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SEC spring games: What we didn't learn

The spring game is supposed to provide answers for the fans as they watch their team for maybe the last time before the season begins. Who's the next breakout star? Who will win each position battle? How will the offense or defense look under a new coordinator?

But let's be honest. These questions typically don't get answered. It's more about what we didn't learn than what we actually learned, and Saturday was no different. Four SEC teams hosted their annual spring game, and we still don't know who will start at quarterback for any of them.

My colleague Edward Aschoff discussed the quarterback competitions earlier today, but here are some other questions that arose from each spring game.

Florida

1. How much will the offensive line (or lack thereof) hurt this team?

Forget the quarterback battle. Florida goes as its offensive line goes, and if that group can't stay healthy, the Gators are in trouble. It's a unit that's thin already after losing five major contributors from last season's squad, but injuries to Roderick Johnson and Trip Thurman left Florida with just six scholarship offensive linemen available for the spring game. Consider that along with the five freshmen who have yet to step on campus, we don't know what Florida has up front. Neither does first-year coach Jim McElwain.

2. How good can Jake McGee be at tight end?

Florida's tight ends were targeted early and often in Saturday's spring game. DeAndre Goolsby caught two passes for 40 yards on the opening drive while C'yontai Lewis made a terrific 35-yard grab and caught a touchdown. The only problem is that neither Goolsby nor Lewis is expected to be the team's starting tight end next season. That job belongs to McGee, assuming he's healthy. McGee is still recovering from a broken leg he suffered last fall, but if the play calling was any indication, he could be in store for a huge senior season.

Georgia

1. How much will the early enrollees play next fall?

The spring game is always exciting for the early enrollees. It's their first time playing in front of the fans in a real game-like atmosphere, and they're trying to leave a good impression on the coaching staff. Georgia's crop certainly left an impression. Natrez Patrick led all players with eight tackles and a sack. Jonathan Ledbetter finished with seven tackles, and Jarvis Wilson had four tackles and an interception. But let's not go changing the depth chart just yet. One solid performance in the spring game doesn't equate to a starting job.

2. Who is A.J. Turman? Will he get any carries in a crowded backfield?

If I had asked you which Georgia running back would go over 100 yards Saturday, I doubt your answer would have been Turman. The redshirt sophomore missed all of last season with a foot injury, and yet he led all backs in the spring game with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Now obviously Turman isn't about to unseat Nick Chubb as the starter. But as last season proved, the more depth at running back the better, especially when both Sony Michel and Keith Marshall missed time this spring due to injury.

Ole Miss

1. What should we expect from the offense in 2015?

How can you evaluate quarterback play or better yet judge an offense when you're missing your top playmaker and three starting offensive linemen? There's a reason coach Hugh Freeze didn't want to have a spring game. But he went through with it anyway, knowing the offense will look much better when Laquon Treadwell is 100 percent and the offensive line is healthy again. There were some positives as the other wide receivers made plays and running back Jordan Wilkins had a couple of really nice runs, but this is still a major question mark.

2. Will DeVante Kincade have his own package?

Since we're talking about offense, this might be the closest quarterback race in the SEC right now, and nobody pulled ahead Saturday. After the game, Freeze said that if it remains this close, he might have to use multiple quarterbacks when the season begins. Was he serious? Typically, that doesn't work, but the offense changes when Kincade comes in the game. He brings a different element with his ability to run and make plays in space. Maybe the Rebels split reps with him and one of the other two to throw off defenses.

South Carolina

1. What will the defense look like under new co-coordinator Jon Hoke?

There are two things going against defenses in spring games. First, the play calling is bland. Teams don't call a lot of blitzes. Second, the quarterback can't be hit which gives him a little more time in the pocket and a little more confidence back there. So no, South Carolina's spring game was not a good indication of what to expect under Hoke. But fans had to like what they saw from junior college transfer Marquavius Lewis. He and fellow pass-rusher Darius English made plays off the edge that were non-existent last season.

2. How will Lorenzo Nunez affect the quarterback race?

If the season started today, Connor Mitch would likely be the starting quarterback. He was the favorite heading into the spring, and he only helped his case Saturday, going 9 of 14 for 174 yards and a touchdown (though the touchdown was to a wide open Darius Rucker). But the season doesn't start today. It starts in four months. And in that time, freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nunez is expected to arrive on campus. What Mitch did this spring won't be lost on coach Steve Spurrier, but it doesn't mean the competition is over.