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For our purposes, Week 9 was the quietest of the season. Seven of last week’s top 10 were on bye and the three who did play, played to expectations — all of which means we’ve got very little movement in this week’s list.
But that doesn’t mean the ordering has been locked. Far from it. MVPs are defined in big games, and the last month of the season is loaded with them, starting this weekend. Five players on this week’s list will be on the field at Bryant-Denny when LSU and Alabama square off Saturday night in a crucial SEC West showdown. And no spot — not even the top one — has been cemented just yet.
For first-timers, here’s our mission statement:
We’re endeavoring to sort out the conference’s best players by taking into account all the things the Heisman Trophy voters tend to leave out. To top our list, you don’t need to be a household name playing for a national title contender — though, if we’re being honest, it doesn’t hurt. We aim to find the best player in the conference who is also his team’s most indispensable piece.
We consider a player’s track record because past results tend to be a pretty good predictor of future performance, but as we move deeper into the season, the reputation a player has developed over the course of a career will fade in the equation, replaced proportionately by what they’ve done for their teams lately.
On to top 10:
10. ALEX COLLINS, ARKANSAS
Last week: Not ranked
The skinny: We may spend the last month honoring players at this spot in the poll who don’t have a true chance at taking top honors but have played well enough to earn some recognition. Last week, that was Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers;. This week’s it’s Collins, the Razorbacks’ junior tailback. Collins ran 16 times for 173 yards and five touchdowns in a blowout win over Tennesee-Martin and is 40 yards shy of crossing the 1,000-yard plateau for the third straight year. He ranks third in the conference in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
9. EDDIE JACKSON, ALABAMA
Last week: 9
The skinny: Jackson is tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions and, just as importantly, functions as the quarterback of the Tide secondary. While the dominance of the Alabama front seven gets more attention, the defensive backs have pulled their weight this season. They’ll likely be tested over the top at least a couple of times this week against an LSU team with a couple of big-play threats at receiver and a coordinator who likes to dial up the deep ball when teams start creeping up.
8. LEWIS NEAL, LSU
Last week: 8
The skinny: With seven sacks in seven games, Neal has provided exactly what the Tigers needed in his first year as a starter. Last season, LSU had its worst year pressuring opposing quarterbacks since 2000, but thanks to an aggressive front four led by Neal, they’re just once sack away from equaling last year’s 13-game total.
7. VERNON HARGREAVES III, FLORIDA
Last week: 6
The skinny: The Gators weren’t going to intercept four Georgia passes without the SEC’s best cornerback getting his. Despite being widely avoided this year, Hargreaves has four picks on the season.
6. LAQUON TREADWELL, OLE MISS
Last week: 7
The skinny: Ole Miss is loaded with quality receiving talent, but no one matches Treadwell — and that statement reflects more about the latter than the former. The junior has at least 100 yards and a touchdown in four straight games, and is running away with the SEC lead in receptions (61) and receiving yards (870).
5. MYLES GARRETT, TEXAS A&M
Last week: 5
The skinny: After getting held without a sack for just the second time this season against Laremy Tunsil and Ole Miss, Garrett made up for it with two against Auburn. That takes his SEC-leading total to 9.5 on the season (third in the country), and gives him 21 in 20 career games.
4. REGGIE RAGLAND, ALABAMA
Last week: 4
The skinny: Ragland is the focal point of one of the best front sevens in the nation, and his group is about to get its most physical test of the season. The Tide is built to stop the kind of power running game on which LSU thrives, but we’ve yet to see a defense that can bottle up Leonard Fournette.
3. DERRICK HENRY, ALABAMA
Last week: 3
The skinny: The Fournette-Bama clash gets top billing in this heavyweight fight, but Henry going against LSU’s defense makes for a heck of an undercard. Henry has taken over as the centerpiece of the Alabama offense, logging at least 26 carries in each of the past four games. Meanwhile, the Tigers are second only to the Tide in limiting opposing running games in the SEC, giving up just 93.7 yards per game on the ground, good for sixth-best nationally.
2. DAK PRESCOTT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Last week: 2
The skinny: Led by Prescott’s stellar play at quarterback, the Bulldogs have put up at least 40 points in three straight games. Now the hard part begins. Starting with Missouri this weekend, Mississippi State is facing a grueling final four weeks, including home games against Alabama and Ole Miss. Missouri’s offensive ineptitude has spoiled a season of outstanding defense; the Tigers rank third in the nation in scoring defense, and sixth in passing defense.
1. LEONARD FOURNETTE, LSU
Last week: 1
The skinny: Since the extent of Fournette’s freakishness became truly undeniable sometime in the Auburn game, this is the game we’ve been waiting for. The Heisman frontrunner and nation’s leading rusher has put up at least 150 yards in every game this season and averages 192 yards per contest. Meanwhile, Alabama only gives up 2.6 yards per rush and 78.5 yards per game on the ground.
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
