SEC Football: One Key Spring Standout from Every Team

Spring practice is underway for nearly every college football team in the country. And while we may be watching to see how these teams perform and what their weaknesses are, we should be keeping an eye on the players as well.

But not just any players, we all know who the stars of the teams are. This article will be given credit to all of the players that you may not hear much about, but are having an amazing spring practice. So much so, that they may end up sliding up that depth chart and receive more playing time than they would have before the season started. 

These are the spring standouts for each team in the SEC.

Florida: RB Mike Gillislee

Florida had a two-headed monster at running back last season in Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, but both of those guys have graduated and are now preparing for the NFL draft. That's where senior back Mike Gillislee steps in and he'll likely be the starter heading into the regular season due to his great practices. 

“If he continues down the same path, there’s no question,” Head coach Will Muschamp said. “But that’s where competition’s your best motivator. I know he’s got guys behind him that are pushing him and are doing a good job as well.”

Gillislee is a playmaker with the ball, but due to having two seniors ahead of him, he's only carried the ball 145 times for 920 yards in his career. This is his chance to prove he's got what it takes and improve those rushing numbers from last season for the Gators.

Georgia: OG Kenarious Gates

Georgia returns nearly every starter on the defensive side of the ball and has a bunch of playmakers on offense. The problem is that three starters along the offensive line are no longer on the roster and the ones left haven't done much in spring practice, except junior Kenarious Gates.

"Nobody's separated themselves -- with the exception of Ken Gates. Right now if you were going to play a game I know he would be there," Offensive line coach Will Friend said. "And (Chris) Burnette's done some good things too."

Gates is a 6'5", 328 pound beast and will have the tall task of protecting Aaron Murray's blindside at left tackle with Cordy Glenn no longer on the roster. Good thing for Georgia is that it appears he's got it covered.

Kentucky: DT Donte Rumph

Donte Rumph is entering his junior season and is on a mission to become one of the better players for Kentucky this season on the defensive side of the ball. He's working on his game and most importantly has lost over 10 pounds in the spring to the point he's in the best shape of his life.

"It was very important," said Rumph. "You know, I want to be in a comfortable playing weight. The help of (strength and conditioning) Coach Rock (Oliver) making sure every chance I got to do something extra, I took it. So, he's been a great help to get me in the condition I am."

The Wildcats finished the year with only 20 sacks on the year and Rumph only had one of those in seven starts. As he heads into the year as a starter for the first time in his career, he could be a difference maker for this Kentucky football team.

Missouri: QB Corbin Berkstresser

With quarterback James Franklin out of spring after recovering from surgery, redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser has stepped in and is giving the Tigers some hope for the future, and if Franklin, for whatever reason, isn't ready to go by the time the season kicks off.

“He’s got a little Blaine (Gabbert) in him,” said junior receiver T.J. Moe. “He’s not scared to make any throw, and he’s got the arm to do it all. It doesn’t matter how big the window is, he’s going to try and fit it in.”

Berkstresser didn't throw a pass at all last season and he won't be the starter this year, unless Franklin isn't fully recovered from his injuries. But it's nice to know that he's making progress in this valuable time and making strides with every practice. 

South Carolina: QB Connor Shaw

We know Connor Shaw has what it takes to win games at the quarterback position because of what he did last season, but we'd like to see what he can do with a full spring practice under his belt. Steve Spurrier is impressed and expects big things from the single-caller next season.

“He can run with the ball and can make smart decisions,” Head coach Steve Spurrier said. “That’s why we won some of those close games (in 2011). We didn’t have some of the stupid plays we’ve had a lot in the past. Connor should have a better year next year.”

Shaw has put in extra work during the offseason and has even been studying the play of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as well to try and pick up a few things.

"He sees everything," Shaw said of Brees. "He scans the field. He knows when to use his legs. He knows when to create open lanes because of his height. Me and the coaches have been studying him a lot this offseason."

If Shaw can play nearly half as well as Brees can, the Gamecocks are in for a great season.

Tennessee: LB Herman Lathers

Tennessee just began their spring practice, so finding a standout this early in the process is a little difficult. One of the guys to pay close attention to though is linebacker Herman Lathers who missed all of last year with a fractured ankle, but says he's feeling a lot better now.

“Last year, sitting out the whole year was tough, but I put it in my mind that I was going to come in this spring and get my ankle back to as close to normal as I can get it,” Lathers said.

Lathers is the most experienced linebacker for the Volunteers and was second on the team in tackles in 2010 with 75. Getting him back completely healthy will be huge for a young team that is already returning 19 starters.

Vanderbilt: WR Jonathan Krause

Vanderbilt had one of the worst passing games in the country last season and it didn't help with the poor play of wide receiver Jonathan Krause. In the first two seasons he has 47 catches, which isn't exactly bad, but only 414 receiving yards and zero touchdowns is.

"Krause has had as good an offseason and spring as any of them (wide receivers)," Head coach James Franklin said. "He is much stronger... and he's so much more confident running his routes and catching the ball. He is growing by leaps and bounds."

Krause has the potential to be a playmaker for this offense with his big play ability. If Vanderbilt can get that passing game going, along with their defense, they'll likely continue to be the surprise team in the SEC and begin turning some heads.

Alabama: S Robert Lester

Robert Lester may be entering his senior season, but with the hit that the Crimson Tide suffered last year in the secondary, somebody must step up and take charge. Lester volunteered right away and is going to do whatever it takes to give the Crimson Tide a chance to repeat.

"(I'm ready to step up and be a leader) and there are other guys that can also step up and be leaders. It is all about what the team needs and if leadership is something that they need, I won't think twice about stepping into that position." 

You may know what Lester is capable of already, but that's the definition of a standout if you ask me. If Alabama can find a couple more guys like this there is no question they'll be in a great position to return to the national championship.

Arkansas: LB Tenarius Wright

Arkansas has holes at the linebacker position and with a recent injury to Alonzo Highsmith, the hole got just that much bigger. That's when a player like Tenarius Wright steps in and takes advantage of the opportunity. Wright is a former defensive end who has finally gotten his wish to try out at the position he's always wanted to play. Defensive coordinator Paul Haynes says he may end up staying at the position because of his physical style of play.

“The big thing is in your Mike backer you want a thumper,” Haynes said. “You want a guy that can sit there and take on the (isolation). I think you also want a great leader. He sets it for us. He calls the defense and everything.

“Those are the things you look for out of a Mike backer and that was one of the reasons why the move happened because Tank gives us that.”

Wright finished last season with 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. With only six starters returning on the defensive side of the ball, this is huge if the Wright experiment ends up paying off for the Razorbacks.

Auburn: S Erique Florence

With safety Neiko Thorpe no longer on the roster, sophomore Erique Florence is the guy that will take his spot in the defensive backfield. Although he may be one of the younger players on the defensive side of the ball, he has said he's learned a lot from the future NFL player.

"It helped me a lot," Florence said. "Since I played as much as I did last year, I know what to expect--the speed of the game, the power, and I know what to bring with me every Saturday."

The former 4-star recruit has every trait to be successful in his new starting role. He has great size at 6'2", 190, runs well and is a great tackler. He finished his freshman season with 23 tackles and a sack in limited action. Look for him to help a passing defense that was ranked dead last in the SEC a season ago.

LSU: RB Jeremy Hill

We know what Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and even Alfred Blue can do on the football field. Now it's time to unleash Jeremy Hill, who has absolutely been tearing it up in the spring practices and is taking advantage of the minor knee injury to Ford. 

"If he loses a little bit of weight, he's going to be a very, very talented tailback," Miles said of Hill.

Hill missed the entire season last year due to an arrest, but he is ready to go this season. And no, Les Miles doesn't plan on red-shirting the talented running back either.

"No, I can't imagine that we would want to redshirt him," Miles said. "He's big, strong, talented. I think he'll be ready."

If he proves his worth in the spring game, we may have another running back added to an already loaded backfield.

Mississippi State: DL Denico Autry

With all of the losses along the defensive line for the Bulldogs, they're going to need several players to step up this spring in order to have a competitive defense this year. The main guy that everybody is paying attention to is JUCO transfer Denico Autry, and head coach Dan Mullen absolutely loves him.

“That is a guy we have to get ready to play,” Mullen said. “He is a really good athlete. Once he figures out you have to know the scheme, get down your fundamentals and not just play on raw athletic ability, he will have an opportunity to see significant improvement.”

Autry has terrific size at 6'5", 250 pounds, is a great athlete and really gets after at as far as rushing the passer goes. There's a reason he was a 5-star recruit and had offers from nearly every top school in the country. Pay close attention to this guy as the Bulldogs prepare for the spring game that takes place on April 21.

Ole Miss: OL Aaron Morris

Ole Miss finished with a 2-10 record last season, which obviously means they have a lot of work to do under new head coach Hugh Freeze. One of the bright spots in early spring is offensive lineman Aaron Morris who will be the leader of this unit, despite being a young sophomore.

"On last night's film, I thought he showed some athleticism," Freeze said. "It's an uphill battle for these offensive linemen with no pads on, but I really thought that he, Pierce Burton and A.J. Hawkins showed a lot of athleticism yesterday. I'm pretty pleased with those three." 

Morris has great size at 6'5", 325 pounds, is versatile as he played guard last season and is working at the tackle position this spring. The Rebels offensive line allowed 31 sacks last season, so they really need all of the help they can get with this unit.

Texas A&M

Texas A&M will begin their spring practice on March 31, as they prepare for the spring game that's held on April 28.