Let’s get offensive.

But let’s get offensive in a good way because there are a lot of SEC players who have made a solid argument as to why they’ll deserve to be the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. I’ll make the case for 5 today, plus a few fringe candidates.

Before I do that, some fun facts!

  • The SEC had 1 player named “SEC Player of the Year” from 1933-2001, but then broke it into “offensive” and “defensive” in 2002.
  • The last SEC East player to win the award was Tim Tebow in 2008.
  • 6 different Alabama players won it in the past 8 years.
  • Half the total winners since 2002 were non-quarterbacks.
  • The only non-quarterbacks to win were receivers and running backs.
  • Only 2 receivers won the award and they were both Alabama players.
  • Georgia, Mizzou, MSU, South Carolina and Tennessee haven’t produced a winner.
  • 4 of the first 6 winners didn’t play in the SEC Championship, but only 1 of the past 14 winners failed to make it to the SEC Championship … and it was 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

Now that you’re well-prepped on the history of the award, here’s who I think has the best shot at winning it.

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee QB

Let’s start with the SEC’s best shot at the Heisman Trophy. Don’t get mad at me for saying that, Alabama fans. That’s based on the latest FanDuel odds, which have Hooker (+450) second behind CJ Stroud (+150). That’s what beating Alabama will do for you. It helps that Hooker:

  • A) Has a 15-1 TD-INT ratio
  • B) Is No. 2 in FBS in quarterback rating
  • C) Is averaging 351 scrimmage yards/game
  • D) Just put up 441 scrimmage yards and 5 TDs vs. Alabama
  • E) All the above

It’s “E.” It’s always “E.”

Hooker’s path to SEC Offensive Player of the Year is the best of anyone in the conference simply because we already had the side-by-side against Young, and even if he falters against Georgia, it’s not like the Dawgs have a candidate who’ll steal the award from him (spoiler alert). If Tennessee just reaches the SEC Championship, one would think Hooker’s odds would be off the charts. This looks like Tennessee’s best shot to win the award since it became a thing in 2002.

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee WR

DeVonta Smith, Amari Cooper.

That’s the list of receivers who have won this award. Smith won the Heisman and Cooper was a finalist for that award. In other words, you need a historic season to win the award. Hyatt has a pretty solid argument to do just that coming off a game in which he had a ridiculous 206 yards and 5 touchdowns to vault into the FBS lead in receiving scores. Hyatt’s 12-game pace is 1,195 yards, which is certainly a ways off from the 1,656 pre-bowl receiving yards Cooper had, or the 1,511 pre-bowl receiving yards that Smith had.

But if Hyatt were to continue his 20-touchdown pace (12 games) that would be unprecedented for an SEC receiver going into bowl season. That sounds insane, but considering the explosive offense Hyatt plays in and the ongoing ankle injury that Cedric Tillman is working his way back from, it’s not off the table at all. Hitting 20 touchdowns before bowl season would be perhaps the only way that Tillman could outshine his own teammate and earn the award.

Bryce Young, Alabama QB

Young wasn’t the reason Alabama lost the Tennessee game. If anything, he showed why the Tide would’ve lost by 28 if he wasn’t out there with his cape on. He put up 455 passing yards on the road against the then-No. 6 team in the country.

Young might not necessarily match his gaudy 2021 Heisman numbers because he missed a game and the Tide have a stronger ground attack, but he’s still putting together a darn impressive season. His 12-game pace is 32 passing touchdowns and 3,314 yards, and when you account for the “wow” factor of some of Young’s plays, it’s safe to say he’ll be in the conversation if he stays healthy. If he’s playing for an Alabama team that wins the SEC — something that’s still very much on the table — then Young could be the first repeat winner of the award since Darren McFadden in 2007.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama RB

If you don’t like watching Gibbs run the football, it’s for 1 of 2 reasons. You’re either watching him light up your team or it’s because you think everyone should operate with a Mike Leach version of the Air Raid. Shoot, Gibbs would still find a way to put up big numbers in that offense. Gibbs is Alabama’s leader in catches (27) and he’s second on the team in receiving yards (268). Not bad for a dude who ranks No. 14 in rushing among Power 5 backs. Through 7 games, Gibbs ranks No. 10 among Power 5 players with 129 scrimmage yards per game.

So then what does the path look like? We know that Hooker is the obvious choice, and the aforementioned Young could emerge as the favorite if Alabama’s offense fuels another SEC title. Gibbs’ best argument if he continues to be the unique weapon he’s been the last 3 games. The home-run plays and the all-purpose numbers might not be at a 2015 Christian McCaffrey level, but if Gibbs has this kind of stat line heading into the postseason, he’ll have a strong case:

  • 2,000 scrimmage yards
  • 50 catches
  • Kickoff return touchdown

Gibbs would need to average 182 scrimmage yards in his last 6 games (if Alabama makes the SEC Championship), which might sound lofty, but he averaged 181 scrimmage yards in his past 3 games. The path is there for the Georgia Tech transfer.

Rocket Sanders, Arkansas RB

I know, I know. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year has played for a division winner 13 times in the past 14 years. Arkansas isn’t going to be playing in an SEC Championship, so that means Sanders would really need to put up some gaudy numbers. Like I outlined with Gibbs, a 2,000-yard season is probably the benchmark needed because unlike Kerryon Johnson, who was the last running back to win the award, Sanders won’t get that 13th game.

But man, Sanders is having a whale of a season. He’s No. 1 in the SEC and No. 5 in FBS with 151 scrimmage yards per game. The sophomore has at least 120 scrimmage yards in 6 of Arkansas’ 7 games, and he has hit 175 scrimmage yards 3 times. Could we see Sanders, who is already at his high school/college career high with 140 carries, flip on the afterburners down the stretch to hit 2,000 scrimmage yards? Or will he hit a wall with the unprecedented workload? That remains to be seen, but any discussion about the league’s best offensive player needs Sanders in it.

And the “never say never, but probably not” candidates

Will Rogers, MSU QB

If Rogers had continued his dominant start with a high-scoring victory at Kentucky, he’d be in the first group. Instead, though, the MSU quarterback had a back-to-earth showing that all but guaranteed he won’t be leading MSU to a West title in 2022. Yes, it’s strange to somewhat dismiss a guy who ranks in the top 4 in FBS in passing yards and passing touchdowns. But he’s No. 7 in the SEC in quarterback rating and he’s No. 68 in FBS in yards/attempt. The Air Raid might always have an asterisk when it comes to individual honors considering that Mike Leach had 4 5,000-yard passers at Texas Tech and none of them got a Heisman invite.

Fair or not, Rogers’ path to the SEC’s top offensive honor might’ve hit a pretty significant roadblock with the Week 7 developments, especially with the clinic that Hooker and Young put on in Knoxville.

Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss RB

Judkins has been a revelation in the Ole Miss backfield as a true freshman. Nobody in their right mind would’ve predicted that he’d be the SEC’s leader in rushing touchdowns (10) in mid-October. That backfield was supposed to belong to transfers Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley IV, not a 3-star true freshman. Judkins has been the most prolific offensive player for a 7-0 team, so he definitely could end up with a shot at the award.

So why is it not likely? Running backs in split backfields usually aren’t winning this honor, unless we’re talking about someone like McFadden, who eclipsed 1,600 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in both seasons he won the honor. Judkins is on pace for a 1,337-yard season, and that’s a 13-game pace. We know that Ole Miss has a daunting November slate to get to Atlanta and as long as Evans is healthy, Judkins probably won’t get the volume needed to become the first true freshman to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors.