SEC Football: Ranking the SEC Kickoff Returners

The SEC is still a field-position conference, and special teams can play a big role in the outcome of a game.

The importance of kickoff returners may be minimized this season thanks to to new kickoff rules, but that doesn't mean that kickoff returners are irrelevant.

A good kick return can rapidly shift the momentum in a game and put an offense in prime position to succeed.

How do the SEC's kick returners rank? We rank the top returner on each team in this slideshow.

14. Christion Jones: Alabama

If there is a position on the Alabama roster that isn't a "glamor position," it's kick returner. Thanks to a stifling defense that doesn't give up a lot of points, kickoff returns are few and far between in Tuscaloosa.

Despite that, Alabama is still facing a question this season at kick returner in the spot formerly occupied by Marquis Maze.

Christion Jones was the recipient of praise from head coach Nick Saban this spring. Jones only returned one kickoff last season for 32 yards. Cornerbacks Dee Milliner and Deion Belue will also get looks at winning the job this summer.

13. Ashely Lowery: Kentucky

Ashely Lowery has some big shoes to fill as well. 

The rising sophomore finds himself atop Kentucky's depth chart at kick returner—a spot formerly occupied by Mychal Bailey. 

Lowery returned five kicks for 107 yards last season for the Wildcats and will be joined at kickoff returner by either Daryl Collins or Bookie Cobbins.

12. Russell Shepard: LSU

Russell Shepard came to Baton Rouge as a star in the making, but that status hasn't changed during his first three seasons. The rising senior is high on potential, but that potential hasn't materialized into stardom.

Morris Claiborne handled 22 of LSU's 38 kickoff returns last season, while Shepard returned only two kicks for 48 yards.

Shepard will likely be the primary kickoff returner in 2012, with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry also getting consideration. The big question facing head coach Les Miles if whether or not to allow Tyrann Mathieu to return kickoffs in addition to punts. Mathieu didn't return a kickoff in 2011.

11. Branden Smith: Georgia

Much like Russell Shepard at LSU, Branden Smith is stepping into some big shoes between the hedges.

Brandon Boykin handled 38 of Georgia's 48 kickoff returns in 2011. Now that he's playing his football on Sundays, the job will likely go to Smith. He returned seven kicks for 131 yards last season and has the speed and shiftiness to be a weapon for the Bulldogs in 2012.

Smith will likely be suspended for the opener after being arrested this spring for possession of marijuana, but that shouldn't impact his role as Georgia's primary kick returner.

10. LaDarius Perkins: Mississippi State

LaDarius Perkins and Jameon Lewis split time last season, and that should be the case again in 2012.

Perkins is being counted on as Mississippi State's primary running back in the absence of the recently-departed Vick Ballard, but he's too electric to be sitting on the sidelines during kickoffs. The 5'10", 190-pound speedster made a name for himself as a changeup back during his first two seasons in Starkville.

Expect big things from this duo in 2012.

9. Bruce Ellington: South Carolina

Ellington returned 20 kicks for 463 yards last season and is the Gamecocks' most accomplished returner. 

Victor Hampton was listed as South Carolina's kick returner on its spring depth chart, but that was created when Ellington had decided to quit the football team to focus on basketball. 

Now that Ellington is back on the gridiron, expect him to regain primary kick returning duties this fall.

8. Devrin Young: Tennessee

Young is battling Marlin Lane and Rajion Neal for snaps at running back, but there will be no battle for kick return duties.

Young finished last season with 27 kick returns for 628 yards. The 5'8", 171-pounder is quick and shifty, and he can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

Look for Young to emerge as a weapon in the Vols offense in addition to his duties on special teams.

7. T.J. Moe: Missouri

In addition to being one of Missouri's top weapons on offense, wide receiver T.J. Moe is also a weapon on special teams as Missouri's primary kick returner.

The rising senior finished seventh in the Big 12 last season with 607 kickoff return yards on 26 attempts. 

He's dependable as a wide receiver and as a kick returner, and considering Missouri will be facing much tougher defenses in the SEC, Moe will be counted on to give the Tigers good field position.

6. Dustin Harris: Texas A&M

Dustin Harris is known more for his punt return skills, but he returns as Texas A&M's leading kickoff returner as well.

As a junior in 2011, he returned 16 kicks for 374 yards. He is expected to be a contributor in the secondary and on punt returns, so there's a chance that new Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin will give him some rest on kickoff returns.

With Texas A&M moving to the SEC, Harris' ability to get an extra five yards on special teams will be a huge asset in 2012.

5. Andre Hal: Vanderbilt

In addition to defensive back duties, Andre Hal will again handle kickoff return duties for the Commodores in 2012.

Hal returned 31 kicks for 738 yards and one touchdown last season in Nashville. His touchdown was a 96-yarder vs. Georgia, which was the fourth-longest kick return for touchdown in Vanderbilt history.

The 6'0", 184-pounder is expected to be one Vanderbilt's starting cornerbacks in addition to his special teams duties.

4. Tobias Singleton: Ole Miss

Tobias Singleton and Jeff Scott will likely split the kick return duties, with Singleton being the more accomplished of the two.

He returned 21 kicks for 516 yards last season, good enough for sixth in the SEC (24.57 yards per return). 

Singleton was a highly-touted recruit who moved from wide receiver to running back this spring.

3. Tre Mason: Auburn

Mason was used primarily on special teams last season, and he made his presence felt.

As a freshman, the 5'10", 190-pound native of Lake Worth, Fla., returned 24 kicks for 633 yards and one touchdown. His average of 26.38 yards per return led all SEC kickoff returners.

Mason will be one of Auburn's primary running backs in 2012, so that may cut into some of his opportunities on special teams. But he proved in his freshman season that he can be a weapon on special teams if needed.

2. Andre Debose: Florida

Andre Debose has been a "name to watch" for the last few years, but so far, his biggest impact has been on special teams.

He returned 19 kicks for 495 yards and one touchdown last season, with that touchdown coming in Florida's Gator bowl victory over Ohio State.

In his first two seasons in Gainesville, the 5'11", 186-pound speedster has 40 returns for 1,082 yards and three touchdowns. He is electric when he gets his hands on the football.

1. Dennis Johnson: Arkansas

During his first three seasons in Fayetteville, Johnson as established himself as one of the nation's most consistent kickoff returners.

He returned 18 kicks for 461 yards and one touchdown last season. For his career, he has 102 career kickoff returns for 2,475 yards and three touchdowns.

With Knile Davis returning to the lineup at running back, some of Johnson's responsibilities on offense will be minimized, which means he'll be fresh for those kickoff returns.

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