Ranking Every SEC Football Team by Best Returning Players for 2015 Season
Another year, another major talent exodus from the SEC.
But just like the sun always rises in the east every morning, each season the teams in college football's best conference manage to collectively reload rather than rebuild. And the first step in that process is bringing back quality players who contributed the year before.
While 20 SEC underclassmen declared early for the NFL draft and another 25 all-conference seniors have exhausted their eligibility, there's still plenty that stuck around for 2015. These returners will serve as the foundation for what happens this fall, and the more established talent a team has to work with the better shape they are in headed into the offseason.
Incoming recruits will provide their own impact, but at this point the focus is on who's returning. We've ranked the SEC based on the quality of the returning players for each team, taking into account past performance and expected output in 2015 to come up with the order.
Check out our ranking of every SEC team, based on their best returning players, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
14. South Carolina
1 of 14
Top returners: WR Pharoh Cooper, CB Chris Lammons, LB Skai Moore
Key losses: RB Mike Davis, LB Sharrod Golightly, LT Corey Robinson, DT J.T. Surratt, QB Dylan Thompson, S Brison Williams
After a very disappointing 2014 season, there was plenty of speculation that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier might want to hang it up rather than try to make another attempt to climb back up the college football mountain. Instead, the 69-year-old Head Ball Coach is excited for what lies ahead.
"I'm looking forward to sort of reinventing South Carolina football," Spurrier told ESPN.com's Chris Low.
That was a great choice of words from Spurrier, since the Gamecocks figure to look more different than any other SEC team in 2015.
South Carolina's offense will be almost entirely made up of first-time starters, though the return of dynamic playmaker Pharoh Cooper—who scored touchdowns on runs and receptions and also threw TD passes in 2014—helps fill several holes. The Gamecocks defense didn't lose as many players, but that unit struggled mightily last season and might end up having just as many new starters.
13. Mississippi State
2 of 14
Top returners: QB Dak Prescott, WR De'Runnya Wilson
Key losses: OT Blaine Clausell, WR Jameon Lewis, CB Jamerson Love, LB Benardrick McKinney, RB Josh Robinson, DE Preston Smith
Mississippi State's 9-0 start to this past season was the product of stellar performances from one of the most veteran teams in the SEC. Because of this, the Bulldogs will end up having the most starters of any team in the conference to replace in order to keep things going in 2015.
Only eight total starters are back, the result of mass departures due to graduation as well as the loss of standout linebacker Benardrick McKinney and running back Josh Robinson to the NFL draft via early entry. Robinson's loss hurts more, since it was somewhat unexpected and puts more pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott to handle the rushing duties.
The return of Prescott keeps MSU's 2015 outlook from looking more gloomy. His performance this past season was a huge part of the program's rise, and getting the conference's most veteran quarterback for one more year can go a long way toward preventing a backslide.
12. Vanderbilt
3 of 14
Top returners: LB Nigel Bowden, QB Johnny McCrary, TE Steven Scheu, LB Stephen Weatherly, RB Ralph Webb
Key losses: QB Stephen Rivers, DT Vince Taylor, C Joe Townsend, DE/LB Kyle Woestmann
The good news for Vanderbilt is that it didn't lose many notable players from this past team. The bad news is that means most of the group that went 3-9 in Derek Mason's first season are coming back.
The Commodores bring back 18 starters, though how many of those will retain those positions in 2015 with Vandy's coaching staff completely overhauled remains to be seen. The best of the lot that comes back should still be in their roles this fall, most notably linebacker Nigel Bowden, running back Ralph Webb and tight end Steven Scheu.
Of the departures, the one that will hurt the most is Kyle Woestmann, a three-year starter who had 20.5 tackles for loss for his career.
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11. Missouri
4 of 14
Top returners: DT Harold Brantley, LB Kentrell Brothers, RB Russell Hansbrough, QB Maty Mauk
Key losses: DE Markus Golden, WR Jimmie Hunt, RB/KR Marcus Murphy, DE Shane Ray, WR Bud Sasser, S Braylon Webb
If Missouri is going to continue its surprising dominance of the SEC East in 2015, it's going to be doing so with a very new group of principals. The Tigers bring back more than half of their starters from the team that won their division for a second straight year, but what's moved on is a far more impressive group than what comes back.
The loss of impact defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray and standout safety Braylon Webb will be the biggest voids that need to be filled, a task made more difficult by the departure of defensive coordinator Dave Steckel and safeties coach Alex Grinch to other jobs. Mizzou ranked 23rd in yards allowed and ninth in tackles for loss, with those departing players a big part of those rankings.
Missouri's offense didn't get hit as badly, though it did lose some important pieces. Top receivers Bud Sasser and Jimmie Hunt take away some important weapons in the pass game, and while 1,000-yard rusher Russell Hansbrough is back, his backfield partner, Marcus Murphy, isn't there to balance things out.
10. Kentucky
5 of 14
Top returners: LB Josh Forrest, S A.J. Stamps, QB Patrick Towles, RB Stanley Williams
Key losses: WR Javess Blue, LB Alvin Dupree, RB Braylon Heard, K Austin MacGinnis, DE Za'Darius Smith
Kentucky was a play or two away from becoming bowl-eligible but instead lost six straight after a 5-1 start to finish below .500 again. The key players the Wildcats bring back in 2015 can help make this happen, but they along won't be able to do it all.
The team's only returning all-conference player is its kicker, Austin MacGinnis, though there's great promise in the likes of linebacker Josh Forrest, safety A.J. Stamps and a slew of capable running backs. The surprise move by Braylon Heard to turn pro doesn't hurt as much because he was one of four Kentucky rushers with at least 300 yards.
Patrick Towles is back at quarterback, too, though he might not win his job back with highly touted Drew Barker waiting in the wings following a redshirt in 2014.
9. Georgia
6 of 14
Top returners: RB Nick Chubb, LB Leonard Floyd, LB Jordan Jenkins, S Quincy Mauger, OG Greg Pyke
Key losses: C David Andrews, WR Chris Conley, RB Todd Gurley, LB Amarlo Herrera, QB Hutson Mason, DB Damian Swann, LB Ramik Wilson
The breakout performance from freshman running back Nick Chubb is providing Georgia fans with a lot of hope for 2015. But as good as he was, and as great as he's expected to become, he alone won't get the job done next season, especially when most of what's around him will be new.
The Bulldogs suffer some of the biggest losses in the SEC, losing several of their best defensive stars while also having to replenish their receiving unit and find a new quarterback for the second year in a row. Huston Mason was a senior when he got the job this past season, but Georgia's options for this fall are very lacking in experience.
It's not all bad, as Georgia did get back some players who could have left early, with linebacker Leonard Floyd among those who chose not to turn pro. And the Bulldogs do have great depth at running back again, with Sony Michel, Keith Marshall and Brendan Douglas all coming back along with Chubb.
8. Auburn
7 of 14
Top returners: DT Montravius Adams, OT Shon Coleman, S Johnathan Ford, CB Jonathan Jones, LB Cassanova McKinzy, TE D'haquille Williams, OT Avery Young
Key losses: RB Cameron Artis-Payne, WR Sammie Coates, C Reese Dismukes, QB Nick Marshall, S Jermaine Whitehead
Auburn's offense has been one of the most efficient and explosive in the conference the past two years, but this offseason might be where things start heading in a new direction. Only the offensive line comes back with solid numbers, while the skill positions need to be replenished.
That onus will fall on head coach Gus Malzahn to develop the next group of offensive stars, while he's tasked former Florida coach Will Muschamp—Auburn's new defensive coordinator—with trying to make something of the Tigers' bevy of talented yet underachieving returners on that side of the ball.
"We can definitely be a top 10 defense," Auburn safety Jonathan Ford told Brandon Marcello of AL.com. "We're going to be very great coming into our future and everything. We're going to be very great. We're going to be one of the toughest defenses to play."
Along with Ford, cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Cassanova McKinzy and defensive lineman Montravius Adams make for a strong foundation for Muschamp to build off.
7. Florida
8 of 14
Top returners: CB Vernon Hargreaves III, QB Treon Harris, LB Alex McCalister, LB Antonio Morrison, WR Demarcus Robinson, CB Jalen Tabor, RB Kelvin Taylor
Key losses: QB Jeff Driskel, DE Dante Fowler, OT Chaz Green, OT D.J. Humphries, RB Matt Jones
New coach Jim McElwain appears quite content with starting with a clean slate in Gainesville, not getting in the way of quarterback Jeff Driskel wanting to go elsewhere for his final year of eligibility and casually shaking off the departure of an SEC-high four juniors to the NFL draft.
It's a chance for the former Colorado State coach to put his own stamp on the Gators, though it won't be completely new. Not with a solid crop of returners led by some stellar young defensive players.
Florida might be in the best shape of any SEC team in terms of its secondary, with surefire future NFL star Vernon Hargreaves and rising prospect Jalen Tabor anchoring the back line.
6. LSU
9 of 14
Top returners: OG Vadal Alexander, WR Malachi Dupre, WR Travin Dural, RB Leonard Fournette, QB Brandon Harris, QB Anthony Jennings
Key losses: LB Vadal Alexander, CB Jalen Collins, OT La'el Collins, DE Danielle Hunter, RB Terrence Magee
Mass departures are nothing new to LSU, which seems to get pilfered by the lure of early NFL entry more than any other team in the SEC. The Tigers saw another three juniors turn pro after this past season, which is actually a smaller number based on past years.
LSU is very young, and there's a lot of promise, but the results of many of the returners haven't been great to this point. The quarterback situation was horrible in 2014, leading to speculation that coach Les Miles should go out on the so-called "free agent" market and pick up a veteran passer looking for a new school.
"LSU is in a prime position for a transfer, as Miles would have a much easier time getting his team to reach its potential next season with someone more experienced who can distribute the ball to talented wide receivers Malachi Dupree and Travin Dural," wrote Greg Smith of Fox Sports.
Helping the Tigers' offensive cause is that it has a monster of a running back to build around in Leonard Fournette. He topped 1,000 yards for his freshman season, finishing with a huge game in the Music City Bowl.
5.Ole Miss
10 of 14
Top returners: S Tony Conner, WR Evan Engram, DT Robert Nkemdiche, WR Laquon Treadwell, OT Laremy Tunsil, RB Jaylen Walton
Key losses: LB Serderius Bryant, CB Senquez Golson, S Cody Prewitt, LB Deterrian Shackelford, QB Bo Wallace
One unit returns nearly intact for Ole Miss, but not the one that meant the most to the Rebels' big start in 2014.
The vaunted "Landsharks" defense that ranked first nationally in scoring allowed, at 16 points per game, loses only four players but they're all big ones. Most notably, the Rebels must move on without key defensive backs Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt, who had 13 of the team's 22 interceptions.
Ole Miss also has to replace much of its linebacker corps, but the return of standout defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and the rest of the defensive line should maintain some consistency in terms of run defense.
The offense only has to replace one major piece, but it's a very important one. Mercurial quarterback Bo Wallace was the most productive piece of an otherwise average attack, and whoever replaces him will have to hope Laquon Treadwell is able to recover fully from his leg and ankle injuries suffered in November.
4. Texas A&M
11 of 14
Top returners: QB Kyle Allen, RB Tra Carson, DE Myles Garrett, OT Germain Ifedi, WR Speedy Noil, WR Josh Reynolds
Key losses: CB Deshazor Everett, QB Kenny Hill, WR Malcome Kennedy, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, RB Trey Williams
Texas A&M underachieved in 2014, with its mix of young, promising talent and a handful of veteran contributors failing to mesh well enough to match the success of the Aggies' first two SEC seasons. But with a good portion of the offensive attack coming back, as well as one of the best young defensive players in the league, a move upward is expected this fall.
Without taking into account the players that Kevin Sumlin has recruited for 2015, the key holdovers themselves make for a team that should contend for the upper half of the West Division.
It starts with quarterback Kyle Allen, who took over the starting job in the second half of the season and showed improvement in each outing. That was capped by a four-touchdown effort in A&M's Liberty Bowl win over West Virginia, the same game that Josh Reynolds set the school single-season touchdowns record.
Myles Garrett made his presence felt throughout the season on defense, and he's only had one year to work with. With an extra offseason to develop, his sophomore campaign could be immense.
3. Arkansas
12 of 14
Top returners: QB Brandon Allen, RB Alex Collins, CB Jared Collins, TE Hunter Henry, DT Taiwan Johnson, OG Denver Kirkland, C Mitch Smothers, RB Jonathan Williams
Key losses: OT Brey Cook, DE Trey Flowers, DT Darius Philon, LB Martrell Spaight
The rise of Arkansas football trended throughout 2014, with the Razorbacks finally ending their long SEC losing streak and then dominating Texas in a bowl game to cap a 7-6 season. But that wasn't the ceiling for this program, not with the key ingredients that return for next season.
Four-fifths of Arkansas' massive, NFL-sized offensive line are back to block for the one-two punch of 1,000-yard rushers Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams and to allow quarterback Brandon Allen to continue his improvement. The Razorbacks also bring back one of the best tight ends in the country in Hunter Henry.
The defense is short on name-brand talent coming back but has good numbers to work with. The surprise jump to the NFL draft by tackle Darius Philon will have an impact, as will the graduations of end Trey Flowers and SEC tackle leader Martrell Spaight, though the returners are all essential players.
2. Alabama
13 of 14
Top returners: RB Derrick Henry, CB Cyrus Jones, DT Jarran Reed, LB Reggie Ragland, DT A'Shawn Robinson, OT Cam Robinson, P JK Scott
Key losses: S Landon Collins, WR Amari Cooper, LB Trey DePriest, LB Xzavier Dickson, OG Arie Kouandjio, QB Blake Sims, RB T.J. Yeldon, WR DeAndrew White
The players Alabama loses from its semifinal team are enough to build a decent NFL expansion team around. But so are the ones who come back, as the Crimson Tide's dominance on the recruiting trail the last few years makes it possible to weather major personnel losses.
The Tide only bring back two starters on offense, but those are huge returners in left tackle Cam Robinson and center Ryan Kelly. Depth was developed throughout the season, though, with Derrick Henry becoming more of an impact at running back than starter T.J. Yeldon and several linemen getting impactful snaps.
The rest of the offensive spots will be filled by the next wave of stars for Alabama, which means offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin gets to try to work his magic with a new set of players. That's assuming Kiffin sticks around, as he's speculated as a top candidate for the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator job.
It will be on defense, though, where Alabama's depth stands out the most. Eight starters are back, with early NFL possibilities Reggie Ragland and Jarran Reed coming back to make for a very formidable front seven. The secondary rotated several players onto the field during 2014, and that unit looks stacked.
1. Tennessee
14 of 14
Top returners: DE Derek Barnett, QB Joshua Dobbs, WR Pig Howard, RB Jalen Hurd, DE/LB Curt Maggitt, WR Von Pearson, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Key losses: CB Justin Coleman, LB A.J. Johnson
Quantity and quality. Tennessee has both in spades, and as a result it's No. 1 on our list in terms of returning talent.
The Volunteers return 18 starters from last season's 7-6 team, which college football expert Phil Steele says is tied with Vanderbilt for tops in the SEC and tied for most among teams in power conferences. That's what happens when a team played more than 20 freshmen to account for a lack of upperclassmen stars.
But those returners aren't just good in terms of numbers, they're also the future of the SEC. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs might be the second-best player in the league at his position, behind Mississippi State's Dak Prescott, while defensive end Derek Barnett is the key to a young and aggressive defense.
He and defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt, who decided to return for his senior season, make for a great duo.
"Maggitt is going to be a big part of helping the program take the next step forward," Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard wrote.
Tennessee also has loads of talent coming back at the skill positions and on the offensive line, which is why the Vols are a trendy pick to make a big leap in 2015.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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