SEC MEDIA DAYS 2025 – Quickk Review
Welcome to the unofficial kickoff of college football’s “Talkin’ Season”! The 2025 SEC Football Media Days, held July 14-17 at the College Football Hall of Fame and Omni Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, brought together all 16 Southeastern Conference teams to preview the upcoming season. With coaches, star players, and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey setting the stage, the event was packed with insights, bold predictions, and a few laughs. Here’s a blog-style recap with key highlights from each team, straight from the heart of SEC football.
Day 1: Setting the Tone
LSU (Brian Kelly, Harold Perkins Jr., Garrett Nussmeier, Josh Williams)
LSU’s Brian Kelly emphasized rebuilding depth after a strong 2024. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. stole the show, confidently predicting a playoff run, while QB Garrett Nussmeier discussed his growth as a leader.
South Carolina (Shane Beamer, Luke Doty, DeAntre Robinson, Tonka Hemingway)
Shane Beamer hyped up the Gamecocks’ revamped defense. Edge rusher DeAntre Robinson hinted at a breakout season, and QB Luke Doty shared excitement about new offensive schemes.
Ole Miss (Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart, JJ Pegues, Tre Harris)
Lane Kiffin kept it lively, joking about his golf game with Auburn’s Hugh Freeze. QB Jaxson Dart expressed confidence in Ole Miss’ high-powered offense, aiming for an SEC title.
Vanderbilt (Clark Lea, Diego Pavia, Eli Stowers, Langston Patterson)
Clark Lea praised transfer QB Diego Pavia’s grit, who promised Vandy would surprise doubters. The Commodores’ focus? Playing fearless football in a tough SEC.
Day 2: Heavy Hitters and New Faces
Georgia (Kirby Smart, Carson Beck, Mykel Williams, Malaki Starks)
Kirby Smart leaned into Georgia’s championship pedigree, with QB Carson Beck eyeing a national title. DE Mykel Williams vowed to dominate on defense.
Mississippi State (Jeff Lebby, Blake Shapen, Albert Reese IV, John Lewis)
New coach Jeff Lebby highlighted QB Blake Shapen’s dual-threat ability. The Bulldogs are banking on speed to climb the SEC standings.
Tennessee (Josh Heupel, Cooper Mays, Dont’e Thornton, Keenan Pili)
With QB Nico Iamaleava sidelined, Josh Heupel focused on team resilience. Center Cooper Mays stressed offensive line improvements to protect the new starter.
Oklahoma (Brent Venables, Danny Stutsman, Zac Alley, Billy Bowman)
Brent Venables celebrated Oklahoma’s SEC debut, with LB Danny Stutsman calling for a “Sooner takeover” in a stacked conference.
Day 3: Rivalries and Rebuilds
Alabama (Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Kadyn Proctor)
Kalen DeBoer, in his first SEC Media Days, embraced Alabama’s high expectations. OT Kadyn Proctor brought humor, joking about his cologne obsession to redefine the “big guy” stereotype.
Missouri (Eli Drinkwitz, Brady Cook, Luther Burden III, Kristian Williams)
Eli Drinkwitz touted Missouri’s momentum, with WR Luther Burden III ready to shine as a Heisman contender after a strong 2024.
Florida (Billy Napier, Graham Mertz, Jason Marshall Jr., Montrell Johnson Jr.)
Billy Napier addressed hot-seat rumors with confidence, while QB Graham Mertz emphasized Florida’s revamped roster to compete in the SEC.
Texas A&M (Mike Elko, Trey Zuhn III, Taurean York, Shemar Turner)
Mike Elko focused on discipline, with LB Taurean York highlighting A&M’s aggressive defense as a key to upsetting top teams.
Day 4: Longhorns and Legends
Texas (Steve Sarkisian, Arch Manning, Kelvin Banks Jr., Jake Majors)
Arch Manning stole headlines, sharing how his grandfather Archie’s mentorship fuels his drive. Steve Sarkisian positioned Texas as a top SEC contender.
Auburn (Hugh Freeze, Payton Thorne, Keldric Faulk, Jarquez Hunter)
Hugh Freeze fired back at Kiffin’s golf jab with a grin, while QB Payton Thorne promised Auburn’s offense would be explosive this season.
Arkansas (Sam Pittman, Taylen Green, Landon Jackson, Andrew Armstrong)
Sam Pittman leaned on new QB Taylen Green’s dual-threat ability to spark Arkansas’ offense, with DE Landon Jackson eyeing a dominant defensive year.
Kentucky (Mark Stoops, D’Eryk Jackson, Maxwell Hairston, Barion Brown)
Mark Stoops emphasized Kentucky’s consistency, with WR Barion Brown hyping his speed as a game-changer for the Wildcats.
The Big Picture
Hosted in Atlanta for the third time since 2018, SEC Media Days drew fans to the College Football Hall of Fame’s Quad for a glimpse of their favorite players and coaches. The SEC Network delivered nearly 50 hours of live coverage, from SEC This Morning to The Paul Finebaum Show, amplifying the event’s energy. Storylines swirled around Texas and Georgia as SEC Championship favorites, Alabama’s new chapter under DeBoer, and Tennessee’s quarterback uncertainty. The event underscored the SEC’s hunger to reclaim the College Football Playoff National Championship after a two-year drought.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a wild ride—let’s get ready for kickoff!