Unless you pick a specific position and obsess about it to the exclusion of all others, providing an accurate Top 10 across the SEC is difficult.
Familiarity with certain players and teams skews perspective. Careful, tedious research, and sourcing the well-informed opinions of others, can sharpen one’s knowledge of, say, the SEC’s 10 best interior offensive linemen.
RELATED:Â Ranking the the SEC’s best players by position entering 2015
But it’s a subjective exercise, particularly before the season begins. Previously, we ranked the 10 best SEC players at every position entering the 2015 season.
Here are the players that we potentially have underrated. All of these guys could swarm into our Top 10 positional rankings well before the end of the season. Feel free to tell us how wrong we were when that happens, especially with these players.
QUARTERBACK
Chad Kelly, Ole Miss: He didn’t perform all that well during spring practice. But his JUCO production wasn’t a fluke. With several more months operating the offense of coach Hugh Freeze, it’s easy to imagine the Rebels quarterback performing well enough to take advantage of the terrific pass-catching talent around him.
Brandon Harris, LSU: I’ll wait until you’re finished laughing. Done? Not yet? … OK. The pool of terrific SEC quarterbacks isn’t 10 deep this season. LSU’s offense is full of talent at every other position. The defense is fierce. If Harris can win the job and leverage his athleticism, he could become a Top-10 SEC quarterback.
Will Grier, Florida: Assuming Grier wins the job, and doesn’t get obliterated by opposing pass rushers by the end of the season, he’s more than capable of cracking the SEC’s Top 10. It’s wait-and-see with Grier, but Jim McElwain is good at developing quarterbacks and he at least seems to be an accurate passer.
RUNNING BACK
Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky: This one is all about opportunities. The Air Raid offense is great for overall production, but it limits the chances to force-feed a feature back. Williams, though, should see his offensive touches soar (91 in 2014). He gained 7.1 yards per touch as a freshman.
Kenyan Drake, Alabama: At least one Tuscaloosa media member has suggested Drake could lead the Tide in receptions this year. He’s also slated as the second running back behind Derrick Henry. Whether or not coordinator Lane Kiffin turns Drake into a Reggie Bush prototype, he could have a much bigger season than most realize.
Roc Thomas, Auburn: A Tigers running back has led the SEC in rushing in each of Gus Malzahn’s seasons as head coach. If there’s going to be a feature back, JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson still may have the best chance to inherit that role due to his third-down ability. But it’s possible Thomas becomes the No. 1 back. If so, his production could warrant a Top 10 ranking.
RECEIVER
Marquez North, Tennessee: He’s a potential first-round NFL draft pick who never has reached his potential in Knoxville. Now that the Vols found a “CEO quarterback” in Joshua Dobbs, and the offensive line can only get better, 2015 represents a great opportunity. If North can stay healthy, he absolutely can be one of the 10 best receivers in the SEC.
Malachi Dupre, LSU:Â He caught just 14 passes last year as a true freshman, but he showed why recruiting services labeled him as a five-star talent. At 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds, Dupre has the build of a true SEC No. 1. Assuming one of the Tigers’ quarterbacks can get him the ball, those numbers should skyrocket this fall.
Ryan Timmons, Kentucky: The No. 1 receiver in what should be a very productive Wildcats offense probably is getting overlooked this preseason.
TIGHT END
Jake McGee, Florida:Â The most important Virginia transfer to play in the SEC East this season won’t be Greyson Lambert. During his last full season, McGee caught 43 passes for the Cavaliers. If he comes close to those figures for Florida in ’15, he’ll be ranked well higher than 10th at tight end.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
- Kolton Houston, Georgia
- Connor McGovern, Missouri
- David Sharpe, Florida
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
- Aaron Morris, Ole Miss
- Joseph Cheek, Texas A&M
- Jon Toth, Kentucky
DEFENSIVE END
Jon Bullard, Florida:Â If the Gators are going to replace the production of Dante Fowler Jr. by committee, Bullard is the chairman.
JaMichael Winston, Arkansas: Deatrich Wise has a higher ceiling, but Winston is steady as they come. He’s not the same talent as Trey Flowers, but that’s another Razorbacks defensive end who got overlooked entering last season because he wasn’t the league’s best pass-rusher.
Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt: If you’re not a Commodores fan and you’ve heard of Azubike, kudos to you. Watch closely if your team faces Vandy this season and you probably will notice him as one of the standouts on Derek Mason’s defense.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Issac Gross, Ole Miss: He’s not a sexy name like Robert Nkemdiche, but he’s got a great argument as a Top 10 SEC defensive tackle entering 2014. He’s disruptive, consistent and able to take advantage of 1-on-1 matchups.
Melvin Lewis, Kentucky: Especially with Jason Hatcher facing a two-game suspension, Lewis is the fulcrum of the restocked Wildcats defensive line. If UK gets better on defense, he should get credit.
Alonzo Williams, Texas A&M: He’s not a typical fit for coordinator John Chavis’ system, which prefers more slender defensive tackles. But Williams clogs the middle and gives the team a run-stuffer it desperately needs. And it’s not as if the Aggies lack pass rush.
LINEBACKER
Kris Frost, Auburn: It’s difficult to distinguish Frost from Cassanova McKinzy, whom we placed on our preseason Top 10 list. Both players have to be excited about the opportunity to play for Will Muschamp before entering the NFL draft.
Beniquez Brown, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs standout is one of the most intelligent defensive players in the SEC, able to diagnose offenses pre-snap and ensure his teammates align correctly. It’s possible Brown could challenge for the conference lead in tackles, which surely would elevate him into the Top 10.
Brooks Ellis, Arkansas: The Razorbacks funnel plays toward the weakside linebacker. Last year, Martrell Spaight benefitted. This year, it’s Ellis’ turn. Coach Bret Bielema is touting him as a potential All-SEC candidate. If he’s right, Ellis will finish the season in our Top 10.
CORNERBACK
Aarion Penton, Missouri: The choice between Penton and Kenya Dennis isn’t easy. Penton is a more natural cover corner, while Dennis is more physical and aggressive. But if Penton leads the team in interceptions and helps Mizzou’s defense stay relevant despite huge losses along the line, he may deserve a Top 10 spot.
Tee Shepard, Ole Miss: He’s overcome a lot to start at cornerback for Ole Miss’ Landshark defense. Not just a toe injury that sidelined him last season, but being deaf. But it hasn’t stopped him from becoming a reputable Rebels defender.
Tony Bridges, Ole Miss: Will Bridges become this year’s Senquez Golson, the SEC’s best ball hawk? It’s possible, as Ole Miss produced the SEC’s interception leader in ’14 (Golson) and ’13 (Cody Prewitt). If Bridges nabs a handful of picks, he’s in the Top 10.
SAFETY
Keanu Neal, Florida: One of the SEC’s hardest hitters, Neal is part of a fierce secondary determined to get individual recognition beyond Vernon Hargreaves III.
Tray Matthews, Auburn: The former UGA player finally is ready to get back onto an SEC field after sitting out last season. If Muschamp can turn him into the star of the secondary, he may be worthy of a Top 10 ranking at season’s end.
Eddie Jackson, Alabama: The Tide lost starting safeties Landon Collins and Nick Perry. But, as good as those players were, the team is getting more coverage-oriented than those glorified linebackers. Jackson has played a lot of cornerback, and if he helps Alabama’s secondary prevent more deep passing plays, he could deserve a spot on this list.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
