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The deadline has passed for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft.
The recruiting of high-school and junior college players is virtually complete.
The transfer portal is still open, but the activity is past its peak.
Although a lot of work remains before the fall – spring football, offseason workouts and preseason camp – SEC teams’ rosters are very nearly set for the 2022 football season.
So we have enough information to predict every SEC teams’ MVPs for next season.
Here’s a look at the offenses:
Alabama: QB Bryce Young
He was deemed the best player in college football last season by the Heisman voters and many others. Few argued the point.
He figures to be even better next season. This was a no-brainer.
Arkansas: C Ricky Stromberg
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman specializes in coaching offensive lines. Stromberg figures to be the leader of a very good Arkansas line.
The Razorbacks must replace Treylon Burks, but they return talented skill players, led by dual-threat QB KJ Jefferson. Stromberg and his line-mates will help them produce.
Auburn: RB Tank Bigsby
Bigsby pondered entering the transfer portal after having a 1,000-yard rushing season in coach Bryan Harsin’s first season. He decided to stay, which seems to indicate that Harsin convinced him he will be an even bigger part of the offense next season.
Florida: OL O’Cyrus Torrence
The Gators would love for QB Anthony Richardson to win the starting job and become their no-doubt offensive MVP. Richardson has flashed that ability, but Torrence (6-5, 335) is a more proven commodity and he’s familiar with Billy Napier’s system. He came to Florida with Napier from Louisiana, where he started each of his first 3 years. He was a natural left tackle in high school but has spent most of his college career at guard.
Georgia: QB Stetson Bennett IV
Brock Bowers is a natural MVP candidate. After all, Bowers is the SEC’s leading returner in TD catches (13). And the Dawgs always have capable running backs — even though they’re replacing Zamir White and James Cook. But the oft-questioned Bennett was the Offensive MVP in the Bulldogs’ national championship game victory over Alabama, so he gets the nod.
Bennett might still be just a few bad plays away from hearing critics clamor for someone else at quarterback, but his last season should be another victory lap for him.
Kentucky: RB Chris Rodriguez
The Wildcats lost Wan’Dale Robinson to the NFL Draft but caught a huge break when Rodriguez decided to return.
Rodriguez is a workhorse in every sense of the word. He finished 2nd in the SEC in rushing last season and there’s no reason to think he won’t challenge for the rushing title in 2022.
LSU: WR Kayshon Boutte
Boutte was the most explosive receiver in college football before suffering a season-ending injury in the middle of last season.
The Tigers have a new coaching staff and we can’t be sure who the starting quarterback will be just yet. But Boutte will be the most productive player on the LSU offense and one of the most productive in college football.
Mississippi State: QB Will Rogers
Yes, it’s the system, but Rogers put up some eye-popping numbers last season, when he broke Dak Prescott’s school records for TD passes and yards by finishing with 36 and 4,739. He’ll be playing his 3rd season in Mike Leach’s pass-happy offense and the numbers should be even more impressive in 2022.
Missouri: RB Nathaniel Peat
Tyler Badie had a record-breaking season as the Tigers’ workhorse last season, finishing with 1,604 yards. It will be hard for anyone to duplicate that production, but Peat, a transfer from Stanford, figures to succeed Badie as the focal point of Missouri’s offense.
Ole Miss: RB Zach Evans
Lane Kiffin brought in Jaxson Dart to succeed Matt Corral, but it will be Evans, operating behind one of the better offensive lines in the SEC, that makes Kiffin’s offense hum. The Rebels will need him, too. In addition to replacing Corral, they also lost RBs Snoop Conner (13 TDs) and Jerrion Ealy (768 yards) to the NFL Draft.
South Carolina: QB Spencer Rattler
The Gamecocks were limited offensively in coach Shane Beamer’s first season last year, but Rattler was brought in from Oklahoma to change that. And he will.
Tennessee: QB Hendon Hooker
Hooker was the Vols’ biggest surprise and best offensive player last season. Remember, he didn’t win the starting job out of fall camp. But once he quickly capitalized on his opportunity and delivered one of the best seasons by any Vols QB. He finished with 31 TD passes against just 3 INTs. He improved significantly as last season went along and he is poised to have an even better season in the fall. The next step? Go all-in. Hooker averaged just 23.5 passes per game last season — 1oth in the SEC.
Texas A&M: WR Ainias Smith
Smith’s decision to return for his senior season provided a boost for A&M’s offense, which struggled for much of last season except for his explosiveness. The Aggies will have a heated QB battle — one that includes transfer Max Johnson and 5-star recruit Conner Weigman — and must replace Isaiah Spiller. All of which means Smith will be an even bigger part of the 2022 attack.
Vanderbilt: WR Will Sheppard
The wide receivers were perhaps the deepest unit on the Commodores’ team last season, but Sheppard is clearly the top returnee and will have an even bigger impact in 2022.
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.