The Sporting News recently put out a list of the SEC’s top five players at each position. What follows is my version.
QUARTERBACK
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
2. Matt Stafford, Georgia
3. Tie with the rest of the league
Notes: This is an unusual year for quarterbacks in the SEC, as there are very few proven commodities.
Could John Parker Wilson make this list? Sure, but would you want him as your quarterback?
With so many new faces, there is no telling who will have a breakout year and who will struggle.
RUNNING BACK
1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
2. Arian Foster, Tennessee
3. Richard Murphy/Keiland Williams/Charles Scott/Trindon Holliday, LSU
4. Brad Lester/Mario Fannin/Ben Tate, Auburn
5. Terry Grant, Alabama
Notes: Moreno should push for the Heisman; Foster will continue to run well and never get the due credit.
LSU should get plenty of big plays from its backs; Auburn has a stable of proven and quality runners, and Grant can fly past you or run you over.
Anthony Dixon from Miss. State is right up there with this list, but he is a bruiser, not a game-changer.
Meanwhile, many pundits assume that Emmanuel Moody is the answer at Florida, but Urban Meyer is not happy with his fumbling problems.
WIDE RECEIVER
1. Percy Harvin, Florida
2. Gerald Jones, Tennessee
3. Kenny McKinley, South Carolina
4. Brandon LaFell, LSU
5. Dicky Lyons, Kentucky
Notes: A lot of people love fellow Vol WR Lucas Taylor, but I think Gerald Jones has game-breaking ability that Taylor doesn’t.
Meanwhile, LSU is loaded at its skill positions. Demetrius Byrd will get a lot of attention, Terrance Tolliver will stretch the defense, and LaFell will benefit greatly.
Lyons might seem like a stretch, but I think he is one of the most underrated SEC players. Just because Woodson is gone doesn’t mean he won’t get his fair share of balls.
TIGHT END
1. Cornelius Ingram, Florida
2. Jared Cook, South Carolina
3. Tripp Chandler, Georgia
4. Andrew Davie, Arkansas
5. Aaron Hernandez, Florida
OFFENSIVE LINE
1st team
1. Andre Smith, Alabama
2. Herman Johnson, LSU
3. Anthony Johnson, Tennesse
4. Michael Oher, Ole Miss
5. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
2nd team
1. Garry Williams, Kentucky
2. Phil Trautwein, Florida
3. Tyronne Green, Auburn
4. Trinton Sturdivant, Georgia
5. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama
Notes: As usual, several conference games will be won up front. Defenses are loaded, and these guys will be counted on to save their quarterbacks’ lives.
KICKER
1. Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee
1. Ryan Succop, South Carolina
1. Wes Byrum, Auburn
* The rest of the league is tied for last place.
Notes: This is the worst year in some time for SEC kickers. None of these guys has proven to be a big-time college kicker.
KICK/PUNT RETURN MAN
1. Brandon James, Florida
2. Javier Arenas, Alabama
3. Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
4. Trindon Holliday, LSU
5. Derrick Pegues, Miss. State
Notes: There are so many talented return men in the SEC that we should see plenty of TDs off kickoffs and punts.
For the defensive breakdown, click here.
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4 months ago
I also wouldn't have Leigh Tiffin (Alabama) as a top kicker right now, but by the end of this season, I think people will be very impressed.
4 months ago
Good list. Tommy Trott will be an All-SEC tight end by the end of the season. Really being overlooked. Also Lee Ziemba is an All-SEC tackle I think, deserves to be second team.
4 months ago
Not sold on Tiffin, Gary, but perhaps he'll prove me wrong.
Justin, I probably overlooked Trott, but do you think he's 1st team over the other guys?
One thing's for sure: SEC has some good players...
4 months ago
Yea SEC is always loaded so it's not always easy.
I'd say athletically, Ingram and Cook are the top two, I'd put Trott third on that list. But I think by the end of the season, he will have a chance to really show his skills in the new offense and could be the best TE in the league. Remember those Kentucky TE's from a few years ago, can't remember their names, but they were some of the top receivers in the league period. Trott is that kind of TE and now is in that same system. He could have a big year.
Ziemba as well, You have to be pretty good to start at tackle as a true freshman so I think he's got big upside.
4 months ago
All i have to say for this year is Kenny Irons 06=Knowshon Moreno 08 just watch out
4 months ago
For Moreno's sake, let's hope his 09 isn't Irons' 07.
4 months ago
Great stuff as always Tim. The SEC is so loaded this season it's really hard to rank many positions. If any team goes undefeated they might as well go ahead and crown them with the NC. I don't think it will happen though.
Georgia has the talent to do it if they can get past Florida, but Richt always stumbles in some game he should have won. It cost him a shot at the SEC & National Title last year.
Florida also has the talent, young and eager for another NC for Urban. If they get past Georgia they should have a straight shot to Atlanta.
The rest of the East should go UT, USC, UK, and Vandy.
From the West the talent should put the final rankings as: LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Miss. State, and Ole Miss.
One thing you've got to factor in though is the fact that the SEC is always tough and talent doesn't always produce wins. Determination and good coaching can trump talent any day, and the SEC is loaded with better coaches than any other conference and players determined for so many reasons.
I can hardly wait!
4 months ago
I think GA will stumble and lose at least two games. They have never had this much hype and pressure. Combine that with the schedule, and I just don't see it happening.
I also see Tenn taking a slight fall this year, and the East coming out to: FL, GA, USC, Tenn, UK, Vandy.
I have to disagree about LSU as well. I've got Auburn, LSU, Bama/Miss State, Arkansas, Ole Miss.
All that said, I would love to see the Tide beat Clemson.
Thanks for the comments, Timothy.
from 4 months ago
East
UF
USC
UGA
UT
UK
Vandy
West
'Bama
LSU
Ole Miss
Auburn
Arkansas
Miss State
from 4 months ago
Auburn 4th in the West behind Ole Miss?
I'm all for going against the grain, Hank, but that seems like a huge stretch.
It would be great to see USC jump to second, but their schedule is right up there with GA's.
from 2 months ago
I have the same thing in the East except Fl will be #2. As for the West I agree but I think Ole Miss will jump up and bite some teams to finish 5th. Houston Nutt is a great coach, and he is taking over for some one who recruited well at Ole Miss, but didn't do anything with talent he was recruiting.
Finally, Bama will beat Clemson. BUT it will be only one of two that Clemson will have this year.
Georgia will lose one game, I would rather it be LSU than any other game. I think if they lose to LSU it will get their head straight for FL and Auburn. If they win they could possibly not take things one game at a time a lose to FL.
from 2 months ago
Tim, I think it is wrong to compare SC's schedule to UGA's schedule. SC they should be 6-1 going into the LSU game against a fairly easy schedule. Too bad they will finish 7-5 with LSU, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson being the losses. However, I could see them knocking off UT and going 8-4.
SC non-con: NC St., Wofford, UAB, @Clemson
GA non-con: GSU, CM, @ASU, GT
SC West: @Mississippi, LSU, Arkansas
GA West: Bama, at LSU, at Auburn
Non-con may be the same, but the West schedules are completely different. It would be very disappointing to see SC drop a game to Ole Miss and Arkansas with the D that it has
from 2 months ago
No doubt GA's schedule is harder, AJ.
The tough part for SC is that their schedule is always backloaded.
After their final game against FL, they then have to face a tough and more talented Clemson team. GA doesn't have an easy ending, but the tough part is the beginning and middle.
A lot of people thought USC completely fell apart last year (which they did), but some of it was simply facing better teams--and it eventually wore them down and took away their earlier confidence.
Thanks for the comments.
4 months ago
Let's see if Will Hill lives up to his hype, him and major wright together will remind you of a tandem in the names of Louis Oliver and Jarvis Williams. I feel very sorry for any reciever crossing the deep middle. dont forget about dee finley. everybody see the hit he put on julis jones in under armour game. jj got up dazed and confused.
from 2 months ago
Dee Finley wont play until 2009 if he is academically eligible. He will be attending prep school this fall and hope to transfer to UF in 09.
4 months ago
How could you not mention Miss. State's RB tandem? We obviously know that MSU didn't win last year with their passing game. Anthony Dixon, Christian Ducre, and newcomer Robert Elliot should be as good, if not better, than last year.
4 months ago
David,
I did mention Dixon (as somewhat of an honorable mention--"Anthony Dixon from Miss. State is right up there with this list...").
Of all the SEC teams, I would not put MSU's rush attack as one of the top 5. Where would you rank them, and which of the other backs or tandems would you rank them above?
3 months ago
I dont think JP Wilson would make that list, those 2 QB's are in a league of their own. The LSU RB's are all great, they can probably be star backs on other teams. Ingram and Harvin make Tebow a better QB this year, he will be in the running for Heisman if not win it this coming year again. Gerald Jones of Tenn should be lower on that list though. other than that GREAT article
3 months ago
Thanks for the feedback, Reggie. Not a Gerald Jones fan, huh?
from 3 months ago
Sadly no haha. I liked Meachem alot, and all the other Tenn WR's...Gerald...idk. Rubs me the wrong way haha. And your welcome for the feedback
2 months ago
Tim, if you are wondering why am I replying to all of your articles its because I like you, and well you talk about the SEC, plus I'm new to this site.
QBs
Agreed. Yes, I agree with you on all of your points. I love JPW. Its just that I think he doesn't need to play for Georgia. He's a good QB though, he is having difficulties transitioning from a different offense every year he's been there which is slightly understandable. Tons of unproven QBs with the exception of the aforementioned 3. I think the breakout QB will be found in LSU though, they are better off now than they were with Perriloux.
I like the review of WR and RBs. My prob is with Tripp Chandler at #3. I do not think that he should be in the top 3, too many dropped passes last year. However, he did begin to come around slightly at the end of the year. Hopefully his progression will continue into this year. He still scares the crap out of me though.
Only other issue is at KR where I think Trindon Holliday should be the #2, and Asher Allen from Georgia should be on the list as well.
2 months ago
I'm liking the love for Gerald Jones. He is the breakout player of the year in the SEC in my opinion this year.
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