SEC Debate: Which player sitting out spring will make biggest impact come fall?

Spring practice is a great opportunity for FBS programs to regroup, turn the page to a new season, work out kinks from the previous season and manage roster turnover in the form of graduated seniors, incoming recruits and early departures for the NFL.

However, not every player is able to participate in spring practice. Some players are still nursing injuries suffered during the previous season. Some gems from a given recruiting class may not have enrolled in school early, forcing them to wait for the fall to make their debut on the practice field.

Whatever the reason, an absence from spring practice does not always indicate a slow start to the season once the fall arrives. Every year there are players who missed spring ball for one reason or another that still dominate once the regular season gets underway.

Our staff tried to project which players might fit that mold in 2015. Take a look at what some of our staffers had to say:

Which player sitting out spring practice will make the greatest impact come the fall?

Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS): DT Daylon Mack, Texas A&M

I’ve written it before, and at the risk of being repetitive I’ll say it again: John Chavis, Myles Garrett and the rest of the Texas A&M defense are going to love having Mack around. Go watch some tape on the kid and you’ll see why. He’s huge, he’s surprisingly mobile and blockers can’t seem to stay in front of him. Having Mack’s presence in the middle of the defense is going to free up Garrett, which will help unlock his potential as an every-down pass rushing terror. He’ll generate pressure himself and help keep blockers from getting to the second level as quickly as they did against last year’s porous defense. Mack isn’t going to be the difference between Texas A&M going from worst to first in SEC defense, but he’s going to get them going on the right track.

Jon Cooper (@JonSDS): OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Laremy Tunsil is missing spring practice due to an injury, but he’s the most dynamic player on the Rebels’ offense. He could be college football’s best left tackle for 2015, and he’s lived up to the all the hype thus far. Ole Miss has some holes on its roster this coming season, but left tackle isn’t a question mark — by far. Position for position, Tunsil could be the SEC’s most talented player in 2015.

Ethan Levine (@EthanLevineSDS): DT Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri

There are established stars sitting out the spring with injuries like Tennessee’s Derek Barnett and Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil that could serve as ideal answers to this question. The same can be said for touted 2015 signees like Martez Ivey and Byron Cowart, who opted not to enroll in school early. Nevertheless, I’m going with Beckner due to the combination of his raw abilities and Missouri’s propensity for producing elite defensive linemen. Beckner joins arguably the deepest group of defensive tackles in the SEC, and with his impressive size and strength (6-foot-4 and 295 pounds) he’s already physically capable of holding his own at the Division I level. If he follows the mold of Mizzou defensive linemen before him, he’ll be one of the greats

Christopher Smith (@CSmithSDS): DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee

Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil should get strong consideration. Five-star talents like Byron Cowart, Daylon Mack and Martez Ivey also could make a huge impact as true freshmen. But give me arguably the most disruptive defensive end in the conference who is returning for 2015. Barnett made 20.5 tackles for loss last season and will miss Tennessee’s spring practice due to a shoulder injury. But he’ll be the cornerstone of what should be a very good SEC defense this fall.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.