SEC Football: Ranking 10 Best Offensive Playmakers for 2016
SEC football is loaded with stud running backs, top-recruits-turned-stars and a lot of upperclassmen who are trying to laminate their legacies in the league as legends.
A couple of Heisman Trophy-contending runners who could wind up as two of the best players in recent memory before their careers cycle down lead the way. Then, there are several playmaking receivers who are threats to go the distance every time they get the ball.
Topping it off is a pair of quarterbacks who should stand out in a year that doesn't appear to be all that great for signal-callers in the SEC.
So who are the top offensive playmakers?
The criteria are simple: They must either already be proven or have shown enough elite flashes that they appear primed to break out in 2016.
They also must currently be in good standing with the team. So a guy like Antonio Callaway would have been a lock for the list, but he's currently suspended for violating the University of Florida's student code of conduct, per the Associated Press. So no Callaway.
They also must be capable of taking it to the house on every play, so while guys like Tennessee's Jalen Hurd and Auburn's Jovon Robinson are exceptional, every-down running backs poised to have big years and make a lot of money in the NFL, they didn't make it. Those two very well could be on anybody's list.
This group is reserved for game-breaking speed demons or players with a knack for finding the end zone. So let's take a look at the top 10.
10. Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia Bulldogs
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The least-proven player out of these 10 was a beneficiary of Callaway getting bumped from the list. While Isaiah McKenzie hasn't done a ton yet on the football field, his future looks bright.
Between him and Terry Godwin, new Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart is going to have a pair of dynamic weapons with which to play if he can find a quality quarterback to lead the team.
The 5'8", 170-pound junior from Miami was mostly a return-game weapon in 2014 as a true freshman, taking three kicks to the house and also carving a little role on offense running and receiving after a late-blooming high school career saw his stock rise at the end of the '14 recruiting cycle.
Last year, he never became a household name, thanks partly because of UGA's putrid quarterback play. But his size is always going to be a deterrent in McKenzie putting up huge numbers until he proves he can be an every-down receiver.
With Smart looking for explosive plays from his receivers, according to the Savannah Morning News' Marc Weiszer, McKenzie has a prime opportunity this year.
"We've got to get some more speed on the edge. We've got to blow by people and run by people because of all the hard, play-action stuff we do. Where it's a hard-play action, there's a split second where you’re going to be wide open because everybody sucks up. They've got to get behind the defensive backs to have some explosive plays. I'm not seeing enough of that. We've got to improve there a lot.
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It's a game that seems to favor McKenzie, and he should have a strong year.
He has the potential to be a star with the ball in his hands. He had 240 offensive yards a season ago to go along with a pair of touchdowns. He also took two punts back to the house as he continued to establish himself as one of the best returners in the country in a league that was full of them.
The big question is whether he can take a big step forward.
9. Stanley "Boom" Williams, Kentucky Wildcats Running Back
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Like another guy on this list you'll read about soon, Stanley "Boom" Williams' reputation is damaged by the team on which he plays.
Nobody is going to mistake the Kentucky Wildcats as a juggernaut, as they simply can't get over the hump and make a bowl game under coach Mark Stoops, despite his recruiting successes. They also can't generate enough balance on offense to give Williams the chance to shine.
But the rising junior from Monroe, Georgia, is electrifying with the football in his hands.
At 5'9", 196 pounds, Williams hasn't been the most durable running back in the SEC, battling some injuries in each of his past two seasons. He injured his elbow against Tennessee last year and reinjured it against Louisville, and it's kept him out of contact this spring.
Despite the bumps and bruises, he's still put up quality numbers. All you have to do is look at his rushing average to know you've got to account for him every time he touches the ball.
In 2015, "Boom" exploded for 855 rushing yards and six touchdowns and also had 74 receiving yards. If you're Stoops, you've got to design ways to get him the ball more. He averaged 7.1 yards per rush after getting 6.5 as a true freshman.
You have to wonder just what Williams' numbers would be like if he could stay off the sideline and get a bunch of carries. Surely, Stoops is smart enough to build his offense around the dynamic junior.
Now with Drew Barker leading the way at quarterback on offense, UK has a lot of talent on that side of the ball. But can it translate into big numbers and, more importantly, wins?
That's a formula Stoops hasn't found yet.
8. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt Commodores Running Back
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Ralph Webb is the best running back you've never heard of.
While he may not be a better all-around back than Hurd or Robinson, he made this list over them because of his ability to break free and score from anywhere on the field.
Yes, the redshirt junior plays on a horrific offense, but even though the Commodores never scared anybody with their ability to put up points, the 5'10", 200-pound running back from Gator Country in Gainesville, Florida, routinely made big plays.
Against the Gators, he broke free for a 74-yard touchdown run in a game where VU scared the lights out of Jim McElwain's team. Webb also ripped off a 39-yard game-deciding touchdown against Middle Tennessee State in a close game.
Though Vanderbilt was torched against rival Tennessee, the Vols had no answer for Webb, as he rushed for 149 yards, which was the highest total by a VU player in that game in four decades.
When the competition got better as the year progressed, Webb got better. He averaged more than 111 yards per game during the season's final five conference games.
All in all, Webb had the best rushing season in school history and finished as a third-team All-SEC running back according to Phil Steele. He's an elite player, and while he doesn't get the credit he deserves, every single team game-plans for him when going up against VU.
If quarterback Kyle Shurmur can become a force in Nashville as a sophomore, coach Derek Mason is going to have a couple of nice players around which to build his offense.
7. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee Volunteers Running Back
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Hurd gets all the headlines, and rightfully so. He's Tennessee's workhorse, every-down running back, and the Volunteers offense centers around the 6'4", 240-pound bruiser who shows flashes of speed when he breaks free.
But it's fellow junior Alvin Kamara who provides the flash.
After transferring from JUCO a season ago, the former Alabama player made his second go-around with an SEC program count. Not only is he one of the biggest vocal leaders on Tennessee's roster, but he's also a massive threat to score touchdowns every time he gets the ball.
And coach Butch Jones is going to get him the ball much more in 2016. That means Kamara—who had a strong season a year ago—will have even more opportunities this year.
In 2015, he was Lindy's Sports SEC Newcomer of the Year, according to his UTSports.com bio, filling up the stat sheet with 989 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Really, he should have gotten more touches because he was a horror for defenses all year.
The Vols love to throw him swing passes, and it wouldn't be a surprise for offensive coordinator Mike DeBord to find creative ways to get him the ball this year, such as putting him in the slot. He also will get a lot more opportunities to return punts after shunning the NFL for a year to come back for his redshirt junior year.
Last year, Kamara was just trying to get acclimated to Knoxville at this time. This spring, according to the Tennessean's Matt Slovin, he knows what's going on.
"This spring, I feel like a vet," Kamara said. "Last spring, I was like a wet noodle, running around not knowing what was going on. Now, I know the flow of practice. I know what’s going on. I know what’s expected of me. I know what my teammates expect of me."
Everybody should expect big things from the Norcross, Georgia, native this year. Of Tennessee's three-headed offensive monster, he's the least discussed. But he may wind up as the biggest scoring threat.
6. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M Aggies Wide Receiver
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Christian Kirk was one of the most highly recruited prospects in the entire nation when he turned down many of the nation's top programs to sign with Texas A&M and coach Kevin Sumlin.
Though he was a midterm enrollee who looked great in last year's spring practice, it was still a bit of a long shot for the Arizona native to break out in 2015 considering all of the receiving talent the Aggies had returning.
But not only did Kirk find a role in the offense, he would up being one of the top playmakers in the entire league as a true freshman.
The 5'11", 200-pound rising sophomore was elite a year ago, catching 70 balls for 925 yards and scoring six touchdowns. He also had 45 rushing yards, but another place where he made his presence felt was returning punts. Kirk averaged an astounding 24.4 yards per punt return and scored twice.
Saturday Down South's Chris Wright believes Kirk will team with Josh Reynolds to make up the best receiving tandem in the SEC.
"They're the most proven and most prolific returning duo, combining for 131 catches and more than 1,900 receiving yards in 2015. The SEC hasn’t seen a pair of 1,000-yard receivers on the same team since Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry left LSU in 2013. Kirk and Reynolds both could top 1,000 in 2016, too, because while the Aggies have a quarterback competition, they won't have a quarterback controversy.
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Indeed, Kirk, Reynolds, Speedy Noil and others should benefit from the fact there won't be a quarterback carousel this year. Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight is almost certainly going to be the man under center, and he should be able to help the targets shine.
There is only one receiver in the entire SEC with a bigger upside than Kirk, and it's going to be fun to watch him develop. He's a star in the making.
5. Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee Volunteers Quarterback
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Tennessee senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs may not be the top quarterback on this list, but he very well could wind up being so if he lives up to his immense potential in 2016.
The SEC's most athletic quarterback might just be the nation's top returning dual-threat signal-caller, and he is an absolute wizard running the football from behind center. Though Dobbs doesn't possess top-end speed, few freelance the way he does when he takes off.
Players with his innate ability to squeeze every possible yard out of a play don't come around often, and it's why the 6'3", 207-pound player will be a very intriguing player when it comes time for him to go pro.
Unfortunately for the Vols, that will be after the 2016 season as injuries and ineffective quarterback play resulted in Dobbs having to see action in each of his first three years in Knoxville when he could have benefited from a redshirt year. Because of that, he's only now really beginning to realize his potential.
Dobbs must get better throwing the football if Tennessee is going to compete for meaningful things like league and national titles, regardless of the hype. Last year, the Alpharetta, Georgia, native threw for 2,291 yards, 15 touchdowns and five picks. But there were bouts of ineffectiveness that cost UT.
Still, much of his career has been marred by people talking about what Dobbs hasn't proven he can do rather than the stuff that he can.
Few in the league are better leaders than him, as he has the athleticism to completely take over games like he did last year against Florida and Georgia and in '14 against South Carolina.
He rushed for 671 yards and accounted for 26 total touchdowns, and he's a threat to make a highlight-reel play on every down. This year, it's about improving every aspect of his game and his team, Dobbs told Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee.
"It's a continuous improvement," he said, "but I hold myself and the whole offense to that high standard."
He's so intelligent and well-spoken it wouldn't be a stretch to see him do something crazy like run for president after his playing days are over.
But this is about football, and Dobbs is one of the biggest playmakers in the entire league, if not the country. If it all clicks this year, there's no reason he can't compete for a Heisman Trophy and have the Vols playing for the league title.
4. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss Rebels Quarterback
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After a rocky collegiate career saw Chad Kelly get in trouble at Clemson and wind up getting booted off the team before shredding JUCO competition, he needed a little time out of the headlines.
The 6'2", 215-pound signal-caller let his play at Ole Miss put him on the front page in 2015.
In his first year as the Rebels' starter, he wound up finishing as a second-team All-SEC quarterback and was Athlon's league newcomer of the year. His bio notes Kelly is the first quarterback in Ole Miss history to beat Alabama, Auburn and LSU in the same year.
All the while, he began to emerge as a great player in his own right rather than just the troubled nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
If not for that wacky loss against Arkansas, Kelly would have quarterbacked coach Hugh Freeze's team to its first-ever appearance in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.
Instead, he'll have to do that this year without stud receiver Laquon Treadwell. He's more than capable.
It's possible the Rebels have an even better supporting cast around him this year. Not only do they have plenty of able receivers, but running back Eric Swinney's return from injury gives them another running threat.
Kelly is pretty dynamic in his own right. He is without question the best passing quarterback in the SEC, and he may wind up one of the top players at the most important position in the country.
Last year, he led the SEC and was 10th nationally in passing, averaging 310.9 yards per game. He also finished seventh nationally in total offense at an eyelash under 350 yards per game (349.4), a number that also led the league, as did his 31 scoring strikes.
Following in the footsteps of a quarterback who led Freeze's Rebels back into the national spotlight in Bo Wallace wasn't easy, but Kelly is proving he's even better. And he's keeping his nose clean and out of trouble.
It's always great to see somebody rehabilitate his reputation, and Kelly so far has been a success story in Oxford. If he keeps it up, he'll be a hot commodity in next year's NFL draft.
3. Calvin Ridley, Alabama Crimson Tide Wide Receiver
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Kirk had an incredible freshman season that would have been one of the biggest stories in the entire nation if a first-year player in the same league hadn't one-upped him so famously.
In a year when Alabama was breaking in a new quarterback and having to replace one of the greatest receivers in SEC history in Amari Cooper, the Crimson Tide needed a major receiving threat.
They got a resounding answer in Calvin Ridley.
The 6'1", 188-pound Coconut Creek, Florida, native picked up the slack left by injured receiver Robert Foster and shattered Cooper's freshman receiving record, winding up with 1,045 yards, 89 catches and seven touchdowns.
Not only was Ridley consistent, but he was also dynamic. He emerged as a marquee player on the biggest stages, becoming a major big-play threat with 17 catches for more than 15 yards. He was Jacob Coker's biggest weapon, and he'll return with a huge target on his back in 2016.
Luckily for him (and Bama) the defending national champion will be able to surround him with a stable of potential stud receivers. Foster should be back, and ArDarius Stewart isn't too bad, either. As if that wasn't enough, UA went out and got Bowling Green transfer Gehrig Dieter, who will be a threat.
Whoever winds up as Alabama's quarterback is going to have a lot of talent around him. That's not even mentioning BCS national championship game hero O.J. Howard or all the star youngsters the Tide have in the backfield.
Coach Nick Saban must replace a whole lot of playmakers on both sides of the ball. It's going to be tough to replicate the Heisman Trophy-winning season running back Derrick Henry had a season ago, and Coker isn't around, either.
But Tuscaloosa is a talent factory. And the biggest returning weapon just happens to be in the wide receiving corps.
2. Nick Chubb, Georgia Bulldogs Running Back
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It's a bit of a gamble to put an injured player this high on the list when he isn't going to practice this spring and he's rehabilitating a gruesome knee injury that won't be 10 months old when the season opener rolls around.
But when that player is an athletic freak and one of the SEC's biggest running back talents in the history of the league, it's worth the risk ranking him this high.
Of course, the player is rising junior Nick Chubb, the Cedartown, Georgia, native who posted one of the best freshman seasons ever and was well on his way to another crazy year statistically in 2015 when he went down with torn knee ligaments on the first play of an eventual heartbreaking loss to Tennessee.
Now there are plenty of questions surrounding Chubb, such as will he be the same player after this injury?
Well every player is different, but the Bulldogs had another pretty good running back in Todd Gurley who battled knee injuries, and you can ask the NFC West just how good the Rams runner is.
Chubb is a workout freak, a physical specimen and an all-world kid with an incredible work ethic. It's difficult to find anybody who doesn't want him to succeed or who doesn't believe in him.
The 5'10", 220-pound runner is already ahead of schedule. Though he isn't doing any full-contact drills or even cutting yet, Smart told Weiszer his star is running straight ahead in spring practice drills.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chip Towers has even gone so far as to predict Chubb will play in the Bulldogs' season opener, based off what he's being told by sources and Smart's comments.
"This guy is working tremendously hard," Smart said. "He is dead on schedule. If you ask Ron (Courson, UGA’s director of medicine), he's probably a little bit ahead of schedule as far as what we expect of him."
If Chubb is on the field, he's eventually going to be the super-duper-star he has been. Will there be some rust? Sure, but 80 percent of Chubb is better than most everybody else. In the past, it's been routine for him to churn out 150-yard games like it's nothing.
Would it really be a surprise if he did the same thing in '16?
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU Tigers Running Back
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Throughout the first half of the 2015 season, the Heisman Trophy may as well have been painted purple and gold and on a one-way train to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
That's the kind of unreal start LSU sophomore Leonard Fournette had.
Unfortunately for him (and the Tigers, for that matter) the season is 12 games long.
After gaining at least 150 yards in each of the first eight games of the year (a stretch that saw LSU start 8-0), his struggles coincided with his team's three-game losing streak. The issues weren't Fournette's fault; instead, it was due to a one-dimensional offense.
Fournette finished with 19 carries for 31 yards in a loss to Alabama, 19 for 91 yards in a loss to Arkansas and 25 for 108 in a loss to Ole Miss. Though that little lull proved the 6'1", 230-pound freakish athlete was (barely) mortal, it was enough for him to fall behind Henry and others in the Heisman race.
He rebounded with monstrous numbers against Texas A&M (159 yards) before blowing up against with 212 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Those stats saw him finish with an eye-popping 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Henry may have finished with the better year on a better team, but Fournette may just be the better player. As a matter of fact, he's probably the most talented star in the entire country and one of the most ridiculous players at his position since Adrian Peterson.
Fellow LSU runner Derrius Guice told NOLA.com's Jerit Roser this spring Fournette was "the best player in the country hands down." That's probably not hyperbole. But until the Tigers get their quarterback woes straightened out, it's going to be tough for him to take home national hardware.
Fournette is a big, lumbering athlete who has top-end speed, is huge for a running back and is a touchdown machine. With just average quarterback play in '16, LSU is going to be a threat to win the SEC championship because it has a transcendent player it can give the ball 30 times per game.
He's proven he can carry the team on his broad shoulders, but just how far he can may determine if a career that seemed destined to include a Heisman Trophy run and a LSU championship ever materializes before he starts ripping up the NFL.
All information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered at CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.
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