#MeansMoreMailbag: Billy Napier strikes back, top playmaker in the SEC, concerns for Tennessee

What to make of Billy Napier and Florida’s big week on the recruiting trail? Who is the best non quarterback playmaker in the SEC? Areas of concern for the Vols? 

All that, plus projecting SEC bowl teams in this week’s #MeansMoreMailbag.

As a reminder, each week I’ll answer your SEC questions. Be sure to fill up the mailbox via a DM or comment on Twitter @JesseReSimonton, email [email protected] or the @On3 Instagram account. 

On to the questions…

You were critical of Billy Napier’s recruiting so far for the 2023 class. What do you think now that the Gators just had a monster week? — Ben

I received several variations of “How Bout them Apples” tweets following Florida’s Borat-esque (see: Very Nice) recruiting week after I recently wrote a a column asking what to make of UF’s messy last month in recruiting. Do I deserve some comeuppance after Billy Napier flipped 4-star quarterback Marcus Stokes from Penn State, and then landed 4-star tailback Treyaun Webb, a UF legacy who very recently was trending toward those same Nittany Lions?

Maybe?

Florida also added 4-star wideout speedster Eugene Wilson III and beat out South Carolina, Clemson and Tennessee for 4-star defensive lineman T.J. Searcy. 

Notably, only Wilson is currently a Top 150 prospect, but four blue-chippers in one week is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve long believed in Napier’s ability to recruit. I simply noted that the results hadn’t materialized yet. 

This past weekend was a nice indicator that the possibility remains for Florida to remerge as a potential recruiting juggernaut though. 

Napier is keen on casting an Orange & Blue net across the state, and three of the four commitments this weekend were Sunshine State prospects. The Gators remain heavily in the mix for a slew of other top-flight in-state prospects as well, including 5-star defensive back Cormani McClain, and 4-star wideouts Daquayvious Sorey, Aidan Mitzell and Andy Jean. 

I’m on record that I don’t believe Florida can simply punt on the 2023 class and hope that Napier & Co., gear up for a big swing in 2024. Clearly, the Gators’ new staff feels the same way. 

Outside quarterbacks, who is the top offensive player in the SEC? My money’s on Boutte. — Remy

LSU wideout Kayshon Boutte is not a bad choice here, especially after the junior played in just six games in 2021 — yet was on pace for 18 touchdowns, which would’ve been easily the most in the conference last season. 

Boutte is a popular pick for comeback player of the year because if healthy, he will be the top wideout in the league in 2022. 

But I’m going with Brock Bowers here. The dude is a freak-show. Georgia lines up its 6-4, 235-pound tight end all over the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Bowers saw snaps at three different spots (inline, slot and out wide) in every game in 2021. But somethings Todd Moken got really creative with his playmaker, placing Bowers in the backfield or on the offensive line (see: Touchdown vs. Alabama). 

No matter where he lined up though, Bowers was a mismatch. As a freshman, he caught 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged close to 16 yards a reception. He also had three reverse “runs” — again, for a tight end — that went at least 12 yards including a 24-yard touchdown scamper against Tennessee. 

Georgia’s tight end room is ridiculous — Bowers, fellow 5-stars Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert, as well as 4-star freshman Oscar Delp — but Bowers is the headliner. I think he’s the best tight end in America and the best playmaker in the SEC. 

Again, Boutte is awesome and not a bad choice here, either. Other names worth mentioning include Alabama tailback Jahmyr Gibbs (talent is obvious, let’s just see it in the SEC now) and Kentucky tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr. 

Bigger concern: Tennessee’s OL or the Vols’ defense? — David

Tennessee’s defense, easy. 

Tennessee’s offensive line was beat-up throughout the 2021 season, which didn’t allow the unit to completely gel. Four starters return, and there’s other experience, too. It’s certainly not a group that ranks in the top-half of the conference, but it should be serviceable in an offensive system designed to wear out defensive lines. The Vols should not allow the most sacks (44 last season) in the SEC again, partly because quarterback Hendon Hooker should be more comfortable in Josh Heupel’s system in Year 2 and won’t hold onto the ball as much. 

Defensively, the answers aren’t so simple. The Vols’ defense was legitimately good at creating negative plays (program-record 102 tackles for loss, second-most in the SEC), but they hemorrhaged explosive plays almost as often (61 plays allowed over 20 yards, fourth-most in the league). They were also terrible on third downs and couldn’t get a stop on key passing downs. Tennessee should be better against the run in 2022, but it still enters the fall with continued questions in the secondary. The Vols’ defense will hold down the team’s overall ceiling until Tim Banks’ unit gets more talent.  

How many SEC schools will make a bowl game in 2022? — Michael 

The most optimistic outcome for SEC commish Greg Sankey would for all 14 programs to make a postseason game this fall, but it’s hard to envision Vanderbilt finding its way to six wins — even if Clark Lea’s program shows real improvement in Year 2. 

A safe bet is for 12 SEC schools — Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M — to make a bowl game. 

Auburn could crater and go 5-7. Same for a Mississippi State or LSU. But I think all three programs get to six wins in 2022. 

The wild card team here is Missouri. 

The Tigers have made the postseason in Eli Drinkwitz’s first two seasons in Columbia, but the schedule is a tad tougher this year with an early road trip to Kansas State and there are lingering questions at quarterback.