SEC Players Who Have Surprised This Spring
Spring is a time for players to get better, and oftentimes, that means unknown or underrated players lay the groundwork for fall superstardom.
For others, it's a chance to hit the reset button after struggling in the hopes of turning things around.
Which players in the SEC have surprised this spring? Our picks, based on track record, depth chart movement and talent, are in this slideshow.
Alabama QB David Cornwell
1 of 7
One of the biggest questions in Tuscaloosa this spring centered around Alabama's vacant quarterback position and, specifically, who would step up and contend for the job opposite senior Jake Coker.
The answer, apparently, is redshirt freshman David Cornwell.
The 6'5", 240-pounder is back after a high school ACL injury followed by an ankle injury suffered last offseason—his first in T-Town. The pro-style passer with a big arm is back at 100 percent for the first time since the midway point of his senior season in high school, and he has impressed the coaching staff this spring, according to Bleacher Report Alabama lead writer Marc Torrence:
"Saban: David Cornwell has done "probably as good a job as anybody this spring." Bright, understands the offense, great leadership
— Marc Torrence (@marctorrence) April 11, 2015"
He even earned some first-team snaps over the weekend during the open periods of practice, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com.
He emerged from a crowded field that includes Coker, junior Alec Morris, sophomore Cooper Bateman and true freshman early enrollee Blake Barnett. That's huge news, because Coker and Cornwell are very similar in terms of what they bring to the table. They're both big quarterbacks with fantastic arm strength and enough mobility to at least be a threat.
It appears that Cornwell, at the very least, has drawn even this spring, which will only help the new-look Alabama offense evolve during summer workouts.
Texas A&M RB James White
2 of 7
With Tra Carson out this spring due to injury and Trey Williams gone to the NFL, the door was wide open for one of Texas A&M's running backs to make an impression.
Sophomore James White did just that.
The 6'0", 218-pounder from Pearland, Texas, got plenty of reps in head coach Kevin Sumlin's offense, and he performed well enough to earn praise from Sumlin following Texas A&M's final practice of the spring.
"A lot of guys got more reps," Sumlin said according to Robert Cessna of The Eagle. "James White came to the forefront as a bigger back."
What's more, according to Gabe Bock of TexAgs.com, Texas A&M has rededicated itself to the run after Sumlin called 514 passing plays last year to only 421 on the ground:
"QB Kyle Allen grades his spring as a "B or B+" and said the new running scheme and commitment on the ground has made offense much better.
— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) April 11, 2015"
A breakout season for White is in the cards, and he proved it this spring when preparation met opportunity.
Auburn DL Dontavius Russell
3 of 7
New Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp came to Auburn with two known commodities along the defensive line—defensive end Carl Lawson (who's coming off of a torn ACL) and defensive tackle Montravius Adams.
Spring practice has taught Muschamp that he might have three.
Dontavius Russell—a 6'3", 300-pound redshirt freshman from Carrollton, Georgia—has emerged as not only a candidate to earn a starting job, but a force along Auburn's new-look defensive line.
This doesn't come as a surprise to head coach Gus Malzahn, who considered ripping the redshirt off of Russell last season when the Tigers were searching for stability along the defensive line.
"Dontavius is an extremely talented guy that there was talk about not redshirting early," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said according to James Crepea of the Montgomery Advertiser. "Even kind of into some games because we felt like he was a very athletic guy, a very talented guy. We think he has a chance, with a very good spring, to be a very good player for us."
Lawson is a true three-down defensive end who can stuff the run and get after the quarterback, and Adams is the kind of disruptive force in the middle similar to former Tiger Nick Fairley. If Russell can solidify the run defense alongside Adams and keep double-teams away from the two stars up front, Auburn's defense will transform from punchline to power in 2015.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
LSU QB Anthony Jennings
4 of 7
This time last year, then-true freshman early enrollee Brandon Harris had pulled even with then-sophomore Anthony Jennings in the race to replace Zach Mettenberger as LSU's starting quarterback.
Fast forward 365 days, and the names have stayed the same with a much different dynamic.
Jennings completed only 48.9 percent of his passes, lost his job and then got it back after Harris struggled in his only start—a road game vs. Auburn.
This spring, it's Jennings who's impressed the staff, according to James Haralson of 104.5 in Baton Rouge.
"Cam Cameron on @1045espn's #YMD: "Anthony Jennings has had his best spring since he's been here." #LSU
— James Haralson (@jamesharalson) April 8, 2015"
The question now becomes, what exactly does that mean for LSU? Harris drew even with Jennings last year after just three months on campus, and the year before that, Jennings was a true freshman early enrollee just getting his feet wet.
If the light bulb has turned on, that'd be huge news for LSU and its hopes of contending for the SEC West in 2015.
Tennessee S Evan Berry
5 of 7
Evan Berry was relegated to mostly second-team and special teams duties during his first season on Rocky Top in 2014. The 5'11", 208-pounder from Fairburn, Georgia, notched just five tackles and 413 kickoff return yards on the year as he battled for playing time behind starting safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil.
"When I came in during the summer, things were going fast and I was nervous," Berry said, according to quotes released by Tennessee. "I knew it, but I didn't know it how I was supposed to. Now that I do, it's time to make plays."
He has.
Berry hasn't necessarily jumped into the starting lineup quite yet, but he has certainly made a strong case midway through the spring practice session.
"I see Evan playing with a lot of confidence right now," Butch Jones said in the release. "I see him getting into a rhythm, I see him getting momentum as a football player. Momentum is very big and he's been able to maintain that. I see Evan taking a step forward every time we step on the practice field."
The younger brother of former Vol legend and current Kansas City Chief Eric Berry has flipped the switch this spring and is at least jumping into the conversation for a starting spot. In a loaded depth chart with plenty of talented players, that speaks volumes to his progress.
Georgia QB Faton Bauta
6 of 7
Junior Faton Bauta has been relegated to backup duty over the last two seasons at Georgia, but he is in the midst of a heated battle with Brice Ramsey and Jacob Park to earn the starting nod this season for the Bulldogs.
Bauta was impressive during the spring game when he completed 16 of his 25 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. That touchdown—a 25-yarder to tight end Jordan Davis—came with pressure in Bauta's face fresh off a play-action fake on a naked bootleg.
"Faton has worked extremely hard to get a comfort level with everything that Coach [Brian] Schottenheimer is trying to teach him," Richt said during the postgame press conference. "He got better and better as spring went along."
While he's more experienced than Ramsey in terms of class, Ramsey earned the primary backup reps last season behind Hutson Mason. If Bauta can continue his progression and compete with Ramsey through the air, his dual-threat ability on the ground as a bruiser could spark a spring upset on the Georgia depth chart at quarterback.
Arkansas DE Deatrich Wise, Jr.
7 of 7
Arkansas' most pressing issue this spring is to fill the holes along the defensive line left by the graduation of defensive end Trey Flowers and the early departure of defensive tackle Darius Philon.
Deatrich Wise could be the next Flowers.
The 6'5", 271-pounder from Carrollton, Texas, got only one start a year ago, but he's displayed the speed and strength to be an every-down defensive end this season for the Razorbacks.
"The only person who will limit Deatrich Wise is Deatrich Wise," head coach Bret Bielema said following Saturday's scrimmage (5:09 mark). "As we go out on the road and recruit defensive ends, you can't get any better than that. He's athletic, strong and very, very powerful kid."
Defense was the driving force behind Arkansas' resurgence late last season, as the Hogs shut out LSU and Ole Miss in November and held Texas to just 59 yards in the win in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl. Wise is being counted on to be one of the leaders continuing that trend in 2015, and he is off to a good start this spring.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
