SEC Football: Best Players at Every Position
There's no shortage of talent in the SEC, and the conference this year boasts some of the best players in college football.
From Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott to Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland to Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, the conference is loaded with surefire studs and potential high NFL draft picks.
Who is the best player at each position in the SEC? Our list based on talent and experience is in this slideshow.
QB: Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
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In the SEC this year, it's "Dak Prescott and everybody else."
The senior signal-caller for the Mississippi State Bulldogs burst onto the scene last year, throwing for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns, rushing for 986 yards and 14 scores and leading the Bulldogs to their first No. 1 ranking in program history.
What did Prescott get for his work? An eighth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting and the title of the best returning quarterback in the SEC.
His ability to operate an efficient passing game and the Tim Tebow-esqe nature of his running ability is perfect for head coach Dan Mullen's system, and he's back to make another run at the SEC West title and perhaps the most illustrious individual trophy in American sports.
Honorable Mention: Maty Mauk (Missouri), Jeremy Johnson (Auburn), Kyle Allen (Texas A&M), Patrick Towles (Kentucky), Brandon Allen (Arkansas), Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee).
RB: Nick Chubb, Georgia
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Trying to find the best running back in the SEC is sort of like sorting through the menu at a fine steakhouse. You're really not going to go wrong with whomever you decide to go with.
With that said, the top running back in the SEC is Georgia's Nick Chubb.
He popped off 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2014 in essentially a half-season as the No. 1 running back in Athens. At 5'10", 220 pounds, he has the body size to take the pounding between the tackles and the speed of a sprinter.
What's more, he proved during his freshman campaign that he can take the ball 30 or 35 times per game and provide the stable ground game Georgia's offense needs.
Honorable Mention: Leonard Fournette (LSU), Derrick Henry (Alabama), Jonathan Williams (Arkansas), Alex Collins (Arkansas), Jalen Hurd (Tennessee), Russell Hansbrough (Missouri).
WR: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
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Auburn's D'haquille "Duke" Williams is a freak, and South Carolina's Pharoh Cooper might lead the SEC in receiving in 2015. But the best wide receiver in the SEC in 2015 is Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell.
The 6'2", 210-pounder from Crete, Illinois, caught a team-high 72 passes as a true freshman in 2013 and was well on his way to an All-American sophomore season before a gruesome leg injury ended his season in early November.
"He desires to get back and better than he was, so it's a bit hard to keep him patient," Freeze said at SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida, last month. "It's time to turn him loose though."
That should terrify opposing defensive coordinators.
He has the body and hands to be dangerous over the middle and the speed to be one of the biggest deep threats in college football. When he's healthy, there's nobody better in the SEC.
Honorable Mention: "Duke" Williams (Auburn), Pharoh Cooper (South Carolina), De'Runnya Wilson (Mississippi State), Josh Reynolds (Texas A&M), Marquez North (Tennessee).
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TE: Evan Engram, Ole Miss
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As far as tight ends go, there isn't one better in the SEC than Ole Miss' Evan Engram.
The 6'3", 227-pounder from Powder Springs, Georgia, led all tight ends in the SEC last season with 662 receiving yards on 38 catches with two scores, establishing him as one of the rare deep threats of the position.
He presents matchup nightmares for linebackers who can't keep up with his speed up the seam, and if the defense puts a safety on him, Engram can use his size to his advantage deep and over the middle. He was more than just a safety valve as a sophomore; he was a legitimate weapon.
That will continue in 2015.
Honorable Mention: Hunter Henry (Arkansas), Steven Scheu (Vanderbilt), O.J. Howard (Alabama).
OT: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
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Laremy Tunsil came to Ole Miss with enough 5-star hype to fill the entire city of Oxford, and the Lake City, Florida, native has lived up to it.
The 6'5", 305-pounder was inserted into Ole Miss' starting lineup essentially the moment he stepped foot on campus and has established himself as one of the best left tackles in the entire country.
He has the size and power of an NFL player and the quickness to neutralize even the fastest pass-rushing specialists in the SEC—including Texas A&M's Myles Garrett.
He is a big reason Ole Miss has evolved into an SEC West contender over the last year and will help it stay in that place in 2015.
Honorable Mention: Vadal Alexander (LSU), John Theus (Georgia), Germain Ifedi (Texas A&M), Shon Coleman (Auburn), Cam Robinson (Alabama), Avery Young (Auburn), Denver Kirkland (Arkansas), Dan Skipper (Arkansas).
OG: Greg Pyke, Georgia
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Georgia running backs Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb had holes the size of the Grand Canyon to run through at times last year, and guard Greg Pyke was often a big reason why.
The 6'6", 313-pounder from Baltimore earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press (via his Georgia bio) and is one of the centerpieces of a Georgia offensive line that could be one of the SEC's best.
Pyke has tremendous power, is lighter on his feet than most guards and is incredibly dangerous at the point of attack.
Had LSU's Vadal Alexander not moved back out to tackle this spring, he might have put up a challenge to Pyke. Since he did, though, Pyke has made this a no-brainer.
Honorable Mention: Sebastian Tretola (Arkansas), Alex Kozan (Auburn), Aaron Morris (Ole Miss).
C: Evan Boehm, Missouri
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He won't get the attention of other players in the SEC because of his position (center) and his team (Missouri), but make no mistake, Evan Boehm is one of the best players you've never heard of.
The 6'3", 320-pounder from Lee's Summit, Missouri, has started 40 consecutive games for head coach Gary Pinkel, including the last 28 at center.
As Missouri has gone through significant personnel changes on the offensive side of the ball over the last two SEC East title-winning years, Boehm has been the constant. He's been the guy making sure the protection was right at the line of scrimmage, opening holes for Missouri's stable of running backs and solidifying the offensive line against some of the most fearsome front sevens in the country.
He doesn't get the publicity of some other centers in the country, including Alabama's Ryan Kelly, but he should. Without him, Missouri would struggle to keep defenders out of the backfield.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Kelly (Alabama), Jon Toth (Kentucky), Mike Matthews (Texas A&M), Ethan Pocic (LSU).
DE: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
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There are plenty of talented defensive ends in the SEC, but nobody is as talented or as reliable as Tennessee's Derek Barnett.
As a freshman in 2014, all Barnett did was notch 72 tackles, 20.5 for a loss, and tally 10 sacks and establish himself as a true three-down defensive end from the moment toe met leather in the Vols' season opener. That in and of itself is impressive, but it's even more impressive considering Barnett did so on a defensive line that was vastly inexperienced and in desperate need of a new leader.
Now in Year 2, teams know about Barnett and what he's capable of. Stopping him, however, might prove to be a bit more difficult.
Honorable Mention: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Jon Bullard (Florida), Carl Lawson (Auburn), Jonathan Allen (Alabama), Jarran Reed (Alabama).
DT: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
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Robert Nkemdiche doesn't have the stats of other top-tier defensive tackles, but it's kind of hard to rack up video game stats when you're getting double- and sometimes triple-teamed.
Nkemdiche bounced between end and tackle as a freshman in 2013 and then dropped down to tackle permanently as a sophomore, where he notched 35 tackles, four for loss and two sacks.
Nkemdiche (6'4", 296 lbs) has the athleticism and speed of a top-tier defensive end and the strength of a difference-maker inside, which makes him a nightmare to block.
Honorable Mention: A'Shawn Robinson (Alabama), Montravius Adams (Auburn), Harold Brantley (Missouri), Chris Jones (Mississippi State), Issac Gross (Ole Miss).
OLB: Jordan Jenkins, Georgia
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Leonard Floyd is the sizzle in Georgia's linebacking corps, but senior Jordan Jenkins is the steak.
The 6'3", 253-pounder from Hamilton, Georgia, has started every game at "Jack" for the last two seasons and has shown the versatility of a superstar with remarkably little fanfare. He had 70 tackles, 9.5 for a loss and five sacks a year ago, and he was always willing to drop his hand in the dirt and play at the line of scrimmage when called upon.
He has the athleticism to be a dangerous pass-rusher even in obvious passing situations but the strength to be a stud against the run and a true three-down force at outside linebacker for the Bulldogs.
Honorable Mention: Leonard Floyd (Georgia), Lorenzo Carter (Georgia), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Tennessee), C.J. Johnson (Ole Miss), Kentrell Brothers (Missouri), Kris Frost (Auburn).
ILB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama
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If you're looking for the hardest hitter in the SEC, Alabama middle linebacker Reggie Ragland is here for you.
The 6'2", 252-pounder from Madison, Alabama, passed up on the chance to jump to the NFL in order to return to Tuscaloosa and take another run at the national title.
He's the quarterback of an Alabama defense that's absolutely loaded in the front seven and is responsible for making sure everybody is on the same page.
He notched 93 tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks a year ago for the Crimson Tide and will be an integral part of the 2015 Crimson Tide defense, which should be one of the nation's best once again.
Honorable Mention: Antonio Morrison (Florida), Cassanova McKinzy (Auburn), Kendell Beckwith (LSU), Skai Moore (South Carolina).
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
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Vernon Hargreaves III has developed a nice little island on one side of the Florida defense, and he's not very welcoming to guests.
The 5'11", 195-pound junior burst onto the scene as a true freshman, earning third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press (via his Florida bio) and earned several first-team and second-team All-American honors last year.
He has started 22 of his 24 games as a Gator, with six picks, 88 tackles and 24 pass breakups. He's physical at the line of scrimmage, has incredible recovery speed and ball skills comparable to the best in the game at any level.
Honorable Mention: Cam Sutton (Tennessee), Cyrus Jones (Alabama), Jonathan Jones (Auburn), Tre'Davious White (LSU), Will Redmond (Mississippi State).
S: Tony Conner, Ole Miss
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Very quietly, all Tony Conner has done at Ole Miss is establish himself as one of the most reliable defenders on a depth chart full of defensive studs.
The 6'0", 215-pounder is the Rebels' primary "Husky," which means that Conner has to do a little bit of everything. From serving as a pure third corner against teams who spread the field with receivers, to stepping up to the line of scrimmage and anything in between, Conner can do it all.
He finished last season with 69 tackles—second most on the team, had nine tackles for loss and picked off the second pass of his career.
Technically, he's a safety, but Conner could line up pretty much anywhere on the defense and be all right.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Mills (LSU), Jamal Adams (LSU), LaDarrell McNeil (Tennessee), Keanu Neal (Florida), Johnathan "Rudy" Ford (Auburn).
K: Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky
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All Austin MacGinnis did as a freshman for Kentucky was attempt (27) and connect (21) on the most field goals in the SEC. It's safe to say Wildcat head coach Mark Stoops needed his kicker to stay in games quite often.
It wasn't always easy either. MacGinnis connected on three of his five attempts of 50 yards or more, according to stats compiled by Kentucky, and had a long of 54 yards.
A weapon like MacGinnis is invaluable to any team, and Kentucky is lucky to have him for the next three years.
Honorable Mention: Marshall Morgan (Georgia), Aaron Medley (Tennessee), Daniel Carlson (Auburn), Colby Delahoussaye (LSU).
P: JK Scott, Alabama
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Punters get overlooked more than they should, and Alabama's JK Scott proved what kind of weapon a top-tier punter can be as a freshman in 2014.
Scott, a first-team All-American, led the nation with 48 yards per punt and landed 56.4 percent (31-of-55) of his punts inside the 20-yard line, according to his Alabama bio.
No matter how exotic the offenses get or how many creative ways offensive coordinators find to move the football, the game is still a field-position battle, and a weapon like Scott makes life much easier for his defense and miserable for opposing offenses.
Honorable Mention: Drew Kaser (Texas A&M), Devon Bell (Mississippi State), Jamie Keehn (LSU).
RET: Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
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Having a top-flight punt returner is a luxury that most head coaches would kill for, and Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has a great one in rising sophomore Speedy Noil.
All Noil did as a freshman was finish fourth in the SEC in punt-return average at 12 yards per return. Unlike the other five returners in the top six, he did that without the benefit of a touchdown off of a return in his back pocket. He pulled double-duty as a freshman, returning 27 kickoffs for 645 yards (23.89 yards per return).
With the ball in his hand, there's nobody in the SEC more dangerous than Noil. He's slippery in traffic and has the top-end speed to run away from just about everybody.
Honorable Mention: Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia), Darrius Sims (Vanderbilt), Stanley "Boom" Williams (Kentucky), Leonard Fournette (LSU), Tre'Davious White (LSU).
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.
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.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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