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As SEC teams continue working toward kickoff, it’s time to look at the top five junior college transfers on defense.
Junior college transfers have become a big deal. There’s no easier way to fill a gaping hole than with a prospect who already has a couple of years in the game. Some junior college transfers become first-round picks like Cam Newton or Nick Fairley, and others find the speed of the game and the transition from junior college to SEC football too much to handle.
Here are the five junior college transfers I expect to make a difference this year for the defensive units in their respective programs:
5. Greg Taylor, S, Missouri: The Tigers only have one safety returning with any sort of starting experience (Anthony Sherrils), so there’s room for several players to emerge in their secondary. Taylor will compete for time at the free safety position, and even though he might not win the starting job, he is fully expected to be in the early rotation.
4. Travonte Valentine, DL, LSU: A late addition to the list as Valentine was just approved to return to LSU last week. The LSU defensive line was in good shape before this news, but adding another athletic 300-pound body on the interior should just add to the quality of the rotation in that unit.
3. Paul James, DE, Auburn: James should be in line to be the top reserve at the defensive end position for the Tigers behind projected starters Marlon Davidson and Byron Cowart. He will definitely see the field on pass-rush downs.
James started his college career at Illinois before leaving to go to Copiah-Lincoln in Mississippi. At worse his ability to rush the passer should help the Tigers improve their paltry total of 19 sacks last season.
2. Jonathan Kongbo, DL, Tennessee: The coaches already describe Kongbo as a grown man. There is a learning curve and that’s to be expected, so look for Tennessee to use Kongbo in situations where he has one responsibility – get after the quarterback – while he refines the other parts of his game.
On Jonathan Kongbo, the 'grown man' facing a learning curve before helping Tennessee's D. https://t.co/PdDuat2HMu pic.twitter.com/PwoVwrhYuA
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) August 3, 2016
With Kongbo’s length and size (6-6, 270) he will be asked to do more against the run as the season goes along.
1. Jamarcus King, CB, South Carolina: The difference between King and Kongbo comes in the impact I believe they can make this season.
JaMarcus King @Mark_Kingg @ Coffeyville JuCo @cccravens + South Carolina signee = Gr8 Read https://t.co/iB9vfCkpN9 pic.twitter.com/MOjJakfXof
— JuCo Football Forer (@JuCoFootballACE) December 16, 2015
Kongbo will be put in favorable, but limited, situations. King will be thrown into the fire against No. 1 wide receivers and I believe he has the ability to handle himself well. King, 6-1, 170, can move to safety when the situation calls for it and he will give the Gamecocks a lot of scheme versatility in the secondary.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.