The SEC is a wild place, with teams’ chances at a division crown or playoff berth, or a coach’s job security, can vary widely week to week. Whose stock is rising and whose is dropping as we head into the offseason in the SEC West? SDS takes a look.
Rising
- Arkansas: The Razorbacks posted perhaps the SEC’s most impressive bowl performance — and certainly the West’s best — in demolishing Texas in the Texas Bowl. Bret Bielema has built great infrastructure on offense, and the Hogs bring back many of their most vital players there. The defense will be harder to replicate, as several stars were seniors, but Arkansas showed that its going to be a team to be reckoned with in 2015.
- Dak Prescott’s draft stock: It’s going to be hard for Prescott to get any higher than he is. Prescott clearly has NFL athleticism, and he showed off his improving arm in the Orange Bowl loss. While he had throw 51 times out of necessity, he completed better than 60 percent of his passes for 453 yards, an Orange Bowl record. Prescott maintained all season that he’d jump to the NFL if he thought he’d be taken in the first three rounds, and the time may be perfect for him to make the move.
- Texas A&M’s future: The Aggies, so inconsistent all season, can finally feel like they’re in good hands. Kyle Allen, who was shaky outside of his first half against Auburn, was excellent in the bowl game and his connection with Josh Reynolds should have points going up on the boards in droves. Add in Speedy Noil, Ricky Seals-Jones and Tra Carson and the Aggies have an impressive core to build on. Add in the addition of John Chavis to turn the defense into something better than abysmal, and the Aggies become perhaps the scariest
Falling
- Alabama’s defensive backs: The Crimson Tide have plenty coming up the pipeline, but the cornerbacks were rough in the Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State, and both safeties will be gone next year. Alabama didn’t turn to Tony Brown and Bradley Sylve as it did in the Iron Bowl, when Auburn’s receivers were gashing them, and it ended up costing them. Landon Collins was also clearly compromised by injury in the second half against Ohio State, and Alabama didn’t have anyone ready to step up and play well in his place.
- LSU’s defense: Losing Chavis to a rival school is a big enough blow, insult to injury after watching the defense crumble on third downs against Notre Dame. There would be cause for concern in Baton Rouge if that was all that happened, but the early entries are again looking like they’ll hurt the Tigers. Kwon Alexander and Jalen Collins have both already declared for the draft, Jalen Mills might follow and Danielle Hunter is considering leaving as well. Losing so many players early has crushed LSU the last few years, and the 2015 draft may be no different.
- Ole Miss’ passing game: Where do the Rebels go from here? Bo Wallace, for all his flaws, was the best quarterback to come through Oxford in a decade. If Chad Kelly doesn’t work out, Hugh Freeze is going to be in a bind. Laquon Treadwell will presumably be back by next season, but a team like conference rival LSU shows that receiver talent doesn’t mean anything if there’s no one to throw it.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
