This is the second portion of a two-part feature involving preseason SEC superlatives. This one covers ALL the bases in the Western Division.

RELATED: Best of the SEC East awards in 2015

BEST OF THE SEC WEST IN 2015

Best team

Alabama

Until Alabama’s knocked off its perch and the Auburn Tigers can prove they can handle what’s thrown at them defensively, the Crimson Tide’s the odds-on favorite to win the division and the league championship this fall. Expect Alabama to be strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball and powerful in the run game.

Best coach

Nick Saban, Alabama

We don’t need convincing. It’s Saban’s SEC world and we’re all just living in it. The master recruiter’s helped the Crimson Tide  welcome the nation’s best class five consecutive years and during that stretch, has two national championships and two conference titles to show for it. He’s worth every penny in salary and has the SEC’s most wins against ranked teams (33) since 2007.

Best quarterback

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

He’ll have his hands full this season in college football’s toughest division, but it’s nothing Prescott hasn’t experienced before. The senior dual-threat helped the Bulldogs win three straight games against Top 10 teams to ascend to No. 1 last season before it all came to a crashing halt over the final four games. Without question, Prescott’s the most reliable option under center in the SEC heading into August and from a total offense standpoint, is well ahead of his next closest competitor.

Best running back

Leonard Fournette, LSU

Earlier this offseason, perhaps you remember the heated debate between myself and fellow SDS staff writer Christopher Smith on who we thought deserves the title of ‘SEC’s best tailback’ this season. I’m like Georgia’s Nick Chubb, but Smith delivers valid points in Fournette’s favor. You can’t go wrong with either, that’s for sure. Fournette became one of the league’s most explosive players over the second half of his freshman season while Chubb dominated during Todd Gurley’s absence in the East. It’s a shame the two ballcarriers won’t settle it on the field this fall — unless both meet in an appetizing SEC Championship Game.

Best wide receiver

Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

Some may go with Auburn’s Duke Williams here and that’s more than fair, but Treadwell’s the future 10-year NFL veteran who provides exactly what you want in a No. 1 receiver — reliable hands, crisp route-running ability and tremendous strength. Williams may have the athleticism edge, but Treadwell’s more polished and should be one of four Rebels drafted in the first round in 2016. If his surgically-repaired ankle doesn’t affect his play this fall, Treadwell is heading toward a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown campaign.

Best offensive lineman

Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Quarterback Chad Kelly’s lucky to have college football’s best tackle this season, a monster waiting to be unleashed following a return from injury. Tunsil could very well be the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft and doesn’t have a flaw in his game. He has great lateral quickness for a player his size (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) and is rarely beaten off the edge by faster pass rushers thanks to his footwork.

Best defensive lineman

A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama

The obvious, perhaps favored choice is junior Robert Nkemdiche at Ole Miss, but we’re looking at a player who not only affects the way opposing offenses call plays, but produces numbers as well. Nkemdiche’s been nearly unstoppable as a collegian, but teams have often avoided running directly at him and double teams are prevalent. Robinson, an end in Alabama’s 3-4 alignment, is a player defensive coordinator Kirby Smart expects to return to All-American Freshman 2013 form in his third season. He’s just as powerful as his Ole Miss counterpart and packed on a few more pounds this offseason.

Best linebacker

Reggie Ragland, Alabama

This is one position dominated by Eastern Division talent this season, but that doesn’t mean the West is talentless in the middle. Following the exit of top tacklers Benardrick McKinney and Martrell Spaight last season, Ragland’s next in line to be the West’s best. He’s got multiple years under his belt in the Crimson Tide’s linebacker-friendly system and should be able to roam freely a bit without Trey DePriest. Of note, Auburn has two good ones in seniors Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy.

Best defensive back

Tony Conner, Ole Miss

You can’t go wrong with a handful of possible selections here including several players at LSU and Auburn, but Conner’s the guy with obvious All-American potential as a multi-year starter within one of the nation’s most disruptive secondaries. He’s a violent hitter who makes plays on the ball with no regard with wideouts. He could play a variety of positions at the next level including safety based on his expertise as a tackler. Conner’s a complete player.

Best special teamer

Speedy Noil, Texas A&M

Based on his high school, I thought this kid could be the SEC’s version of former Florida State playmaker Peter Warrick as a freshman, but he did most of his damage on the receiving end. Splitting time with touted freshman wideout Christian Kirk this fall, Noil’s impact in the return game should be turned up a notch if he gets less total snaps in Kevin Sumlin’s Air Raid. The Aggies have extreme depth at wide receiver and Noil needs more touches on special teams.

Best true freshman

Byron Cowart, Auburn

He’ll primarily have defensive end Carl Lawson to thank, but Will Muschamp’s new weapon on defense should be a true gem by season’s end when all he’s asked to do is get after the quarterback as a rookie. The five-star can’t-miss prospect who spurned the Gators on signing day for a career on the Plains will soon be a star in the SEC.

Best newcomer

Jovon Robinson, Auburn

Gus Malzahn’s track record speaks for itself. In his offense, the Tigers are bound to have a 1,000-yard rusher this season, perhaps two behind a solid offensive line. Robinson, a JUCO transfer, was spectacular at times during spring practice and really showed a solid grasp of Auburn’s uptempo scheme. By mid-September, Robinson will separate himself from Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber as the Tigers’ clear No. 1 run option in the ground game.

Best breakout player (offense)

Dontavian Lee, Mississippi State

One of four players fighting for the Bulldogs’ No. 1 spot in the backfield, this redshirt freshman was one of the league’s most players during spring practice and earned himself major snaps behind Dak Prescott this season. It’s debatable, but Lee’s skill set is more wide-ranging than last year’s leading rusher, Josh Robinson, which could mean 1,200 yards and double-digit scores by season’s end. A relative unknown coming into August, Lee will be a household name soon enough.

Best breakout player (defense)

Daylon Mack, Texas A&M

Paired with the likes of pass-rushing fiend Myles Garrett, Mack’s production will noticeable as a true freshman on the inside of Texas A&M’s defensive line, shielded by a potential All-American to his right. The five-star run-stopper was a must-get in February for John Chavis and by 2016, will be a player he can build around up front.

Best win

There will be no ‘Kick-Six’ this time around when Alabama returns in late November to Jordan-Hare Stadium, the burial site for its 2013 BCS and SEC Championship dreams. This time, Saban won’t need to beg for an extra second on the clock and the Crimson Tide will clinch the division on their rival’s home field.