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Franks continued to improve throughout the 2018 season under the tutelage of then-first year head coach Dan Mullen and the progress should continue in year two. If a new offensive line comes together the Gators should be productive offensively, and with eight starters back on defense another double-digit win season is certainly within reach. 3. Missouri received perhaps the best off-season news when Clemson transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant opted to join head coach Barry Odom in Columbia. He’ll be joined by seven returning starters on of- fense, which should thrive under offensive coordinator Derek Dooley’s watch. The Tigers won four straight to end the regular season before a narrow bowl loss, and at least equal success is expected in 2019. If the defense becomes formi- dable Missouri could exceed its eight-win total from a year ago. 4. South Carolina has Jake Bentley back for a third year as its starting quar- terback. The Gamecocks, with six other starters joining Bentley for the 2019 season, could improve on last year’s top-half-of-the-league offensive output, but will need to be much improved defensively if head coach Will Muschamp’s fourth South Carolina team is to threaten a 10-win season. Last year the Gamecocks finished 13th in the league in team defense. Another down year on defense and the Gamecocks will be hard pressed to earn a bowl appearance. 5. Tennessee is yet another team re- turning a starter at quarterback, with Jar- rett Guarantano back for a second year. It will also be head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s sec- ond season in charge of the struggling Volunteer program, which hasn’t produced a 10-win team in over a decade. A whopping 10 starters are back on offense and if Pruitt can put a stamp of improvement on the defense, where only six starters return, the Vols could join the list of surprise teams in 2019. 6. Kentucky is one of the hard- est teams to figure in 2019. Mark Stoops’ Wildcats lost their top offen- sive and defensive players to the 2019 NFL draft, with running back Benny Snell and outside linebacker Josh Allen both saying goodbye to Lexington. TerryWilson is back at quarterback but will have to be an improved 22 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com