Impact 2016 SEC players who won’t arrive until fall
Each SEC team is focused on spring practices right now, but the rosters aren’t yet complete.
The SEC currently has a total of 79 early enrollees, and Florida is leading the way with 12 players already on campus. But there are still a number of big names that haven’t stepped on the field. Just because they’re running late doesn’t mean they won’t make a big difference in the fall.
Here are some impact players who won’t be on campus until the fall:
ALABAMA LB BEN DAVIS
Former Tide LB Reggie Ragland has etched his name in the Alabama history books, and he will be sorely missed in 2015. Fellow LB Reuben Foster looks to be the favorite to help fill the gap, but that leaves the business of replacing Foster.
Davis is emerging as the favorite. The five-star recruit is a local and the son of former Tide defensive standout Wayne Davis. He is also the No. 1 linebacker in the state.
However, Davis isn’t the only one competing for the job. He will be going up against Tide LB Shaun Dion Hamilton as well as fellow recruit Lyndell Wilson. And head coach Nick Saban sees a big future in store both Davis and Wilson, comparing them to some recent Alabama greats.
“The goal for us is to teach those guys as much as we can as soon as we can because this is a position where we’ve had lots of guys in the past contribute as freshmen,” Saban said. “Rolando McClain did. Dont’a Hightower did. C.J. Mosley did. I think Nico Johnson did.”
AUBURN QB WOODY BARRETT
Auburn’s biggest need in 2016 is arguably at the quarterback position. Last season, Tigers QBs Sean White and Jeremy Johnson combined to complete a total of 178 of 305 pass attempts for 2,220 yards, 11 TDs and 12 INTs.
However, the Tigers got a huge boost when four-star, dual-threat QB Barrett committed to Auburn. And Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn has made it clear that Barrett has a shot at the starting job.
FLORIDA WR TYRIE CLEVELAND
No one can deny that the Florida offense struggled in 2015. Gators WR Antonio Callaway led the corps with just 678 yards and 4 TDs. He’s now indefinitely suspended, and Demarcus Robinson left early for the NFL. Needless to say, Florida could use some explosive receivers.
Enter four-star WR Tyrie Cleveland, the No. 2 receiver in the 2016 class. Cleveland will headline the new receiving corps that is making a debut in the Swamp this fall.
The 6-foot-2, 189-pound star out of Texas made a name for himself in his senior season at Westfield. He finished the year with 41 receptions for 918 yard and 14 TDs, beating the Gators No. 1 receiver by more than 200 yards and 10 TDs. And Cleveland performed even better during his junior season, totaling 1,105 yards.
GEORGIA RB ELIJAH HOLYFIELD
Holyfield is a four-star recruit out of Woodward Academy. The son of boxer Evander Holyfield, he received offers from 32 schools, but Georgia was his main squeeze all along. Luckily for the Bulldogs, he can fill a position at which they are feeling the heat.
Georgia is struggling to fill the backfield for 2016. Bulldogs RB Nick Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury against Tennessee last year, and while he is recovering more quickly than anyone expected, the coaches aren’t ready to count him in as the starting back yet.
In 2015, Bulldogs RB Sony Michel took over in the backfield after Chubb’s injury, and he did well, but A.J. Turman’s decision to transfer coupled with Holyfield’s potential could lead to opportunity.
Holyfield suffered a stress fracture early in the 2015 season, but he was still able to rack up 151 carries for 1,069 yards and 21 TDs in the nine games he played. Regardless of Chubb’s condition, Holyfield is very likely to see playing time for the Bulldogs in 2016. But if Chubb or Michel struggle in any way, he could easily take over one of the top spots.
MISSOURI RB NATEREACE STRONG
Mizzou has had a heck of a year. Long-time head coach Gary Pinkel retired, former defensive coordinator Barry Odom inherited a lackluster offense and now the Tigers are experiencing personnel troubles at running back and offensive line. Odom is relying heavily on this incoming class to change the course for Missouri.
Four-star RB transfer Strong originally planned to play for the Tigers in 2015, but he had to wait a year to make that happen because of academic requirements. So he spent the 2015 season at Hinds Community College where he rushed 15 times for 102 yards before suffering a season-ending injury in the second game. Strong is expected to make an instant impact for the Tigers, who are in desperate need of some offensive fire.