SEC Media Days have grown up and left home. The event began as a small gathering of the league coaches and reporters in Birmingham in 1985. It’s now attended by more than 1,000 media members and broadcast live on ESPN and the SEC Network. This year’s edition will be in Atlanta for the first time.
The event become an annual rite of summer as the college football season draws nearer. Coaches like Les Miles and Steve Spurrier used to make annual headlines with quirky stories or jabs at their rivals. Now it’s a showcase for the SEC’s biggest stars and a chance to start talking football. The season may be weeks away, but SEC Media Days is a reminder that football is coming.
HOW IT WORKS
All 14 SEC football teams will be represented during the four-day event in Atlanta by their head coach and three players. Three teams each will take their turns on Monday and Thursday, while Tuesday and Wednesday will have four teams. Alabama will arrive on Wednesday, with Nick Saban scheduled to speak sometime on Wednesday afternoon.
There massive media contingent is split up into different areas. Players and coaches are moved from one room to another, speaking to writers, TV reporters, radio broadcasters and websites throughout the day. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw and College Football Playoff director Bill Hancock will also speak and answer questions.
FOLLOW ALONG
TideSports.com and The Tuscaloosa News will have complete coverage of all four days and all 14 teams in Atlanta. We’ll post updates on social media throughout the day and have stories from every SEC program after their coach speaks to the media in the main room. On Wednesday, we’ll have wall-to-wall coverage of Alabama’s day in Atlanta and all the news from Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide players.
The SEC Network and ESPN will also broadcast live from the event throughout the week.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For up-to-the minute coverage from Atlanta, you can follow the TideSports staff here:
@TideSports
Sports editor Cecil Hurt – @CecilHurt
Executive sports editor Tommy Deas – @TommyDeas
Football beat writer Ben Jones – @BW_Jones
Photo editor Gary Cosby Jr. – @TNewsCoz
Monday
TEXAS A&M
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:10 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher
2017 Record: 7-6, 4-4 SEC
Players Attending
Kingsley Keke (DL, 6-4/305, Sr., Richmond, Texas): Has played in every game over his three seasons in College Station. Posted 54 tackles during his junior year.
Erik McCoy (OL, 6-4/315, Jr., Lufkin, Texas): Has started all 25 games of his career at center. Freshman All-SEC in and one-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in 2016.
Trayveon Williams (RB, 5-9/200, Jr., Houston, Texas): Became the first true freshman in Aggie history to rush for 1,000 yards in 2016. Averaged more than 30 yards per kickoff return on six returns.
KENTUCKY
When: 1:00-5:50 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Mark Stoops
2017 Record: 7-6, 4-4 SEC
Players Attending
Josh Allen (LB, 6-5/260, Sr., Montclair, NJ.): Recorded 66 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three passes defensed and one interception last season.
C.J. Conrad (TE, 6-5/252, Sr., Lagrange, Ohio.): Finished with 16 catches for 286 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Benny Snell Jr. (RB, 5-11/223, Jr., Westerville, Ohio): Has 2,424 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in his first two seasons combined.
LSU
When: 1:00-5:50 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron
2017 Record: 9-4, 6-2 SEC
Players Attending
Devin White (LB, 6-1/240, Jr., Springhill, La.): Finished second in the SEC with 133 tackles last year. Also had 14 tackles for loss, tied for third in the conference.
Rashard Lawrence (DE, 6-3/300, Jr., Monroe, La.): Former five-star recruit and top-25 player in the class of 2016. Finished sophomore season with 32 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.
Foster Moreau (TE, 6-6/255, Sr., New Orleans, La.): Caught 24 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns in 2017. A contender to wear LSU’s famed No. 18 jersey, awarded to a player who shows exemplary leadership.
Tuesday
GEORGIA
When: 8:00a.m.-12:15 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Kirby Smart
2017 Record: 13-2, 7-1 SEC
Players Attending
Terry Godwin (WR, 5-11/185, Sr., Hogansville, Ga.): Has been Georgia’s second-leading receiver for three straight seasons. Caught 38 passes for 639 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2017.
Jonathan Ledbetter (DE, 6-4/277, Sr., Tucker, Ga.): Recorded 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during the 2017 season.
J.R. Reed (DB, 6-1/194, Jr., Frisco, Texas): Started all 15 games and was team’s second-leading tackler with 79 tackles. Also recorded 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five passes broken up, and two interceptions.
OLE MISS
When: 8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Matt Luke
2017 Record: 6-6, 3-5 SEC
Players Attending
Jordan Ta’amu (QB, 6-2/212, Sr., Pearl City, Hawaii): Led the SEC with 9.73 yards per pass attempt and finished third in the conference in quarterback rating. Started final five games of 2017.
Sean Rawlings (C, 6-5/294, Sr., Madison, Miss.): Recruited as a tackle and started 14 games at right tackle in his first two seasons. Started 11 games at center in 2017, including against Alabama five days after ankle surgery.
Josiah Coatney (DT, 6-4/302, Jr., Douglasville, Ga.): Ranked third on the team in tackles (65) and tackles for loss (eight) in 2017.
FLORIDA
When: 12:30p.m.-4:45 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Dan Mullen
2017 Record: 4-7, 3-5 SEC
Players Attending
David Reese II (LB, 6-2/220, Jr., Fort Pierce, Fl.): Led the team with 102 tackles and finished second with 10 tackles for loss. Named Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus in 2016.
Martez Ivey (OL, 6-5/315, Sr., Apopka, Fl.): Played 36 career games. Named Second Team All-SEC in 2016 and 2017. Named to the SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman team in 2015.
Cece Jefferson (DL, 6-1/242, Sr., Glen St. Mary, Fl.): Led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Was SEC Defensive Player of the Week after he produced five tackles and 1.5 sacks against Kentucky.
ARKANSAS
When: 12:30-4:45 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Chad Morris
2017 Record: 4-8, 1-7 SEC
Players Attending
Santos Ramirez (S, 6-2/195, Sr., Shreveport, La.): Recorded five games of at least eight tackles in 2017, including a career-high 10 against Ole Miss. Led the Razorbacks with eight pass breakups.
Dre Greenlaw (LB, 6-0/226, Sr., Fayetteville, Ark.): Posted 103 tackles to rank fifth in the SEC. Had four SEC games with 10 or more tackles and made 31 tackles in a two-game stretch against TCU and Texas A&M.
Hjalte Froholdt (OL, 6-5/315, Sr., Svendborg, Denmark): Has started 25 straight games at left guard. Over 389 pass protection snaps last year, allowed zero sacks, two hits and nine hurries. First Team All-SEC by Pro Football Focus in 2017.
Wednesday
TENNESSEE
When: 8:00a.m.-12:15 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Jeremy Pruitt
2017 Record: 4-8, 0-8 SEC
Players Attending
Kyle Phillips (DL, 6-4/263, Sr., Nashville, Tn.): Recorded 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this past season. Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll every year at Tennessee.
Marquez Callaway (WR, 6-2/199 Jr., Warner Robbins, Ga.): Averaged 16.9 yards per reception and led the team with five touchdown receptions as a sophomore, finishing the year with 24 catches and 406 yards.
Eli Wolf (TE, 6-4/224, Jr., Minister, Ohio): Former walk-on was named Tennessee’s most improved offensive player this spring and has played in 15 games in his career.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
When: 8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Joe Moorhead
2017 Record: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
Players Attending
Mark McLaurin (S, 6-2/215, Sr., Collins, Miss.): Tied the SEC lead with six interceptions in 2017 and averaged 14 yards per interception return. Three picks and 11 tackles came in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Louisville.
Gerri Green (DE, 6-4/255, Sr., Greenville, Miss.): Started all 13 games at outside linebacker in 2017. Led the team and tied for second in the SEC with three forced fumbles.
Nick Fitzgerald (QB, 6-5/230, Sr., Richmond Hill, Ga.): Had six games with 100+ yards passing and 100+ yards rushing in 2017. His 984 rushing yards ranked 10th in the SEC and first among SEC quarterbacks.
ALABAMA
When: 12:30-4:45 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Nick Saban
2017 Record: 13-1, 7-1 SEC
Players Attending
Damien Harris (RB, 5-11/212, Jr., Richmond, Ky.): Ran for at least 1,000 yards each of last two seasons. Averging 6.7 yards per carry for his career, second-best in school history among players with 200+ carries.
Anfernee Jennings (OLB, 6-3/262, Jr., Dadeville, Ala.): Posted 41 tackles and six tackles for loss with one sack in 11 games last year. Finished freshman season in 2016 with 19 tackles, including two for loss.
Ross Pierschbacher (OL, 6-4/301, Sr., Cedar Falls, Iowa): Three-year starter at guard with 42 career starts. Has started three consecutive national championship games.
MISSOURI
When: 12:30p.m.-4:45 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Barry Odom
2017 Record: 7-6, 4-4 SEC
Players Attending
Drew Lock (QB, 6-3/215, Sr., Lee’s Summit, Mo.): Led the SEC with 3,964 passing yards and 44 touchdowns last season.
Terry Beckner Jr. (DL, 6-4/305, Sr., East St. Louis, Ill.): A first-team Freshman All-American and All-SEC player. Recorded seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss from his defensive tackle position.
Terez Hall (LB, 6-2/230, Sr., Lithonia, Ga): Finished 2017 with 85 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss.
Thursday
VANDERBILT
When: 8:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Derek Mason
2017 Record: 5-7, 3-4 SEC
Players Attending
Kyle Shurmur (QB, 6-4/225, Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.): Finished the 2017 season with 220 completions for 2,823 yards and a school-record 26 touchdown passes.
Justin Skule (OT, 6-6/315, Sr., Clifton, Va.): Started 25 straight games including all 12 last year and was a part of an offensive line that allowed just 19 sacks on the year.
LaDarius Wiley (S, 6-1/210, Sr., Los Angeles, Ca.): Wiley won the Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Kansas State where he recorded 11 tackles, two passes defensed and the game-sealing interception.
SOUTH CAROLINA
When: 8:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Will Muschamp
2017 Record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Players Attending
Jake Bentley (QB, 6-4/224, Jr., Opelika, Al.): Has thrown for 4,214 yards and 27 touchdowns against 16 interceptions in his career. Rushed for six touchdowns last year.
Deebo Samuel (WR, 6-0/210, Sr., Inman, S.C.): Scored six touchdowns (three receiving, two kick returns, and one rushing touchdown) in just three games last season before breaking his leg.
D.J. Wonnum (DL, 6-5/258, Jr., Stone Mountain, Ga.): Named a captain as just a sophomore. Led team with 13 tackles for loss and six sacks last year while also recording 57 tackles.
AUBURN
When: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Gus Malzahn
2017 Record: 10-4, 7-1 SEC
Players Attending
Jarrett Stidham (QB, 6-3/215, Jr., Stephenville, Texas): Led SEC in completion percentage (66.5) in 2017. Was second in the conference with 3,158 passing yards and fourth with 18 touchdown passes. Also had four rushing touchdowns.
Deshaun Davis (LB, 5-11/233, Sr., Prichard, Ala.): Led team with 82 tackles last year, including 17 in two postseason games. Will be a third-year starter at middle linebacker.
Dontavius Russell (DL, 6-3/320, Sr., Carrollton, Ga.): Has played in 40 career games dating back to his freshman year. Had 6.5 tackles for loss last year, tied for second-most among returning players.
