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Spring practice is a time for coaches to get a first look at their roster, bring new players and assistants up to speed and perhaps do a little experimenting.
For others, however, it’s a time missed; either through injury or they just haven’t made it to campus just yet. For them, looking ahead to fall practice is paramount. A lost opportunity for sure, but missing spring practice isn’t a lost cause, either.
Here are five good SEC West players absent from spring practice:
5. Lyndell “Mack” Wilson, LB, Alabama: One of two top linebacker prospects in the state headed to Alabama, Wilson is expected to help the Tide reload at the position. Rated the No. 2 linebacker in the country, according to 247sports.com, Wilson will begin his quest to make a name for himself in the fall.
Smart and athletic, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder provides versatility at the position. He played both outside and inside in high school, according to AL.com. Alabama is deep with linebacker talent and has the luxury of easing in Wilson to a starting spot rather than having to throw him into the fire.
4. Ben Davis, LB, Alabama: A legacy recruit at Alabama, Davis looks to follow in his father’s footsteps when he starts his career at Alabama. Wayne Davis (1983-86) is the Tide’s all-time leading tackler (327). The younger Davis is the top player in the state and the nation’s top-rated inside linebacker, according to 247sports.com. Nick Saban told AL.com that the door is open for both Davis and Wilson to be a factor with the Tide from the very beginning.
“This is a position where we’ve had lots of guys in the past contribute as freshmen — Rolando McClain did, Dont’a Hightower did, CJ Mosely did, I think Nico Johnson did,” Saban said. “And we didn’t have a lot of depth at that position this year, so I think how quickly these guys can learn and grow and develop at that position is important because I think they both have the kind of athletic ability and critical factors at that position that we’re looking for.”
3. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn: The top recruit in the state of Georgia from the class of 2016, Brown has all the physical tools to be a force in the Tigers defensive line for years to come. Once he gets to campus and enters fall practice, the five-star, No. 9 recruit nationally, according to 247sports.com, will begin to flex his exceptional athletic muscle.
A stonewall of a run stopper, the 6-foot-5, 305-pounder will be a pleasant addition for new DC Kevin Steele, who looks to shore up the Tigers’ run defense, which ranked 11th in the SEC last season, yielding an average of 182.5 rushing yards per game.
2. Gregory Little, OT, Ole Miss: Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze can’t wait to get Little on campus and into fall drills. The nation’s top-ranked player at his position in the recruiting class of 2016, Little is expected to compete for and perhaps even fill the void left by Laremy Tunsil, who declared early for the NFL draft.
The quick and athletic blocker has solid football skills with a wide wingspan that will allow him to battle immediately for a starting spot at tackle. Strong and smart, Little has all the makings of a great one following in the footsteps of Tunsil. Freeze has raved about the 305-pound tackle’s footwork.
1. Fred Ross, WR, Mississippi State: Groin surgery sidelined the Bulldogs’ leading receiver. His 88 receptions in 2015 ranked second in the SEC. Ross piled up 1,007 receiving yards a year ago and caught five touchdown passes. His 77.5 receiving yards per game average ranked fifth in the SEC last season. But Ross will have a slow start to his senior season after missing spring practice.
This could prove to be somewhat of a problem in that the Bulldogs are breaking in a new quarterback post-Dak Prescott and the spring practices would have been beneficial to the timing between that of Ross and the new signal-caller. It’s imperative that Ross and the Bulldogs new quarterback get on the same page as quickly as possible, especially with De’Runnya Wilson leaving early for the NFL draft.
Others considered: Alabama LT Cam Robinson, Alabama DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama S Eddie Jackson, Auburn S Tray Matthews, LSU CB Kevin Toliver II, LSU WR Travin Dural, Ole Miss DB Tony Conner, Ole Miss DT Issac Gross, Ole Miss G Rod Taylor, Texas A&M OL Keaton Sutherland.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
