SEC Football: Ranking the Top 15 Players Heading into 2015
Choosing the top 15 players in the SEC is like picking the luckiest lottery winners.
They're all pretty darn good, and the people at the bottom or off the list entirely are still well off.
The SEC will be driven by running backs and defensive fronts going into this year, which means a remarkable absence of quarterbacks on our list.
Who made the cut? Our picks based on talent, resume and potential are in this slideshow.
Just Missed the Cut
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Let's be a little be more diplomatic. Just because a player isn't in the top 15 doesn't mean he should be ignored.
There are plenty of talented players who just missed the cut, many of whom could jump into the top 15 in a hurry in 2015 with strong showings early in the year.
Here's a list of the honorable mentions on the outside looking in:
- Alabama running back Derrick Henry
- Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen
- Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones
- Arkansas running back Alex Collins
- Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson
- Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison
- Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter
- Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd
- Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins
- LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith
- Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers
- Ole Miss safety Tony Conner
- Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram
- Texas A&M wide receiver Josh Reynolds
15. Auburn WR D'haquille "Duke" Williams
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It's safe to say that, in his first year at Auburn, wide receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams made a big impact on the Plains.
The junior college transfer caught 45 passes for 730 yards and five touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous all-around wide receivers in the entire country.
With Sammie Coates off to the NFL, it's going to be Williams' show in 2015 both over the middle and as a deep threat. Can he do it?
"He's done a great job of learning the offense and he has a better understanding of what's going on and he's light years ahead of where he was as far as understanding the game," wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig said this spring, according to Wesley Sinor of AL.com. "Duke is a great football player. That's undeniable."
It's also undeniable that Duke is a freak and will be a big reason Auburn's offensive success will continue in 2015.
14. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
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Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett came to College Station with enough 5-star hype to fill Kyle Field, and he exceeded it during his freshman season in 2014.
The 6'5", 255-pounder set the single-season SEC freshman record with 11.5 sacks and totaled 14 tackles for loss in a Texas A&M defense that was more of a punchline than a power. With quick first step and the size of a veteran, Garrett established himself as a three-down force as the season progressed.
Now the real fun begins.
New defensive coordinator John Chavis is known for producing talented defensive ends who make noise not just in college football, but the NFL. Garrett and fellow defensive end Daeshon Hall are pleased Chavis is in town.
"Those two guys probably have gotten the biggest impact of John being here," head coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Without a doubt, Daeshon and Myles have big smiles on their faces because they like to rush the passer."
Look out, SEC West. Garrett is coming.
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13. Alabama OT Cam Robinson
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Who trots out a true freshman left tackle on a national title contender?
Alabama head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin did it last year, and it worked out just fine.
Cam Robinson, fresh out of Monroe, Louisiana, emerged as a monster in both pass protection and in the running game in 2015 despite overcoming injuries en route to freshman All-SEC honors.
At 6'6", 323 pounds and light on his feet, Robinson has established himself as a force in the country.
"I think the big thing is he's a lot more confident right now. He's got a lot more experience," Alabama coach Nick Saban said this spring, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com. "We're really focused on getting him to play with the kind of power that he's capable of playing with on a consistent basis."
That sounds like the staff sees a much higher ceiling for its star tackle, which is incredibly terrifying.
12. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell
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If there's any player on this list who could fly up by the end of the season, it's Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
The 6'2", 229-pounder from Crete, Illinois, established himself as one of the top possession receivers in the country as a true freshman in 2013, catching 72 passes for 608 yards and five touchdown serving as the complementary piece to former Rebel Donte Moncrief.
In 2014, he proved he could be an all-around receiver, catching 48 passes for 632 yards and five touchdowns in nine games, before a gruesome leg injury ended his sophomore campaign. Prior to that, though, he proved that he has the ability to do just about everything head coach Hugh Freeze asks for and is set up for a solid junior season in Oxford.
But what about that injury?
Freeze said during the post-spring teleconference that Treadwell should be back for fall camp in August, and with Cody Core, Quincy Adeboyejo and Derrick Jones among the talented wide receivers around him, those passing lanes are going to be wide open.
11. Tennessee DE Derek Barnett
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Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett doesn't get enough credit for what he did for the Vols in 2014.
He came into a defensive line that was loaded with questions and stabilized it to a point where it finished second in the SEC in third-down conversion percentage (34.21 percent).
Barnett finished last season with 20.5 tackles for loss—second most in the conference—and added 10 sacks, which would have been a single-season freshman record had it not been for Myles Garrett.
Barnett is a true three-down defensive end who has helped transform the Vols defensive front from an unknown to a potential super power in just one year. With Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie joining a front that returns seven of eight on its two-deep, the defensive line will be a force on Rocky Top again in 2015 with Barnett leading the charge.
10. Arkansas RB Jonathan Williams
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Alex Collins has been the hot shot running back in Fayetteville ever since he arrived as a 4-star prospect prior to the 2013 season. All Jonathan Williams has done during that time is rush for 2,090 yards and 16 touchdowns and establish himself as one of the best running backs in the country.
Williams, a 6'0", 223-pounder with a low center of gravity and surprising moves, is a true all-around back who benefits from a guy like Collins—who's more of a slasher—taking some pressure off of him.
"I don't think a back that's been in our system since I've been a head coach can survive as a one-back guy," head coach Bret Bielema told Bleacher Report earlier this spring. "We've had guys gain almost 3,000 yards between the three of them, and there's no way one guy can do that. We've always felt really strongly about having two major guys and one role player, and I think J-Will will take the lead on the role that he'll play his year."
There's a reason he's listed as the third-best senior running back in the class of 2016 by CBSSports.com. He can do it all, has proved it time and time again in the SEC and has plenty of tread left on this tires.
9. Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
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Sometimes a coach's biggest recruiting job is convincing the players who are considering a move to the NFL that another year in college is the right move, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban hit the equivalent of a recruiting home run when linebacker Reggie Ragland chose to stick around in Tuscaloosa.
The 6'2", 252-pound middle linebacker finished second on the Crimson Tide in tackles last year with 93, picked off one pass and notched 10.5 tackles for loss for the SEC champs.
This spring, he received the championship belt for forcing fumbles in spring practice cleverly titled the "Ball Out Champion," according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com.
"A lot of people weren't really stripping at the ball in the past year," Ragland said. "We had a down year for turnovers really, so coaches gave an idea for guys to really just start trying to get at the ball and get the ball out."
The Alabama front seven is going to be a force, and Ragland is going to be the one in charge. He was voted as the defensive catalyst of the Crimson Tide by Bleacher Report's Brian Pedersen this spring for a reason—he's rock solid.
8. South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper
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South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper might not be mentioned as one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, but if he were suiting up for a national title contender, he'd probably the front-runner.
All Cooper did last season was catch 69 passes for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns; rush 27 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns; complete 5-of-8 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns; and 15 punts for 75 yards.
There's no truth to the rumors that he hit for the cycle, won a game of "horse" vs. Michael Jordan and shot a 68 at Augusta National, although he probably could if he tried.
Cooper is the most versatile offensive weapon in the SEC, and with roster turnover in Columbia that includes a new quarterback, new No. 1 tailback and a partially rebuilt offensive line, Cooper is set up for an even better 2015 campaign.
7. LSU RB Leonard Fournette
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It's safe to say that Leonard Fournette lived up to the hype during his true freshman season in 2014, when he rushed for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns and evolved into the No. 1 tailback at LSU by season's end.
That was in an offense that was one-dimensional by necessity thanks to ineffective quarterback play. Not bad for a kid fresh out of high school.
That ineffective quarterback play might still exist, but it won't be as bad as it was last year if either Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris take just a small step forward. Because of that, Fournette should at least replicate last season's success and ideally, improve upon it tremendously.
The 6'1", 230-pound monster from New Orleans is a force as a tailback and as a kick returner and will mount a legitimate charge to become the first running back since 2009 to win the Heisman Trophy.
6. Alabama DL A'Shawn Robinson
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On a defensive line that is littered with stars who not only carry potential but routinely make an impact, A'Shawn Robinson shines the brightest.
The 6'4", 312-pounder started at nose and defensive end in head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart's 3-4 scheme in 2015 according to his Alabama bio, which shows just how versatile he is. Simply put, 312-pound young men shouldn't be able to move like Robinson moves. He's light on his feet, quick off the ball and powerful at the point of attack, which makes him one of the most disruptive forces in college football.
The world saw this in the SEC Championship Game when Robinson notched nine tackles and generally set up shop in Missouri's offensive backfield for the duration of the afternoon.
His versatility makes him valuable, and his strength makes him dominant. Robinson is everything Saban and Smart want in a defensive lineman.
5. Ole Miss OL Laremy Tunsil
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If you're looking for the best offensive lineman in the SEC, look no further than Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
The 6'5", 305-pounder from Lake City, Florida, was essentially a starter from Day 1 in 2013 and has helped elevate Ole Miss from afterthought to SEC West contender in two short seasons. He broke his leg in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, but when healthy, he will help Ole Miss take the next step in 2015 and make noise in the SEC West.
How good is Tunsil?
He's already impressed the NFL folks.
"Tunsil is a mauler in the run game but smooth in his foot work off the line of scrimmage in pass pro," said Matt Miller, Bleacher Report lead NFL Draft writer. "He doesn't look to have awesome length but makes up for it with timing and burst off the line to get to the corner. His recovery ability in pass protection is very impressive."
Until he makes that jump, though, head coach Hugh Freeze will get at least one more season out of him in Oxford, which will help keep the program moving up the SEC West pecking order.
4. Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
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Dak Prescott went from Heisman dark horse to front-runner in a two-month span last season, before Mississippi State dropped games to Alabama and Ole Miss down the stretch.
The rising senior still made Mississippi State history, finishing eighth in the final Heisman voting—the highest mark in program history. He threw for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns, rushed for 986 yards and 14 touchdowns and even caught a touchdown pass during Mississippi State's magical 10-win season in 2014.
Dak is back in 2015 and hopes to continue the success he had as a junior.
With massive roster turnover on both sides of the ball, even more pressure will be on Prescott's shoulders than last year. After what we saw from Prescott last year, it seems the Haughton, Louisiana, native can handle it.
3. Florida DB Vernon Hargreaves III
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It shouldn't come as a shock that the best defensive back in the SEC plays in Gainesville, Florida.
His name is Vernon Hargreaves III, and the junior cornerback for the Gators is a flat-out stud.
His interception numbers don't exactly jump off the page. After all, he only had three last year. But that was due in large part to the reluctance opposing quarterbacks had to throw the ball Hargreaves' way in 2014. At 5'11", 192 pounds, Hargreaves has tremendous ball skills is more physical at the line of scrimmage than he gets credit for and has fantastic recovery skills.
Florida will once again rely on defense in 2015, and Hargreaves' ability to force turnovers and put the offense in advantageous situations will be a tremendous asset for first-year head coach Jim McElwain.
2. Georgia RB Nick Chubb
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No Todd Gurley, no problem for Georgia running back Nick Chubb.
All Chubb did in essentially a half-season as the starting running back at Georgia is rush for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns. That, as a true freshman, in a pinch for a legend, in a backfield that was ravaged by injuries.
With Gurley gone to the NFL, it's now the "Nick Chubb show" in Athens, as the sophomore running back looks to lead a talented running back corps that includes Sony Michel and Keith Marshall, and lead the Bulldogs back to the SEC Championship Game for the first time since 2012.
At 5'10", 220 pounds, Chubb has the size of a bruiser and the speed of a track star—just like his predecessor.
With a new quarterback taking the snaps and two top receivers gone, Chubb is set up to replicate last season's success in 2015.
1. Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche
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Robert Nkemdiche was the centerpiece of Ole Miss' stellar 2013 recruiting class, when he earned the consensus No. 1 ranking to the recruiting services and followed his older brother to Ole Miss in an effort to revitalize the downtrodden Ole Miss program.
Mission: accomplished.
At 6'4", 280, Nkemdiche is a disruptive force on the interior of the deep and talented Rebel defensive line. He has the size and strength to win battles inside and has the speed of a top-tier pass-rusher, which makes him one of the most difficult players to block in the entire country.
"Prepare to hear how Nkemdiche is the next Jadeveon Clowney, and from an athletic standpoint that might not be crazy," said Bleacher Report NFL Draft lead writer Matt Miller. "He's 6'4", 280 pounds and was ready for the NFL from a physical standpoint after his sophomore season. He's big, powerful, fast and versatile enough to make plays anywhere from 3-technique to a true 4-3 defensive end. Folks looking for Mario Williams or Julius Peppers-like talents will be all over him."
With Nkemdiche leading the way, Ole Miss' defense has established itself as one of the best in the entire country.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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