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ESPN workers
This Saturday options a complete host of spring soccer video games that may give followers the primary actual glimpse at what is perhaps within the retailer for the upcoming fall faculty soccer season. And in some instances, followers will have the ability to watch their groups play in particular person for the primary time in over a 12 months.
From quarterback battles to walk-ons displaying what they will do for a group, listed here are the video games we’re conserving our eyes on.
Alabama Crimson Tide
1 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App
It is time to see what Bryce Young has to supply. The previous five-star prospect was Mac Jones‘ backup as a freshman and confirmed some flashes in restricted motion. He has a dwell arm and is loads athletic. However can he command the offense? That is the last word query that may decide whether or not he wins the beginning job over Paul Tyson and Jalen Milroe. After working totally on intuition final 12 months, Nick Saban mentioned he is seen Younger’s confidence enhance inside the offense. If he can construct on that in entrance of a crowd on Saturday, it might go a good distance in solidifying his maintain on the place. — Alex Scarborough
Arkansas Razorbacks
three p.m. ET on SECN+ and the ESPN App
The Razorbacks are coming into the spring with working again depth that could possibly be one of many strengths of their offense in 2021. Trelon Smith took on nearly all of the workload in 2020 due to accidents and an decide out from Rakeem Boyd, and he’s anticipated to take action as effectively in 2021. Together with Smith, the Razorbacks anticipate some mixture of Dominique Johnson and true freshmen speedsters A.J. Green and Javion Hunt to assist alongside the best way. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Auburn Tigers
2 p.m. ET on SECN+ and the ESPN App
There is perhaps no extra essential job for first-year coach Bryan Harsin than the event of quarterback Bo Nix. Nobody doubt’s Nix’s capacity. In two seasons because the starter, he is proven a powerful arm, athleticism and play-making capacity. However he was additionally confirmed to be a deeply flawed quarterback who struggles along with his accuracy and too typically turns the ball over. A few of that will lie on the ft of Gus Malzahn and the earlier teaching workers, however they’re gone and now it is as much as Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to get Nix pointed in the appropriate path. If not, Auburn might battle mightily this season. — Scarborough
Georgia Bulldogs
2 p.m. ET on SECN+ and the ESPN App
Control the large receivers. George Pickens suffered a torn ACL late in March, and he is undoubtedly a giant loss for the Bulldogs offense that completed out the 2020 season on a powerful notice. Past Pickens, the Bulldogs are nonetheless fairly banged up on the place proper now. Dominick Blaylock is on observe to return from his torn ACL of final 12 months, as is Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, who had a devastating damaged ankle in opposition to Florida. This has opened up issues for the youthful guys like Arian Smith, Justin Robinson, and others, as Blaylock and Rosemy-Jacksaint stay restricted. — Lyles
LSU Tigers
1 p.m. on SECN+ and the ESPN App
Nobody is anticipating a decision to the quarterback competitors on Saturday. Coach Ed Orgeron mentioned he is given all 4 QBs — not simply Max Johnson and Myles Brennan — first-team reps. So setting that apart, flip your consideration to the protection, which desperately must recuperate from final season when each possession appeared to function a blown project. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones was charged with simplifying the scheme and bettering communication. Getting the protection taking part in quick and assured once more this spring can be an enormous step in the appropriate path. — Scarborough
Miami Hurricanes
11 a.m. ET on ACC Community and the ESPN App
With D’Eriq King rehabbing his injured knee, the Hurricanes have spent the spring getting priceless first-team reps to freshmen quarterbacks Tyler Van Dyke and Jake Garcia, so they may take heart stage within the spring sport. Past the quarterbacks, look ahead to receiver switch Charleston Rambo, who got here to Miami from Oklahoma. Rambo has made a giant impression this spring, and he completed the second scrimmage with seven catches for 107 yards — together with a 57-yard landing off a trick play. Coach Manny Diaz mentioned Rambo has “given us a giant shot within the arm.” He joins a deep and gifted receiver group, however there’s all the time room for somebody along with his big-play capabilities within the Miami offense. — Andrea Adelson
Labored all week on Greentree to indicate out final night time at Exhausting Rock. pic.twitter.com/pTCTywBqdj
— Canes Soccer (@CanesFootball) April 11, 2021
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Midday ET on SECN+ and the ESPN App
You may need seen that ESPN’s FPI (our statistical ranking and projection system for each FBS group in faculty soccer) has Mississippi State ranked eighth. One of many causes for that’s the identical factor you ought to be awaiting of their spring sport: the quarterbacks. The rating expects the Bulldogs to be higher offensively due to Will Rogers being a younger quarterback with expertise, or Southern Miss switch Jack Abraham‘s expertise as a three-year starter. Mike Leach has mentioned that Rogers should work to maintain his job, so it’s going to be value keeping track of these two. — Lyles
Ohio State Buckeyes
Midday ET
Who replaces Justin Fields at quarterback is the principle query for the Buckeyes proper now. Head coach Ryan Day mentioned C.J. Stroud has been taking some reps with those throughout spring follow, however that there hasn’t been sufficient separation between Stroud, Jack Miller and true freshman Kyle McCord to call a starter. Stroud and Miller each had two rush makes an attempt final season, however no cross makes an attempt, so there is no such thing as a actual benefit in expertise between the 2. McCord was the No. 31 ranked recruit general within the 2021 recruiting class, however continues to be making an attempt to assimilate to the school sport. Day mentioned the quarterbacks have not tried to win the job on one throw or in at some point, however they have been targeted on bettering all through the complete spring and competing collectively. Whether or not it is Stroud, Miller or McCord, there can be a ton of assist across the starter, with seven of the highest eight gamers in receiving yards returning. — Tom VanHaaren
TCU Horned Frogs
Midday ET
Gary Patterson doubtless simply desires to see a few of his gamers take the sector, because the Frogs have been banged-up within the secondary. Patterson has to exchange two stars in Trevon Moehrig and Ar’Darius Washington at security, and mentioned lately that only one participant — Bud Clark — took each rep in a current scrimmage at free security. A walk-on working again (Deryl Reynolds) began at nook. Patterson has confirmed he can piece collectively an awesome protection utilizing a next-man-up philosophy. He would possibly get that probability this week. — Dave Wilson
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Midday ET
Air Raid vet and Tech alum Sonny Cumbie returns from TCU to run the offense, and the hope is that he restores the traditional Crimson Raiders offense. Together with that, the quarterbacks would be the topic of a lot of the spring-game intrigue. Henry Colombi, who began 4 video games final 12 months, returns whereas Alan Bowman departed for Michigan. Oregon switch Tyler Shough, the Geese’ starter in each sport final season, has impressed Tech coaches each in his skills and his work ethic since arriving. — Wilson
USC Trojans
four p.m. ET
After their pandemic-shorted 2020 season was performed with out followers, will probably be good to see followers again in Coliseum once more as USC plans to permit 5,00zero followers to observe the spring sport. All eyes can be on Kedon Slovis, who ought to type among the finest partnerships within the nation subsequent season with receiver Drake London. After he burst onto the scene in 2019, Slovis did not take the step ahead many USC followers had been hoping for final season, albeit beneath distinctive circumstances, however he nonetheless has three years of eligibility remaining and has the flexibility to go away a powerful legacy behind. — Kyle Bonagura
Take what’s yours. @Kedonslovis ? @DrakeLondon_#FightOn pic.twitter.com/6rVLUYX1oH
— USC Soccer (@USC_FB) April 11, 2021
Utah Utes
2 p.m. ET
The Utes’ spring sport will current the primary main alternative for switch quarterback Charlie Brewer to make an impression on his new fan base. He’ll nonetheless have to beat out Cam Rising to win the job throughout fall camp, however Brewer has separated himself from the remainder of the quarterbacks on the rosters throughout spring follow. In 40 begins over 4 years at Baylor, he threw for 9,700 yards with 65 touchdowns and is a supply of optimism for the Utes headed into the summer season. — Bonagura