The SEC West's 7 Most Indispensable Players
Spring practice is kicking off around the SEC, and Job No. 1 for every SEC program is simple—stay healthy.
Spring injuries derailed Auburn's defense last season, when defensive end Carl Lawson was lost for the year with an ACL tear. His absence was a big reason the defense couldn't generate a consistent pass rush and was routinely picked apart by high-octane aerial attacks.
Who are the SEC's most indispensable players for 2015? Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett leads a list of superstars who are absolutely critical for their teams' success.
Our picks, based on talent, position and depth for each SEC West team, are in this slideshow.
Alabama Crimson Tide: OT Cam Robinson
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Alabama will return just two starters off of last year's offense that set the school record in yards per game (484.5) thanks to the presence of first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Heisman Trophy finalist Amari Cooper and the emergence of quarterback Blake Sims.
Luckily, one of those two starters is left tackle Cam Robinson.
As a freshman in 2014, Robinson earned the nod protecting Sims' blind side. The Monroe, Louisiana native was tremendous, earning freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America, ESPN.com and several others.
The 6'6", 323-pounder is suddenly the veteran of Alabama's offense that's replacing its quarterback, three top receivers and T.J. Yeldon—who rushed for 3,322 yards during his three years in Tuscaloosa. His ability to stabilize the offense as the quarterback battle rages and playmakers look to solidify their places outside is absolutely critical to the success of the 2015 Tide.
If he's healthy, Alabama's offense will be just fine. If he isn't, it could be a rough transition year for Kiffin in his second season at the Capstone.
Arkansas Razorbacks: QB Brandon Allen
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The jury is still out on whether Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen is truly a difference-maker at quarterback for Bret Bielema's Razorbacks.
One thing is clear, though: He's absolutely critical to their success.
The beauty of Arkansas is that, with running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins behind Allen and a monstrous offensive line in front, all the senior signal-caller needs to do is be a game-manager for the Hogs to be competitive in the SEC West.
He was just that last year, when he tossed 20 touchdown passes and only five interceptions as the Hogs surged to bowl eligibility and throttled Texas in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl.
Is he going to throw for 5,000 yards? No. He poses the threat, though, of throwing for 3,000 yards, and that threat is a big reason why the holes for Collins and Williams are so big.
Auburn Tigers: DE Carl Lawson
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The absence of defensive end Carl Lawson was a big reason why Auburn struggled last year. The Tigers finished the campaign with just 21 sacks (11th in the SEC), and routinely left opposing quarterbacks enough time to pitch a tent in the pocket, take a nap, wake up and find open receivers.
That needs to change, and Lawson is the player who's being counted on to change it.
He's back this spring in Will Muschamp's first season back as Auburn's defensive coordinator, and he has all the tools to become Auburn's version of Dante Fowler—the pass-rushing monster Muschamp made waves with during his time as Florida's head coach.
He'll be joined by hotshot freshman Byron Cowart later this summer, but Lawson is being counted on to be the leader of a new-look Tigers defense that, considering the prowess of the offense, simply has to be adequate in order to keep the team in the national discussion.
Lawson is dangerous, and whether he's doing the damage or simply taking up attention so his teammates can get favorable matchups, he's the most critical piece of the puzzle for the 2015 Auburn Tigers.
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LSU Tigers: RB Leonard Fournette
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If LSU's quarterback situation is going to remain dicey at best, its running back position had better stay stable.
That means Leonard Fournette had better live up to the Heisman hype, because LSU needs him to be a star in order for the Tigers to stay relevant in the SEC West.
As a freshman in 2014, Fournette led the team with 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns as he split time with Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee. With his running mates gone, he's the only proven running back on the depth chart in Baton Rouge.
Sure, Darrel Williams could be a solid backup, and Nick Brossette and Derrius Guice were signed in the class of 2015. But in an ideal world for head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, they'd rather not find out if any of them can be feature running backs until Fournette moves on to what will undoubtedly be a long and prosperous NFL career following the 2016 season.
The offense will center around Fournette in 2015 and beyond, especially if LSU's lingering quarterback issues persist.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: QB Dak Prescott
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Dak Prescott passed on the chance to play in the NFL when he decided to return to Starkville and play his senior season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The biggest question facing head coach Dan Mullen in 2015 is whether last year's 10-win season and Orange Bowl berth was an aberration or the start of a trend. The answer to that question lies squarely in the success or failure of Prescott.
He passed for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 986 yards and 14 touchdowns during Mississippi State's magical run last year, and will hope to do the same in 2015 without running back Josh Robinson and a stout offensive line to rely on.
Behind Prescott, there's a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position, and Mullen would rather not go down the road of finding out who'll be his star's replacement until after the season.
Ole Miss Rebels: OT Laremy Tunsil
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Injuries took their toll on Ole Miss down the stretch in 2014, and while wide receiver Laquon Treadwell's leg injury was the most publicized, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil's biceps injury was arguably just his big.
He injured himself against LSU in late October and missed two games—a loss to Auburn and a win over Presbyterian—as a result. He suffered a broken fibula in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl loss to TCU, and he will miss the spring.
Missing spring isn't a major concern. Ole Miss returns five regular starters from last year's offensive line, so as long as Tunsil is 100 percent in the fall, everything will be fine. That continuity that is vital to an offensive line's success has already been established.
If he's not healthy, though, that's a major problem. Tunsil is a proven force who's a two-time All-SEC performer as both a run- and pass-blocker. His success—and health—is absolutely vital in Ole Miss figuring out its running game and developing a quarterback during fall camp.
There are prospects coming in, including early enrollee Javon Patterson, but Freeze needs his known-commodity anchoring the left side of the offensive line when toe meets leather.
Texas A&M Aggies: DE Myles Garrett
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For the first time since head coach Kevin Sumlin arrived at Texas A&M prior to the 2012 season, the Aggies will be properly coached on defense. Former coordinator Mark Snyder was dismissed the day after the regular-season finale, and Sumlin upgraded a couple of months later when John Chavis was announced as his replacement.
Chavis is known for developing top-tier defensive line talent, and he has a new toy to work with in rising sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett. The superstar freshman burst onto the scene with 11.5 sacks (an SEC freshman record) and 14 tackles for loss.
When opposing offensive coordinators pop on Texas A&M game film, he's the one who's going to jump off the screen. He will force teams to run away from him and demand double-teams, which will give the rest of Texas A&M's defense plenty of opportunities to shine in favorable matchups.
There are other solid pieces around Garrett, including linebacker Otaro Alaka and safety Armani Watts. But Garrett is the centerpiece, and without him, Chavis will be searching for answers.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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