Day 3 of SEC football media days rolled on in Atlanta, with four coaches speaking in the penultimate day of the college football event in Atlanta.
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, Florida’s Billy Napier and Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby — as well as their respective players — all spoke on the expectations they will face this season, and how they intend to rise up and meet them.
DeBoer and Alabama, particularly, will face scrutiny in 2025 following a 9-4 season in 2024 — the first season after the legendary Nick Saban retired, and the program’s first sub-10-win season since Saban went 7-6 in 2007. Moreover, DeBoer will have a new-look offense with a trio of quarterbacks battling to replace Jalen Milroe in Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and heralded freshman Keelon Russell.
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Elsewhere, Venables will look to improve on a 6-7 season in 2024, which marked his second sub.-500 season in three seasons in Norman. The Sooners boast Washington State transfer John Mateer, one of the top transfer quarterbacks, to lead the offense and improve the team’s outlook in 2025.
With that, here are the highlights from Day 3 of SEC media days:
DJ Lagway talks about potential for Florida football
Despite winning four straight to end the season, Florida had an up-and-down season in 2024 as the Gators finished 8-5 overall and 4-4 in SEC play. In a side breakout session with the media at SEC media days, Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway talked about the potential the Gators can have in 2025.
‘At the end of the day it’s what we do,’ Lagway said. ‘If we go out and play the Florida brand of football (where) we tough, resilient and have a heck of an effort, we’re going to take care of it itself.’
Brent Venables on expectations after disappointing season
Oklahoma finished a disappointing 6-7 in 2024, two seasons after Venables also finished 6-7 in his first year as head coach. He feels the Sooners have what it takes to rebound in 2025, however.
‘I believe they have what it takes to claw our way back to where I believe Oklahoma belongs,’ Venables said. ‘The expectations here and in the locker room are to win at the very highest level and to compete for a championship. That’s always been the way it is here at the University of Oklahoma, and we embrace those standards and expectations of excellence.’
Brent Venables says Danny Okoye might be best athlete on roster
Venables gave some strong praise for redshirt freshman defensive end Danny Okoye, who appeared in two games last season and didn’t register a tackle.
The former four-star recruit is listed at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, and Venables said he might be the best pound-for-pound athlete on the team. Venables also said he expects Okoye to be a key contributor in 2025.
Brent Venables says Jackson Arnold was put in tough situation in 2024
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables says former quarterback Jackson Arnold, who transferred to Auburn in the offseason, was put in a tough spot last season in his first year as the Sooners’ starter.
‘Jackson Arnold and Mike Hawkins, both of those guys, put in a really tough spot as first-year players,’ Venables said at the podium. ‘The supporting cast, they can’t play quarterback by themselves. And put them in a really tough position based on what happened. Both of them are going to be incredibly successful in the future.’
Venables later added on Arnold: ‘He had no chance in some ways, given the circumstances.’
Billy Napier says Florida has confidence back
After ending the season on a high note in 2024, Florida coach Billy Napier says he can see the confidence regaining in his program.
‘There’s a confidence that they can play with anybody,’ Napier said on ‘SEC Now.’ ‘I think that’s the biggest difference is are process is working for them. They’re observing players get better. They’re observing people achieve at a high level.’
The Gators won their last four games of the season and went 6-1 in games started by returning quarterback DJ Lagway.
DJ Lagway says he had no offseason procedure on shoulder
Lagway, who was limited throughout the spring while battling a shoulder injury that lingered after the 2024 season, said he didn’t have an offseason cleanup procedure and will be ready for the season.
It’s good news for the Gators, as the former five-star quarterback only played five snaps in Florida’s annual spring game.
Billy Napier says Florida is on the right track
Florida and coach Billy Napier won its last four games last season, which included wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Tulane. With dynamic quarterback DJ Lagway returning, Napier thinks the Gators are on the right path heading into 2025.
‘At the end of last year, you could argue we were playing as good as anyone in the country,’ he said. ‘Our development process is working. The organization as a whole is working as well as long as I’ve been a head coach.’
John Mateer talks transfer decision to Oklahoma
John Mateer, a first-year Oklahoma transfer from Washington State, talks his decision to transfer to the Sooners after finishing the 2024 season tied-for first nationally in touchdowns (44).
‘There was a lot that went into it,’ Mateer said on ‘SEC Now.’ ‘I know (offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle) and it’s closer to home, wanted my family to be closer and get to the games, because they couldn’t get to a lot of games in Pullman. It’s also the SEC.
‘I’m here at SEC media days. Who doesn’t want to play in the SEC? Being with Buck and staying in the same offense and the same coaching that I know. They know me, I know them, and they know what I need to play at the highest level. It’s the SEC. It’s Oklahoma. Who doesn’t want to play for Oklahoma.’
Jeff Lebby expresses confidence in Brent Venables
Lebby, who was formerly the offensive coordinator under Brent Venables at Oklahoma, expresses confidence in Venables turning things back around with the Sooners. OU has finished 6-7 in two of his three seasons so far.
‘He is the same man every single day, not letting the result dictate who’s gonna show up in the building every day,’ Lebby said at the podium. ‘Those are the things that are going to create stability and help them down the road.’
Jeff Lebby not backing down from strength of schedule
Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby, speaking at the podium, was asked about the Bulldogs’ strength of schedule for 2025. The second-year coach said it’s ‘all about opportunity.’
‘For me, we understand what the gauntlet looks like. And that’s exciting.’
Mississippi State has the sixth-toughest schedule for 2025, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Bulldogs will play Arizona State in Power Four nonconference game before taking on Tennessee, Texas, Georgia and Ole Miss at home. They travel to take on Texas A&M, Florida, Arkansas and Missouri.
Kalen DeBoer talks expectations for Ty Simpson
Speaking on ‘SEC Now,’ DeBoer reiterated that Simpson would be Alabama’s starting quarterback if the season started today. He added Simpson has done a good job ‘growing himself’ under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan.
He specified that all the quarterbacks should know they don’t have to be ‘world-beaters,’ but added that they’re expected to do more than distribute the ball, adding that comes with trust in his supporting cast.
Kalen DeBoer on limiting big plays on defense
DeBoer, speaking on ‘SEC Now,’ said Alabama has greater depth that should help limit big plays on the defensive side of the ball.
‘We’re much deeper and a more experienced group than we were a year ago,’ DeBoer said. ‘There were some times … where we went through a week of practice and we hardly had anyone to be able to put out there in the middle of the season.’
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor owns 170 bottles of cologne
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, speaking at SEC media days, says he owns 170 bottles of cologne. Speaking on why he owns so many, he said, ‘If you’re a big guy, you can’t stink. … The narrative is that a big guy stinks.’
Alabama’s Deontae Lawson addresses Thomas Castellanos
Speaking on ‘SEC this Morning,’ Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson addressed Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos saying Saban wasn’t around to ‘save’ the Crimson Tide this season (via Mike Rodak of 247):
‘It definitely ignites us a little bit. We can’t really think too much on that. It’s gonna come down to what we do and how we prepare that week. I think all disrespect will be addressed accordingly.’
Kalen DeBoer says Ty Simpson would be starter today
Asked about his quarterback situation, DeBoer said Simpson would be Alabama’s starting quarterback if the season started today. ‘Ty throws a catchable ball, he’s smart.’
DeBoer also has 6-foot-6 Mack and Russell, the No. 2 overall player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, to battle it out in the QB room.
SEC media days Day 3 speakers
Here’s a look at the schedule for Day 3 speakers at SEC media days:
All times Eastern
9:05 a.m.: Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer | Tim Keenan III (DL) | Deontae Lawson (LB) | Kadyn Proctor (OL)
10:50 a.m.: Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby | Blake Shapen (QB) | Isaac Smith (S) | Brenen Thompson (WR)
1 p.m.: Coach Billy Napier | Caleb Banks (DL) | Jake Slaughter (OL) | DJ Lagway (QB)
2:45 p.m.: Oklahoma coach Brent Venables | John Mateer (QB) | Robert Spears-Jennings (DB| R Mason Thomas (DL)
Where are SEC media days in 2025?
Location: College Football Hall of Fame and Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park (Atlanta)
What channel are SEC media days on?
TV channel: SEC Network | ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
All four days of SEC media days will air live on the SEC Network. ESPN2 will air one hour of the proceedings, from 8 p.m. ET until 9 p.m. ET.
Streaming options include the ESPN app (requires a TV provider login) and ESPN+, which requires a subscription. Another option is Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to potential subscribers