Sack attack: A prediction and long shot for each SEC West team’s leader in 2016

In the annual battles for SEC supremacy, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to a couple crucial passing plays. Accordingly, on defense, much depends on getting heat on the opposing quarterback, by forcing quick throws, poor decisions, or sacking the passer. Here’s each SEC West team’s most likely candidate to lead the team in sacks in 2016 — and a surprise pick as well.

Alabama

Given Alabama’s 52 sacks in 2015, there is an embarrassment of riches present for the Tide. All-SEC defensive end Jonathan Allen was a force in 2015. Allen’s 12 sacks were only a half-sack away from leading the conference. The 6-3, 294-pound Allen is likely to continue his dominance in 2016, and if he’s healthy, he is easily the favorite to lead the ‘Bama pass rush.

Senior linebacker Tim Williams added 10.5 sacks in 2015, which placed him third in the conference. He’s a good bet to top that this year.

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Junior linebacker Rashaan Evans (who moved from outside to inside) could be a surprise player in the pass rush. Evans had four sacks in spot duty in 2015, and was a one-man wrecking crew in Alabama’s A-Day Spring Game, with 17 tackles, including a sack. If opponents focus more on Allen or Williams, don’t be surprised if Evans is the next Tide player to turn into a double-digit sack threat.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks had just 20 sacks in 2015, which was the fourth straight season that their sack count had fallen. If Arkansas turns things around in 2016, senior defensive end Deatrich Wise will probably be at the middle of that movement.

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Wise is a 6-5, 280-pounder who had 8.0 sacks and five QB hurries in 2015, and was preseason third team All-SEC. Senior defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter is another possibility to lead the defense, as the highly regarded JUCO had two sacks in Arkansas’s spring game.

But a real surprise candidate could be true freshman defensive lineman McTelvin Agim, who was perhaps coach Bret Bielema’s top signee in the class of 2016. Agim enrolled early and had a sack in the Arkansas spring game. Here’s guessing he replicates that performance a few times in 2016.

Auburn

The Tigers’ pass rush has been weakened over the past two years, totaling just 21 sacks in 2014 and a mere 19 in 2015. Furthermore, sack leader Cassanova McKinzy (5 sacks, 20 hurries) is gone.

So who steps up? Well, the most likely guess is junior Carl Lawson.

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Lawson missed six games last year with an injury, and had only one sack, but his 11 quarterback hurries show how close he came to racking up a ton of big plays. He had a sack in the spring game and the 6-2, 257-pound defensive end (who was voted preseason first-team All-SEC by the media) is on a mission for a big year in 2016. Senior tackle Montravius Adams was a second-team All-SEC pick, and he could rack up a big year as well.

For a surprise, don’t forget rookie Marlon Davidson, who had four tackles in the A-Day spring game, and drew rave reviews from Gus Malzahn. The 6-3, 281-pound stud recruit made the most of his first Auburn spring, and would love to have a big fall as well.

LSU

The Tigers totaled 34 sacks in 2015, tying them for third in the SEC. Senior defensive end Lewis Neal led LSU with 8.0 sacks, but the mostly likely pass-rush threat for 2016 is preseason second-team All-SEC defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.

The 6-4, 293-pound Godchaux had 6.0 sacks and four quarterback hurries last season, and will likely eclipse those figures this year.

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If you’re looking for a long-shot star for LSU, look no further than big Rashard Lawrence, a 6-3, 310-pound true freshman who has the potential to be a star for the Tigers. Les Miles might prefer to bring Lawrence along slowly, but given his size and skill, he may not have much choice.

Mississippi State

The Bulldogs had 30 sacks in 2015, and figure to remain strong on the pass rush in 2016. State figures to be led by a pair of All-SEC third-team selections — linebacker Richie Brown and defensive end A.J. Jefferson.

Brown led the team with 109 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2015. Jefferson (below) had 5.0 sacks, but his seven QB hurries suggest that he may well overtake Brown as the team’s sack leader in 2016.

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Defensive end Jonathan Calvin had one sack in 2015 — but had four in State’s 2016 spring game. He sat behind NFL-bound Chris Jones in 2015, but if he can play to his potential, he’ll be the one in the League come next season.

Ole Miss

Ole miss had 29 sacks in 2015, which landed them in the upper echelons of the conference rankings. Much of their pass rush will come from junior defensive end Marquis Haynes. Haynes had 7.5 sacks in 2014, on his way to freshman All-American honors. He upped his totals to 10.0 sacks last year, with another 6.5 tackles for loss.

A potential surprise player is the opposite defensive end, senior Fadol Brown. While Brown had just one sack in 2015, he did manage 10 QB hurries. When offenses fixate on blocking Haynes, don’t be shocked if they leave themselves open to some big plays from Brown.

Texas A&M

A&M tied with LSU for third in the SEC in sacks in 2015 with 36.

Once again, the main man was all-everything defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett led the league with 12.5 sacks after finishing second as freshman in 2014 with 11.5.

Garrett said at SEC Media Days that he wants 20 sacks this season.

A surprise pick for A&M would be senior Daeshon Hall, who had 7.0 sacks in 2015. A true pass rush threat in his own right, Hall will keep defenses honest, and he and Garrett figure to spend much of 2016 collapsing the pocket and making quarterbacks miserable.

That duo might be why A&M is a glamorous choice as a surprise team for 2016 in the West.