SEC snubs in ESPN's 'Top 25' player rankings list
It’s time for fall practice which means preseason rankings of every make and model are in full swing.
Every year, ESPN ranks its ‘Top 25 Players in the SEC’, a who’s who of league-wide notables who often litter preseason All-America and all-conference squads.
Before kicking off this year’s installment, ESPN revealed its just-missed-the-cut group of players — a few noticeable exclusions that are sure to draw ire from SEC fans.
Honorable mention honorees include:
- Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
- Chris Jones, DL, Mississippi State
- Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
- Curt Maggitt, LB, Tennessee
- Russell Hansbrough, RB, Mizzou
- Jalen Hurd, RB, Tennessee
Some notes …
*Maggitt’s 15.0 tackles for loss last season is tops among returning players at his position and second only to teammate Derek Barnett’s 20.5 SEC-wide. His 11.0 sacks last fall ranks second behind Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett for returners.
*Floyd’s a potential 2016 first-round pick and is arguably the most talented player within Georgia’s stud trio of outside linebackers (Jordan Jenkins, Lorenzo Carter). He led the Bulldogs last season with six sacks.
*Rarely mentioned amongst other elite league running backs, Hansbrough was one of seven SEC ballcarriers to rush for 1,000 yards last season and scored a team-best 10 touchdowns. His yards-per-game average bettered Mike Davis, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Jalen Hurd.