Final week, we ranked our Approach-Too-Early High 25. Now, we have got some questions concerning the groups that made the lower. Will new quarterbacks have the ability to settle in earlier than the season begins? Will new coaches have the ability to achieve the belief of their gamers? And can distinctive models have the ability to keep sturdy?
Listed here are our writers’ largest spring questions for every group.
Will the Bulldogs have the ability to exchange their departing defensive stars?
Georgia’s cross protection was nice once more final season, rating sixth within the FBS in yards allowed per try. However the Bulldogs should do some reloading within the secondary with safeties Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith and lockdown cornerback Kamari Lassiter departing for the NFL. Coach Kirby Good has loaded up on extremely regarded defensive backs, and piecing collectively a dependable rotation will probably be a key within the spring. Cornerbacks Daniel Harris and Julian Humphrey practically left through the switch portal, however Georgia’s coaches persuaded them to stay round. They’re going to be in line for beginning spots, together with junior Daylen Everette. All-American Malaki Starks returns at free security, and Joenel Aguero appears to be in line for the nickelback (star) spot. Senior Dan Jackson has essentially the most expertise at sturdy security, and junior JaCorey Thomas and incoming five-star freshman Ok.J. Bolden may get lengthy seems to be within the spring. — Mark Schlabach
How will quarterback Will Howard regulate to a brand new offense?
Howard comes from Kansas State with the stress to construct off what Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse, did for the primary 11 video games of final season earlier than a 3rd straight defeat to Michigan. How the versatile Howard (2,490 complete yards and 28 complete touchdowns for Kansas State in 2023) matches and adapts to the offense for coach Ryan Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly would be the largest think about figuring out how various things will probably be in Columbus in 2024. — Blake Baumgartner
Who will win the quarterback battle?
Bo Nix’s years of eligibility have lastly expired, and Oregon might want to play a brand new quarterback this coming season. In some methods, the most important spring query for the Geese has already been answered as coach Dan Lanning & Co. pounced on the switch portal to usher in not solely Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma however five-star recruit Dante Moore from UCLA. Coming off a 3,660-yard, 30-touchdown season at Oklahoma, Gabriel seems to be the probably selection to start out, however Moore’s potential has clearly been unrealized by one season. Moore struggled to steer the Bruins in his first yr however confirmed flashes of what made him one of many high highschool quarterbacks in his class. Oregon has nationwide title aspirations, and answering its quarterback query (in addition to outfitting an offense round mentioned quarterback) will go a good distance towards serving to the Geese truly hoist the trophy. — Paolo Uggetti
What’s going to the passing sport appear to be?
This time final season, Steve Sarkisian mentioned getting Quinn Ewers comfy and the deep passing sport going was some extent of emphasis. Ewers responded with 3,479 yards and 22 TDs to simply six interceptions in Texas’ closing Huge 12 season, and the addition of Adonai Mitchell opened up deep seems to be for Xavier Worthy. However Mitchell, Worthy, Jordan Whittington and tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders are off to the NFL, and Johntay Prepare dinner’s eight catches from final yr lead the incumbents. However that does not imply there is not expertise readily available. Sarkisian added transfers Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Silas Bolden (Oregon State), Matthew Golden (Houston) and tight finish Amari Niblack (Alabama), in addition to star receiver Ryan Wingo, No. 27 on this yr’s ESPN 300. Now, it is only a matter of discovering the correct combos and getting the timing down. — Dave Wilson
Can Riley Leonard shine in his first season with the Irish?
Leonard infamously has his mom textual content him “you suck” to maintain him from getting a giant head, however on the quarterback’s new dwelling of Notre Dame, his extra speedy concern could be proving to the Irish that, the truth is, he is fairly good. Sure, Leonard had a pleasant 1½ seasons at Duke earlier than an harm (suffered in opposition to Notre Dame) upended his 2023 marketing campaign, however the stakes are greater in South Bend. He is a sensible, aggressive and athletic QB, however he’ll want to point out he is wholesome and a superb match for coordinator Mike Denbrock’s offense. Final yr, Denbrock’s passing sport excelled with the deep ball at LSU. That has not been Leonard’s bread-and-butter, and he’ll want to point out he can join downfield if the Irish are to be as explosive as they’d like. — David Hale
Will all the group’s switch additions have the ability to transition simply?
Lane Kiffin as soon as once more hit the switch portal exhausting with some gifted additions to the roster at a wide range of totally different positions. It is by no means simple to include new gamers right into a locker room yearly and proceed to take care of chemistry. Kiffin himself would inform you that is a problem, particularly on the planet of identify, picture and likeness. However he has had success to date, and with large expectations surrounding Ole Miss’ program in 2024, the spring would be the first time the Rebels get all people on the sphere collectively and see whether or not all of it meshes. — Chris Low
Will the Tigers have the ability to have one other sturdy defensive season?
A lot was made final season of Missouri’s offensive manufacturing on its method to an 11-win season, however the way in which the Tigers performed on protection may need been the true story. Getting again to that degree will probably be key for Missouri, and that course of begins this spring with a brand new defensive coordinator (Corey Batoon) and a slew of latest faces in beginning roles. The Tigers are shedding 10 gamers on protection who both began or contributed considerably in 2023, together with All-SEC performers Darius Robinson at finish, Ty’Ron Hopper at linebacker and Kris Abrams-Draine at cornerback. — Low
Will Andy Kotelnicki have the ability to revitalize the Nittany Lions’ offense?
James Franklin fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich a day after the house loss to eventual nationwide champion Michigan in November. Kotelnicki has come from Kansas to fill that place after serving to revitalize the Jayhawks behind quarterback Jalon Daniels. Now Kotelnicki will probably be requested to do the identical with former ESPN 300 signal-caller Drew Allar. Allar was fourth within the Huge Ten in passing yards (2,631) and tied with Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa for the convention lead with 25 touchdowns. However he had just one 300-yard passing sport (325 yards in a 38-15 win over West Virginia). — Baumgartner
Can Kalen DeBoer cope with the stress of his new job?
The buy-in course of has already began for brand spanking new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who takes on the form of problem in changing Nick Saban that might ship numerous coaches sprinting within the different course. Spring observe poses the primary likelihood to get the holdovers and a number of the newcomers collectively on the identical area with any person not named Nick Saban working the present. DeBoer has gained all over the place he has been and took Washington to the nationwide championship sport final season. However each transfer he makes and every little thing he says will probably be intensely scrutinized, particularly by his gamers. — Low
Will the Utes thrive with a returning Cam Rising at quarterback?
Rising is again and wholesome for one closing run as one of many Utes’ most profitable gamers ever. With two Pac-12 titles below his belt, Rising will lead Utah into the Huge 12 after a yr of not having the ability to play due to an offseason shoulder surgical procedure. What changes will Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig make to offer Rising his greatest likelihood at successful one other convention title and possibly extra? Working again Micah Bernard will return after lacking the primary 11 video games of the 2023 season due to an harm, whereas an offensive line that has misplaced two of its greatest gamers will want a couple of younger gamers to step up in an effort to defend Rising’s well being and gas his — and the offense’s — productiveness. — Uggetti
What’s going to Brent Brennan’s model of Arizona appear to be?
After a breakout season for the Wildcats below Jedd Fisch in 2023, this system noticed the top coach go away for Washington. Brennan, on paper, may very well be an excellent rent, as he brings a repute for being an offensive coach to a group that has a transparent power on that aspect of the ball. Protecting gamers reminiscent of quarterback Noah Fifita and large receiver Tetairoa McMillan within the fold (for now) is essential in an effort to preserve the offensive continuity that would make the Wildcats a drive to be reckoned with within the new Huge 12. However how Brennan units the tone on protection — the place the Wildcats improved considerably below Fisch over his time there (107th in factors allowed in 2022 to thirtieth in 2023) — could be what determines how rapidly he can succeed. — Uggetti
Will LSU have the ability to shore up its cross protection?
LSU’s cross protection was uncharacteristically porous final season, because the unit previously often called “DBU” surrendered 255.6 passing yards per sport, which ranked 118th within the FBS. Tigers coach Brian Kelly responded by firing defensive coordinator Matt Home, safeties coach Kerry Cooks and cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples. Kelly poached Missouri’s Blake Baker to exchange Home, and former Tigers assistant Corey Raymond got here again from Florida to assist shore up the secondary. Jake Olsen adopted Baker from Missouri to educate LSU’s safeties. Two Ohio State transfers, JK Johnson (who missed all the 2023 season due to a leg harm after enrolling at LSU) and Jyaire Brown, would possibly get lengthy seems to be at cornerback. Freshman Ju’Juan Johnson set Louisiana highschool profession information as a quarterback however will begin his LSU profession at cornerback. Main Burns is again at one of many security spots; Texas A&M switch Jardin Gilbert needs to be within the combine on the again finish as properly. — Schlabach
Who will win the Wolverines’ quarterback battle?
With Jim Harbaugh’s mission of bringing a natty again to Ann Arbor now achieved (and with Harbaugh now the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers), the Wolverines will undergo a little bit of a reset below new head coach Sherrone Moore. That begins and ends with who will exchange J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. Jack Tuttle being permitted for a seventh yr of eligibility modifications the dynamic for Moore. Along with Tuttle, Jadyn Davis (No. 166 within the 2024 ESPN 300), the cycle’s fourth-best dual-threat quarterback, comes into this system as a part of a Sixteenth-ranked class and joins Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji on the roster. The start of the Moore period will probably be outlined by who will get the keys to the offense. — Baumgartner
How prepared is Jackson Arnold?
Arnold, the No. 1 quarterback within the 2023 ESPN 300 and the No. 3 total prospect, was thrust right into a beginning position for the Alamo Bowl after the switch of beginning QB Dillon Gabriel, who decamped for Oregon whereas Jeff Lebby, the OC/QB coach who recruited Arnold, additionally left to be the Mississippi State coach. The great: Arnold threw for 339 yards and two TDs. The dangerous: He additionally threw three interceptions. With a full spring because the starter below new coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley, the spring will probably be a dash to get Arnold up to the mark for the Sooners’ first SEC season and one of many nation’s hardest schedules. — Wilson
Can one other elite switch class assist Florida State repeat as ACC champions?
The important thing gamers on the group that introduced the Seminoles again to relevance final season have all gone, leaving the group in rebuild mode. The excellent news is Florida State signed yet one more high-level switch class to assist plug some holes. However will they jell in time to proceed constructing off what was achieved final season? The reply would possibly very properly come right down to switch quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who’s again within the ACC after starting his profession at Clemson after which transferring to Oregon State in 2023. Uiagalelei needed to return to Florida State to play for Mike Norvell; Norvell mentioned he has seen sufficient from the quarterback’s ability set to consider he can put all of it collectively in 2024. — Andrea Adelson
Will Tennessee’s new defensive backfield excel?
The NCAA poking round Tennessee’s program and its recruitment of quarterback Nico Iamaleava after which Tennessee’s fiery authorized response to that probe has dominated offseason headlines. Tennessee followers cannot wait to see Iamaleava as QB1 for the Vols. He has tons of expertise, however one of many issues to observe this spring will probably be how Tennessee retools its defensive backfield. The starters from 2023 are all gone, and there was additionally an exodus within the portal. However the Vols like a few of their youthful gamers within the secondary and in addition did their very own mining within the portal, together with Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy. We get our first likelihood this spring to see Tennessee’s new-look defensive backfield. — Low
Can the Cowboys keep wholesome?
You might ask that for nearly any group, I do know. However there’s merely not loads that we do not know concerning the Cowboys going into this spring, as a result of they return a lot of 2023’s manufacturing. Positive, there have been some departures in Jaden Bray, Blaine Inexperienced and Jaden Nixon on offense, however they nonetheless return 4 of their high six pass-catchers. QB Alan Bowman is again for a seventh season, and Doak Walker award winner Ollie Gordon is, too, after all. In complete, the Pokes return 79% of their offensive manufacturing and 74% of their defensive manufacturing. In a reformed Huge 12 with Texas and Oklahoma gone, it looks like pretty much as good a time as ever for Mike Gundy’s group to make a mark on the convention. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Will the Wolfpack have the ability to enhance their run sport?
The largest concern for NC State getting into the spring is probably going the identical one which loomed over the previous few springs, too: the bottom sport. Final yr, NC State’s working backs totaled simply 930 yards dashing, final amongst ACC offenses. In 2022, NC State was tenth in working again yards within the ACC and managed simply three touchdowns from its steady of backs. The yr earlier than that, the Wolfpack have been close to the underside of the league, too. In 2023, Dave Doeren’s group made up for the dearth of manufacturing through the use of QB Brennan Armstrong and electrical freshman receiver KC Concepcion as runners, too. That tactic would possibly work once more in 2024 (albeit with new QB Grayson McCall), however the much better course for the Pack could be determining what has ailed the backfield in recent times and getting that group on the correct path. — Hale
What is going on on with the offense?
Is it portray with too broad a brush to simply say, “the offense?” Cade Klubnik enters a make-or-break yr. Garrett Riley’s scheme was typically ineffective in 2023 however needs to be a greater match this yr. The O-line struggled badly at occasions final yr, however new place coach Matt Luke figures to have the unit improved. The receiving corps has been woefully skinny in recent times, however Dabo Swinney likes his personnel. There’s upside all over the place on offense, however getting every group to take a step ahead on the identical time has been a problem. — Hale
How will Chris Klieman’s new offense look?
An enormous a part of Kansas State’s success over the previous two seasons — which included 19 wins and a Huge 12 championship — was its offense. That offense is now shedding 4 of the six offensive linemen who began in 2023, together with Cooper Beebe, who will hear his identify known as at April’s NFL draft. The Wildcats additionally lose quarterback Will Howard and their solely two gamers who have been dependable pass-catchers in Phillip Brooks and Ben Sinnott (one other NFL prospect). Twin-threat quarterback Avery Johnson steps in with numerous potential, however there is no query the Wildcats are getting into spring with loads to show. — Lyles
Will the Cardinals have the ability to get their new-look offense into form?
Much like Florida State, Louisville signed a stellar switch class to assist not solely fill holes on the roster however take this system past simply showing within the ACC championship sport. As nice as final season was, Louisville needs to win championships, and coach Jeff Brohm feels an urgency to ship for his hometown group. Tyler Shough is anticipated to take over at quarterback after transferring from Texas Tech, and there are transfers coming in at receiver in Caullin Lacy and Ja’Corey Brooks to pair with Chris Bell to assist get extra consistency out of the passing sport. Upgrading the offensive line was enormous, too, as Louisville signed 4 from the portal. Getting the offense on the identical web page will clearly be huge this spring and into fall camp. — Adelson
How will the Jayhawks regulate to modifications alongside the offensive line?
Within the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Jayhawks allowed the fewest sacks within the Huge 12, and over the previous three years allowed a mean of simply 1.1 sacks per sport. However now, they lose three starters on the offensive line in Dominick Puni, Mike Novitsky and Ar’maj Reed-Adams. Along with these losses, OL coach Scott Fuchs joined Brian Callahan and the Tennessee Titans as an offensive assistant. That makes this transition extra attention-grabbing, given the enhancements the Jayhawks’ offensive line noticed below his management. — Lyles
Can Brock Vandagriff regulate to a brand new system?
Quarterbacks Stetson Bennett IV and Carson Beck blocked Vandagriff from getting on the sphere typically at Georgia. Vandagriff was some of the extremely regarded dual-threat prospects within the nation in 2021. Lincoln Riley had hand-picked him to run his offense at Oklahoma earlier than Vandagriff flipped from the Sooners to the Bulldogs. Vandagriff may have a clear canvas at Kentucky, and Wildcats coach Mark Stoops is hoping he can assist revive an assault that ranked eleventh within the SEC in passing (211.6 yards) and complete offense (339.5) final season. Vandagriff’s working means ought to take some stress off Kentucky’s offensive line. Getting Vandagriff comfy in new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s system will probably be a precedence this spring. — Schlabach
What can Cam Ward do for the offense?
It’s as tantalizing a query as there’s headed into the season, as a result of the Hurricanes return expertise throughout the board on the ability positions, from working again Mark Fletcher to receivers Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo. Ward has confirmed to be prolific within the passing sport, with three straight seasons of three,200 or extra passing yards. That’s one space the place Miami merely had no consistency over the previous two seasons with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Actually, Miami has not had a 3,000-yard passer since Malik Rosier in 2017 — the final time Miami gained 10 video games in a season. How rapidly Ward will get up to the mark will probably be a spring storyline to observe. — Adelson
What does every little thing appear to be below Mike Elko?
Expertise was not an issue below Jimbo Fisher. A cussed lack of offensive evolution plagued the Aggies over the previous a number of years, however so did a scarcity of self-discipline or accountability, in keeping with sources inside this system. Elko has plugged holes within the switch portal, significantly at large receiver and defensive again. However the largest query mark will probably be that offense, and the way new coordinator Collin Klein, who ran a extremely efficient system at Kansas State that usually featured the quarterback run, will look with Conner Weigman, who is without doubt one of the Aggies’ greatest QB prospects in years. — Wilson
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