Who are the SEC’s top 10 players — regardless of position — through eight weeks this season? There are several methods used to define this group of Heisman frontrunners, defensive player of the year candidates and irreplaceable assets to their respective teams, but the easiest way is best.

  1. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
  2. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
  3. Shane Ray, DL, Mizzou
  4. Senquez Golson, DB, Ole Miss
  5. Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State
  6. Cody Prewitt, DB, Ole Miss
  7. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
  8. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
  9. Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
  10. A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee

Takeaways: Cooper returned from two sub-par games to post 140 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M’s inexperienced secondary … The SEC’s second-leading rusher, Robinson’s the league’s most underrated player this season on the nation’s top-ranked team … Chubb’s kept Georgia out front in the East race with back-to-back heroic efforts in road victories, accumulating nearly 350 yards on the ground in two starts without Gurley … Johnson’s been one of the lone bright spots in Knoxville this season, leading the SEC in tackles with 78 …

Just missed the cut: Mike Davis, South Carolina; Preston Smith, DL, Mississippi State; Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M; Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M; Vernon Hargreaves, DB, Florida; Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn; Elliott Fry, K, South Carolina; A.J. Stamps, DB, Kentucky; Markus Golden, DL, Mizzou; Jonathan Williams, Arkansas

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