Top 2016 pass catchers (and possible surprise players) in SEC East

The biggest names on the fall stage used to be running backs. And while nobody is forgetting Fournette or Chubb or Hurd, the focus for big plays on Saturdays has shifted from the backfield to the pass catchers on the outside. Whether it’s big-play deep threats or matchup-nightmare tight ends, every SEC East team has capable receivers. So who’s the favorite to lead your team in receiving in 2016, and who’s a possible surprise who just may come up big? Catch it here …

Florida

Florida had some losses, with Demarcus Robinson (48 catches, 522 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2015) and tight end Jake McGee (41-381-4) both gone from Gainesville. Sophomore Antonio Callaway was a star as a freshman and looks to repeat his performance in 2016. Callaway (35-678-4) busted a number of big plays, none bigger than his 63-yard fourth down miracle touchdown to beat Tennessee.

Callaway was suspended from the team for the spring, and while he looks to be back for the fall, could be a little behind. A safer pick to lead the team in 2016 might be tiny Brandon Powell, just 5-9, 184 pounds. He had a big sophomore campaign in 2015 (29-390-3), and has speed to burn, as he showed on a 77-yard score against Ole Miss. If he’s available, Callaway is the man, and if not, it’ll be Powell (below).

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Talented freshman Tyrie Cleveland was a likely surprise candidate, but he has run into his own off-field issues, and who knows whether and to what extent he’ll contribute in 2016. A safer guess might be JUCO receiver Dre Massey, who is built like Powell, and has a similar big-play skill set. Massey snagged a touchdown in Florida’s spring game, and may grab some more in the fall.

Georgia

Malcolm Mitchell (58 catches, 865 yards, 5 touchdowns in 2015) is in the NFL, and the Dawgs don’t return a ton of receiving stars. Sophomore Terry Godwin is a threat out of the Wild Dawg read-option package, or at receiver.

Godwin (35-379-2) is a 5-11 speedster who is a handful to tackle. Running back Sony Michel (26-270-3) is also a threat out of the backfield. Other than those two, Georgia returns no players with more than 15 catches, 187 yards, or a single touchdown. Godwin looks to be the man.

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A surprise candidate for UGA is true freshman tight end Isaac Nauta. He impressed in UGA’s spring game, and the Bulldogs usually have a talented tight end or two. Junior Jeb Blazevich isn’t exactly chopped liver, but Nauta looks like a guy with an NFL future— a future he might start building in 2016 at UGA.

Kentucky

The good or bad news for UK is that almost everybody returns. This unit struggled with drops and mental errors in 2015, but they are a year older now. Junior slot receiver Garrett Johnson led the team in 2015 (46 catches, 694 yards, 2 touchdowns) and is a safe choice to do so again.

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At 5-11, 175 pounds, Johnson isn’t imposing, but he can make a touch grab over the middle.

Outside, the talented but wildly inconsistent Dorian Baker returns (55-608-3). Baker is probably the biggest talent of the group, but dropped a number of important passes, and sometimes hung his quarterback out to dry by not making a play on off-target passes.

The surprise for Kentucky won’t qualify as a surprise to Wildcat fans. They loved tight end C.J. Conrad (15-149-1) in 2015, but then-offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson was reluctant to use the talented freshman. A sophomore version of Conrad may make a number of huge plays for the Wildcats in 2016.

Missouri

Missouri’s passing game was anemic in 2015, but at least the Tigers return their top two receiving threats — juniors J’Mon Moore (29 catches, 350 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Nate Brown (27-326-4). Both are tall, physical receivers who can make big plays in the red zone. One or the other is a likely choice to lead the Tigers in 2016.

For a surprise, consider talented Alabama transfer Chris Black. Black struggled to get playing time in Tuscaloosa, but the 6-0, 192 pound slot receiver will have a chance to make a ton of plays in the middle of the field for Mizzou.

Don’t be shocked if Black ends up as the team’s top pass catcher.

South Carolina

Carolina comes off a 3-9 season and loses its two top receivers, all-world wideout Pharoh Cooper (66 catches, 973 yards, 8 touchdowns) and tight end Jerell Adams (28-421-3).

So who is left? Injury prone sophomore Deebo Samuel is the biggest name on campus. The 6-0, 205 pound Samuel doesn’t necessarily have an imposing stat line (12-161-1), but has the speed and skills to impress in 2016.

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And if he doesn’t?

Virtually anybody left on the South Carolina roster has to be something of a surprise. True freshman Bryan Edwards caught a couple of scores in the spring game and will play early and often. Converted running back Jamari Smith also played well in the spring and might feature in USC’s plan.

Tennessee

The Vols have a talented but inconsistent group of returning pass catchers. Von Pearson (38 catches, 409 yards, 3 touchdowns in 2015) is gone, and UT’s top returning threat is Josh Malone. Malone (31-405-2) is a 6-3 speedster who can break big plays, as he did on a 75-yard touchdown against Kentucky last year. He lacks only consistency.

Other top Vol returning receivers are running back Alvin Kamara (34-291-3) and slot receiver Josh Smith (23-307-2), but Malone is the likely top Vol of that group. The Vols also are expecting Preston Williams (below) to make a considerable leap in production.

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A surprise, although it would only be a mild one, would be for tight end Ethan Wolf to lead the team. Wolf (23-301-2 in ’15) is a 6-6, 245 pound matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. A bigger surprise? JUCO receiver Jeff George, who at 6-6, lit up UT’s spring game by using his size to help his quarterback. On a team with so many talented veterans, don’t be surprised if George finds a way to make an immediate impact.

Vanderbilt

Vandy loses tight end Steven Scheu (26 catches, 231 yards, 1 touchdown in ’15), but returns several other receiving threats. Juniors Trent Sherfield (51-659-3) and Caleb Scott (24-339-2) were the top targets in 2015. Given past history, the 6-1, 200 pound Sherfield is the likely candidate to lead the team again in 2016.

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Don’t be surprised however, if Vandy ends up featuring either talented sophomore C.J. Duncan, who missed last year with an injury, but had 441 receiving yards in 2014 as a freshman or senior Darrius Sims, who was once a cornerback, was second on the team in rushing last season, and moonlights as a big-play receiver.