad because I was sitting there listening to explanation. I was like, I have no idea what this NFL rule is. Aaron RAC 4: No! I- I- I for a moment questioned my ability to be on this podcast because I was like, I was like, they just do that? They just kick? I've never, I must be going to the bathroom a lot or something. I've never seen that happen. Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and it's crazy. It was her. RAC Aaron: Yeah, I was like, am I stupid? Those beers are hitting hard. Ryan RAC 4: They, yeah, yeah, but they never use it. I mean, count on Bill Belichick to know every single rule ever. I think he's the last guy to do it, but I think this is kind of terrible because imagine nowadays you have guys like Cam Little who are kicking 70 yard normal field goals where when it's a free kick and they can't block it, you're essentially just kicking a kickoff. Most of the D1 kickers and all of the NFL kickers can probably make just a normal kickoff into the field goal. They're going be kicking 80 yard bombs for field goal for three extra points before half now, which is kind of ridiculous. RAC Aaron: Maybe that's what Jaden Fielding was talking about. Maybe that's what he was comfortable 16 in with, is that rule, and he knew it was coming. It makes sense now. It makes sense. Aaron RAC 4: Heh. Ryan RAC 4: The free kick. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It does, but I think this is dangerous for the game. It's just spotting guys. I guess it puts more emphasis on your kicker. Aaron RAC 4: I just- RAC Aaron: But it's a hold, a... It's a hold though, not on a tee. Like the kickoffs are on a tee. Ryan RAC 4: It says usually, so I think it could potentially be without a T, but they, they get an infinite run-up though. They don't have to do a two and a half, three step because they're going to get blocked. Yeah. They can do whatever they want. They're not getting any pressure. I mean, Justin Tucker kicking 80 yarders. Aaron RAC 4: usually sw- RAC Aaron: Usually. Like 20 yard run. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. No, I just, this feels like I'm sure I'm completely wrong about this. This feels like a 1924 rule for the NFL of like, back when they like, it's like the long distance pun of 15 yards, like they could do it. I just don't see this getting used. Like if they're not using it the NFL, then I don't know where the change, cause if it is something where it's at the half, where like there isn't enough time, you just wouldn't kick it then. You would just like do a delayed kneel. If it's a fourth down scenario where you're trying to bleed the clock in that scenario, you would either do a deep ball kick and not let anybody touch it, kick it out of bounds, kick it as far out as you can just to bleed clock off till it's gone. Or if it's something where you're on the 45 and you can kick it way deep, then it's fine. RAC Aaron: So. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I guess there's- RAC Aaron: So is this a situation where you catch it, like say you're fair catching on the 30, the opposite 30, and you go and you want to use this rule. If you miss that kick, is it turnover and downs and the other team automatically has it at the 30 and they can then kick a 30 yard field goal before halftime? Aaron RAC 4: No, cause I think it feels like it'd be in the period at that point. Like it's going to bleed off the cloth. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, it seems like it's like no time. I'm sure it could be, but I, yeah, I'm not really sure what happens if they, if they don't use it. Yeah. If they miss it. RAC Aaron: so it can't be used anytime during the game. Miss it? Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, this feels like there's a lot of fine print on it that would keep it being so situational. it's something like there wouldn't be enough time for snap count or anything like that. like it would be the motion of the play would remove the remaining time. RAC Aaron: Now what about like if you shank the kick out of bounds and that was a, that was a, yeah, like there's another situation. Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I- Aaron RAC 4: That's what I was thinking. Yeah, cause then it's not a fair catch. It's just a, it's a flag. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah. Would it be a touchback? Would it go out of bounds? I'm not sure. I think this. Yeah. I think this would put a lot more emphasis on the punter. They are pretty much forced to get a touchback, pin them deep, kick it out of bounds. You can't allow a run back, but I mean, this could be fun. I feel like since it's the first year, we'll see it a few times and it might fizzle out just like the NFL. Like no one uses that nowadays. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, could you kick from the touchback? Yeah. Or they'll pull it. RAC Aaron: Yeah, we're going to have a reaction clip of the first one. The first one that comes out, we're going to have a group reaction to it. Ryan RAC 4: ERACTION REACTION Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. The, the reaction. No, I just can't see them wanting to do it because think about when they change the overtime rules and we have to get our cheese it like safe sex video that they show us of like, here's the rules that like you and your body, they have to explain it to you every single time that overtime happens and it happens all year. Like I'm sick of this weird little cheese it video that they're showing us. RAC Aaron: The cheesiest. I woke up feeling the cheesiest. Ryan RAC 4: Super cheesy. Aaron RAC 4: the cheesiest. So I couldn't even imagine like, you know, the, the tax layer explanation of weird kick rule video that we'd have to have. RAC Aaron: Yeah, the first time broadcasters that come in that you've never heard before are gonna go through that and just butcher it. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yep. They're be like, this is a kick thing. The balls here times weird. Let's try it. RAC Aaron: Here goes nothing. ⁓ man. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, it just, it wasn't like when they changed the NFL kickoff where it's like, you'd see it every time and you could pick it up and you could understand it after a few weeks. This is like, someone's going to do it and people are going to go, what's happening? Why is the defense like that? Why is this clock not moving? The other coach is going to be furious on the sidelines. He's going to be doing the wind up motion. Everybody's going to be losing it. RAC Aaron: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Okay. What was in my drink to watch this happen? Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, all the casual fans... Yeah, all the casual fans are like, what in world am I watching right now? But this could be great. Hopefully Malachi Moore, ⁓ I'm glad he's not in college football anymore, because he would just go up there and kick it or something, like in the Vanderbilt game, when they were trying to knee it out. I think this is, the defense is gonna be so mad on the field and they have to stand 10 yards away. They're gonna be furious. It's gonna be hilarious. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. They're just, they're just going to kick the ball to where if this very specific scenario comes up, they're just going to be like boot it, just get it out of here. Like. RAC Aaron: And imagine losing the game to this. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. Aaron RAC 4: Now, I would love to see it. I can't wait. Well, I mean, you're going to lose all kinds of different games this season, but this, this will make my weekend. If this happens, we will have a special that is purely designated to that kick because I would love to see an 80 yard, you know, 85 yard bomb as a guy runs for 50 yards down the field to kick it. You know, he's coming out of the ramp. Ryan RAC 4: Dude, I'd be so mad. It's going to happen to us. RAC Aaron: ⁓ yeah. Aaron RAC 4: just to like boot it and send it across the stadium, the all state net, it's gonna go clear over the top of it. I can't wait. It's just gonna be so wonderful. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, if it's not happening to us, it's going to be hilarious. Hopefully this is the rule we need for another kind of kick six situation. Auburn wins on an 80 yard free kick by Alex McPherson this year in the iron bowl. RAC Aaron: He's gonna take it. That would be crazy. ⁓ Here we go. Aaron RAC 4: I will throw that this, this is my Mississippi state ban prediction that on our game or in the egg bowl, your five wins in the season, this would get us bowl eligible to beat Ole Miss and Ole Miss uses this to demolish us and just wipe every feeling of joy in us to just the Cowbells will lay silent. RAC Aaron: with a free kick. Aaron RAC 4: after this kick happens to us. Ryan RAC 4: You know, just for fun, I don't know if Ole Miss' kicker's still there. Their kicker last year was so good that maybe they'll just mess with y'all and every time y'all punt, they'll fair catch it, pick a free kick for three points, and then put your offense back on the field. Aaron RAC 4: think we had a couple punts last year that were like 15 yards. So it wouldn't be, it wouldn't be, ⁓ unheard of for that to turn around and absolutely devastate us. just, feels like a type of thing that's going to come up for Mississippi state. It has that kind of feel on what would happen here. RAC Aaron: happens. Ryan RAC 4: It happened. Yeah, probably some G5 game or something. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, you're our homecoming game. We lose. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, the coach is like, look what I learned this offseason. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah RAC Aaron: And you know where they learned it from? Rack. On the post game podium interview he's gonna say, so where did you hear this rule from? Well I was watching the March 20th episode of Run After Cast and they were breaking down this new fair catch kick rule. And I just said, you know, we're gonna implement it. It's in the offense. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. That- Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm gonna give it a shot today. It worked out. Aaron RAC 4: I feel like that would earn me a deserved exile from Stark Vegas. Like they would not allow me to step foot back on that campus. we somehow caused this to happen to them, it would be, it might be worth it. RAC Aaron: Pretty good. So, all right. Ryan RAC 4: Duh. Aaron RAC 4: So does that wrap up our news for this week? RAC Aaron: does I do not have any more bullets on my my bullet sheet Aaron RAC 4: Well, we'll have to see what's in. Is it a tweet from March Manning? Ryan RAC 4: ⁓ wait, we got one more. Sorry. No, that's later. ⁓ don't forget that. Teddy Hoffman, a wide receiver for NC State will miss the entire 2026 season for performance enhancing drugs. He a drug test. I want to know what drug he failed on now because I've been highly speculative that a lot of the D1 athletes use them. I don't know if they're a designer type of thing that doesn't come up on testing a lot. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah Ryan RAC 4: or if they're just on peptides or what they're on, but it's pretty obvious that some of them are on it. So it's interesting to see that he actually fails one, because we never hear about anyone failing one recently. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: No. Aaron RAC 4: No. Well, I think this is a double-edged thing of like, yeah, no college freshmen shows up and they're like, he's a good solid 185. And then it's like end of his freshman year, two 45, like, you know, 12 % body fat at most. Like, you know, these guys get into elite shape very quickly and they have nutritionists. have all that. But I also think they got a little wind straw. Uh, I think they get in, they're getting dosed in there. I also think. every athletic program in the country at the D1 level knows when those drug tests are showing up. Think every single one of them knows exactly when they get a little nod, a little heads up. Hey, we'll be on campus, you know, the third week of this month for performing routine tests and things like that. They don't say what it is, but they give them knowledge that they're going to be there. RAC Aaron: Except for NC State. They did not have knowledge. Aaron RAC 4: See, I think if we were to go and track this down, if we get a formal statement where they say what it is, put money that this would be a pot, because this is one of those things where it's something that happens outside of the athletic program. know, depending, they can test for that, just like I think was Michael Phelps got pegged for pot usage and it's like, it's not really Ricky Williams. We know him. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he wasn't ready. Aaron RAC 4: Many times got flagged for it and it's like, it's part of the drug test. So, you know, it is PEDs. It's also recreational. So I think. For legal side, they tend to say they didn't pass and then they leave it at that. But I have a feeling. RAC Aaron: Well, this specifically said performance enhancing drugs. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, that's what I wondering. Does... Yeah, does weed count? Aaron RAC 4: But do they classify it as a pet? they classify recreational and RAC Aaron: mean, that's some real good weed if it's performance enhancing you too. Ryan RAC 4: Because I've heard under spec- like there's been whistleblowers and stuff that have mentioned that they think when people come in, I don't know if they do it for a lot of returners and stuff, but they've mentioned that they'll give them performance enhancing drugs without them even knowing a lot of times. So that even if they did a polygraph test that they'd still pass. But there's times, especially now, I think with a lot of the research on the peptides and everything. Like for example, Patrick Mahomes, I know is an NFL guy, we're a college podcast, but he tours ACL and that's a nine to 12 month recovery. It's been six months. He's already on the field doing it right now. And there's new things like TB 500 and BBC 157 that are kind of healing agents. And I don't know about the TB 500 half-life, but I heard that I think the BBC 157 half-life is around six minutes. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: So it gets out of their system in 30 minutes. So they could pin BPC and then take a drug test 30 minutes later and it's not going to come up. So it's weird things like that where I'm not really sure. I'm very interested to see what he failed for, but I feel like there's a lot more guys doing it. Maybe he was getting, didn't know he was on some and he was trying to get big on his own or something. It was just taking stuff, but that's stupid. RAC Aaron: Well here's another NFO reference. Look at DK Metcalf. That guy was on interview on Mike saying that all he eats in a day is like skittles and candy in the morning and then he goes and has like one like fast food or like meal at night and that's all he has the whole entire day. So you're telling me that man looks like that eating like a bag of gummy bears and like a lean cuisine at nighttime. Wrong. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, yeah, it's ridiculous. But those guys also have like top tier genetics. They are the top point 1 % but that only goes so far. You still got to put in the work. You still got to eat right. It's crazy. RAC Aaron: For sure. For sure. Aaron RAC 4: did pull up the banned substance list for NCAA and the list is stimulants, anabolics, beta blockers, diuretics, narcotics, peptides, hormone and metabolic modulators, and beta 2 agonists. So it could be something that's a peptide, could be a narcotic. There's a lot of things that I have a feeling whatever it is didn't stem from the program itself because as RAC Aaron: Definitely a peptide. Aaron RAC 4: Ryan, you said, I'm sure there's some programs that have said like, here's your vitamins that you take and there's something in there. Now I, from some of the athletes I've talked to, you know, I don't think there's a lot of pinning or anything as part of the program. I'm sure it happens because as you were saying, a lot of these things don't have long half body. ⁓ they, they do like, it's difficult to get pinged on a drug test. you know when they're going to be there and RAC Aaron: hahaha Aaron RAC 4: running it. And I think that's in every sport across the platform. You're going to see it. I don't think at that high level, there are people running things to maybe not even gain advantage, but to stay competitive. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. And I watched this documentary on Netflix one time about this guy who was the guy that did the doping for the people back in the Olympics and like the nineties and stuff, or the spinners. And it's like, when you know there's a drug test, it kind of blurs the line and it doesn't make it a natural competition anymore. It makes natural competitions over here. And this is a drug tested competition. What can I take and when can I be ready by the drug test? So it makes it very interesting. That they had everything down to when will this be in your system? When can this do this? I'm going to take something else with a shorter half life. I'm going to be ready by this day. But I'm not sure they met and they make it sound like it's random testing, but you get a new freshmen in right now or you're in summer. I'm not sure how often they do it. I know they tested steak on Barkley after you did the backwards. Jump hurdle, but I'm not sure how often they really do it, especially if you're not a starter. If you're some 13th no name, they probably don't drug test him. Aaron RAC 4: No, I would, I would assume like you guys play baseball. I'm sure you had drug test for your DC. Oh, you guys never did a drug test. Oh man. RAC Aaron: No, we didn't have any. No. No. Ryan RAC 4: No, I don't even think high school football. heard people in high school football that were on other teams that they're like, he's on something. And I don't think they ever got tested for it. And people in high school weightlifting, bunch of the kids are on stuff that would go to state from all over this. You just hear people all over the county that were taking stuff, whether it's real or not. RAC Aaron: no i don't think so either Aaron RAC 4: I remember doing tests for wrestling in high school and like I'd have to go and we'd all go as a team. was like our, ⁓ whatever performing at that time, we did it one time a year. And I think certain tournaments we would know like, okay, you got to do a drug test for this tournament, like States or something like that. So like we had knowledge of when that was coming up. Not that. Like it changed back when I was a kid in high school. We knew who would be on it when you wrestle somebody who's 220 pounds and absolutely ripped. Uh, it's completely different beast from us, flabby, non-athlete kids just out there having a good time. But I think at that level, we just, I think it's all over the place. think there's enough heads up. think there is a legitimate side to the testing. But I think they do a lot of wheeling and dealing to make sure they have a heads up before it comes. RAC Aaron: And there was one more rule that I forgot. So the pass interference rule got changed to 10 yards instead of 15 yards for offense PI. So that'll be interesting too. I think that definitely favors the offense. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, which I don't know that they needed that. I think we see OPI non called enough as is when a defender's going up clearly has the better track on the ball and you see an offensive player turn into a cape or a belt around that player and no flag on it. So minimizing the penalty on it even further, that I think is a little crazy. I don't know why they made that change. RAC Aaron: I screw in games. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. ⁓ sorry for being casual here. They only change it for offense. RAC Aaron: Again, that's what I read. Could be both sides, but I think it's on the offense. From what I read online on X, and I know that's the most reputable news outlet on the planet. they said offensive pass interference penalties were reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards. Ryan RAC 4: Okay. It sure is. See, that's interesting to me because technically when the ball goes in the air, the offense and the defensive player both have the same opportunity to catch the ball. Where now they don't have the same opportunity. The defense is going to have a lot more riding on the penalty than the offense is and it's going to make the offense guys a lot more handsy. And they're already pretty physical and have a lot of push-ups that don't get called And the defensive guy is always the one that gets called for it. There's contact, it's defense. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. I mean, there's so many of those where you'll watch like the defensive guy get pushed to the ground on a shove off and they'll be like, yeah, that's past interference, defensive pass interference. And you're like, I don't see that. But yeah, shove offs, would say on offensive side all the time. mean, yeah, it's like holding most plays. You'll see it. And it's, just think creating more of an incentive to either not call it or. RAC Aaron: ⁓ for sure. Aaron RAC 4: To create more opportunities to risk it seems, ⁓ just seems unnecessary, but there might be a very good reason. Chandler, I think you're right. I think this comes down to big numbers, exciting shootouts. So an extended news segment for this week, but I do think there was some great. Bits that came out. think that's a lot of changes to just kind of all drop. We'll have to see. those get put into play especially the rule changes and see if any of those even have impact on the spring games that are coming up but before we can get talking about those RAC Aaron: So we got our extended news segment taken care of. Now let's jump into the spring games, what we're looking forward to across the board, big coaching changes, big player changes, incoming freshmen, transfers, all those kind of people that we look across the board and be interested in how their spring games turn out, how comfortable they look, yada, yada, yada. And then let's rock into our own teams and get in the weeds there because we know we have a lot of passion for our teams and a lot more news there. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. RAC Aaron: So first off, I think across the country, the team that they're looking at the most is LSU. I mean, just on the offensive side of the ball, they have 10 new receivers. have nine new offensive linemen. They have three new quarterbacks and they have a new head coach and a new offensive coordinator. So they basically have a new roster that they're implementing and working with and they're working with the OC. So that's going to be. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. RAC Aaron: incredible to watch. mean, that's going to feel like almost a Saturday game that we're watching to see how well they mesh together and how they perform, even though they're just playing by themselves. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I know you mentioned the word mesh. I'm interested to see how they mesh. Lane's already done this last year. He only had two returners on his whole team at Ole Miss and the rest of them were all transfers. I know we've mentioned that before, but it's interesting because I also think this is a great element of there's going be a lot of competition in the receiver room. There's going to be a lot of competition in the O-line room. How often is there like an O-line competition? You know, so I think that's great. I'm interested to see how The new offensive coordinator uses all these weapons. If there's any guys that stand out, if Sam Levitt really looks good, can he get it done? Is he using these weapons? I'm very interested. RAC Aaron: I think there's a bigger upside than downside to it for sure. Especially with Lane taking charge, I think he has proven that he can win and pick up programs and make them into great winning teams. And at LSU, over the historicalness of their program, they win more than Ole Miss has. So I think he's gonna have an easier transition there than he did at Ole Miss. And I think with, what's the new OC there? it Charlie Wise Jr.? I think he coming in gonna be great. A lot of new pieces. Sam Levitt, he has a lot of hype around him. It'll be interesting, kinda like Arch Manning, but he's a little more proven. Like he had a lot of hype around his last year. He didn't really live up to it. I know Sam Levitt's a little more proven, but he has the same kind of role. He's stepping into a huge spotlight program. Big shoes to fill, as in, know, Garrett Nesmiler. He did phenomenal last year. But... Ryan RAC 4: 100 % as you say. ⁓ yeah. Yeah, I'm pretty excited. I don't think there's much to the whole chemistry thing as they say. I think the chemistry thing is important, but you can build chemistry over a spring where I think a lot of the time when they're like these returners, they know each other so well. I think the good players are going to go, they're going to ball out. They're going to get adjusted to the new guys pretty fast and they have the whole spring. They're probably going to be ready by the spring and if not, you have an entire summer to get ready. RAC Aaron: but we'll see how it's interesting Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. And I'd say I'd probably put LSU a little further down in my spring game expectation, just because this is just another Tuesday for Lane Kiffin. Like this is not his first spring game. It's not a first. There's not a lot for him to come into this saying like, I haven't done this before. This is his bread and butter, putting together a new program, changing the system on it, and then finding success. As we talked about in our prediction episode, I don't think it's going to be here this year, but I do think he's going to look strong. think he's going to have some core concepts ironed out. I also don't think he's going to bite off more than you can chew for the spring game. think it's going to be a very performative spring game. think it's going to be like, here's everybody enough faith in me. Make sure to send my bonuses to my proper bank account. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he's been there. He's done that. Mm-hmm. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. It's just another hot yoga session for him. RAC Aaron: was just that we are on the same wavelength I was just about to say as long as he has those hot yoga sessions go in nothing's gonna change Ryan RAC 4: I mean, he loves the hot yoga. I wonder if the football players have done it. He's probably doing it with the cheerleaders. Maybe the gymnastics team. I'm not sure. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. RAC Aaron: ⁓ that's good stuff. So Aaron, I know you mentioned LSU not being high up on the pecking order of what you're interested in for the Spring Games. So what are you looking for? What team has your red dot? Aaron RAC 4: So I've got a couple I think Florida is going to be interesting to see. I just want to see that that's a big step up, know, for mentioning people coming from G5 to a CC team. Some are all. I was waiting for an Ohio State moment, but you know, I figured I'd cut you off here. No, no, I, I think that's a big program to fill. That somebody that I think could get in over their head for a spring game where like they're trying to do too much to appease the Florida fan base since This isn't their first rodeo of going through this, but it is his. RAC Aaron: That's interesting, I didn't think about him being fresh to the scene, but he really is. Because that is a huge jump. I mean, he has zero ranked games that he's won at all of his teams. Granted, he was in G5, but that's still a huge step. And I know it's just a spring game, we're kinda over-hyping the spring game and what it's meant for. And I know they're gonna have their flaws. Every team that we're gonna watch is gonna be rusty. They haven't been on pads in, what, a couple months. So. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: There's going to be some ebbs and flows to the goods and the bads in those games, but it is going to be interesting to see how much of his hand he shows, of how much change they've had in the program. Ryan RAC 4: but some roles in it. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: Sumrall's narrative though is that he makes programs successful. So that's his whole thing. We'll see if there's a glimpse of that in the spring. I'm more like that. There's glimpses of talents we see. RAC Aaron: Yes. Aaron RAC 4: It's RAC Aaron: Didn't he say he had like two phones and he wasn't going on spring break and stuff because he had to, you know, he had a lot of work to do. Like if he canceled like a Mexico trip or something. I could be making all this up, but I swear I saw a clip that he like said, like he was canceling some kind of spring break trip and he was staying at UF to make sure he had everything going on and he had all these different phones that he was reaching out and using. So I mean, he's dialed in. He's, he's, he's the media is on fire with him. Aaron RAC 4: You Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he's locked. Aaron RAC 4: One of them's got the war Eagle mobile on it, but no, it's just, I think, yes, call us. Ryan RAC 4: Please sponsor us. RAC Aaron: Hashtag Ed. Hashtag Ed. Aaron RAC 4: No, it's just, it is such a huge bump up. It isn't a small scale school that he's gone to here. This isn't like Mississippi state. You wouldn't bat an eye at a coach coming up to a big program or a big conference like that. Florida is different. Yeah. It means more here. So I just, I think there's going to be a lot of eyes on that. There's a lot of pressure in the fan base is going to expect. Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. RAC Aaron: the biggest conference Aaron RAC 4: a lot out of him. think Billy Napier was in a better position to hit something like a spring game for his first year where there wasn't as much expectation. But now, Summerall is going to be fighting a crowd that isn't going to believe in this transition. RAC Aaron: until they see it actually be successful or not, yeah. Aaron RAC 4: Exactly. Or, but he's going to get picked apart on every little thing they see. And as you said, everybody's going to show things wrong in their program. RAC Aaron: 100%. And those things are going be amplified for sure at that program. think another interesting one with new faces is Alabama. mean, they have Ty Simpson leaving. He was a guy that went through freshman year to senior year in the program. He got groomed, he got developed. stayed through the Saban leaving era. And now you have Elon Russell and what's the other guy's name? Austin Mack. They're going to have a nice little QB battle there and it'll be interesting to see. I think Austin Mack will win it. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. Ryan RAC 4: Awesome, man, yeah. RAC Aaron: but that's two fresh faced quarterbacks that don't have any starts under their belt. And they have the new and improved Ryan Coleman Williams to get integrated with. So I think that's going to be a fun one to watch too, because I haven't seen a quarterback battle at a spring camp in a while at some, kind of big program like that. And I think the Sudarian Morgan receiver, the freshmen coming in, I mean, they're comparing him to the next Julio Jones at Alabama. with his build and his height, weight, size, speed. So it'll be interesting to see. That'll be a cool one just to kind of have on in the background and see all the new faces and the young guys, because I do think they're going to be a very young team. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I would agree. I'm very excited for this one as well, because this is kind of D'Bourg's first solo team. think like this is, this is after the remnants of Sabin have left and this is what he has built. And I'd love to see what he's come up with. So that I think this would be very telling to say like, what quarterback is he going with? What schemes is he running? Just because you know, losing a Sabin quarterback, you know, he's produced so many great quarterbacks over the years and I feel like you have to be in Saban's head to really make the most out of them. So this will be interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes more of an aerial style gameplay just from his time at Washington. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. And if you have Ryan Coleman Williams on your team, I would do the same thing. So I'm interested actually to see. Yeah. And on the shoulder pads, you know, I'm, I am actually. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. RAC Aaron: He needs hands on his helmet too. Ryan RAC 4: I'm very interested to see though how he picks up the role if he's going to be the number one guy. Cause Jeremy Bernard was pretty good. He did majority of the receiving last year. They had another freshman guy. Yeah, literally. They had another guy, that number 17 guy that played in the Oklahoma. But do know his name? He was pretty good. I'm not remembering his name. He was very good though. He was shocking and he was a freshman last year. So he's going to be pretty good if he stayed. RAC Aaron: yeah hands on his helmet shoulder pads everything Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: Well, he is going to be number one. Hahaha. Yeah. ⁓ I know you're talking about that. Ryan RAC 4: But it's interesting that you said the QB battle thing. think coaches almost do that just to like, ⁓ we have a quarterback battle. We don't know what we're really going to do. Cause even last year there was a whole thing Ohio State, you're an Ohio State guy was saying, Julian Sane and Lincoln Keyholes had a QB battle. But it's obviously you watch the spring game, Lincoln Keyholes sucks. Julian Sane's a Heisenfront runner. And last year coming off of a season where midway through the year We had Ty Simpson was in the hyzen running that now Q and Russell and Austin Mack are both there. And whenever Ty Simpson got hurt in that, or in the Indiana game, Austin Mack came in. So it's weird to see now. He looked pretty good. The ball came out of his hand. Nice. He made a couple of throws. He looked pretty good. think you and Russell has a little bit more of the athleticism, Lenora sellers aspect where he can make. RAC Aaron: You look good. Ryan RAC 4: those big time plays happen if he needs to, which I like having that in your back pocket if you really need it. But from what I've been seeing is that right now they make it seem like Keelan Russell's taking majority of the snaps with the ones. He's kind of the guy. And that's almost a telltale sign that he is going to be the starter when Austin Mack was clearly the starter a few months ago in the fall. And even in December, Keelan Russell is on record saying, I'm most definitely okay with waiting my turn. I mean, we're right here now. I have been waiting my turn. And now he's taking the snaps with the Ones. So I'm very interested to see who comes out with the Ones. I think that's going to be a huge deal for them. As Chandler, mentioned, Stary and Morgan. He is the next coming of Julio Jones. He's big, he's fast, he's really good from everything we've seen. I think he could pan out good. I don't know if for Auburn's sake I wanted to start out too good, but all the other games he should do well. RAC Aaron: I think he has a high potential to have a high rack ability. Ryan RAC 4: Yes. Aaron RAC 4: hehe RAC Aaron: I also think it's interesting, you pointed that out Ryan, that during the Indiana game when Ty Simpson got hurt, Austin Mack was the guy that came in. So you would think that he was the solidified two last year and that Kailin Dabour would kind of roll in with that and have him be that starter guy. And it's kind of like his job to lose almost. But then from that, yeah, like what you're saying and what we saw. It looks like it's reversed. It's Keelon Russell's job and it's his to lose when he wasn't even a factor last year. And it could be age, like Austin Mack was older, but it's interesting that it kind of flipped. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, but what has changed? Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. But I, I, I also wonder how many of those coaches at that level. You do see it where something like Ohio state, you'll see Alabama, you see Georgia do it every once in a while where when you've got a new quarterback coming in or you've lost your big name, they go, have in a quarterback battle. But I think most of the time they know exactly who they're going with as you said, but I think the whole intent of that is disinformation for other teams. I think they just throw it out there. RAC Aaron: I don't know. Yes. The scheme, Aaron RAC 4: to say like, hey, I'm going to waste some of those other coaches film time because they can't completely. They know who I'm going with. I know who I'm going with. But if I throw this out, there's that little shadow of a doubt that they are going to have to waste some film time to watch this guy's plays. They're going to have to go back through the record during off season and it's, it's free for them. Essentially you keep a young quarterback, you keep another guy working, nobody gets complacent and you. You know, waste some film time while you're at it. So. You know, it kind of seems like a no hurt scenario, but I feel like a lot of those guys, when they transfer in or they're being recruited in, they have that fairly ironed out of who's starting, who's going in. You know, if you're coming here at this point, it seems like they've got them locked in pretty tight. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and I think it also keeps morale high. But it's pretty obvious. We've played sports. You know when a coach knows the other guy's better and he's playing. And when they're taking reps of the ones and you're taking reps of the twos, you have to do way better and make those twos look really, really good if you even want a shot to take any with the ones. Those ones guys have it so easy. They have all the talent around them. You just got to put the ball up there, catching it makes it real easy on them. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. RAC Aaron: Now a team that's not going to have a quarterback battle, Texas. And I think that's going be another interesting one with Arch Manning and our other Coleman, Am Coleman at Texas. I think he in that chemistry with Arch Manning is going to be fun to watch because me being an Ohio State fan and them playing the second week, I don't want it to be good, but it's hard for me to imagine that with a competent offensive scheme that is not necessarily centered around Cam Coleman, but has stuff designed to get him the ball, which is what we've all grown up hearing is get your best player the ball and it will make plays. I hope it doesn't turn out well, but I think it will because archmaning kind of got hot at end of last year and Cam Coleman is Cam Coleman and he's just incredible at what he does. He can do everything on the field. So I'm curious to see what that chemistry looks like out the gate with the spring game. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and Cam Coleman... ⁓ sorry. RAC Aaron: because I'm sure it's already clicking. Aaron RAC 4: I'm going to disagree here on the interest in that game. I don't think it'll be a good one. I think Lens will be great. I think Arch, KM, but if Texas suffers from anything, it's depth. That second level is not nearly as stacked. So I think, you know, if you're going on that other side, we're just not going to see it as a competitive. RAC Aaron: Yes. Aaron RAC 4: driver there. You know, I think we're going to see a lot of safe timing. Like I think we're just going to see a lot of layups that they're going to throw out there. Yeah. Because I think. Sarcassian smart enough to know depth's an issue. So there's no reason to do a big parade out there. They already have the press. That, know, we're going to go into this and they're going to be like, should Texas be one or two? Everybody is going to say that the RAC Aaron: Like very vanilla scheme, yeah. Aaron RAC 4: preseason poll. So don't put anything at risk. Don't do anything that's going to dink you. Do a couple setups, mainly some screens, get some speed out there. It's just going to be, you know, essentially like a combine game. It's just going to be showing off the skills for everybody to rank them high. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. And they do take it pretty easy. I think the best thing we're going to see out of this is Will Sark use Cam Coleman downfield. He thrives when he goes downfield, but it's almost like I'm going to show off my new car to these other people, all the people that put in all the money, all the boosters that even the first year that Auburn got Cam Coleman, he's a freshman. It's like rev your car a little, you know, let them catch a couple of jump balls. show them what they're paying for, show us the new weapon we got. And they already have Arch. They kept Ryan Wingo. You know, maybe they'll do a little bit, show the new running backs. But yeah, it is kind of just showing off the new things they have, not doing too much, getting nobody hurt. But I'm interested to see that. Kim Coleman and Arch look like they're like best friends on the sidelines. Aaron RAC 4: And I also wonder how much of that is show. feel like Arch is very tuned in to the performance side of getting press, everything like that. think he's got enough family coaching him on that. think Sark's also good at that of how to keep everyone's name. So I think they have done a lot of press coverage and a lot of situationals that allow Arch and Cam. to show like, look at step brothers too. They're the best of friends. It's going to be great. You know, can't you millions and millions of dollars have all been worth it here. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and I think it is a lot of that like they might not be best friends But because they're obviously just on the sideline. He's somewhat the ball. We just threw him He's talking about that, they're Michael their best friends that are having so much fun at practice You know kind of portraying it like that to the people about their great chemistry already Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: Well, they have to show the realtor that sold Cam Coleman's apartment that, you know, she did a good job and getting him over there. They have to show her what, what, what she got paid, like paid to do. So they're going to, they're going to flash them a bit like Ryan said. Ryan RAC 4: I'm interested to see if he actually bought that. We should get that GeoGuessr guy to figure out what apartment that is and go knock on his door and see if Kim Coleman's there. RAC Aaron: That'd be crazy. Aaron RAC 4: Hahaha Ryan RAC 4: It makes me a little sad though as an Auburn fan to see Kam Coleman. I really want him to succeed. I almost just can't believe that we lost him and it's hard for me to see him have success in another school, but I think he really is. He is Jeremiah Smith of the South. I want him to do well. I'm just sad he's not doing well on my team. RAC Aaron: be crazy. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I always watch his. Love to watch him. RAC Aaron: He's a very likable guy. Aaron RAC 4: But I will say I wanna see James Franklin at tech. I wanna see what he's put together there. See if I have a chance at my prediction coming true. I wanna see what Penn's got. I wanna see if they are regretting their decision making here. RAC Aaron: Yeah, Penn State's a weird one because they have been a historic running school where they get their bread and butter with a two backfield and I don't think they have crazy depth. I could be a non-knowing fan of the Big Ten of what they actually have, but I don't think they have crazy depth. I don't think they loaded the offensive side of the ball. And with a new head coach, I think that'll be a big question mark to see. I mean, I know they have James Peeples from Ohio State, but he wasn't very good. So it'll be interesting to see for sure. And same thing in the Big 10 with Indiana. I is Hurt going to do for his trifecta of reload every year? I mean, they have some big returners. They have the three offensive linemen coming back or three of the main. They have the two, the Surratt and the Virginia are coming back, the two receivers. They have the new quarterback. So I mean, he did the same thing he's been doing for the past two years. He's just reloading in the transfer portal. He's just picking apart those three and four stars, building the roster, getting them to buy in on the culture early. And it'll be, mean, I think they're going to be a top 10 team, if not top five team again. It's until they're not it, I believe they will be. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. And I think spring game, he's going to just run it like everything else. I think it's going to be a very no flash game. don't think there's going to be like laying kiffins. I expect to be a presser. Like that's going to be like, Hey, get the photographers over here. Cause we're going to have this big play, you know, it's going to be scripted. think. Dignity is going to run, you know, a good backyard scrimmage game. Like he's going to be looking at just fundamentals. Like he's going to use this time wisely. This is going to be one of those things that it's like, this is time he gets to have on the field with guys going full speed and they are. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, any's? Yeah. RAC Aaron: I'm just excited to see the eyebrow raise again. Gotta get that back on camera, full screen on my TV. That's when all is well in the world is when we're seeing the full screen eyebrow raise. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and if there's one thing we see from him, I think we are going to see a disciplined football team even early in the spring. I am interested to see, they ran the ball a lot last year, so no more him being black. I wonder if they got a new good running back or two for a little double thing. Josh Hoover though, is an interesting one from TCU where he went out and got one from Cal. Fernando was pretty good, won the Heisen, so we'll see if he had another eye. Did it again. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. Ryan RAC 4: With Serat and Cooper, I mean, he still has pretty good weapons around him. So that's pretty interesting. I know you said the James Peoples one. James Peoples was pretty good. I think he just seemed bad because the rest of your teams are good. You have the best team in the country. He's going to get... RAC Aaron: Yeah, definitely a knock. mean, I don't think he was awful. I retract my statement. He just didn't perform like everybody in the room thought he was going to. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he was supposed to come in and be the guy and he didn't be the guy where I think he might thrive at Penn State. I mean, it's weird that after they fired James Franklin, they stopped letting Nick Singleton run the ball and they're letting that other guy get 35 carries a game where if they're feeding James people's 35 carries a game, he might get a lot of, he's gonna get a hundred yards a game, 150 yards a game. Like that's their thing. They run the ball, but I think a lot of it was James Franklin. Those guys bought into James Franklin. RAC Aaron: Yes. Mm-hmm. Ryan RAC 4: And the fact that he left, a lot of other guys left, their roster definitely took a huge hit. They weren't even that good last year. They obviously did way worse. They went from making the playoffs to being unranked. They almost beat Indiana though. RAC Aaron: I mean, there's a lot of them that went to Virginia Tech. So I mean, I think Aaron has the inside track of he saw the potential. Ryan RAC 4: He did number nine? Aaron RAC 4: Now I think tech was my number 10. So we'll see, you know, see how my Vegas odds come in. How do we feel about Vanderbilt for the spring game? Do you think we're going to see consistency that we saw under Pavia at QB or do we think we're going to see a regression? Ryan RAC 4: Number 10, okay. Huge aggression. Huge. RAC Aaron: Progression I don't even think there was consistency under Pavia. I think he had flashes, but I don't think there was a That like you can know he was gonna throw for 250 yards and he was gonna have X touchdowns and he was gonna do all these things I mean there was some games where he had like 500 all-purpose yards and some games he had like a hundred and ten so it ⁓ Aaron RAC 4: No. Yeah, but any spark was a different change for Vanderbilt. RAC Aaron: I think his ability to extend plays, especially paired with Stowers, the tight end role that, I mean, he was a tight end, but he was also like, he was basically a slot receiver and a gadget guy. Like he was quick, he was tall, he was lanky, he could make contested catches. Like he was everything you'd want in a tight end. And I think having him as an out, as either a check down or a little in the flats, like a delayed block release. I mean, he was, he had a lot of options to extend plays. And I don't think with him gone and Diego gone. I think Vanderbilt's going to take a step back to the unranked town. Ryan RAC 4: And they talk about tight ends being a safety net, but Stowers was so good. He was the best player on their team. He was more than a safety net. He would catch it every single time. Pavia put it over there, but Pavia was so weird that he was so unpredictable. Even two years ago, he's going to come in there as an unranked team and he's going to beat Alabama. And then the next week he's just going to do terrible. So it's just very interesting. I don't think they're going to have another guy like that. He looked really good in New Mexico state because it's RAC Aaron: For sure. Ryan RAC 4: New Mexico State is like, who is this guy? You know, they're comparing him to Johnny Menzel. I obviously think he's probably half of Johnny Menzel. He talked his way into the Heisen conversation. He didn't even deserve that, but they don't have another guy like that. Yeah. Him and his mom being up there with posters. That's the only reason he's in there, but he did have that glimpse of talent. They don't have another guy like that that I've seen. They don't have another Stowers coming in. So I think they're going to do bad. They're historically very bad. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: No, yeah, he tweeted his way into it. His mom and his, yeah. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Ryan RAC 4: They're always just... Yeah. Right back to it. RAC Aaron: So I think the last team I had on my mind that I was curious about was Notre Dame. Ryan RAC 4: Me too, yeah. Aaron RAC 4: I was thinking the same thing. RAC Aaron: I don't really know why, but Notre Dame's always one of those teams where they're just always there and relevant and I'm just curious about when the falloff's gonna happen, if it does. And I think they have a quarterback that is gonna be more experienced. I think they have more weapons on offense. They have to replace Jeremiah Love. I don't think they did, at least with any transfer people. But I think they're gonna be good again. I don't think there's going be a lot of question marks other than the running back position. And I think you will get answers to that on the spring game because they always run the ball in the spring game. But I don't think there's a lot of question marks. It's more so the curiosity that I have watching it and seeing how all the pieces mesh again. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, my curiosity comes from, how does Freeman go into this? Does he go aggressive? Does he go more signetti about it of like bold making every moment on the field count because of that new playoff change for them and like knowing that they got pushed last year, that it's like, are they going to go and get that conversation right off the bat? Are they going to be deking press and, you know, coming at this, you know, head down, nose to the grindstone, make this the season for them? Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I think they have a lot of new weapons. I already told you I think they're gonna be pretty good. I don't like Notre Dame. I usually think they're unfairly ranked high. But I think they're actually gonna be pretty good, like I mentioned. I think Mylon Graham and Quincy Porter are gonna be the second best wide receiver duo in the country, like I mentioned. The first being... Smith and whoever steps up. Or just Jeremiah Smith being... the best wide receiver duo by himself. But yeah. Aaron RAC 4: Mm-hmm. Ryan RAC 4: I can't believe they didn't go get another running back. Cause, Dear My Love was a huge producer for them and they didn't go get anybody. They have a nice Williams who last year only had 24 carries for 224 yards. And then they have a guy named Jibran Payne and another guy named Nolan James Jr. who they'll have a two man rotation of it seems like a nice Williams will be. the main guy and then one of the other two will come in to split carries. But I'm interested that they didn't go get a guy at such an important position, especially in the transfer days. It's back to the old days. Let's get these guys out of high school. Let's produce them. Let's put them out there. I'm interested to see if that works nowadays. But I think the Milan grammy Quincy Porter pools are really good because why would you get some guy that received for 700 yards at NC State. When you can get two of the best receivers on the country who are just getting super outshined and they're sitting on a bench at a school like Ohio State and they come and be instant impacts on your team. I think that's great for them. I'm very excited to see how they use them. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. Me too. Me too. And I, I will give them the benefit of the doubt for the running back situation here because love was such a power talent in that position that I wonder if they're very comfortable with the next guy up and you know, maybe I I'm sure they did some portal searching for it and maybe just didn't have a guy that fit the program better already was aware of it. But if you're behind love as the, you know, second carrier, You're not going to put up a lot of yards. You're not going to put a lot of dents in that system because when it needs to be a run play, love was going to be the one that carried the ball. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and I think it's easier to get over Shine. RAC Aaron: And remember, they only have to get to the top 12 to have a spot. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, that's it. And, but I feel like last year left a sting on him, you know, being, being pushed out the conference. I think this is that we're going to, we're not even going to put ourselves in that position here for them. Ryan RAC 4: Yes, RAC Aaron: So let's get into the good stuff, let's get into our teams. Alright, so Ryan the Talker, let's kick off with the Auburn Bulls. So talk to us about the Auburn Bulls and how you expect their spring game to go. Aaron RAC 4: The good stuff. The SEC. Ryan RAC 4: You know. Well, I almost wanted to talk about Auburn as one of our main points, not just because I'm an Auburn fan, but they're just one of the teams like LSU who has had such a big turnover. But we've seen all of these guys at South Florida. Big two things here. He's Sean Singleton and Byron Brown. They're talking about first day of spring practice where they got the pads on. They're already talking the way they're communicating. They already have such a great connection. That's bound to happen. They've been playing with each other for a couple of years. But I want to see more weapons than just Keishon Singleton for Byron Brown. I think Keishon Singleton is the guy. But I'm a little worried this is a situation like last year where Cam Coleman was the guy. You can go back and you can double him. But we had Eric Singleton to kind of even it out. Where Keishon Singleton's our guy now, but I don't know if Nimrod is going to step up. I don't know if it's going be our new freshmen, Ryan Williams Jr. Ryan Coleman Williams Jr. To step up. But I want to see weapons for Byron Brown. I think Byron Brown actually is a pretty good quarterback. After seeing videos of him coming, the ball coming out of his hand, it comes out nice. I've seen videos of him throw to Keishon Singleton and they look very good. But there's huge speculation now that after seeing him throw at practice, Byron Brown has a weird throwing motion. He drops it down to his hip and comes and digs a big swing and throws it out. And they're super worried about that. RAC Aaron: You Ryan RAC 4: But my whole thing, it might not have even been him, but I saw the Mr. Archibald Manning commented on a video of Byron Brown saying that the D lines are just going to love playing against him because it's going to be a lot of fumbles. It's going to take him a long time to get out of his hand, which I could see that. But how in the world are all these people so worried about this now that how will we not notice this over the last three years? If it was an issue, they would have noticed it. RAC Aaron: You Ryan RAC 4: Or it just proves that no one actually knows what they're talking about. I think a lot of the time people push narratives and it's everyone's talking about how we threw for 3000 yards. But how is it not obvious that his throwing motions weird? You haven't watched him play at all. You're just seeing the 3000 stat and putting it out there. They're just seeing the stats. They're seeing you won nine big 12 games and they're just saying, Oh yeah, let's see 85 % of that production. in the SEC because the competition's harder. So we'll see that. I'm glad to see the defense. We have a lot of returners, which I've been mad because we lost Jay Crawford and Kai and Lee, but we still got people like Ray Sean Pleasant. We got Sylvester Smith. We have Xavier Atkins, which he's like super good. I think he won the linebacker of the year, right? For all college football. And we have Caleb Harris. We have lot of actually returners that are pretty good. I'm excited to see D-Line. I'm excited to see Jeremiah Cobb. He's good. Hopefully that Baylor guy, he seems like a big bruiser at running back. Hopefully he's good. I'm just excited to see it. I'm feeling better as we go on. Still not feeling great, but I'm excited to see it. Aaron RAC 4: And you mentioned that discourse around like the weird throwing motion and how people latch onto it. And it was kind of like, it reminded me like this year with the combine and like Bain's arm measurement came in and every single platform just kept talking about it. And, but it was like, but nobody's talking about how the man needs a CPAP machine to sit on the bench. Like that seemed like a bigger thing. Nobody cared about arm length at any player ever before that. And they're like, well, just historically it's just not going to, and it's like, you don't know. You have no idea what you're talking about here. That could be just a completely irrelevant stat in this motion. You can frame an argument for it, but like if they're saying, Hey, he throws the ball weird. And it's like, he just might throw it little differently. Patrick Holmes throws ball weird too, you know, in a lot of ways. And that's one of his strengths. RAC Aaron: I will say that it is If you have a jump as an end on the defensive line and you're on a blind side or a free rusher on the the on the side you can see if you have to drop it so low I mean that's like just block material for the edge rushers. So it'll be interesting to see how it actually works Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I mean, it could be something. I do think, you know, on the personal side, I think the edge pressure he's going to face this year is going to be very different. RAC Aaron: a lot better. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I think there's going to be a different, a different realm of it and they're going to have to make an adjustment for it. But that's what football is. It's making an adjustment and making a change. RAC Aaron: with. with the offensive line that he was so keen on replacing and getting depth on that he did not get any depth or pieces to fill. And he still is worried about it. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I'm also worried about the offensive line. I think that makes or breaks his team. He runs the ball a lot. Auburn is a historic running school. Can Jeremiah Cobb run the ball? Can Byron Brown actually throw it if he's not getting good blocking? But hopefully this actually might work out that maybe if his throwing motion is so low like that, if he fumbles, they might call a tuck rule like Tom Brady. And it doesn't count. Yeah. He is, he is. So that could be good. RAC Aaron: Ha ha ha! There we go. He's playing chess. We're playing checkers. He's preparing for it. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, the ball comes out of his hand very nicely though, but I just like seeing the spring games. It's fun to watch. You can just tell different in person when the ball is coming out of the guy's hand. Whenever people are running routes, how fast these guys are, how quick, how sharp they're running routes. Cause I don't really know how good these USF guys are going to transfer, but hey, we might show up. They might run crisp, fast routes. They might create separation. A lot of our defense is returners, which makes me feel better under DJ Durkin's system. But I'm always just a little worried, you know, we haven't been doing too good these last few years, so. Aaron RAC 4: Well, my prediction for y'all, y'all are gonna look good in your Spring Game. Because, I mean, half the players played with each other before. You're you know, marrying two teams together. think that will change second or third game of the season when we get SEC competition in there. I think that'll be a wake-up call. I think that's gonna be a big part of their season is how they respond. But I think Spring Game-wise, y'all will look good. You'll look really good out there. Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. Aaron RAC 4: I can't say the same for I have some hopes for Mississippi State spring game. hope our defense is alive. I hope we have a pulse out there. You know, something I haven't really talked about is Zach Arnett coming back. So I did mention that we fired Zach Arnett as a head coach, top higher Jeff Levy. And Zach Arnett has come back as our defensive coordinator for this year. It's a little weird. The bizarre scenario, especially if Jeff Levy loses his job and he becomes the interim head coach again. I don't know if I've ever seen a turnaround like that before, but it would be, it would be Mississippi state core. So I would say there is part of that excitement for me. I do want to see how the defense shows up. like Zach or nuts defensive schemes. I also like his energy. ⁓ one of my favorite things of watching that game with him in leech was he's got a little bit of Yosemite Sam in them. When he's on that sideline yelling, he's the feet start jumping. He's got a little, ⁓ strength and conditioning guy that holds onto his belt and keeps him from like. RAC Aaron: That would be crazy. Aaron RAC 4: Getting onto the field. just holds him there the whole time. It's one of my, hope he comes back with strength and conditioning people. He's got hot blood in him and I like that. So I'm hoping that defense just does anything this year at all. That would be amazing in our spring game. Just seeing it show a different scheme, covering, putting pressure, anything to happen. I'd like to see how we've made changes around Camaria. I'd like to see if we've made any adaption there. That would be a big take and it could work against us both ways. If big changes have come on the defense and the defense is standing up, Camario might not look good. If our defense doesn't show up, Camario might look great when he might not be at that level. Wait, yeah, cause he's still young. I mean, he's going to make mistakes. I don't expect his best season to be this season, but yeah, it's a mess out there. We're in chaos mode. RAC Aaron: And I was going to kick this question to both of you guys because it sparked my interest on it. What do you think coming from last year to this year, you want to see adjusted the most on the either offense or defense side you can pick, but what do you want to see weak to the most either schematically, player wise, anything you want? Aaron RAC 4: go ahead and take it first so you can think about it for a second there Ryan. think the tweak I'd like to see is head coach. think that would be at the end of the season. A new head coach would be great. I'm on the fire Jeff Levy into the sun train. But as I said, I don't want to see him go too early, you know, give a coach at least three years. But if it's another more head scenario where we just continuously, like if we come out for spring game and it's a dumpster fire, I don't know. what we do at that point. Like I just don't want to go into another season going well. Hopefully there's some good games on during our time again. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I'm very excited to see y'all actually. I just hope y'all could get some weapons for Kamaria. I think that'd be a wonderful thing. He is one of those superstar X-Factor quarterbacks that he can make big plays when he needs to, but it's so hard to do that by yourself. If you give him some weapons, you give him the ability to dish the ball out. That's going to be great. Another thing, I'm really glad you actually hired your coach as a defensive coordinator. In the modern era, we're seeing a huge shift. And to all of these offensive guys, all the head coaches are these offensive minded coaches. Kirby Smart's an outlier where he is a defensive specialist kind of head coach, but we've seen a lot of them come up and a lot of them fail. A lot of them have been offensive guys. So I'm glad that he kind of took a step down almost and went to the defense. And I love that you said he has a guy holding them back. I love a coach that gets fired up like a player's coach. We had that with Cadillac Williams a few years ago. But defense guys especially, that's kind of an energy position where when you get those guys hyped up, you get them out there fighting. You need to convince them, come on guys, you know, I know we did another three now, get back on that field. You're going to keep us in this game. And when he can get fired up, they're going to get fired up. And I think that's going to be huge. A lot of energy on your defense. That's going be great. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, the sideline will be more entertaining this year. That is a guarantee. He definitely has some go get me that ball back energy that he can pump into a defense and has produced some incredible defensive talents as a DC. So if we can get back to just being a good defensive team again, I'll be happy. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, and I love that. And a DC role will fit him good. Herbie Smart though needs one of those guys to hold him back. He needs to have his little strength guy to hold him back. I'm surprised he doesn't get flagged. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. Absolutely. Ryan RAC 4: Obviously on offense, I would like to see schematic changes. I know we're not going to see a whole lot of that in the spring game. They don't want to give too much away. But I think Alex Goldish brings that to us. I know that I mentioned that Hugh Freeze had a very plain offense. Goldish's whole thing is that he has this big offensive system that's super good, worked at South Florida, but it also worked in Tennessee back in the day. He set all these records. I'm just worried we don't have the same roster. RAC Aaron: So Ryan, are your tweaks you wanna see? Ryan RAC 4: the guys that had at Tennessee all these people are saying that his system Will work it's translated at SEC before But they produce guys like Joe Milton and how all these big receivers and running backs come through that helped him do that And I think Byer Brown's great, but Nimrod isn't gonna get it done. Keishun Singleton might get it done It is a good name, but it's like opposite of swag factor. It's just like yeah, come on Nimrod. Yeah RAC Aaron: What's an A plus name? Aaron RAC 4: Yes it is. RAC Aaron: Nimrod. Aaron RAC 4: You know what? I will say it is one that makes me want a Jersey. I want a Nimrod Jersey for Auburn. It would be the only time I wear an Auburn Jersey. Ryan RAC 4: It is Brita. Yeah RAC Aaron: Maybe War Eagle Mobile can sponsor that jersey when they hashtag add sponsor this show. Ryan RAC 4: Don't be a Nimrod, buy War Eagle Mobile. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I do think it'll be the Byron Brown, Keishon Singleton show. I just hope to see other weapons around him. On defense, I love DJ Durkin. I think we had an amazing defense last year. It kept us in so many games. No one really scored 20 points until the Alabama game. And even with that, we put up way more yards than, and we held them to low yards. They were just pretty efficient and scored more points when, when it counted, which is what matters. But. RAC Aaron: There we go. Book it. Ryan RAC 4: I'm pretty excited to see that. I want to see if the returners are there. I want to see if Champ Anthony's healthy. I know he is on his little protocol after his surgery. So I hope he's out there. They keep saying how good he is. Then he comes in, first game gets hurt. So people like that, I want to see people step up. I need to see a big corner step up for Kai and Lee. Maybe a safety. We got a safety from somewhere. Was that Duke? I know we got that corner from UCLA, which Hopefully the UCLA coroner will step up for Kai and Lee. And then we need someone to step up for Jay Crawford. But even Jay Crawford, he was one of those guys. We didn't know he was going to be the guy. He stepped up. I'm excited. RAC Aaron: I don't know. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: I'm a big DJ Durkin guy. After seeing last year, I just knew, I mean, of course the name, great, but every time I watched an Auburn game last year, I knew the defense was be able to go out there and keep them in every single game they played. And that's what you love watching any team, especially ones you support, but any team you watch, you can tell if they are gonna be competitive in that game on whether or not their defense can keep them in games when their offense is buttering. And y'all did that every single week, no matter who you played. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah. RAC Aaron: And that was really cool and I'm glad you retained him. And we talked a lot about that in the off season whenever all this coaching stuff happened. Him staying was a key piece because all the players love him and he's a really big players coach. He is very good at building that team chemistry and that the synergy between the different position groups. And I really like him going back. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. And I love it. I mean, Xavier Atkins is obviously our team leader on defense this year. And he just praises him. We have Keldrick Falk at the combine just saying how great DJ Durkin was. And he is this wonderful coach and all the players love him. And that's great. And when the defense is on the field, the entire game. And like you were saying, go out there and give me that ball back. He keeps some high energy. Our defense had so much energy and you can see it the way they're celebrating after plays, the way they're getting ready for the plays. They were just so energetic and I love that on a defense, they're flying around. I need them to get guys to step up this year though. And we'll be good. I think we will produce. Yeah, but we'll produce more offense. I mean, when they did it, we, when he took over his head coach though, we did better. RAC Aaron: should have put him on the offense. Bring that energy over there. Ryan RAC 4: No more! They actually ran a flood concept, didn't work once, it happened right in front of me, I was so excited, I was like- RAC Aaron: Yes, this is true. The Five-Yard Curls were no more. Aaron RAC 4: It's true. RAC Aaron: I I even saw a drive corner. mean, I was seeing plays that we run on NCAA. I was like, this is crazy. We're hot routing here. Exactly. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah. Am I watching Z spot happen right now in front of me? And then he dropped it. And I was like, I can't believe that we ran a good concept. didn't work. Well Chandler, ⁓ what do you want to see? A lot of winning or something? What do y'all do over there? RAC Aaron: Exactly. Their hot routes were set for that game. That's good. Yeah, winning would be nice. Yeah, with our mediocre Big Ten talent, winning is given to everybody. No, think, and Teal wrote it down before, we have a collaborative note space for all of our viewers watching that we put our format of what we want to do before each show, and Ryan filled out the first name of the Ohio State player before I even could, which is Connor Hawkins, the kicker that transferred in from Baylor, because as we've talked about in previous shows, Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, you wanna see good football? RAC Aaron: Ohio State has not made a 50 plus yard field goal since 2019. And that'll be a great thing to see, hopefully, because Lord knows if he misses that first kick that's a 50 plus yard field goal, then he might not be on the bus ride home. He might be left at the stadium. But I think there's a lot of big pieces. They had a lot of turnover, just like a lot of teams, but Matt Patricia has already proven they could do that. And a lot of it happened on the defense again. So you have people like... Aaron RAC 4: He might not make it to his car that evening. Yeah. RAC Aaron: Earl Little Jr. coming in, you Terry Moore coming in, you have Kwey Rusaw, big SEC fella from Alabama. You have James Smith from Alabama coming in. You have Devin McConkey, I think is his name, from Alabama coming in. They just feeding off of Alabama players. So all of those pieces working out with the defensive line, with the corners, the secondary, that'll be what I'm most interested to see. just how they fit and how they blend together. I know we're not gonna see a lot of crazy offensive concepts, but seeing their communication and their chemistry early on before the actual like summer ball starts and before we get closer to the season, seeing that early on chemistry will be cool to see and hopefully it's there. Other than that, on the offense side of the ball, Toby Jackson getting his reps in because Bo Jackson and Isaiah West will not be there. will be interesting to see. think Legend Bay being back there taking running back snaps and slot receiver snaps will be really cool to see. He's gonna be that kind of gadget Paris Campbell-esque where they can just plug him in in a quarterback little RPO where he can throw it, he can run it, he can be in the backfield, he can do a little sweeping screen plays. He can do his little RPOs, he can be a... lot receiver, can do all kinds of different stuff. So it'd be cool to see that. can kick return, pump return. think other than that, that's all. mean, there's no quarterback battle, thankfully. ⁓ that's all I got. Pretty easy. Ryan RAC 4: Alright, what about Arthur Smith? What about Arthur Smith? Aaron RAC 4: We didn't even have to cut you off this time. RAC Aaron: No, I know five minutes. I'm good. I mean, I'm, I'm interested in Arthur Smith, but he's not really playing. You're not going to really see a whole lot out of him until the season starts. He's going to be kind of just like Maddie P. He wasn't that prominent on the spring game. really showed up in the Texas game the first week. So I'm more curious to see this schemes on offense, I guess, and see if they can show us some more complex running concepts, but Aaron RAC 4: Yeah It also seems like Ryan Day as a coach doesn't take unnecessary risk and doesn't risk the players for this. So it does seem. Yeah. RAC Aaron: No. Ryan RAC 4: Mm-hmm. RAC Aaron: Unless you're playing UCLA at night, they, they, they want to everybody then, but. Aaron RAC 4: But it's like for this and I think it'll just be a fairly quiet, you know, routine, nothing crazy, like get in there, take snaps, do what they do well. RAC Aaron: I think so. Yeah. Aaron RAC 4: You know, do some different snap counts. think it's going to be more of a line game for them than it is necessarily showing their hand because they definitely are on the docket for people to be looking at. RAC Aaron: I think so too. I think it's going to be more so how the players mesh together and how they communicate and how they just flow offensive and defensively more so than coaching schemes and play calling and that kind of thing. Because like you said, it's not, they're not going to show too much of their hand, especially with Texas week two. So I think it'll be a testament more to the players in the spring game. And then once the season rolls around, that's where we're going to really see if Arthur Smith was a bust or if he was a good hire. like. Matt Patricia was a year ago. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I think it's, I think it's fairly safe, but I, my big thing will be looking at the line, the O line, how they are on timing, watching them pick up. Cause those are those things that you can't hide is how well they're communicating with each other, how blocks are getting picked. All that's, all that's going to be exciting because that was probably one of y'all's only weaknesses last year. RAC Aaron: Yes. Yeah, if we're seeing a bunch of four-man pressures and Julian's having to run around in the spring game, then we're gonna have a lot of problems. Aaron RAC 4: Yep. But, if we're seeing communication, we're seeing the line picking up, closing gaps, controlling the run gaps. Like I think that'll be interesting. I think that'll be the best case scenario. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. Yeah, and I know Arthur Smith isn't going to show a whole lot of the stuff that y'all are going to have to bring out later, but I'm excited to see, you can tell a lot off the kind of formations you can come out in, the kind of stuff you can do out of them and the kind of personalities bring it in. I want to see who he brings in, how we use his legend bay. I know we've mentioned before, I think that's kind of a sleeper. Like he's going to be super utilized this year. You almost use Brandon Ennis as the gadget guy. But I think he might step up as like a more of a receiver role because you throw it his way he catches it. You could have legend baby the gadget guy. I kind of want to see if Chris Henry's not falling down by now. The O line thing. Y'all had such a big O line issue. But Arthur Smith there. He's an NFL guy. He brought in his O line coach. I want to see that kind of NFL discipline for your O line that we saw with Matt Patricia bring into the defense. I know it's soon. That a lot of these guys are just coming in now and it's the spring and they've only had a few weeks and everything. But that's one of those things you fix immediately. That's probably the first thing he did when he got there. And these are all returners. They're smart guys. He can give them that discipline. And you're talking with the Alabama people, Caleb Downs, Alabama guy. And I know we're kind of, he was angrily insane, but they were in that Nick Saban era where even now I think it means a little bit less, even though the SCC means more and RAC Aaron: Julian say in. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah Ryan RAC 4: I'm interested to see it but they're... Yeah, but those guys were in there playing SEC talent week in week out last year proving they it done moving to the big ten I'm glad for that I think it's a huge step up for y'all RAC Aaron: It means less and more. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah RAC Aaron: I think another sneaky thing that we're gonna need to see if it works or not, Julian Sayen in his press conferences this year, one, he has facial hair and a nice mustache now, which is pretty cool, he's growing up right before our eyes. ⁓ But he said he was going to be more comfortable running the ball and extending plays on third down when he has to. And I think Ryan Day's big thing was he wanted Julian Sayen the year before to be more of a pocket passer. He's always taught his quarterbacks to run if you absolutely need to, but he advises against it. Like he's always been a pass guy, throw it away, like never extend plays. And Justin Fields, saw a little bit, CJ Stroud in the last Georgia game they played in the semifinals. You saw it finally. But I think Ryan Day's finally switching the script and is allowing Jillian to use his legs more. And I think He put on five, 10 pounds of muscle, you know, he has a nice mustache. So I think with those two things, we could see him start extending some plays. And if he's getting the green light to do so, it'll be cool to see if he picks up some cheap first downs here and there, because just like you guys know, that can change a whole game. If you have a cheap first down pickup and all of sudden you're in field goal range versus you get sacked or you throw the ball away and you have to punt it away. So there's, there's a lot of small ball you can play with having the quarterback plus schematically as a DC on the other side of the ball. If you're scheming against Ohio State and you know Jillian's never going to tuck the ball and run, then you're not going to ever put a spy on him. That's one less guy that is going to be taken away from your receivers. Aaron RAC 4: It's either extra pressure or more zone. RAC Aaron: Exactly. So it'll be cool to see if that actually becomes the case or if that's just smoke and mirrors. Uh, but from what we're hearing, I mean, even Julian saying it, it makes me cautiously optimistic that he might run the ball a little more. don't think he's going to be a Lamar Jackson and start running the ball, like design runs. But I think if he picks up like one or two first downs, extra game, that'd be great. Aaron RAC 4: Well, and I mean, lot of your quarterback runs for non-running quarterbacks is on the O line or so than the quarterback, you know, they've got to give them a gap, give them the protection and give them that chance to pick up three, four yards when they've got clumpy feet, you know, it's, what they got to get. So if you don't have it, then they're never going to take it. So getting that confidence in the O line to get them some space. isn't going to be the end of the world either. So I think we'll see him mature a lot this year. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, I think it's really good. Even watching his high school mixtape, he's running all over the place. And I like that Ryan Day does this. He kind of tries stuff. I know last year he tried to limit the plays, but he always kicks out things that aren't working and he tries to fix them. I think adaptation is one of the best things. They always talk about players making adjustments, players being coachable, but the coach doing it is a wonderful thing. And I think that him being able to run the ball. We'll open it a lot because even Carson Beck in the playoffs last year running the ball around hate to see it, but that opened up so much. He made a couple of crucial first downs, even Peyton Thorne at Auburn. was a year that we played Alabama and he didn't have a single pass yard in the first half, but he's running all over the place and they're not expecting him to run. But even if he does that, I love that Ryan Day is like, you can run the ball. I want you to run the ball. And I'm excited about that. I want to see him run the ball. I think he can do it. I think he's good enough to. RAC Aaron: Yeah, I think after he got out over the hump of the beating Michigan drought and then he got a national championship as a added bonus. I think now he's learning that adapting to college football because every year with, I mean, NIL by itself, it's so much change, so fast all the time, the schemes to coaching concepts and carousels to NIL to everything that if he doesn't continue to change like a dabo Sweeney where he doesn't like transfer portal recruiting, then you're just going to get stuck behind. And I think he's finally swallowing that pill that it's okay to change and it's okay to admit when you're wrong and it's okay to change different things within your program because that's it takes to stay up in the top, whatever 10, 15 teams. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, but that's a big man move to do that and I'm glad he made it. Aaron RAC 4: Absolutely. Yep. RAC Aaron: For sure. No, I hope he stays for a long time. He deserves it. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah, he's good. I do want to see... I didn't like how conservative y'all were last year. I want Arthur Smith to open up. I know we won't see that in Spring Game. Very excited for that. Hopefully he allows him to do that. What, he just gave Chip Kelly the reigns of the playoffs that one year? RAC Aaron: Yeah. And I mean, I think seeing Tavion St. Clair as a competent backup, hopefully will be a great thing as well because Lincoln Kienholz was, he was fine. He was been under the program for a long time, but he didn't have the spark and the athleticism to like pick up those extra things. And I think Tavion has a lot of the intangibles to be a great guy. He's huge. He's like six, four or six, five. He's like two 20. He runs like a four, six or four, seven. Like he's a really quick guy. Aaron RAC 4: Yeah, I'd love to see that in the Texas game. RAC Aaron: And he can, you know, make a man miss, he can break a tackle. So I think having that kind of dynamic-ness to you as a quarterback is a big thing as well. So he'll have another year grooming under Jillian Sain, but having a good backup again, hopefully will be nice as well, but it'll be cool to see him. He'll probably play a whole half in the spring game. So it'll be cool to see him. Ryan RAC 4: Yeah. And we'll see if he can be a potential starter next year. Cause last year he was terrible in the spring game, but it's like, I was in high school a month ago. And then I'm out here throwing on, on Davidson, Nick Benoist and Devin Sanchez. Like I'm not going to get it done. He was throwing interceptions, making bad reads, but he's had a year to develop under Julian Sane. Julian Sane's so smart. And you have all these smart coaches, these two NFL guys on both sides of the ball that he can learn from. So I'm excited to see if he's pretty competent as a backup this year. RAC Aaron: Yes. Ryan RAC 4: And if he's a potential guy that can be groomed into the next starter, the next year. RAC Aaron: I Yeah, that'll be cool to see. Aaron RAC 4: Well, we are getting that point where I believe we are recording this at the end of March, but this should be coming out the week the first rounds of spring games are starting, right? The first major rounds of it. Yeah. Yeah, and because I know they've got a bunch of them staged through some of those that we'll talk about, I'm sure news is going to come out all over the place, so you can look forward to that. RAC Aaron: Yeah, week and a half before, maybe a week before. Aaron RAC 4: We get back but we'll see how close we are how our predictions land, but I'm sure that'll be post spring game discussion episodes so in the meantime Thank you all for joining in it has been Great. We still haven't launched yet. We have recorded these all pre so we're all very excited to see what you all think At the time of this recording. We've just started some of the YouTube shorts some of the social media presence And the early reception has been awesome. So thank you all that participated in that. If you haven't yet gone to our social medias, you can find us at run after cast. There'll be a link tree in the description. You can go to, to find all of our social links. So. Feel free to reach out to us on there, correct us when we're wrong, put it in the bottom of this episode, say Chandler's wrong and all things that are wrong, just directed to him. So in the meantime, once again, thank you. RAC Aaron: Always. Aaron RAC 4: Follow us on any podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and until next time. Ryan RAC 4: Bye bye. RAC Aaron: Come on, Ryan.