Breakout players are often hard to project prior to the season, but they show up every single year.

Players seemingly come out of nowhere to have major impacts on their teams. Take Nick Chubb for example. No one could have predicted what happened to Todd Gurley, and no one could have predicted just how dominant his replacement (Chubb) would be. Breakout players benefit from having the pieces around them already in place and a system that’s conducive to utilizing their strengths at a particular position.

So, who will be the SEC’s offensive breakout player of the year for 2015?

Jon Cooper (@JonSDS): Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn

To say Jeremy Johnson is a perfect fit for Gus Malzahn’s offense is an understatement. If we’ve learned anything under Malzahn’s watch it’s that he’ll build his offense around the strengths of the quarterback. Under Johnson, Auburn’s offense won’t be like that under Cam Newton, and it won’t be like that under Nick Marshall. It’ll be specific to Johnson’s passing ability. The Tigers’ ground game will be on point, and he has a go-to playmaker in Duke Williams. Be prepared for Jeremy Johnson to put up big numbers in 2015, and he could be the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Ethan Levine (@EthanLevineSDS): Boom Williams, RB, Kentucky

This isn’t a promise that Kentucky will get over the six-win hump and into bowl season for the first time in five years. But it is a promise that, barring injuries, Boom Williams will be the most utilized player on the Kentucky offense. He can run between the tackles, he can get the edge on the perimeter, he can shift into another gear in the open field, he can catch passes out of the backfield and he can return kicks. He scored three touchdowns from at least 50 yards out last year, and should have more in store this year. Simply put: He’s Kentucky’s most explosive and most undeniable dynamic athlete on offense since Randall Cobb. If he’s even half the playmaker Cobb was as a sophomore, Williams will put the entire SEC on notice no matter how his Wildcats fare.

Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS): Isaiah McKenzie, WR, UGA

Georgia is going to run the ball in 2015. Like, a lot. Most offenses would with the stacked backfield the Bulldogs have. New OC Brian Schottenheimer is going to have to dial up some passing plays every now and again, though, and the beneficiary will be the explosive McKenzie. While he didn’t get many offensive touches last year, it seemed like every time he did get his hands on the ball something good happened. McKenzie has the size and elusiveness to be a devastating weapon in the slot, and he possesses the speed to spring past defenders down the sideline as well. Once the Bulldogs get their quarterback figured out, that passer should get very friendly with McKenzie as soon as possible.

Brad Crawford (@BCrawfordSDS): Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn

I think Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson is the obvious choice here. Some are calling him Cam Newton 2.0 and the reasoning is firm — he’s a dual-threat first-year starter in an offense that will cater to his strengths. Johnson’s range from the pocket is underrated and we haven’t yet seen his threat level on the move. He had an average spring before exploding as the offensive MVP during Auburn’s spring game. Placing Johnson square in the middle of preseason Heisman talks is asking a lot, but has certainly has the talent to warrant such praise.

Christopher Smith (@CSmithSDS): Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn

Depending on your definition of “breakout player,” Johnson may not qualify. Most smart SEC fans have been aware of him for some time, and we knew this moment would arrive before last season even started. Nonetheless, Johnson has thrown 78 college passes. He should double that total by the end of Auburn’s game at LSU, so I say he still counts as a breakout player. Any quarterback within Gus Malzahn’s offensive system is at an inherent advantage. Johnson also happens to be 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, with reported 4.5-second speed and one of the best arms in the SEC.