The most surprising star on every SEC team in 2016
Part of the SEC’s glory comes from the stars who we all know. Players like Fournette, Chubb, Tabor, and Allen are stars — and everybody knew they were.
But part of what makes each SEC season special are the guys who come out of nowhere.
If you expected Trayveon Williams or Hayden Hurst to star … well, you were smarter than most. Here’s a surprising star from each SEC program.
Alabama — Joshua Jacobs, RB: The Tide are dominant and have one of the top ground games in the conference. We all figured Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough would put up yardage. But Jacobs, listed by Phil Steele’s preseason magazine as the least touted player in Bama’s recruiting class, has surprised. The true frosh has 345 yards rushing and three touchdowns — on 8.0 yards per carry. He has outperformed Scarbrough.
Arkansas — Rawleigh Williams III, RB: Arkansas expected Williams to start, although he was returning from a neck injury that cut short his 2015 season. They didn’t necessarily expect him to lead the SEC in rushing as a sophomore, but he is with 785 yards and five scores on the ground.
QB Austin Allen is 1B to Williams’s 1A, as again, he was the acknowledged starter, but like Williams, has surprised as the class of the SEC so far.
Auburn — Kamryn Pettway, RB: First, Jovon Robinson was going to star for the Tigers, but he was gone before the season started. Then Kerryon Johnson was the man in the backfield. And while Johnson has been solid (538 rushing yards, six TDs), Pettway has emerged as a pounding force. The sophomore had no carries and one reception in 2015, but so far has rushed for 505 yards and four TDs in 2016. He ran for a career-high 169 yards and three scores in Week 6 against Mississippi State.
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Florida — Jabari Zuniga, DL: While Florida’s tough defense has surprised no one, Zuniga would not have been a top choice to lead the team in sacks. But that’s exactly what the redshirt freshman is doing, with five sacks to his credit. Given the tough Gator secondary, Zuniga will probably improve his stats as the year rolls along.
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Georgia — Brian Herrien, RB: Herrien was a late addition to Georgia’s 2016 class. So it’s doubly surprising that on a team with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel running the ball, Herrien has found time to impress in the Bulldog backfield.
Injuries created opportunities, and Herrien ran with them. He has 341 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and his 6.6 yards per carry tops both Chubb and Michel.
Kentucky — Jordan Jones, LB: Jones was expected to start at linebacker, but a meager 10 tackles as a freshman did not prepare Wildcat fans for what a force he has been in 2016. Jones leads UK with 56 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and seven QB hurries. If Kentucky reaches bowl-eligibility, Jones will be much of the reason for that success.
LSU — D.J. Chark, WR: While LSU has struggled in the air, Chark has been a rare bright spot. A junior who was buried on the depth chart, Chark’s 17.2 yards per catch leads the Tigers and his two touchdowns also tie for the team lead. If LSU stays in the West race, Chark will be a big factor.
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Mississippi State — Jamoral Graham, CB: Graham is a converted wide receiver who was expected to back up Cedric Jiles. But Jiles had an arm injury, and Graham has stepped up to lead the Bulldogs in passes broken up with four, as well an interception. Given the tough QBs MSU will see for the remainder of the year — Trevor Knight, Jalen Hurts, Austin Allen and Chad Kelly — Graham is key to their season.
Missouri — Damarea Crockett, RB: JUCO RB Nate Strong was expected to take an active role in the Mizzou backfield along with Oklahoma transfer Alex Ross and returning starter Ish Witter. But true freshman Crockett has led the team with 390 yards on the ground and three scores, via a 7.2 yard per carry total.
Witter and Crockett should split the ground load moving ahead, but don’t be surprised if Crockett puts up some big games on a lighter second half of the schedule.
Ole Miss — Zedrick Woods, S: Ole Miss’s defense has struggled, in large part due to injuries. But Woods has been a bright spot, leading the Rebels both in (39) and interceptions (2). As much as Ole Miss scores, opposing passers will throw often, and Woods can make some more plays for the Rebels down the stretch run.
South Carolina — Hayden Hurst, TE: Hurst wasn’t necessarily likely to even start, much less star, coming into this season. But the sophomore has gone from eight catches and 106 yards last season to 30 grabs for 388 yards so far this year. Hurst, a former professional baseball player, is Carolina’s most dependable weapon in its limited offensive arsenal.
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Tennessee — Colton Jumper, LB: Jumper was expected to back up Darrin Kirkland, Jr., but after injuries, he took over a starting linebacker spot and is second on the Vols in tackles, with 42 stops.
Jumper also has 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a pass break up, and a forced fumble. He helped the Vols get through the early grind of the schedule, and should feast off lower competition in the games to come.
Texas A&M — Trayveon Williams, RB: Williams was a talented true frosh who was expected to back up Keith Ford this season. Instead, Williams has bypassed Ford, and indeed most of the SEC with 704 rushing yards and five touchdowns on an amazing 8.6 yards per carry.
Williams is a home-run threat on a team full of them, and is the likely SEC Freshman of the Year.
Vanderbilt — Kalija Lipscomb, WR: Not that Vandy’s setting any records in passing, but the team did return a receiver with 51 catches from last season, and had numerous depth chart options ahead of Lipscomb, a lightly-regarded true freshman.
Lipscomb is leading Vandy in receptions (18), receiving yards (227), and touchdowns (two). Not bad for a guy who was likely to redshirt.
