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One of the keys to success in football is roster depth. The best teams can go two-or-more deep at just about every position, giving them waves of fresh players to come in and make an impact. SDS takes a look at which backups shined the brightest over the course of the 2014 season in the SEC West.
Ryan Anderson, Alabama
Anderson played in all 14 games this season without starting any, but still made an impact for a Crimson Tide pass rush that needed it. He was third on the team in sacks from an outside linebacker position and generated nine quarterback hurries along the way. Despite relatively limited action, he still finished in the top 15 on the team in total tackles and was fourth in tackles for loss with 8.0.
Alex Collins, Arkansas
It’s tough to count a 1,000-yard rusher as a backup, but facts are facts: Collins only started two games, while backfield partner Jonathan Williams got the nod in the other 11. The two rushers were still nearly even in carries, with Collins trailing just slightly, 211-204, and the sophomore Collins put up his second straight year with more than 1,000 yards. While he didn’t top 100 yards in a single game after the first month of the season, he was still given the ball 10 or more times in all but one contest.
Corey Grant, Auburn
Grant never quite turned into a star, nor did he live up to the hype that accompanied him when he transferred from Alabama, but he provided solid production in his Auburn career. He may have regressed a bit from the absurd 9.8 yards per carry he averaged in 2013, but Grant still churned out more than 6 yards per carry in 2014, punching in four total touchdowns and providing a solid receiving threat out of the backfield.
Jamal Adams, LSU
Adams has star talent, but it took an injury to Dwayne Thomas for him to get a chance to shine. The freshman safety impressed just about every time he stepped on the field, finishing sixth on the team in tackles despite starting just two games. Adams showed a real nose for the ball, leading LSU defensive backs with 5.0 tackles for loss while breaking up five passes.
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
The Bulldogs offense wouldn’t have been the same without the outbursts it got from Ross over the course of the season. While he wasn’t consistent in the passing game — and really, no Bulldogs receiver was — he still had three 100-yard games and five scores on the season, coming up with a handful of crucial catches along the way and finishing second on the team in receiving.
Vince Sanders, Ole Miss
Sanders was pressed into action throughout the season, stepping up as a senior for a team that needed him. Sanders ended up starting nine of his 12 games, but played a much bigger role as the season went along, especially after Laquon Treadwell went down. After a disappointing junior year, Sanders ended up leading the Rebels in both catches and receiving yards in 2014.
Otaro Alaka, Texas A&M
Alaka, a freshman linebacker, emerged as the season rolled along. While he didn’t put up eye-popping number, recording just 33 tackles on the season, he improved on a weekly basis and was named the Liberty Bowl defensive MVP after his best performance of the season. Alaka should be ready to be a full-time starter next season on John Chavis’ defense.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
