Thoughts of the Day: August 10, 2022

A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning:

NAPIER DISCUSSES THE UF QUARTERBACK ROOM

At his Tuesday morning press conference, Billy Napier was asked about what he’s seen after five practices from his four scholarship quarterbacks starting with Anthony Richardson. Richardson is the unchallenged starter followed by Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III, redshirt freshman Jalen Kitna and true freshman Max Brown.

It was obvious from Napier’s remarks that Richardson has made plenty of progress since the spring.

“With Anthony, there's no question that his confidence and comfort level where the verbiage where the communication, I think he's more concise, and we’ve seen him be much more accurate,” Napier said. “You know, the old adage we're on the same page? I think we're making progress to being on the same sentence, if that makes sense.”

Napier then went into how Richardson has improved fundamentally and in the mental aspects of playing QB.

“I think his feet are in the right place because he's processing quicker,” Napier said. “He's able to anticipate the ball’s going to the right place. So, very pleased with Anthony and where he's at. I think he's getting more comfortable in that leadership role and the things that come with being the quarterback of the University of Florida.”

Miller found himself in a crowded QB room at Ohio State where C.J. Stroud had a breakout season last year, so he made the decision to transfer to UF, in part because of a relationship that had been established with Napier years ago when Napier was the offensive coordinator for Todd Graham at Arizona State. The only chance fans got a chance to see Miller was in the Orange and Blue Game where he made some good throws but also threw a couple of interceptions.

Napier’s comments about Miller: “Jack Miller also has done extremely well. Very pleased with Jack. Yesterday in particular, we gave him a few reps with the first group just as a healthy experience for him. I thought he did some really good things, so you know, in this setting, at quarterback, you're dependent on the players around you: the offensive line, the tight ends and running backs, receivers. Jack's very capable, you know, and I would say this going all the way back to spring. He's moved our team, you know, understanding the spring game, he threw a couple interceptions and all that, but he's consistently made the right decision. He's very capable, he's got arm talent, he’s accurate, and he's a good athlete. So, I think we made a really good decision there. Realize that he is a freshman, right? And he has four years to play.”

Napier comments about Jalen Kitna: “I would say Kitna is the player that I probably saw the most growth in, you know from spring practice to see him take another step fundamentally. I think he's throwing the ball much more consistently, much more accurately, better grasp. He had a little bit of a setback injury wise. We anticipate getting him back. He had a small procedure just yesterday.”

Napier comments about Max Brown: “And then Max is a rookie player. He's going through those growing pains that most quarterbacks go through, right? Everybody's a little bigger and a little faster, while information, a lot to process there. And he's a reflection of most of the rookies on our team.”

SEC football

Alabama: Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, who practiced with the Bama basketball team but never dressed out last season, is dropping basketball altogether to focus on football in 2022.

Arkansas: Oklahoma transfer wide receiver Jadon Haselwood likes the change of scenery in Fayette Nam. “I’m here where I belong,” he said Tuesday. “I feel like I’m more appreciated here.” Haselwood caught 39 passes for 399 yards and six touchdowns last year at Oklahoma.

Auburn: Placekicker Anders Carlson, who is coming off ACL surgery, is kicking once again although he’s wearing a knee brace. “I don’t think he’s put everything into his swing yet, but he put it in the end zone,” HBC Bryan Harsin said. “That’s the thing. He’s got the leg.”

Georgia: Former Florida and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp says he appreciates the chance to work for Kirby Smart and likes his role as the co-defensive coordinator at Georgia. “I think I’ve got the best job in America,” Muschamp said.

Kentucky: The starting O-line on Kentucky’s depth chart is LT Deondre Buford, LG Kenneth Horsey, C Eli Cox, RG Tashawn Manning, RT Jeremy Flax … Wide receiver Rashaan Lewis, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Ray Lewis, has pleaded guilty to a DUI charge stemming from an arrest back in March. Lewis had two catches for four yards last year.

LSU: Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock says the Tigers are nowhere close to naming a starting QB among Myles Brennan, Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier.

Mississippi State: Senior wide receiver Austin Williams, who caught 52 passes for 617 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, had the lowest drop rate of any SEC receiver.

Missouri: HBC Eli Drinkwitz wasted no time naming his starting QB for the fall. Brady Cook has won the job over Tyler Macon and Mississippi State transfer Jack Abraham. In limited action last season, Cook 345 yards and two touchdowns.

Ole Miss: If Ole Miss seems a bit behind through the first few practices, it could be because the Rebels have 20 Division I transfers on the roster.

South Carolina: South Carolina will pay Jacksonville State $1.3 million to come play at Williams-Brice Stadium next season. That’s the highest paycheck game in Jax State history. The previous high was $550,000. A year ago Jax State was paid $400,000 to play Florida State in Tallahassee.

Tennessee: Clemson transfer running back Lyn-J Dixon is immediately eligible, but the Vols still wait word from the NCAA on the eligibility of Southern Cal wide receiver transfer Bru McCoy.

Texas A&M: Offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey says, "We've got the weapons, we've got the skill and we've got the ability to be an outstanding offense. To be explosive or to be able to grind it out, to be able to do all the things coach Fisher wants to do from an offensive standpoint."

Vanderbilt: The Commodores first scrimmage was held at a high school due to ongoing renovations to Vanderbilt Stadium.

Our SEC orphans in the Big 12:

Oklahoma: Former Oklahoma HBC Bob Stoops, says the situation involving assistant coach Cale Gundy is “unfortunate, it’s sad, it kills me.” Gundy, the younger brother of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, is a former Oklahoma QB and was an assistant coach for Stoops for several years.

Texas: Running back Bijan Robinson has been named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose watch list. The award is given to the top offensive player in Division I.

Matt Hayes ranks the top 25 college football coaches

Writing in Saturday Down South, national college football writer Matt Hayes offered the following rating of the top 25 college football coaches in the country. Surprisingly, Hayes picked Georgia’s Kirby Smart, winner of one national championship, over Alabama’s Nick Saban, winner of six national titles and runner-up three times.

Hayes’ top 25: 1. Kirby Smart, Georgia; 2. Nick Saban, Alabama; 3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson; 4. Ryan Day, Ohio State; 5. Brian Kelly, LSU; 6. Lincoln Riley, Southern Cal; 7. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M; 8. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; 9. Mario Cristobal, Miami; 10. Kyle Whittingham, Utah; 11. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan; 12. James Franklin, Penn State; 13. Mark Stoops, Kentucky; 14. Mack Brown, North Carolina; 15. Dave Aranda, Baylor; 16. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin; 17. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; 18. David Shaw, Stanford; 19. Matt Campbell, Iowa State; 20. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss; 21. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; 22. Mike Leach, Mississippi State; 23. David Clawson, Wake Forest; 24. Kalani Sitake, BYU; 25. Jeff Monken, Army

Barrett Sallee (CBS Sports): Who’s overrated, who’s underrated

With the release of the USA Today Coaches top 25 poll, Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports weighed in, offering two teams he considers overrated and two he thinks are underrated. Here are the teams with comments:

Overrated

No. 5 Notre Dame: “The absence of running back Kyren Williams, safety Kyle Hamilton and quarterback Jack Coan are all issues that need to be resolved before anointing the Fighting Irish as legit playoff contenders.”

No. 7 Texas A&M: “The Aggies are the darling of the SEC and a trendy pick to contend with Alabama for the West Division title, but a No. 7 ranking is too much too soon … What’s more, championship-caliber teams run nine- or 10-deep along the defensive line. The Aggies are lacking experience in that area and will have to rely on three or four true freshmen out of the stellar 2022 recruiting class to serve in that rotation.”

Underrated

No. 8 Utah: “They boast a big-time one-two punch with dual threat quarterback Cameron Rising and running back Tavion Thomas. Plus, they’re almost always stout up front, and the presence of coach Kyle Whittingham makes them the best-coached team in the conference (yes, USC with Lincoln Riley included).”

No. 24 Ole Miss: “Too much emphasis has been put on the absence of star quarterback Matt Corral and not enough has been put on the offensive skill players brought in by coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin upgraded at running back with TCU transfer Zach Evans and SMU transfer Ulysses Bentley IV … The quarterback battle between Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmeyer will dominate fall camp, but Kiffin will be fine either way.”

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Matt Zemek, a longtime college football writer and analyst, has come to the conclusion the Pac-12 is going to survive despite the loss of Southern Cal and UCLA to the Big Ten. Zemek is basing his conclusion on the possibility ESPN would work out some sort of deal with the Pac-12 for late night games on Saturday plus work out a scheduling alliance with the ACC.

Writing for Trojan Wire, Zemek states: “Tuesday morning it became clear that the league will indeed live on. There won’t be a splintering into extinction. There won’t be a raid to the Big 12. The Pac will be back in some form or fashion. Yes, the Pac-12 won’t be as strong as it was with USC in the fold. The conference won’t make as many dollars or win as many Heisman Trophies with the Trojans in the Big Ten. We can all acknowledge that. However, the Pac-12 is going to survive. That’s something.”

I have a lot of respect for Matt Zemek, but I am of the opinion he’s dead wrong about this. The new Big Ten media deal which will include CBS and NBC to push it over the $1 billion a year mark, is precisely why Uncle Phil is going to push Oregon to the Big Ten and why the Big Ten will not only listen but add Oregon as well as Washington, California and Stanford. Why? Because what Uncle Phil (Knight) can do with Nike advertising and sponsorships will be way too enticing. And, those four schools aren’t going to sign a grant of rights contract to remain in the Pac-12 as long as there is a chance the Big Ten will gobble them up. From a purely logistics standpoint, the Big Ten needs those four schools to join for a West Coast presence that eases some of the travel burdens for Southern Cal and UCLA.

I am of the opinion that the Pac-12 may indeed survive … for one more year. After that, Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Cal will say sayonara.