Post-spring position rankings in the SEC
Eight SEC players were selected Thursday night in the first round of the NFL draft. Dozens more will follow over the next two days.
Some positions, like defensive line and tight end, took a bigger hit than others with the outgoing crop of players.
On the other hand, with draft eligibility rules being what they are, positions like running back and wide receiver are well stocked for the 2016 season.
With that in mind, here are the SEC’s position groups, ranked from best to worst:
1. RUNNING BACK
LSU’s Leonard Fournette rushed for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, and he’s one of four returning 1,000-yard rushers in the league. Tennessee’s Jalen Hurd, Vanderbilt’s Ralph Webb and Georgia’s Sony Michel also reached that milestone last season.
Toss in Georgia’s Nick Chubb, who rushed for 747 yards before his season-ending knee injury, and Kentucky’s Stanley “Boom” Williams as top-tier options as well.
Oklahoma transfer Keith Ford has a chance to put up good numbers at Texas A&M and young backs at Florida and Alabama will also have a chance to make their marks.
There’s plenty of star power at this position, and it’s an elite crop of running backs that is unmatched around the country.
2. DEFENSIVE BACKS
Even with Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III leaving early for the NFL, there’s no shortage of good secondary players left in the SEC.
Florida’s Jalen Tabor, LSU’s Tre’Davious White and Tennessee’s Cam Sutton are the cream of the crop at corner back, but others like LSU’s Kevin Toliver, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Kentucky’s Chris Westry are also strong cover guys.
At safety, Georgia’s Dominick Sanders and Alabama’s Eddie Jackson shared the league lead with six interceptions last fall, and there are plenty of other top-notch players like LSU’s Jamal Adams, Texas A&M’s Armani Watts, Auburn’s Johnathan “Rudy” Ford and Florida’s Marcus Maye back as well.
3. WIDE RECEIVERS
It speaks volumes to the SEC’s depth of talent when two of the top five receivers — Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell and South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper — turn pro early, and this unit still ranks highly.
As a freshman, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, led the league in catches (89) last season and Mississippi State’s Fred Ross, Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk, Arkansas’ Drew Morgan, Alabama’s Ar’Darius Stewart and Kentucky’s Dorian Baker also finished in the top 10.
Florida’s Antonio Callaway, who’s facing a disciplinary issue, could return this fall as well.
4. DEFENSIVE LINE
Every defensive end in the league who hit double digits in sacks in 2015 is returning this fall.
Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, Alabama’s Jonathan Allen, Ole Miss’ Marquis Haynes and Tennessee’s Derek Barnett are the headliners, but Missouri’s Charles Harris, Texas A&M’s Daeshon Hall and Auburn’s Carl Lawson are also talented options at the end position.
The NFL draft took its toll on the tackle spot, but LSU’s Davon Godchaux, Texas A&M’s Daylan Mack, Ole Miss’ Breeland Speaks, Missouri’s Terry Beckner Jr. and Georgia’s Trent Thompson — among others — will be looking to fill that void.
5. OFFENSIVE LINE
Alabama’s Cam Robinson, Arkansas’ Dan Skipper, Vanderbilt’s Andrew Jelks, Florida’s David Sharpe and Tennessee’s Chance Hall are the headliners at tackle, and someone from that group will pick up the mantle left by the departure of Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil.
The Crimson Tide moved Ross Pierschbacher from guard to center in the spring to replace first-round pick Ryan Kelly, and Arkansas did the same with Frank Ragnow. That leaves Tennessee’s Dylan Wiesman and Auburn’s Braden Smith as the top names at guard, with a host of younger players waiting in the wings.
Georgia’s Brandon Kublanow, LSU’s Ethan Pocic, Tennessee’s Coleman Thomas and Mississippi State’s Jamaal Clayborn are the names to know at the center position.
6. LINEBACKERS
Georgia’s Leonard Floyd was the first SEC player selected Thursday night, going ninth overall. Alabama’s Reggie Ragland is expected to be selected in the second or third round Friday. Those are just two of the players that must be replaced from the position this fall.
There is talent waiting in the wings, though. Tennessee’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham, South Carolina’s Skai Moore, Mississippi State’s Richie Brown and Alabama’s Tim Williams and Reuben Foster will all make big impacts this fall.
7. QUARTERBACKS
The top of the heap, in Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly, is very good. The quality slightly for the second-best player (Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs) and then there are more questions than answers for most of the league’s schools.
LSU’s Brandon Harris and Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight are in good position, surrounded by elite talent.
Alabama will have a new first-time starter. Freshman could take over at Georgia and South Carolina, and Kentucky’s Drew Barker, Missouri’s Drew Lock and Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur are only in their second year.
By and large, it will be an inexperienced group in 2016.
8. TIGHT ENDS
Arkansas’ Hunter Henry and South Carolina’s Jerell Adams were both top-five prospects at the position, but the cupboard isn’t exactly bare.
Alabama’s O.J. Howard, who piled up 208 yards and two scores in the national title game, Ole Miss’ Evan Engram, Kentucky’s C.J. Conrad and Arkansas’ Jermey Sprinkle are the most well-known returnees.