Kenneth Harrison
NFC South Rookie Of The Year?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2023 NFL season will start in a few weeks. Let’s take a look around the NFC South and see what rookies in the division will have the biggest impact.
Bryce Young, Carolina: Young was the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft so we have to start with him. He had a lot of success at Alabama. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, won the SEC Championship and led the Crimson Tide to the National Championship game.
His biggest question at the next level is his size. He’s only 5’10, 205 pounds. He has a slight build so we do not know if he can take the punishment from being hit by pro defenders.
He is the projected starter Week 1 and we keep hearing positive things from his teammates.
The Panthers played the Giants in their second preseason game last week. Young finished 3-of-6 for 35 yards on two series at MetLife Stadium, making him 7-of-12 for 56 yards in two preseason games.
“I thought Bryce looked sharp,” coach Frank Reich said. “Put together a nice drive. Would have liked to have finished if off [with a touchdown]. Obviously, unhappy with the number of penalties we had.
“But I thought Bryce looked sharp. I think he wanted to throw the ball more, but I thought he looked sharp.”
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta: The Falcons picked Robinson with the No. 8 pick in the draft, which raised some eyebrows.
Rookie Tyler Allgier rushed for 1,035 yards, 3 touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. He only started seven games so he did well in a limited role, so it did not look like the Falcons needed another running back.
They also still have Cordarrele Patterson and they are listed as the top two backs on the depth chart.
The value of running backs has gone down since most offenses showcase the passing game.
Robinson was the top rated back and he had a great career at Texas. He won the Doak Walker Award last year and he was a unanimous All-American. He rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 TD’s. Running backs can make an immediate impact so he is expected to produce like Saquon Barkley did as a rookie in 2018. Barkley had 2,028 all-purpose yards and 15 scores.
Bryan Bresee, New Orleans: Bresee was selected 29th in the draft.
He was considered as the top recruit coming out of high school but he did not live up to that at Clemson. He is 6’5, 305 pounds, so he has prototypical size for a defensive tackle.
He is a very good athlete with excellent strength so he should help the Saints interior line. In the second preseason game against the Chargers he recovered a fumble.
Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay: Kancey was the 19th player selected and he draws comparisons to another Pitt defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.
He was a unanimous All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2022 he started 11 games and missed two games with an injury. He had 31 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Kancey has great speed and he should routinely make plays in the opposing team’s backfield.
I’m looking forward to see how these rookies perform in 2023.
Panthers On The Prowl
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia State football program started in 2010. Head coach Shawn Elliott is entering his seventh season as the head coach in Atlanta. Elliott has led the Panthers to four bowl games and an overall record of 34 – 38.
He had his most wins in a season in 2021, finishing 8 – 5 and winning the Camellia Bowl.
They were not able to carry that momentum into 2022, going 4 – 8. That snapped a streak of three consecutive winning seasons.
Last season did start with South Carolina and North Carolina. Georgia State was tied with the Tar Heels in the fourth quarter and couldn’t get that one extra push in the 35-28 loss.
The pass defense didn’t show up in an inexcusable home loss to Charlotte, and overall the team was 0-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
The offense should be good. They are led by senior quarterback Darren Grainger. He passed for 2,443 yards, 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also rushed for 734 yards and 6 scores.
Star receiver Jamari Thrash transferred to Louisville, but the next six top receivers are back. They also added junior Jacari Carter, who transferred from Merrimack. He’s a speedster and he will add more options to the passing game.
Senior running back Marcus Carroll rushed for 622 yards, 7 TD’s and averaged 5 yards per carry in 2022. The offense should increase his workload this season. Senior Freddie Brock transferred from Maine and he adds depth and speed.
The offensive line struggled with pass protection last year. Travis Glover is a 6-6, 323-pound tackle who can work either side, transfers Colin Henrich (South Carolina) and Tyden Ferris (Central Michigan) are good interior presences. The rest of the line is young.
The defense struggled last season. Chad Staggs from Coastal Carolina has been hired as the new defensive coordinator. He will have to figure out how to fix the secondary because they were the weak link.
Top defensive tackle Thomas Gore is a Miami Hurricane now, but hybrid outside linebacker Shamar McCollum and Clemson transfer Kevin Swint have the upside to add plenty of plays in the backfield.
They’ll have to shine with Jamil Muhammad gone to USC, but overall the linebackers should be a strength with the combination of Jordan Veneziale and Jontrey Hunter sure to combine for over 150 tackles again.
The big question is can the Panthers avoid giving away close games? The Sun Belt conference is tough so each week will be challenging.
They will need to get off to a strong start. The season begins with Rhode Island, UConn and at Charlotte. They should be able to win all of these games. They lost to Charlotte last year, 42 – 41 so I expect them to avenge that.
Week 4 is September 23, at Coastal Carolina. This is a pivotal game and the conference opener. The Panthers are 3-3 against the Chanticleers, handing them one of their two losses in 2021 only to get mauled 41-24 at home last year. One interesting fact is the road team has won all six times in the series.
The next games are Troy, Marshall, at Louisiana, at Georgia Southern, James Madison, and Appalachian State. I’m not sure if they will be favored in any of those.
GSU travels to Death Valley to face LSU, November 18. I think we know the outcome of this game.
The season finale is at Old Dominion. I believe Georgia State will have five wins going into that game. Let’s see if they can get back to a bowl game in 2023.
Who? KSU!
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s hard to believe Kennesaw State started playing football in 2015.
During that time, they have made four playoff appearances. The Owls have a record of 68 – 24 (.739).
KSU won the Big South Conference and went 11 – 2 in 2021. They were ranked No. 8 in the 2022 preseason poll. The season did not go as planned and they were 5 – 6, which was their first losing season in program history.
Kennesaw State is making the transition from FCS to FBS. This is the final season in FCS before they join Conference USA in 2024.
“This is a great day for all of Owl Nation as our ascent into Conference USA will help the Owls soar to new landmarks. I am most excited for our student-athletes, coaches, and staffs that have worked so hard to represent KSU. Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their talent on a larger stage. President Schwaig’s leadership played a pivotal role in this opportunity, and I am grateful for her and all those that made this possible. I look forward to new opportunities and achievements for KSU within a conference that has a history of growing the brands of its members,” KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.
FBS-transitioning Kennesaw State’s 2023 schedule features five FCS opponents, three non-D1 teams, and one FBS opponent at Sam Houston.
The leading returning rusher is graduate student quarterback Jonathan Murphy. He rushed for 468 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. He became the seventh player in KSU history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Wide receiver Isaac Foster is also a returning starter and grad student. In 2022 he rushed for 450 yards and 4 scores. He was also the leading receiver with 27 catches, 314 yards and 2 TD’s.
Junior running back Preston Daniels rushed for 423 yards, 4 touchdowns and he averaged 5 yards per carry.
Grad student defensive back Markeith Montgomery led the team in solo tackles last season. In 2022 he had 37 tackles, 5 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He is a leader on defense and he should have another great season in 2023.
The season kicks off on Thursday, August 31 against Tusculum. The Pioneers are a Division II team so this will be an easy win.
Week 2 is at Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Mocs were 7 – 4 last season so they are a good team. I think UTC will win this game.
The next game is home against Furman. The Paladins were 10 – 3 last year. Furman should win this game.
Week 4 is at Tennessee Tech. KSU is a better team than the Golden Eagles.
The second consecutive road game is at Charleston Southern. They played last season and Kennesaw State won, 30 – 20. I expect a similar result this year.
Week 6 they return home to face Tennessee State. The Tigers are coached by former Tennessee Titan great, Eddie George. This will be an easy win for the Owls.
Surprisingly, KSU has a two-week layoff before the play Division II Lincoln. This is another W.
KSU travels to Sam Houston State next and this is a loss.
The season finale is home against Division II Virginia-Lynchburg. Pencil this in as a victory.
Kennesaw State should win six of their nine games this season.
Old Familiar Sting?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Tech has a great athletic tradition. When I was growing up they were one of the few programs where the football team went to bowl games and the men’s basketball team made the NCAA tournament consistently.
From 1997 to 2014 there was just one losing season, and even then it was because the 2010 team lost the Independence Bowl. Over the last few years that has completely changed.
The last winning season for the Yellow Jackets was in 2018. That was also Paul Johnson’s final season in Atlanta.
The Geoff Collins era began after that. Collins was flashy and seemed to be more concerned with establishing a social media presence than focusing on coaching. He was fired after the team started the 2022 season 1 – 3. His overall record at Tech was 10 – 28.
Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Brent Key was named the interim head coach. He led them to a 4 – 4 record and the interim tag was taken off on November 29 as Key was named Georgia Tech’s 21st head football coach.
This seems like a perfect fit to lead the program in the right direction. Key played guard at Tech from 1997 – 2000, starting all four years. The team showed significant improvement when he took over and they hope that momentum will carry over into the 2023 season.
Quarterback Jeff Simms transferred to Nebraska. He was the starter for the last three seasons. Haynes King has transferred in from Texas A&M and he is battling Zach Pyron for the starting job. King has a 3 – 4 record as a starter for the Aggies.
Wide receiver Dominick Blaylok has also transferred in from UGA. He’s a former four-star recruit that has battled injuries. He tore his ACL as a freshman in 2019 and later re-injured it in 2020. Last season he caught 15 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown.
This season the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions have been eliminated. With the two-division setup gone, the top two teams will now play for the ACC Championship.
The offense should be better this season. In 2022, the Yellow Jackets had the worst passing offense in the ACC, were dead last in third down conversions, downfield passing, and tackles for loss allowed. The team scored more than 16 points just five times – those were the five wins, by the way.
The offensive line has to step up. They have four starters returning so that experience should help.
Transfer linebackers Braelen Oliver (Minnesota) and Andre White, Jr. (Texas A&M) are hard hitters that played roles for their former teams. They have a chance to be stars this season. Defensive lineman Etinosa Reuben transferred from Clemson and he will bring a physical presence to the D line.
Junior LaMiles Brooks is one of the best safeties in the ACC. Last season he had 52 tackles, three interceptions and he earned third-team all-ACC recognition in his first season as a starter.
Let’s take a look at the schedule and see how this season should play out.
Wins: SC State, Bowling Green, Boston College, at Virginia
Losses: Louisville, at Ole Miss, at Wake Forest, at Miami, North Carolina, at Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia
I picked the games that should be wins for the Yellow Jackets. I think they have a chance against Louisville, Wake Forest and North Carolina. If they can win two of those games they will play in a bowl game.
Ramming Through
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Grayson Rams have been an elite program for over a decade now.
They won state championships in 2011, 2016 and 2020. They will be legitimate contenders to win this season.
In 2022 they were 10 – 3, so they have a solid team. On paper they have one of the most talented teams in Georgia.
Four-star senior tight end Kylan Fox is the No. 19 recruit in the state for the class of 2024. He’s 6’4 and 208 pounds so he’s a man amongst boys at the high school level. He is currently committed to UCF.
Inside offensive lineman Waltclaire Flynn Jr. is also a four-star recruit and UCF commit. He’s a mountain of a man, standing 6’2 and weighing 305 pounds.
Defensive lineman Nasir Smith is a three-star recruit. He has offers from Georgia, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Florida. He’s 6’4 and 290 lbs. so he will be hard to block for most teams.
Senior wide receiver John Cineas is another three-star player. He also has great size, he’s 6’2 and 195 pounds. He has offers from Georgia State, Auburn, Georgia Southern, Louisville and Cincinnati.
Myles Woods is listed as an athlete. He plays running back and wide receiver. The 5’8, 153 lbs. Woods is committed to Coastal Carolina.
Junior cornerback Jaylen Bell is one of the best players in the class of 2025. He’s currently committed to LSU.
The Rams are in region 4 AAAAAAA. It’s a pretty tough region that features another team that will be ranked in the top 5.
They kick the season off August 19th against Walton at Mercedes Benz Stadium. This is part of the Corky Kell Classic. The Raiders were 10 – 3 last season and they upset undefeated, No. 1 Buford in the Playoffs. Walton is normally ranked in the top 10 in Georgia and that will also be the case in 2023.
Week two is a home game against Eagle’s Landing. The Eagles are a 5A team so Grayson has an advantage over them.
September begins with another home game against Fort Dorchester (Charleston, SC). The teams played last year and Grayson won, 28 – 0. The Patriots were 11 – 4 in 2022 so they are a good team.
The first road game of the season is Week four, at Spartanburg (South Carolina). The teams played in 2022 and Grayson won, 51 – 24.
After a bye week the Rams play Lowndes at home. The Vikings won the 2022 matchup, 24 – 14. Grayson will look to avenge that loss.
Region play begins at home against Newton. The other Rams were 6 – 5 last season but they are no match for Grayson.
After another bye week, the Rams play South Gwinnett. The Comets might be the worst team in the region so this will be an easy win.
Grayson makes the short road trip to Snellville on October 20th to play Brookwood. The Broncos are normally a playoff caliber team so this could be a tough game.
The season finale is at Parkview. I expect these teams to compete for the No. 2 ranking in 7A, behind Buford.
I think the worst-case scenario for Grayson is eight regular season wins. I think they will probably win nine games and make a deep playoff run.
In The Hunt
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s been a while since Parkview has been a serious contender to win a state championship. The Panthers have won four state championships. The last is from 2002, when they won three consecutive state titles. They are looking to change that in 2023.
They were 8 – 4 in 2022 so they do have a solid team. The Panthers are led by five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews. He’s rated as the No.4 player in Georgia for the Class of 2024.
Matthews earned all-region, all-county and all-state honors in 2022 after catching 48 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also starred on defense with 23 tackles and two interceptions. He’s 6’1, 180 pounds and he’s a member of Parkview’s basketball team.
Matthews prides himself on his work ethic. “I want people to know you can always count on me,” Matthews said. “I want to be one of those guys. To be known for that rather than just being one of those five-star guys. I don’t really take breaks, even during the week. After practice, I’m always working and making extra effort. I’m about the effort and extra work.”
Senior corner back Jalyn Crawford is a four-star player and ranked No.21 in state.
“I’ve been working hard at off-man (coverage),” Crawford told 11 Alive. “In the (NFL) and in college, they do more off-man coverage. Some teams do press, but it’s more off-man systems. That’s why it’s something I’ve been really working on and trying to get better at.” While at Parkview, Carter earned a reputation as a press coverage corner that can lock anybody down. “I love to compete,” he said. “That’s what I love best about playing cornerback. When the ball is in the air, it’s mine.”
They have another playmaker, three-start defensive back/wide receiver Antonio White. He’s committed to Rutgers.
Senior offensive tackle Jordan Floyd is also a three-star recruit and he’s committed to Georgia Tech. Floyd is 6’5 and 295 pounds so he has great size.
Junior offensive tackle Cortez Smith is a four-star recruit and he’s the same size as Floyd.
They begin the season by playing at Kell in the first game of the Corky Kell Classic. The Longhorns went 10 – 2 last year so they are a good team. I give the edge to Parkview but this should be a close game.
Week two is at home against Shiloh. The Generals finished the regular season 5 – 5 and made it to the playoffs last season. Parkview beat them 20 – 8 in 2022.
After a bye week the Panthers play North Gwinnett. The Bulldogs also won ten games last season. Parkview beat them 48 – 21.
Week four is home against St. Pius X Catholic. St. Pius is a 6A school so Parkview has an advantage.
The following week is another home matchup against the defending state champions, Mill Creek. The Hawks won big in 2022, 40 – 17. A lot of players from that team graduated so I expect the Panthers to get revenge.
The first region game is against South Gwinnett. That’s followed by playing Archer and Newton. These should all be easy wins.
October 27th is against archrival Brookwood. I expect it to be close because it is a rivalry game.
The season finale is at home against Grayson. I expect the Rams to be ranked No.2 in the state. This is the first time that Parkview will play a team with more talent than them.
I expect Parkview to win nine regular season games and make a deep playoff run.
The Hunt
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Buford Wolves are always contenders to win the state championship.
They have won from the smallest classification up to 6A. They have won 14 football state championships and only one of those was before the year 2000.
Last year was the first season in Georgia’s highest classification, 7A. They were the No. 1 team all season and went 10–0 in the regular season. They lost to Walton in the second round of the playoffs, 42–35.
This season they look to win again and they have the most talented team in the state. They have three players ranked in the top six in the Class of 2024.
The first player to mention is the top ranked recruit in the nation, quarterback Dylan Raiola. He’s from Arizona and committed to Georgia, so it looks like his family moved here to get acclimated to living in the state. He did attend three high schools previously so I’m not sure what that says about him.
Raiola is 6’3 and 220 pounds so he has prototypical size that should help him adjust to playing tougher competition.
Safety KJ Bolden is a five-star recruit and the No. 3 player in the state for the 2024 class. He has also committed to UGA. He’s a playmaker and stands 6’1 and 185 pounds.
They have another five-star recruit and the No. 6 player in the class of 2024, defensive lineman Eddrick Houston.
Houston is 6’3, 255 lbs. already, so he’s a man amongst boys on a high school field. He will be in the opponent’s backfield all season getting sacks and tackles for loss. He has committed to Ohio State.
Senior safety Tyshun White is a three-star recruit and the No. 56 player in the state. He’s currently committed to North Carolina.
Junior linebacker Jadon Perlotte is the No.4 player in Georgia for the class of 2025 and a four-star recruit. He is also a UGA commit.
Fellow junior corner back Devin Williams is also a four-star recruit.
Offensive tackle Brayden Jacobs is the No. 24 player in the class of 2025. He’s 6’7, 310 pounds so you can expect him to dominate 99% of the competition based on size and intimidation alone.
Junior linebacker Mantrez Walker has committed to Michigan.
They have a stacked team and that will come in handy based on their schedule.
They start the season at home August 18 against St. Frances Academy (MD). St. Frances Academy finished their 2022 season ranked No. 8 by MaxPreps and had a 9-1 overall record. I think this will be a close game that the Wolves will lose.
The following week they travel to Mallard Creek (NC). Last season, Buford thoroughly defeated Mallard Creek with a score of 56-7. Expect a similar outcome.
September 1 is at North Cobb for the third matchup in three seasons. Buford won last year to tie the series up and they will win again.
They have a bye week then return to Tom Riden Stadium to host Carver-Atlanta, a AAA team. Last season Buford won 44–16.
Marietta travels to Buford on September 22. Last season the Wolves won 14-0 at Marietta.
The Wolves begin region 8-AAAAAAA play on Sept. 29 at Collins Hill.
They have another bye week then Oct. 13 travel to play the defending state champs, Mill Creek. Mill Creek lost several players from last year’s team.
The final three games are against Dacula, Mountain View and Central Gwinnett. They should finish the regular season 9-1.
The teams with comparable talent are Grayson and Parkview, so I look forward to them meeting in the playoffs.
The Newcomers
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We are going to review the 2023 NBA Draft and grade the draft class for the following franchises.
Charlotte: They selected Brandon Miller (Alabama) with the No. 2 pick.
Some scouts had Scoot Henderson as a better choice but Miller is a good player. He’s a 6’9 wing who can run pick-and-roll and shoot threes with volume. He led the Crimson Tide to one of the programs best season’s and made them a national championship contender.
Shooting guard Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas) was the 27th pick. Smith was a wonderful upside swing in the late first. He was projected as a top-5 pick a year ago before a rough freshman season at Arkansas that saw him battle through a knee injury. If he can stay healthy he should be a very good player. The first pick in the second round was power forward James Nnaji (Barcelona). He is a physical player that plays above the rim on both ends.
Shooting guard Amari Bailey (UCLA) was the final pick. He has a well-rounded skillset.
Grade: B+
Atlanta: Guard Kobe Bufkin was selected at No. 15. He can play either guard spot with impressive rim finishing and reliable spot-up three-point shooting, features that make him a nice fit as a third guard alongside Dejounte Murray and Trae Young.
Atlanta is in a weird position because they are an average team. That means they aren’t bad enough to get high draft picks so they are always stuck picking in the middle of the first round. Unfortunately, the difference makers are gone after the first five picks.
Washington State center Mouhamed Gueye was the 39th pick. He’s an athletic big man that could look like a steal if he learns how to shoot. Penn State forward Seth Lundy is a decent pick midway through the second round.
Grade: B
Memphis: The Grizzlies made their big move just before the draft when they landed Marcus Smart in a three-team trade with the Celtics.
They did not have a first-round pick so forward GG Jackson II (South Carolina) was selected with the 45th pick. He made the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team. He played all 32 games and averaged 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Jackson is a nice upside gamble in the middle of the second round as a super young shot-creating forward.
They also drafted forward Tarik Biberovic (Fenerbahce Beko) with the 56th pick.
Grade: B
Miami: They only had one pick and selected small forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA) at No. 18. Jaquez was a four-year college superstar at UCLA who slowly earned the NBA’s respect for his toughness, shot-making, and physical intensity. I think he will be a good fit for the Heat.
Grade: B
New Orleans: With the 14th pick they got guard Jordan Hawkins (U Conn).
The Pelicans needed shooting after finishing No. 29 in the league in three-point attempts last season, and they drafted one of the best shooters in the class in Hawkins.
He is an incredibly skilled movement shooter who should help bend defenses off the ball while Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram control the action. The fit makes sense but he is a smaller guard and may be a liability on defense.
Grade: C
Orlando: The picked point guard Anthony Black (Arkansas) No. 6 and small forward Jett Howard (Michigan) No. 11.
I wasn’t quite as high on Black as some others, but it’s easy to see the appeal as a big guard with defensive versatility. Howard is a very good shooter.
Grade: B
Down South
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
All four teams in the NFC South report to mandatory minicamp this month. Let’s take a look at some key storylines for each team.
Atlanta: The Falcons offense has been receiving some hype recently. Is it smoke and mirrors or is it legit?
Quarterback Desmond Ridder is going into his second season and he’s expected to drastically improve. He was picked in the third round of the 2022 draft and he was the backup to Marcus Mariota for most of the 2022 season. I think he’s a huge question mark and I don’t put much faith in him.
There are some playmakers like Kyle Pitts that look good on paper. As a rookie in 2021 he had over a thousand yards and one touchdown. He played ten games in 2022 and had 356 yards and 2 scores. He has great size and speed so we will see if that will make him an elite tight end.
Wide receiver Drake London had a good rookie year with 72 catches, 866 yards and 4 TD’s.
Rookie running back Tyler Allgier started seven games and he finished with over one thousand yards and 3 scores. Then Atlanta added Bijan Robinson, who was considered the best RB in the 2023 draft.
I have a feeling they won’t quite be the 1998 Vikings or 2007 Patriots offense.
Carolina: The Panthers drafted former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young with the top pick in the 2023 draft.
Now we will see if he can help turn the franchise around. Young is only 5’10 and 204 pounds so there are questions about his durability in the NFL.
Christian McCaffrey was traded to San Francisco last season, so the offense lacks playmakers.
They did sign wide receiver Adam Thielen as a free agent. His last thousand yard season was in 2018 so it looks like his best days are behind him.
Carolina also signed running back Miles Sanders as a free agent. He’s coming off of a breakout year in Philadelphia, rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 scores. The Eagles had a very good offensive line so I don’t expect the same level of production in Charlotte.
New Orleans: The Saints signed quarterback Derek Carr in the offseason. They did need a quarterback but how good is Carr? I think he’s slightly above average. Last season in Las Vegas he had the league’s leading rusher Josh Jacobs and receiver Davante Adams. In 15 games he passed for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Receiver Michael Thomas has not been healthy since the 2019 season. Running back Alvin Kamara struggled last season but some of that was due to inconsistent quarterback play.
Tampa Bay: Have they thrown in the towel before the season began? The Tom Brady era is over so the Bucs signed Baker Mayfield in March.
The former top pick has been a bust through his first five seasons. He’s competing with Kyle Trask for the title of QB 1.
Tampa still has some skill players like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin so maybe he can develop some chemistry with them.
I think the NFC South will be the weakest division again this season. I expect the champion to be under .500 but maybe one of these teams will shock me.
Florida Heat
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Billy Napier is entering his second season as the head ball coach in Gainesville and he’s already on the hot seat. Is that fair or do Florida fans have unrealistic expectations?
Napier went 6 – 7 in his first season. Anthony Richardson was his quarterback and he was the fourth player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. This raises a question about the Gators.
Typically, when a team has a very talented quarterback they have more success. They started the 2022 season with an upset of #7 Utah but it was all downhill after that.
By comparison, last season was Brian Kelly’s first season at LSU. He led the Tigers to a 10 – 4 record. One of those wins came against UF. This success has led to a very solid recruiting class.
Hugh Freeze was hired by Auburn at the end of November and he got talented players to transfer to Auburn.
So far, Napier has not snagged a talented recruiting class. Fans have to wonder, why are coaches at other SEC schools having immediate recruiting results?
Napier knows Florida has a lot to prove and needs the fan base to understand patience is key under a new regime.
The fact that Georgia won two consecutive national championships has to add to the pressure. It does not look like Florida will be able to compete with them anytime soon. Tennessee won eleven games last season, so they are also stiff competition.
Georgia has the No. 1 recruiting class of 2024 and Tennessee’s class is ranked No.8. The Gators are currently sitting at 11th, which is not bad. That is lower than the top two teams in the SEC East though.
Napier did speak about future success.
“We’re going to be successful here, it’s just a matter of how fast it’s going to happen, that’s what I would tell you. I would be hopeful it would happen faster than fast, quickly, but reality is it may take us a little bit of time to get it done. We’re going to have to get … the ball’s got to bounce the right way here or there. Think about last year, we lost five games by essentially by one score. If we could play a little bit better at the end of the half, beginning of of the third quarter, play a little better on defense in terms of giving up explosive plays. There’s a number of variables that we weren’t good at all. Third down defense, red zone offense, lot of areas on our team where we know we sucked. It is what is. We did a lot of things great. We created a lot of explosive plays.”
If they get off to a slow start this season he’ll be in trouble. They do open the season at #14 Utah.
