Early Predictions of the 2015 SEC All-Conference Team
So many elite college football players call the SEC home. Only a handful of these players are good enough to make the all-conference team, though. In this article, I've predicted which players will have the best seasons among their peers in the SEC at their respective positions.
The positional breakdown:
- Quarterback
- Running Back (2)
- Tight End
- Offensive Line (4)
- Center
- All-Purpose Offense
- Defensive Line (4)
- Linebacker (3)
- Defensive Back (4)
- Kicker
- Punter
- Return Specialist
These are the players I expect to be on the SEC All-Conference Team in 2015.
QB: Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
1 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
Dak Prescott is the best quarterback in the SEC, and he's among the best players in college football.
He finished third among returning players in the 2014 Heisman voting. The rising senior is equally dangerous as a passer and runner.
Can he bring the Heisman back to the SEC?
RB: Nick Chubb, Georgia
2 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
As a freshman in 2014, Nick Chubb ran his way to the top of the SEC. He returns as the conference's defending champion in the following categories: carries, rushing yards, yards per carry, rushing touchdowns, yards from scrimmage and touchdowns from scrimmage.
Chubb got his opportunity when his fellow Georgia running backs were sidelined with injuries and suspensions. Keith Marshall and Sony Michel return to full strength in 2015, but Andrew Hall of Bleacher Reports believes Chubb isn't going to share the load.
If Georgia wins the SEC in 2015, like Brian Jones of B/R believes, then it will be because Chubb had a Heisman-worthy season.
RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU
3 of 26
Leonard Fournette showed the nation in 2014 why he was the top player in the 2014 class.
Fournette carried the ball 187 times for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns in his true freshman season with LSU. When he improves on those numbers in 2015, he'll join fellow SEC players Dak Prescott and Nick Chubb in the Heisman discussion.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
WR: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
4 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
Just like in 2014, the best wide receiver in the SEC in 2015 will have the last name Cooper, but his first name will be Pharoh, not Amari.
Cooper had the most receptions and receiving yards in 2014 among SEC returning players in 2015.
With South Carolina not returning its quarterback, top running back and three of its top wide receivers from last season, Cooper will be the undisputed leader of the Gamecocks offense in 2015.
WR: Demarcus Robinson, Florida
5 of 26
Demarcus Robinson had a good season in 2014, but thanks to a change at head coach for the Gators, he'll be an all-conference performer in 2015.
Among SEC players returning in 2015, Robinson placed third in receptions (53), third in receiving yards (810) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2014. That was on the No. 12 offense in the conference.
Jim McElwain will change this whole situation for the better. The new head coach joined Florida this offseason from Colorado State. With Alabama, McElwain was the offensive coordinator for two national championship teams. In 2014, under McElwain as head coach, the Colorado State offense was one of the best in the country. Rashard Higgins was a 2014 Biletnikoff Award finalist with the Rams.
After this season, Robinson will be in the discussion for the Biletnikoff Award as well.
TE: Evan Engram, Ole Miss
6 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
As the only player returning to college football who was a Mackey Award semifinalist in 2014, Evan Engram could win it in 2015.
Engram didn't post eye-popping stats last season, even for a tight end, but he was the best in the conference among his peers. The rising junior possibly broke out in the 2014 Egg Bowl, when he caught five passes for 176 yards.
OL: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
7 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP); 2014 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches)
If Laremy Tunsil continues to impress the nation in 2015, like he has in his first two collegiate seasons, then he could leave early and be a top-five pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
Injuries have troubled Tunsil throughout his journey at Ole Miss, but when the rising junior is on the field, the Rebels have the best left tackle in the nation.
OL: Vadal Alexander, LSU
8 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches); 2014 Honorable Mention All-SEC (AP)
When Vadal Alexander decided to return for his senior season at LSU, he opened up the possibility of being the premier guard in the 2016 NFL draft.
Alexander won't be playing next to La'el Collins this season, as the latter could be a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft, but don't expect Alexander's play to suffer as a result.
Having to block for one of the SEC's best running backs, Leonard Fournette, won't hurt either.
OL: Greg Pyke, Georgia
9 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC (AP)
After he blocked for the best running back in the SEC in 2014 in Nick Chubb, The Associated Press decided Greg Pyke was one of the best offensive linemen in the conference.
Chubb and Pyke helped each other get SEC attention last season, and with both back this season, even more eyes will be on the Georgia running game.
OL: John Theus, Georgia
10 of 26
2014 Honorable Mention All-SEC (AP)
Along with Greg Pyke, John Theus blocked for the best running back in the SEC in 2014: Nick Chubb. Unlike Pyke, many expected Theus to be an all-conference player one day when he stepped on campus in Athens.
Theus entered Georgia as the fifth-rated offensive tackle prospect in the ESPNU class of 2012. Pyke, meanwhile, was the 85th-rated offensive tackle prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2012.
With another monster season expected from Chubb, Theus (and Pyke) will get a lot of recognition from the voters in 2015.
C: Ryan Kelly, Alabama
11 of 26
2014 Honorable Mention All-SEC (AP)
Ryan Kelly will be the center of an offensive overhaul at Alabama, but he'll be ready for the challenge.
The Crimson Tide lose the following from their 2014 offense: their top quarterback, their most productive running back, their Heisman finalist wide receiver, their starting fullback, their starting guards, their two other top wide receivers and their top tight end (whew!).
Kelly will not only be a great player in 2015, but he'll also provide great value as a mentor.
AP: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
12 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
Pharoh Cooper is the SEC's best offensive weapon, period. He affects the game whenever and however he gets the ball.
The rising junior is South Carolina's top returning passer as well as receiver. Though Steve Spurrier won't make him the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks in 2015, Cooper will do some passing, in addition to receiving, returning punts and rushing.
Cooper shows creativity off the field as well; his Twitter handle is @KingTutt_chdown.
DL: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
13 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC at DT (AP)
Robert Nkemdiche doesn't put up big stats for the Ole Miss Rebels, but he's the anchor of their defense. With the help of Nkemdiche, Ole Miss had the best scoring defense in the nation in 2014.
It's expected that he will leave after the 2015 season and become a top-five selection in the 2016 NFL draft, much like teammate Laremy Tunsil.
DL: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
14 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC at DT (AP); 2014 Second Team All-SEC at DL (Coaches)
Myles Garrett only needed one season to show why he's one of the best pass-rushers in the nation.
In 2014, as a true freshman, he broke the SEC single-season sack record for a freshman; his 11.5 sacks were the most among players returning in 2015, too.
SEC quarterbacks, beware.
DL: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
15 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC at DE (AP); 2014 Second Team All-SEC at DL (Coaches)
Like Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett was one of the SEC's top sack men despite being a true freshman.
Along with teammate Curt Maggitt and Garrett, Burnett will be one of three players returning to the SEC who had at least 10 sacks in 2014.
DL: Harold Brantley, Missouri
16 of 26
2014 Honorable Mention All-SEC at DT (AP)
Harold Brantley was overshadowed as a defensive lineman on his own team in 2014, but that won't happen in 2015. Christopher Smith of Saturday Down South explains: "...Brantley managed five sacks in 2014 as an interior pass-rusher. That’s despite having to beat Shane Ray and Markus Golden to the quarterback and sharing time with Matt Hoch and Lucas Vincent."
All four of those players have moved on from Missouri.
Of all the players on this team, Brantley will be the most surprising.
LB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama
17 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP)
Like Ryan Kelly runs the middle of Alabama's offense, Reggie Ragland runs the middle of the defense.
He is just the next in line of great linebackers to play for Nick Saban. The rising senior is also the top inside linebacker in his class across the country.
LB: Antonio Morrison, Florida
18 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
Jim McElwain will do wonders for Florida's offense in 2015, but the Gators will have a strong defense too, and Antonio Morrison leads that unit.
Morrison led the SEC in assisted tackles in 2014. The rising senior was also the first Gator to have 100-plus tackles since 2010.
LB: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
19 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC (AP)
Kentrell Brothers is entering a similar situation at Missouri as Florida's Antonio Morrison in 2015, and like Morrison, the changes will help him stand out.
Both Brothers and Morrison played with a defensive end in 2014 who could be a top-10 selection in the 2015 NFL draft. There are new defensive coordinators at each school, too. Their play won't suffer as a result, though.
Brothers led all returning SEC players in tackles in 2014.
DB: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
20 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC at CB (AP); 2014 First Team All-SEC at DB (Coaches)
Like Laremy Tunsil and Robert Nkemdiche, Vernon Hargreaves III is considered the top player at his position eligible for the 2016 NFL draft.
Hargreaves has dominated opposing receivers since entering college football in 2013. Though the rising junior isn't among the statistical leaders in the SEC, it's because opposing quarterbacks know not to throw in his direction.
DB: Jonathan Jones, Auburn
21 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC at CB (AP); 2014 Second Team All-SEC at DB (Coaches)
Barrett Sallee of B/R says the Auburn defense will look a lot different under new coordinator Will Muschamp. Jonathan Jones will be a constant from last season's unit, though.
Jones led all returning SEC players in interceptions in 2014.
DB: Cyrus Jones, Alabama
22 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC at CB (AP)
Under Nick Saban, Alabama has produced some of the best defensive backs in college football. Cyrus Jones is the next great one.
Jones will get an opportunity to prove himself more, now that he's the best player in the Crimson Tide secondary. With a spectacular 2015 season, the rising senior could find himself getting picked in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
DB: Tony Conner, Ole Miss
23 of 26
2014 Second Team All-SEC at S (AP)
Tony Conner benefited from playing alongside two All-Americans in the Ole Miss secondary in 2014. With Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt graduating, Conner will be the leader of that unit in 2015.
The Rebels could struggle against the pass this season, but it won't be because of Conner, a rising junior.
K: Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky
24 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
In 2014, Austin MacGinnis paced his peers at kicker in the SEC...as a freshman.
He led the SEC in 2014 in field goals made and field goals attempted, and he led all returning SEC players in field-goal percentage.
P: JK Scott, Alabama
25 of 26
2014 First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)
Whether in his native Colorado or in the lower altitudes of the Southeast, JK Scott can punt a football a long way.
Scott, a true freshman in 2014, averaged three more yards per punt than anyone in the SEC. This helped him to be a 2014 Ray Guy Award finalist.
He introduced himself to the college football world during Alabama's College Football Playoff semifinal game against Ohio State. Though the Crimson Tide lost, Scott kept his team in the game by averaging 55 yards on seven punts. Without Scott's performance, Alabama almost certainly would have lost by more than seven points.
RS: Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
26 of 26
2014 Honorable Mention All-SEC at AP (AP)
Speedy Noil will provide Texas A&M with a solid return game in 2015. He returned kickoffs and punts for the Aggies in 2014, and he's the best player in the SEC who does both.
The rising sophomore is the only player returning to the SEC who placed in the top 10 of each of the following categories in 2014: punt returns, punt return yards, punt returns average, kickoff returns, kickoff return yards and kickoff returns average.
There you have it: the best team the best conference in college football would produce in an imaginary world in 2015.
Feel free to debate the team, as well as add players whom you think are more deserving, in the comments section below.
As always, thanks for reading and check me out on Twitter @mjcarroll531.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
