It’s time for the 2023 Midseason Awards, where we look at the highs and lows from the first 6 weeks of the SEC season. Let’s get started:

Best decision

Moving Luther Burden III to slot receiver

When new Missouri OC Kirby Moore arrived in Columbia, he and coach Eli Drinkwitz — who had just given up control of the offense — decided to move Burden inside for multiple reasons.

At the top of the list: matchup problems for the defense.

The results have been stunning. The top wide receiver in the 2022 recruiting class according to the 247Sports composite, Burden struggled last season on the perimeter because Missouri couldn’t ’t get him the ball accurately.

He got frustrated and his play showed it. A year later, Missouri gets Burden the ball every way imaginable. Go routes, skinny posts, post corners, curls and drags and hitches.

His dynamic ability generates explosive chunk plays, and the offense has completely changed.

Last year, Burden had 45 catches for 375 yards (8.3 ypc.) and 6 TD in 13 games. Through 6 games this season, he has 54 catches for 793 yards (14.7 ypc.) and 5 TD. The metamorphosis has been remarkable.

He’s the best receiver in the SEC, which puts him high on the list of best receivers in college football.

Honorable mention: Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin adding QBs Spencer and Walker Howard on the offseason to push QB Jaxson Dart — who has responded with a big half season.

Worst decision

Moving Harold Perkins: If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

For some unknown reason, LSU decided it would play Perkins — a terror off the edge in the 2nd half of last season — inside, while moving him around the front 7 in specific down and distance situations.

I’m a big fan of LSU coach Brian Kelly, but this has been a colossal mistake.

Perkins was the most disruptive defensive player in the nation at the end of last season, and looks lost at times while playing multiple positions. LSU overthought it from Day 1 this spring, with the idea that more Perkins all over the defense would be more impactful than Perkins off the edge.

The edge rusher who was unblockable last season has 2 sacks in 6 games, and the Tigers’ pass defense has been horrific — in part, because of a lack of pressure on the quarterback (11 sacks).

And Perkins’ impact inside? He has 3.5 tackles for loss — not including the 2 sacks.

Dishonorable mention: Alabama benching Jalen Milroe — and nearly losing the USF game because of it.

Best game

Jalen Milroe vs. Texas A&M

The Aggies stacked the box, and rolled up safeties to stop the Alabama run, daring Milroe to beat them in the passing game. The Tide rushed for 23 yards on 26 caries — and still won a crucial SEC West Division game on the road.

Why? Milroe, the guy Alabama blamed for the Texas loss.

Milroe completed 21-of-33 passes for 321 yards and 3 TDs against the Aggies, and had completions of 52, 46, 45, 21, 21, 19, 15 and 15 yards. Those chunk plays in the pass game weren’t around in the loss to Texas.

Then again, neither was the trust in Milroe to carry the offense. That will change over the 2nd half of the season, and Milroe will only get better.

Honorable mention: LSU QB Jayden Daniels vs. Ole Miss.

Worst game

Florida run defense vs. Kentucky.

At one point during the utter humiliation, Florida had 13 players on the field in defending a 1st-and-goal from the 3. Kentucky lined up and did what worked all game: turned and handed it to RB Ray Davis.

Thirteen defenders on the field, and Davis was barely touched until he reached the goal line. He rushed for 280 yards and 3 TD on 26 carries (10.8 ypc), and the Wildcats rushed for 329 yards on 36 carries (9.1 ypc.)

Kentucky threw for 69 yards, and won by 19 points.

Dishonorable mention: Arkansas special teams in a 38-31 loss to BYU.

Biggest surprise

SEC in big nonconference games

Since we’re all visual creatures, feast your eyes on these scores:

  • Utah 24, Florida 11
  • North Carolina 31, South Carolina 17
  • FSU 45, LSU 24
  • Texas 34, Alabama 24
  • Miami 48, Texas A&M 33
  • BYU 38, Arkansas 31

That’s 6 big nonconference games, and an average loss by 13.3 points.

Honorable mention: Coaching for his job, Drinkwitz changed it all — and won the first 5 games of the season.

Biggest disappointment

Texas A&M

It began with an ugly loss at Miami, when the strength of coach Jimbo Fisher’s most talented team to date — the defensive line and secondary — absolutely fell apart.

The front 4 couldn’t consistently affect the quarterback, and the secondary couldn’t cover. Canes QB Tyler Van Dyke threw for 374 yards and 5 TDs in a 15-point win.

A month later, Alabama did the same thing to the Texas A&M secondary — and now the team with Playoff hopes is in danger of losing its 3rd game Saturday at Tennessee.

Dishonorable mention: Mississippi State defense.

Surging

Georgia QB Carson Beck

It took about 5 1/2 weeks, but UGA coach Kirby Smart and OC Mike Bobo finally trust Beck. Since the 4th quarter at Auburn — Georgia trailed by 7 in the 3rd quarter — Beck has completed 36-of-45 passes, for 537 yards and 5 TDs (1 INT).

In those 5 quarters, he has 10 completions of at least 20 yards, including 5 of at least 30. The ball is going downfield, and the offense is growing.

By the end of November, Beck will be a completely different player than what we saw the first 5 games of the season — and will be playing better than any quarterback in the SEC.

Honorable mention: WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

Fading

Sam Pittman’s 3-year honeymoon.

He’s the perfect fit at Arkansas, that’s not even a question.

But if Arkansas can’t find a way to win Saturday at suddenly surging Alabama, the Hogs will have lost 5 straight games in Pittman’s 4th season.

More distressing: After losing 4 games by 1 possession in 2022, Arkansas has already lost 3 this season. Those 7 losses may be the difference between a lifetime contract — and scrambling to find wins in 2024.

The Hogs have lost 5 of their past 6 SEC games, and it more than likely will be 6-of-7 after Saturday. That leaves 4 50-50 games — Mississippi State, at Florida, Auburn, Missouri — and a money game against FIU to turn the season.

Dishonorable mention: The Florida offense.

The Midseason All-SEC team

Offense
QB: Jayden Daniels, LSU
RB: Ray Davis, Kentucky
RB: Cody Schrader, Missouri
WR: Luther Burden III, Missouri
WR: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
OT: Will Campbell, LSU
OT: Javon Foster, Missouri
G: Tate Rutledge, Georgia
G: Tyler Booker, Alabama
C: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
K: Will Reichard, Alabama
KR: Jayden McGowan, Vanderbilt

Defense
DT: Walter Nolen, Texas A&M
DT: Deone Walker, Kentucky
DE: James Pearce, Tennessee
LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
LB: Dallas Turner, Alabama
LB: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
LB: Chris Braswell, Alabama
CB: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
CB: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
S: Malaki Starks, Georgia
S: Caleb Downs, Alabama
P: Matthew Waybill, Vanderbilt
PR: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Offensive Player of the Midseason: Jayden Daniels, LSU

Defensive Player of the Midseason: Dallas Turner, Alabama

Coach of the Midseason: Elia Drinkwitz, Missouri

Game of the Midseason: Ole Miss 55, LSU 49