NWADG College Football

26 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.27.2023 ALABAMA The Crimson Tide will have to replace premier talents across the board in 2023 after losing seven players to the NFL Draft – three of which went in the first round, including No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. This is nothing new to an Alabama program that stockpiles talent better than anybody in the country. Nick Saban reeled in the top-ranked recruiting class in 2023 led by four 5-star recruits. Alabama has missed out on the College Football Playoff just twice since its implementation in 2015. It took two last-second losses at Tennessee and LSU to keep them out last season. Replacing Young is going to be the top priority for the Crimson Tide. The quarterback competition includes redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe, redshirt freshman Ty Simpson, Notre Dame Transfer Tyler Buchner, and a pair of true freshmen, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan. The Crimson Tide will have new coordinators on both sides of the ball in 2023. Tommy Rees tagged along with Buchner to leave Notre Dame for Alabama. Kevin Steele will lead the defense after Ole Miss poached former defensive coordinator Pete Golding for the same position. Notable Losses: Bryce Young (NFL), Will Anderson Jr. (NFL), Jahmyr Gibbs (NFL), Brian Branch (NFL), Traeshon Holden (Oregon) Notable Additions: QB Tyler Buchner (Notre Dame), TE CJ Dippre (Maryland), OC Tommy Rees, DC Kevin Steele Alabama Schedule · vs. Middle Tennessee (Sept. 2) · vs. Texas (Sept. 9) · at USF (Sept. 16) · vs Ole Miss (Sept. 23) · at Mississippi State (Sept. 30) · at Texas A&M (Oct. 7) · vs Arkansas (Oct. 14) · vs Tennessee (Oct. 21) · vs LSU (Nov. 4) · at Kentucky (Nov. 11) · vs Chattanooga (Nov. 18) · at Auburn (Nov. 25) AUBURN Auburn is looking to start fresh in 2023 with Hugh Freeze leading the charge after consecutive seven-loss seasons under Bryan Harsin. Tank Bigsby was a one-man-show for the inept Tigers' offense in 2022 as they struggled to move the ball due to poor quarterback and offensive line play. Freeze has attacked the transfer portal and brought in a total of 21 transfers. Improving the trenches has been an early focal point under Freeze as the Tigers added five offensive linemen and five defensive linemen. Sophomore quarterback Robby Ashford struggled with accuracy, completing less than 50% of his passes, but flashed dynamic athleticism while running for more than 700 yards in 2022. He'll compete with Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne for the starting role who has started 25 games over the last two seasons. Notable Additions: QB Payton Thorne (Michigan State), OL Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky), OL Dillon Wade (Tulsa), OL Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa), DL Justin Rogers (Kentucky) Notable Losses: RB Tank Bigsby (NFL), Owen Pappoe (NFL), QB TJ Finley (Texas State), QB Zach Calzada (Incarnate Word) Auburn Schedule · vs UMass (Sept. 2) · at California (Sept. 9) · vs Samford (Sept. 16) · at Texas A&M (Sept. 23) · vs Georgia (Sept. 30) · at LSU (Oct. 7) · vs Ole Miss (Oct. 21) · vs Mississippi State (Oct. 28) · at Vanderbilt (Nov. 4) · at Arkansas (Nov. 11) · vs New Mexico State (Nov. 18) · vs Alabama (Nov. 25) FLORIDA Billy Napier has gotten off to an uninspiring start with the Gators, with a 6-7 season capped by a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Gators will likely lean on their backfield in 2023 with returners Montrell Johnson (844 yards & 10 TDs) and Trevor Etienne (719 yards & 6 TDs) providing a spark. The passing game is a major question mark for a Florida program that lost its starting quarterback and top wide receiver. Napier addressed the issue by bringing in quarterback Graham Mertz from Wisconsin. Mertz played in 34 games in three seasons with the Badgers, throwing 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Florida's defense has lost a ton of production including its five leading tacklers from last season. The Gators won't have an abundance of time to figure things out before a tough week one matchup against Utah. Notable Additions: QB Graham Mertz (Wisconsin), S RJ Moten (Michigan), OL Kiyaunta Goodwin (Kentucky), DL Caleb Banks (Louisville) Notable Losses: QB Anthony Richardson (NFL), WR Xzavier Henderson (Cincinnati), CB Trey Dean III (NFL), LB Amari Burney (NFL) Florida schedule · at Utah (Aug. 31) · vs. McNeese (Sept. 9) · vs Tennessee (Sept. 16) · vs Charlotte (Sept. 23) · at Kentucky (Sept. 30) · vs Vanderbilt (Oct. 7) · at South Carolina (Oct. 14) · vs Georgia (Oct. 28) · vs Arkansas (Nov. 4) · at LSU (Nov. 11) · at Missouri (Nov. 18) · vs Florida State (Nov. 25) GEORGIA The Bulldogs are the runaway favorites in the SEC East once again due to elite recruiting and player development from head coach Kirby Smart. He pulled in the second-ranked high school recruiting class and landed several prized transfers. Georgia is another SEC school without a bona fide starting quarterback heading into the season after the graduation of Stetson Bennett. The current position battle includes junior Carson Beck, redshirt sophomore Brock Vandagriff, and redshirt freshman Gunnar Stockton. Whoever becomes Bennett's replacement will have no shortage of playmakers at their disposal. Junior tight end Brock Bowers is one of the most dynamic players in the country and caught 63 passes last year, including seven touchdowns. He'll be paired with a trio of explosive receivers. The Bulldogs led the country with 10 NFL Draft picks, including three first-rounders. Much like Alabama, Georgia should have no issue finding ways to replace all the outgoing talent. SEC TEAM PREVIEWS SEC LOCKED AND LOADED FOR ANOTHER TITLE RUN ANDREW JOSEPH HAWGS SPORTS NETWORK Taurean Carter | Arkansas Lineman File Photo

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