SEC Football: One Secret Weapon on Each Team Who Will Continue to Thrive

I define a “secret weapon” in college football as someone who does not get a lot of opportunities to make plays, but when he does, he makes the most of them. Think of a good pinch hitter in baseball, just on the gridiron.

In this slideshow, I will present one such player on each SEC team heading into Week 6 of the 2012 season. In this conference, teams can look all the way down the depth chart and find someone who can make a difference in the game if given a chance.

Let’s take a look.

As always, thanks for reading, and feel free to comment in the space below.

All statistics accurate through October 5.

Alabama: Kenyan Drake

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 13 carries (5), 126 yards (3), 9.7 average (2), 3 touchdowns (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 13 touches (6), 126 yards (7), 9.7 average (10), 3 touchdowns (2)

Kenyan Drake has three rushing touchdowns on just 13 carries.

With Dee Hart now done for the season, expect Drake to become one part of a three-headed monster at running back for Alabama, which includes Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon. Drake has fewer carries than either Lacy or Yeldon, so I would consider him the biggest secret weapon of the three.

Drake was the No. 14 running back prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2012.

Arkansas: Julian Horton

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 4 receptions (7), 65 yards (7), 16.3 average (5), 1 touchdown (3)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 4 touches (12), 65 yards (9), 16.3 average (4), 1 touchdown (4)

Of all the Arkansas players with an offensive touchdown heading into Week 6, Julian Horton has the second-fewest yards. Kody Walker has the fewest yards, but he went out for the season after Week 2.

With Chris Gragg still not cleared to play after leaving Arkansas’ Week 4 game against Rutgers, Horton and the rest of the Razorbacks pass-catchers could see more opportunities.

Horton was the No. 67 athlete prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2010.

Auburn: Sammie Coates

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 2 receptions (5), 34 yards (4), 17.0 average (4), 1 touchdown (3)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 2 touches (9), 34 yards (8), 17.0 average (2), 1 touchdown (2)

Sammie Coates has already scored a touchdown despite touching the football only twice.

Quan Bray, who is No. 2 on the team in receptions (11) and No. 3 in receiving yards (82) through Week 5, will not play in Week 6 against Arkansas due to an arrest. Coates could have a few more balls thrown his way this week, or Auburn could decide to use him sparingly to keep him a secret.

Coates was the No. 76 wide receiver prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2011.

Florida: Trey Burton

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 5 carries (6), 92 yards (3), 18.4 average (1), 2 touchdowns (2)

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 6 receptions (4), 66 yards (5), 11.0 average (5)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 11 touches (6), 158 yards (4), 14.4 average (2), 2 touchdowns (2)

On a Florida team loaded with athletes, Trey Burton can carry and catch the football with the best of them.

Burton ranks No. 3 in yards per carry (18.4) amongst all FBS players with at least five carries on the season.

CollegeInjuryReport.com expects Burton to return to action in Week 6 against Louisiana State; Burton missed Florida’s Week 5 win against Kentucky with back spasms.

CBS Sports ranks Burton the No. 3 fullback prospect eligible for the 2013 NFL draft (as of Oct. 2).

Georgia: Arthur Lynch

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 6 receptions (4), 148 yards (4), 24.7 average (2), 1 touchdown (4)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 6 touches (13), 148 yards (7), 24.7 average (2), 1 touchdown (7)

Arthur Lynch has the fewest catches amongst Georgia players with a touchdown reception (six) through Week 5. But Lynch has the most yards per reception (24.7) amongst all Bulldogs with multiple receptions.

Lynch’s 24.7 yards per reception ranks No. 3 amongst all FBS players with at least six receptions.

Michael Bennett, Georgia’s No. 1 receiver through Week 5, suffered a season-ending injury this week in practice. Lynch and the rest of the Bulldogs should see a spike in production to make up for the loss.

NFLDraftScout.com ranks Lynch the No. 11 tight end prospect in the class of 2014.

Kentucky: DeMarcus Sweat

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 3 receptions (12), 80 yards (6), 26.7 average (1), 2 touchdowns (1)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 3 touches (16), 80 yards (8), 26.7 average (1), 2 touchdowns (2)

2012 Kick Returning Stats (Team Rank): 14 kick returns (1), 342 yards (1), 24.4 average (2)

DeMarcus Sweat’s 26.7 yards per reception ranks No. 10 amongst FBS players with at least three receptions through Week 5. Sweat’s 24.4 yards per kick return ranks No. 38 amongst qualified FBS players.

Oh yeah, and Sweat has two touchdowns on just three receptions.

Sweat could see a lot more action in Kentucky’s Week 6 game against Mississippi State. Tight end Gabe Correll and running back Raymond Sanders might not play, and running back CoShik Williams is officially out for the season after last playing Week 3 against Western Kentucky.

Attention, SEC coaches: I think this secret will be out soon enough.

Sweat was the No. 93 wide receiver prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2012.

Louisiana State: Russell Shepard

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 7 carries (8), 104 yards (5), 14.9 average (1), 1 touchdown (6)

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 5 receptions (6), 88 yards (5), 17.6 average (5)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 12 touches (8), 192 yards (6), 16.0 average (4), 1 touchdown (8)

Russell Shepard was the No. 3 overall prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2009. What a difference a college career makes.

Shepard has moved all around the offense in Baton Rouge, and not necessarily in a good way. Gary Laney of GeauxTigerNation,com calls Shepard “a Jack of all trades, but master of none.” In short, Shepard has yet to find a role in which he can excel.

CBS Sports ranks Shepard the No. 161 overall prospect eligible for the 2013 NFL draft (as of Oct. 2), equating to a fifth-round draft grade. For comparison, Matt Barkley and Mantei Te’o—the No. 1 and No. 2 overall prospects in the ESPNU Class of 2009, respectively—are guaranteed first-round draft picks, according to CBS Sports .

Luckily, 2012 looks like the year in which Shepard gets himself back on track. Shepard’s 14.9 yards per carry rank No. 5 amongst FBS players with at least seven carries through Week 5.

Perhaps Shepard will have mastered a role following the 2012 season: the big play.

Mississippi: Jaylen Walton

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 10 carries (6), 51 yards (6), 5.1 average (7), 1 touchdown (5)

2012 Receiving Stats: (Team Rank): 2 receptions (11), 56 yards (7), 28.0 average (1), 1 touchdown (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 12 touches (8), 107 yards (8), 8.9 average (8), 2 touchdowns (4)

2012 Kick Returning Stats (Team Rank): 5 kick returns (1), 174 yards (1), 34.8 average (1), 1 touchdown (1)

Jaylen Walton does not appear on this list as a kick returner, as there is little secret about his abilities in that department. Instead, Walton is here because of his efficiency on offense for Mississippi.

Walton ranks No. 14 in yards per reception (28.0) amongst FBS players with at least two receptions through Week 5.

As a return specialist, Walton ranks No. 6 in yards per kick return (34.8) amongst FBS players with at least five kick returns through Week 5.

With no new major injuries to report for Ole Miss, Walton’s role seems stable for now, meaning whatever level of secrecy the Rebels have planned for him needs no changing.

Walton was the No. 67 running back prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2012.

Mississippi State: Marcus Green

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 6 receptions (3), 85 yards (4), 14.2 average (4), 3 touchdowns (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 6 touches (10), 85 yards (7), 14.2 average (4), 3 touchdowns (3)

Marcus Green has had a nose for the end zone through Week 5. He has scored three touchdowns on only six receptions.

Green is the only player in FBS with three receiving touchdowns and fewer than seven receptions.

CBS Sports ranks Green the No. 8 fullback prospect eligible for the 2013 NFL draft (as of Oct. 2). 

Missouri: Jimmie Hunt

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 2 carries (8), 11 yards (8), 5.5 average (3)

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 4 receptions (7), 78 yards (7), 19.5 average (1), 1 touchdown (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 6 touches (11), 89 yards (8), 14.8 average (2), 1 touchdown (4)

2012 Kick Returning Stats (Team Rank): 1 kick return (4), 15 yards (5), 15.0 average (5)

Jimmie Hunt leads Missouri in yards per reception (19.5) and has the fewest touches (six) amongst all Tigers with an offensive touchdown through Week 5.

Wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham is suspended for the Week 6 game against Vanderbilt for getting caught with marijuana. Green-Beckham’s absence could open up more opportunities in the passing game for guys like Hunt.

South Carolina: D.L. Moore

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 2 receptions (10), 45 yards (9), 22.5 average (4), 2 touchdowns (3)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 2 touches (13), 45 yards (9), 22.5 average (3), 2 touchdowns (4)

Two receptions, two touchdowns—that is what D.L. Moore has done for South Carolina through Week 5.

It would be neat to see Moore sustain this perfect reception-to-touchdown ratio throughout the 2012 season. The Gamecocks would have to use him sparingly, at the right times, for this to happen.

Tennessee: Zach Rogers

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 14 receptions (3), 249 yards (4), 17.8 average (3), 2 touchdowns (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 14 touches (7), 249 yards (6), 17.8 average (3), 2 touchdowns (5)

Zach Rogers is arguably Tennessee’s most productive offensive player who does not start at a position.

Even in three-wide receiver sets, opposing defenses should account for Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson first, which would create favorable mismatches for Rogers.

If not for Da’Rick Rogers’ removal from the program, Zach Rogers would have been even more of a secret in the Volunteers’ offensive arsenal.

Texas A&M: Kenric McNeal

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 5 receptions (6), 96 yards (5), 19.2 average (1), 2 touchdowns (2)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 5 touches (11), 96 yards (9), 19.2 average (1), 2 touchdowns (5)

2012 Passing Stats (Team Rank): 1 completion (4), 1 attempt (4), 100.0 percentage (1), 27 yards (2), 326.8 rating (1)

Kenric McNeal leads Texas A&M in yards per reception (19.2) and has the fewest touches (five) amongst all Aggies with an offensive touchdown through Week 5.

McNeal has even thrown a 26-yard completion this season.

Vanderbilt: Josh Grady

2012 Rushing Stats (Team Rank): 4 carries (6), 24 yards (6), 6.0 average (4)

2012 Receiving Stats (Team Rank): 4 receptions (3), 74 yards (3), 18.5 average (3)

2012 Total Stats (Team Rank): 8 touches (8), 98 yards (5), 12.5 average (3)

Secret weapons in college football need not be versatile, but versatility does help get secret weapons on the stat sheet. Josh Grady is one such player for Vanderbilt.

The Commodores have struggled offensively through Week 5. Having the No. 4 strongest schedule in FBS through Week 5 surely contributes, but the challenges are aplenty for all SEC teams.

For this reason, I had to rely heavily on Grady’s yardage averages, perhaps more so than any other player on this list. Grady’s 12.5 yards per touch leads all Commodores with no more than eight touches.

The secrecy lies in Grady’s lack of touches, while the weaponry lies in Grady’s efficiency when given opportunities.

Grady was the No. 161 athlete prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2011.