Ad Disclosure
The deadline has passed for underclassmen to declare their intentions for the NFL draft. So who’s going to get the bulk of the snaps in spring practice and move up the depth chart by August?
The next in a growing line of cornerbacks at Florida is Quincy Wilson, who will replace Vernon Hargreaves III. Wilson, who recently had sports hernia surgery, had two interceptions and five pass breakups this past season.
In front of Wilson, DE CeCe Jefferson got a taste of life in SEC with 3.5 sacks in 2015, and will be counted on to replace DE Alex McAlister. Jefferson also had 8.5 tackles for a loss. The Gators will miss a hard-hitting safety in Keanu Neal. But Nick Washington, Marcell Harris or Duke Dawson should be capable of filling in. Washington and Harris each saw lots of action this past season.
Mark Thompson and Antonio Callaway should be the stars of the Florida offense, replacing Kelvin Taylor and Demarcus Robinson. Callaway led the team in 2015 with 35 catches for 678 yards and four TDs.
Thompson is already on campus and could have a leg-up on backfield mates Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkite. Thompson was the top junior-college running back and his size — 6-foot-2, 230 pounds — is one reason why he’s expected to hold up in the SEC.
At Georgia, the Bulldogs will look for Lorenzo Carter, who had a big freshman season, to fill the void left by Leonard Floyd. But just 19 tackles this past season left plenty to be desired, not to mention zero sacks.
South Carolina may have the toughest task to replace its lone offensive star, WR Pharoh Cooper. WR Deebo Samuel could be that guy with experience as a redshirt sophomore and nine catches in his last two games. His five catches for 104 yards, including a seven-yard TD and 48-yard play against Clemson is reason for optimism.
At Vanderbilt, the loss is Stephen Weatherly. Backup Josh Smith, Landon Stokes and Nehemiah Mitchell will be counted on to replace him at linebacker. Stokes and Mitchell had 24 tackles each.
If Peyton Barber’s decision to leave wasn’t the most surprising in the SEC, that label goes to Tennessee WR Marquez North, who won’t be missed statistically after he had just six catches in 2015.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
