Only four SEC teams step out of the conference this week with two mid-majors, an FCS team and an ACC squad.

Georgia welcomes Southern to Athens, Louisiana-Monroe heads to Tuscaloosa to battle Alabama, South Carolina will host UCF and LSU heads to the Canadian border, then turns around to see the Carrier Dome where it will play Syracuse.

Here are four players that could give problems to their Southeastern Conference opponents:

Jordan Akins, UCF, WR: This season, the McDonough, Ga., native has caught 14 passes for 152 yards for the 0-3 Golden Knights who visit Georgia Saturday.

He averages 10.9 yards per catch and 50.7 yards per game.

Akins has also scored two touchdowns.

Also the primary UCF return specialist, the 6-foot-3, 237-pound speedster has run back a pair of punts for 15 yards and six kickoffs for a 24.8 yards per attempt.

Akins is older than most sophomores in the NCAA. He was selected in the third round for the 2010 Major League Draft by the Texas Rangers. In 321 minor league games, he hit 24 home runs and stole 42 bases.

Zaire Franklin, Syracuse, LB:  Franklin and his pals are the next up to try to stop — or slowdown — the Leonard Fournette express.

Franklin has 21 total tackles this season, 17 of the solo variety, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and an interception he returned 21 yards for the 3-0 Orange.

Last season, he had 44 stops, five for loss a pair of sacks and he forced a fumble. He topped the double-digit mark in tackles only once, with 10 against Pittsburgh.

Garrett Smith, Louisiana-Monroe, QB: Smith gets the unenviable task of leading the first team into Bryant-Denny Stadium since Ole Miss beat Alabama last week.

In his first season as a college player, Smith has completed 79 percent of his passes (49-of-62) for 576 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 288 yards through the air for the 1-1 Warhawks.

He is also averaging 36 yards rushing per game.

Kentavious Preston, Southern, LB: Preston has been a defensive force for two years in a league known for producing tough defenders. The SWAC has produced Michael Strahan, Willie Davis and Everson Walls in the past.

This season, Preston has 19 total tackles — five of them unassisted — 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

His totals already are close to surpassing his freshman totals: 20 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a half a sack. Last year he did have one interception.

The Atlanta native will be returning to his home state to take on UGA.