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Fall preview: Top 3 position battles to watch in the SEC

Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

BIG TEN | ACC | PAC-12 | BIG 12 | SEC

They call it the most daunting conference in America, but three of the SEC's elite teams face some pretty daunting holes that could affect that status this year.

Here are three key position battles set to take place in the SEC, highlighted by a pair of looming quarterback controversies and a big decision for the defending national champs:

Georgia - QB

Jacob Eason couldn't have walked into Athens with more buzz, but it's no secret that new Georgia coach Kirby Smart is hesitant to throw him into the fire immediately. As a result, Smart may be more inclined to start Greyson Lambert or Brice Ramsey, even though neither one of them looks like a real compelling option. One way or another, the Bulldogs will have to figure out the most important position on the field. If they don't, it's unlikely Smart will be able to get the Dawgs over the same hump Mark Richt stood before when he was axed at the end of last season. In Georgia, that hump is called "9-3."

Alabama - RT

Nick Saban has to pick a quarterback, but Alabama proved last year it can win without a very good one. Therefore, the battle to monitor more closely will be the one at right tackle, where true freshman Jonah Williams heads into fall camp as the presumptive favorite to win the starting job. Williams' hopes to start right away received a boost when Saban booted junior college star Charles Baldwin off the Crimson Tide for a violation of team rules, but he'll still need to stave off redshirt freshman Matt Womack and senior Korren Kirven to earn the gig.

Auburn - QB

It's the age-old question: Who will start at quarterback for Auburn? The Tigers haven't had a suitable starter since the days of Nick Marshall, and they enter the coming season with a trio of options coach Gus Malzahn probably doesn't want to choose from, but will anyway. Sean White didn't play very well last year, while Jeremy Johnson flat out fell on his face. Junior college transfer John Franklin III turned plenty of heads in spring camp, but there's no guarantee those results will translate to real games.

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