High-profile SEC stars could command big autograph money
It’s a strange world we live in when everybody can profit from a college football player’s autograph except for the athlete himself. The NCAA has made it very clear that student-athletes are not to sign items for profit, right Todd Gurley?
It remains to be seen whether the college sports governing body ever revisits that rule, but there are a number of SEC players who could cash in if the NCAA were to do so right now.
Here’s a look at the five highest-profile SEC players who would stand to make the most if the rule were reversed and student-athletes were allowed to get paid to put their John Hancock on anything put in front of them.
1. RB Leonard Fournette (LSU)
A consensus first-team All-American in 2015, Fournette was just one forgettable game against Alabama from winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore last year. He ran for a school-record 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2015 and ranks as the heavy early Heisman favorite for 2016. To say that he has a bright NFL future might be the biggest understatement of the year.
And, we already know he is willing. The NCAA specifically gave him permission to sell his jersey to support South Carolina’s flood relief last season.
NCAA says Leonard Fournette will be allowed to auction his jersey for charity http://t.co/5AqqNGNF9i pic.twitter.com/6ypSs0ueYE
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) October 11, 2015
2. RB Nick Chubb (Georgia)
A season-ending knee injury at Tennessee derailed what might have been a very special year for Chubb in 2015. The full extent of his recovery still remains to be seen, but, when healthy, the junior is an impressive blend of speed and power.
Chubb chewed up 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn first-team All-SEC honors as a freshman in 2014 before seeing his season cut short last year. He’ll be playing on Sundays for a long time.
Consider this a makeup call for suspending Gurley in 2014.
I'm in the biz and almost immune to the numbers. Still $527M? And … the NCAA suspended Todd Gurley for selling his autograph.
— Chris Wright (@CWrightSDS) January 20, 2016
3. QB Chad Kelly (Ole Miss)
The nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly served notice in 2015 that he was his own man, passing for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior to lead a potent Rebels offense to a Sugar Bowl victory.
Kelly earned second-team All-SEC accolades after guiding his team to wins over Alabama, Auburn and LSU in the regular season and became the first Ole Miss quarterback named as the Sugar Bowl’s MVP since Archie Manning in 1970.
4. DE Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
Earned first-team All-SEC honors as a junior in 2015 after registering team-highs in both sacks (12) and tackles for loss (14.5) to pace a stingy Crimson Tide defense. Allen added four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries to help Alabama win its fourth national championship in seven years.
5. CB Jalen Tabor (Florida)
It spoke volumes about Tabor when former Gators All-American cornerback and future NFL first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves III recently said that it was Tabor – and not himself – who may have been the team’s best defensive back in 2015.
The two shared the team-high for interceptions with four, but Tabor returned two for touchdowns to earn first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore.
Tabor has the necessary swag and lockdown cover skills needed to soon follow Hargreaves into the professional ranks.