ESPN ranks SEC's top returning players for 2017
Despite losing talented players like Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett and LSU RB Leonard Fournette to the NFL draft this offseason, the SEC is still loaded with returning star power.
On Friday, ESPN decided to rank the top 25 returning players in the conference, naming players from 11 of the conference’s 14 squads (Florida, Missouri and Tennessee were the only three teams not represented).
LSU only had two players named, but they were the No. 1 and No. 2 overall players, so the Tigers will have some talent under first-year head coach Ed Orgeron.
Alabama led the way with eight players on the list and returns superstar QB Jalen Hurts to a squad that finished as the national runner-up in 2016.
The whole list of players can be seen here:
- Arden Key, DE, LSU
- Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
- Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
- Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
- Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama
- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
- Kamryn Pettway, RB, Auburn
- Frank Ragnow, OL, Arkansas
- Braden Smith, OL, Auburn
- Rawleigh Williams, RB, Arkansas
- Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
- Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi State
- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
- Trenton Thompson, DL, Georgia
- Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama
- Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama
- Austin Allen, QB, Arkansas
- Ralph Webb, RB, Vanderbilt
- Jordan Jones, LB, Kentucky
- Shaun Dion Hamilton, LB, Alabama
- Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M
- Skai Moore, LB, South Carolina
- Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M
- Marquis Haynes, DL, Ole Miss
- Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
That’s quite a list of returning players, with the talent spread out all over the conference.
With an influx of talented freshmen joining the mix, as well, 2017 promises to be another exciting year of SEC football.
We can’t wait!