(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

As wide open as the college landscape is for recruiting, with the new transfer portal, the movement is more erratic than ever. In a calendar year, we've seen college freshmen at two different schools and we've seen coaches recruit players for another school while still at a school. Now that everyone has seen the good and the bad of the transfer portal, teams are not beginning to take full advantage of it and Texas has benefited greatly. 

In 2021, Steve Sarkisian began his first season as Head Coach of the Longhorns where he led them to an unimpressive 5-7 record. With the perpetual turmoil that the Texas program has faced over the last 10 years, fans expected the offensive mastermind to bring a taste of Bama with him and win immediately. However, building a program like Texas would prove to have more challenges than expected, specifically in recruiting. Because of the concentration of schools in Texas and its proximity to many major SEC powerhouses, Texas has struggled to bring in the best talent and to even compete for its conference. Since 2009, Texas has only had one season of 10 wins or more.

With the shortage of consistent talent and no recruiting grasp on their state, schools like Texas A&M have surpassed them for the most recent success. Now, Coach Sarkisian is looking to change that. Spending some time at Alabama, Sarkisian was around for the recruitment of Tight End Jahleel Billingsley and Agiye Hall, who are both now a part of the Texas Longhorn program. 

Both Billingsley and Hall both entered the portal this calendar year and we're both a part of the 2021 season, where they faced struggles within the program. Saban spoke about both guys at different points in the season regarding their commitment to the program. Billingsley was one of the top playmakers at the tight end position in 2021, but he could not rise to the occasion in the National Championship where he had multiple drops and ultimately failed the team.

In a similar case with Hall, he was known to have several run-ins with Nick Saban, where he was not being an asset to the team and disregarding team policies like tweeting about the program negatively. Billingsley entered the portal in January and Hall entered in April.

Despite leaving the Alabama program, both guys will be expected to be big contributors to the Texas program. They will be two of the best prospects on the team and will surely have a chance to start day 1. Bama will more than likely lead recruiting rankings again and with Texas bringing in former 4 and 5-star guys, they are looking to ease their way into the conversation for the top program in the nation. Unironically, Texas and Alabama will face off in the second game of the season and Texas is expected to move into the SEC prior to the 2025 season.

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey

The 2021 season has looked different than most seasons in the SEC. For The University of Georgia, it has been refreshing to be the most dominant team in the SEC. Obviously, over the last 10 seasons, Alabama has been the perennial SEC champion and big brother of the entire league. In a turn of events, Alabama is now the underdog in this SEC championship matchup as UGA comes into the game undefeated and Alabama has one loss on their record. Despite the general consensus of UGA fans alike, until the game is over, we cannot crown UGA as the best team in the SEC. 

University of Georgia 

Coming into this game, UGA is the only SEC  unbeaten and the only SEC team likely to make the playoff even with a loss this week. Through the 2021 season, the pure dominance of UGA has been expected due to their rock-solid run game and suffocating defense. Without weighing heavily on numbers, UGA is in the top 5 for rushing yardage offensively and rushing defense. While the passing game has not been their money maker, they have been extremely effective when throwing the ball and now with Stetson Bennett playing well, the UGA team has hit their stride. 

The UGA defense forced three shutouts this season, held teams to less than 3 yards per carry, and was the top-ranked passing defense in this matchup. They have the uncanny ability to create scoring opportunities for their offense which undoubtedly increases the offensive production in the process. By suffocating the run game, UGA forces teams to throw the ball and then create turnovers. With this formula, Alabama may not be as susceptible considering that they have a similar defensive philosophy.  

The two players that dictate UGA’s success in this game include Linebacker Nakobe Dean and Quarterback Stetson Bennett. Defensively, Nakobe Dean has put up great numbers that have anchored the Georgia defense. He currently has 5 sacks on the season and 2 interceptions. His impact is typically immediate and he can be devastating for offenses. A big game by Stetson Bennett is essential for a UGA to win. Stetson Bennett has been a good game manager, but with a great running game, we have yet to see the team rely heavily on their quarterback and in a quarterback-heavy matchup, UGA does not match up well with Alabama. 

University of Alabama 

For Alabama fans, this season has been unlike many seasons in recent years. The University of Alabama has lost only 4 games since 2018 and despite their one loss this season, they are deemed as vastly inferior when compared to UGA. Despite losing to a solid Texas A&M team, they otherwise have shown how well they can finish a game.  

Alabama has obviously shown a different identity in that they are predominantly passing and have seemed to abandon the run game due to the lack of depth. However, Alabama’s offense has still been able to produce on a high level and put up major yards. 

The star power in Alabama’s offense is still present in Bryce Young and receivers like Jameson Williams. Bryce Young is in his first season as a starter and yet he has proven to be a winner. In high-pressure situations, Bryce Young is like an elite point guard that commands the entire attention of the defense. Defensively, it will be a full team effort, but the defense is surely capable of coming up with big plays in crucial situations. 

If you have made it this far, great because now things get real. 

Things to Consider

• Strength of Schedule 

Alabama’s SEC West schedule is surely better than Georgia’s but when you compare the margin of victory against similar opponents, UGA has the upper hand. However, UGA’s best SEC East competition was the University of Kentucky, who they beat 30-13. 

• Alabama Defense vs Georgia Offense

We all know that Alabama’s offense is high flying and the UGA defense has given up an average of 7 points a game. This matchup may be one of the most competitive of the season, but with uncertainty around Stetson Bennett’s play and Alabama’s defensive struggles at times, the great equalizer for both teams will be in this matchup.

Writer

-By: Lemarkus Bailey

The SEC is arguably the most stacked conference in terms of just pure talent. From top to bottom, this conference is loaded with players who have flair, strength, and finesse. The conference has produced talent at the next level for many years and these guys will be no different. These players are ranked based on their skill level, statistics, and how they will contribute to putting their team in a position to accumulate wins. If you would like to check out the top five players in the Big Ten, click here. 

5. Matt Corral - Ole Miss, Quarterback

Coming in at number five is Matt Corral, the junior is a gunslinger who is not afraid to air the ball out. Corral has the potential to be the best player in the SEC at the end of the year due to his play-making ability. In 2020, Corral came off a great year, he torched Alabama’s defense by throwing for 365 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, Corral threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. What alarms me and why he is number five is his interception rate. Throwing 14 picks in 10 games is a high rate but if he can clean the turnover up, Corral could be the best quarterback in the conference. Corral thrives on efficiency as he completed over 70% of his throws, hopefully, he can continue this trend into the 2021 season.

4. Evan Neal - Alabama, Offensive Lineman

Evan Neal is one of the most talented offensive linemen in the country due to his ability to play multiple positions on the line. Neal can play both left and right tackle, his versatility will serve as great protection for the new, experienced quarterback, Bryce Young. If not the first, he is projected to be one of the top three offensive linemen taken in the 2022 NFL draft. In 2020, Neal held down the right side of the line contributing to Alabama becoming the number one scoring offense in the nation. Neal’s 6 foot 7 inches and 360-pound body enables him to get to the second level and create blaring gaps in the running game. His size and physicality should contribute to Alabama’s hopes of going back-to-back. 

3. Will Anderson Jr. - Alabama, Linebacker

Will Anderson Jr. is the anchor of the Alabama defense and he is the best linebacker in the conference. Anderson Jr. is everywhere on the field, his presence is unique as he pressures the quarterback at a high rate but also is a tackling machine. In 2020, the freshman had 52 tackles, seven sacks, and one fumble. 2021 will be Anderson Jr.’s second year at the collegiate level so his stock will only rise as he understands more regarding reading the game. Former Alabama quarterback, Mac Jones, gave Anderson Jr. the nickname “The Terminator”, his physicality and dominance represent qualities of termination. 

2. JT Daniels - Georgia, Quarterback

JT Daniels is coming into the 2021 season with momentum and a little bit of swagger after he took over for the Bulldogs mid-season in 2020. In four games, Daniels threw for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns leading Georgia to four victories to end the season. After a peach bowl victory against Cincinnati, Daniels became a Heisman favorite and the best quarterback in the conference. Daniels is poised to have a huge year after he departed from USC, he wants to prove that he can lead a program to a title. Daniels has a brilliant touch on his deep ball and his quick release allows him to hit receivers in stride contributing to his accuracy. Daniels is looking to put together his best season and hopefully bring the Bulldogs to the top of the conference in 2021. 

1. Derek Stingley Jr. - LSU, Cornerback

Derek Stingley Jr. is the most talented defensive back in the country and the best all-around player in the SEC. At 6 foot 1 inch and weighing 195 pounds, Stingley Jr. can out physical almost any receiver. As a freshman, Stingley Jr. accumulated 38 tackles and 6 interceptions, in 2020 he filled up the stat sheet as well. Stingley Jr. was a consensus All-American in 2019, this was one of many accolades he earned in bringing the championship back to Baton Rouge. Now a junior, Stingley Jr. has some of the best feet and hips that allow him to make plays in the secondary. He can flip his hips and stay in stride with any receiver which is why he will be a first-round draft pick in 2022. Stingley Jr. will be the captain of the Tigers defense and show why he is the best player in the conference in the 2021 campaign.

References Stats: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Writer

-By: Justin Howard