Who are the SEC’s top 10 players — regardless of position — through 11 weeks this season? There are several methods used to define this group of Heisman frontrunners, defensive player of the year candidates and irreplaceable assets to their respective teams, but the easiest way is best.
- Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
- Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
- Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn
- Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State
- Shane Ray, DL, Mizzou
- Senquez Golson, DB, Ole Miss
- Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
- Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn
- Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
- Landon Collins, DB, Alabama
Takeaways: Don’t mind Cameron Artis-Payne, he’s just slowing annihilating every defense he comes in contact with this season as the centerpiece of Gus Malzahn’s rushing attack. Artis-Payne’s notched seven 100-yard games this season and is coming off his best career outing, a mammoth 221-yard, multi-touchdown masterpiece against Texas A&M … Nick Chubb will get a breather Saturday now that Todd Gurley’s back in the lineup, but Georgia’s true freshman should still exceed triple digits on the ground if he’s given 15 carries. Since shouldering the load in Gurley’s absence, Chubb’s been one of the nation’s most durable backs and unofficially leads the SEC in broken tackles over the last four games … Alabama safety Landon Collins has received enough credit this season, but he will over the next few games. Much of the buzz in Tuscaloosa’s centered on the Lane Kiffin-Amari Cooper attachment, but Collins has also played a vital and consistent role on the other side of the football. He leads the Crimson Tide with two interceptions and ranks second on the team in tackles. He could cement an all-conference nod with an impact outing against Mississippi State.
Just missed the cut: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama; A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee; Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss; Cody Prewitt, DB, Ole Miss; Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss; Preston Smith, DL, Mississippi State; Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M; Vernon Hargreaves, DB, Florida; Elliott Fry, K, South Carolina; A.J. Stamps, DB, Kentucky; Jonathan Williams, Arkansas; Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
