SEC players who improved the most during spring

At the start of the spring, many of these players or units had the most questions of any group around.

But through an opportunity given, or simply finding the right combination of teammates or new assistant coaches, they appear on the way to stardom.

How they play this fall, and continue on the trajectory established, will go a long way toward determining their team’s success and bowl destination.

Here are several players and units who caught the attention of coaches this spring for noticeable improvement:

Tennessee DB Justin Martin

One concern for Tennessee entering the spring was how to replace Cameron Sutton. Worry no more, Vols fans.

Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop calmed those fears with a post-spring report, according to the Chattanooga Times Free-Press.

“Honestly, the guy who’s had the most consistent spring is Justin Martin,” Shoop said. “He’s really stepped up his game and done everything he’s been asked to do. In the meeting room, on the practice field and as a teammate, he’s done really well.”

Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Martin has historically had the talent, but his coaching staff said he’s recently added preparation after being ranked the No. 2 cornerback coming out of junior college in his class.

Mississippi State DB Cameron Dantzler

A redshirt last year, Dantzler didn’t waste any time making a splash in front of a crowd this spring. He had two interceptions in the spring game, with three tackles, including one returned for 81 yards. That’s a long way from redshirting last season with an ankle injury.

His 6-3 frame combined with speed and instincts have teammates eager to see his production in the fall. If he keeps that up, it’ll go a long way toward improving the Bulldogs’ dead last pass defense in the SEC that was 120th nationally.

Florida QB Feleipe Franks

Florida hasn’t named its starter, but Franks emerged at the top of the quarterback competition throughout the spring, and added to that sentiment in the spring game with a touchdown and 8-of-14 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown playing the first half with the starters.

Franks asserted himself above Kyle Trask entering the summer in an eventual competition that could include Luke Del Rio in the search for the 10th starting quarterback since Tim Tebow.

At the very least, Franks has a higher confidence level than last year when he threw three interceptions in the spring game.

Georgia offensive line

The Bulldogs kept the same offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the first time since 2014 and it appears to be paying dividends despite replacing three starters.

While the unit struggled during the G-Day game, overall the group received high marks during the spring from players and coaches who discussed it publicly.

It has been several years since Georgia developed a blue chip, top-of-the-line offensive line prospect and had a line that measured up around the country. But position coach Sam Pittman has a reputation of developing lines and recruiting top talent, and this group’s development should determine how cemented that reputation is by the end of this season.

Alabama DE Isaiah Buggs

The junior college transfer is in line to replace Jonathan Allen and turned many heads this spring, including Nick Saban’s.

“I think he’s gotten better every practice,” Saban told the Montgomery Advertiser. “I think discipline to play this kind of defense — where everybody has a job to do and it’s important for you to do your job and stay in your gap and play your gap — I think some of that stuff is a little new to him. But I think his effort has gotten better and better.”

Buggs came to Alabama as the nation’s No. 1-rated junior college defensive end from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Buggs’ improvement and contributions come at a time when the program is trying to replace Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson, two of its top three defensive linemen last year. While still raw in some aspects, he’s a bit more experienced than the highly-touted freshmen entering the SEC from high school.

“He looks good,” rising sophomore left tackle Jonah Williams told 247Sports. “He’s doing a good job. You can tell he’s a hard worker and he’s learning the defense.”