CBS Sports: Grading College Football Rosters For Year 1 Coaches

CBS Sports writer David Cobb recently graded college football rosters for Year 1 coaches.

From the SEC, Ole Miss and Pete Golding received the highest overall grade of A+, followed by LSU and Lane Kiffin, and Auburn and Alex Golesh with an A-.

Florida and Jon Sumrall received a B+, while Kentucky and Will Stein received a B. Arkansas and Ryan Silverfield rounded out the group with a C grade.

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Ole Miss: A+
New coach: Pete Golding
Transfer class ranking: 2

In a wild time of transition, upheaval and chaos, new coach Pete Golding appears to have nailed his first roster. With the backing of a strong NIL operation, the Rebels landed the nation's No. 2 transfer haul while also attracting top 25 high school class. What's most impressive, though, are the retentions. Heisman contenders return at quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) and running back (Kewan Lacy). Key contributors are also back on all three levels of the defense for an Ole Miss team with aspirations of a second straight CFP appearance.

LSU: A-
New coach: Lane Kiffin
Transfer class ranking: 1

Can a revamped offensive line headlined by No. 1-ranked offensive tackle transfer Jordan Seaton (Colorado) keep Sam Leavitt upright and improve the Tigers' moribund rushing attack? Those are the biggest questions surrounding LSU's first roster under Lane Kiffin. Leavitt is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 campaign at Arizona State and was heavily limited in spring practice. Kiffin assembled a great receiver room, but A+ level line play is no guarantee, as the Tigers' offensive line landed at 29th nationally in Phil Steele's unit rankings.

Auburn: A-
New coach: Alex Golesh
Transfer class ranking: 9

The fulcrum of South Florida's high-powered offensive attack is coming with Golesh from Tampa, headlined by dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown. The veteran star will bring his top back and most of his leading receivers from last season with him.


Those additions set a high floor for Golesh, who learned how to make this offense work in the SEC during his time under Josh Heupel at Tennessee. The defense returns a star at linebacker in Xavier Atkins and a handful of producers who are back to continue playing for retained coordinator D.J. Durkin. Auburn also did a nice job of adding some potential needle movers to a defense that will determine how far the Tigers can go.

Florida: B+
New coach: Jon Sumrall
Transfer class ranking: 30

This isn't a situation where the Group of Six coach is bringing the cavalry with him to his new stop. While Tulane sent its share of talent from a CFP team onward to the Power Four ranks, you won't find a surge of Green Wave talent on this roster. Instead, Sumrall devoted resources to retaining key producers from the prior Florida regime, including a 1,100-yard rusher in Jadan Baugh.

Additionally, seven of Florida's top 10 tacklers from last season return. The big portal scores came via offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who is bringing in highly touted former Georgia Tech pupils such as Aaron Philo (QB) and Eric Singleton (WR).

Kentucky: B
New coach: Will Stein
Transfer class ranking: 10

Will Stein did phenomenal work in the transfer portal for a first-time head coach recruiting to a mid-tier Power Four program.

Landing the No. 3-ranked transfer offensive tackle, Lance Heard from Tennessee, was a head-turner as the Wildcats pieced together a line that should be highly competitive in the SEC. Going all-in on Notre Dame quarterback transfer Kenny Minchey is a little risky given his limited body off work in three years with the Fighting Irish. But Stein is a proven quarterback whisperer. Identifying any potential all-SEC performers on the defense is a challenge, and that unit will need to punch above the weight of its collective talent if the 'Cats are going to snap a two-year bowl drought.

Arkansas: C
New coach: Ryan Silverfield
Transfer class ranking: 33

If you're looking for a strength in Silverfield's first Arkansas roster, it's the offensive line, which makes sense since Silverfield's background is as an offensive line coach.

Louisiana transfer Bryant Williams is rated as the No. 10 tackle transfer of the cycle, and veteran starter Caden Kitler is back at center. Additionally, guard Malachi Breland is an SEC-sized hoss who started 19 games for Sivlerfield at Memphis over the past two seasons. Given the Razorbacks' inexperience at quarterback, it will be imperative that the line live up to its potential.

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