We’ve reached the Top 20 of our Top 100 SEC players list and will unveil a new player daily leading up to opening night on Aug. 28.

18. T.J. Yeldon, Jr., RB, Alabama

The Crimson Tide’s top running back and third ballcarrier in our Top 100 is seeking to join elite company this season with his third consecutive 1,000-yard season as a junior. Only Georgia’s Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden from Arkansas have ever passed the 1000-yard barrier their first three seasons in the SEC. Yeldon’s accumulated 11 100-yard games since the start of the 2012 season, second only to Todd Gurley’s 13 in the SEC.

RELATED: Projecting SEC stat leaders — Running Back

In 26 career games, Yeldon has scored 27 touchdowns and tallied 2,657 yards from scrimmage but much of the Alabama backfield hype has fallen on rising sophomore Derrick Henry. It’ll be interesting to see how much of a focus the Crimson Tide put on Yeldon this season with Henry getting much of the praise. Lane Kiffin’s incorporation of Yeldon as a receiving threat will help in third-and-manageable situations.

2013 statistics: 207 carries, 1,235 yards, 14 TD
2014 projection: 194 carries, 1,190 yards, 13 TD