BCS Championship 2012: Kenny Hilliard and Next Wave of SEC Stars To Watch

LSU and Alabama aren’t going away.

If you don’t like what’s going on, you better get used to it.  As long as Nick Saban and Les Miles stick with the SEC powerhouses, the Tigers and Crimson Tide will continue to reel in the top prospects in the nation.  You know each team’s superstars, but here is the next wave of studs that will overpower the SEC in the coming years.

5. Ego Ferguson (DT, LSU)

At 6’3”, 283 pounds, Ego Ferguson was rated by Rivals.com as the No. 1 player in Virginia coming out of high school.  He received occasional playing time in a rotational role this season and managed to record 12 tackles and a pass deflection on the year.

4. DeAndrew White (WR, Alabama)

DeAndrew White committed to the Crimsons Tide with great expectations as Rivals compared him to Ted Ginn Jr.  As a freshman he received playing time in certain packages and finished the regular season with 14 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

3. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, LSU)

As a true freshman, Odell Beckham wasn’t interested in developing for a year while sitting behind upper classman.  He may only stand at 5’11”, 183 pounds, but he’s a baller.  Beckham finished second on the team in receiving yards this season with 36 receptions for 437 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

2. Vinnie Sunseri (S, Alabama)

Rivals rated Vinnie Sunseri as a three-star prospect coming out of high school and he was unranked nationally and for his position.  The Crimson Tide look like they got a steal, though, as Sunseri is currently eighth on the team in tackles.

1. Kenny Hilliard (HB, LSU)

Kenny Hilliard is one of the many talented runners in LSU’s crowded backfield.  As a freshman, the powerful 5’11”, 240-pound back rushed for 320 yards and eight touchdowns in limited action.  More than 200 of those yards as well as four touchdowns came in the past three games, so he should get plenty of action in the BCS National Championship.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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