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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.
Jalen Tabor, Florida
Tabor wasn’t a consistent starter for Florida, but he still impressed this year. Starting in five games, he showed tons of promise as a cover corner while also averaging nearly three tackles per game in a talented Gators secondary. He also made one of the most spectacular plays of the season with a leaping, one-handed interception against Vanderbilt. Paired with Vernon Hargeaves next season, presumably as a starter, Tabor will help make up one of the best secondaries in the SEC.
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Carter didn’t make his first start until there were just four games left in the regular season, but he sure made his impact felt. The freshman linebacker finished third on the team with 4.5 sacks, recording 3.5 of them after he was wisely inserted into the starting lineup. Carter picked up steam the more playing time he got, and he’ll be counted on for a big role in 2015.
Boom Williams, Kentucky
The Wildcats’ star freshman started the year as a backup, eventually taking over the team lead for carries by season’s end. Williams was the most explosive player on the Wildcats, averaging better than 6.5 yards per carry and another 9.5 yards on his 17 receptions. The majority of Williams’ touchdowns came from long range, a scary threat for defenses when he came off the bench. Williams will take on even more of a feature role next season, although there’s no reason he’ll be any less frightening.
Lucas Vincent, Missouri
Missouri’s defensive interior was overshadowed by it’s pair of nasty defensive ends, but the defensive tackle rotation was as good as any. Vincent, a fifth-year senior, made the fewest starts out of a group that included Harold Brantley and Matt Hoch. He finished 10th on the team in tackles and fourth in tackles for loss, playing well enough that he would have been a no-brainer starter for most teams.
Jonathan Walton, South Carolina
Walton’s late-season emergence had Gamecocks fans wondering where he’d been all season. He started fewer than half of Carolina’s games this year, but came on as strong as anyone as the Gamecocks displayed more defensive competence down the stretch. He recorded one of his two double-digit sack games coming off the bench against Auburn, earning himself a start and duplicating the feat the following week. Walton starred in the Gamecocks’ bowl win, giving the hope that he’ll continue to develop in 2015.
Todd Kelly Jr., Tennessee
On the young Volunteers defense, Kelly stepped up to make some big plays. He was second on the team with three interceptions. The solidly built safety also held his own, making 33 tackles on the year. Kelly played limited snaps, but still found himself on the SEC’s All-Freshman team at the end of the season.
Johnny McCrary, Vanderbilt
McCrary wasn’t expected to play much as a freshman, but he ended up being forced into duty before he was ready. Despite the extenuating circumstances, McCrary did his best to hold his own for an overwhelmed Commodores team. He threw more touchdowns than interceptions in his seven games, and completed more than half of his passes, an accomplishment for an offense that struggled mightily.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
