SEC Media Days: Handful of familiar names but time for new star players to rise

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The SEC gets the conference media day circuit kick started on Monday with the opening of a four-day media event for the ages. Over 1,000 members of the media will descend on Hoover, Alabama for the SEC Media Days. Not only will all of the coaches from the conference be in attendance, but each school will be bringing three players to meet the media.

This should be an interesting season for the SEC. Some of the biggest names from around the conference the past couple of seasons have moved on, but there are still plenty of recognizable names in the line-up. Alabama wide receivers Amari Cooper and Christion Jones, Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel and Georgia running back Todd Gurley are among the names most fans will be most familiar with next week, but each player will get a chance to shine in front of microphones and audio recorders and cameras.

Here is the full list of football players scheduled to appear at SEC Media Days, as well as which day each school will send their players and coaches through the media rounds.

Alabama (Thursday)
Landon Collins, Safety
•Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver
•Christion Jones, Wide Receiver

Arkansas (Wednesday)
Brey Cook, Offensive Guard
Trey Flowers, Defensive End
Alan Turner, Safety

Auburn (Monday)
•Nick Marshall, Quarterback
Reese Dismukes, Center
Gabe Wright, Defensive Linemen

Florida (Monday)
•Jeff Driskel , Quarterback
Dante Fowler, Defensive End
Vernon Hargreaves III, Cornerback

Georgia (Thursday)
Chris Conley, Flanker
•Todd Gurley, Tailback
Ramik Wilson, Linebacker

Kentucky (Thursday)
•Bud Dupree, Defensive End
Jordan Swindle, Offensive Tackle
Za'Darius Smith, Defensive End

LSU (Wednesday)
La'El Collins, Offensive Tackle
Terrence Magee, Running Back
D.J. Welter, Linebacker

Ole Miss (Thursday)
•CJ Johnson, Defensive End
Cody Prewitt, Safety
•Bo Wallace, Quarterback

Mississippi State (Tuesday)
•Jay Hughes, Safety
Benardrick McKinney, Linebacker
Dak Prescott, Quarterback

Missouri (Wednesday)
Evan Boehm, Center
Markus Golden, Defensive End
Maty Mauk, Quarterback

South Carolina (Tuesday)
A.J. Cann, Offensive Guard
J.T. Surratt, Defensive Tackle
•Dylan Thompson, Quarterback

Tennessee (Tuesday)
•Mack Crowder, Offensive Line
AJ Johnson, Linebacker
Curt Maggitt, Defensive End

Texas A&M (Tuesday)
Deshazor Everett, Defensive Back
Drew Kaser, Punter
Cedric Ogbuehi, Offensive Tackle

Vanderbilt (Monday)
Adam Butler, Defensive Line
Steven Scheu, Tight End
Andrew Williamson, Safety

Former Navy coach Niumatalolo joins UCLA staff

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LOS ANGELES – Former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is joining UCLA’s coaching staff as director of leadership.

The school said in an announcement Friday that Niumatalolo will serve as an advisor to the Bruins’ football staff and players.

Niumatalolo led Navy for 15 years and was the winningest coach in school history at 109-83. The Midshipmen, however, finished with losing records the past three seasons, including 4-8 the past two.

Navy played in 10 bowl games under Niumatalolo. He also was the only coach to win his first eight games in the storied Army-Navy rivalry.

Troy, Jon Sumrall agree to new 4-year contract through 2026

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Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports
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TROY, Ala. ⁠— Jon Sumrall agreed to a new four-year contract as Troy’s coach after leading the Trojans to a Sun Belt Conference championship and national ranking in his debut season.

The school announced the deal, which runs through 2026, but didn’t release details.

The Trojans went 12-2 and won their final 11 games, second only to national champion Georgia, including the league championship game and the Cure Bowl against UTSA. For the first time, they finished a season ranked, ending up 19th in The Associated Press Top 25.

“When we appointed Coach Sumrall in December 2021, we challenged him to return Troy football to the top of the Sun Belt Conference,” Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. said. “It didn’t take long, as the 2022 season was the best in our FBS history.”

Troy held all 14 of its opponents to under their season average in scoring, beating UTSA 18-12. The Trojans beat Coastal Carolina 45-26 in the Sun Belt title game.

“Last year was an amazing accomplishment for everyone associated with Troy football and was the product of relentless effort from our players and staff, athletic administration and university leaders,” Sumrall said.