Every year, the SEC is full of NFL talent, sending a slew of players to the draft annually.
While there are a host of reasons to play college in football, most top prospects are looking to make a career out of it. The SEC is as good as conference in the league in preparing its student-athletes for the professional game.
Which SEC school would be able to field the best NFL team?
- LSU Tigers: The Tigers came into the year with the biggest group of NFL alumni, with 43 players on rosters at the outset of the season. This year took it to another level and had folks around the NFL posing the question, “How did LSU lose any games last year?” Odell Beckham Jr., Jeremy Hill and Jarvis Landry all tore up the league as rookies, with Zach Mettenberger looking serviceable as a quarterback. LSU has enough players in the league to field very good units on both sides of the ball, with stars Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson and others holding down the defense.
- Alabama Crimson Tide: Minus a quarterback, Alabama has big-time NFL contributors at just about every position. They have the best group of offensive linemen in the pros, with Evan Mathis, D.J. Fluker and a host of others clearing holes around the league. Alabama has stars at just about every defensive position as well. There aren’t a ton of outstanding skill players from Alabama, but Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacy make for a very solid core.
- Georgia Bulldogs: With some of the most explosive talent in the NFL of any SEC team, Georgia would present some real problems for any opponent. The defensive side is stocked with standout players, with Charles Johnson, Justin Houston, Geno Atkins and many more. The Dawgs would also reunite Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and A.J. Green, adding a strong offensive line in front of them.
- Tennessee Volunteers: When you can count Peyton Manning among your alumni, you’re in pretty good shape. The greatest statistical quarterback to ever play would have weapons like Jason Witten, Arian Foster and Cordarrelle Patterson at his disposal, making the Vols perhaps the most frightening offensive team to play against. Tennessee’s defense would be led by Jerod Mayo and, health permitting, star safety Eric Berry. While that side of the ball isn’t loaded with stars, having Manning and a deep receiving corps vaults the Vols up the rankings.
- South Carolina Gamecocks: The Gamecocks’ down year is very understandable when you look at how many of their recent players stock NFL rosters. Connor Shaw makes his first NFL start on Sunday, and he’d have his old weapon Alshon Jeffery to toss it around to. Carolina’s defense would be loaded with solid NFL contributors, with recent first-round picks like Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram reuniting to lead that side of the ball. There’s also Jadeveon Clowney, who went through an injury-plagued rookie year but is still loaded with potential.
Honorable mentions
- Auburn Tigers: Cam Newton leads a group of talented offensive players, with a ton of talent thanks to recent first-roudn picks in the defensive front seven.
- Florida Gators: Florida doesn’t have a quarterback in the pros, but have some offensive play makers and a slew of defensive studs to anchor the team.
- Texas A&M Aggies: Ryan Tannehill would likely outduel Johnny Manziel for the quarterback job, and he’d have guys like Mike Evans and Martellus Bennett to sling it around to.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
