Spring Practice

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Ohio State - There's been so much attention focused on the quarterbacks that many have
overlooked the fact that nearly all of Ohio State's offensive line is gone. Thayer Munford is
the only returning starter who saw regular action last season, and the Buckeyes 2019 pro-
jected left tackle has missed spring practices due to injury. This has created opportunities
elsewhere, but it's also one of the teams biggest, if not biggest concerns heading into the
summer and fall. New quarterback and new offensive line...talented but inexperienced.

 

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Alabama second team quarterback Mack Jones led the White team to a 31-17 win over
the Red squad throwing for 271 yards and two scores. Tua quarterbacked the Red team
and finished with 265 yards, one score and one interception. Second year in a row that
Jones has shined in the A-Day game. Bama will likely need him this season with Tua's
injury problems.

Auburn's four quarterbacks completed 38 of 52 (73%) for 479 yards and 5 touchdowns.
All four looked good before the 41,489 fans in attendance. Early recruit Bo Nix finished
the afternoon completing 11 of 14 for 155 yards and 2 scores. The kid has a future on
the Plains.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks threw for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns while leading
the Orange team to a 31-17 win over the Blue. Trevon Grimes shined with 4 catches
for 195 yards averaging 48.8 yards per catch. No comment on the Blue defense.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (Bama transfer) completed 11 of 14 passes for 174
yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a score leading the Red team to a 35-14
victory.

Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond led the White team to a 17-14 win over the Maroon
with two touchdown throws. Maroon running back Jacob Kibodi highlighted the game with
106 rushing yards and one score.

Ohio State quarterback (transfer from Georgia) was underwhelming other than one 98 yard
pass and catch for a touchdown. He completed just 4 of 13 for 131 yards. Take away the
long play and he was just 3 of 13 for 33 yards. Not a good showing by the transfer.

 

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Michigan - A plane pulling a banner flying above Michigan Stadium at its spring game reads,
"Hey Jim, this is God. It's OK to throw on first down. Let's try it." Well, it seems ole Jim has
gotten the message as he has handed Michigan's new look offense over to Josh Gattis, who
is implementing an up-tempo, no-huddle, spread scheme. Looking to shake up a stagnant
offense, Harbaugh hired Gattis away from Alabama to be his offensive coordinator after not
having an assistant with that title last season. Now, Gattis is calling the shots on offense. "It's
night and day," quarterback Shea Patterson said Saturday. "As far as the similarities to last
year, there are few of them." Michigan ranked No. 51 in total offense during 2018...let's see
if the change brings improvement during 2019.

Welcome your comments...…………………………….

 

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Alabama - Quarterback Layne Hatcher has entered the transfer portal following the
close of spring practice. According to multiple reports, Hatcher plans to transfer to
Arkansas State. Hatcher was a late addition to Alabama's 2018 class, committing in
late May and enrolling on June 1, 2018. The Gatorade Player of the Year for the state
of Arkansas as a senior in 2017 threw for 5,779 yards and 51 touchdowns as a senior.
He was 41-1 as a starter at Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) where he passed for 15,483
yards and 185 scores during his career there. Hatcher redshirted last year and coming
out of spring was listed as the team's 5th quarterback. Bama will enter the 2019 season
with 4 scholarship quarterbacks on the roster with junior Tua Tagovailoa, RS sophomore
Mack Jones, freshman Taulia Tagovailoa (Tua's little brother) and freshman Paul Tyson
who is the great grandson of Bear Bryant. Good luck to Hatcher and a productive
career at Arkansas State. He's a smart kid and should do well there.

 

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Georgia - The Bulldogs will play their G-Day Game today with hopes of topping Nebraska's
85,946 attendance figure for spring games this year. Admission is free and the game will
be televised on the SEC Network at 2:00 eastern. Barring bad weather, they are wanting to
make a run at Nebraska's attendance. Winning the SEC attendance race seems more likely
needing to top Alabama's 62,219.