SEC Spring Game Roundup

SEC Spring Game Roundup

Check out a complete roundup of SEC spring games that went down April 12-13, 2019.

Apr 17, 2019 by Kyle Bratke
SEC Spring Game Roundup

While spring game szn kicked off last weekend, it was in full swing this weekend (April 12/13) as over 50 spring scrimmages went down from coast to coast. 

How could you possibly wrap your head around everything that happened? By keeping it locked on FloFootball of course. Over the next week, well be releasing roundups of the biggest storylines broken down by conference.


Alabama

The White team came out on top of the Crimson team 31-17 Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The only problem with that is, the Crimson team had Heisman finalist Tua Tagovailoa, Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Najee Harris. It may only have been the spring game, but that doesn't stop the Alabama faithful from freaking out. Even Nick Saban is what wondering what happened. 

Tua's state line wasn't terrible, but the Heisman trophy contender didn't look great going just 19-for-37 for 254 yards and a score and was sacked four times. Tua did hook up with Jeudy for a long touchdown. 

Tua wasn't the only Tagovailoa throwing touchdowns Saturday inside Bryant-Denny. Early enrollee Taulia Tagovailoa threw a strike on the run to Jaylen Waddle. 

Starting running back Najee Harris apparently thought it was the college football playoff and nearly severley injured himself. 

Check out some of the sights and sounds from Tuscaloosa. 


Auburn

The Auburn quarterbacks put on a show Saturday on The Plains throwing for 479 passing yards and five scores. However, it's still unclear who will be QB1 when the Tigers kick off the season against Oregon. The battle should come down to Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix who both were fantastic. 

Gatewood finished 7-of-10 passing for 123 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

Not to be outdone, Nix was 11-of-14 for 155 yards and two scores of his own. 

Two other bright spots were the performances of wide receivers Seth Williams and Matt Hill. Both receivers eclipsed the century mark and hauled in two touchdown passes.

Highlights from The Plains. 


Florida

Last November after scoring a touchdown against South Carolina quarterback Feleipe Franks sushed his home crowd after they booed him the previous week in a blowout loss to Missouri. Since that blowout loss to Missouri, Franks came from behind to beat South Carolina and blew out Florida State and Michigan. 

Franks picked where he left off Saturday inside the Swamp going 13-for-18 for 327 yards and four scores. Franks clearly has a special connection with wideout Trevon Grimes. Grimes hauled in four passes for 195 yards and scored twice. 

Here is just another example of why college players need to be allowed to celebrate. 

Full highlights from Gainesville.


Tennessee 

Another SEC East quarterback that struggled at times last, Jarrett Guarantano, also had a fantastic spring game. The junior signal caller was 19-of-37 for just under 200 yards and four touchdowns.

Guarantano found star wide receiver Jauan Jennings on two of his four touchdown passes. 

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman safety Jaylen McCollough was the star of the showing grabbing two interceptions. 

The Vols may not be ready to challenge Florida or Georgia, but they should be back in a bowl game this season.


Missouri

All eyes were Kelly Bryant Saturday in Columbia and the highly sought after transfer delivered a sharp performance. Although he never found the endzone, Bryant was 12-of-17 for 150 yards. Since it was a spring game, Bryant only carried the ball three times, but come this fall he will surely be a bigger part of the Tigers run game. Bryant also delivered a super awkward interview.

Full highlights from Columbia. 



Texas A&M

Fresh off a breakout season where he accounted for 31 touchdowns and over 3,500 yards, Kellen Mond continued to look dynamic in the Aggies spring game. Mond was 22-of-43 for 255 yards and two scores. 

One of the biggest questions this offseason for the Aggies was who would replace star running back Trayveon Williams. Jacob Kibodi looks up to the challenge as the soon to be junior ran for 106 and a score.


Mississippi State

Entering the second year under Joe Moorehead, Keytaon Thompson appears to have a strong hold on the starting quarterback job. On Saturday, Thompson completed 9-of-18 passes to six different receivers and three of those passes went for touchdowns. 

The Bulldogs should once again have a strong rushing attack as they return stud running backs Kylin Hill and Nick Gibson. The two combined for over 80 yards and three touchdowns last weekend.

The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them to replace Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat, Johnathan Abrams, Jamal Peters, and Mark McLaurin all who should be drafted later this month.


Kentucky

The Wildcats won 10 games last year and did not get good play at quarterback. Whoever the quarterback is this year, the play should be improved. Incumbent starter Terry Wilson and challenger Gunner Hoak both played excellent last Saturday. 

Wilson finished 10-of-12 for 191 yards and two touchdowns and Hoak countered with a 23-of-30 performance for 279 yards and two scores as well. 

However, the Kentucky rushing attack will take a big hit as they must replace star Benny Snell. If the spring game is any indication the position is in good hands with Kavosiey Smoke. The man with the coolest name in college football had 132 yards on only 5 carries and found the end zone twice. 

We end with another example of why we need to allow college players to celebrate.