SEC Football: Ranking the Best Seniors in the Conference
With today's growing trend of underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft (technically it went down this cycle), it's always interesting to follow the stories of those who stay in college football through their senior years, even though they had the ability to declare for the draft early as well. Many of these stories belong to players in the SEC, because all the players in the conference have the ability to reach the NFL one day.
In this slideshow, I've counted down the best senior players in the SEC for 2015. Some of them could have left this offseason and gotten selected in the NFL draft within the first few rounds, and others are hoping their 2015 performances will raise their draft stock, but all of these young men put a commitment to their universities and their studies before professional football.
Regardless of your college football allegiances or your thoughts on what guys should do when they're ready for the NFL, the players in this countdown should be supported and celebrated.
With that, here are the rankings. Please debate them in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading!
10. John Theus, OT, Georgia
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Georgia left tackle John Theus has played as advertised since he signed with the Bulldogs as part of their Class of 2012.
Theus was a big reason why Nick Chubb's 2014 performance makes him among the best running backs in the country in 2015, and along with three other starting offensive linemen from last season, Theus will ensure Chubb fills the stat sheet just as much this season.
Georgia will start its third quarterback in as many seasons in 2015, but with Theus protecting the blind side, there's one less reason to worry as the quarterback takes time to gain confidence.
With his decision to stay in school another year, Theus should make a bit more money following the 2016 NFL draft than he would have in 2015. Thanks to a loaded offensive line pool in the SEC in 2014, Theus could only muster an honorable mention from the AP. After 2015, the seventh-rated offensive tackle prospect in the country will easily play his way onto an SEC all-conference team, and doing so will boost his draft stock.
9. Jalen Mills, FS, LSU
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As one would expect from one of the premier talent hoarders in college football, LSU puts its players in the NFL at double-digit rates seemingly every season. Jalen Mills could have been one of those guys in the 2015 NFL draft, but his return to school ensures he'll be a top Tiger prospect in 2016.
Mills, the top senior free safety prospect in the country, has been very consistent in his three seasons starting for LSU. He plays all over the field, as evidenced by his high tackles and tackles for loss numbers for a free safety.
On a team with elite talent at every position like LSU, experience often separates the great from the best, and Mills has it. In 2015, the Tigers won't necessarily be as strong contenders as in seasons past, and they're breaking in a new defensive coordinator, so Mills' leadership will go a long way in determining whether LSU maintains its spot among the very best in college football.
8. Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia
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Jordan Jenkins placed third among Georgia players in tackles in 2014, but with the top two moving on, Jenkins will have more chances to show why he's the top-rated senior outside linebacker prospect in the country.
Georgia will have a deep linebacker corps for another season, but Jenkins will lead the group. Opposing offensive lines will try to keep Jenkins out of the backfield, as he led his teammates last season with 24 quarterback hurries.
Considering how much the NFL loves players who can get to the quarterback, expect Jenkins to be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
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7. Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn
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Jonathan Jones of Auburn isn't the best cornerback in the SEC, as that would be Vernon Hargreaves III, but he's clearly the best senior at his position in the conference.
Jones tied teammate Jermaine Whitehead for second among SEC players in interceptions in 2014 (six), but Whitehead and category leader Senquez Golson have moved on.
Jones will have the benefit of Will Muschamp as his defensive coordinator in 2015. Muschamp, one of the brightest defensive minds in football (college or professional), will bring in his system and players to hopefully make Jones an even better cornerback. Muschamp also wants to leave Jones on an island a lot this season, so Jones will get many opportunities to show his individual abilities.
The biggest problem for Jones has been staying healthy. If he can do that like he did last season, Jones is easily an All-SEC performer.
Jones, the third-rated senior cornerback prospect in the country, shouldn't fall below the second round in the 2016 NFL draft.
6. Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri
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Missouri's Kentrell Brothers led all returning players from 2014 in tackles last season with 122. With some major departures hitting the Tigers' defense, Brothers will be an even bigger piece this season.
Missouri loses its top four leaders in tackles for loss from 2014, and Shane Ray could be a top-10 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. The Tigers also lose Braylon Webb, their best cornerback. Opposing rushers might think they'll have an easier time getting to the second level of Missouri's defense, but once they get there, Brothers won't let them get any closer to paydirt.
Brothers doesn't have the potential of some other linebackers in this class, but his production says he belongs in the conversation with those guys. Coming out of high school in 2011, Brothers was a 3-star prospect and wasn't among the top 100 prospects at outside linebacker across the country. Also, as an NFL prospect, he ranks fourth among senior inside linebackers nationally, but third among those in the SEC.
Brothers made the smart decision to return to school because now he has a great chance to improve his draft stock.
5. Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU
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With the departure of La'el Collins, who also stayed all four years at LSU, Vadal Alexander has the chance to prove himself as the premier offensive lineman in the SEC.
Alexander will be a fourth-year starter for the Tigers this season. The former starter at left guard will play right tackle in 2015, and he feels it's a natural fit, per Jim Kleinpeter of The Times-Picayune.
The versatility along the line for Alexander will interest NFL scouts, who already have him as the nation's top senior offensive guard prospect. Alexander filled in at right tackle for a period in 2012.
The 75th-rated overall prospect in the ESPNU Class of 2012 is known as an outstanding run-blocker, and with the expectation that LSU will feature Leonard Fournette heavily on offense, Alexander will get plenty of opportunities to display his strength (both physical and football-related).
A first-team All-SEC selection, as well as becoming the second straight LSU player to win the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy, would secure Alexander a spot in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
4. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
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The SEC has a number of great senior linebackers, but Alabama's Reggie Ragland stands above the rest.
Ragland was a first-team All-SEC pick by the media and the coaches last season as a junior. Though Ragland wasn't among the conference leaders in tackles, he was an integral part of the nation's sixth-rated scoring defense (18.4 PPG).
With the defensive line returning intact for the Crimson Tide, Ragland shouldn't have a problem duplicating or improving on his 10.5 tackles for loss in 2014.
Ragland, the top inside linebacker prospect for the NFL in 2016, was also the 109th-rated prospect overall in the ESPNU Class of 2012.
Even though Ragland likely received a first- or second-round grade for the 2015 NFL draft, his return to school ensures he'll be a definite first-rounder next draft.
3. Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas
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As a senior running back in the SEC, Jonathan Williams stands alone. As a running back for the Arkansas Razorbacks, that's not the case.
While sharing with Alex Collins keeps Williams fresher during the games, it keeps him from showing his superstar potential. It's intriguing to think about how much higher Williams' already-high totals could be as the lone feature back.
Over the past two seasons, Williams had 361 carries for 2,090 yards and 16 touchdowns. Collins, meanwhile, had 394 carries for 2,126 yards and 16 touchdowns. The splits for 2013 and 2014 are very close as well.
Expect Williams and Collins to continue sharing the rushing duties for Arkansas in 2015. Don't expect Collins to show up in either of the final two spots on this list, though, because he's a junior.
Williams is the third-rated senior running back in the country as an NFL prospect.
2. D'haquille "Duke" Williams, WR, Auburn
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Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn operates a dangerous and multi-dimensional offense, but if there's one guy on it in 2015 that opposing defenses want to shut down, it's D'haquille "Duke" Williams.
In his first season playing major college football, Williams led the Tigers in receptions (45) and receiving touchdowns (five). Williams' 730 receiving yards only trailed Sammie Coates' leading total by 11 yards, so he very nearly took home the team's receiving triple crown. The one they call "Duke" also missed two games with a sprained MCL.
In one year, Williams went from being the nation's top prospect coming out of junior college to the NFL's top wide receiver prospect for the class of 2016. With so much gone from last season's Auburn offense, Williams will have the spotlight to show why he's so highly regarded.
Seven players who caught a pass for the Tigers in 2014 are gone. Two of them are quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron Artis-Payne. The pair supplied much of the ground game for the Tigers; they combined for 456 carries, 2,406 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Secondary players from 2014 will move into primary roles in 2015, but Williams will see an increase in opportunities. New quarterback Jeremy Johnson doesn't pose as much of a threat as a runner, so that alone will get Williams more catches.
Had Williams entered the 2015 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said he would've been a first- or second-round pick. In 2016, Williams should be a top-10 pick at worst.
1. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
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It wasn't difficult to name Dak Prescott the best senior player in the SEC. After all, he has the best chance of any SEC senior to win the 2015 Heisman.
With Mississippi State losing the fourth-most starters from last season of any FBS team, and the most among SEC teams, Prescott must assume an even greater leadership role. To keep pace with the rest of the league, Prescott will need to improve on his stellar 2014 season. If the Bulldogs play as well this season as they did last season, then Prescott will finish much higher than eighth in the Heisman race (he finished eighth in 2014).
Prescott said he'd enter the 2015 NFL draft if he received a first-round draft grade. With him returning for his senior season, he gave himself another opportunity to be an NFL first-rounder.
Prescott's decision might not yield a first-round selection in 2016, but it did make him the unquestioned top senior player in the SEC.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
