Hawg Country Staff: SEC Predictions, Coach and Player of the Year and more

This week, SEC coaches and players alike came together to preview their upcoming season. High hopes, incredible quotes, funny stories film websites as media members recap what is the best media days in sports, SEC Media Days.

How will Arkansas’ season go? That’s a huge question that we’ll soon find out in just 42 days. Head coach Sam Pittman seems very happy with how his team is looking for 2023. He has what some say is the best quarterback-running back duo in the country, a young but talented offensive line and a solid front seven on defense.

Confidence is oozing out of Fayetteville, (Ark.) right now even if other media outlets have them outside top three in the SEC West. ESPN’s FPI only gives the Razorbacks a .05% chance to win their division.

If Arkansas finds a way to win their first two SEC games on the road against LSU and in Arlington against Texas A&M then the Hogs will be playing with house money. That should give Arkansas enough confidence to be that true darkhorse in the SEC like many pundits are saying.

Without further ado, here is how the Hawg Country team sees the 2023 season playing out:

Jacob Davis

Coach of the Year: Shane Beamer

Most of the time this award goes to the coach that wins the outright regular season championship. However, I’m picking Beamer because he’s an exceptional coaching talent. This could be the year he has South Carolina in a New Year’s Six bowl.

Player of the Year: Harold Perkins

LSU is going to have a ferocious defense. After a breakout freshman season, Perkins is that dude. 72 total tackles, 13 TFL and 7.5 tackles for a loss are incredible numbers to build off going into 2023.

Will Whitson

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly

Kelly, in his first year with the Tigers, finished the regular season 9-3, with wins over two top ten teams. I expect more of the same for him his second year, as LSU will clinch the SEC West title, and get a rematch with Georgia in the conference title game.

Player of the Year: Brock Bowers

The reigning Mackey Award winner Bowers returns to Georgia this season as a sneaky Heisman candidate. Because the Dawgs other tight end Darnell Washington left for the NFL, Bowers volume should only increase. He finished last season with 942 yards receiving to go with seven touchdowns, but he may have that after nine or ten games. Expect Bowers to run away with the award this season.

Austin Farmer

Coach of the Year: Josh Heupel

Heupel’s offense is one of the most explosive in the country. He’ll have to do it without Hendon Hooker this year, but Joe Milton’s performance in the Capital One Orange Bowl should give Volunteer fans hope. I think he can—and will—reproduce the results with new players. In fact, I predict they’ll hand the Georgia its only loss of the season.

Player of the Year: Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr.

Regardless of where I have South Carolina finishing, I believe they still go 8-4. A big part of that equation is going to be the performance of Wells Jr. In his first year as a Gamecock, he put up 68 receptions for 928 yards and 6 touchdowns. The only receiver who came close to reaching his stats was Jalen Brooks (33 Rec. 504 yds. One TD), and now, he’s in the NFL. I expect even more from him this season, especially with Spencer Rattler coming back.

Jordan Vallas

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly

As much as it pains me to say it, my money is on LSU winning the West this season. After 2022’s season-opening loss to Florida State, I foolishly counted the Tigers out of the conversation (given it was Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge). To my surprise, they finished 6-2 in conference play and took a trip to Atlanta, only to be beaten soundly by Georgia. This time around I’ve got Kelly leading the Bayou Bengals to an 11-1 (7-1) regular season finish, poised for a rematch with Kirby Smart’s Dawgs. Their defense should undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the country, and quarterback Jayden Daniels will be looking to prove himself to NFL scouts going into his junior season.

Player of the Year: Raheim “Rocket” Sanders

“Rocket” Sanders is reportedly weighing nearly 240 pounds, and SEC Media Days interviews with Sam Pittman revealed he is “running faster than he ever has”.  Darren McFadden was the last Razorback to win an offensive SEC Player of the Year award. This season we could very well see another number five-wearing Hog receive the honor. Dan Enos is an excellent play-caller, so when you combine that with Pittman’s O-Line expertise and a special halfback like Sanders, opposing defenders had better be ready to get low and make some very tough tackles in open space.

Alex Campbell

Coach of the Year: Kirby Smart, Georgia

When I first started typing, my heart went with Zach Arnett. Mississippi State went 9-4 last year, returns 15 starters, and have every motivation to win for The Pirate (RIP). But… Georgia is going to do Georgia things again in 2023. Looking at a favorable schedule, Vegas has UGA’s o/u set at 11.5 wins which is bananas but feels spot-on. There’s a good chance that Kirby and the Bulldogs go 12-0… again.

Player of the Year: Carson Beck, Georgia

With Bennett off to the NFL, there is a new name at the helm of UGA’s offense. Introducing: Carson Beck. Though Beck has not been named the official starter as of this post, he is the only one with considerable on-field experience. He threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, completing 74% of his passes. Being protected by four returning starters on the o-line, Beck is going to have plenty of time in the pocket. With a favorable schedule and offensive weapons like Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey returning in 2023, UGA’s quarterback stands to have a fruitful season.

Addison George

Coach of the Year: Josh Heupel, Tennessee

Entering his 3rd season with the Vols Heupel is set to impress with the potential to stretch the field even further with the powerful arm of Joe Milton. Tennessee’s only loss will be on the road in Tuscaloosa with the huge number 1 upset over the Bulldogs in Neyland stadium. The numbers produced by this offense will be very reminiscent of last season.

Player of the Year: KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

The senior leadership that QB1 will provide for the Hogs this season is something that not many others will have. The capability has always been there and the more experienced Enos should allow KJ to do his own thing. Last year often times with the previous coordinator KJ was limited more in pressure situations. Handled correctly KJ could leave his legacy on the U of A.

Devin Handy

SEC Coach of the Year: Nick Saban, Alabama

It seems as though every few years media members and fans alike proclaim Saban has finally hit a wall. Yet, time and time again he proves that he is a force in College Football that has never been seen before. I have Alabama storming back after a “down” year and going 12-0. Saban will again prove that he is the greatest college coach of all time, not only that, but the Crimson Tide has never missed the CFP 2 years in a row since its creation.

SEC Player of the Year: Brock Bowers, Georgia

Georgia yet again is led by one of the nation’s best defenses, yet the most game-changing player on the team happens to play TE. Bowers last season eclipsed 900 yards receiving, which as a TE is elite numbers. I look for Georgia to continue their dominant run of the SEC East and Bowers to be a highly dependable target for a young QB coming in.

Connor Goodson

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, LSU

Many people, including myself, scoffed at LSU hiring Brian Kelly two off-seasons ago. However, the move has paid off and his first season was a massive success. They very easily could represent the West again and have great a chance at making the College Football Playoff.

Player of the Year: Harold Perkins, LSU

Very few people can come into the SEC and make an impact as true freshman, especially on defense. But that’s exactly what Harold Perkins did in 2022. If LSU has the success, that many predict they will, it will be because Perkins took another leap after his extremely impressive first year.

Dustin Ennis

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, LSU

Brian Kelly surprised many of us in his first year at the helm as he took the top spot in the SEC west. His experienced squad has heisman favorites leading both sides of the ball, and they look poised to do damage this year. With a fairly balanced beginning-to-end schedule, consistency is going to be the key for Brian Kelly and this Tigers team. Kelly is coming off of a season that saw them reach double digit wins for his sixth time in the last seven seasons. A strong regular season with a late bye week could have him improving to 14-15 wins and a spot in the playoffs.

Player of the Year: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

The reigning rushing champ is poised to have another great season in Oxford. His freshman year saw him reach 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns, and we have reason to believe he’ll only improve on those numbers. Improved QB and TE rooms will leave defenses on their toes, and an experienced offensive line will offer ample rushing lanes for the 210 pound running back. If Judkins can remain healthy through a front-heavy schedule and avoid the sophomore slump, we could see him take the leap from Freshman of the Year to SEC Player of the Year.