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College Football

Ranking the Top 25 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC

Adam Spencer

By Adam Spencer

Published:

The SEC consistently produces the most NFL Draft talent of any league in the country. Every year for the past 15 years, the SEC has had the most players picked in Round 1.

When the 2022 NFL Draft comes around next April, the SEC figures to have plenty of additional draft dominance. So, who are the players who could end up being the cream of the crop come draft night?

As part of Saturday Down South’s Top 25 week, let’s take a look at the 25 best NFL Draft prospects who will be gracing gridirons across the southeast this fall:

25. Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida

Miller has the size (6-1, 230 pounds) and speed NFL teams love in linebackers. He’s also a versatile tackling machine. He had 86 tackles in 11 games in 2020, with 7.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He also broke up 3 passes. He’ll be a Day 2 pick in the draft and will find a role on an NFL squad.

24. Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

Spiller has it all — between-the-tackles strength, open-field speed, elite vision, upper-level athleticism. You could listen to me talk about him, or you could just watch this highlight video:

The Aggies are going to rely even more on Spiller this fall, and he appears to be up to the challenge. Expect big things from him.

Running backs might not be of high value in the NFL, but some team is going to be rewarded when it drafts Spiller.

23. Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn

Pappoe is a leader of the Auburn defense and has all the skills you want to see in a linebacker. In 2020, he recorded 93 tackles (6 for a loss), 4 sacks, 2 pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery. He can do it all on the field and has all the makings of a guy who spends a decade as a contributor on an NFL defense.

22. Brenton Cox Jr., Edge, Florida

Before I discuss Cox in earnest, let me just go on a rant for a second. What is a video like this supposed to prove?

Yes, I know Cox is coming off an injury and this is supposed to show that he’s healthy, but I’m just a shade under 6 feet tall and weigh 160 pounds (at most) and I can do the exact same thing to a blocking sled. It’s not impressive in the least for a guy who is 6-3 and 250 pounds and has the potential Cox has.

Let’s focus instead on his 10 tackles for a loss (and 3.5 sacks) in 2020. This is the sort of thing an average football player cannot do:

This is the sort of play that shows the strength and intelligence that will make Cox a guy who hears his name called in the first 2 days of the 2022 draft:

https://twitter.com/mattalkire/status/1391955678147883009

Those are the reasons I’m excited to watch Cox this fall. His potential is through the roof.

21. Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee

Believe me when I say we’ll come back to Roger McCreary and his insane number through the first couple of weeks of the 2020 season, but Taylor was also locking down receivers through the first few games last year:

Taylor only has 2 interceptions in his career, but he does a lot of things on the field that help his team win. Here he is knocking the Indiana QB nearly to the ground in a key situation (with a teammate finishing up the sack):

https://twitter.com/CHANNEL_TN_/status/1258175213801537542

And here’s his 1 interception of 2020, which came against South Carolina:

He’s a talented player who will have his hands full working on a depleted Tennessee defense this fall.

20. Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama

To’o To’o has shown flashes of brilliance at Tennessee, but now he joins a truly elite defense at Alabama. Working alongside Christian Harris (we’ll get to him later), To’o To’o will be counted on to hold up his side.

If he has a big year, he could sneak into the Round 1 discussion. Playing under Nick Saban for a year has never hurt anyone’s draft stock. That’s for sure.

19. Akayleb Evans, CB, Mizzou

Evans comes to Columbia via Tulsa, along with fellow ex-Golden Hurricane DB Allie Green IV. Evans doesn’t have any interceptions in his career, but he’s a lockdown corner with 11 career pass breakups and great instincts. He’ll try his hand at defending SEC receivers this fall. If he succeeds? Hello, NFL.

18. John Metchie III, WR, Alabama

Alabama’s streak of having wide receivers taken in Round 1 won’t end if Metchie has anything to say about it. Even playing alongside Heisman winner DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle (before Waddle’s injury) in 2020, Metchie managed to make 55 catches for 916 yards and 6 touchdowns, including this beauty against Texas A&M:

Now that he’s WR1 and working with new QB Bryce Young, it’s Metchie’s turn to become a household name.

17. Kingsley Enagbare, Edge, South Carolina

This year will be full of growth for the Gamecocks under new head coach Shane Beamer, but the team does have 1 star player to work with on defense. That player is, of course, Enagbare, who is a monster coming off the edge. He had 6 sacks in 2020, many of which left the quarterback wanting to avoid ever coming face-to-face with the South Carolina star again:

https://twitter.com/Caroline_Rick_/status/1415808760145088515

He has the potential to be a Round 1 guy if he has a big year in 2021.

16. Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama

Jobe may not be the fastest defensive back on the field, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more technically sound cornerback in the SEC. He had 11 pass breakups last season and also showed a knack for rushing the passer, recording 2 sacks among his 55 total tackles. He’s not the flashiest guy, but you can trust him to do his job.

15. Trajan Jeffcoat, Edge, Mizzou

Jeffcoat took a huge step forward in 2020, recording 6 sacks and earning first-team All-SEC honors. He got off to a fast start, taking down Bryce Young in Week 1:

Look for new Mizzou DC Steve Wilks to use Jeffcoat in a number of different ways this fall and showcase his versatility for the NFL.

14. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

I’ve seen Corral projected as high as No. 2 in the draft, behind only Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler. While I don’t necessarily think he’ll go that high, he is a supremely talented player, for sure.

I want to see Corral make smarter throws this fall. He got a little too aggressive at times in 2020, throwing interceptions that won’t fly at the NFL level. If he can improve his decision-making, though, he’s a star.

13. Adam Anderson, Edge, Georgia

Anderson is a pure pass-rush specialist. Fortunately, there are jobs for guys like that in the NFL. He’s just too fast and too aggressive off the edge for offensive linemen to handle:

He’s a bit of a one-trick pony at this point, but that one trick is super valuable in the NFL, so he’ll draw plenty of interest.

12. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

Whereas Anderson (mentioned above) is a pass-rush specialist, Harris is a do-it-all linebacker. In 2020, he recorded 79 tackles (7 for a loss), 4.5 sacks, 1 interception and 2 pass breakups. Alabama’s defense should be one of the nation’s elite in 2021, and if Harris is one of the leaders of that unit, he’ll see his draft stock skyrocket.

11. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

If you haven’t heard of McCreary yet, just wait. New Auburn DC Derek Mason is high on McCreary, calling him the “alpha” of the Tigers’ secondary:

McCreary had 3 picks in 2020 to go with 6 pass breakups, a forced fumble and 45 tackles (7 for a loss). He’s a speedy, hard-hitting corner who always seems to be in position to make a big play.

10. Charles Cross, OL, Mississippi State

Even though Cross made the All-Freshman team in the SEC last year, he was a redshirt freshman. Thus, after this year, he’ll be draft eligible. If the 6-5, 310-pound lineman plays like he did in 2020, a jump to the NFL isn’t out of the question. He’s an expert pass blocker, which is required in Mike Leach’s system. With the way the NFL is going offensively, Cross’ skill set will be a great fit there, too.

9. Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M

As the lone remaining “Maroon Goon,” 2021 will be Kenyon Green’s time to shine. He’ll be blocking for a new quarterback (either Haynes King or Zach Calzada), but many of the other skill position guys will be the same. Green will anchor the left tackle spot. With how many big-time games the Aggies figure to play this fall, Green will have ample opportunities to impress NFL scouts.

8. JT Daniels, QB, Georgia

Daniels was only healthy enough to start the last 4 games of the 2020 season, but he produced once he got on the field. He completed 80-of-119 passes for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He showed off his arm strength on his very first touchdown pass as a Dawg:

That’s an NFL caliber throw. He also dominated in Georgia’s spring game, tossing 3 touchdowns:

If he can stay healthy and produce at the rate he was at the end of last year, he has a chance to be a first-round pick.

7. Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

Davis doesn’t fill up a stat sheet (16 tackles, 1 sack in 2020), but that’s not the most important job a defensive tackle has. Davis is counted on to jam up the middle of the line of scrimmage and force multiple offensive linemen to block him. No one in the SEC does that better than Davis. Any pass rush production is merely a bonus. But, if he does show flashes in that area, he could end up as a sure-fire first-round pick.

6. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Burks is far and away the best receiver prospect in the SEC this year. He has the size (6-3, 230 pounds) and production NFL teams crave. And, with KJ Jefferson taking over as QB1 at Arkansas this fall, he already has chemistry with his new quarterback:

Expect a lot more of that this fall.

5. Kaiir Elam, DB, Florida

Elam needs to show in 2021 that he can be more consistently great, but the flashes of brilliance he shows on a weekly basis are incredible. He is a versatile cornerback who makes enough plays in the run game to be effective, and he locks down one side of the field. He has snagged 2 interceptions in each of his seasons at Florida. I would expect offenses to avoid his side of the field even more in 2021.

4. DeMarvin Leal, Edge, Texas A&M

Miley Cyrus once sang, “I came in like a wrecking ball,” and that should honestly be Leal’s catchphrase. On this play from last season, Leal couldn’t have cared less if you were wearing orange or white — just get out of the way:

Leal, at 6-4 and 290 pounds, impacts a game in so many ways. He is solid against the run, can rush the passer off the edge and even had an interception (returned for 43 yards) in 2020. He can play any spot along the defensive line, which will make him attractive to NFL squads.

3. Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

I might be a bit higher on Wydermyer than most, but I think he has the talent to put up Kyle Pitts-esque numbers in 2021. And, considering the Atlanta Falcons drafted Pitts at No. 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wydermyer has the potential to be a Round 1 pick, too. If he keeps making smooth grabs like this in the red zone, he’ll draw a lot of NFL interest:

Wydermyer is the perfect tight end for today’s NFL. Now, all he has to do is have one more great year at A&M.

2. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

After racking up 6 interceptions and 15 pass breakups as a true freshman in 2019, Stingley didn’t have any picks in 2020 and only broke up 5 passes. Some of that was due to teams not throwing his way, of course, but more of it had to do with some nagging injuries that hampered him all year.

If he’s even close to 100% in 2021, he has the potential to be the first corner off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft and should be a top-10 overall pick.

1. Evan Neal, OL, Alabama

To be able to do something like this at 6-7 and 350 pounds defies the laws of physics:

Neal has played at various positions along the offensive line during his Alabama career. He was a left guard in 2019, a right tackle in 2020 and now, entering 2021, he’s the left tackle. That versatility will play at the NFL level. If I’m a lineman-needy team (like the Cincinnati Bengals, for example), I’m salivating at the opportunity to take Neal with a top-10 pick in 2022.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.

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