You could say the 2014 SEC football season was the Year of the Freshmen, as an unprecedented number of rookies made an impact for their respective teams while shaping the conference as a whole.

Those sensational freshmen will all be back for more in 2015, but a strong rookie season certainly doesn’t guarantee a successful career at the college level.

Ever heard of the sophomore slump? It’s real. Opponents spend the long offseason studying every move of your freshman season, and players who fail to adjust before Year 2 are often pummeled by the competition.

However, those talented rookies don’t just lose their game-breaking abilities, and those who put in the offseason work themselves often remain on top in their encore performances.

We chose our top 14 freshmen from the 2014 season and tried to predict who among them will be a super sophomore in 2015 and who will suffer the dreaded sophomore slump.

SUPER SOPHOMORES

Nick Chubb: No matter how much time opposing defenses spend preparing for Chubb, the only thing it seems can stop him is injuries. Chubb was as physically punishing as a runner as there was in the SEC last season, and he amassed at least 100 yards in all eight of his starts, finishing second in the conference in rushing despite spending the first five weeks of the year stashed on the bench.

Leonard Fournette: Fournette and Chubb share similar stories, as both are simply too physical to be stopped by anything but an injury. It took Fournette a few weeks to live up to his hype and acclimate himself with the speed of college football, but he’s already a bruiser who will get plenty of touches in 2015, ensuing there won’t be a regression in the LSU backfield this fall.

Jalen Hurd: Hurd dazzled as a rookie last season, rushing for at least 100 yards in three of the Vols final five games (which happen to be the five games Joshua Dobbs started at quarterback). A full season of Dobbs in the backfield should benefit Hurd, and sharing time with incoming junior college transfer Alvin Kamara should keep Hurd fresh and prevent defenses from keying on him in games.

Johnny McCrary: McCrary wasn’t truly given a chance to develop last season until late in the year upon being stuck in a quarterback carousel featuring not two, not three but four different signal callers. When he could finally call the Vandy offense his he began to make quicker decisions and better throws, and if he’s given the keys to the offense at the start of the season we could see more growth out of him over the course of 12 games.

Speedy Noil: When Noil first arrived in College Station as a five-star signee, it seemed like he might jump right in and begin dominating in the Aggies potent passing attack. He was an effective member of a deep wide receiver corps, but was never dominant on the offense. He was an above-average kick returner, and with plenty of talent surrounding him he should show growth as both a receiver and a returner in 2015.

Cam Robinson: It took Robinson no time at all to dominate as an offensive tackle along the SEC’s best offensive line. No offense allowed fewer sacks than Alabama’s in 2014, and Robinson’s play as a rookie is a big reason for that. He’s still growing and learning his craft, which should leave opposing defenders fearful of what to expect this fall.

Derek Barnett: Tennessee’s stud defensive end was a joy to watch in 2014 as one of two rookies in the SEC to break Jadeveon Clowney’s freshman sack record. His 10 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss speak for themselves, and with a number of touted defensive line prospects coming to join him in Knoxville, he should be equally effective in 2015 even as defenses send more of their focus his way.

Jamal Adams: The 2014 LSU Tigers were as young a team as the program has ever put together, but Adams was one of a few rookies able to shine upon getting his chance to play last season. His 66 tackles, including 5 for loss, from the safety position proved Adams had great instincts despite a lack of experience, and his sure-tackling abilities in the open field should continue allowing him to make plays as his career progresses.

JK Scott: It didn’t take Scott, a freshman who ventured all the way from Colorado into SEC country, very long at all to establish himself as the best punter in the conference. He may have been the single most impactful player on the field in the SEC championship game. The art of punting or the rules dictating punting situations won’t be changing, so there’s no reason to expect Scott to regress in any capacity as a sophomore.

SOPHOMORE SLUMP

Kyle Allen: Allen was thrust into the starting lineup in the middle of last season as Kenny Hill faced adversity both on and off the field. The freshman was inconsistent upon receiving his opportunity to play, and he now has a five-star quarterback signee in Kyler Murray sitting behind him. The Aggies were rebuilding last year but they will want to make a move toward the top of the SEC West this year, meaning if Allen doesn’t show he can be the man to lead that charge while surrounded by playmakers, Kevin Sumlin may turn to Murray sooner than later.

Boom Williams: The man with the best nickname in the SEC displayed playmaking abilities Kentucky hasn’t seen since the days of Randall Cobb, but he, too, may be in store for a sophomore slump. Last year, Williams shared the backfield with three other backs who all more or less matched his playing time (until the finale against Louisville at least). Williams will either need to share time again or will need to learn how to keep his game sharp upon receiving a bigger role on the offense. He’s still going to be a star in the conference, but next year he may have to endure some growing pains.

Ralph Webb: There was no questioning Webb’s role as the star of the Vandy offense in 2014, but as the season wore on opposing defenses began selling out to stop the talented tailback and his numbers dropped as a result. If the Commodores can’t improve their passing game in 2015, that may happen again, which is bad news for a back who should be regarded among the best in the conference.

Myles Garrett: Yes, Garrett finished second in the SEC in sacks last season and joined Barnett in snapping Clowney’s record (Garrett now possesses the new record of 11.5 sacks), but eight of those sacks came in three non-conference cupcake games. The SEC was able to contain Garrett with relative ease, and he’ll face plenty of double teams again in 2014. If he doesn’t make the adjustments, he could be in store for a long, frustrating 2015 season in College Station.

Marquis Haynes: The sensational edge pass rusher from Ole Miss showed what a speed rusher can do in a defense loaded with talent at all three levels, recording 7.5 sacks despite seeing inconsistent playing time in 2014. That defense lost plenty of talent after last season, meaning opposing defenses will be able to keep track of where Haynes is lining up and where he’s attacking the backfield. Unless Haynes either bulks up or develops a few clever pass-rushing moves, his numbers are poised to drop in the coming year.