SEC Football: Power Ranking Each Team Based on NFL Talent
When NFL scouts head out each Saturday in search of future talent, the stadiums of the SEC are tops on the list.
Last year the conference saw 49 players taken in the 2014 NFL draft, the most of any FBS league. That followed a record 63 SEC players drafted the year before.
Projections by CBS Sports and NFL Draft Scout list more than 60 potential draft picks from the SEC, which shouldn't be surprising considering how dominant the league's teams have been on the field this season.
How does that pro talent break down, team by team? Check out our power ranking of SEC football teams, based on NFL-level players.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
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It's been a rough year for Vanderbilt, which, after three straight bowl seasons, is starting at a potential winless record in SEC play. The Commodores won nine games in 2013, but not only did they lose coach James Franklin but also most of their best players.
The cupboard will take a little while to get restocked, both in terms of good college players and NFL talent.
The only Vanderbilt player who is on CBS Sports' top prospect board is Andrew East, a senior long snapper. He is projected to potentially be a seventh-round pick, or free agent.
Beyond that, it's all about the future for Vandy, particularly its freshman class. Linebacker Nigel Bowden, quarterback Johnny McCrary, defensive end Nifae Lealao and safety Ryan White are all considered among the top 13 players at their position in the 2018 draft class, when they're all seniors.
13. Kentucky Wildcats
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Mark Stoops is building a solid foundation with great recruiting classes at Kentucky, with the most recent one contributing to an improvement in wins from two in 2013 to five so far this season.
The NFL talent, though, isn't as prolific. At least not yet.
Defensive end Alvin Dupree is by far the best pro prospect on the Wildcats' roster. The 6'4", 267-pound senior is the top-rated player at his position in the 2015 draft class, pending any players who leave college early. Fellow end Za'Darius Smith, a 6'5", 284-pound senior, also figures to have a good shot at a pro career.
Beyond that, it's more a work in progress for Kentucky. Sophomore center Jon Toth, sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles and junior running back Braylon Heard have potential, but they still must develop. Same with offensive guards Ramsey Meyers and Zach West.
12. Missouri Tigers
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To evaluate Missouri's NFL talent, the first stop must be to the Tigers' defensive line. And make sure to stick there for a while to enjoy what senior defensive ends Shane Ray and Markus Golden are capable of.
Ray is fifth in FBS in tackles for loss this season, with 18, while Golden has contributed another 11.5 TFLs to create a dynamic duo working off the edges for Mizzou. It's why the Tigers are 22nd nationally in total defense and currently lead the SEC East Division in hopes of playing in the conference title game for the second straight year.
Beyond the defensive line, Missouri's pro talent pool lost a major piece when wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was dismissed from the team in the spring. The junior, now redshirting at Oklahoma, is among the top-rated wideouts in the country despite not playing this season.
Quarterback Maty Mauk and running backs Marcus Murphy and Russell Hansbrough are also potential NFL players, but not high on draft boards or projected ranking lists at this time.
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11. Arkansas Razorbacks
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Arkansas' development into a smashmouth running team is likely to produce some NFL talent in the next few seasons, but right now the most likely Razorbacks to be playing on Sundays next year will come from the defensive side.
Senior defensive end Trey Flowers projects as a second- or third-round pick in 2015, compared with his third-round grade when he had the draft advisory committee evaluate him last season, according to CBS Sports.
Another senior, linebacker Braylon Mitchell, figures to be on many teams' draft boards next spring. Same with junior running back Jonathan Williams, one half of the Razorbacks' two-headed rushing monster (along with sophomore Alex Collins), if Williams were to leave school early.
As far as younger Arkansas players, though, that's where the real talent lies. Collins is rated as the No. 3 running back in the 2017 class, as is sophomore Hunter Henry among tight ends. Defensive tackle Bijhon Jackson might be the best of the lot though, as he's shown plenty of promise as a true freshman.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
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South Carolina is having a rough year on the field, sitting at 5-5 after winning 11 games each of the previous three seasons. But scouts are still checking out Gamecocks games on a regular basis, as several upperclassmen figure to be in the NFL next season.
Offensive guard A.J. Cann is the highest-rated South Carolina player, coming in at No. 35 on CBS Sports' draft rankings. The 6'3", 311-pound fifth-year senior is the top-ranked guard on the board, according to CBS.
Assuming running back Mike Davis turns pro after this season, the junior will get a lot of attention from draft evaluators. Same with seniors Corey Robinson (offensive tackle), J.T. Surratt (defensive tackle) and Rory Anderson (tight end). Offensive tackle Brandon Shell and linebacker Kaiwan Lewis, both juniors, and freshman cornerback Al Harris Jr. also rate highly.
9. Tennessee Volunteers
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The rebuilding process at Tennessee is ahead of schedule, with the Volunteers needing one more win in their next two games to secure the program's first bowl bid since 2010. And coach Butch Jones has done it with heavy involvement from freshmen, with more than 20 first-year players seeing the field this season.
And that's where the Vols' NFL-level talent is strongest, as NFL Draft Scout has 10 Tennessee players listed among the top 10 at their position in 2018. Topping that list is linebacker Dillon Bates, offensive tackle Coleman Thomas, defensive end Derek Barnett and receiver Josh Malone.
Tennessee has some future pros in the older grades, too, most notably senior linebacker A.J. Johnson and senior cornerback Justin Coleman. Both figured to get drafted in May. Same with sophomores Marquez North and quarterback Joshua Dobbs, whose stock has soared since he took over the starting job a few weeks ago.
"He's processing information more quickly and making quicker decisions," Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian told Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times-Free Press.
The 6'3" Dobbs has accounted for 790 yards (including 289 on the ground) with seven total touchdowns since coming in three games ago.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Having a breakout season will lead a team to get lots of extra attention. That includes more notice from pro scouts, and the ones who have been watching Mississippi State more this year have seen that the NFL talent is on an uptick.
After only one Bulldog was drafted last season, CBS Sports has seven MSU players among its top 350 draft prospects. That includes a pair of superstar juniors, linebacker Benardrick McKinney and quarterback Dak Prescott, both of whom figure to go high in the draft if they leave school early.
Prescott, who is often compared to former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow because of his dual-threat approach to the position, is considered a far better pro prospect than Tebow according to a tweet earlier this month from NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt:
"Watched 2 tapes on Dak Prescott this morning. Might be most improved player in CFB. Much better pro prospect than Tebow."
MSU's senior class features some good mid-level talent, including defensive end Preston Smith, safety Justin Cox and wide receiver Jameon Lewis. Junior running back Josh Robinson runs like an NFL ball-carrier, with his bulldozer style of smashing through tacklers, and he will no doubt be a pro player whenever his college career is done.
Among underclassmen, the most promising players are sophomore defensive tackle Chris Jones and redshirt sophomore linebacker Richie Brown. NFL Draft Scout has both among the top 10 at their position in 2017, but Jones very likely could go pro next season if he continues on his upward trajectory.
7. Auburn Tigers
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Auburn saw four players get drafted last May, including two in the first round. The Tigers aren't likely to match that upper-round success in 2015, but they could end up far exceeding their overall draft total because of a very deep pool of eligible players with solid NFL talent.
Senior Reese Dismukes figures to be the first center taken in the spring, while wide receiver Sammie Coates and running back Cameron Artis-Payne will also highlight the Auburn seniors who end up in NFL camps. Defensively, tackle Gabe Wright and safety Jermaine Whitehead expect to get drafted.
Quarterback Nick Marshall, however, only rates as the No. 18 senior passer, according to NFL Draft Expert.
Looking to the younger classes, though, is where Auburn fans can take solace in knowing that graduation and any early NFL entries (such as junior linebacker Cassanova McKinzy or safeties Joshua Holsey and Derrick Moncrief) won't make for a rebuilding year in 2015. Not when the Tigers' freshman and sophomore classes feature plenty of future pros.
Freshman running back Roc Thomas, sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson, sophomore defensive end Carl Lawson and sophomore defensive tackle Montravius Adams will also be highly coveted NFL prospects, but not for at least another year or two.
6. Georgia Bulldogs
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Georgia's top NFL talent has seen very little action the past two months, and his college career may very well be over. We're talking about Todd Gurley, the electrifying junior running back who tore his ACL late in last week's blowout win over Auburn in his first game back from a four-game NCAA suspension for accepting money in exchange for autographs.
Though still listed as the No. 29 prospect in the 2015 draft, assuming his early entry, the recovery from knee surgery figures to significantly impact his stock.
"Before the injury Gurley was almost universally considered the top back in the country and a first-round pick," wrote CBS Sports' Rob Rang. "After the injury, he's likely to slip to at least the second back off the board and a second day selection if the junior elects to enter the 2015 NFL draft."
Several other Bulldogs figure to get drafted this year, most notably senior linebacker Ramik Wilson and senior cornerback Damian Swann. Jordan Jenkins, a junior linebacker, is a strong prospect whether he leaves early or waits until 2016. And not to be forgotten, junior kicker Marshall Morgan broke the SEC record for consecutive made field goals this season and could be the first placekicker off the board in either 2015 or 2016.
Georgia's underclassmen, though, possess a wealth of NFL talent. NFL Draft Scout lists 11 freshmen and sophomores among the top 12 players at their position in either 2017 or 2018. This includes freshman phenoms Nick Chubb at running back and linebacker Lorenzo Carter. Linebacker Leonard Floyd, a redshirt sophomore, is draft-eligible this year and would rate high whatever year he's in the draft.
5. Florida Gators
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Florida still has (at least) two games left, but we already know who is most likely to be the first Gator taken in the 2015 draft. That would be Dante Fowler, the junior defensive end who, in the aftermath of coach Will Muschamp announcing he's stepping down, sent out a tweet declaring himself for the draft.
His pending departure shouldn't be much of a surprise, as the 6'2", 261-pound Fowler projects as a first-round pick. He's one of several Gators who figure to get drafted, including senior offensive tackle Trenton Brown and possibly senior punter Kyle Christy, though none would go as high as Fowler.
The Gators' pro talent extends far beyond draft-eligible players, however. It's actually better at the younger classes, as Muschamp brought in several strong recruiting classes during his four-year tenure. The secondary is absolutely loaded with pro prospects, as sophomore cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and freshman corner Jalen Tabor would get taken now if eligible.
Safeties Marcus Maye and Marcell Harris, running back Kelvin Taylor and linebacker Alex Anzalone, all sophomores, should end up in the NFL soon.
One player whose stock has taken a major dive is senior defensive tackle Leon Orr, who infamously took a bus home from Florida's Nov. 8 game at Vanderbilt after learning he wouldn't start. He has since been dismissed from the team.
4. Ole Miss Rebels
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Ole Miss figures to see a major jump in drafted players next spring from a year ago, when wide receiver Donte Moncrief was the only Rebel to have his named called.
But what happens for Ole Miss during the 2015 draft is nothing compared to what's likely to happen in 2016 and beyond, as coach Hugh Freeze has arguably the best group of sophomore pro prospects in the SEC, if not the country.
NFL Draft Scout has three different Rebels listed as No. 1 at their position in the 2017 draft class: defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Treadwell's status could change, based on how he recovers from the broken leg suffered late in the loss to Auburn, but he still figures to be a hot commodity once draft-eligible after next season.
Another sophomore, Tony Conner, rates as the second-best strong safety in 2017.
This isn't to say Ole Miss' seniors are slouches, because that couldn't be further from the truth. That group has been just as integral to this season's success as anyone else, with veterans making up a huge part of the "Land Sharks" defense that ranks No. 1 in points allowed.
Linebacker Serderius Bryant, safety Cody Prewitt, cornerback Senquez Golson and defensive tackle Bryon Bennett all figure to have NFL careers. And senior quarterback Bo Wallace, though a polarizing figure with his up-and-down play, has the talent to make a pro roster.
3. Texas A&M Aggies
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Texas A&M's run of producing first-round NFL offensive linemen will continue this year, as senior tackle Cedric Ogbuehi figures to go very early. Rob Rang of CBS Sports had a very favorable review of Ogbuehi even before the season began:
"Ogbuehi is blessed with prototypical traits for today's tackle. He possesses broad shoulders, a trim middle and excellent first-step quickness and balance. He looks the part of a future NFL Pro Bowler with his easy knee bend and lateral agility. Ogbuehi has vines for arms and strong hands to latch and control, as well as the core flexibility to anchor. He is light on his feet and can adjust in space when run blocking at the second level and, because of his rare combination of agility and length, is one of those few tackles capable of recovering if initially beaten off the snap.
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In fact, the Aggies' 2015 draft performance will be heavily concentrated on its line, with senior guard Jarvis Harrison and potential early entrants in junior center Mike Matthews and redshirt sophomore tackle Germain Ifedi.
Senior cornerback Deshazor Everett could be the lone A&M defensive player moving to the NFL next year, but that's not going to be the case for much longer with the wealth of talent that coach Kevin Sumlin is amassing on that side of the ball.
First and foremost is defensive end Myles Garrett, who broke the SEC freshman sack record midway through the season. He's a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2017 as a junior, while fellow freshman defensive linemen Zaycoven Henderson and Justin Manning are top talents.
A&M's young offensive group also features a slew of future NFL stars, including redshirt freshman receiver Ricky Seals-Jones, true freshman quarterback Kyle Allen and true freshman Speedy Noil. And we can't forget sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill, who, despite losing his job to Allen, got off to a super-hot start this season and still rates as the No. 7 passer in the 2017 class.
2. LSU Tigers
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With 29 players drafted in the past four years—including nine each in 2013 and 2014—there's no denying that LSU is a regular stop for pro scouts when touring the country for future talent. This season is no different, though the evaluations being made at practices and in games is being devoted more toward players who will be in college beyond this January.
Junior offensive tackle La'el Collins and senior defensive end Danielle Hunter are both potential first-round picks, and others such as senior running back Terrence Magee, senior safety Ronald Martin, junior offensive guard Vadal Alexander and junior safety Jalen Mills all figure to be future pros. But it's the freshmen and sophomores that coach Les Miles has reloaded with in the past two recruiting classes that are most exciting to look at.
Leonard Fournette, the No. 1 overall recruit this past season, is the top-rated running back in the 2018 draft class. Same goes for fellow freshman Malachi Dupre among 2018 wide receivers. Freshman defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, sophomore offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, sophomore cornerback Tre'Davious White and freshman quarterback Brandon Harris are just a few of the other future pros that LSU has lined up to make scouts follow the Tigers' every move for years to come.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
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The past six NFL drafts have featured 41 players drafted from Alabama, including 16 in the first round. Those numbers don't figure to tail off anytime soon, as the Crimson Tide have waves of future pro talent in every class.
CBS Sports has nine players projected as potential draft picks in 2015, including a trio of juniors who are likely to turn pro early and go in the first two rounds. Amari Cooper and Landon Collins should be the first wide receiver and safety, respectively, selected next spring, while T.J. Yeldon would be a first-day pick assuming he goes pro after his junior season.
Alabama's senior class is its weakest by default, but only because most of its best players leave after three seasons. Still, several Tide seniors are future NFL players, such as offensive guard Arie Kouandjio, fullback Jalston Fowler, defensive tackle Brandon Ivory and linebacker Trey DePriest.
Blake Sims, whose had a breakout year in his first season as a starter, could play his way into the NFL with a strong combine and workouts.
Other juniors who could end up in an NFL training camp either next summer or in 2016, depending on how long they stay in school: linebackers Reggie Ragland and Denzel Devall, offensive guard Isaac Luatua, cornerback Cyrus Jones and running back Kenyan Drake.
The sophomore class features eight players that NFL Draft Scout considers among the 10 best at their position for 2017, led by running back Derrick Henry and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson, and Alabama's freshman group has numerous potential NFL players, including offensive tackle Cam Robinson, cornerback Tony Brown and defensive end Da'Shawn Hand.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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