The SEC 25: The Conference's Biggest Stars of the Last Quarter-Century
The Southeastern Conference has been a powerhouse in collegiate sports for a long time now. Some of the top athletes in the world have emerged from the SEC.
Across all sports, there's always been something special about competition in the SEC. Bitter rivalries are fueled by rabid fanbases and hungry athletes. In football, basketball and baseball, we've all borne witness to some of these fabled collisions.
With so many talented student-athletes coming in and out of the SEC, we figured it would be a smart move to honor 25 of the best across the worlds of pigskin, hoops and hardball.
Now before we get started, understand that this list could have been 800 slides deep. But in order to narrow it down, we had to come up with some criteria.
Those benchmarks go like this: The athletes are on this list because of their dominance and what they meant to their schools. Whether that means records, national championship or awards, it all adds up.
On top of that, we've thrown caution to the wind and decided to use the old-fashioned eye test in order to solidify those choices.
So without further ado, it's time to flip through the slides and pay our respects to 25 of the biggest stars to come out of the SEC since 1990.
Honorable Mentions
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As we said in the opening slide, this list could have gone on forever. Here are a few extra names that aren't included in our 25. They serve as elite honorable mentions.
- A.J. Green, Georgia
- Michael Sam, Missouri
- Julio Jones, Alabama
- Corliss Williamson, Arkansas
- Aaron Murray, Georgia
- Percy Harvin, Florida
- Tayshaun Prince, Kentucky
- Tony Delk, Kentucky
- Andre Smith, Alabama
- Patrick Peterson, LSU
Tim Tebow
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The dual-threat quarterback who served as the vehicle of Urban Meyer's destruction of the SEC was none other than Tim Tebow.
Perhaps the most polarizing figure in the history of the conference, Tebow was a relentless field general who propelled the Florida Gators to extraordinary heights between 2006 and 2009. Winning two BCS National Championships and one Heisman Trophy, No. 15 couldn't be contained for a long period of time.
Despite not being a traditional passer—a trait that ultimately closed the door on his NFL career—to this day, Tebow has the 13th-most passing yards in SEC history and is No. 1 in total touchdowns scored.
The Gators wouldn't be the Gators without Tebow. He is by far the best quarterback in the program's extensive history.
There's something special about Tebow that serves as this almost untouchable collegiate folklore. The way he won and the intensity he brought with him can never be questioned.
Anthony Davis
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John Calipari's ability to recruit talented one-and-done kids to the University of Kentucky is difficult to match.
Since he came to Lexington, Coach Cal has brought in players like DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Nerlens Noel.
Of all the beasts who have worn the Kentucky garb, Anthony Davis was in a league of his own. Playing on Kentucky's 2012 national championship team, he turned on this Monstars defensive presence that hadn't been seen in the SEC for ages.
Behind Davis' 14.2 points and 4.7 blocks per game, Kentucky rode the tourney wave and hoisted the trophy at the conclusion of March Madness.
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Mark Ingram
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Alabama has had a lot of great running backs come through its doors. Mark Ingram was one of the very best.
His run in a Crimson Tide uniform started in 2008 and ended in 2010. In that span, he rushed for 3,261 yards and slammed home 46 total touchdowns.
A bulldozing presence, Ingram helped the Crimson Tide win the BCS National Championship in '09—the same year he won the Heisman Trophy. When he left for the riches of the NFL, the man who wore No. 22 finished as one of the most decorated runners since 1990.
His 42 rushing TDs are seventh-best in SEC history, while 3,261 yards puts him in 22nd place. It's safe to say the recent surge of Alabama power runners under coach Nick Saban's tutelage started with Ingram.
Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer
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From 2005 to 2007, the Florida Gators had the most polished men's basketball program in the country.
Led by a trio of future NBA players—Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford—this team created its own version of the Fab Five.
Winning back-to-back national championships in that time period, head coach Billy Donovan's squad was able to beat a talented UCLA Bruins squad and Greg Oden's Ohio State Buckeyes the following year.
Noah, Brewer and Horford were all excellent collegiate players. They had the size, intensity and chemistry to give any team they came across a hard time.
When put together on the floor, this trifecta of Gators talent found a way to become SEC royalty.
Johnny Manziel
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For a two-year span, it was Johnny Manziel's world, and the rest of us were simply living in it.
Despite the Heisman Trophy winner never being able to enjoy a BCS National Championship, he still was an electric talent. Manziel quickly became a legend in the SEC when he led his Texas A&M Aggies to a stunning win over Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide in 2012.
A Harry Houdini-like magician of football wizardry was born that day in Tuscaloosa.
As if Manziel's first run versus Alabama wasn't good enough, in 2013 he went ballistic against the Tide in a back-and-forth slugfest. Though Texas A&M lost by a final score of 49-42, Manziel compiled 562 yards of offense and was responsible for five touchdowns.
When he left for the NFL, Manziel had accomplished a ton in such a short period of time.
He was the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012 and right now sits in sixth place for the most TDs in SEC history.
It doesn't matter what he does in the NFL. In SEC terms, Manziel had enough talent and swagger to lead his A&M troops into battle.
Jamal Mashburn
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The marriage between Jamal Mashburn and his head coach Rick Pitino that started in 1990 was a major reason why the Kentucky basketball program turned itself around.
Dubbed "Monster Mash," Mashburn spent three successful seasons with the Wildcats. His 18.8 points per game is still good for fifth-best in school history, per UKAthletics.com.
In his final season, Mashburn took the reins of the team and took the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance. Given all of the hardships Kentucky was facing prior to his arrival, that was a significant moment in the program's deep history.
Cam Newton
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For one season, Auburn's Cam Newton was the most productive player in the history of the SEC.
A quarterback who found his way over to Auburn after getting into trouble at Florida took one of the most sought-after programs in the SEC and made them great.
Newton's 2010 campaign was riveting television. Fresh off Tim Tebow's departure, the SEC didn't have a star. Newton changed all of that.
He took what Tebow did and changed the playing field. Completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,854 yards and 30 TDs, Newton's ability to shred a defense through the air was uncanny.
As if that wasn't enough, the 6'5" quarterback ran for 1,473 yards and punched in 20 additional scores.
The Heisman Trophy and the BCS National Championship would fall into place, as Newton led Auburn to glory before leaving for the NFL.
Despite being a one-year player, Newton's ability to go out and win earns him a spot on this list. Auburn has had plenty of electric players walk through its doors, but Newton turned out to be one of the best.
Shaquille O'Neal
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Try all you want: You won't ever find a basketball player quite like Shaquille O'Neal.
In hoops terms, the legend of Shaq began at LSU. Three seasons in Baton Rouge were all it took for O'Neal to shake up the college ranks. His 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game were all staggering totals.
The offense ran through O'Neal, and based on those numbers, most people were fine with that. He was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and wound up being inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame after his playing career was over.
Shaq was easily the most dominant big man of the '90s in SEC hoops.
Peyton Manning
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Before Peyton Manning's glorious NFL career unfolded, he was the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Manning was the Vols. He was a pocket passer with all of the intangibles and qualities you'd want in a quarterback. When you look back at all he accomplished at Tennessee, it's easy to be left impressed.
According to UTSports.com, Manning "finished his illustrious career holding 42 NCAA, SEC and Tennessee records." On top of receiving a copious amount of awards and accolades, he was the runner-up in the '97 Heisman Trophy race.
Manning will be remembered as one of the best QBs in school and SEC history. As the record books look today, he remains fourth in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns.
Amari Cooper
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The influx of sheer talent that pummels the shores of the Alabama football program is staggering. Wide receiver Amari Cooper is another example of how deep Nick Saban's recruiting classes really are.
Cooper is arguably the best pass-catcher to come around since the school's inception. He may not have all of the physical gifts like Julio Jones, but what Cooper did during his time at Alabama went beyond Jones.
Finishing his career up this past season, Cooper has the second-most receiving yards in SEC history with 3,436. He's also tied for first place with Chris Doering of Florida with the most touchdown passes caught—both men caught 31.
Everything Cooper did at Alabama was special. Because of that, he was an easy add to this list of Southeastern Conference greatness.
Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams
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Along with Ronnie Brown, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams became one of the most feared halfbacks in the SEC. He was a pivotal factor in Auburn's unbeaten 2004 season.
Behind Bo Jackson, Williams has the second-most rushing yards in Auburn history. His total of 3,831 yards also puts him at No. 11 on the all-time SEC list.
We said in the beginning of this slideshow that one of the biggest factors in determining which players belong here was the eye test. Watching Williams run through defenders, it was apparent that he passed that exam with flying colors.
Eric Berry
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There aren't many defensive backs on this list, and that's a shame. So before we go any further, here's a shout-out to Joe Haden, Patrick Peterson and this guy, Eric Berry.
One of the most productive defensive backs to ever come out of the SEC, Berry was an impressive talent for the Tennessee Volunteers.
During his stay in Knoxville, he recorded 245 total tackles, three sacks, 14 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns.
He was a ball-hawking safety who hit like a linebacker and covered ground like a guy riding a motorcycle. Rocking No. 14, Berry was the true catalyst of the Volunteers defense from 2007 until he departed the program in 2009.
John Wall
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Another one-and-done player to emerge from John Calipari's Kentucky tenure is of course John Wall.
The dedicated point guard blessed with some of the best handling in the country jumped over to the Wildcats in 2009 and averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.
For a point guard to be handed the keys to an offense right away and go to work is tough. Maneuvering his way through those difficulties, Wall still turned out to be a heck of a talent for Coach Cal.
When he won SEC Player of the Year as a freshman, it became even more apparent that fans would miss Wall when he left.
Shaun Alexander
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It's easy to forget about all that Shaun Alexander did at the University of Alabama because of the recent surge of dominant backs we've seen there.
But during Alexander's heyday, he was one of the premier Crimson Tide runners. Per PrideoftheTide.com, he still leads the program in carries with 727 and yards with 3,880.
He wasn't as explosive as Ingram, Trent Richardson or T.J. Yeldon. No, Alexander's strength was finding lanes and picking up extra yards due to his wit and power—traits that would show up consistently during his run with the Seattle Seahawks.
If you could generate a mold that would reveal the classic '90s running back, Alexander would fit it. His shoulder pads were thick, his elbow pads were in your face, and he ran with a purpose.
In a long line of excellent Crimson Tide tailbacks, Alexander is still king.
Todd Helton
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Todd Helton was a dual-sport athlete who accomplished a great deal while attending the University of Tennessee.
A quarterback and a slugger in baseball, Helton was able to shine in both sports. Though he wasn't a bad football player, America's pastime turned out to be his true calling.
Helton still holds plenty of records at his alma mater. His 38 home runs, 147 walks, 20 sacrifice flies and 238 RBI place him first in those categories, according to UTSports.com.
You may forget Helton was also a heck of a pitcher. His 23 career saves are also tops in school history.
When you can play two sports and do it with such athletic prowess, it's hard to be held down. Along with Peyton Manning, Helton is definitely one of Tennessee's finest alumni.
Jadeveon Clowney
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The moment that Jadeveon Clowney made his way through the line of scrimmage and crushed Michigan running back Vincent Smith, everything changed.
What went from serious hype about one of the nation's top pass-rushers turned into something supernatural. Clowney transcended his draft stock and public perception with one viral video clip.
Beyond that one hit, he was also an extremely gifted edge-rusher. His freakish talent led to 24 career sacks, 47 tackles for loss and nine fumbles while at South Carolina.
You rarely come across players who are as dominant as Clowney was in college. The raw gift he had for taking over games in the blink of an eye separated him from his peers.
Candace Parker
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Candace Parker belongs here. What she brought to the University of Tennessee women's basketball program was a passion to win.
In her brief stay, she enjoyed immense success. Back-to-back national championships, countless awards and the ability to take over a game were three reasons why Parker became a household name.
No. 3 broke barriers for this program with her dominance. No matter the sport, few players are as captivating as Parker was on the court.
Eli Manning
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Perhaps the most famous brotherly duo in football history is Peyton and Eli Manning. Two gunslinging quarterbacks with Super Bowl rings by their sides emerged from the SEC at separate times, and both became fantastic NFL players.
Eli will never be as talented as his big brother, but as his NFL career has shown, he always finds a way to make things happen. Playing for Ole Miss, the younger Manning managed to put up some special numbers in his own right.
Even with the shadow of his brother cast upon him, Eli finished his SEC career eighth in passing yards and sixth in TDs—he fell eight touchdowns short of his brother's mark.
There probably isn't a bigger star to come out of the Ole Miss football program. Patrick Willis can be thrown into that conversation, but the fact that Eli is a QB trumps that. Following in the footsteps of his father Archie—who also played at Ole Miss—Eli did a lot of good in the name of the SEC.
Darren McFadden
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You can thank Darren McFadden for a lot of things.
First off, he was part of the Arkansas Razorbacks team that installed the Wildcat offense. Second, and more importantly, Run DMC finished his career in college with the second-most rushing yards in SEC history behind only Herschel Walker.
McFadden was a hypnotizing tailback. He could weave his way through traffic, explode through the line of scrimmage and make defenders miss in the open field. The SEC has seen its fair share of conquering tailbacks. Few can stack up to what Run DMC brought to the table.
The best year of the prolific rusher's career came in 2006. That's when McFadden finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, producing 1,796 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns.
Of all the SEC players since '90 to play for Arkansas, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger star than McFadden.
David Price
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When you're 6'6" and can hurl a baseball with the control and speed that David Price can, it's a good bet that you'll probably go on to do special things.
Representing Vanderbilt, Price instantly became a mercenary on the hill. After two productive seasons, he went out and destroyed foes in 2007. An 11-1 record to go with a 2.63 ERA and 194 strikeouts—a school best—proved this lefty hurler was close to unstoppable.
For all of his efforts, Price became Vanderbilt and SEC royalty. At his peak, he was one of the top pitchers in college.
AJ McCarron
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Since 1990, AJ McCarron has been the best QB in the history of the Crimson Tide program.
His resume is outstanding: three BCS National Championships, a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2013 and a Maxwell Award winner that same year. He also led Alabama to two SEC titles.
McCarron did his best to rewrite the history books. He threw for the most yards and touchdowns of all the Crimson Tide quarterbacks.
The jury is still out on his NFL career. But from an SEC angle, few have won as many important games as McCarron did.
Allan Houston
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Always the consummate professional, Allan Houston is another coveted Tennessee star.
Playing 128 games over the course of four seasons, Houston averaged 21.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He was a potent scorer each season he wore that orange uniform.
Only four basketball players have had their jerseys retired in Knoxville, per UTSports.com. Houston is one of those guys.
It's not a surprise when you consider that he's still the school's all-time leading scorer.
The SEC has produced a ton of great basketball players across the decades. Watching Houston effortlessly flick his wrist and take opposing players to the rack on a nightly basis made him one of the best of the bunch.
Champ Bailey
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The deceiving thing about top-notch cornerbacks is usually their interception totals. More times than not, shutdown corners don't come down with a ton of picks because quarterbacks don't want to throw the ball their way.
At Georgia, Champ Bailey proved that to be true.
Bailey's ability to lock down a receiver made him an invaluable defensive asset. But similar to a lot of elite athletes, he wasn't limited to just defense. He was able to contribute on special teams as well as offense.
In his last two seasons as a Bulldog, he caught 59 balls for 978 yards and five touchdowns.
He was a Heisman-caliber player who could change the game on either side of the ball. To this day, he's one of the most well-known athletes to materialize from the SEC.
Antoine Walker
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Two seasons of No. 24 was all it took for the Big Blue faithful to fall head-over-heels in love with Antoine Walker. The 6'8" shooter was a fluid scorer who possessed a charming swagger on the court.
Walker's second season with the Wildcats was his true coming-out party.
Averaging 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, he was able to score from anywhere on the floor. For a guy with that size, having that type of range was plain cruel.
Dealing with Walker and the rest of Kentucky proved to be too daunting of task for the rest of the nation. After running though the NCAA tournament, Walker cut down the nets as the Wildcats won the national championship in 1996.
And that's all it took for him to become a Kentucky hero.
David Pollack
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Mystique and respect are two words that perfectly describe former University of Georgia defensive end David Pollack.
A true "motor" player in every sense of the word, Pollack hustled and worked his way into the hearts of all Georgia fans. The man was a quarterback hunter. A real "paint your face and get after it" type of guy.
For all of that effort, the 36 career sacks he posted up ranks him No. 1 in Bulldogs history, according to the school's official record book.
Getting to the quarterback was Pollack's forte. He was gifted in that sense. Few players could bend around the edge or throw their muscle around like No. 47.
True Georgia fans will never forget what Pollack represented. As a two-time SEC Player of the Year, he could well be the school's foremost defensive player.
Unless noted otherwise, all game scores, stats and information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
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