Published July 19, 2011 - 11:30am
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When you think breakout player – you think arriving on the scene with an absolute splash. These 10 breakout players are ready to make their presence known in this great conference. Here are the top 10 breakout players for SEC Football in 2011.
10. Quinton Dunbar, Florida
9. Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
8. Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee
Quinton Dunbar is an unknown redshirt freshman for the Florida Gators. However, he has all the right qualities of a good wide receiver coaches love. At 6-1, 180 lbs, Dunbar has the size and speed, and most importantly he has the hands to excel at this level. He’s a little bit young and raw in talent, but he has been turning heads ever since he set foot on campus a year ago. I think he has a shot to be a top-10 breakout caliber player for Florida in 2011…The Isaiah Crowell watch has officially began at Georgia. Get this guy in a uniform! I feel like Crowell is going into his junior season because of all the hype. I do believe the hype is warranted. How much of it is warranted? We’ll have to wait and see, but I fully expect Crowell to arrive on the scene this year in the SEC…Da’Rick Rogers is all of 6-3, 225 lbs, and he has an NFL-ready body that most 19 year-olds dream about. Many in the Southeast know about Rogers and the physical specimen he is on the football field. What people don’t know is how he will translate his dynamic physical ability and use it to excel on the football field. His counterpart Justin Hunter will draw double teams, and it should bode well for Rogers.
7. AJ McCarron, Alabama
6. Spencer Ware, LSU
5. Zach Mettenberger, LSU
AJ McCarron is known for the “guy who Nick Saban slapped in the rear”. Oh, but he has the potential to be so much more than that. With a stout offensive line, solid receivers and a running back with All-American potential, McCarron has all the right pieces around him to make this offense click. I look for McCarron to have a solid, steady season for the Crimson Tide…Spencer Ware burst onto the scene in the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M. Ware is 5-11, 225 lbs, and I really do look for him to pick up where Stevan Ridley left off. I think he will be a good one…Ware’s possible quarterback Zach Mettenberger hopes to take the reigns of the offense somewhere around game one against Oregon. With Jordan Jefferson likely getting the opening day nod, Mettenberger will be waiting for him to throw that first pick of the year. Mett has all the tools and the pocket presence to be a great quarterback in this league.
4. Trovon Reed, Auburn
3. Ronald Powell, Florida
2. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
Trovon Reed was the top ranked prospect in Louisiana in 2010, and everyone was figuring big things for Reed in his first year at Auburn. However, Reed just wasn’t healthy at all last year to make an impact. This year he will make up for it. Reed will run reverses, catch passes, return punts and play some Wildcat quarterback. It will be fun to see how Gus Malzahn uses this dynamite playmaker…Ronald Powell was the number-one ranked recruit coming out of high school in 2010. He can play defensive end, linebacker and even tight end. However, this year, he will play the Buck position for Florida. The Buck will feature Powell as both a defensive end and a linebacker hybrid. Powell can really cover in the open field because of his quickness and speed. I fully expect Powell to be dynamite for the Gators in 2011…Ah yes, Jadeveon Clowney – the guy is an absolute monster. The best thing Clowney has going for him right now is he will line up opposite Devin Taylor. Taylor will command double teams, and Clowney figures to be matched up one-on-one with a lot of SEC linemen. Until he proves he can handle one by himself, he won’t see many double teams. You didn’t think he was really going to be left off this list did you?
1. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
The number one breakout player for 2011 should be Tyler Wilson. Yes, I know Wilson only played one game in 2010. What in the world do I see in him? I see talent everywhere for this Arkansas team. So much talent, this offense should be one of the best in the country next year. Wilson will have four unreal wide receivers to throw to and a running back who could be the best in the SEC in Knile Davis. I think Wilson will have the best quarterback numbers of any quarterback after it is all said and done this year.
Who else do you think will be a breakout player in 2011?
Tyler Wilson has bust written all over him, I hope he is good but I dont think he’ll be the next Ryan Mallet, I’m thinking more of a Stephen Garcia with actual morals. He’ll show greatness or lacklusterness. I think Eddie Lacy should be on here though, he had half the carries TR did but had 406 yards to TRs 700. He’ll get about 10 carries a game once the real season starts, after Kent and Penn St. Im predicting TR to put up about 1,100 yards and Lacy putting up around 900. Granted both will put up nearly 600 combined in two games to Kent St. and North Texas.
Isaiah Crowell and the rest of the Georgia Bulldogs’ running backs will all fumble the football and fail to establish themselves against good run defenses. That UGA plays 10 cupcakes only means we should be 10-4 or worse yet 10-3.
Every comment I hear on Wilson is followed by he will not fill Mallets shoes. Hopefully that isn’t his goal, with luck he has a brand new pair for the Wilson era. With talent surrounding him and Alot of maturing on the O line, I believe Arkansas is going to make more noise this year than people are giving them credit for.
Yeah that maturing Oline who lost 3 starters and a key piece who was supposed to be a starter and key piece to the pass protection for Wilson, of course im talking about 6’7 330lb. Oden.
I doubt McCarron is going to be as big as everyone in Alabama believes. He looks to me to play a lot like John Parker Wilson did: put up big numbers when anyone would and choke when it comes down to clutch situations. I’m not hating on Alabama. I like Alabama. I just think Sims will have to be better or more recruiting will need to be done for next season. Prove me wrong, Crimson Tide.