Alabama Football: Grading the SEC football head coaches

Missouri Head Coach: Eli Drinkwitz; B-

Drinkwitz has less to work with than the guys above him on this list. He has not gotten the Tigers over the hump yet. He could this weekend by knocking off Georgia. In fairness to Drinkwitz, he needs more time at Mizzou to be accurately graded.

Mississippi State Head Coach: Mike Leach; C

Leach might deserve an ‘incomplete’ for the entire 2020 season. He is capable of better than ‘C’ work. No one can predict his or the Bulldogs’ future.

LSU Head Coach: Ed Orgeron; C

If Coach O was actually a student, it could be suspected someone was doing his work last season. Orgeron can recruit and talent-rich Louisiana gives the Bengal Tigers a big boost. A National Championship does not varnish what has been his average body of work as a head coach. It is tempting to give Coach O an ‘F’ just because of his hiring of Bo Pelini.

Tennessee Head Coach: Jeremy Pruitt; C-

Early in the season, the Vols were ranked and Jeremy Pruitt was riding a wave of Tennessee enthusiasm. If the four straight Vol losses turn into a 1-7 finish to the season, Pruitt will be in serious trouble in Knoxville.

Vanderbilt Head Coach: Derek Mason; D

No one deserves a failing grade as a Vanderbilt head coach. The Commodores having to compete in the SEC taints all results. Following an established Nashville pattern, Mason is likely to become another Vandy scapegoat.

South Carolina Head Coach: Will Muschamp; F

Simply put, Muschamp is a dead man walking. There is no justification to bring Will back for a sixth season in Columbia. The latest rumors out of South Carolina have Hugh Freeze leaving Liberty to become the Gamecocks, next head coach.

It is possible most of the coaches receiving poor grades are not bad football coaches. Four of them could be successful as defensive coordinators. They are just not up to be head coaches in the same conference as Nick Saban and Alabama football.