Breakout spring players in SEC West
Austin Allen won Arkansas’ quarterback competition, answering the Razorbacks’ biggest question entering Saturday’s spring game.
Will another player shine Saturday, answering another key position? Stay tuned.
The rest of the SEC West has finished spring ball and turned its collective attention to offseason improvements.
Here is a look at one breakout performer from each of those teams.
RELATED: SEC East breakout stars this spring
Alabama: Damien Harris
Most just penned in Bo Scarbrough for 1,200 yards as Derrick Henry’s replacement. Scarbrough still will be the starter and that still might happen, but Harris showed that he’s deserving of sharing carries.
He was named A-Day MVP after gaining 114 yards on 20 carries. He ran agains the second-team defense, if you’re into caveats, but that meant he also ran behind a slightly lesser offensive line.
Alabama has frequently split carries, and Harris’ emergence this spring gives Nick Saban the opportunity to comfort of doing so again.
Damien Harris named MVP of Alabama's spring game. Finished with 20 carries for 114 yards with 2nd team offense against 2nd team defense.
— Ben Jones (@BW_Jones) April 16, 2016
Auburn: Roc Thomas
Thomas shared backfield duties last season with Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson.
This spring, the Tigers unveiled Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway, a pair of punishing H-backs who dominated the spring game.
That allowed Thomas to slide over to the slot, where many thought he should have played last season. Thomas is a matchup nightmare in the passing game, and he showed off his hands with a nice touchdown catch in the spring game.
That play had the look of an all-day route. Thomas showed last season (team-high 18.2 yards per catch) that he can be a weapon.
Roc Thomas showing the hands. Touchdown! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/ICB1A2TnDz
— Auburn Football (@FootballAU) April 9, 2016
LSU: Saivion Smith
So much of the focus this spring has been on the new and improved passing game.
Les Miles has told reporters he’s seen progress. The spring game, however, showed why LSU still is DBU.
Smith, an early enrollee who impressed all month, added an interception and four tackles.
“Saivion Smith came in so ready to play in our conference at a high level and to be with us this spring,” Les Miles told NOLA.com. “If we can get a couple of guys like that to go with us, an experienced team, I think we’ll be right where we want to be. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re not accomplished in any way, but I think we have the pieces here.”
Meanwhile, Saivion Smith just picked off an Etling deep pass.
Smith having, arguably, the best day of any mid-year enrollee. #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) April 16, 2016
AM | #LSU DB Saivion Smith leads mid-year enrollees in spring game.
"Another good one"https://t.co/cUcAZIATNM pic.twitter.com/OIdPwrHPtE
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) April 17, 2016
Mississippi State: Keith Mixon
The Bulldogs entered the spring somewhat set in the receiver rotation but more concerned about who would be throwing the passes.
The four-player quarterback race is no closer to being settled, but the unexpected dismissal of Fred Brown also changed the receivers’ pecking order.
Mixon took advantage of the extra reps and he capped his spring with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Keith Mixon has had a solid spring for MSU. His 36-yard TD reception form Nick Fitzgerald puts the White squad up 7-0
— Paul Jones (@PJ247Sports) April 16, 2016
With Fred Ross, Fred Brown and Donald Gray out, MSU has had a productive day from players like Dear, Jonnas Spivey, Keith Mixon and Myles.
— Robbie Faulk (@robbiefaulk247) April 9, 2016
That sealed an impressive month from the redshirt freshman from Birmingham, Ala.
“They did a good job,” coach Dan Mullen told WTVA.com after an early April practice. “They are young guys that are getting opportunities and taking big steps forward. I think Keith (Mixon) has had an unbelievable spring, but all of them are taking giant steps forward because they have an opportunity to really learn. They are getting opportunities for the first time and they know what they are doing and making some plays.”
Ole Miss: Van Jefferson
The Rebels didn’t have a spring game, so fans will have to wait a while longer to see Chad Kelly and Jefferson connect.
Given Jefferson’s performance throughout the spring, he’ll have plenty of opportunities.
Jefferson, a 6-2 wideout and son of a former NFL receiver, was named the Rebels’ most improved offensive player. He was the first player coach Hugh Freeze mentioned when asked about breakout stars.
“Van Jefferson,” Freeze told reporters following the final practice. “I thought he just had a really solid spring. He understands every day there’s a decision that has to be made that, you know what, I’m going to be intentional to compete today.
“As individuals that’s the hardest thing for any of us, is to consistently, over and over, have the mental toughness to make the right decisions and get the end result you want. ‘I just don’t want to do that today.’
“Van’s wired a little different. He really understands what to do with the time that he has at work. He really stood out.”
Ole Miss' Van Jefferson's NFL ties may lead to NFL future – Jackson Clarion Ledger https://t.co/S7vVf6kLt0
— NFL news daily (@NFLnewsdaily) April 17, 2016
Texas A&M: Trevor Knight
Hardly unknown, but new to the program, Knight answered the Aggies’ biggest question when he won the starting quarterback job.
He looked poised, precise and decisive in the spring game, three characteristics needed to run Noel Mazzone’s up-tempo offense.
I like no-nonsense approach of naming Trevor Knight starter headed into the real offseason — leaves no doubt about the offense's leader.
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) April 11, 2016
Which Trevor Knight is A&M getting? The QB who beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl or the QB who threw 12 picks in 2014? pic.twitter.com/wwhovkA0VU
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 12, 2016
Good question. With all of the weapons A&M has on the outside, count on the former.