7-17-24 McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning Hour 3: SEC Media Days - Day 3: Kalen DeBoer, Jesse Simonton
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This Jocks 94.5 podcast is brought to you by Millennium Satellite and Video. Log on to MSBnow.com. TV excellence everywhere. That's Millennium. McElroy and Kublik in the morning starts now. Welcome back in. SEC Media Days, Day 3. Cole Kublik, Craig McElroy. McElroy and Kublik in the morning live from Radio Row at the Omni Hotel in Dallas. Kaitlin DeBoer.

Alabama head coach set to make his first trip to the podium as the Alabama head football coach at SEC Media Days. We'll move on to that in just a few minutes. But first, GMAC, if you're looking to move out of your home into a new home, who should you call? Crocker Movie Service. They're a local company owned by an Iraq war veteran, Eric Crocker. Crocker believes in hiring moves you can trust to complete full background checks and run drug tests on every single employee. These are good guys.

And you can trust them in your home. Whether you need your whole home packed up and moved, your company headquarters moved across the country, or you just want them to come rearrange your living room, these guys got you covered. They also do deliveries for furniture that you purchase need to get to your home. So call or visit them online today for a free quote. The website's crockermovingservices.com. That's crockermovingservices.com. Support your veterans by choosing Crocker Moving Services for your next move. All right, so a quick thought on Mississippi State. We talked to Jeff Levy. We talked to Blake Chapin. A little bit about the offense, some of the fundamentals of it, some personnel.

I think they're going to be... Look, a little bit like Tennessee, they're going to be very quarterback dependent. If Lake Chapin plays well, they've got a chance to be very dangerous. And that's how I'd qualify them. I don't think they're a team that can expect to do much more than get to a bowl game, but I don't think they're a team that you want to play. You know what I mean? Yes. They're going to get somebody. I don't know who. You just don't want it to be you. And I think they will...

I think they got a real shot to go and get to a bowl game this year. Blake Chapin's as advertised. I'm with you, and I think, yes, it's a lot of new offensive linemen, but it's guys who have been in similar systems. Cody Kennedy has coached in this system, in this scheme. I mean, he's been around Kendall Riles. He's been around Levy. He understands what it's supposed to look like.

And that's really important, too, by the way. And that offense in particular, marrying up the run game with the RPO and having an offensive line coach that understands how to teach it is really valuable. Can you take us a little further in what Shapen was talking about with the footwork and the RPO? Why is it so different for them? Well, I don't know if it's as much. I mean, it's footwork, but it's hands. You've got to have fast hands if you're going to operate RPO, meaning you have to be able to take the ball from the belly of the running back

up to a throwing position ready to release the ball in an instant. And the faster your hands are, the better you're going to be. And that, I think, is challenging for some guys. And some RPOs are taught differently. I mean, you have your very basic, hey, tag a slant on the backside of a zone read, and if that Will Linebacker gets tight, you throw the slant. I mean, some are very basic, but...

But some are a little bit more challenging, and there's different layers to that as well. I can remember what he was talking about with Corral, sort of that pop. That is more of a hop, I would say. They take that ball out of the belly, and it's like, bah! They turn their shoulders, and then I guess that's the portion that's different the way a Hugh Freeze offense would run it? Yeah, there's just some that are a little slower developing. Like you watch...

Not everyone teaches a difference, mechanical, but you look at like a Wake Forest. Takes forever. Very slow and methodical, but some teach it where you want to be right now. It's just very different. Are the reads different on those? No, not necessarily. It's just more of a commitment. It's forcing the defensive player to commit.

really more than anything else. You're doing the same thing, but you're creating more space. The longer you ride it, the more space you're going to create. Is Kalen DeBoer going to create confidence with Alabama fans? He takes the podium for the first time at SEC Media Days now.

All right. Good morning. And it's great to see all you and be here at SEC Media Days. Thank you, Commissioner, for the introduction. Appreciate all your leadership. That's probably the first thing I would say is just in six quick months, I've had a chance to get a taste of the SEC and whether it's

Commissioner Sankey or all the coaches that are part of our great football conference. It's been awesome seeing the leadership, being a part of a bunch of people that want to change and continue to evolve the great game of football as well as college athletics. So I want to thank...

All of you for being here. Appreciate all the support and all the coverage you give our programs, not just mine, but college football in general. So it's a great sport. And thanks for all the stories. We got so many great players. I got some here today that have amazing journeys that I know, you know, we want those stories out there and be told. So.

Speaking of, I got three great gentlemen. Jalen Milrow, our quarterback. Malachi Moore, our safety. And Tyler Booker, who I know you'll see throughout the day. These guys have just been special from the beginning. Probably three of the guys that when I really look at it and

All the craziness with a transition and coming into the program myself, three of the guys that just never wavered from the beginning. And they just really believed in themselves. They believed in the program. They believed in our coaching staff as we continued to present and make the hires. But they just really stayed steady. And because of their leadership, I feel, you know, the culture has continued to grow. And we had a great time.

Winter, great spring, and really looking forward to the season that lies ahead. It's been six months, six months in Tuscaloosa. It's been extremely welcoming to come into the community. Of course, I love their football and athletics as a whole. And, you know, just being welcomed, my family and I, it's been special. It's made the transition easy for myself personally.

And then also, I just want to say that, you know, in the transition, I can't thank our president, Dr. Bell, as well as our AD, Greg Byrne, enough for just their support and everything that they've done to help, you know, acclimate me and our staff and just do the things that we need to do to hit the ground running.

You know, it takes a village. And, you know, Greg did a great job hiring an athletic department full of staff, whether it's administrative or other head coaches, who have just been a pleasure to come to the work space.

department and bring the energy. I was fortunate enough to pretty much show up and within a month or so get a chance to support Nate Oates and our basketball team making a Final Four run and

Not long after that, our softball team making a trip to the College World Series, Women's College World Series and other great teams and the department as a whole is in such a great place because of Greg's leadership.

When it comes to just our staff, I couldn't be more proud of just how far we've come just in a short amount of time. The belief and trust in our team starts with these guys. And it's not just the on-the-field staff, it's the off-the-field staff. And, you know,

you know, meshing a staff where we retained many that were super critical, whether it's strength and conditioning with David Ballou, our training staff with Jeff Allen, and other departments as well. The meshing of our staff

with those that were retained and those that I brought in with me. It's been awesome feeling the energy, feeling the excitement. Every day I walk in the building just in such a pleasure to go to work with these people. They're beyond motivated. They're driven to be great, driven to uphold the great standard of Alabama football.

We have a lot of work ahead, and I know when it comes to our team, we had a great spring. I think they felt that as well. We were able to retain pretty much the entire roster. We did lose two guys to the portal, but overall between the winter and the spring, we've picked up

14 and guys that I think, you know, they don't just add depth to our program. They come in and make a difference. And they add to the guys that, you know, have continued to develop and grow within our program. Looking forward to, you know, hitting the field two weeks from today at this very time. We'll be in practice, which is exciting. I love being on the grass with the guys. Love being there.

out there working with them. It's what it's all about. It's why we do what we do as coaches and really looking forward to that. So, you know, they understand that there was a gap that needed to be closed early on. And I say that because anytime you institute and you're incorporating new strategies, whether it's offensively, defensively, special teams, along with just getting to know and building new relationships, you

There's a gap that you have to close because the programs that continue to hit the ground running, continue to kind of add to what they've done in the past because of their familiarity, they're in a place and now I think we've closed that gap.

And now the whole thing is focusing on separating ourselves. And this summer, just the focus, the commitment. I think if you ask our guys what they appreciate about each other right now is that they come in with a competitive mindset every single day. And I can see it. They have high goals and aspirations, but the actions support those goals that they each have.

uh... they do it on the field they do it on off the field um... i think they're just well well-rounded team uh... group of guys uh... you know academically and on in the spring uh... three point two g_p_a_ we had over eighty five we had eighty five hundred twenty three guys our team have a three point or higher uh... edges it just goes to show the the focus uh... and what type of people and and players we have in our program uh... we return

It just depends on how you look at it. Five starters on offense, five starters on defense, a couple specialists. Those guys are going to be certainly counted on. I think we've brought in some players to help add to, again, not just the depth, but also to build and have an elite level of starters on the football field for us when August 31st comes around.

I think their mindset of just going 1-0 and winning the day is something that I preach to them, and they've taken on that challenge. They show up, put in the extra work. They understand that everyone's doing the same things. You just got to do it better and do it more often than those that we're going to be competing against throughout the season.

Before I open up for questions, I do just want to say, I know I haven't seen Coach around here, but I do want to first of all congratulate Coach. I thought it was really cool winning the ESPY the other night and got a chance to finally, it seemed like every time I got a chance to see the speech, congratulate Coach.

It was just a little blurb. Got to see the whole thing. And just like always, there's something that we've always taken from those speeches. Well-deserved with that honor. And then personally and from, I think, on behalf of everyone with Alabama football and the University of Alabama, we appreciate everything Coach has done to make this foundation strong to where we can continue to build on it, continue to help people

Those that are supportive of our program, proud. And I just appreciate all those years and hard work that's been put into this. And so with that, I'll open it up for questions. All right, that's Kalen DeBoer live at the podium here at SEC Media Days. We're going to pause that, come back. You'll hear the questions that the big room has for the new Alabama head football coach.

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Catch up with all things McElroy and Kublik in the morning by subscribing to the podcast. Mythically, he's grown. He's almost like a little bit bigger than a player, right? Like the myth of Bo Jackson. Like, rate, and download the show from the Jock Tap or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, welcome back in. SEC Media Days, Day 3, Radio Row, McElroy and Kublik in the morning.

Heard from Jeff Levy. Heard from Blake Chapin. Heard from Kalen DeBoer. Heard from Marty Smith. Going to go back to Kalen DeBoer. Q&A at the podium now. But first, quickly, let me tell you about Gusty Ghouls and the Gusty Ghouls Group. If you're looking for a new home in Birmingham, trying to sell your home, want to get top value for it, you need to go to gustygoulsgroup.com right now or just Google Gusty Ghouls Group. Check out those five-star reviews. You're going to see more than 830 reviews.

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I think that's something that you see with Jalen, right, is what he is, you know, and I can just look back last week, you know, a moment with our team and not to get into details, but him standing up and speaking out and, you know, positive.

but also accountability and that mix of everything that great leaders do and building up their teammates, but also just reminding them of what it's going to take for us to reach the goals that we have. He does a great job of balancing that. I think he's grown in a lot of ways when it comes to that area.

But then obviously we've got to talk about what he does on the football field, and he's got a skill set that is special. He can, with his arm, you know, make you pay, and he can make the throws, and I think he's continued to grow in that area, building confidence in himself, just tirelessly working with the receiving core, you know, actually all the skill players.

to just be on the same page. I think he's continued to expand on his game with the different throws he can make. Down the field, he's been strong. A year ago, he was one of the best in the country with downfield throws. I think he's continued to work on those higher percentage throws that you need to have to move the chains and all of that. But he just dives into it. And there's no one that's going to beat...

beat him into the football facility from a player's vantage point. He's there 4.30, 5 o'clock for sure, every single day. And I know there's guys that have tried to beat him into the facility and they can't. But when he's there, it isn't just punching in the clock. He's done a great job being efficient, doing everything he can, whether it's mentally, physically, to be ready for this fall. Coach, we're going to go over to our right-hand side.

Over to the right. Over here. Shahan Jairaj from CBS Sports. How are you doing, Coach? I'm good. Thank you. So you brought a player here in Malachi Moore who has been kind of through everything since being on campus since 2020. How do you benefit from having this group of leaders that have been at Alabama, and how do you integrate some of the guys, for example, that you brought from Washington who know what you do?

Yeah, you know, guys like Malachi, Jalen, Book, these guys are all guys that, of course, can get in here today. But, you know, they all understand, and Malachi, since he specifically brought up him, they understand what it's looked like. They understand what it takes. And it isn't just what it looks like and needs to be done in the fall. This is the time where you build your team.

And that work that they're putting in each and every day, a guy like Malachi is front and center. And I guess, you know, I just think about, you know, Malachi and very similar to Jalen. You know, they love the game. They love the work that is associated with the game. And, you know, he brings a smile to it. He's determined. You know, he's a beast on the football field. And he hits you with everything he's got.

and he's helping grow a secondary around him that's got some youth, and he's taking that and putting it on his shoulders, and I think he's excited about that. He knows he's one of the faces of the program and takes that responsibility in a strong way, but I think when you look at

just people in general and how it all comes together with different transfers coming from different places. Obviously, you look at the talent, right? But we have great kids, great, I shouldn't call them kids, great young men that have come into our program. And you alluded to the Washington players, the four of them that have come in.

These are just standouts, not just on the football field, but just high-end character guys. They knew that they had to adapt to the things that Alabama represents and the football program. And I think I couldn't be more, you know, because I did have a relationship with them, obviously, before coming here. I couldn't be more proud of the way they've approached everything and now stepping up as leaders themselves.

Coach, we'll go on a section right in front of me on the far out. Good morning, Coach. Stephen Smith of Touchdown Alabama. You talked about Malachi Moore, but for Deontay Lawson, you know, other guys that are in-state players from the state of Alabama, what did they teach you and show you when you first arrived about the standard and what it means to play to that and even coach to it?

Yeah, you know, I actually took notes and I still am taking notes, right? These guys have been here longer than I have. And, you know, sometimes, you know, we use the saying, you don't know what you don't know. And I'm just trying to take it all in. We want to do things. Of course, I want to do things the way I've done them in some aspects. But embracing what is what is important to this program, the traditions that have happened over many years, obviously.

But I think just when it really comes down to this team, it's about the work that we're doing right now and listening to them and hearing them out. I think that's the best thing you can do when you come in as a new coach is, you know, kind of meet them, meet them in the middle. And, you know, we've worked together and they understand that.

I want this team to be a team that ultimately is player-led. Now, what does that mean? We've talked a lot about that. I'm going to provide the framework and the parameters and a lot of the organization that I feel has worked for me over many years. But I also want them to have that buy-in and understand the why, not just what.

Okay, we'll stay in that same section in the center. Kirk Bowles from the Houston Chronicle. Caden, I wonder how many coaches, friends, family told you it wasn't smart to follow a legend? And how much that entered into your thinking before you accepted? Yeah, you know, I get it. I totally get it.

I mean, there's only one Coach Saban. There will only ever be one Coach Saban. And, you know, this program is special. And I guess I just take it as a great honor to be the one that gets to do everything we can to carry on the great tradition. So much blood, sweat, and tears, whether it's the players and the alumni that have been in this program or coaches and obviously coaches.

referring to Coach Saban, so much is put into this place. We all have alma maters, right? We all have places that we have great pride in, and you always want that to be home, and we always want to make those people proud of their alma mater and the work that's been put in to set this program up for success.

But for me personally, it was just more about just understanding that, you know, coaching football is coaching football to some aspect. And you've got to try to simplify it down as difficult and complicated as you can make it. You know, I've done this for enough years and seen what good culture looks like and maybe even what a culture that needs to improve on looks like. And it's been just an awesome blessing to be a part of this program, to continue to have that –

That expectation on us, the alternative is to be at places where there aren't expectations. At some point, there's been places where maybe a little bit of that has happened throughout my career. This is a great place to be. I'm very blessed, very honored, and certainly acknowledge what you said. We're just going to focus on this team and being the best we can be and continue to build on the great tradition of Alabama football.

Coach, we're going to go to our right on the very front row, just in the section in front of you to the right. Yeah, Coach, it works awesome with Dawg Staley. I think when you first got hired, one of the first questions was how well would he be able to recruit in the Southeast? I think we've gotten a pretty immediate answer on that one. I'm curious what your thought processes are on how you define a great recruiter and what your general thought processes are on player acquisition as a whole.

Yeah, I knew the intensity level that existed here in the SEC, and I think across college football it's just so competitive. But I understand that it certainly is different, and I knew it was important for me to put the right people around me. As much as I can preach relationships and getting to know guys and feel like there's a way that I can –

get guys to feel that this is a program they want to be a part of. I understand that there's got to be familiarity with the region. There's got to be some familiarity with coaches to be able to get started and get off to a fast jump there, especially in these early months, because you're behind when you come in and it's the middle of January and you haven't even put a staff together. And now it's the end of January and you've got a week or two to hit the road and

This is the last time you can be on the road other than a little time in May, and by that time the official visits are all set up for June. We were behind, and so I had to have a staff that would work well together. I think it's all hands on deck with our staff. Those within the building would feel that, just kind of sharing that it's a team effort. But we also certainly have some guys and staff members

you know, on the field and off the field that just work relentlessly, you know, every single day just to build those relationships, to help us get guys to campus. And I think that's when we're at our best because the culture of our team, as we have that energy within the building, when prospects do come onto campus, they see that this is something they want to be a part of. And so,

All that together has led to a lot of success here early on. Obviously, it's an everyday thing, you know, and so it never stops. But we certainly understand that, you know, having the right guys in our program is all going to make us better coaches in a lot of ways. Okay, we'll go in the center, Al, just straight ahead.

Yeah, Coach DeBoer, Drew DeArmond, WZZN Radio, Huntsville, Alabama. Now that analysts can coach on the field and practice and in games, how big an addition is it for Chuck Morrill to be a part of the staff who helped you have a lot of on-field success defensively at Washington?

Yeah, no question. Chuck Morrell and I, we go back. We were actually teammates together and spent 10 years together at the University of Sioux Falls. He was the defense coordinator. I was the offensive coordinator starting out. Our relationship when it comes to just how close we are

you know, just the trust we have in each other. Um, it's, it's, it's, he's a guy that's just as loyal as it gets. Um, you know, did a great job for us at Washington the last two years and, uh, coming in, uh, you know, he and Kane Womack have just really, um,

worked so well together. I know the role has been as an analyst and a coordinator. We have other members that are on the on-field staff that are critical to our scheme and development and growth of our defensive side of the ball. But just another great voice, a guy that knows ball inside and out.

And I'll put him up there as one of the best, if he was a coordinator, you know, when he was a coordinator last year, best in the country. And to have that luxury now with so many great coaches in our program, it's an awesome thing. Coach, we'll go straight in front of you.

All right, that's Kalen DeBoer, Alabama head football coach, at the podium. We'll continue hearing just a little bit more of that on the other side. I think only a couple more questions for Kalen. Try to get to that. Jesse Simonton going to join me here on Radio Row as well. McElroy heading over to television, so he's more important than us for the rest of the day, but that's okay. We'll be able to finish it up, and we have a lot more to talk about. Quickly, tell you about Airport Marine, your boating headquarters in Alabama.

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All right, welcome back in. McElroy and Kubelik in the morning. Appreciate you guys tuning in live from SEC Media Days Day 3.

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For every ride, there's Royal. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer at the podium with the Q&A in the Big Room Media. I'm Barry Trammell with the Tulsa World. Related to the recruiting question, the only hole in your resume is you've never coached south of Carbondale, Illinois.

What's it been like adjusting to the culture change? Or maybe there's not a culture change. Maybe it's Sioux Falls South. I don't know. But what have you had to do to adjust to a new region of the country, new culture, football culture, southern culture, all those things? I've sweat a lot more. It's hot, you know. It's...

You know, I think first of all and foremost, I think people are always what make places, right? And I've lived in a lot of different places around the country from the northwest to over by Detroit and the Midwest and South Dakota to Fresno, California.

Obviously, Carbondale and now here in Tuscaloosa. I think people are always what make the place. There are so many great people in Tuscaloosa. Obviously, they're passionate about their football. It's really made this transition smooth and enjoyable. It probably is...

I've been close to being the place that reminds me the most of honestly being back in South Dakota. Just the people, not necessarily somewhat, I guess, just the geography. There's no coastline, I guess, down up in South Dakota, but there's a lot of just great things that are similar to what feels like home. We'll go over to our far right, over to the right in the front row.

Coach, good morning. Ken Capps from Football Writers Association of America. And first of all, congratulations on winning the Football Writers 2023 Coach of the Year Award. We enjoyed giving that to you down in Houston last year before the Sugar Bowl. And of course, then a few weeks later, you're down in Alabama. In the last six months, what has...

surprised you about going to Alabama and Tuscaloosa and anything that you didn't anticipate that you've seen since you've been down there? You know, I think I should never be surprised at the things that great programs do and have and the culture that exists. But what really has been awesome to see, and again, this isn't necessarily a surprise, but it's been awesome just to see our guys

be completely one-step focused on the main things. And their chemistry and them, their trust and belief is one thing, but I think, and the accountability as well, but I think that the way they respect each other, you know, you could see it in spring ball.

And as much as I try to do a great job of laying out the tempos of practice and how we need to be aggressive and play the game the way it needs to be played, but also, hey, we've got to protect each other. We need each other. You know, I know I needed to say those things. I wanted to say those things, and it's important to me. But I think they understood that. And that's, again, a credit to Coach Saban and everyone that's coached in the program before.

and the culture that existed even before I got here. But, uh, these guys, they know they need each other to reach the goals that, uh, that we have as a, as a program. Um, and then I think they also really respect the goals that they have each individually of, uh, you know, whether it's being a greatest college football player you can be, or, you know, moving on and putting yourself in a good spot to move on to the NFL. And so, um,

Again, not a surprise, but something that I have a lot of appreciation for. And it was an awesome spring. And I really think that all 15 practices, we maximized and got the most out of all 15 of those from start to finish. We have time for a couple more. We'll start over here in front of you to the right, middle section. Coach, Rob Brown, SEC Sidelines Sports Network in Memphis. First off, I'll say we've hunted for years in Chamberlain and Iroquois and Kimmel, South Dakota.

Every one of those people up there were SEC. They knew the SEC very well. They love college football. How much is your background in D2, D3, driving the bus and doing everything from the ground up? The guy you're replacing, Nick Saban, talks so fondly about the work ethic he learned up in Monongan, West Virginia with his dad. Talk about who you are and how that made you what you are.

Yeah, I love how the stories get better and better of all the responsibilities I had. I did not drive the bus. But, you know, that's what the stories and the legends will be down the road, right? And so I think I know this. I would not trade my journey for anything. It gives me an appreciation for where I'm at. It gives me an appreciation for the people I have around me and all the jobs that they have done.

Because, you know, there was a time where you weren't driving the bus. I wasn't driving the bus, but I was, you know, working with equipment and doing things in the locker room. You know, pretty much a GA, an offensive coordinator, and a head coach all at the same time. And so...

I think there's, again, just an appreciation I have for everyone when you have the support systems that you have at this level. And I understand their roles and how important and valuable they are and making them feel a part of it.

And, you know, it allows me to really focus on things I really love to do, and that's build these relationships with these guys and, you know, dive into the football and coach these guys up and help them be the best they can be. And there's just a little bit more in those areas that I get to focus on. So, yeah, it's a work ethic-related thing as well, but it's an appreciation piece as much as anything. We'll take one final question in the section in front of me on the –

Connor O'Gara, Saturday Down South. Kalen, I think it's pretty well documented how different you and Nick are, but what's the area that you think that you two are the most similar? Yeah, I mean, I think I've heard it from our guys. You know, I know Coach Saban just poured into these guys. You know, he loved them and believed in them. I mean, he just pushed them to be their best. And I think you always look at, I mean, every coach is different, right? We all have different personalities. We all go different.

you know, have our styles and especially when you've been doing, doing it for a while, uh, you know, uh, in this profession, you kind of have the things that you really like to do in favor, but in the end, um, the, the most important things, I think a lot of, a lot of those are probably pretty similar more than they're different. Um,

pouring into the guys and helping them and pushing them to be their best, holding them accountable and expecting a high level of discipline while also trying to build a brotherhood and a family that exists through great team chemistry to be great on the football field when it matters most.

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A player, right? Like the myth of Bo Jackson. Like, rate, and download the show from the Jock Cup or wherever you get your podcasts. Three SEC media days. Quickly, I want to tell you about Royal Betting.

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who I thought the best quarterback in the SEC was. I told you it was an easy answer. Would it be an easy answer for you? Yeah, I mean, I think you and I are lockstep in agreement here. It's Carson Beck, and it's kind of a slam dunk. Now, I know a lot of other quarterbacks in this conference have the accolades. Jackson Dart, Brady Cook have led teams to New Year's six wins. You've got Jalen Milrow, who kind of, you know, the super star,

supernova what he pulled out at Auburn and then getting his team to beat Georgia and get into the college football playoff but I think what Carson Beck can do in in Mike Bobo's offense uh

It's funny to say that it's underrated, but I think it actually is underrated. Everyone wants to point to the offenses at Texas and Ole Miss. It's Georgia that ranks in the top five in almost every category a year ago with Beck at the helm. We're talking explosiveness, yard for play, touchdowns, scoring, and that's why it's Carson Beck for me. I kind of came to this conclusion when I was getting ready for SEC Media Days and I was watching a little Georgia film from last year and kind of going through personnel.

And I was like, wait, I want you to tell me you think I'm crazy or not. I was like, wait a second here. I said, they designed a lot for Brock Bowers last year. I know he was out of the lineup at times, but I think they have the best receiving court in America. Depth. Why? Now, they might not have the Luther Burden or the other top-end guys, but if you go proven commodities all the way down the list, I think they have more than anybody. Could they be better because they're not designing certain things for one guy all the time? I don't know.

Again, I agree. I mean, folks love, especially in college football, love to talk about building a wide receiver room that looks like a basketball team. Well, Georgia has that now. Yes. With what they brought in from Miami, Colby Young. And Rah-Rah next to him. Rah-Rah.

The guy that no one wants to talk about, he got a little bit of shine yesterday from one of his teammates. That's Dylan Bell. I think Dylan Bell, by the end of the year, could basically be their Debo Samuel. You know, just an insane Swiss Army knife. Then you're talking about Arian Smith, Oscar Delp. I mean, we can just keep naming guys. They're so deep that they got... Tom Lovett is maybe the starting slot on every other team in the SEC. Maybe not with the kid that Texas got from Oregon State, but...

Silas Bolden. Yeah, every other team. Right. I mean, he's a legit slot threat that most teams would find ways to feed the football to, and he's just, hey, if he's open, we'll throw it to him. Guy for Georgia. He's just a guy. He's just a guy. And, I mean, they brought in London Humphreys from Vanderbilt, who was probably Vanderbilt's first or second best receiver. I don't think he's going to see the field this year. It's basically going to be a red. I mean, from talking to folks in Athens, seriously, I think it's going to be like a redshirt season for him.

Where he's like, you know, learning the offense and then will become into the rotation in 25. And apparently Anthony Evans is like Aaron Smith's speed guy. So you have multiple burners if you just need to try to at least force that to be respected. And they're going to have more juice at running back with ATN. Right. And I think that they really like that one freshman that came in from California. Five-star Nate Frazier. All right. Jesse Simonton on three. Sports joining us on Radio Row.

If we're talking about teams that you think can win the SEC, or let's just say get to the playoff, which one needs their quarterback to be great the most? I think that in terms of – I have a comment on three outlining how many SEC teams can make the college football playoff. I think if we're centering on that half the league is chasing it, I would say nine. I think probably Texas A&M, if you're talking about an outlier, needs Connor Wegman to kind of ascend. Right.

Brady Cook has a lot around him. Quinn Ewers has a lot around him. Jackson Dart, same. I think there is some real... What is the receiver options at Texas A&M? It feels like it's going to be good, but maybe not. It doesn't matter who's their good. You know, a quarterback. Greg and I talked about it this morning, Jesse, and it kind of brought me to this question. Are we going to have any league defense in the league this year?

Oh, I think you don't think Georgia is going to be an elite defense? I don't know. I think it will be really good. And it's unfair because we compare them to previous Georgia defenses. Like Michael Williams, he's never had two sacks in a game. So it's there in the tank. We know it. But are we going to get it?

Here's an answer that may surprise you. I wrote a column about this earlier this summer. Not here, but I think it was kind of validated with some of the stuff that was said yesterday by Josh Heupel and the Vols. For as much oxygen and attention that Nico Alamalieva gets in the quarterback spot at Tennessee, I think it's the defense that's going to depend on them making the playoff. I had him as the number one D-line in the league. Yeah. And people will see that and say, do what? And I said, show me another team that has football.

four proven D tackles in this league. They've got four. And then you get Pierce, and then you get Josephs off the other end. Like, that's...

And once again, they might not have the guys they're going to turn into as many first-round picks, but I think they're at the top of the league right now. Yeah, that's A&M that's got the flashy. They've got guys that can take over a game for sure. Jesse, great stuff. Sorry it was short, but thanks for stopping by, man. I really appreciate it. Happy to help out. Jesse Simonton does a great job at On3. You can see him doing video stuff, read his articles. He just mentioned a couple of theirs. Go find those under his tab.

We'll be back tomorrow, day four of SEC Media Days. Arkansas, Texas A&M, who we just mentioned, Auburn, Kentucky, all going to be in the house. Hugh Freeze set to join the show tomorrow. Mark Stoops, hopefully with us. Sam Pittman will join us by phone tomorrow.

You heard from Kalen DeBoer today. You heard from Jeff Levy today. Jesse Simonton. Marty Smith. It's been a great show. All podcasts at joxfm.com. Apple Podcasts. Spotify. Wherever you get yours. Please go like, rate, review, subscribe to those. More SEC Media Day coverage from Three Man Front coming at you next right here on JOX 94.5. This is McElroy and Cubelik in the morning.

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