With the spring sessions right around the corner, this is the time of the year when college football teams aim to answer a number of questions and address some lingering concerns. There are plenty of teams around the country that have already started spring workouts as the preparation continues for the 2017 season. We took the time to look at some of the most intriguing storylines out there in order to come up with some interesting predictions for the spring sessions. Here is a look at five bold predictions for college football this spring.
Alabama Transforms On Offense
One of the biggest college football question marks facing the defending SEC champions is what happens on offense following the departure of coordinator Lane Kiffin? Alabama is still loaded with promising talent but it will be former New England Patriots assistant Brian Daboll taking over the play calling as the team’s new coordinator. Daboll isn’t exactly known for his work with quarterbacks but he will have to groom Jalen Hurts after a promising freshman season in which he succeeded in many spread elements while working an up-tempo offense. Daboll could decide to make the Crimson Tide attack a little more conservative while leaning on running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarborough, opening up more room for Hurts as a dual-threat passer despite less tempo and less spread elements. The Alabama offense is in a transition stage and it won’t be a surprise if Daboll completely transforms the offense based on his principles this spring.
Hunter Johnson Will Shine At Clemson
The defending national champion Tigers will not have Deshaun Watson under center this spring but they will have a potential star in freshman Hunter Johnson. Johnson is a four-star prospect that was considered a top-five quarterback prospect in the nation based on his strong arm, accuracy, poise and ability to earn yards with his legs. Johnson will have to compete with redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper for the starting job and if he shines this spring then he could surprise a lot of people and make a strong case for the starting job.
Jarrett Stidham Is Named Auburn’s Starter
One of Auburn’s biggest issues over the past few years has been the lack of a capable starter at quarterback and that should make Jarrett Stidham the most welcome addition on their roster. Stidham showcased his incredible dual-threat ability in Baylor’s offense and after transferring to the Tigers it is only a matter of time before he is named the starting quarterback. Look for Stidham to shine in the spring practices and quickly become the No. 1 quarterback in Gus Malzahn’s offense.
Will Grier Will Become A Top Heisman Betting Pick
Remember Grier from his college football days back with the Florida Gators? Well, he transferred, sat out a season and now he’s ready to shine.
While he hasn’t been talked about as much as he should be just yet, Grier could emerge as a legitimate Heisman trophy option and a sleeper betting pick to win the award once people start hearing more about him this spring. Grier landed at West Virginia after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at Florida and a fresh start in Dana Holgorsen’s offense should be just what he needs. The Mountaineers have the potential to put up some big point totals on offense this season and it won’t be a surprise if Grier starts being talked about a little more in the spring Heisman futures predictions.
Dante Booker Becomes A Starter For Ohio State
One of the most interesting aspects of the Buckeyes defense is the sheer amount of talent that Urban Meyer will once again have at his disposal. Ohio State lost middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan after he declared early for the NFL Draft, but they have an intriguing potential replacement in Dante Booker. Booker looked good at outside linebacker before he suffered a knee injury that spoiled his freshman year. However, he is healthy now and with a hole at the middle linebacker spot there is a good chance he could slide in as the starter at the position.
Click here to bet on the futures for the 2017 season right now. As we approach spring football, DSI has all of the latest college football lines, spreads and props for this week’s action!
